BPS Reel Trade In... Are you kidding me?!?

[NorcalBassin]

Got up early this morning and road tripped it to BPS with 2 used reels in hand to pick up a couple new reels. The sale started just yesterday, and I'd assume that today would be the busiest day of all and they'd be stocked up for the crowds. WRONG!

As soon as we get there I cruise over to the baitcasters and ask where the Carbonlite is. "Sorry sir, we're all out." So I asked the guy if they were giving out any rain checks and the answer was no. So, I inquired, "Let me get this straight. You have your Carbonlites on sale listed in your Spring Classic Flyer to draw people in, you don't have any in stock at the start of day 2 of the 6 day sale, and you won't offer any rain checks? Isn't that convenient... sort of like a bait and switch so customers have to spend their money on reels not already on sale." He then said sorry again and tried to talk me into a $129 BPS casting reel stating that it was much better quality... as if I'm going to throw down another $40 just like that.

I wasn't looking to pick up a BC anyway and "needed" a couple mid-level spinning reels. I picked up the Soron XLT and a Team Daiwa, both of which were the last ones in that size. My dad also picked up 2 reels (larger Team Daiwa and a baitcaster), one of which was another, "Oh you're lucky, it's our last one" and the other was, "Only one more of those left."

Anyone else notice stocking shortages, or was it just the Manteca, CA store???

[burleytog]

You expect them to have an unlimited supply?

[fishinflip415]

That's why I don't do business with BPS...

[NorcalBassin]

You expect them to have an unlimited supply?

Burley... I take it you don't see a problem with them being out of stock of the reels likely to be in demand during the reel trade in? It's not like this is their first dance. I find it hard to believe that BPS couldn't stock up their department with reels to last more than the first 24 hours of a 6 day sale. Seems like quite the coincidence to me. They're out of the new Stradic like everyone else, but the reels we bought are widely available everywhere else.

[burleytog]

You expect them to have an unlimited supply?

Burley... I take it you don't see a problem with them being out of stock of the reels likely to be in demand during the reel trade in? It's not like this is their first dance. I find it hard to believe that BPS couldn't stock up their department with reels to last more than the first 24 hours of a 6 day sale. Seems like quite the coincidence to me. They're out of the new Stradic like everyone else, but the reels we bought are widely available everywhere else.

I know nothing of their supply issues, but if chatter on this forum is any indication, the Carbonlite reels and rods are a very hot item.  I wouldn't be the least bit suprised to visit my two closest BPS locations and find that particular reel sold out.  The reel was just released, I'm sure the demand has been quite high.

It is always a good idea to call ahead and make sure they have the item you're looking for.  Doing that has saved me a trip or two to BPS.

[David P]

Considering out here BPS is very seldomly talked about and not the most popular place by any means, I'm very shocked that they are out. Sounds absolutely ridiculous. They must have had under 30 of those reels in stock prior to the sale. I've been there twice, their stock is absolute crap. 1 Mojo rod in stock, 3 Extreme rods were in stock, only 2 colors of flukes. I was amazed.

[Tin]

I can't stand BPS but have to agree. It seems like everyone is trying to get their hands on one of this Carbonlite stuff on all the boards I'am on. It's like trying to find Sexy Shad Red Eye right about now.

[burleytog]

Considering out here BPS is very seldomly talked about and not the most popular place by any means, I'm very shocked that they are out. Sounds absolutely ridiculous. They must have had under 30 of those reels in stock prior to the sale. I've been there twice, their stock is absolute crap. 1 Mojo rod in stock, 3 Extreme rods were in stock, only 2 colors of flukes. I was amazed.

It would have been smart business to stock up before having a sale, but I've seen them do worse.  Honestly, it is BPS, what do you expect?

The store I visit the most maintains a decent stock.  High demand items will be scarce, as will sale items.  I sometimes wonder if employees are able to take advantage of sale prices prior to customers.

[Tin]

I swear on a lot of days, I would take a regular Dick's Sporting Goods over BPS. With the exception of the first time, it have never been worth the hour and fifteen minute drive to Foxboro.

[burleytog]

I swear on a lot of days, I would take a regular Dick's Sporting Goods over BPS. With the exception of the first time, it have never been worth the hour and fifteen minute drive to Foxboro.

It is never worth the two hour drive for me.  I stopped making special trips a long time ago.  After that first time back at the Charlotte store in 99, it's pretty blah.

[Tin]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

[Stasher1]

I have one about 15 minutes from my house, but I avoid that place during their big annual sale. It's just not worth the hassle of finding a parking spot and fighting my way through the crowds just to find out that the item I want/need is sold out. I'd much rather hit the store the week before the sale when they're feverishly over-stocking the shelves. I may not get as good a price, but at least I get what I want.

[-nick-]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?!  ;D

[burleytog]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

That's how they say laptop in Rhode Island.

[Tin]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

I'm from RI, remember. You say sandwich, we say grinder. You say milkshake, we say Cabinet. You drink chocolate milk, we drink coffee milk.  It is a different language up here.

[burleytog]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

I'm from RI, remember. You say sandwich, we say grinder. You say milkshake, we say Cabinet. You drink chocolate milk, we drink coffee milk. It is a different language up here.

You should try talking to him on the phone.   

[-nick-]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

That's how they say laptop in Rhode Island.

Figures, yankees.  :

[Tin]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

That's how they say laptop in Rhode Island.

Figures, yankees. :

No, that is New York. If we really were an island we would probably be our own country.

[Tin]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

I'm from RI, remember. You say sandwich, we say grinder. You say milkshake, we say Cabinet. You drink chocolate milk, we drink coffee milk. It is a different language up here.

You should try talking to him on the phone.

You sound like Kurt Cobain with marbles in your mouth.

[burleytog]

I would rather sit at home on the labtop and shop TW.

When did they start making labtops?! ;D

I'm from RI, remember. You say sandwich, we say grinder. You say milkshake, we say Cabinet. You drink chocolate milk, we drink coffee milk. It is a different language up here.

You should try talking to him on the phone.

You sound like Kurt Cobain with marbles in your mouth.

I inhale too much.

[ChrisAW]

The Bass Pro in Auburn Hills MI was pretty well stocked as far as I could tell. I didn't go for any reels, but the shelves behind the counter didn't have any bare spots. I believe they even had the Red Eye Sexy Shads still ;D

I already had too many Red Eyes before the Classic, I don't need anymore.

The only problem I have about BPS is that the nearest store to me is 45 minutes to an hour away. They have a LOT better stock on everything compared to Gander Mountain, atleast. Theres a Gander about 15 minutes from me, so I go there most of the time. But they have such a small selection of lures compared to BPS. Not to mention they hardly have any left hand reels in stock.

The nearest Dicks is about 2 hours away. As much as I'd like to go there, I can't justify a two hour trip to them unless I'm already heading that way.

[21farms]

it's understandable that the carbonlite reel is a hot item and that it is out of stock. what is NOT understandable nor acceptable, however, is that they don't give out rainchecks. if it was cabelas, they would not only give you a raincheck but they'd ship it to your house for free.

now, i actually got one of the carbonlites from the manteca store but i got there right when it opened on friday and i went to straight to the reel counter and immediately bought one because i knew they might not have very many in stock. i learned my lesson because what happened to you happened to me at last year's classic sale at the manteca store.

while i'm at it, let me rant some more about the manteca BPS. i've read other people here talk about how good BPS is about taking back and replacing broken rods and such. last year, i took back a prolite finesse rod that had a cracked trigger. it was 14 months old. they said, sorry, it's past the 12 month warranty and that was that.

[NorcalBassin]

it's understandable that the carbonlite reel is a hot item and that it is out of stock. what is NOT understandable nor acceptable, however, is that they don't give out rainchecks. if it was cabelas, they would not only give you a raincheck but they'd ship it to your house for free.

now, i actually got one of the carbonlites from the manteca store but i got there right when it opened on friday and i went to straight to the reel counter and immediately bought one because i knew they might not have very many in stock. i learned my lesson because what happened to you happened to me at last year's classic sale at the manteca store.

while i'm at it, let me rant some more about the manteca BPS. i've read other people here talk about how good BPS is about taking back and replacing broken rods and such. last year, i took back a prolite finesse rod that had a cracked trigger. it was 14 months old. they said, sorry, it's past the 12 month warranty and that was that.

Absolutely agree with you on all the above. Cabela's customer service is top notch. I wasn't surprised BPS was out of the Carbonlites, just the lack of a rain check or alternate real discount. The most surprising thing for me was out of all 4 of the reels we purchased this morning, three were subsequently "out of stock" and the other had just one left. I wouldn't waste the time looking into it, but it almost seems as though they may be holding less stock in non-BPS reels to push their own product more (with the exception of the red hot Carbonlite).

[roadwarrior]

Geez...I hope someone from BPS sees this thread.

Cutomer satisfaction can be so simple. In this case

nothing more than a raincheck: Happy campers and

the company makes another sale. What's so hard

'bout that?

[jdw174]

I swear on a lot of days, I would take a regular Dick's Sporting Goods over BPS. With the exception of the first time, it have never been worth the hour and fifteen minute drive to Foxboro.

About 12 years ago, I was the fishing dept mgr at a Dick's and if anything, they were often as bad as or even worse than BPS.  I simply dreaded it every time we got notice of a weekend sale (almost every weekend), because I knew that half of the items listed weren't even in the store.  People would come pouring in looking for those items and the fun would begin.  We constantly issued rainchecks, but seldom got the items they were issued for in stock.  It's one of the reasons I left there.  Customers deserved better.