• You need to be a registered member of Barbel Fishing World to post on these forums. Some of the forums are hidden from non-members. Please refer to the instructions on the ‘Register’ page for details of how to join the new incarnation of BFW...

Supporting local tackle shops

Andy Taylor

Andy Taylor

Active Member
I know there have been numerous threads about this in the past, but I thought I would share my experience yesterday when I genuinely set out to support my local angling store rather than be lazy and use the internet;

To cut a long story short, I wanted a replacement baitcaster reel; not a fancy one or a specific make; just a basic one.

As it was about 4.00pm I obviously called into my local shop first of all. This is usually well stocked with all forms of equipment and you can often get the most obtuse item from them straight away. However they did not have any baitcasters but advised me they could get one "in early February". :eek:

Unfortunately I wanted one sooner than that and undeterred, I checked on line for the opening times of three other stores in nearby towns before setting out. All three said they closed at 5.30 so I had plenty of time to drive to all three if necessary to see what they had. I phoned the first in advance just to check their stock, but there was no answer. This was not unusual as they can be very busy at times, so I set out anyway. When I arrived, it was closed. No sign, no message on the website, no answerphone message, nothing. Their loss I thought and set out to the third shop. Well imagine my surprise when this, and the final one were also closed well before their advertised time...:mad:

Back to the internet!
 
Hi Andy,
probsbly as combination of the time of day you set out on your search and the time of year. January & February can be very quiet periods for tackle shops and perhaps they decided to have a "POET" day, I did hear of shops in my area who sat open last year without a customer all week. Don't be too harsh on them, the first shop was probably quoting delivery time from the makers. As it's just after Christmas most are just restocking now and probably waiting for a slow boat from China for the new stock to arrive and clear the necessary customs checks.
I can understand your frustration but if we don't use the local shops we will end up losing them.
 
I have never bought any fishing tackle on the internet and have no intention of so doing. If you do not patronise your local tackle shop then you will lose it. Like the local pub!

As ever

Hugo


 
Awkward one this. In an ideal world the local shops would carry the full range, and you wouldn't question the price. But in today's world, the big seem to be getting bigger, and the small seem to be getting smaller. When I was buying a lot of tackle it was not unusual to have to visit 3 shops before you could get everything on your list. With the price of petrol now, P+P charges are starting to look quite reasonable. I wouldn't want to be owning a small tackle shop these days. I agree they need to be supported, but they don't always help their own case.
 
I'm with Phil. The day before yesterday i visited my local shop for some hooks to nylon and a few new floats for a grayling trip. Drew a blank there. On to the next shop......managed 2 floats from a very poor selection, still no hooks....
Unwilling to drive the 15 or so miles to a shop i knew would have them, i ordered from the internet.

Sad but true.
 
Steve Sorrell said:
I'm with Phil. The day before yesterday i visited my local shop for some hooks to nylon and a few new floats for a grayling trip. Drew a blank there. On to the next shop......managed 2 floats from a very poor selection, still no hooks....
Unwilling to drive the 15 or so miles to a shop i knew would have them, i ordered from the internet.

Sad but true.
Click to expand...
no hooks to nylon, god, that's poor.
 
Does anyone know where you can buy maggots off the internet ? I need to know because when all the tackle shops who are struggling just to hang in there finally go to the wall thats going to be a problem ! Seriously, they are at the sharp end of an industry which is on its way out, as is fishing as a whole in the not too long term, add to this the overhead costs and the current economic mess then its easier to see why many just can't afford to carry the frightening amount of stock thats needed.
Use the internet by all means, but get used to it !!
 
Last edited:
I dread to think how much value in stock they need to hold. The BFW Shop only stocks barbel related kit from a very small number of suppliers and I've got thousands of pounds worth! It would hardly fill one corner of a shop.

I've often wondered how much I'd need to invest to make the BFW shop a serious contender to the online big-boys and I reckon it must me at least half a million pounds.

I do feel for the high street shops, but the ones with any sense have embraced the internet and attempted to sell online, some very successfully.

Cheers,

Andy F
 
I had the same problem just before xmas, i wanted a lightweight brolly made by Daiwa, i phoned 7 local tackle shops, and they either dont stock this item or may be able to get one in after xmas, now believe me i am in favour of supporting our local tackle shops, so as this was a xmas present to my son i phoned a mate of mine who is the manager of a tackle shop in Essex, lo and behold, my brolly arrived in two days from my phone call.
Brian.
 
The industry doesn't show support to small shops, many have a pricing policy where the more you buy the bigger the discount. The big shops can offer the products at cheaper prices, often post free by mail order - how can the small shops compete with that? I'm afraid the days of a tackle shop in every town are gone.
 
I try to support my, (immediate), local tackle shop whenever, this is mainly when I want grubs or dead baits, I buy little else from there. Sentiment aside, for me the onus is on the tackle shop owners to meet the needs of their customers, this invariably means an online presence these days if they wish to compete.

Ian
 
I am all for supporting the tackle shop, but also my family and if I can get the identical (high value) item half price via an online shop or auction site have a guess where my money goes.

Most online stores are bricks and mortar stores too so at least your supporting someone else’s local.

I have a better face to face relationships with tackle shop owners further afield simply down to they are "local" to where I fish and simply put I do not have to work on them to be helpful.

Simple advice for tackle shop owners.

A smile now and again, retail is built on you been approachable, helpful and knowledgeable not all about how much I can make out of him now....a swimfeeder sold today can result in a rod sale the next week, treat people well and they will return that favour.

I cannot understand the lack of interest of trying to get items in upon request, even if you know you can’t get it look as if you will try it always looks better than a shrug and a no...Everyone loves a Trier. Simple retailing.

If you love or hate Drennans approach to not discount their goods. If every manufacturer did the same then you would be rather foolish purchasing online there would be no discounts and no temptation.
 
I agree andrew small tackle shops cnt compete these days ive always gone to my local tackle shop for a long time now if i want out big i do av to order it but i dnt mind waiting if it means he gets my custom.
 
I have a very well stocked shop near me which i always buy my bits and bobs from, they are always polite and chatty and i always find something to buy from there LOL
 
Same here Tom....costs me fortune everytime I visit my local, as there's always something I need, even if I don't really need it ;)
 
Don't get me started on local tackle shops. I tried to support my local tackle shop in High Wycombe when I first moved into the area about 10 years ago (no prizes for guessing who, their reputation preceeds them and I was warned that I probably didn't want to shop there) but a **** attitute and customer service meant I shopped elsewhere.

Just to relate one of several examples (yes, for some reason against my better judgement I gave them several chances, they failed each time). When I go into the local Daiwa stockist (the only one in the area) with two hundred quid in my hand I at least think it's reasonable for them to order a rod for me if they don't have it in stock. They can't carry everything in stock and I accept that and was willing to put down fifty pounds cash as a deposite if they would order it for me (at the full RRP). Their answer .. "sorry mate, it's too much trouble". So I asked if they know of any other Daiwa stockist who might be able to help me. Their answer .. "sorry mate, can't help you".

They wonder why they struggled for business.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top