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Supporting local tackle shops

Get into Harefield Tackle Dave pretty good as far as tackle shops go!
 
Castaways iin Banbury, that was the place I was trying to think of where I finally got the rod that Marsh Tackle wouldn't order for me. Have used J&K as well, excellent.

When I was still in High Wycombe I always used to travel over to Maidenhead Bait & Tackle in Cookham who were always willing to order stuff in if they didn't stock it. They were also very helpful when I first moved into the area and was trying to find out about local clubs, spend a good 10 or 15 minutes going through a couple of different club books telling me what was what. So there are some good shops out there.

I'd gone into Marsh the day before as I'd seen RDAA signs of the Kennet and wondered what club it was, response from Marsh when I asked who RDAA were ... "Sorry mate no idea who RDAA is or about any other local clubs", no surprise there then.

David, I'm guessing the shop with the attitude in Reading was TVA?
 
i use Bristol Angling Centre mostly, it's about 12 miles away from our house.. but a stones throw from the mother-in-laws..
it started as a small shop, i remember it well when it opened, now however it's huge and has a thriving internet business as well..
Kevin Dicks owns it and his son callum who was world under 22 match champion is usually behind the counter.. it's a prime example about a shop that has moved with the times.. there is always customers in there winter or summer, they open 7 days a week and kevin the owner won a local business man award from the tv station that run a competition back a few years ago as the shop was growing...
the internet prices are lower than those marked up in the shop on bigger items, any major purchase i just ask if i can have it at the internet price.. never a problem and they will price match any genuine deal that is cheaper elsewhere..
it's friendly, they are never afraid to help and advise...
i'm forever in there when we go to the outlaws, i dump her off and buggar off up the shop..lol...
 
Phil Maggs said:
i use Bristol Angling Centre mostly, it's about 12 miles away from our house.. but a stones throw from the mother-in-laws..
it started as a small shop, i remember it well when it opened, now however it's huge and has a thriving internet business as well..
Kevin Dicks owns it and his son callum who was world under 22 match champion is usually behind the counter.. it's a prime example about a shop that has moved with the times.. there is always customers in there winter or summer, they open 7 days a week and kevin the owner won a local business man award from the tv station that run a competition back a few years ago as the shop was growing...
the internet prices are lower than those marked up in the shop on bigger items, any major purchase i just ask if i can have it at the internet price.. never a problem and they will price match any genuine deal that is cheaper elsewhere..
it's friendly, they are never afraid to help and advise...
i'm forever in there when we go to the outlaws, i dump her off and buggar off up the shop..lol...
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Now that is exactly the sort of shop I mean...I am sure a man with that sort of attitude and drive and the common sense to turn customers into friends AND have an internet side to his business, can and probably will survive. The point is, if they can do it....why can't the others? I know not everyone is PC savy, and not every owner would want to be, but there are enough young staff members out there who are, and would be capable of setting up the on line side using a web design company, and leave the business side to the boss. It must be the way to go....the best of both worlds, and everyone happy.

Cheers, Dave.
 
Used the same local shop for a good few years. Was in the shop one day when a punter noticed the owner was using an AMERICAN pint jug to sell his maggots ( its smaller ). After that, i now travel a further 5 miles to a shop in Widnes, Run by a bloke called Tom who will bend over backwards to help you. Good on you Tom. He will do his best to match any internet price, if he can. Sometimes he can,t, but he still gets my money most of the time, as he,s such a genuine bloke. :)
 
From what ive been told Tackle shops have problems with getting replacement stock from makes such as Korda, Fox, ESP especially it seems the pva stocking refils..Alot of shops now sell on line on Ebay..When i invested in some new Carp tackle i went to a good tackle shop approx 20miles away because i wanted to not just see the rods and reels etc but actually test them and feel them for myself, which turned out to be the right move..The rods i was originally interested in had a fantastic review on the internet and meant to be brilliant and i nearly orderd them on line, however when i visited the shop and felt how these rods felt i quickly took a dislike to them and was able to look at other rods and feel what they felt like..Now you cant do that on a computer!!!..As it turned out i picked a rod which hadnt been over advertised and countless reviews saying how good they are and was able to get a better deal..The point being i was able to test the tackle i was purchasing and get good sound and honest advise from the owner of the shop, this will be lost if anglers dont support tackle shops..
 
Brian Timson said:
Quick question How far do you guys have to travel to the tackle shop that you use?

Brian
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The one I posted about is less than a mile away , the one I mainly use is about 15 miles away and they are a friendly bunch they do a loyalty card for regulars and you get 10% off most stuff and they have a coffee machine and an area to sit down and have a chat , they do trade ins as well so you can recycle stuff you dont use any more
 
The main issue in my posting was to do with local stores all being closed when they had advertised they were open. All had websites so to a degree had embraced the Internet but couldn't be bothered to keep that updated. If they do little trade late in the day and wish to close then fine. I have no problem with that but at least try and keep potential customers advised by putting a note on the website or even putting a short message on their answer phone. Not doing so is rubbish service and is just plain lazy in my view.

As to not being able to get hold of a basic reel for one month...sorry that is just unacceptable.
 
David Hall said:
i go in now and then and have a chat with Neil.
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I have known Neil since he was a teenager working at the cycle shop up the road, then through the various stages of his shop's development when he opened that, must be the best part of 30 years back, and have been buying most of my stuff there all that time. I must be getting close to my first loyalty discount by now I should think :p

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
I have known Neil since he was a teenager working at the cycle shop up the road, then through the various stages of his shop's development when he opened that, must be the best part of 30 years back, and have been buying most of my stuff there all that time. I must be getting close to my first loyalty discount by now I should think :p

Cheers, Dave.
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yer, dee's, still a bike shop, a good one, his dads a nice fella as well.
used to bus it up there for a pint of bronze, rod's and guns was so naff.
 
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Hi Dave and Dave, Dave here.:)
I guess our paths must have crossed then, 'cos I've known Neil since the cycle shop, spent misbegotten times drinking in CstP/G, even played in a band with him in Germany.
A tad pricey and a bugger to park at times but great service and excellent maggots.
 
Dave Durrant said:
Hi Dave and Dave, Dave here.:)
I guess our paths must have crossed then, 'cos I've known Neil since the cycle shop, spent misbegotten times drinking in CstP/G, even played in a band with him in Germany.
A tad pricey and a bugger to park at times but great service and excellent maggots.
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cool, he doesn't look 51/52.:D
 
Mark Gaskell said:
Was in my local shop today and what you get is good conversation a few decent chapps in today ,barring the food supplier where was he ? Its always been freindly for agood few years with the managers they have had and always good for putting ideas to each other which is very rarely taken on board,but always a good laugh with each other, without these shops life would be so dull having to look at a screen deciding what you wanted,so get in there and have the crack!
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Not really my local, only 20/25 min drive away, but a miles better shop and a better crack with the lads. Miserable swines in my local shop in Bury:eek: Keep the good work up chief and marshalls:D
 
Paul Hamer said:
Not really my local, only 20/25 min drive away, but a miles better shop and a better crack with the lads. Miserable swines in my local shop in Bury:eek: Keep the good work up chief and marshalls:D
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Hi Paul, don't want to sound like I am preaching mate....but might I suggest (judging by your avatar) that you find a sturdier, more sensible place to fish? I can see by the straight rod that you are not playing a fish, but I feel for your safety if you do get a bite, perched up there as you are :eek:


Look like your enjoying that fella....wish I had had the 'undercarriage' in my youth to give it a whiz :p:D

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
Hi Paul, don't want to sound like I am preaching mate....but might I suggest (judging by your avatar) that you find a sturdier, more sensible place to fish? I can see by the straight rod that you are not playing a fish, but I feel for your safety if you do get a bite, perched up there as you are :eek:


Look like your enjoying that fella....wish I had had the 'undercarriage' in my youth to give it a whiz :p:D

Cheers, Dave.
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Nice one Dave, that was about three yrs ago, my knees cant hack it nowadays:eek: Good while it lasted but pay for it now;)
 
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