you’re not wrong John, I truely fear for the future of small tackle shops, online tackle shops & ebay must give them nightmares!

not only that, but as we head more and more towards total commercial domination, the vast majority of baits are available online, and in many cases cheaper in bulk quantities

there’s only really maggots & casters now that you can’t get from the internet (but I’ll bet someone even does them!)

having said that I personally wouldn’t buy a rod or pole without first handling it & comparing to others, can’t do that online
(although I suppose technically, you can go to a tackle shop to handle the poles & then go home & buy the one you want online – that’s what I used to use Bennetts for!!!)

Get dialogue with your shop and give them the chance to get you stuff. My mate wanted a Preston Pro V roller, I said I’d ask my local shop, they got one for his next match and charged £40. It would have been easy with free p and p to get it online and pay full price.
We also think we need it next day which many online places give you, in reality a few days won’t matter.
Good shops will always survive.

The thing with internet shopping is theres no travelling and no effort, if i’m working away then it’s so much easier the tackle can be there by the time i get on a friday, it’s convenient.

Also how do these shops on ebay still work out sometimes cheaper than the local shops, even with postage? I think it will come to it one day where you will only see only shops at fisheries selling tackle.

@trav849 wrote:

The thing with internet shopping is theres no travelling and no effort, if i’m working away then it’s so much easier the tackle can be there by the time i get on a friday, it’s convenient.

Also how do these shops on ebay still work out sometimes cheaper than the local shops, even with postage? I think it will come to it one day where you will only see only shops at fisheries selling tackle.

Some shops use the internet to their advantage.
My local shop manages to sell old & current stock on e’bay at prices over & above what he sells it for in his shops~clap

I think that big shops are gonna find it hardest in the future as there overheads are so big and any big earners like poles are bought on-line. there are some good small shops round me that do well just selling bait and bits like hooks lines etc. Not a pole or dear rod in sight. Fishery shops are he way to go – buy everything you need on the day when you go fishing – just like golf.

In the past 3 years Northampton has seen the demise of the only 3 decent local shops.

I used 1 shop most of the time but still dropped in on the others from time to time, all were struggling.

I must admit that I now shop online, with free postage and quick delivery from the likes of Harrisons, it is the easiest option.

I really miss the local shop, on a Saturday morning everyone gathered there for a coffe and chin wag, as well as getting their bait and bits.

Sign of the times, I dont think we will see those days again unfortunatley.

ive just bought a new roller, my local shop
didnt hav it in but could get it, they refused
discount as if the (well known) suppling brand
got to know they where discounting they would
either loose their account or would start getting
stock restricted, fearing that this would happen
they would not do anything, hence i went elsewhere!

@paulD wrote:

I think that big shops are gonna find it hardest in the future as there overheads are so big and any big earners like poles are bought on-line. there are some good small shops round me that do well just selling bait and bits like hooks lines etc. Not a pole or dear rod in sight.

The big shops are the ones that are not going to suffer as much due to they have the items that people want actually in stock. They also have a good online service & can price match due to favourable terms with the suppliers because of the amount they order & pay for (hence why they stay big because they pay their bills on time most of the time). The smaller shops don’t hold as much stock, so may not order the required amounts to get the preferential deals that go on in the trade.

@paulD wrote:

Fishery shops are he way to go – buy everything you need on the day when you go fishing – just like golf.

Totally disagree. Might help the commercial match angler out, but what about the specialist angler or the natural water angler? They aren’t going to want to do a detour at first light in the hope that the commercial fishery shop is open. Also what happens if the fishery shop is out of stock of what you require for that match?

@Chris_Owen wrote:

In the past 3 years Northampton has seen the demise of the only 3 decent local shops.

I used 1 shop most of the time but still dropped in on the others from time to time, all were struggling.

As you know Chris, when I was match fishing I used to drive the 90 mile round trip to Northampton to buy the bits I wanted due to the fact that the shop (Angling Centre Northampton) had the stock. The reason it was successful from the off (until he left) was Andy Pell being an angler that knew what would sell in the local area rather than trying to stock everything. Look what happened after Andy stopped being part of the shop & someone who had next to no idea how to run a shop, rathering to go on holiday when someone spent a significant amount of money than to buy stock, was in control? I did use the Lodge a few times (when Scott & Steve were in there), but never found it the same as Andy’s place.

When it comes to the time for me to buy tackle, I would rather drive to the shops rather than buy online. At least I can see for myself that the items I am buying are right and not damaged (which can happen in postage). I am also picky to the shops I use with the closest one being a 20 minute drive from me, to most being over 100 miles away. Reason for doing so is that the shops make you feel welcome, not just who can give the best discount, and that the staff know exactly what they are selling. I drive past at least one big specimen orientated shop on the way to the closest shop I use, plainly & simply is that the owners don’t have the time to talk to new customers, just to the old ones. Every time I go into the shops I use, the first thing they do is put the kettle on (obviously serve other customers first and not rush). They make you feel welcome. The nearest shop also is more reknowned as a match anglers shop (and the stock shows!!!!) that stocks some specialist gear – BUT will get what the angler requires in for them when asked, without looking down their nose at them for asking (usually making the call there & then to the supplier to find out availability and delivery times – even if it means them having to get a trade pack in simply to sell one item).

The main reason the smaller shops go under, is that the angler has little knowledge of running a business. A good angler doesn’t necessarily make a good business owner, & the successful shops tend to have a good business person behind the scenes with good angling minds in the shop front.

Tackle shops can’t compete with places like Harrisons when they offer free P&P and i’m sure tackle shops won’t be around for much longer, especially the smaller shops.

One of the problems that tackle shops get is some people ask for them to match or cheaper prices than on internet sites. Tackle shops just can’t afford to do this with overheads to pay and the rest, even the bigger shops struggle. This is what will drive tackle shops into the ground with being self self self, have some respect!

I work in a tackle shop and it’s only a small one and i’ve been going there years and years, it’s the only one i go to infact and if it had to close i would be mortified as i know some others would be on here if their local closed down.

We had one guy come in today with a trolley and it isn’t what you call a decent one either. He said you can sell this if you want and keep the money or just give it away but i would like free maggots for the rest of the year. I mean WTF!!! Is he on some sort of other planet??!?!?!?!?!? What a mug is all i can say. It’s people like him that will cause these shops to close down if that’s what he is after!! He certainly won’t be getting free maggots from us and the trolley is going to a junior who is in desperate need of one and can’t afford one. I can’t believe he didn’t even ring up first he just demanded free maggots, left the trolley and left! He needs a smack in the mouth, or two!

Another customer today wanted 20kg of mainline frozen boilies for £125. They are £11.99 per kilo FFS, over 50% off he wanted.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!?!?!?

Come on help out your tackle shop as much as possible.

Another customer today wanted 20kg of mainline frozen boilies for £125. They are £11.99 per kilo FFS, over 50% off he wanted.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!?!?!?

Unfortunately it’s the same across the board, it doesn’t matter what industry you are in. People will think you are desperate in this climate and think they can pretty much name there price

I had a customer who wanted a quote based on there spec. The quote was 7.5k and they new our prices before they started. Now they are expecting me to knock 2.5k off it

Unbelievable
~naughty ~naughty

It is unbelievable at what some people want, 2.5k is just rediculous. How can people even expect to get that much off?

You don’t go into places like Tesco’s and ask for a discount at the till do you?

So why do people think it’s ok to do it at tackle shops?!

Oxford is down to 1 tackle shop.
We must support local shops. Internet buying is all very well but where will you go for your maggots ect when the local shops are gone~think

The pathetic RRPs cheese me off big style you walk in a shop and its £199.00 RRP on that TDR reel ! I mean why do they artificially inflate and drum up these RRPs you wouldnt go down the Supermarket and expect a discount would you ? I reckon their their own worst enemies drumming up ridiculous RRPs People automatically assume they can haggle. There should be one price for me you should buy something From Daiwa for a set ammount and a retail percentage should be added if a TDR reel costs £110 thats the cost not £99.00 or £149.00, Manufacturers should set fair pricing policies when selling to retail.