With all due respect (WADR)

Vegasspider · 10-14-09, 11:34 PM

I am loyal to my local Bass Pro Shop (BPS) and local pro shops. But WADR BP is becoming a joke. No stock unless its cheap useless junk or the $50 combos by the front door that is worth $20 tops.

The people in the Vegas fishing department does not know a thing but then again they really don’t need to. They are only told what corporate wants them to say and the tourist will buy anything. There are 2 Nitros (Nice full show rooms with “monkey” gear on display motivates buyers IMO) on the floor and just really nothing. Big spools of string are now a special order etc. Since I travel so much I think from now on I am going to do all of my business with the small shops who invest their life into their businesses. Money is super hard to make and I really don’t feel like spending it with people that comes off like I am bothering them or something. My local pro shop is much better and they really have more useful inventory in their 2500sf than BPS has. Just kind of sick of the corporate "you will buy what we sell you not what you need or want" I still love going in the place and it's a concrete jungle here so the decor puts me at ease and the displays are some of the coolest around.

Hate to say it, buy BPS has become the Wal Mart of bass fishing. Ashame.

I am sure we all have stories of over hearing some of the crap they tell people that don’t know better and like the other post about Carrot Stix. Consider the source.

BigBassin144 · 10-15-09, 07:54 AM

I don't think "you will buy what we sell you not what you need or want" is quite accurate, I think it is the other way around. If you notive, the vast majority of people at pretty much any BPS aren't buying Loomis, Cumara, Steez, etc rods and not buying Steez, Revo PRemier, Shimano Calais reels either.

BPS stocks what they make more money on, inexpensive tackle for the occasional weekend anglers.

BPS will bring in anything they sell (like on their website) for you, you just have to ask. I was a bit dissapointed that the new BPS here didn't have a good selection of rods (besides theirs), but now I realize a huge business like BPS isn't targeting the minority of anglers who use this high end gear.

And the Pro shops do exactly the opposite, they won't sell near as much as BPS, but they sell to a specific group of people.

BB

Bender · 10-15-09, 10:13 AM

Unfortunately it is hard to find many of the smaller shops left. The internet and big box stores have gone a long way to kill them off. When you do find them there are not many that have everything you need just because of the cost to them to stock so many things. I do enjoy going to BPS/Cabelas but prefer spending money at the small shops. If you find any really good shops please support them and keep them going. There is one I found in Fort Wayne, IN that has pretty much everything, the Bait & Hook Store. Even if the others are really small it is always worth it to stop, you never know what you will find.

CMorg · 10-15-09, 04:44 PM

We have a mom and pop store here. Its very popular , and gets alot of business... o yeah , they order their stuff from BPS !! Some sort of deal were they get things cheaper I guess , because they sell for the same price as BPS.

bassinbob · 10-15-09, 07:41 PM

I've been to 2 BPS and the one in Harrisburgh was pretty well stocked with everything except rods. The other was very poor in all its selection. I have been to Cabelas in WV and they have a great selection of pretty much everything. My local bait shop has a small selection of rods, but everything else is good.

Bassboss · 10-15-09, 10:08 PM

Last time I went to BPS they didn't have a lot of stuff. They didn't have to many lures though. A few soft baits I and colors I was looking for they didn't have, same thing with all the other times I went there. They had plenty of rods though. Only thing they didn't see that had was Zillions... there rod or reels. And the only mom and pop shops around here are all salt water ones. They're is one that a half hour - 45 mins away... but I rarely go there unless it's for something other than fishing stuff. But they have lots of JMD stuff and mid end stuff, I really like it.

It was also the only place I help a steez combo.... very nice!

WTL · 10-15-09, 10:19 PM

BPS look better than they really are. They buy and sell at such a volume you would think their prices would be lower. You actually are paying for all their exhibits.

Also last time I was in there I took my father. My dad went right up to the counter looking for a reel that would throw 1/16 ounce lures, and the 16 year old pimple face started to try and sell dad a $650 dollar Van Stahl reel.

Baron49 · 10-16-09, 01:41 PM

I thought I was the only one who noticed this about BPS. We have one about 2 hours away here in NY that I have stopped making the drive to unless I call first to see if they actually have want I want in stock. When in Florida I like to stop over to the BPS in Orlando, sometimes they have the shelves stocked and sometimes they don't. I could understand if they were having big national tournaments all the time, but this is not the case. The clerks say they can only put on the shelves what the central warehouse sends then. Learned there are a lot of good deals available on line from many of the web site sponsors, many that include free shipping. Pays to shop around.

Vegasspider · 10-17-09, 09:47 PM

I like the Orlando store as well. When we make the Florida trip we stop in. Also, BP does have a wholesale vendor program. One of the post mentioned a mom and pop shop selling BPS items. They do sell wholesale.

O well if nothing else, at lease it gives us peopel stuck in the concrete jungle a place to go for exhibits etc.. The Las Vegas one has live mermaids. I dont care what anyone says, live mermaids are much more fun to watch than dead ones.... It's really a cool exhibit. It's in the salt water tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron49

I thought I was the only one who noticed this about BPS. We have one about 2 hours away here in NY that I have stopped making the drive to unless I call first to see if they actually have want I want in stock. When in Florida I like to stop over to the BPS in Orlando, sometimes they have the shelves stocked and sometimes they don't. I could understand if they were having big national tournaments all the time, but this is not the case. The clerks say they can only put on the shelves what the central warehouse sends then. Learned there are a lot of good deals available on line from many of the web site sponsors, many that include free shipping. Pays to shop around.

bassboogieman · 10-17-09, 11:10 PM

The Vegas store - - - is that the one South of town off I-15. I went by, thought about going in, I heard about the MERMAIDS feeding the fish in the tank.

Vegasspider · 10-18-09, 09:54 PM

Yes is it right off the highway and very close to the strip. It's actually in a casino. The mermaid tank is in between the store and casino.

10-14-09, 11:34 PM	#1
Vegasspider BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 570	With all due respect (WADR) I am loyal to my local Bass Pro Shop (BPS) and local pro shops. But WADR BP is becoming a joke. No stock unless its cheap useless junk or the $50 combos by the front door that is worth $20 tops. The people in the Vegas fishing department does not know a thing but then again they really don’t need to. They are only told what corporate wants them to say and the tourist will buy anything. There are 2 Nitros (Nice full show rooms with “monkey” gear on display motivates buyers IMO) on the floor and just really nothing. Big spools of string are now a special order etc. Since I travel so much I think from now on I am going to do all of my business with the small shops who invest their life into their businesses. Money is super hard to make and I really don’t feel like spending it with people that comes off like I am bothering them or something. My local pro shop is much better and they really have more useful inventory in their 2500sf than BPS has. Just kind of sick of the corporate "you will buy what we sell you not what you need or want" I still love going in the place and it's a concrete jungle here so the decor puts me at ease and the displays are some of the coolest around. Hate to say it, buy BPS has become the Wal Mart of bass fishing. Ashame. I am sure we all have stories of over hearing some of the crap they tell people that don’t know better and like the other post about Carrot Stix. Consider the source.

10-15-09, 07:54 AM	#2
BigBassin144 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 9,463	I don't think "you will buy what we sell you not what you need or want" is quite accurate, I think it is the other way around. If you notive, the vast majority of people at pretty much any BPS aren't buying Loomis, Cumara, Steez, etc rods and not buying Steez, Revo PRemier, Shimano Calais reels either. BPS stocks what they make more money on, inexpensive tackle for the occasional weekend anglers. BPS will bring in anything they sell (like on their website) for you, you just have to ask. I was a bit dissapointed that the new BPS here didn't have a good selection of rods (besides theirs), but now I realize a huge business like BPS isn't targeting the minority of anglers who use this high end gear. And the Pro shops do exactly the opposite, they won't sell near as much as BPS, but they sell to a specific group of people. BB __________________ As of June 14, 2014 the members of the BF.com forum have moved to basschat.yuku.com!

10-15-09, 07:41 PM	#5
bassinbob BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pitts. Pa. Posts: 3,801	I've been to 2 BPS and the one in Harrisburgh was pretty well stocked with everything except rods. The other was very poor in all its selection. I have been to Cabelas in WV and they have a great selection of pretty much everything. My local bait shop has a small selection of rods, but everything else is good. __________________ you can have my fishin rod when ya take it from my cold dead hands

10-15-09, 10:08 PM	#6
Bassboss BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Shawano, WI Posts: 7,761	Last time I went to BPS they didn't have a lot of stuff. They didn't have to many lures though. A few soft baits I and colors I was looking for they didn't have, same thing with all the other times I went there. They had plenty of rods though. Only thing they didn't see that had was Zillions... there rod or reels. And the only mom and pop shops around here are all salt water ones. They're is one that a half hour - 45 mins away... but I rarely go there unless it's for something other than fishing stuff. But they have lots of JMD stuff and mid end stuff, I really like it. It was also the only place I help a steez combo.... very nice! __________________ If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.

10-15-09, 10:19 PM	#7
WTL BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,466	BPS look better than they really are. They buy and sell at such a volume you would think their prices would be lower. You actually are paying for all their exhibits. Also last time I was in there I took my father. My dad went right up to the counter looking for a reel that would throw 1/16 ounce lures, and the 16 year old pimple face started to try and sell dad a $650 dollar Van Stahl reel. __________________ Selling live waterdogs for less since 2005.

10-15-09, 10:13 AM	#3
Bender BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brighton, MI Posts: 2,414	Unfortunately it is hard to find many of the smaller shops left. The internet and big box stores have gone a long way to kill them off. When you do find them there are not many that have everything you need just because of the cost to them to stock so many things. I do enjoy going to BPS/Cabelas but prefer spending money at the small shops. If you find any really good shops please support them and keep them going. There is one I found in Fort Wayne, IN that has pretty much everything, the Bait & Hook Store. Even if the others are really small it is always worth it to stop, you never know what you will find.

10-15-09, 04:44 PM	#4
CMorg BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern , IN Posts: 1,832	We have a mom and pop store here. Its very popular , and gets alot of business... o yeah , they order their stuff from BPS !! Some sort of deal were they get things cheaper I guess , because they sell for the same price as BPS.

10-16-09, 01:41 PM	#8
Baron49 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: 1000 Islands, New York Posts: 62	I thought I was the only one who noticed this about BPS. We have one about 2 hours away here in NY that I have stopped making the drive to unless I call first to see if they actually have want I want in stock. When in Florida I like to stop over to the BPS in Orlando, sometimes they have the shelves stocked and sometimes they don't. I could understand if they were having big national tournaments all the time, but this is not the case. The clerks say they can only put on the shelves what the central warehouse sends then. Learned there are a lot of good deals available on line from many of the web site sponsors, many that include free shipping. Pays to shop around. __________________ B.A.S.S. Member since 1976. Life Member since 1987 Last edited by Baron49; 10-16-09 at 01:43 PM. Reason: correct spelling

10-17-09, 11:10 PM	#10
bassboogieman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parkesburg, Pa. Posts: 3,762	The Vegas store - - - is that the one South of town off I-15. I went by, thought about going in, I heard about the MERMAIDS feeding the fish in the tank.

10-18-09, 09:54 PM	#11
Vegasspider BassFishin.Com Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 570	Yes is it right off the highway and very close to the strip. It's actually in a casino. The mermaid tank is in between the store and casino.

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