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Tackle shops


Pangolin

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I've not actually ever asked for a discount at Gerry's, but I can quiet imagine the answer, not the most engaging staff I find!

 

Specialist Angling Supplies in King's Lynn on the other hand, both times I've used them, happy friendly counter staff, no pressure (I love to browse unmolested) but the offer of help if needed, and a 'oh just call it £20' (or whatever) discount. Lovely huge and fierce looking, but extremely soppy, German Shepard dogs too, normally chewing on a bone the size of a small child!

Geoff

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Whenever someone has come onto this forum and asked for advice on buying a rod/reel/both, I've always advised they visit their local tackle shop instead of buying online. Most shops will have a 'used' section where you can pick up some real bargains, usually beating ebay prices once you've added p&p. Sellers on ebay will also not be able to tell you which spots near you are fishing well at the moment or what bait/techniques to use, all of which I'd expect to be able to find out at a tackle shop.

 

As for trying stuff out in the shop and then buying online, that is beneath contempt in my opinion. Someone has given up their time to help you out, and then you thank him/her by walking out of the shop and giving your business to someone else? Believe me, they know what is happening, and you may find that next time you go in you will be as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit....

 

As we know, not all tackle shops have websites and a lot of them never will. They rely on people coming in, looking around and buying stuff off them, the higher price of the goods is (or should be) far outweighed by the advice they give not only at the point of sale but also afterwards. Use them, or lose them. Then where will you get your fresh maggots from?

John S

Quanti Canicula Ille In Fenestra

 

Species caught in 2017 Common Ash, Hawthorn, Hazel, Scots Pine, White Willow.

Species caught in 2016: Alder, Blackthorn, Common Ash, Crab Apple, Left Earlobe, Pedunculate Oak, Rock Whitebeam, Scots Pine, Smooth-leaved Elm, Swan, Wayfaring tree.

Species caught in 2015: Ash, Bird Cherry, Black-Headed Gull, Common Hazel, Common Whitebeam, Elder, Field Maple, Gorse, Puma, Sessile Oak, White Willow.

Species caught in 2014: Big Angry Man's Ear, Blackthorn, Common Ash, Common Whitebeam, Downy Birch, European Beech, European Holly, Hawthorn, Hazel, Scots Pine, Wych Elm.
Species caught in 2013: Beech, Elder, Hawthorn, Oak, Right Earlobe, Scots Pine.

Species caught in 2012: Ash, Aspen, Beech, Big Nasty Stinging Nettle, Birch, Copper Beech, Grey Willow, Holly, Hazel, Oak, Wasp Nest (that was a really bad day), White Poplar.
Species caught in 2011: Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Elder, Fir, Hawthorn, Horse Chestnut, Oak, Passing Dog, Rowan, Sycamore, Willow.
Species caught in 2010: Ash, Beech, Birch, Elder, Elm, Gorse, Mullberry, Oak, Poplar, Rowan, Sloe, Willow, Yew.

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I wonder if we are not also running out of things to buy. There is nothing really new out there that is a quantum leap above what was previously available. Why replace perfectly good stuff with something new that is no better?

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Gerry's is a strange shop! It will have a great range of Big Game crimps and wires but no pike ones in the most common sizes! stuff like that.It is a shop that holds a large stock of most things though so good to "browse".

 

I reckon Peters about right with his comments as well after all we can only buy so many camo bags to put our other bags in etc etc!

 

I honestly think that a lot of shops are pants! be it service,prices or stock they carry but we will always need a local shop for that packet of hooks we need for tommorow or that few pints of mggots.Trouble is those items wont keep shops running! Maybe the French have got it right and you can get the packet of hooks,pint of maggots from the supermarket and just go to the towns main tackle/hunting shop for the big stuff?

 

But US tackle/bait shops are numerous and stock everything but at a comparable price for most every day things plus the good service so why cant ours?

And thats my "non indicative opinion"!

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But US tackle/bait shops are numerous and stock everything but at a comparable price for most every day things plus the good service so why cant ours?

 

Totally different ethos and life values.

 

Much as I despise most US culture (modern UK culture too for that matter), I can't fault their customer service. OK, sometimes (well, often!) they go overboard and get a bit cheesy ("have a nice day"), but I've only ever had good service experiences in the US. I think the starkest contrast is in the dine out trade, good sized portions, well cooked, and freebies like all the water you want (try getting free water in the UK!), or everlasting coffee. You could argue that perhaps I've only ever eaten in touristy type venues, and you are probably right, but I've also eaten at plenty of touristy type venues in the UK and elsewhere worldwide to enable me to draw a fair comparison.

Geoff

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The most that I have ever spent in a shop is £450 for a Fox Stax box and a Maver pole plus a few other odds, not the top of the range stuff but good enough to get me started. The thing is I had to travel 45 miles round trip to buy it so strictly speaking it isn't my local shop but having said that it is a local shop in the town 22 miles away from me. If I had brought the kit at my local shop I would have paid £200 more for it, I know that if my local shop shuts down then I will have to travel in theory 45 miles for maggots but then again there was no way that I could justify spending £200 more than I needed to by shopping locally. If local shops want to survive then they must be as competitive as they can be.

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