Stores - Where to go

[scsavre]

Where in the world do you guys go for your muskie/fishing/hunting/outdoor gear, in the cities.

The last 3 times I was at a certain store they have switched prices on me. Items will say $7.99 on them, then the register will say $10.99 etc. I am just getting a little tired of it. In these times, more than ever retailers should be trying to earn our business. And then the cashier tries to get sassy with me, and says I dont understand how retail pricing works. Please note, I am not complaining about the price, even though it was far higher than my example. I am complaining about the service and their refusal to listen.

I was at a place and had the price problem again. I informed the cashier of the problem. She radioed the manager for a price check. He replied and said the shelf pegs were correct, and that he was staring at them. Ah the only problem was, the checkout counter was close enough to see the area. He was not there, he was just lying. The pegs said $19.99 they were charging $24.99. And $24.99 is what he said was on them. I went back and grabbed about 10 out of the 20 tags and put them on her check out counter, all saying $19.99. "There you go, I am going to FF"

I am usually very easy going about this stuff, but seriously i no longer want to give some of these places my business. I would rather go to a small place and pay more. There has been alot more issues that just the ones I mention here.

FF is a great place but sometimes they dont have the selection.

[muskydeceiver]

Why not go to Thorne's? Should have everything you need for muskie/pike and most everything you need for walleye/bass/panfish/trout/ice fishing/ect. Everyone I have dealt with has been very nice.

I don't think this is the place you are talking about in your original post.

[scsavre]

Thorne is not the place. It is a long way to go. But i might have to give them a second chance. They have a great selection for mukies, obviously.

[brmuskie]

I would recomend going directly to the store manager and explaining the problem and identify what date it was and who the cashier was. The store manager will definitely want to know what is going on in their store. Or just send the corporate office a nice email explaining the things that happened and tell them you are going to be shopping at other places from now on.

If you ever expect the problem to get better, people like you have to let them know how they can make it better. If not - it will never change.

I am pretty sure I am right about the store and I feel the same way sometimes about that place.

[cbrooks]

It suks you have to go through all that trouble to make it right. I say go to a store that has "the customers always right" policy.

[Brett Waldera]

Scott,

go online! MuskieTackleonline or MTO... Check out some of the posts here for the HSOforum!

Aaron is a great guy and the customer service is second to none!!

Brett

[Grunt L]

100% http://www.Muskie-Tackler.com He has teh best prices even with shipping and you can get free shipping if you order $75 or more. I think he ships 6 days a week too and an order of $75 would go Priority I woudl think. Best place to buy lures if you know what you want.

[RuKiddingMe]

Agreed Aaron at MTO runs his business second to none, I have ordered from him a couple times and the turn around is always real quick. Otherwise Thornes would be the obvious choice especially when you added up time and gas vs. shipping costs. For the bigger ticket items you probably want to see and not have shipped you are probably stuck with the GM's, Joe's and Dick's...

Oh almost forgot it might be worth checking out Blue Ribbon in Oakdale if you are ever out that way.

RU

[10,000 Casts]

You are talking about Gander I assume, I worked at one in college and things like that happened countless times but when someone had an issue and came to me, I just changed the price and made the customer happy. Some people take corporate policy way too seriously and it ends up chasing away the customers. They have so many price changes and merchadise moving around that they don't allocate enough hours for people to keep up with it.

I would reccomend that you find a place that has a good selection and get to know one of the salesman or managers there. That way you know what to expect.

You won't go wrong with Aaron at MTO, he has a great selection and he knows how to take good care of his customers.

The other place mentioned in previous posts, to be honest, I have never been impressed with. They have an unbelieveble selection of Muskie gear no doubt but their salesman can have a chip on their shoulder. I never argue with them, but too many times I walked out of there with bad information.

[MuskieJunkie]

I was at a place and had the price problem again. I informed the cashier of the problem. She radioed the manager for a price check. He replied and said the shelf pegs were correct, and that he was staring at them. Ah the only problem was, the checkout counter was close enough to see the area. He was not there, he was just lying. The pegs said $19.99 they were charging $24.99. And $24.99 is what he said was on them. I went back and grabbed about 10 out of the 20 tags and put them on her check out counter, all saying $19.99. "There you go, I am going to FF"

HA! I love it. That is so true, I know the store you're talking about, their pricing is the worst.

Thorne is a long drive for me too, what I do is keep a running list all year long and then make one trip up there (mid april is their store wide sale) and buy everything in one shot, it can get really expensive but it's a lot better than haveing to deal with cashiers that don't know what or how to correct the prices when there's a line of people behind you at big box stores.

[Tim_Anderson]

Another advocate here for Musky Tackle Online.

Aaron has a lot of what I need. If he doesn't, he gets it for me promptly.

It helps that he is "in the hood", but from what I've heard, he ships really fast for those of us that can't plan ahead! I know cuz I stink at that.

He has fair prices, is knowledgeable and a square shooter.

He's a musky fisherman himself, so he understands the biz.

Check out his online store and his prices. Give him a call or email if you have any questions.

[Muskiefool]

Most places dont sell any Muskie stuff anymore because theres no-one to buy it so I carve all my own now LOL

[mn_bowhunter]

Don't they have to honor their posted prices? I work at a big box home store and we always adjust prices when they are not advertised correctly.

[scsavre]

I would think they are suppose to honor prices, the funny part is I was just trying to let them know that there prices were mixed up. I didnt even want the cheaper price, I just wanted them to get consistent, and clear it up for the next person. It was funny cause after the problem I returned my entire purchase, told the guy behind me he could get his items cheaper at Fleet Farm. I went accross the highway to fleet, found all the items cheaper than gander. And sure enough the guy behind me went there and thanked me for the money he saved.

I am going to try MTO. Thorne is hit or miss as well. Those guys are never wrong and seem to pry info out of you to just pass on as their own. But that is just a few of the large crew they have there.

[wbliceman]

just go to thorne bros. they have everything you need and pricess wont change.. I only shop there now!

[muskymaniac4ever]

I am not happy with any of the stores around the fargo/moorhead area they are lacking in the muskie/fishing department. i only buy online, at the show or thorne bros. when i get down to the cities.

[Esox_Magnum]

Try living in Iowa once, at least you have choices, I have more baits than all the local shops combined. Tough to beat MTO though.

[cbrooks]

LOL. I feel like you do Esox.

[Scoot]

LOL. I feel like you do Esox.

Ha ha! cbrooks, I can feel your pain. I grew up in Fisher, MN and my best option for fishing supplies was GF. Believe it or not, Black Duck, MN has more and better options for muskie lures than all of Grand Forks!!!

[10,000 Casts]

Its a common misconception that stores have to honor their posted prices. Legally they don't. But why lose a customer over $5? That is just bad business.

Scoot, I love that little gas station in Blackduck! They always have fresh bait, their ice lure selection is really good, I love their Sanwich shop and they do have a few Muskie baits on the wall.

Fargo is lacking to say the least, when the gander and sportsmans came into town, they both started off ok but it went downhill from there. Gander mgmt kept telling us that they wanted to have a good relationship with MI and stock a good selection of baits but mgmt was to lazy to do anything about it and when they wanted to try anything, they would get shot down by corporate.

The reason big box stores don't have really good muskie selections is because they all require the bait maker to carry 2 million dollars of completed operations liability insurance and they need to be individually packaged and have a UPC... Most of the small really good bait makers don't have that because they can't afford it.

[dudeness]

I like Musky Tackle Online. Blue Ribbon is a nice shop too. I hear you guys about TB, when I'm in there I feel like I'm either being treated like a thief or I am stupid for not buying a bait that the salesmens friend makes.

As far as the big box goes... your just not going to get consistency, you could have a teen aged girl at the check out counter or a pro fishing guide. I'd just raise holy heck with a manager and get my way.

[Grunt L]

liability insurance....I have to carry $3M and it cost me about $3k a year. Got to sell a lot of lures to just cover that! Kind of sucks but you have to carry it to sell to the big boys. On top of that I have to carry a special rider on my home insurance for an additional $1000 for the lures in my garage. Someone told me I woudl never get rich selling lures. I figured they did not know what they were talking about. Looks like they did

[St_Croix_Banks]

To be honest, I like that the big box stores don't carry a huge selection. I'm for keeping this a boutique industry (or sport)if you will. As soon as the baits become mass produced we lose the innovative ideas and uniqueness of some of the baits out there today. How cool is it that you can go to a Musky Expo (or even online) and visit with the guy that developed the bait? I like that. It's what the good 'ol USA is all about!

As far as TB, I like the store and they support alot of the things I like to do in the fishing world. When I go there, I pretty much know what I want--its just a matter of find the right color combo or something. I don't get my info from their sales people really. I'm much more confident about the info I get on this HSOforum by certain people.

[scsavre]

Looks like i am just going to have to start my own tackle store, wouldn't that be fun, and likely not all that profitable.

I hear ya, whoever mentioned that we are dealing with the makers and what not with these baits. That is pretty cool.

What i never figured out is, Why isnt Joes Sports better? It seems like they would be the ultimate in customer service, price etc. But they just always fall short. Too bad they dont change their management philosophy. Seems like they have an identity problem too, is it a skiing store or tackle shop.

I am going to just go with MTO for everything i can preempt.

And Dudeness, you are a thief, that is why they treat you like one. But I know what you mean. TB comes off like they are better than everyone else.

[ole matty]

Only thing I love about gander that they sometime had a " stupid" cashier. They once charged me 30 dollars for Beckmann net when it's retail 100! And 80 for new plfuenger the presidentwpl. Their price r ridiculous. 26 for phantoms are you kidding me!! If there was world record for shipping. Mto would be in top 2