Another new Rapala strategic marketing partnership.

[Brad B]

I just got a press release emailed to me from Rapala. they now have a partnership with Polaris. They are continuing to grow their "Ice Force" brand. To date they now have ties to Strikemaster, Otter, Marcum, & now Polaris. This kind of has me worried. To me they seem like they are trying to gain a monopoly of the ice fishing market and push other companies out of business. Hopefully I am wrong about them trying to get the monopoly. I also hope they don't jack all the prices of these brands products up to where people can't afford them. What is everyone elses feelings on the Rapala Partnerships? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Maybe I'm worrying for nothing.

[Dark Cloud]

Guess I wouldnt worry about it...

I dont see it as any different than the brands that fall under Ice Team. They are using them for marketing... vexilar, Mr. Buddy, Ion augers, ect are promoted under the IceTeam shield... Now Rapala/Ice Force is in the game...

[bobbymalone]

eventually there will only be one big company annd everything you consume will put money in their pockets. ice augers, crankbaits, t shirts, frozen pizzas, adult diapers, you name it. Might be General Electric. I'm not sure. But i'm certain all is proceeding according to plan

I'm only half joking.

[aanderud]

I guess you must not know the definition of monopoly. They're working deals with ONE auger company (not all of them). They're partnering with ONE flasher company (not all of them). They're partnering with ONE snowmobile company (not all of them).

A monopoly would happen only, for example if they bought marcum, vexilar, and humminbird and there was no other flasher brand available. Or if they were to buy nils, jiffy, eskimo, and strikemaster and there were no other auger brands available. Or if they bought ski-doo, yamaha, and polaris.

Worry not, this is just them trying to make money. All companies do it. If you're not growing, your dying. Or that's what they say anyway.

[Brad B]

I know the definition of monopoly. I for see them trying to buy into the other companies down the road and trying to control the whole market. I would hope the feds would step in if this ever happened. I understand they need to grow but the don't need to jack prices up in the process. when I say jack their prices look at what Rapala has done with their cranks. what years ago you could get for $3 to $5 each are now $8 to $15. materials couldn't have gone up that much in costs over the years could they.

[DTro]

Wonder what the price of gas was when we could buy $3 raps?

[Fishin4fun_MN]

If i'm not mistaken, they (Rapala) doesn't own any of their Ice Force counter parts. They are just all using the marketing of Ice Force to sell their products. I see this as a being no different than Ice Team.

Like most of us, I own products from the companies that make up both Ice Force and Ice Team and I will continue to buy their products as long as they are commercially available.

[Brad B]

Wonder what the price of gas was when we could buy $3 raps?

you see some for $3.99 every so often at fleet farm but that is the cheapest you can find them now days. even then they get picked over fast.

[Brad B]

If i'm not mistaken, they (Rapala) doesn't own any of their Ice Force counter parts. They are just all using the marketing of Ice Force to sell their products. I see this as a being no different than Ice Team.

Like most of us, I own products from the companies that make up both Ice Force and Ice Team and I will continue to buy their products as long as they are commercially available.

it is my understanding they now own Strikemaster and I believe Marcum also. correct me if I am wrong.

[Brad B]

it all boils down to the beef I have with Rapala is how high their prices have gotten on their cranks. I would just hate to see this happen to these other ice fishing products they are marketing now. Prices keep going up and wages don't, we need to find a balance. I feel if prices rise to high it will push alot of people away from fishing(both ice and open water).

[dfeste]

Marketing partenship with Marcum.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

I am a Rapala fan through and through, but for the price, I have found that Rebel is just as good. Also, you wanna talk about the price of Raps? Look at Salmo, Sebil, and a few of the other "name brand" cranks on the market. $3 - $8 for a Rap is still cheaper than a $14+ Sebil, think about it?

[RawHog]

...I need to learn to hand build crankbaits.

[BradHawthorne]

I know the definition of monopoly. I for see them trying to buy into the other companies down the road and trying to control the whole market. I would hope the feds would step in if this ever happened. I understand they need to grow but the don't need to jack prices up in the process. when I say jack their prices look at what Rapala has done with their cranks. what years ago you could get for $3 to $5 each are now $8 to $15. materials couldn't have gone up that much in costs over the years could they.

Shad raps dropped in price at most major retailers this year..most around $1.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

...I need to learn to hand build crankbaits.

I'm with you...need to work on that this winter.

[chad austin]

Wonder what the price of gas was when we could buy $3 raps?

Wonder what the price of gas will be when rapala buys up all the oil companies.

[Norm1980]

Strategic partnerships make it easier for companies like Rapala, marcum, strikemaster etc... to work together. by having partners from each corner of the icefishing market they will gain valuable in put into every aspect of ice fishing and hopefully be able to put out a better product that we all can use to better our ice fishing experience.

Will this raise prices? possibly almost every new item costs more than the one before it, this happens with almost every company and not just in ice fishing. I think these companies all have good marketing and understand it is not in there advantage to out price there customers.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Fortunately for me I have a couple of portables, plenty of rods, dozens of reels, more jigs than I can imagine, a flasher, and a camera already. I don't need to go out and buy anymore stuff. Well, I still buy my 1000 pack of maggots every year and that really makes the wife happy when she sees them in the fridge.

There are other manufactures of crankbaits out there besides Rapala and Salmo. Some of them are junk and some work just fine, and many are lower priced. If costs are a concern (and to most people they are) there's nothing wrong with shopping around. If you're brand loyal to Rapala then you'll be paying the higher costs for their products. That's just how it is. I'll ask a question tho, directed to anyone loyal to brand X......What has brand X or the company that makes/sells brand X ever done for you to earn your devotion no matter what the cost?

[Gus]

If the two big conglomerates (clam and rapala) don't keep prices at least in check. It'll just make room for others to come into the market. Assuming there is profit after materials etc. If that is not the case, then we will be paying what we need to be. I really believe the market will take care of itself.

[CaptainMusky]

Rapala bought Polaris now?

[ib_jigged]

I heard Chevrolet is next on the list

[Finlander]

Im-Pa-La's!

[fishersofmen]

I'm concerned about the increasing cost of basic necessities for my family. As for being concerned about a fishing lure that costs 10 bucks or other products in the toy department......not so much. I think the cost of these products can only go so high before it would begin to backfire the manufacturers. They realize these aren't products people need, they are products people want.

[Brad B]

Rapala bought Polaris now?

they did not buy them. they are parterning with them.

[Black_Bay]

These Finlander's need to be stopped NOW! Next they will demand that everyone has to have more vowels in their names than consonants.