Not impressed with the Deals

[Northlander]

There were many good deals to be had at the show. I saw great deals on everything from jigging spoons, LED lights, ice houses, augers, flashers and clothing. If you didnt get a good deal on something you purchased maybe you didnt work that hard. Retailers are there to make money and arent going to sell you things at bottom dollar if they dont have to. You have to make them work against each other, play the game.

Still I love the big show its a blast seeing and talking to all the fellow fisherman. I also saw some very cool inventions.

[schweady]

Used to be, the shows were the first place you could see the year's new items. Not the case anymore.

[Chaws]

You have to buy a lot of small stuff to make it seem like you're getting a great deal. On the other hand, buy a big priced item and you can get a great deal. I got $150 off a JM Thermal X which normally goes for $799 and payed $20 for a hitch. That's a pretty great savings considering that stuff never seems to go on sale at any of the big box stores or at Reeds.

[FirstIce]

Why don't they move it to a bigger location? Every year people complain about how shoulder to shoulder packed it is. I'm sure that is a good reason why people don't go or why they might not want to go back. It makes for an annoying show when you have to fight just to move a couple feet.

[Nisswaguy]

I know I won't be back for the simple reason of how crowded it is. I was there on Saturday at 10am and it was perfect for about the first 30 minutes but then the crowd was huge. I would return if it was more spread out.

[broman]

I know I won't be back for the simple reason of how crowded it is. I was there on Saturday at 10am and it was perfect for about the first 30 minutes but then the crowd was huge. I would return if it was more spread out.

I was lugging two kids with and it's a pain. They should have moved it to Blaine. The line for admissions was hundreds of people long Saturday morning. Took 20 minutes to get our tickets. Ridiculous.

[leech~~]

I know I won't be back for the simple reason of how crowded it is. I was there on Saturday at 10am and it was perfect for about the first 30 minutes but then the crowd was huge. I would return if it was more spread out.

I really wish they would move it over to the Mpls C/center. There's a lot more room and a better layout there! I mite even go again!

[hunt fish repeat]

Why don't they move it to a bigger location? Every year people complain about how shoulder to shoulder packed it is. I'm sure that is a good reason why people don't go or why they might not want to go back. It makes for an annoying show when you have to fight just to move a couple feet.

Or maybe just two weekends instead of one.

[friendly]

Heading to the show on Friday in Rothschild, WI. Not looking for deals or freebies, but will pick up a few smaller items for sure. Going more to hang out with my fishing buddys and other addicts!

[Tracker55]

I stopped by the HSO booth as well, and it didn't seem like anyone really wanted to talk. I actually got a less than friendly vibe from a lot of places.

I stopped by the HSO booth on Saturday and met Rick for the first time. He was more than cordial and willing to talk and when I told him my screen name he acted like we'd been friends for a while. Did we talk for hours? No. There were only about a bazillion people there and you cant talk to everyone. Some of the vendors weren't overly friendly but I suspect it was even worse on Sunday. Can you imagine how many people they saw? How many stupid questions they answered?

[Chaws]

Some of the vendors weren't overly friendly but I suspect it was even worse on Sunday. Can you imagine how many people they saw? How many stupid questions they answered?

I went on Friday and was in line when they opened the gates to the floor and even within the first few hours of the show, a lot of guys or "pro staffers" must have been drinking the night before because a lot of them weren't all that interested in talking or trying to help sell product at the booths that they were at (Reeds, Thorne Bros, etc). I was pretty disappointed in that largely. Even the guy at the Triton trailer booth, with no one else around, didn't really want to talk to me or try and sell me a trailer in which I actually was looking to possibly purchase.

[Getanet]

Sorry you felt that way. please clarify as to what day you were there. If it was on Saturday there was alot of staff there and they would of talked to you had you come up and said I'm djfeif from the site. if it was sunday there was less of us there and a few of us were out walking the floor at times so we might not have been in the booth when you were there. also remember by sunday afternoon a lot of us were tired from being at the show for 2 or 3 days straight. my advice would be to come up to the booth next time and introduce your self and start a conversation that way.

I didn't go to the show but I think I have a great idea for you guys. If you set up a dunk tank at your booth, where HSO members could pay to dunk LimitOut, and promoted it on this site, you'd probably make enough money in one weekend to take the rest of the year off.

[IamZombie]

I thought there were some decent deals advertised. JR's was selling their $30 rods BOGO.

[NKLCOLT1911]

it would be awesome if it was at the convention center!

[IamZombie]

it would be awesome if it was at the convention center!

Yeah, that would be nice. Some room to spread out with wide aisles.

[broman]

it would be awesome if it was at the convention center!

[NKLCOLT1911]

broman, thats a great idea, i also love the way you worded your comments to them.

[chippy]

I got there Friday at around 1:15 and around 1:45 that thing was packed shoulder to shoulder already. I made a few purchases, but really I had a hard time looking at items because there were so many folks there.

Plus I totally missed out on the HSO booths.. well the whole 2nd level entirely! They should've put up some signs or something!

[mwalleye]

Well this post sure took a turn from not very good deals IMO to slamming vendors and custumer service which in my experience was rather good with the amount of people that were there which there were alot. Once I did make my purchases it was rather hard to get out with the hand full arm full of stuff. I guess what I was trying to get at was that with all the people that attend every year that the vendors could have probly made there money with deeper discounts and pere item I expected to pay min. of $200 on about three different items that I researched before I left home and there so called deals could not beat my home town reg. prices must be the big city I will keep it local next time but I will attend again.

[mwalleye]

glad to hear that but I had $650 to spend on a few items not a $1000 for two items.

[gob4me]

I went saturday night and a blast.My son and I went reeds booth and got several deals: 13 fishing combos were half price bought [4] along with [2] tony roach combos half price .Then walking around buying new lures thinking this is best [it gets better]My wife and daughter had a suprise.They bought me the ION auger got a awesome deal $ 80.00 off.What a night when they said SUPRISE.Then I thought we were going home but it gets better they also got me a Clam Denali thermel.I better not say what they paid for it.I was shocked.It help's to have pretty women along.