Why so few tackle discounts locally and online?

[Chris B.]

I've been bass fishing for just under 2 years and have bought my fair share of tackle at local and online stores. I'm wondering why it's been so tough to find a true discount seller of tackle. Even vendors known as "discount sellers" are selling most of their stuff at list price, at least that I can tell.

This is especially mystifying to me given the state of our economy. Am I the only bass fisherman looking for ways to save money? So far eBay is the only place I've found where you can get true deals if you're willing to spend some time poking around (even if it is hit or miss at times).

I could bring up many examples (lures, line, hooks, culling systems, etc) where I have spent lots of time doing comparison shopping only to find every vendor charging exactly the same price. In most retail segments I would expect consumers to complain and shift their purchases to companies who offer discounts. What better way to say "we want your business!"

If the problem is that suppliers are illegally forcing price-fixing agreements on their resellers, then that should be addressed in court. I have not yet gathered enough info to conclude that is what's going on but I am making some calls.

Before you add your comment on how important it is to "support our local stores," please spare me the hearts and flowers music. In this tight economy, even small discounts on staple items would be welcomed. I can't tell you how many times I have said "forget it" to local stores since I pretty much know I won't get any breaks. Do they know this? Hard to tell by their actions.

One last thing: if enough are as disappointed as I am, I would be curious to know what tackle items you would really like to see discounts on. Maybe we can "motivate" a few sellers to get with the program...

[Steve Reed]

Basstackledepot.com had a pretty good promotion where they were giving away a powell rod with a certain X amount purchase.

And I know that monsterfishingtackle.com has a 10% discount. Use the classicskt code on their checkout page and receive 10% on total order.

[macinckirk]

Well I for 1 buy 85% or more of my stuff on SALE and then I buy ALOT of it (more then I could use in a year) I only pay full price on BPS Floro Line and if I just have to have something, or like at the BAT or when I'm out of town and hit the local tackle store for that special bait that never works or gets used

This year I'm not buying anything unless its a real good deal/sale or if I HAVE TO HAVE IT. The Market is Down things look Bad and I just don't have the extra to just spend, so if any sellers/store want my money they need to start having some GREAT Sales

I guess what I'm trying to say here is I worked hard for my money and I need to get the best bang for my buck so I have no problum spending it were I can get the most for it

[Bill Hutcheson]

Chris,

Having been in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and export side of the outdoor business for the past 30 years, I can tell you that on large ticket items such as rods & reels, many manufacturer's have a "minimum retail" policy that applies to their products. This is done to make sure that a retailer will make a fair margin on a product without someone undercutting the price and ruining the value and image of the product that the manufacturer has worked hard to establish.

What happens to those retailers who break rank with these minimum retails? They often will lose any advertising co-op funds they have accrued with the manufacturer. Additionally,they will suddenly find that thier orders are not getting shipped due to a "backorder" status. It is also possible that the manufacturer will simply chose to cut them off completely.

As far as lesser priced items are concerned such as lures and terminal tackle, the truth of the matter is that this is where the retailer makes his highest profit margin - the margins that help keep his doors open. Take for example a Lucky Craft Lure. Most retailers will be able to buy a typical lucky craft bait through a wholesaler for around $9.99. They will then retail it for $14.99 to $16.99 each - giving them a 50-70% mark-up and a 34-42% profit.

Contrast this to a typical baitcasting reel that they invest $200 in to sell for $229. This ties up more inventory dollars yet gives them only a 15% mark-up and a 13% profit. When I was in business, I only dealt with sales of Japanese lures as I could make more money selling 3 Lucky Craft Baits than I could selling a high dollar Shimano rod or reel - and tie up fewer dollars in inventory in the process.

I have never begrudged a retailer the ability to make a profit as long as thier pricing was in line with other retailers. In today's tough economy, I don't blame the retailers for holding thier pricing so they can keep thier doors open. With all of the expenses associated with a retail tackle shop, it is no wonder that more have not dropped off in recent months...........

[Mike Phua]

I'm gonna take a wild guess that neither of you own a shop or even work at one for that matter.

First of all let me start with We aren't Charities and We aren't non profit organizations. Dude even the Goodwill Charges you for stuff that they didn't even pay for. How stupid is that?

Here's a solution Chris B. If you don't want to support your local dealers which you clearly stated with this nice comment:

Before you add your comment on how important it is to "support our local stores," please spare me the hearts and flowers music.

Start your own shop that way you'll get eveything for cost and that way you can sell some of these other guys on here their tackle as well. By the way thanks for support NOT!

Mike Phua
Anglers Marine
Sales Manager

[Marc]

I'll also add my two cents about the current economy. Chris, when some people are struggling to put food on their table, and are out of work, where do you think they will cut back on their budgets? Discretionary spending is the first place where people tighten their belts.

Lets face it, for most people, buying fishing tackle is discretionary spending, and I can tell you that with people losing their 401ks (or are they now 201ks?) fishing tackle sales are taking a hard hit!

Reducing prices will negatively affect margins more than can be made up by a slight increase in volume. The costs of getting the product into the hands of the angler far exceeds the profit margin in almost any fishing tackle product.

Many tackle companies are choosing to not bring new product to market at the moment, and more and more manufacturers, distributors, reps, and tackle stores are closing their doors. Putting product on sale works better when you can afford to make less profit...not many are in that position at the moment.

ciao,
Marc
West Coast Tackle & Co.

[Chris B.]

I'm gonna take a wild guess that neither of you own a shop or even work at one for that matter.

First of all let me start with We aren't Charities and We aren't non profit organizations. Dude even the Goodwill Charges you for stuff that they didn't even pay for. How stupid is that?

"Dude," listen to the actual message before you rail on. I'm a consumer. I'm saying I'm taking my biz where I find the best prices, even if the discounts are nominal. Noone is saying they expect free stuff. Sheesh.

And I certainly don't need to start my own store. I just need to find more stores that understand how to attract and keep consumers like me. Ya know, the kind that actually shop for stuff.

[Marc]

BTW, let me add that despite significant increases in manufacturing and shipping costs, because of the economy I have decided to freeze my prices on QuickDrops dropshot sinkers to 2007 prices! So while you may not see a "sale" sticker on packages of QuickDrops, trust me, they are on sale. I'm sure other manufacturers do the same thing wherever they can.

ciao,
Marc

[Oldschool]

Chris, your best buy will be at the local pro tackle shops that carry to end products. Last years inventory is often discounted to move it and you can find some phenominal deals.
You support the people who keep state of the art tackle on hand to touch and feel and know exactly what you purchasing.
Tom

[Chris B.]

Chris,

Having been in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and export side of the outdoor business for the past 30 years...

I have never begrudged a retailer the ability to make a profit as long as thier pricing was in line with other retailers. In today's tough economy, I don't blame the retailers for holding thier pricing so they can keep thier doors open. ....

Bill, well made points. If so many identical prices I see are due to supplier min-price agreements, they may ultimately be limiting their own sales. I see good competitive pricing by shopping for GPS/fishfinder electronics. Too bad so many tackle items are locked down.

As to sticking with list prices as a way to stay in business, I would find it hard to believe that if a few sellers decided to get aggressive with reasonable discount policies, they would get a huge share of business right now. That's how a free market is supposed to work.

[Marc]

they would get a huge share of business right now. That's how a free market is supposed to work.

The free market is working, but a huge share of very little is still very little!

Any store or manufacturer that doesn't keep their margins competitive will learn first hand how the free market works.

ciao,
Marc

[bassenvy]

The best way for you to save money on tackle is to start making your own. The advantage is you will have everything you need in custom colors,weight,hooks,etc.... You can even get a few friends to split costs.

[Marc]

Yep, you are right! Just be careful or the next thing you know everyone else will want what you are making, and then you will find yourself in business and trying to figure out how you can make them affordable!

ciao,
Marc

[brambo0311]

Bass fishing for almost 2 years, and your all ready pissed off. I say go find a new hobby, your blood pressure is gunna go HPDI.

Or you can buy your Molds from barrlows, and your rubber from tacklecraft and make your own stuff. Saves me allot of money. As far as crank baits and soft plastics I am afraid your just gunna have suck it up like the rest of us.

[DeltaDan]

Walmart in Antioch has ALOT of tackle clearanced right now for $2.00 and less towards spinnerblades/chatterbaits/saltwater grubs/saltwater heads ect..


I didin't buy any -- I am already stocked to the gills from Gene's shop.


About the only thing I order on-line now is the Big Hammer line of baits -- and with any order of $75 or more I get free shipping and some other swag that they always throw in for free.


For line and same Castaic Gizzard shad baits -- with misc tackle .. I will order from TW.


Those are the three shops I shop with. If I bitch about pricing I can always launch and fish w/o ever firing up the big motor and save gas and oil. (I Cleaned out Walmart of there Quicksilver PremiumPlus for DFI yesterday at $22 a gallon. )


For those with Johnson motors -- They have Jonhson Oil for $16.28 a gallon currently.

[alpha]

I've been bass fishing for just under 2 years and have bought my fair share of tackle at local and online stores. I'm wondering why it's been so tough to find a true discount seller of tackle. Even vendors known as "discount sellers" are selling most of their stuff at list price, at least that I can tell....

I have been wondering the same thing myself. But as an individual consumer, I cannot control the price attached to the fishing equipment I want. I can only control how I will spend my money. This year... I've decided to not get the latest and greatest and start using all the items that I've purchased throughout the years. This will easily keep me busy for a few years. If I see a deal on something that I want, I'll get it. Otherwise, I'll enjoy what I already have.

[Jim Moulton]

Chris
You don't know the mark up on tackle so If everyone sold thier product for cost I'm sure you would still be waiting for stuff to go on sale thinking that there has to be a better price out there. OR Maybe we should open a store with really high prices and tell you everything is on sell for 50% off that way you feel good inside. I know this sounds a little mean but Dude there is very little profit in tackle sales.
Like a post above stated look for discountinued items most tackle stores have a bunch of that they would love to get rid of. Jim

[stickbait]

Chris,

Having been in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and export side of the outdoor business for the past 30 years, I can tell you that on large ticket items such as rods & reels, many manufacturer's have a "minimum retail" policy that applies to their products. This is done to make sure that a retailer will make a fair margin on a product without someone undercutting the price and ruining the value and image of the product that the manufacturer has worked hard to establish.

What happens to those retailers who break rank with these minimum retails? They often will lose any advertising co-op funds they have accrued with the manufacturer. Additionally,they will suddenly find that thier orders are not getting shipped due to a "backorder" status. It is also possible that the manufacturer will simply chose to cut them off completely.

As far as lesser priced items are concerned such as lures and terminal tackle, the truth of the matter is that this is where the retailer makes his highest profit margin - the margins that help keep his doors open. Take for example a Lucky Craft Lure. Most retailers will be able to buy a typical lucky craft bait through a wholesaler for around $9.99. They will then retail it for $14.99 to $16.99 each - giving them a 50-70% mark-up and a 34-42% profit.

Contrast this to a typical baitcasting reel that they invest $200 in to sell for $229. This ties up more inventory dollars yet gives them only a 15% mark-up and a 13% profit. When I was in business, I only dealt with sales of Japanese lures as I could make more money selling 3 Lucky Craft Baits than I could selling a high dollar Shimano rod or reel - and tie up fewer dollars in inventory in the process.

I have never begrudged a retailer the ability to make a profit as long as thier pricing was in line with other retailers. In today's tough economy, I don't blame the retailers for holding thier pricing so they can keep thier doors open. With all of the expenses associated with a retail tackle shop, it is no wonder that more have not dropped off in recent months...........

Very Very well said..

If a guy can't make 30 to 35% return on his investment..with overhead the way it is now days... ya might as well close the doors!

The same goes for the guys that run tournaments!

[leachman90]

Hey Marc, Just got Quick Drops the other day,can't wait and get out there and try them.Hopefully we will alittle warm up here soon on the main river.Thanks for freezing the price,I will try and send folks your way.GB...Jim

[Marc]

Thanks Jim. Let me know how you like them! We are already starting our tournaments here on the west side; it would be killing me if I were in your area with no tourneys to fish. Guess you'll be heading down to Patterson to chase Mama Pesce soon!

ciao,
Marc

[Jeff Huth]

Drop me a PM , I know of a few tackle shops for sale that you can apply your theory at. Maybe nows the time for a career change !

P.S. You may want to learn the differance between "minimum retail" and "list price" first. It WILL make a differance in your profits.

[Sean Graf]

Shop around, as Delta Dan said, there are quite a few Walmarts AND Kmarts, Sports Authorities and Big 5 stores throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area that have items on clearance. This is the time of the year that the big stores re-set their fishing areas, take advantage of the bargains!

In the bay area alone, I saw numerous packages of Robo Worms for 2 bucks OR LESS a pack on clearance, not some crap colors either.

Also, look for dump bins in stores, you can find some pretty decent product( Bass - Trout - Etc ) from $1.99 - 3.99. These items are big sellers in most stores.

Another way I have learned to save money is to use "Confidence products". I no longer buy anything and everything, I use colors that have worked for me and have downsized my tackle bill that way!

[leachman90]

Marc,
shhh lol

[MARK D. INMAN]

Buying a tackle shop sound like fun.

[drrakruz]

Lets face it, for most people, buying fishing tackle is discretionary spending, and I can tell you that with people losing their 401ks (or are they now 201ks?) fishing tackle sales are taking a hard hit!

It's actually 200.5Ks

If you guys want to save some serious $$$$ and get the best bargains out there, 4 letters: EBAY!!

Like everything else in today's economy, it's a buyer's market! You can literally save anywhere from 30-50% on anything if you learn the system! Zoom baits, Shimano reels, swimbaits, electronics....the list is endless! I've been a member for 5 years now and the deals are unbeatable! It's the nation's biggest garage sale with the best prices hands down!!

[Kevin]

I'm calling Michael Moorer and Oliver Stone right away to get on this one. This conspiracy must be revealed and thank you Chris for bringing this to all of our attention.