Big Box Stores vs. Mom and Pop

Now that I am in a mood (as my wife would put it), let me go on my little rant about Mom and Pop stores vs the big corporate stores.

Yesterday we had a gentleman come in with a rod in one hand, a spool of line and a reel in the other hand. First glance told me that the closed faced reel, the Shakespeare rod, or the spool of line he was carrying wasn’t from our store, we don’t carry those brands.

He approached the counter   he told me he bought the rod and reel, and line at DICKS, and could I help him put the line on the reel, he didn’t know how. I asked him why he didn’t have DICKS put the line on the reel, and he informed me, that DICKS doesn’t do that. I took the reel, and noticed that as usual on a closed faced reel there was line on it, maybe 6lb test. I told him that, he said he knew, but the guy at DICKS suggested he put 30lb test on it if he was fishing for Fluke, and sold him the quarter pound roll of line for $19.95. I explained to him that we could take the 6lb off and put the 30lb on, but he would only have a line capacity of 25-30 yards.  He wanted the 6lb test removed, and the 30 put on, so I did it, and charged him $3.  He said, “My friend said you would put the line on for free!” I informed him we would have lined the reel for free if he purchased the line here, but he bought it at DICKS. I asked him why he didn’t buy his bait at DICKS, and he said, “They don’t sell bait.” I explained to him, that someday, he will come to a store like ours to buy bait or get some local information or to get line put on his reel, and the shop will be boarded up a big sign on the front OUT OF BUSINESS. I also pointed out that when people are having a fund raiser for the sick kid, or the local baseball team, who do they go to…MOM AND POP shops. What happens if you go to Wal Mart et al, for a donation? You have to get on a corporate list, be approved and then maybe if you’re approved in a year you will get a donation. In the meantime, the local baseball team disbanded, the kids that are sick are no better off. But that Mom and Pop shop, put up your banner, donated a couple of bucks, and maybe even some equipment. Why would a Mom and Pop do that? Because they are part of the community, they know you, and know your problems.

Now that I have had my rant, hopefully you will remember this the next time you go to buy fishing or hunting equipment from the kid at the big box store, that was selling athletic socks, golf clubs, treadmills or towels yesterday.

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