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I think everyone agrees it could have been handled differantly. I was not there so I don't know. I grew up in retale and spent 25 years as a Rep. Lefy was and reamins a freind of mine. a lot of folks thought he was a trader when he left Sage for a better Gig. Same with Bob Jacklin going to ST Croix. I understand, it was simply a better deal for them. Now with that said, the owner may have acomplished what he intended with the slam on TFO and there suporters I have had the pleasure of sending people away my self.LOL with little or no loss of business and great sadisfaction. (EXAMPLE) TFO? .... Gosh I didn't know you lived in a treiler park? Or TFO... I understand they take food stamps, but how are you feeding your kids LOL
This is not a slam on anyone DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL.
Rich
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early on in my fly fishing career i made a pilgrimage to mecca (the orvis store in manchester vt.). i was looking at a very expensive rod (which by todays prices would be mid-priced, but that's another story) and an associate came over to talk to me. i told him i loved the rod but couldn't afford it. "what rod do you fish now?" he asked. "i have an inexpensive cortland rod," i answered. "Cortland makes a very good rod," is what he answered, and to this day I'm still impressed that he said that.
[This message has been edited by D. Micus (edited 17 August 2005).]
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From the owners side of the question. Yes that is not the way to handle it. When I owned a one hour photo and camera shop we would get customers all the time buy their cameras at Wall Mart and then come to us to figure out how to use them. We helped them because we might get the film processing. But the times I had to bite my tounge was when they would come in with the film jammed in the camera and Wall Mart couldn't remove it because they had no darkroom and we would remove it for them and then they would take the film and say they were going back to Wall Mart because I was too expensive. Go figure.
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Made my twice monthly jaunt to Gene Stutzman's shop in Lebanon, Oregon. Gene was tying some beadhead caddis. We started yakking about caddis and he showed me some books he liked. I bought my TFO 3 wt. from Gene, but none of my other rods. ONe day we were talking about light rods and I mentioned my Sage 1 wt. His eyes got big and he exclaimed, "You have a 1 wt?". Next day I brought it in. He showed me his Orvis 2 wt. Gene sells neither Orvis nor Sage. It was just a couple of guys who love to fish talking about the art and its tools. While we were talking he handed me one of the flies he had been tying. I bought nothing that day but came away with that pleasant comraderie and sense of fellowship that this sport really needs.
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Tell him to check the country of manufacture on his products. Just because the finished product was "Made in the U.S.A." doesn't mean that the materials it's made from are "Made in the U.S.A.". My Red.Fly reel is made in Korea and the Orvis is made in England. I buy American products when I can but quality products are made in other nations as well. Not out to bash anyone just my 2 cents worth. I would have walked out of that so called fly shop too.
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Eric "nighthawk"
An American Proverb:
Perseverance will accomplish all things.
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what better compliment for tfo than to have the competition bashing them...
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That's interesting, b/c the shop here in Richmond sells tons of TFO's along with Sage,Loomis, Winston and Scott, and they are all too happy to do it too. Their theory is that if you treat a customer the right way, and sell them what they want or need, not just some expensive outfit, you will get their return business.~Scott
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"Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us."
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On the advice from Purebs I went to a nice sporting goods store. I took my son and his family and my wife. Now this is a big retail store lots of different sports are covered some better than others but a good selection. I wondered away from the family and wound up in the Fly area. I was looking at some of the vises that they carried and this gentleman walks up and asked me if I was interested in buying one or just looking. I told him I had just bought a vise and was comparing the features of some I had not seen. Well he gets excited and tells me I just have to see this new vise that has just come in.
We go over to the area where he gives demos and there was a nice import vise. I do not recall the brand. But it was less than 80.00 it was a beautiful vise and it was well finished. He told me with that price alone he would not be able to keep them in stock but the quality would keep people coming back to him. He had all the name brand vises, and the one I bought was there. But he was excited because he had something the average fly fisherman could use. He had expensive reels, yaks, rods of all kinds but his excitement was contagious. I was there to buy supplies. I bought over 150.00 worth of fly tying material. But he did not know what I was there for nor did he care. He was just a fly fisherman, and had someone that could appreciate seeing quality. While I was surprised at his attention I was shocked and proud to find out that my grand kids were getting the special treatment. They were in the gun room with their daddy and the people were talking to the kids so daddy could walk around and look. WE left that place knowing that we would drive the extra miles to visit them again. It takes us 2 hours to get there but it is worth the trip. I have thanked Bill a number of times for sending me there. They went the extra mile and when I told them were I was from they said if I am in a bind let them know and they will ship me what ever I need.
Service that is welcomed in this day and age.
Maddog48, I wish you had the same kind of experience. You can bet if I am ever going to the Rock I will contact you first so I know where not to spend my pennies.
Oh yes they give free fly casting lessons once a week.
Take care
Harold
[This message has been edited by Harold Hattaway (edited 17 August 2005).]
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Harold,
It is apparant that you appreciated the personal attention and enjoyed your visit to that store as well as the sales personnel appreciated your business. So, I'm curious. Why not mention the name of the store?
This IS a 'Sound Off' bb. Many companies and shops have been identified by name and raked over the coals when they've seemed to be inhospitable, unresponsive, arrogant or sell poor quality. Unless the rules dictate otherwise, why would someone say something positive, as you have done, and omit naming the store/shop?
Allan
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Allan
I was looking up the web address
The name is Bill Jackson's
The web address is
[url=http://www.billjacksons.com/fishing.htm:3ec17]http://www.billjacksons.com/fishing.htm[/url:3ec17]
You are right Allan I was very pleased and wanted to make sure I gave the correct spelling and address not just from memory.
Here is the address and telephone number.
I will not single out any one person because the whole staff was wonderful.
Bill Jackson, Inc.
9501 U.S. 19 North
Pinellas Park, Florida
(727) 576-4169
Harold