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September 22nd, 1997
"PLUCKING A PIGEON, or
how not to get."
Could this have been you? You had a little time
on your hands. You wandered into a fly shop and started looking
around at all the neat stuff. You had fished a few years ago
with a fly but you didn't really know what you were doing,
and that was all right at the time. You seem to remember you
fished for browns; yes, that's it. They were brown trout.
Not wanting to appear that you came in by accident,
when the clerk strolls over and
purrs, "Hi, can I help you?"
You open your big mouth and make life really easy
for this guy. "What kind of fly works good here for brown
trout?" you say.
Do you realize what you have just told him? Here are
a few things of which he can now
be reasonably sure about you.
You don't know that browns take many different flies at many different times. You
don't know that you should match the fly to the food the trouts are eating. You probably
can't cast well, you don't know your equipment, and you're a real novice.
Hey, you could be a "pigeon."
You have interest, probably some money, the time to go fishing. You don't have a clue
about fly fishing. Hang on to your feathers. You could lose a few. This might be easy
plucking and now it's all up to him. Remember that he does this for a living!
As you answered, he may have been thinking; "fly tying lessons, fly tying materials,
casting lessons, a rod, a reel, a new line, leaders, all kinds of stuff. Let me see how much I
can build this sale right now." If you get out of there without spending money on
something, it will be a miracle.
You may hear him say, "Well gee, that depends on a few things." Translated that
means: "I need more information; this guy might even need waders."
"Are you new to our area?" he smiles, getting really friendly now. He may welcome
you to the area, shake hands, tell you his name and just happen to mention that he's been
guiding fly fishermen for years and probably knows more than anyone around.
And, guess what your thinking? "Hey, am I in luck, this guy likes me and he's a real
guide. Boy, I can learn a lot from him. Maybe I could get into this. It won't cost me
anything just to talk to this guy." Well, guess again. He has rent, expenses, wages, taxes
and bills. He is going to make money on someone, and I've seen too many pigeons lose
their plumage when they shouldn't have.
So what happened to the free lunch?
Fly shop owners have to make a choice. They can treat their customers only one of
two ways. One is to view each customer as a new, and potentially long term friend, a
kindred spirit. Give him all the best information about gear, places, when to go, and what
to use. Figure that he'll keep coming back as he grows in the sport and continues to
purchase more and different equipment over the years. You might call this "the long
view."
The second way is to treat each customer as a "pigeon," to be plucked at once for
every buck he can get. It's his business and his idea is to make as much as he can in sales
each and every day.
Besides, the "pigeon" may never come in again; get him now. I call that " the short
view." What should the owner do? That's his choice; short view, long view, it's his
business.
I'm pleased to say that most owners take the long
view. At least the successful ones.
They are dedicated sportsmen, conservationists, and know what they're talking about.
Most wouldn't recommend a certain fly rod just because they have too many on hand, nor
a reel because they make more on it than another.
They wouldn't "schlep" something off on you, fix you up with the wrong flies, nor too
many leaders. They'll will give you good advice, straight information, honest
recommendations and a fair deal. You're important to them as a person, not how much
they can make off you.
How can you tell them apart? It's not easy, just be advised. Did you get a chance to
try a few rods outside? Did he suggest that perhaps you should attend a meeting of the
local fishing club before you buy much? Sort of feel it out? So you did have a clue?
Or, when you left the store were afraid to tell your spouse how much you just spent on
all this stuff; whatever it is?
Did you just get plucked?~ JC
Till next week, remember ...
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