I use my local fly shop for 99% of my purchases. I do so because it is the only flyshop within 60 miles of my location.I also want to keep them in business. They have been in business for going on three years. I only started flyfishing when this shop opened so I am basically an offspring of the shop. Here is where they have fallen short in my view. They have a regular group or perhaps insiders you might call them . When I go in on a weekend , there are usually two to three at the tying table in the back with BS going on. The owner is back there with the group. The person that comes to help me is the 16 year old son of one of the insiders who perhaps works there I am not sure. The owner does not come to greet me. I have done approximately $1000+/yr. business with him over 2 1/2 years. He knows me. I am not offended by being ignored, but this is a poor business practice is it not. The owner should be glad handling every body that walks into the store whether he knows them or not. Good cutomer relations (eg. the customer is king) applies to flyshops as it does to any customer oriented business right. The same flyshop has not updated their website once since the store opened. I have purchased stuff from the shop that has needed to be ordered and sometimes it takes up to two to three weeks to arrive. When I initially place the order, I do not know how long it will take to arrive. the shop owner tells me , he will call. Two weeks later and no call. I get in touch with him and find out that it is taking this long. Should he not have called me say in a week to update me. Again I do not want special treatment but good cutomer relations are not practiced by my shop. I guess my observation is;How many flyshops are run or owned by people who do not know how to do business in the retail environment. There are good flyshops that succeed and they do so by having excellent customer relations. Just because you are an excellent flyfisherman and tyer does not translate into being a good businessman!!