It occurs to me that though I had/have problems with S&H costs for a small order…now to drive across town to a fly shop may actually cost more than ordering by mail.
And it may get worse:p
What may get worse? It will get worse. As soon as the corporations discover that they need gas to deliver the mail, there will be a huge increase in postage.
I will bet everything I own on that. So doug if yer a bettin man… 
Ps my drive across town to the nearest fly shop takes 3 hours round trip. If the bridge traffic is lite that day, otherwise its 4 hours. So I am stuck with S&H charges.
Duckster: While you might be correct about the cost is it worth having to wait for a mail order, back orders, etc, etc, ??
Tim
I used to be more friendly with my Gas Attendant, but it is a more polite relationship now. I remember when my fill up was 20 bucks and yesterday I got nine gallons for 40 bucks! 
Doug
If I take my truck to my local fly shop, it will cost me $19.04 for fuel, based on the prices listed today, that of $4.28 per gallon for regular gas. That means I will for sure want to have a good sized shopping list. Why spend $19 for fuel to buy a $10 item?
But, if I buy $100 worth of items, then I will also be spending $8.90 in taxes, so my $100 worth of product just turned into $127.94. That is almost 28% more than the product is worth.
If I order the same items from a fly shop I use in Dillon, Montana, then I pay no shipping on orders of $100 or more and no sales tax. True, I do not get the items that same day, but I am saving myself 28% compared to buying it locally.
When I need something right now I buy from my local fly shop, otherwise I order my items from Montana.
Larry —sagefisher—
True, but there is nothing like spending time at a flyshop checking out all the goodies and yapping with the folks at the shop.
I officially stopped running to Cabela’s, (my most local flyshop) to shop several weeks ago. The drive versus shipping costs are a wash for the items I usually buy.
Besides with the mass of Cabela’s points I have; it’s a way smarter option.
Hear what you are saying, and I’m pretty much in the same boat, except my local fly shop is a bit closer and I can combine a trip there with some other things I like to do in town ( Idaho Falls ).
What comes to mind though is this - will the cost of gas be the death knell for how many more local fly shops ??
I tell ya, I’d give my right arm for a descent fly/tackle shop around my area. The closest, well stocked fly shop, is about 5-6hr drive across state, Cabela’s & BassPro about a 3.5hr drive … and if you’ve been to a Cabela’s or BassPro shop you “NEVER” just walk out with you came to get! 
I do almost all my purchasing on line now, with gas at about $4 a gal., and fish more the local closer lakes in the area. Most of them don’t allow gas power boat motors.
Mike
Gnu Bee,
Sounds like a business opportunity in the making.
Gnu Bee Flyer Shoppe
Jim
Let just face the truth !! EVERYTHING COSTS MORE OR IS GOING TO COST MORE :twisted: and non of us will like it.
It is awful.
I too calculated a round trip cost of about $6.00 just to run to the shop for $8.00 in materials.
Odd this was posted, I am still letting this stew in my head…I live pretty close to the shop but round trip adds up to almost 2 gallons and I drive a small car…UGH!
The effects of increasing fuel costs are going to be massive, forget Europe…we live pretty spread out here, can’t walk to the shops, work or entertainment.
Wow! This whole, thread, is like “instant De’javou” (sp?, who cares?).
Some time ago, (many of you will be old enough to remember when), several of us were taking a break and resting some water on the St.Joe River in north Idaho.
The conversation turned to “The rising price of gasoline and what were we each, going to do, to change our plans accordingly to offset the; “UNREAL HIGH PRICE” at the local pumps?”
One guy, in the group, flat out stated… “Well, I know what I’M GOING TO DO!! I’m going to STOP DRIVING MY CAR and STAY HOME!!”
Another in the group, made reference to "fishing anywhere he could get to, ONLY “by bicycle”!
We talked a little longer about the gas prices, being charged at that time and the final “decision” was made between us that… “IF… gasoline ever hits the predicted .75 @ gallon, that the oil companies at the time were predicting, something would have to be done, for alternate means of transportation”!!
We all have had similar talks, since then too. When it hit a $1.00 a gallon, $1.25 a gallon and… each of us, are STILL fishing the same waters, making the same trips and still having just as much fun, doing it.