[freestoneangler]

OK, I'm cheap and hate paying retail. I'm always on the hunt for a bargain on most everything I purchase... particularly fishing gear. Of course, there are times when retail price rules the day, but as much as I can, I try and shop ahead for the expendables like fly line, tippet, tying material, etc. I think this goes back to an economics teacher in high school who really made an impression on how the market system works.

I know some folks who don't seem to care about paying retail... simply don't want to be bothered hunting for deals. In today's market, it seems sale and clearance is the norm; which begs the question how much mark-up is added to set-up for the "HUGE" discounts and still make margins.
For me, bargain hunting is almost a sport and getting good deals makes the item more enjoyable... not having to think you overpaid for its value. How about you?

 

[Olive bugger]

Well, I subscribe to the notion that you get what you pay for.
Fishing gear, and especially fly fishing gear is expensive and
prices reflect that. I think the root of this was back in the 1960 and early 1970s, when fly fishing became an elite sport in some quarters and big names outlets began to sell high end gear and vacation trips. It was no longer a good image to fish with a such an exquisite rod and a cheap reel. So now we have reels with braking systems that will stop a train for fish that grow smaller each season. All of the technology cost money, so the price went up. Once the monkey had the banana, the game was on.

But I agree, that if a person is frugal and searches at length,
there are a lot of bargains to be had.

One thing that perplexes me, is why do all fly lines cost the same. Top of the line, middle of the road, or low end, they are all the same or with in a couple of bucks of each other.

 

[generic]

To help the local fly shop, sometimes yes.

Can't blame a guy for getting the best deal he can. I've done that before too. Almost always though, it was either an "impulse" buy or the fly shop was closed - forgot I had a pair of leaky waders, and was heading out the next day.

Olive bugger touched on a "sensitive" topic to some. The whole "image" deal.

Some want/need to look good on the river, and that's okay. If that's how a guy wants to roll, cool. Me... I sometimes look like a garage sale - colors don't match, $900 rod with a $50 reel, $85 line, jacket is a shade of ''Wild Chucker Wing" brown, "Gravel Pit Gray" waders, black boots with a touch of orange.

Yah, pretty much a yard sale, but I'm dry and comfortable.

I did pay retail for all of the above, but found the best value/deal. Could have paid more to "match", but don't care.

Making this public will only hurt my chances of getting an invite to ride in Swimmy's boat. Hmm... Maybe I should have gone with the "Savory Sage" sling pack.

 

[Bill Burr]

I will only buy fishing gear if it is on sale...or even gently used like the Sage Accel rod I bought from the classifieds, which has been great. I will scour the internet for the best deal but if it's for something like a product that is being discontinued or updated, then I will ask a local fly shop if they'll match the price I'd found online. If they can come close, I prefer to keep the business local. I've bought almost everything else from Sierra Trading post at a nice discount and sort of enjoy playing the discount/coupon game.

There are some things that are price fixed and for those items, then there is no option. For example, I build furniture and as my old DIY/starter tools crap out, I like to replace them with higher end tools and have found that many higher end tool manufacturers require that retailers charge the same price. If a retailer is caught selling their tools for anything different than factory MSRP, they cease doing business with them. I'm alright with that because it takes the "hunt" completely out of the picture.

 

[Jeremy Floyd]

I buy. I don't shop.

Once I have made up my mind over what I want, nothing else satisfies.

If I can help out a small business while getting the thing I want, I always do.

 

[mcoomer]

I typically try to shop for the best deal, once I settle on an item that I want. I've got no problems dropping serious money on my toys but there is no reason to not look around and try to get them at the best price. I work too hard for my money and have too many things to spend it on, fun stuff and not fun stuff, to be careless with it. My typical pattern when I try something new is to buy entry and mid level gear until I'm sure I'm going to take it up then upgrade to high end components as I find them. Following that strategy with some patience allows me to shop around and stretch my money.

Mike

 

[mtskibum16]

I buy. I don't shop.

Once I have made up my mind over what I want, nothing else satisfies.

If I can help out a small business while getting the thing I want, I always do.

That's my problem. I pretty much decide exactly what I want, then set out to find it cheap. After a few days looking online I usually just end up buying it at full price.

 

[Jim F.]

I buy. I don't shop.
Once I have made up my mind over what I want, nothing else satisfies.
If I can help out a small business while getting the thing I want, I always do.

Ditto. I will attempt to find a good price on big-ticket items & would be delighted to support a local shop, but we don't have one here so I pretty much stick with a preferred list of internet businesses who have provided good service and reasonably-priced goods.

 

[Carter Burke]

I have talked with a few local shop owners and one of their biggest frustrations was to get the hard sell from the rep, invest a bunch of money to stick inventory then 3 months later the items get discontinued and the shop loses all it's profit. If I could afford it I'd buy retail. As it is I rarely buy anything fishing related. Even if it's something I need I usually just go without and make do with what I have. That said I have had 30 years to collect stuff making do is not difficult.

 

[FinLuver]

Retail Regular Price = 50-60% GM
Sale Price = 20-40%
Clearance = 10-20%
Very rarely does Retail Break Even or take a loss.
But keep in mind, this is Gross Margin; and Regular Price could higher or lower depending on the retailer's size and buying power (deals struck), plus the backend rebates.

Net Margin is another story and tells the true story.

 

[The Drifter]

I don't really care. If I want something, I will get it. If it is on sale, even better. I'm not going to spend days on end searching for the bargain.

I also don't buy shit just cause it is on sale. I'd rather pay full price for something I use often than get a deal on and rarely use it.

 

[freestoneangler]

I will scour the internet for the best deal but if it's for something like a product that is being discontinued or updated, then I will ask a local fly shop if they'll match the price I'd found online. If they can come close, I prefer to keep the business local.

Never tried this approach... how often does it work? I would think one might get a whole bunch of "stink eye" just asking.

 

[Bill Burr]

Never tried this approach... how often does it work? I would think one might get a whole bunch of "stink eye" just asking.

It's hit or miss. As an example, a few years ago Simms was updating their Freestone wading boots (changed colors) so many places were starting to mark them down to make way for the new versions. Some discounts were greater than others so I went into a local fly shop here in Seattle and mentioned I'd seen them a little cheaper online but I'd prefer to give my business to them. They didn't quite match it but came close...close enough for me to buy them right there and have better recourse if there was a problem with them. If the question is asked respectfully, the response is usually respectful...even if the response is "sorry, but no".

 

[hbmcc]

I bought a rod locally at full retail. Two weeks later it was discounted by 40%, everywhere. Discontinued. Newbie learned his lesson. I will never buy a new rod for more than 60% of its MSRP. I will never buy a used rod for more than 50% of retail, even if it "never saw water"; because it was bought during the discontinuation sale.

 

[freestoneangler]

I bought a rod locally at full retail. Two weeks later it was discounted by 40%, everywhere. Discontinued. Newbie learned his lesson. I will never buy a new rod for more than 60% of its MSRP. I will never buy a used rod for more than 50% of retail, even if it "never saw water"; because it was bought during the discontinuation sale.

You bring up another aspect of this discussion... saving by not having to have the latest marketing bait. Sure, there are some hot off the press items that are just too good not to have straight out of the gate -- but that's the exception IMHO. For example, I'm still looking for my first ghost net as an upgrade from now near relic soft, no knot nylon mesh...which was almost a relic when I bought it on sale .

I don't really care. If I want something, I will get it. If it is on sale, even better. I'm not going to spend days on end searching for the bargain.

I also don't buy shit just cause it is on sale. I'd rather pay full price for something I use often than get a deal on and rarely use it.

But as a Simm's employee, aren't you obligated to promote full retail price?

 

[plaegreid]

One thing that perplexes me, is why do all fly lines cost the same. Top of the line, middle of the road, or low end, they are all the same or with in a couple of bucks of each other.

Just seems like a reason to get the good stuff to me!

 

[Olive bugger]

Well, I have to say that I have a great empathy for the small shop owners. Look at the inventory that they have to carry to satisfy our desire to build flies and burn out rods and reels.
Somebody has to support that or else they will go the way of the dodo bird. We certainly do not want that.

 

[tackleman]

I seldom buy new hard goods at retail - rods, reels, lines, boots, waders, etc. unless an emergency requires it. My local shop has a great sale every year between Christmas and New Year. A quick inventory has me stock up on as many things as I predict needing for tying and fishing. It's not perfect so I visit periodically through the year to purchase what I need. New tying products I'll buy on-line simply because the shop doesn't have it. When considering new goods of any sort I'll shop the net for pricing but will buy it from my local shop if they're within 10% - 15%. Bricks and mortar cost money, and immediate satisfaction does as well. I have no problem with someone making a reasonable 'buck' selling goods at 'retail' prices.

 

[McFly]

While I have found some sale items at Cabelas too good to pass up, I will generally support my local fly shop where I always get excellent service and support. I encourage others to do the same whenever they can, however I understand that some folks are on a tight budget and we all know this can be a rather expensive sport.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Bout the only thing I've bought retail was a Meiser rod and a couple of SGS lines. Retirement gift to myself. I've bought most rods 2nd hand for 50-60% retail or less. Never broken a fly rod so warranties don't concern me. Waders, boots, just about everything I've bought is sale or clearance. No local fly shops so I have no problems with internet purchases.