Thanks to all for the feedback on bass boats. I am a little leery of Angler's. I've been fishing for a little over a year. I thought I bought my first boat for skiing, but I haven't towed a thing but baits since I got my first tight line. My wife and everybody I know would say I've become a fanatic.

What I'm trying to say is that while I'm still learning, I don't feel totally ignorant. Until, that is, I walk into Angler's Marine.

I can buy most of the baits I want on the internet. I make the trip to a tackle shop for a little advice and human contact. I don't go to be treated like an idiot by someone half my age. The staff at Angler's acts like they are doing me a favor by making the merchandise available. I certainly don't want that in a boat dealer.

The only time that I have been treated with any respect at Angler's is the one time that I didn't ask anything and bluffed that I knew it all.

My experience with Bass World in Santa Ana has been exactly the opposite. The staff roams the store eager to answer questions. I was included in the "counter chat" even though it was obvious that my knowledge was not at the level of the staff. It is a great place to shop for reels, as they have them mounted on cut-off poles. They even gave my 12-year-old-son a lesson in walking-the-dog in their pitching pool. It was enough to push me over the edge and buy the Curado super-free I'd had my eye on in Cabela's from them. They earned the business.

I don't mean to be inflammatory. I think that with a little less attitude, Angler's could be a great store. I just think that Bass World should be congratulated by giving us an alternative and Angler's some competition. I just wish they sold boats!!

I whole-heartedly agree with the suggestion to buy a 4-stoke. In this crazy state I'd buy one powered on fuel cells if they made them. WE'LL ALL BE FISHING IN SAILBOATS UNLESS WE ALL VOTE AND HOUND OUR LOCAL POLITICIANS!!!

NoTrollMotor

WOW, what a great compliment. I guess you're doing something right when someone takes the time to post a good experience. I really appreciate it. Chris from Bass World West.

CJ, I second above comments made by NoTrollMotor. I get the cold shoulder when I go to Angler Center. Besides I don't feel there selection is that great.

On the other hand your store has always made me feel welcome, even when I just come in to buy a pack of hooks. In the begining I was concerned that you guys wouldn't be in business long. Not because it wasn't a great store, but because you cater mostly to fresh water bass guys. I'm glad your still around. Keep up the good work.

JP

Thanks JP. Chris.

Just felt I had to chime in on this one. I've been going into ANGLERS MARINE for about ten years now. I can tell you that without a doubt that place went into a downward spiral as soon as Jeff and Chris were gone from there. Of course, they opened BASS WORLD WEST and I think it's the best store I've ever been to. There's a night and day difference especially in the amount of knowledge those guys have, and they are happy to share all they know with anyone that walks in there. I've been to some of their seminars and believe me they know their stuff as well as anyone. I won't go into the downside of Anglers (where do you start) but I havn't been treated anywhere near as well since. Even the woman who works there seems like she doesn't know I'm alive unless I am waiting to buy something.
I'm just venting I guess but I don't know how they manage to stay in business. I can't be the only one, can I?

How does Angler's stay in business? I'm not doing the accounting over there or have insider information, but I'll tell you this--selling boats! There's got to be more margin in selling boats than marking up tackle from wholesale.

You can make $2 on a pack of worms or $5K selling a boat. You'll have to sell lots of tackle to compete with one boat sale. Now I realize boat sales are sorta in the tank, but that hasn't always been the case. Also, boats are primed for big sales coming up. Angler's was the #1 seller of Champion Boats for years.

It's all about the boats.

They can have them... One of my biggest headaches over there was trying to appease upset boat and service customers. They can make their mark-up on boat sales, I'm content with selling tackle. Peace of mind is more important than trying to grind every customer that comes in the door.

To "Salefish",

Just to set your mind straight, there is far more mark-up in tackle and related items than there is in boats unless you are selling toy ones. Retailers like us make the largest percentage of the profit on these types of items with few exceptions; so it becomes a matter of volume,high ticket items and customer services etc.

I think you would be surprised if you knew what the net margins on boats is like, especially the really high-priced bass boats.

Then there is this deal called flooring. Other than short periods of the year when flooring is free, you normally only own 10% of the boat and a finance company owns the other 90% on which you make monthly interest payments. Kind of like a credit card if you only paid 10% of the balance due every month. When you sell the boat, you then pay the finance (flooring) company the remainder that you owe, same as when you pay off a boat or vehicle that's financed when you sell it.

You can make a lot of money selling boats if it's done right and if the vast number of potential profit leaks are watched out for. It can be a very time consuming and stressful way to make a living however, unless you have the right people doing the right thing at all times and you are freed up enough to have time to enjoy your life before you get too old!

Personally, I have seen both sides now and I wouldn't trade what I'm doing now for anything. The BASS WORLD WEST that you see now is
only the retail segment of the complete plan which we will hopefully build in about 3 to 4 years. I can't let the cat out of the bag, but it is something that no one is or will be doing and it will totally blow people away.

Working towards a dream like this is what it's all about in my book, and it's a totally different life scenario than knowing what you're going to be doing every day and having to deal with problems caused by people that you have no control over.

JT

Chris & Jeff, I live in Dana Point and have no problem with driving all the way to your store, passing by Boss and other weak shops that are much closer. You guys are doing a great job, keep it up! The shops in DP are great for saltwater stuff, but everyone that I know who fish bass make sure they go to Bass World West on a regular basis. I guess Boss is bailing out of the FW market in OC from what I've heard, obviously superior service is ruling. After they finally got Yamamoto baits in there, they were still 50 cents a bag higher, I'd rather spend the money on gas. Anyone know how Outdoorsman Express in MV stays in business? They must sell a lot of hunting stuff; every time I walk in there looking for a last minute bait that I know they won't have, there are a couple of necks huddled over the gun counter, they don't even look up to offer a greeting or a sorry excuse for the empty racks of tackle. While I'm rambling, might as well mention a decent bite at LMV on the DD22, no hawgs but good quality and decent numbers in this crap wind. Tight lines!

Jeff,

Thanks for the hint on what is to come. I missed the seminar last night, but I plan to be there for the next one. Dave's seminar a couple of weeks ago was great.

I don't know what WON gets for the ad space that you've been printing your weekly tips in. I'm sure it's not cheap, and you've got a business to run, but I sure miss them when they don't run. I had heard about your shop at the last Fred Hall's but those adds are what motivated me to make the drive all the way from Riverside to check it out. I'm glad I did.


NoTrollMotor

NoTrollMotor