There has been a lot said on here recently about the pros and cons of high street tackle shops vs. internet retailers. As a former shopkeeper myself, I know the difficulties that face the retail trade. But I thought I would share with you some recent experiences.
For a while now I have been thinking of treating myself to a new rod for a birthday present (next week). I can't afford a limitless budget, but I am a bit of a self-confessed tackle tart. So I started looking around. Of all the local shops near me in Lincolnshire, not one has anything approaching a full range of any of the "tarts' favorites", such as Century, Daiwa, AFAW, etc. Some have one or two examples, some have none at all. Having been on holiday this past week, I have looked as far afield as Bridlington (4 Centurys, best selection I have found) up in Yorkshire and Hunstanton down in Norfolk. If it weren't for the Internet I wouldn't know that some brands even existed, let alone made so many different models. Zziplex rods seem to be available exclusively on Mars (or on the Internet).
And it's not just rods. I also wanted to buy a couple of bulk boxes of hooks for the winter. Best I could find was a box of 30 Sakumas this afternoon. If it weren't for the Internet, I wouldn't even know you can buy aberdeens in boxes of 100.
I don't pretend to have carried out an exhaustive survey (the wife wouldn't let me). There is at least one shop I am familiar here on the east coast that I have been unable to get to, and there are probably more. But if what I have experienced is typical of the country as a whole, long live the Internet. Of course not every shop can afford to be as big as Summerlands, Gerry's, Spotty Dog, et al. It is logical that shops will only stock what they can sell. But it makes it hard for the manufacturers to bring their products to the attention of prospective customers, and impossible for customers to see what they are getting before they pay for it.
I don't believe this situation benefits any one, but I can't see an immediate answer. I don't want to start another interminable argument, but I would appreciate constructive comments.
For a while now I have been thinking of treating myself to a new rod for a birthday present (next week). I can't afford a limitless budget, but I am a bit of a self-confessed tackle tart. So I started looking around. Of all the local shops near me in Lincolnshire, not one has anything approaching a full range of any of the "tarts' favorites", such as Century, Daiwa, AFAW, etc. Some have one or two examples, some have none at all. Having been on holiday this past week, I have looked as far afield as Bridlington (4 Centurys, best selection I have found) up in Yorkshire and Hunstanton down in Norfolk. If it weren't for the Internet I wouldn't know that some brands even existed, let alone made so many different models. Zziplex rods seem to be available exclusively on Mars (or on the Internet).
And it's not just rods. I also wanted to buy a couple of bulk boxes of hooks for the winter. Best I could find was a box of 30 Sakumas this afternoon. If it weren't for the Internet, I wouldn't even know you can buy aberdeens in boxes of 100.
I don't pretend to have carried out an exhaustive survey (the wife wouldn't let me). There is at least one shop I am familiar here on the east coast that I have been unable to get to, and there are probably more. But if what I have experienced is typical of the country as a whole, long live the Internet. Of course not every shop can afford to be as big as Summerlands, Gerry's, Spotty Dog, et al. It is logical that shops will only stock what they can sell. But it makes it hard for the manufacturers to bring their products to the attention of prospective customers, and impossible for customers to see what they are getting before they pay for it.
I don't believe this situation benefits any one, but I can't see an immediate answer. I don't want to start another interminable argument, but I would appreciate constructive comments.