Interesting Read on Costco, Simms and Sage

[Todd_NE]

http://www.anglingtrade.com/2011/04/...fly-fishermen/

[fullbush]

Awesome Costco has cheap Sage rods!!!! I'm heading to Anchorage right now! Wish I didn't pay the over inflated price on my Simms waders and boots last fall at the specialty fly shop. This is what makes America great!

[kenaibow fan]

Are you sure the costco in Anch. has any of this stuff on their shelf right now?

[EricS]

As of last Sunday, the Dimond Costco did have the Sage rods on display. Didn't see any Simms waders though.

[alaskachuck]

Costco on the east side had the Z Axis rods early last week too

[AKducks]

my understanding is that when Simms lets someone sell their gear, they have a minimum price that a company can sell the product, the Fly shop in Yakutat advertises that you can't beat their Simms prices cause of this deal.

[G_Smolt]

Dunno about the rods, but I am assuming they aren't there anymore.

The waders are gone as of last friday morning...I was on the phone with the AK simms rep for a completely different matter when he said "wanna hear something funny? I'm walkin' out of costco with $3000 of waders that some POS middleman shagged to make a quick buck...we had to buy 'em back at full price".

[6XLeech]

I don't know. These are goods most anyone would love to own, but... at what cost? It isn't fair to local small shop owners. Some have staff to pay, and some of them have families. Guys who own and staff local fly shops make sacrifices to provide a better product and services. They are there day in/out all spring/summer/fall long- ready to inform with a level of service that gets harder to find anywhere in any kind of shop anymore - sharing knowledge about their products (history, construction, etc), knowledge about local fishing techniques, flies, and sometimes maybe locations. They don't make much money for most of the information they gladly dispense. And they're our neighbors. Good gear is nice to have and use, but it doesn't matter enough to me to undercut guys like Dennis McAfee when he was in business. I just don't mind doing without and part of me takes a little pride in the gear not being the only point of it all.

Here's an excerpt from the article. Thanks for posting this, man:
"In an exclusive phone interview for this article, Marc Bale, long-time director of sales for Sage/Farbank Enterprises, stated: “We are aware of the products impacted and the Costco stores participating in selling our goods. It is factual to say that we have pinpointed the issue with a freight-forwarder that transferred the goods to Costco. The freight-forwarder has since gone AWOL. We continue to investigate.” According to Mr. Bale, Sage did not sell direct to Costco, nor had any plans to do so. It appears the vigilante freight forwarder double-crossed Sage without their permission".

[scott_rn]

They are there day in/out all spring/summer/fall long- ready to inform with a level of service that gets harder to find anywhere in any kind of shop anymore - sharing knowledge about their products (history, construction, etc), knowledge about local fishing techniques, flies, and sometimes maybe locations.

You don't think the dudes at costco could do the same?:rolleyes:

Good point leech, some things make it worth paying a little more.

[monk2015]

I totally agree with leech and scott! I personally believe in supporting local business, and I definitely believe that you get what you put into a scene. The more we as a fly fishing community support local fly shops, and organizations, the better the fly fishing resources will be in the area, and the more it will develop.

[fullbush]

Yeah I would definitely rather buy my rod at a local fly shop. I would feel like a complete dweeb asking them to unlock the sage rods at the the debarr costco while some broke assed mofo is struggling to put together his dinner list. I'd go waltzing up the cash register w/ my new simms and sage rod feeling like the cock of the walk in front of the round bottom cashier w/ acne... I'd wink at her as I slapped out 12 crisp benjamins for a rod and some dang waders :shot:

[AKGrayling]

Dude, you started this thread happy there were sage rods for cheep? I'm confused?

[fullbush]

Dude, you started this thread happy there were sage rods for cheep? I'm confused?

Hey monk2015 , scott_rn and 6XLeech made a hella argument for shopping local. I thought about it and agreed thats all

[AKGrayling]

Understandable.

[kenaibow fan]

it all comes down to what they are worth to you. Yeah it might be nice going to costco and getting that rod or waders 20 or 30 bucks cheaper if it is even that much I don't know.........but for me personally, I would rather send my money at Mossy's. So what if you pay a little more. The service you will get at his shop is well worth the extra money in return, compared to costco. And half the fun is going in there and shootin the crap and asking Mike if he has a rod you want or have him order you one, but that is just me.