Northwest Fishing Reports

Somehow or another this story in the Seattle Times doesn't suprise me.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b ... es050.html

Semi light buying traffic in the Lynnwood store the last few times I went. Never really having fishing gear I want, and the last time I wanted service I couldn't get anybodies help.

Where do most of you purchase your fishing gear? Teds up in Lynnwood has been taking a lot of my money lately and unless they close up will continue to do just that.

I always thought the name change from G.I. Joes to Joes was stupid. One employee when I asked why the name change said it was going to be simpler to remember and because of that more customers. I replied its not the simplicity of the name that will bring customers in... its the service.

Ive never had exceptional service there. At the one in Kent they hardly talk to ya but the one in Lacy Ive never had any issues. Auburn Sports and Marine and Wal-Mart get most of our fishing related funds.

Yeah, A little bird told me about a week ago that Joe's would be filing. Whether they reorganize and keep some stores open and close others, or just flat go away, not sure yet. As for service, I'm with most of you. They didn't have knowledgable staff at most of there stores to help with even the most basic questions. Comes back to know your core business and stick with what you know. They seemed to be throwing a whole lot of crap at ya and hoped some would stick.

Mark

Gonefishing wrote:Somehow or another this story in the Seattle Times doesn't suprise me.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b ... es050.html

Semi light buying traffic in the Lynnwood store the last few times I went. Never really having fishing gear I want, and the last time I wanted service I couldn't get anybodies help.

Where do most of you purchase your fishing gear? Teds up in Lynnwood has been taking a lot of my money lately and unless they close up will continue to do just that.

I always thought the name change from G.I. Joes to Joes was stupid. One employee when I asked why the name change said it was going to be simpler to remember and because of that more customers. I replied its not the simplicity of the name that will bring customers in... its the service.

The reason for the name change was the head office "thought" that some of the public still thought G.I. Joes was a military surplus store from the name. So they thought that "Joes" would remove that impression and bring those folks in. Not sure how it worked out, the Bellevue store they opened failed in about a year. Poor location, bad marketing both doomed the place.

Bummer they are going out of business. They are a NW chain...

marktfd88 wrote: They didn't have knowledgable staff at most of there stores to help with even the most basic questions. Comes back to know your core business and stick with what you know. They seemed to be throwing a whole lot of crap at ya and hoped some would stick.

The other problem is that they didn't really train their staff well on knowing their products. If you knew fishing/hunting/guns, you would be in the Field and Stream Department. If you knew stuff about automotive stuff, you'd be in the Rack n Rig Department, and so on for the other departments of the store. But obviously, the people in those departments aren't fully knowledgable or have experience with all the stuff in their section. Of course, some of the people who worked there just had to work somewhere just so there was someone working in that section.

Training isn't really given either. Some of the sales managers didn't even know everything in their own departments....

Truth lots of products and they have the correct stuff.

Staff is lean on mean and have very little life skills on why, what or where truth

But my thoughts on this the stores for the short run will stay open and the other good lord was to back off the military spin on things..

Marketing = this is the little piggy of this process look up NR boats and 20 more lol


I know what I need and want so I use Joes and they give
me deep price breaks.
Now if I lived closer to Cabelas south I would have a Camp set up outdoors:chef:

Thats not a outdoor store that is a life adventure:-$

I agree with Gonefishing.
Unfortunately, this doesn't surprise me at all. I have a Joe's down the street from me and have yet to speak to a Joe's employee who has the slightest idea what they're talking about. The service is horrible and the staff less then helpful. If I know what I need, I will go see if Joe's has it, because they're the only big sporting goods/automotive store in Issaquah and sometimes a bit cheaper on prices (sometimes more expensive), but I never expect help from anyone there anymore. Mostly I go due to convenience. They are almost always out of stock on the items I'm looking for and can never tell me when they're getting more in. One time it took them 3 months to get in a shipment of Mag-light lightbulbs. Obviously I picked them up somewhere else, but kept an eye on the shelf to see how often their orders got placed even after a customer asked (more than once) about getting some in.
When I was kid there was a GI Joes by my grandmother's house and the staff there always seemed to know what they were doing....either times have changed or my understanding of things has.
IMO, the company's overall quality and service has gone way downhill and if they don't try to change their customer relations image (not their logo), then they're done for. The only thing keeping them afloat is their diversity. I'd rather not see them tank because they are in a convenient location for me, but if we could get another fishing/hunting supply store in Issaquah that had good products for reasonable prices, then I'd probably take my business there.

BentRod wrote: IMO, the company's overall quality and service has gone way downhill and if they don't try to change their customer relations image (not their logo), then they're done for. The only thing keeping them afloat is their diversity. I'd rather not see them tank because they are in a convenient location for me, but if we could get another fishing/hunting supply store in Issaquah that had good products for reasonable prices, then I'd probably take my business there.

I think ownership changed two years ago. I think the new people were teh ones who dropped the GI.

A9 wrote:

BentRod wrote: IMO, the company's overall quality and service has gone way downhill and if they don't try to change their customer relations image (not their logo), then they're done for. The only thing keeping them afloat is their diversity. I'd rather not see them tank because they are in a convenient location for me, but if we could get another fishing/hunting supply store in Issaquah that had good products for reasonable prices, then I'd probably take my business there.

I think ownership changed two years ago. I think the new people were teh ones who dropped the GI.

Sad. I feel the same way about Schmuck's (Schuck's).

BentRod wrote:

A9 wrote:

BentRod wrote: IMO, the company's overall quality and service has gone way downhill and if they don't try to change their customer relations image (not their logo), then they're done for. The only thing keeping them afloat is their diversity. I'd rather not see them tank because they are in a convenient location for me, but if we could get another fishing/hunting supply store in Issaquah that had good products for reasonable prices, then I'd probably take my business there.

I think ownership changed two years ago. I think the new people were teh ones who dropped the GI.

Sad. I feel the same way about Schmuck's (Schuck's).

Wont be the last store/chain we hear of going bankrupt....

tell me when and where the sell off will take place

i have cashies in hand

T Dot wrote:tell me when and where the sell off will take place

i have cashies in hand

They filed chapter 11, not 13...I don't think the are gone....Yet....

wow.. i was out fishing with my mate a month ago and told me they were in trouble. I rolled my eyes and thought well the krikland one seems to always be busy...I hope they dont go under...I get 10% off when i shop on top of their dicounts so i get real good deals. Although i always know what im buying as their staff are a little clueless minus one old guy with glasses. Ive spoke to him a few times and he was really informative.
Its the jobs that get lost is what bothers me the most.

maybe they should have changed the name from gi joes to my little pony. but really it will suck if the store in issaquah closes. I'll be forced to get gear at fred myers. Somehow a dozen eggs, a stephen king book, and 12lb test all in the same store has never sat well with me.

Then again the clerks at joes did seem a bit stuck up most of the time.

ebay here I come.

A9 wrote:

T Dot wrote:tell me when and where the sell off will take place

i have cashies in hand

They filed chapter 11, not 13...I don't think the are gone....Yet....

I heard that they weren't closing any stores. That is where I buy my smoking pellets.

Toni wrote:

A9 wrote:

T Dot wrote:tell me when and where the sell off will take place

i have cashies in hand

They filed chapter 11, not 13...I don't think the are gone....Yet....

I heard that they weren't closing any stores. That is where I buy my smoking pellets.

Correct Toni. They are still operating and I believe plan to continue....

Usually when I have gone to Joe's its was to do surgical shopping. Meaning I know what I want and know where its suppose to be. If all goes correctly I'm in and out in 10 minutes or less depending on the length of the line and a cashier that knows what they are doing.

The last time I went I was there to look at spinning reels. There were 2 employees behind the counter but they were more interested in comparing cell phone features than selling a reel - hence my service whine. It was about as much fun as my last trip to Action Auto - hose clamps we have hose clamps? And then gu one turns to guy 2 and says hey dude you should see my girlfriends headlamps. As interesting as her headlights may had been all I wanted was hose clamps so I left and went to Schucks where I asked for hose clamps and if I could see her headlights. I'll be going back tomorrow to pick up the rest of my teeth that were scattered all over the floor and then call the dentist. Which reminds me I still need to get a headlight for my car....

I won't go to Fred Meyers because they have almost nothing I would use much like Big 5 and some of the other sport places. I don't want to be buying fishing gear on the internet on the otherhand it would slow down my purchases because I would only get what I need and not every color of what I don't need :D.

Outdoor Emporium is another place I use to frequent but thats a pain when baseball and/or football starts up.

Gonefishing wrote:
Outdoor Emporium is another place I use to frequent but thats a pain when baseball and/or football starts up.

Your up in Lynnwood...Jump up 405 for 5-10 minutes and visit 3 Rivers...You won't buy tackle anywhere else after you visit there....

I've spent over 90% of my fishing spend over 35 years at Teds in Lynnwood. Fly or gear they do it all. Very experienced knowledgeable staff, the right gear from Alaska to Baha, if they don't have it they'll get it, never the cheapest but always fair. Over the years they have taken very good care of my requirements.
Joes unfortunately is toast. Retailing can be a tough business in a good economy. In a tough economy a lot of busness's will fall by the wayside. If they can't find new investors or a buyer (fat chance) they will liquidate.

Good they deserve to go out of business. It's called lean thinking...their management sucks...The free market is controlled by the government and now we're suffering the consequences of the ridiculous government funding. Joe's needs to fail...that's the market...maybe we should bail out Joe's...FCX

A9 wrote:

Gonefishing wrote:
Outdoor Emporium is another place I use to frequent but thats a pain when baseball and/or football starts up.

Your up in Lynnwood...Jump up 405 for 5-10 minutes and visit 3 Rivers...You won't buy tackle anywhere else after you visit there....

Do you mean 3 Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville? I've overhead somebody say 3 rivers before and have no clue where it is.