Bass Pro & Avery

[NCSUDucker]

There's a rumor on thats floating around on the Refuge that Bass Pro is no longer going to be carrying Avery Greenhead Gear dekes and are pushing Final Approach decoys (which look like a$$ by the way, looks like a carto duck that stuck its thumb in its mouth and blew until the body blew up and the head stayed the same) Anyway is there any truth to this?

Ducker

[Rick Frisch]

This is a pretty political question. I am choosing not to touch it with a 10-foot pole. There are a lot of things that have went on with Bass Pro Shops. I just don't think this is the place to discuss them.

Thanks,

[NCSUDucker]

I hate that...I've enjoyed purchasing GHG through them using the 6 month stretch pay.

Ducker

[Rick Frisch]

Do Cabela's or Mack's do anything like that with their credit cards?

Thanks,

[Scott Moates]

I agree with Rick on this.

[NCSUDucker]

Originally posted by Rick Frisch:
Do Cabela's or Mack's do anything like that with their credit cards?

Thanks,Nope.

[goosehuntinman]

NCSUDucker,

I contacted Basspro last week to try and obtain some replacement heads for some of their XPS Canada shells. They told me I would have to contact the manufacturer,but couldnt or wouldnt tell me who that was. I tried calling Avery for replacement heads for them , assuming they were the ones that made them for Basspro. I was told they didnt have anything that would fit them, as they didnt have any affiliation with Basspro anymore. There has been a couple posts on here recently asking when basspro stores will have the GHG products and to be honest, Im wondering why the guys are skirting this issue. If they are not gonna be available, just say so. We can still get our GHG stuff through other retailers such as Macks, Cabelas, and Gander Mountain.

Bob

[Bill Cooksey]

Guys,

I am going to post an excerpt from a post Tom Matthews made recently in which he references a situation with one of our largest customers. This may provide some insight into our business practices.

Tom Matthews Quote:
I'm sorry, but buying NeoTubs directly from Avery is not going to happen because Avery has wholesale customers that offer them. If these retailers cannot get the job done, then we will pick up where they leave off. In other words, we will sell them only in "last resort" situations.

Avery is a wholesale manufacturer, and even though we could profit greatly selling direct to the consumer (you guys) we would be competing with our customers (retailers like Cabela's, Mack's and your favorite local hunting store) which I was raised to believe is a business “sin”. If you have wondered why our products are not in certain major catalog retailers this year, it is due to their lack of understanding of the word "mutual". We have always held to a strict "wholesale only" sales policy designed to protect our customers (the retailers), but one of our biggest customers copied several of our products in 2004 and sold them to their customers (you guys) at reduced prices right next to ours. This was not only an insult of phenomenal proportion, but to us it was a major indicator of this retailer’s ongoing internal problems and long-rumored financial troubles. When they would not agree to discontinue their desperate and overt practice of product copying for 2005, we regretfully passed on their business; this has proven to be the right decision for Avery even though we have lost some very nice distribution locations. Even still, Avery refuses to compete with its customers so our stance is simple: we will not sell direct to consumers (you guys) if they will not copy our products and compete with us. Anyone who cannot understand this principle does not understand loyalty and team work, and Avery cannot work that way.

goosehuntinman,

Please e-mail me at billc@averyoutdoors.com with the details of your situation, and I’ll see if we can help you out.

Bill

[keith_scumline]

Thank You, Bill

[goosehuntinman]

Thanks Bill,

Things are a bit clearer now on the whole situation. I will be emailing you soon.

Bob

[Big Gumbo]

Cabelas offer points toward free gear that seems to add up fairly quick for me. :D

I was just thinking it was due to limited space in the main catalog and the GHG stuff would certainly be included in the Wingshooter catalog.
Oh well, but I respect Tom"s stance on the situation. Anyway, nobody beats Ft. Thompsons in north little Rock for decoys no matter what the brand. I jsut buy them on the Cabelas card and get points for free stuff there!

Not to get noisy but do some of the catalog retailers ask for co-oping the cost otherwise paying for page space. I know this is pretty standard practice in lots of industries, right down to shelf space.

I"m personally thrilled with the fact that we are suppose to be getting a Sportsman Warehouse her in Northwest Ar, I recently visited the new Memphis store and liked it alot. It had a good assortment of GHG product on the shelf.

[ScarySouthernMan]

Bill,

After reading your post, I had to go collect my thoughts for a minute to choose my words carefully for this response.
First off, let me thank you for your explanation and I must say that I agree with everything you had to say on a financially political basis. Furthermore if it were my product being scabbed out from under me, I'd be doing some re-evaluating myself. So let me be the the first blue-collared, rural, hard-working, free-lance duck killer to say...you have my support as a customer on your (Avery's) decision.
Now if I may address the overall situation. I think it stinks... I have a very hard time making ends meet with my job and bills and everything else I love to escape from while gettin' some wholesome duck shootin' done. This year Uncle Sam saw it fit to make things a little more financially tough on Virginians that like to kill waterfowl. In adition to that we got wind of some lower bird numbers in my area to boot. So, when it rains, it poors I reckon.
When I get home from a 10 hour day of unbelievably intensive back-breaking labor, I often find myself questioning why I do it. About that time a flock of Giants flys over my yard moaning out their morning hunger pains and I suddenly remember why I work as hard as I do.

It's reached a time in my life where killin' a bird has become down right tough. So I depend on product quality and now days PRODUCT AVAILABILITY to get my birds on the skillet. Just last year I found a man who owns a little bait store that would help me out on the shipping of special orders from the Bass Pro guys. Knowing that they were distributors of GHG products I purchased 2 dozen duck and 4 goose decoys right there on the spot. Since that day I have dealt with this dealer exclusively to obtain GHG/Avery products... Now to hear the news of a seperation of Avery and Bass Pro Shops hits a little close to home for me. In fact I called just last week to try and find out whether or not they would be carrying the '05 Black Ducks in time for winter as I've been waiting on their arrival for two years now (I prayed ever since the first time I layed eyes on a GHG Mallard decoy that they would make a Black Duck decoy too). The operator said and I quote "There is a 99% chance that they will have them in stores soon." It is now abundantly clear that the operator spoke on speculation. That is an unbelievable let down on their part. It looks like if they were aware of the split that they would at least have the presence of mind to tell their operators NOT to promise the new products...Tonight, I'm one sad duck hunter. The closest Cabela's is 3 hours away so it appears as though I'm now stuck with the hefty shipping costs. Oh well, I guess the retrievers will have to eat the bottom shelf food for a few months til Daddy pays for the new decoys to be mailed from the moon... :(

It's frustrating enough that uber huge outdoor companies don't understand the little guy, but what's more is that in SW Virginia, a deer hunter can stroll into Wal-Mart and completely outfit him/herself to the fullest degree...But alas, they have forsaken the Gunners. I actually lost my temper with a grown man that worked at the sales counter at the hunting/fishing dept. at Wal-Mart last year. My little brother and I went in to Wal-Mart looking for some ammo and my brother asked for a particular kind of shells. The guy said that they didn't carry any shells like that because "people don't hunt ducks around here...mostly because there aren't any." Well I just saw red. I said "lemme ask you somethin', what factual information do you have that there aren't any ducks or duck hunters here? Right here's 2 of 'em talkin' to you right now. Furthermore I get e-mails from people I've never met before wanting me to take them hunting in the spots that I shoot ducks and geese at that are less than a 20 minute drive from here." I then went on to tell him that I never wanted to hear him or any other employee telling inquisitive customers to basically GIVE UP. I guess the avian biologists that work for all the Wal-Marts in Southwest Virginia know that it's hopeless to even try to be a waterfowler. That's the general attitude of all the outdoor stores here in my area. NO we don't carry that stuff...NO I haven't even heard of that product. We got plenty of Deer huntin' stuff though...Have you seen all of our Deer huntin' stuff?

Geeze.

I understand your choice Bill, I really do...and I'm not at all angry with it. It's just a darn shame is all. When I become financially stable, I'm going to make a hunting store that carries NOTHING but waterfowling gear and Avery will be on the top of my list. How bout it?

Sad and Decoyless :( ,

Jacob Baldwin - ScarySouthernMan

[DeWayne Knight]

Jacob,

I have to say (again) after reading your post I like your style and appreciate your loyalty to Avery and Greenhead Gear products. Perhaps one of the Cabela's stores could do well by you and ship you the products? Might be worth looking into...

[ScarySouthernMan]

DeWayne,

I'm looking into that right now. My biggest problem is locating the new Black Ducks. I guess I'll go ahead and order them from whomever claims to be able to accomodate me the quickest. It's just one more thing on the already too long list of things I just gotta put up with to be a waterfowler...lol. It's a hard road but somebodies gotta go down it right?

Thanks for your moral support.

Scary

[goosehunter64]

Jacob.........I feel.....errr I mean I felt your pain. I use to live in eastern Canada....right on the coast. The Province of NewBrunswick....which is connected to the State of Maine. Being....we were 100reds if not thousands of miles from any outfitter like Cabela's or BP....it made it real tough to aquire top quality gear. It seemed I always had to settle for 3rds and 4ths due to my budget.
After a heck of a long time, I sacrificed some things throughout the year to get better quality gear and decoys....but still getting the desired equipment...was still tough. No one carried the stuff I wanted...it was all mail order....and due to shipping, exchange rates, and duty....well...you can figure it out :( .
Since I've moved to Illinois....it is much easier, still mail order some.....but it is'nt a kick in the a$$.
I'm about 1-3 hrs in any direction to some type of supplier that carries "MY" gear. GOD LOVE America :cool: smile.gif .....oh! and Avery and GreenHeadGear...

[ScarySouthernMan]

Goose,

Yea I know how it is man. What's the old saying? "Spending dollars and making dimes"....That's me all the way.

I think I've officially decided to order over the telephone from Mack's. I just spoke to a sales rep and she claims my coveted Black Duck decoys will be in the mail around Sept. 1st...

I think the shipping and all is 57 dollars and some change.
It's a sacrifice for 6 whole decoys but I gotta have 'em. These Blacks out here are smarter than ever. In fact some folks out this-a-ways claim you CAN'T decoy Black Ducks... It shouldn't go unmentioned that they've never hunted with me...LOL.

Pile 'em up!

Scary

[CanadaCaller]

Bass pro has lost my money as well--in all, almost $2,500 set aside mostly for GHG Fullbody snows, canadas, and a few Avery blinds. I'm SURE Bass-Pro won't miss my business at all. Just my $.02 .
Charlie

[GooseHunter]

Thanks Bill.

[mdgoosekiller]

I knew something was up with this relationship when I saw the Bass Pro Fall Master Catalog. I was looking forward to buying a dozen Pro Grade fullbodies when I went to the Hunting Classic at Bass Pro in Arundel Mills so I could avoid the heavy shipping charges. Now I don't really have any other options, as the nearest Cabela's is over two hours away, and I have limited amount of time to spend. Anybody know of some good online retailers that have these decoys so I can get them ordered and have them before the season starts?

[Allan Stanley]

mdgoosekiller,

Where in MD do you live? There is a Gander Mountain opening in Salisbury on Sept. 1.

ScarySouthernMan,

Reading your posts was like a blast from the past. I grew up just south of you in Henry County. Of course, "back then", there weren't even camouflage clothes to buy. 2 local hardware stores had some lead 2 3/4" shells, some guns, some of those green wool and leather DuxBack gloves, some waders and maybe a Mallardtone duck call. That WAS the "waterfowl department"! smile.gif

[Rick Frisch]

Zach,

You can get them at Angler's Sport Center right there in Maryland. I know they ordered them.

Thanks,

[ScarySouthernMan]

Allan,

Oh man,

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's experienced the duck void of SW Virginia...

It's also good to hear from some folks that aren't from duck country that hunt ducks too!

Us "Old Dominions" gotta stick together.

[Paul Cupka]

Not to get off the subject or put this back at the top, Scary PM sent to ya. I wish Allan still resided here in VA, he is a wealth of knowledge and a true veteran. Although- I'd probably be missin' out on some birds if he was a full time resident!!!

[Allan Stanley]

Originally posted by ScarySouthernMan:
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's experienced the duck void of SW Virginia...
[/QB]You're not, the "Black Hole of Waterfowl" (SW VA) has produced some pretty good waterfowlers. If you can consistently kill your ducks there, you can kill them anywhere. We had/still have, a pretty good place to the east of there in Charlotte, Co. And if you think it's bad now, "back then" there were NO resident geese.

Paul, is saying, "he is a wealth of knowledge and a true veteran" another way of saying "he is an old know-it-all?" smile.gif We'll have to hook up on a hunt this year, I think it would be a good time.

Allan

[Paul Cupka]

Alan,
You know better, plus I never said "old" :D I think a hunt would be awesome. As I told you before, I have the utmost respect for you and the knowledge you have of waterfowling in this state. We work hard for what we get here, ain't nothing comes easy. But isn't that what makes it that much sweeter. I have never met Scary, but I can tell he cut his teeth much like I did, and look forward to gunning with him some day soon. Between the three of us I bet we could have some fun and leave them Carolina boys wondering what happened to their birds. tongue.gif

[Christian Curtis]

Jacob,

I'm sorry for your situation and I am ever so thankful that you understand ours. It's folks that support Avery/GHG through thick and thin that give us all the motivation to keep on keepin' on. Again thank you from all of us at Avery.

[goosehunter64]

Cool Scary. Blacks can always be decoyed......errrr only when they want to be....hehehe. Seriously....it is hard to decoy them.
The funny thing in some states, they have to run them off.....claiming that they are stupid, braindead, not worth the time of day....Man, if they only came where we are...or in my case were from. A very intellegant bird, with an IQ of.......well lets say!! tongue.gif higher than some on the internet :D .
You learn a heck of a lot of tricks over the years working Black Ducks. GHG B/D deoys, sure are sweet...........I'm sure you'll be happy and be decoying them for years over them hunnies. smile.gif

[mdgoosekiller]

Rick,
Thanks for the information about Anglers. I always saw them on the list of dealers, but didn't realize that they were only about an hour away until I mapquested it. Thanks for your help. I will have to head down there before the season starts.
Zach

[ScarySouthernMan]

Guys,

I think this just became my favorate forum.

You guys are gonna laugh...and that's OK because in hindsight I thought it was funny too.

I really did think for a long time that my father, my little brother and myself were the only waterfowl hunters that lived west of I-95...

IT is absolutely inspiring to know we didn't invent mountain duck hunting...lol...although we may be the ones to perfect it...that was a joke.

Allan and Paul,

For you two to even mention my name on a thread is a cool thing to me. I would be happy as a lark to set a hunt up with both or either of you. Unfortunately, the only hunt I could provide for you guys that wouldn't be a waste of your time is opening day of Res, Goose season. Me and little bro usually murder a bunch of them then.

I know you guys have heard "Have gun will travel"...well that's me. That's how I have to be here in good 'ol SW VA or I don't kill birds. Also, just got an awesome dove field taken care of yesterday. It's a drive but you guys are welcome to come.

Thanks again to everybody that responded. I never would have thought that a forum from a DECOY company could be so accomodating.

Take care and gear up!

Scary