Arrogance encountered at fly shop

[Stew]

First of all I'm not going to tell you what shop it was except to say it was not River City (of course) or Kaufmann's so don't ask me on this thread :eek: If you just gotta know then PM me :idea:
The point of this thread is to illustrate why some people get the impression they do of fly fishermen :hoboy:
So here is what happened....
My friend was interested in a certain spey rod and reel combo so since we were close to this shop while out fishing we stopped in.
He mentioned to the owner that I was using a certain type of spey reel and the owner basically said it was crap! Took that with a grain of salt because a very well known area spey caster uses the same reel.
So my friend asks if he were to spend $1300 for this certain set-up could he get an hour long lesson on spey casting?
The owner said nope! You pay us $160 and we'll put you on the river with a piece of yarn on your line and show you how to cast because our time is much too valuable otherwise.
You can cast any rod you want at River City and one of the guys will help you out for as long as you want...FOR FREE!!!
Found out this person was rude to none other than Lefty Kreh who is one of the nicest guys in the fly fishing scene :bigshock: This person has a not so nice demeanor on the river where they guide and even came close to having their guide license pulled because of this kind of stuff.
I haven't bought much from this shop and now I intend to avoid it when in the area. I beleive in Karma and so this persons rudeness will come back to bite them someday, it always does.

Shane Stewart

[FlyFishinFool]

That's too bad. Care to share the name of the place in a PM? I'm a big believer in economic Karma.

[scoutfish]

I'm thinking this shop is on the other side of town from us. I'll spend my money at River City can't go wrong there.

Ya the karma. :smash: :hoboy:

Arnie.

[Dragfreedrift]

wow....thats amazing. Its funny, ya know....some stores think they will always be there and that things wont change....that's what GM and Ford likely thought of Nissan and Toyota at one time in the past.

Pride comes before the fall.


DFD

[LunkerFish]

Found out this person was rude to none other than Lefty Kreh



I'm curious how you came to know that? PM is ok if you think it will divulge too much publicly.

[greenbuttskunk]

Stew, I'd bet money I know the shop you are referring to.
I've had some bad attitude experiences at one shop and won't give them my business again.

[Ras]

Stew;

Wouldn't mind a PM myself. Just curious if this is the same "big" shop I have decided to avoid; would make me feel more at ease with my decision.

Ras

[Abalone]

Hmmmmmmm!

[Two Fister]

The sad thing is that I'll bet we all know a shop or two that would meet this definition. I certainly know of a shop on this side of the mountains that fits this description right down to having their guide license threatened for harrassing people on the Deschutes for being in "their water".
How these people stay in business just confounds me...

[Abalone]

Gee I wonder what shop he's talking about ?

[clacksteel]

Abalone-
I wouldn't make any accusations before you know the facts. Stew is not referring to ( EDITED) . I do have to agree...not a big fan of(Edited), but his father is an awesome guy and has always treated me extremely courteously, and has even given me fly tying materials free of charge. Most of the time I really don't expect to get any respect from shops since I'm a teen and all (for some reason they think we don't travel w/ any money), but I have always recieved it at NWFFO.

[steel_beaver]

clack,
he said he had problems with (EDITED), he never said it was the shop Stew went to....

you guys have way too much free time and money to spend :grin: You go to more than one fly shop :bigshock:.... I barely get 5min/wk in my local shop and it affects my nutritional intake for at least a week :laugh: I can immagine what my credit card balance would be if I had 5 differnt fly shops in my neighborhood... :wave:

S_B

[john montana]

i've had some bad experiences at one of the shops listed above; i'm sure we all have had them at one time or another. for any fly shop guys listening, the one thing that drives me nuts is constant attempts to sell something even when you don't have it in stock, or when i tell you i don't need it.

i never have that problem at river city. i bring my 9 month old daughter in with me all the time and don and pete are always friendly and helpful. even when it is clear i am there just to bs and not spend $$. i missed my fly shops from home until i went into river city.

[SilverFly]

Well at least it's good to hear that some shops dispense attitude regardless of how much money a customer is going to spend!

I've usually gotten 'tude for where I typically fish. One would think exterminating hatchery fish with a fly rod would be seen as a noble mission, but apparently not in the eyes of some :rolleyes: .

The "other" shop can think what they want. I now have a new flyshop that's much closer to home and is totally devoid of snobbery. Even though I'm not a big spender, I've still spent close to $200 there in the last 6 months, - and felt good doing it.

Please PM me Stew, I'd be curious to know what shop you're talking about!

----------------------

[Gizmo Man]

I understand your frustration, however, for anyone posting any names of business you need to follow the AUP:

www.ifish.net Complaint procedure:
If you are going to post a complaint to the board, whether it be a business, or a private individual, you must post your entire real name along with the post. This rule is designed to cut down on people hiding behind false monikers, and posting false claims against personal enemies



So please either post your name or edit your post to delete the name of the shop so I will not have to... or worse yet, remove the entire thread.

Thanks for understanding,

Giz.. the mod

[Stew]

Yes I wonder :eek:

[nookslayer]

I waste little time at any other shop in Portland but River City and I have several of TFO Lefty Crey rods. Lefty is one of the nicest people ever and one hell of a fly fisherman, much like Don. If I know which shop it was (and I think I do) they will hang themselves soon enough Stew. With customer service like that who the heck would want to shop there!

[B-RUN STEELIE]

You ran into some Arrogance at a fly shop and it surprized you.. wow.. thats earth shattering news. Or there is a guide out there that thinks he owns a river.. holy cow !!! that never happens. Sorry to rank on this thread but its like you just told us the sky is blue, the earth is round, and 2+2=4

[Big Ben]

I live 4 miles away from the local shop and haven't spent a DIME there since I went to River City a few years ago. DON AND PETE ROCK! :bowdown:

[mandinga]

You ran into some Arrogance at a fly shop and it surprized you.. wow.. thats earth shattering news. Or there is a guide out there that thinks he owns a river.. holy cow !!! that never happens. Sorry to rank on this thread but its like you just told us the sky is blue, the earth is round, and 2+2=4




I would love to hear the other side of the story...

[paulie]

While I agree that it is bad business policy to put down someone's spey reel, I don't think that a free one hour casting lesson is their obligation, especially if they offer casting classes. But $1,300 is a lot to spend....if it were my shop, at the least, I'd offer to give some pointers in the parking lot, and try to promote the class.

I live 5 min from sportsman's warehouse and buy my "flyfishing consumables" there since it's close, and besides, no service is better than bad service, if you know what I mean.

I bought my vice from Don at River City. I was very impressed, and would definately buy from there again. He thanked me for my business and even shook my hand :smile: I really feel he appreciated my business!

[B-RUN STEELIE]

But $1,300 is a lot to spend....if it were my shop, at the least, I'd offer to give some pointers in the parking lot, and try to promote the class.




Chances are.. the guy does not even know how to Spey cast. Fly shops are full of guys who are not that great of fishermen themselves, just good at talking the talk. Its like anything else, the car dealer can talk motors all day but he is probably no race car driver. Fishing is no different.

[Stew]

Which guy are you talking about? My friend or the shop owner? I can ssure the shop owner(s) are expert spey casters.
My friend is a good single handed caster but is just getting into spey fishing.

[rob allen]

arrogance ??? at a flyshop???? NO WAY!!! i refuse to believe that!!! *L*

[jvp]

right down to having their guide license threatened for harrassing people on the Deschutes for being in "their water".



I am curious as to how you can turn in these guides who do this. I had one guide actually cut my line and keep his boat and lines right in the middle of the hole I'm fishing and there was plenty of room for both of us. I would move up or down the bank and he would block me from fishing. All the while giving me grief. I finally told him he should think more of his customers and left. Funny thing was the old gentleman that was also there left saying something about making a phone call. I have not seen this guide again in the last 3 yrs. Do you call OFWD State Police????????????

[R Jackson]

jvp, in Oregon you can contact the State Marine Board or you can can contact the State Police via the "TIP" line.

[Gettin' Birdy]

It's amazing how far people will take "expertizing" (Gotta love Gierach!)....Open a shop, sell a few rods and flies, offer some guided trips to the well clad and affluent, and suddenly you are an "expert" and you no longer have time for those who pay your bills when the big dollar clients are away for the winter.

Not sure when that began to mean you could look down your nose at others who happen to enjoy the same hobby as you and maybe even spend a few dollars in your shop.

With the exception of one shop in Bend, we have some great shops to frequent and spend our money in. Yeah, we have our share of "experts" who like to cater to the big dollar clients but when they need current river information, who do they ask?

[Two Fister]

JVP,
On the Deschutes you could also call the BLM. The guides that I was refering to have also decided that anybody that is helping a friend or family member learn to fish is an unlicensed guide. The wife of the husband and wife team has apparently had her license suspended twice for rude and abusive behavior. Three strikes and she's out of the guiding business for good on the Deschutes. It would be a better place without the pair of them...

[B-RUN STEELIE]

JVP,
On the Deschutes you could also call the BLM. The guides that I was refering to have also decided that anybody that is helping a friend or family member learn to fish is an unlicensed guide.



So, whats it take to be a "guide" in Oregon. Almost nothing if I recall correctly.. you just have to have ?? what.. A license that costs ?? No limits on numbers of guides on a river system or permits and anything ?? I know thats how Washington does it, thinking Oregon is about the same. I mean, you guys are all " guides" right ??