I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong...but it's bidness. Bidness is bidness. And that beez bidness.

I wonder, do you know for sure that they've done something unethical or is this an assumtion on your part. Do you have some connection to Wally Marshall that would make you take this personally? Maybe he gave them permission. Maybe they still have rights to use his image in their advertising. They most likely paid him to use his image. Just because he wouldn't sell the rights to his name doesn't mean he wouldn't take their money to use his picture.

I think the picture is just an example of what they've done. Notice the Crappie Maxx rods have the same names as Wally's line? Tightline Special, Pro Series, etc. I would think that the fact that Wally and I have been friends for years might skew my opinion, but I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to see what they're doing. Assumption? I guess. Just throwing it out there, let the people decide.

Since you're good friends with Wally, why not ask him and get your facts before posting something like this?

I was at BPS yesterday over in Grapevine. I'm getting a little tired of them for several reasons and have pretty much decided to shop there only when they have something I can't get anywhere else. One example, I bought a pair of shoes last January for $40. Wanted to get another pair since I like them so much. New price $70...exact same shoe. Decided I just didn't need them and passed. Then went over to pick up a pair of pants again wanted identical to ones I bought last year. Same pants I paid $25 are now $35....neither of the things were on sale before, thought they were regular prices so how can they go up so much? I figure they are popular and people would pay the higher prices. Well maybe some will, I won't. Good old capitolism!!!
As a side note, they did have the Lowrance Gen 2 on display, didn't ask if they actually have them in stock.

Everything is getting more expensive. I spend at least $16000 a month just on shipping costs within the United States. Shipping charges have gone up, the price of raw materials has gone up, and sorry to say, but if it was a product made in the USA, the price to produce that product has risen! Ameicans won't work for cheap, they demand the highest wages to do their job. I don't mind paying higher prices, becuase it is part of the economy that we are in.

So you guys will be boycotting Bass Pro now, right?

I am not an intellectual property (copyright) atrorney but I work in advertisement and have seen this before. From my experience if BPS ever had the right to use his photo in any of their catalogs then they can use it in anyway they choose. Basically they do this bc when the contract is signed the marketing folks do not want to limit themselves to where they could use a logo/photo in the future. It's really not in a contract to rip anyone off. It's bc the catalog has not been designed at the time the contract is signed. I'm sure as someone said earlier bass pro as well as walley have attorneys that have looked it over. Im not at all saying this is right, but it's probably not illegal.

No, Bass Pro IMHO, is WAY over -rated....Academy has everything I need and more, for a much better price! They put the 2 Houston locations on the SW and West part of town- Thats A long drive for me and I don't order too much stuff online.

Maybe this topic should be moved to OFF TOPIC

This

So you guys will be boycotting Bass Pro now, right?

I already do for the most part. I cherry pick them when they have sales. For everday stuff it is Academy.