Wife & I went to GM-Tyler. She went to the right to the clothing
Dept. Later, she found me doing the "Fisherman's Shuffle" or
moving sideways down the isles while looking at lures. She turned
around in one isle and pointed at one of the mega Muskie lures
and asked if there were fish big enough to bite on one of those
in E.Tx? I was trying to think if it was one of those lures
that you could mount on the wall or if I had an old fiberglass
rod that could cast it without cracking. I got $150.00 gift card
for Christmas and have only spent $15 of it so far. That says
a lot doesn't it? GM is just "OK".

2 years ago, the store managers at Academy's in DFW, Houston,
and Longview told me that the people from Tyler were driving them
nuts. Yes they finally got the message. So, why wasn't it opened
on March 1st?

Two off topic items:
1. What is the current price for a gal of Evinrude/Johnson
motor oil at Academy ? Over $20.00 ?? Does any boat shop
sell it in bulk ? I guess my tax refund will go towards
boat motor oil this summer.

2. I've tried to get BPS to carry Bomber 6ASI & 7ASI's -
my favorite Sandy/Hybrid trolling lures for 10 years -
no luck so far. Academy has them. BPS employees look at
them and say "Those baits look good" They carry that
silver flash in the tubby lure & the long A's. No 6ASI's
yet.

The Ledbetter Legend

what is the latest on opening the academy story in tyler?

If y'all will talk to the store manager he may be open to getting the tackle you're looking for. I just heard that the manager contacted Secret Weapon Lures and is going to start carrying this outstanding line of spinner and buzz baits. Don't just talk to anyone on the floor ask for the manager and watch for SWL coming to Gander Mtn in Tyler soon.

i think products are getting better at gm, the ordering thing is a little difficult and i relay all these questions to my manager. the conclusion is that its complicated. we just can say "i want june bug baby brush hogs" and it appears. somethings we can get eaiser than others. your anger should be with the company and not the store. If its customer service you have a problem with let a manager know. the most obvious thing that i have found in the short time i have been working there is that there are 2 types of customers. the experts (tff'ers, people who are always on the lake, professionalish fishermen, etc.) and the beginners (those who dont know where to start). it is very easy to help someone who comes in and doesnt know what they want but just want to catch catfish (beginners). its very difficult to help someone who know a lot about fishing and only wants what you dont have. again we are knowledgable of our products and we all fish a great amount. no we dont know everything and no one on this forum does either sorry if yall have had some bad experiances in the store but come talk to the managers and associates if you have questions about avalibility of products or any other questions.

One of the problems with selling fishing tackle is that there is just so bloody much of it. GM Tyler would have to be 20x as large as it is just to be able to stock even a quarter of the tackle available, and I'm talking just the freshwater stuff, and not including fly-fishing tackle, and gear. I'm talking the whole of the floor space in GM Tyler, and not just the fishing department.

TFP

seems like they would get rid of stuff that doesn't sell in east texas (like ice fishing rods, etc) and use that space for something that will sell, especially since space is limited

I think GM is doing alright. They would do better if they would stop selling walleye baits, ice fishing stuff, and that kind of thing. We fish here for bass, crappie, bream, and the elusive chain pickerel. Lots of people also do catfishing. I hate the smell of that whole area, and they have it right by the fly fishing dept too....oh my. Catfish bait is the world's worst stink to me besides skunk I think.......right next to raw sewage I'd say. (Don't shoot this messenger please, but it is the truth) I love the way GM has the reels out so you can look at them and handle them without waiting an eternity for someone to pull one out for you to look at. That is awesome!! They also have a selection of kayaks now. That is good.

Oh I forgot to mention we TROUT fish in the winter and early spring. Hint Hint. Seasonal at least. I would love to see them add trout magnets in late fall. I noticed Academy has crappie magnets now. I was shocked, and very pleased.

You make a valid point.

Still, the tackle that is available just for bass fishing is just stinking HUGH.

Let's approach this algebraically.

x = the different models of lures

y = the different sizes of lures

z = the different color/patterns of lures

So the total number of lures would be x times y times z.

If on average y = 5, and z = 10 then that's a factor of fifty.

Now let's be conservative an say that x = 1000, then that's fifty thousand lures. If one were to stock say a dozen of each of these fifty thousand lures then you'd get 600,000 lures.

So we'd have to have floor space for 600,000 lures, plus all the various lines in various test, multiplied by the different line colors that each of the various types of line, in the various tests, plus several rods of each of say a dozen manufactures various lines and models, etc. etc..

Well, I think that I've made my point so I'll shut up.

TFP

Instead of us having to ask for the manager & ask for specific
lures, how about having several dry erase boards around for
lure suggestions? I suppose that the area's teenagers will
also use the boards for graffiti.

Suggestion: A. Bomber 6ASI & 7ASI's


The Ledbetter Legend

went to GM Tyler on Sunday, wife asks "anything here you want for fathers day?", so I grabbed a St Croix Fly rod .. got home and was looking at St Croix site, rod's come with nice case, mine didn't..call GM they said"oh its in the back, we'll mail it to you"....we'll see.....

....well I saw, recieved missing case today, they sent UPS and it was on my porch when I got home...thanks GM