Idea for Berkley

[Dan from MI]

The other day while spooling my reels, I had what I thought would be a good idea. I tried to contact Berkley(Pure-Fishing). They said they no longer take ideas from "inventors". I'm not an inventor, and don't know if my idea would work because I'm unfamiliar with their manufacturing process. I surely would have thought they wanted to hear it. I've spent thousands of dollars with them over the years. They definately have a corner on the market and don't need any more products.
Anybody else with similar situations?
Dan

[Schmuel]

Part of my job is to always be thinking and looking for new ideas (I'm not in the fishing industry). My guess is that you spoke with the wrong person. No company can afford to be close minded these days. If you feel strongly about your idea, keep pushing. If not, don't take it personally. One thing I've learned is people often don't grasp a new idea the first time they hear it. The second time they hear it, they say "hey, I've heard of this before" and perhaps pay more attention. (My fishing partner might be the exception - all the bone between his ears means he sometimes needs to hear things more than twice before he'll consider it :-) )

I believe it was Ayn Rand who said "the man who figured out the secret of fire was probably burned at the stake for his discovery".
Innovators are not always welcomed or rewarded like you might think.

[Box]

I think it also has to do with what MIGHT happen should they actually take your idea and use it. I am also in a different industry, and we no longer even open any "idea" documents sent us, because should a similar idea or product come up that we might actually use there is the potential for people to claim they got it from them, and they were not paid for it... It happens all the time in books and movies.

My guess is they get plenty of ideas from their staff, and they are just protecting themselves... at the expense of possibly some good ideas... Again, that is just my guess.

Share your idea here ;)
-Box

http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=103808

[segul]

I am a factory salesman for a fishing company. I spend about 1/2 of my time in the office and because it is a small company I am aware and sometimes in the middle of calls exactly like this. We have found that 90% of the ideas are not good ones. This is for a variety of reasons. The bottom line is that fishing tackle companies are in business to make money. I think many people have the idea that they will get rich quick off royalties or a one time payment for their idea. This is a dream world, at least where I work. In an industry as cut throat and competitive as this there is no room for additional costs. In a nutshell, our ideas usually come from our own staff or the many contacts that have ideas very often (for free).

We often joke when we get these calls that we should fly them in immediately, wine and dine them, and give them a fortune for their idea. This is because by the tone of some of the callers, that is what they expect. American dream I guess, I call it a pipe dream.

[Shyster Lawyer]

Perhaps you could explain your idea, Dan. Then for a small fee of say $10,000.00 I can get you the proper paperwork for applying for a patent.
:)

[Shawn 3]

I had a few ideas and e-mailed them to companies. Never heard a thing. Here's a couple:

- For Berkley - A livewell that you float outside the boat and tow it along as you go. Make it big and streamlined with holes in the back so fish can breath but not get pushed around when moving to a new spot. This would be for 5 mph or less in smaller or electric only lakes.

- For Humminbird - Take the Smartcast sonar (wireless) and put the sonar in a remote controlled boat. Forget about casting the transducer! Remote your little boat with a little control you can mount to your rod.

It has occured to me that these might be bad ideas. What do you think?


>The other day while spooling my reels, I had what I thought
>would be a good idea. I tried to contact
>Berkley(Pure-Fishing). They said they no longer take ideas
>from "inventors". I'm not an inventor, and don't know if my
>idea would work because I'm unfamiliar with their
>manufacturing process. I surely would have thought they
>wanted to hear it. I've spent thousands of dollars with them
>over the years. They definately have a corner on the market
>and don't need any more products.
>Anybody else with similar situations?
>Dan

[mike r.]

Sounds like a fish basket to me.

[Dan from MI]

I like the hummingbird lil boat idea>

My idea, (not looking to get rich), I just think it would be helpful to all of us, but not very profitable for the manufacturer.
However, if we all like it and use it and the competitor doesn't=more sales.
A visible line marker ever 100 yards in the line spools, so you know exactly how much line you have put on your reels. The other day after spooling two reels I had some line left that I know have no use for, not enought to spool up, but just enough to frost my ... that I made the call. If I had the marker in the line, I could be more exact.