Rapala an Storm loss me as a custamer. They qiult making all my faverite colors. I will not by anymore from them. I'll use what in my box an thats it.I just got 21 colors of Reefrunners
(deep divers an ripsticks)an can't wait to put them to use.
I just can't wait to well FISH ON.
Todd_NE
02-26-2001, 11:26 AM
I posted this before, but thought I might again.
Economics 101 dictates that unsuccessful/unprofitable products go away.
That said, the disturbing thing to me about some of the fishing industry that's geared to walleye wants to have it both ways. I'm tired of reading how walleye "isn't the growth sport" is was purported to be or a profitable segment compared to bass, etc. One of the recent In-Fisherman/Walleye Insider reported that many companies are focusing on other species, and by the same token, different regions than the walleye belt.
Yet, I can't help but feel an awful lot of these same companies aren't following Economics 101. Give the public what they want, where they want, when they want at a price they deem reasonable.
I read about "flat sales" yada yada yada and half the time I can go into ANY MAJOR/MINOR RETAIL OUTLET and can't find the stuff I want anyway. Particularly if you're not looking Feb 1-April 15. Apparently this is the only time stuff is ordered/shipped to a lot of outlets. Try to find high quality jigs and crankbaits anytime after August 1-February 1. I struggle to find stuff for fall fishing almost every year, even though my basement looks like a Cabela's catalog.
The wally diver for example is a great bait, last I knew it was sent to three different countries for production, paint, assembly. They have at least seemed to fix their supply problem the last three years. Of course, they went from about $3.19 to $3.99-4.39 depending on the store.
Original Deep Tsticks were great lures, but I could have sure used a professional lure tuner for half of them, and the hooks they came with.... come on.
How long were we promised Deep Lil' Rippers before we ever saw them? (not that Reef Runner has the market cornered on over promising a delivery date)... and how many of them always go left before tuning.. hmmmm ALL of them I've bought. Good bait and good company, absolutely yes, but g whiz.
We also have our own foibles...
We have constant debates on the various linecounter reels, until someone beats Daiwa for the same $, why debate. It isn't close. For $70-93, that's one helluva a product.
WalMarts etc., will clear out stuff for less than the cost of the product to small retailers. Yet we go to the small retailers cuz they're great people, buy two lures and our two dozen minners, get our info, then drop $300 with one of the "big boys" to get the stuff the guy at the local shop is saying is the "hot" bait.
We drive 350 miles to save $400 on a boat, then complain the local dealer doesn't have mine fixed in 24 hours.
We whine about Normark and all the companies who don't seem to care about their customer, then go buy the stuff. Hellloooooo.... Don't buy the stuff then. But the tough part is, their stuff sure catches fish for me.
And over the last few years I can't believe we're not a growth sport. Look at the new walleye boats, planer boards, rods, rod holders, and what 10-20 new cranks (wally minnow, thundercrank,taildancers, deep lil' ripper, etc), new jigs, the no-snagg sinker, various lines, power baits for walleye, tv interest, tournament interest, NPAA, nets, locks, trolling motors, electronics. And folks, lots of this is directly for walleye guys, pre-tied snells, live bait circle hooks, colored hooks, a plethora of floats, zillions of new spinner blades, new bottom bouncer designs, 4 stroke kicker motors and bigger engines, kicker lifts, so the companies ARE trying for the most part, and kudo's to the ones that do.
Write letters to the Prez of Normark or whoever else is messing up your fishing world, show him a receipt for the "other companies stuff" you bought. Tell them you're disappointed and why. Yup, I do that stuff, in a nice way. What's it hurt?
Maybe you can get your colors or "Traditional Thundersticks" back. Last time I looked, I'm still drinking "Classic" Coke. You think that was an Economics 101 decision by Coca Cola???
I'll get off the teetering soap box.
Todd
Todd_NE
02-26-2001, 11:53 AM
Just a note,
I just read in the Omaha World-Herald that as of Feb 2 of this year Zebco has moved their production to Asia (China)and that Brunswick has Zebco up for sale.
Zebco lost 40% of its marketshare from '95-'00, reel sales peaked at 7 million in 1995.
Comment from CEO Jeff Pontius, "We can't buy the parts for what it costs for the entire product there."
Don Freeman, General Counsel, said people simply "grab the cheapest equipment on the store shelf, and it wasn't Zebco".
Jimmy Houston says, "Zebco will still be there, it will just be different."
There were approximately 300 jobs lost.
I'm sympathetic to those folks at Zebco.
todd
carey
02-26-2001, 07:02 PM
I am also very upset with the way normark has handled the storm
products lately. I agree with the reply that they will come back with the good colors sooner or later. I am more worried about the new style of the thunderstick than I am the lack of colors.
But I am going to give the new style a try and hope for the best.
That being said, I am buying all the old style t-sticks in my favorite colors that I can find.
GreggB
02-27-2001, 06:09 AM
I looked at the new Storms and thought they were a cheaply made. The lip is glued on and appears it could easily come off. The color selection isnt so good. Plus, I dont care for the new colors. Normark really *******ized the Storm line.
Fortunately I found a bunch of the old thundersticks in my favorite colors on the close-out rack at Walmart and I found a website that was still selling them yet.
Todd: excellent post,I hear what you are saying,Iwork in retail
and know its profit that counts!!!!!!!!!!!!.We as consumers must voice our opinions ,so the best thing do do is write to the president of that company,that you are displeased with.You would be amazed as to the number of respones you will receive.Customers are their number one asset.
Rich
ive have always used raps and had very good luck with them over strom.as some one who sells them i would say we sell four times more raps than stroms. but i know one think fisherman get hooked on a certain size ,color , and brand name. so they quit making your lure you had good luck with try a new one. and if you look at it from there point sell what the people want and discountinue the ones that are collecting dust. hey i liked the shallow running fat raps they quit making those so i had to find something new to use. im someone who nthinks rapala knows what there doing one there probaly the number one manfacture of cranbaits