What Happened To Outdoor Emporium?

[MarkFromSea]

Work was a little slow today so the girlfriend and I ran down, about 20 miles, to Outdoor Emporium. We admired all of the cool stuff we would like to buy, rods reels, lures, crab pots, even crab pot repair parts. We grabbed a few lures and proceeded to checkout where we were inundated with "buy a $20 membership" speech to nearly the point of harassment! Well, it turns out some of the prices we saw there were for members only. Thank God we were mostly just window shopping, had I had those rods at the checkout ready to buy them THEN got sprung with the membership required speech, I would have been furious. Now, I'm just fuming over it cause a store that I've enjoyed going to for nearly 30 years has been bought up by Sportco and changed. I HATE CHANGE! LOL [-x I called later, complained, & added: "Your not a Costco!"

[Bodofish]

Haven't been there in a long time have you? They've had a membership program since they merged with Sportco. I don't know how much you spend but ROI for me is normally about 2 months but sometimes before I get out the door. It's not even close to Costco, better double up on that Xanax if that's harrassing you. I was in Sunday and they asked me exactly once.

[BentRod]

They ask me everytime I check out, but have never pushed it on me. Usually something like, "Are you a member? Do you want to be?" A simple no from me and that's it. Last I was in there was January I think. I don't spend enough $ there annually to make it worthwhile.

[MarkFromSea]

Just for conversation, LOL, mood altering drugs not used or required, I just liked things the way they were. I don't spend much there either since it is a bit out of my way. Cheers!

[Bodofish]

Well then, what's the problem? Been that way for many years.........

[MarkFromSea]

Well then, what's the problem? Been that way for many years.........

2 years, chill dude...........

[f1sh1nf00l]

If your going to make a big purchase it's worth getting the membership. I bought a rod and reel there last year and saved much more than the cost of the membership. Otherwise, it's not really worth it. There are other shops around with better selection and no membership.

[wolverine]

I'm not complaining. I buy when they have stuff on sale. The weekend after Thanksgiving the really good stuff is on sale for 3 days. I spent enough last year that my reward points added up to 2 free days at their lodge in Nootka Sound.

[Matt]

You say the membership is only 20$? It seems like it wouldn't take a whole lot to make back your 20$ fee and start making big savings. I rarely get out of a tackle store for under 100$ and 300 is pretty well in the norm.

Why not support your local business and just pay the 20$ and get some deals?

I don't shop there, just sayin...

[Bodofish]

All I can see is sniveling. Be happy go buy your fish stuff at Three Dogs and Mule.

PS They've been a part of Sportco since they moved from E. John. A lot more than 2 years....

[MarkFromSea]

It just came as quite a shock today, haven't been in there in a while or didn't really pay attention to membership requirement the last trip or two. Don't get me wrong, I love what they have in stock and their prices are quite good for the most part. Just, we didn't need a membership in the past to get the deals. LOL You don't need a membership to buy there now at the standard price, 5% back if you do. Spend $400 per year is the break even point cept there are the deals that get you to the breakeven point sooner depending on what you're buying. Berkley Air Buzz something IM-8 rods = $63 a screamin deal......... $100 elsewhere....... I'm loaded to the hilt with gear, most of it was purchased at Outdoor Emporium long before their move to 4th ave. Just conversation, can't fight the tide, no more shocking than when the National Forest or Sand Point boat ramp incorporated their user fees. I don't have to like it though! LOL Heck, I just spent $85 on fishing licences, what's another $20? The proverbial cup of coffee!

[MarkFromSea]

Thank you so very much Bododouche You're a scholar and a gentleman and have my utmost respect. LOL I hope you have a great day! Haha! PS. Sportco told me 2 years, if I'm wrong, so be it.......... No biggy. Jeez, Bodo, maybe a little less coffee? I hope you recover.......... sounds bad for ya....

[natetreat]

Yea, everywhere wants you to be a member nowadays, to get their deals. I'm a "member" of Safeway, QFC, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Petco, PetSmart, Shell gas, Borders Barnes and Noble, Macy's, Outdoor Emporium, REI Bed Bath and Beyond etc. etc. etc. etc. It is a marketing tool, used to make the customer feel good about the fact that they are going to get "member's only" direct mail inundating their mailbox. I know this, because I'm a graphic designer/advertising man, and that's the way that cheap corporations maintain their corporate presence.

On the upside, there are a few places that I am okay with being a member. Outdoor emporium has killer members only deals at certain points in the year, I've never gotten direct mail from them, and I shop there a lot. They have a great selection. A lot of cool things, without the crazy Cabela's prices. While I prefer to shop at Ted's or Ed's, Sunbirds in Chehalis, or Thriftway in Forks, or the fly shop in the U district, there are things that those places just can't afford to stock at competitive prices. So I divide my purchases evenly between them, because I like to support local businesses.

But the deals are killer when you're a member, I've been a member for a while and it's worth it, especially when you get a lot of that gear that you've been wanting for a while. I saved like 300 on my Loomis steelhead setup, and man, is it a sweet setup. Gl 3 graphite, and a curado reel loaded with line I can't complain.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so very much Bododouche! You're a scholar and a gentleman and have my utmost respect. LOL I hope you have a great day! Haha! PS. Sportco told me 2 years, if I'm wrong, so be it.......... No biggy. Jeez, Bodo, maybe a little less coffee? I hope you recover.......... sounds bad for ya....

My suggestion and take it as you like. Take two steps back and bask in a little introspection.

[MarkFromSea]

Right on Nate! Marketing tool........

[natetreat]

Right on Nate! Marketing tool........

I'm just saying that it really is a good deal, whether or not it fits with marketing trends of other corporate entities. I like shopping at Sportco, I always run into guys I meet on the river, find out where the action is get my gear and have an altogether good time ogling the things on my wishlist.

[MarkFromSea]

yep, understood, they have some great deals, it used to be a more frequent social event or meeting place for us when we're heading to Chinatown for humbow. I've always enjoyed visiting there, in summer of 2008, my liquid assets and income crashed, so I didn't shop anywhere for a couple years, especially where I really wanted something but couldn't afford it. Now, income is back up, I can afford whatever I can justify. it was just a shock,, but it is just fine..... if I knew before, I had forgotten, just like a bunch of other things.... Like the Westport bar, my memory is fickle. I'm all geared up for some good fishing, it should be a good year!

[natetreat]

yep, understood, they have some great deals, it used to be a more frequent social event or meeting place for us when we're heading to Chinatown for humbow. I've always enjoyed visiting there, in summer of 2008, my liquid assets and income crashed, so I didn't shop anywhere for a couple years, especially where I really wanted something but couldn't afford it. Now, income is back up, I can afford whatever I can justify. it was just a shock,, but it is just fine..... if I knew before, I had forgotten, just like a bunch of other things.... Like the Westport bar, my memory is fickle. I'm all geared up for some good fishing, it should be a good year!

I hear you, for a while there we couldn't afford much either. My wife always has final say on the gear, but she's the one that got me the Loomis setup this christmas. I'm ready for action all over again, hoping that I can get my wife hooked on salmon fishing for some easy pinks this year, then she'll understand why all the gear is so cool. Hehehe.

[Anonymous]

I moved this thread here because Bodofish and MarkFromSea have been having a a little back and forth resulting in MarkFromSea dropping the Bododouche bomb.
I'm sure a warning is in order but I'm not sure how to proceed...

[Marc Martyn]

Interesting thread with some good information for those that were not aware of this change.

Sometimes a little bantering can lead to name calling which can lead to hard feelings, so I did a little editing to smooth the conversation out.

Membership fees are nothing new. REI has been doing it for decades. I remember a store in Spokane in the early '60's, I think it was called Value Mart, that charged a membership. It all depends on how much you are going to purchase from them to make the membership worthwhile. At Costco, I can offset my membership fees in savings in one trip.