Most of you know I work part time for a local pro shop. And I am amazed at how involved with the shop some of our customers are. If we need help setting up an outdoor range.........changing the shooting wall..............Help with 4H...........We are at the fair every year and we always have guys that come out and help with that.........whatever we need. .It's really neat. These guys don't even work there. They just love archery and want to help and be involved in anyway they can. Guys just come out and hang out too. They may shoot. They may not. They may not do anything except come in a shoot the breeze for a couple hours. Yeah, I love it. There's nothing like a pro shop. Can't get that environment at Bass Pro. Are you one of those people? If so, what do you do? What is your involvement? Why do you do it? Do you guys/gals see this at your local pro shop as well?
I get most of my bow stuff there but don't really hang out there too much. I was never much of a paper shooter. But they recently bought the building next door and put in a video archery screen, indoor 3D and a pop-up range. So I might get in a league this summer. I do help them out when they have their open house before the season and at their booth at the St. Louis Boat Show next weekend.
The prices my archery "pro shop" charges force you to walk in backwards, bent over. Needless to say, I don't go there for archery gear.
Not at all. I go in once a year to my shop... they take care of my bow and I leave. Everytime I go into any pro-shops.. the guys working behind the counter are blatantly arrogant.. although never to me directly.. but many of them act like they're 'above' everyone else. I go once a year... and trust just 1 guy.. who's always been good to me (which is surprising because of how in-often we sees each other)..
I'm not. I used to enter the big buck contest at a couple of places, I've stopped doing that as well. I go to the shop if I need arrows fletched or cut.
I drive over an hour to the shop I use, so I'm only there once a year. There are 2 shops near me that I'll go and shoot at.
El 'Donno I pretty much have zero involvement with pro shops as the nearest is like 35 miles from me I live in podunk, so I pretty much had to learn to be more self sufficent with my bow setups. I buy when im in those towns or just internet order my things. I would love to be more tied in with proshops but its just not do able where im at.
Even though I visit several Pro Shops in the area and others while I am on the road. I still would Not consider myself actively involved with another Pro Shop. I am Very Active in Archery though, running my business, working/talking with customers, stooting etc. I doubt there is a day in the year that goes by that I am not doing something archery related. Dan
I go to the shop 3-4 times a week. I stop in to shoot the bull. Once in awhile I shoot a new bow off the rack (for giggles) or help him tinker with bows in the press. I am also his store watcher if he has to run to the john for a minute. He is a heck of a guy and if I need anything he will do it or get it. I got my family shopping there too.
Sounds to me like there are too many pro shops that contribute more to giving themselves, and pro shops as a whole, a bad name than not. And then they wonder why so many people go tithe big chain stores.
I drive 60 miles, one way, to go to Blue Ridge Backwoods Archery shop. I pester the help, shoot the 3d targets, the paper, the TechnoHunt, shoot the breeze... There's usually a bunch of 'regulars' just hanging out. It's much like a family atmosphere. I'd go more often if it weren't so far away.
I shoot once a week for an indoor winter DART league from January-April ....and maybe a few other times during the year to shoot the DART,but that's about it
Interesting. This is my take, on MANY of the shops in my area. Just this summer I found a place that is GREAT, and is only 20 minutes away (from our new farm). I look forward to getting to know them better, honestly. It was refreshing to me - because most all of my dealings with Pro Shops have been negative. WAY too much ego involved for me.
My local shop is so biased towards Mathews that you bring in a Bowtech they almost won't work on it, but instead try to sell you a Mathews.
It seems it is like that at nearly every shop around here. That doesn't really tick me off to much though. They are running a business, and their business just so happens to be selling bow brand X, even though I'm shooting brand Y.
I live a long way from the 1 proshop I trust. I go see John about 2x a year max. I wouldnt let a big chain touch my equipment unless I personally knew the guy behind the counter.. I do like the guys at the one and only tradbow shop in CDA.. very knowledgeable and helpful. They sell guns there too so I stop in there about 4-5 times a year.
