Are they helpful? Do they usually have things in stock? Willing to set up a bow for you to shoot? ....This is a biggie around here...let you shoot thru the Chrono?? It seems it's never "working" when I want to shoot thru it..lol Always willing to tweak your bow for the little things that help....or are they the " should be good enough" or " I wouldn't worry about it, I'd just shoot it" type crowd. Im curious to how shops around the country are different.
My local bowshop is incredible, they are always crowded though, they keep enough staff to accommodate though! Usually work on the bows for free too. Lancaster archery! I would recommend to anyone! Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I’m currently looking for a new shop. The one here in town won’t give you the time of day if you’re not buying something. I gave em a second chance and had some arrows refletched there. When I picked them up most of them were falling off. I bought my bow about 2 hrs from here, good shop, but they went out of business. I’ve dealt with Lancaster,wish they were closer Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
We have the big outdoor boxstore, bass pro cabelas, scheels, they sell all kinds of everything but for real questions i go to the locally owned shop, happens to be a matthews dealer with indoor range They always seem to have everything you need
One just (re)opened up about 5 minutes down the road. We went to him at his old location before he closed down and was pretty helpful. Right now he doesn't have much of anything in stock that we have needed - but hoping it will change. Trying to get him to carry Elite - otherwise we will have to continue the 30 minute drive to our Elite Dealer.
It seems to be a trend now. Archery shops want to make money, and I get that, but man there is no loyalty between customer and owner.
The only thing the local small shop has to compete with is customer services. I can’t see how they can compete with the internet and big box stores. They have give good service or close the doors. IMO Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Lancaster is he best of the best. It's not local to me by any means (1.5hrs), but it's where I bought my Hoyt, and where I take it if something arises, which is a rarity.
Hoffman archery in Northern Virginia is the only shop I'll go to. I stopped by to drop off my bow when the string slipped off the cam. It was 5 minutes before closing, so I said I'd come back to pick it up. He told me I needed to get back in the woods, so he stayed after closing to fix it right then, for free. That's one of many good stories about those guys.
A1 archery in Hudson Wi is bar none the best archery shop in the Minneapolis area. I drive over an hour to get there and have never had a bad experience. Honestly I would never buy a bow anywhere else even if it was cheaper they are that good and committed to their customers. I drive by 2 other shops on my way out there one of which is the other Mathews dealer in our area....
My local one isn't bad. Had 2 bows tuned before season and just went in to get 12 arrows cut Friday. After he cut them I asked how much and he said "don't worry about it" This is the kind of thing a business does that gets me to spend money in their shop repeatedly.
I went to the one down the road 7.1 miles from my house last Wednesday just to kill time. Horrible shop and NEVER let them touch your bow! They are a "if you're looking for something and they have it in stock and short drive shop" only. I bought my HTR there but ran to tune it myself. It had 29 mods stock I asked for 28s and he said he had 27s, would they work until he got 28s in. He put them on and when I got home it drew funny, they were mods for an Avail. Waited 2-3 weeks for him to bring in 27s. I said they were supposed to be 28s. Wait another 2 weeks and he brings in 26s. I said forget it. Buddy had some 27s I used until I bought 28s used. Had lunch with my best friend and he wanted to run by there. He bought and paid for Z7 mod/cam back in February and the guy acted ignorant so my buddy has to go dig up his credit card receipt. Last Wednesday I was looking at trying a limbdriver and he had none of course but was on the phone and I'm staring at a wall full of Hoyt and Mathews specific QADs. I hear him say hang on a minute and he looks the wall over and tells the guy, "No we don't have QADs." The boxes said Hoyt and Mathews and you had to look close to see QAD on the box. I got his attention and told him to ask the guy what bow and it was a Hoyt and I told him, "Tell him you have what he needs." He asked me to grab what the guy would want when he got there.
I have a few shops in my area but only go to one, Great Lakes Outdoor Supply in Middlefield Ohio. Great tech and archery manager. They always have a lot stuff in stock and a nice indoor range.
My local one of the last 15 years just shut down. They were great. Now I don't have one within about 20 to 30 miles.
The absolute best shop I've ever been in was in Chillicothe Illinois called "The wolf's den". Larry knows his stuff, has an indoor range, a great supply of different bows and equipment ( both new and used ). He carries quality arrows and other things like thermal cells. Great Guy also. His son I believe is taking it over, and he seems to be just as good, not to mention knowledgeable and friendly. I gladly drive the 40+ miles for the great service when I'm in Illinois. First rate for sure.
see this is my thing....bow shops often times do not care/know just how important customer service is. I mean if you take time with customers and are kind, we will drive past others to get to you. Even may spend the extra $$ because it's you. they seem to miss that around these parts..it's always ways get your money and push you out the door...never want to paper tune, shoot thru the chrono, check your #, draw length, none og the stuff that matters. Just sell you a bow, set it up any old way and tell you "you should be good" ....BS
Absolutely love the bow shop I go to in Belvidere, IL. Sure Shot Archery is the best bow shop I have been to. I was set to buy a new Halon 32 from there but found a better deal on a used halon. But I called him up to shoot through the chrono and he told me to come on in no charge.
