Don't be too hard on some of them. They won't change and will go under. The ones that are willing to change, however, support them so that they;ll be there when you really need them.
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! Sometimes people just don't realize the value and importance of a pro shop. Believe it or not, there are some things you simply CANNOT get anywhere else. This "Wal Mart" mentality is just plain old ignorance. Folks get their stuff from "other" stores because they believe it's cheaper. LOL....OK, maybe initially. But what about when something needs fixed? Where do you take it? Certainly not back to Wal Mart! They look at you like you have lobsters crawling out of their ears! "You want us to do what?" "The cams are out of time?? HUH???" Even just simple things like grease and lube, restringing, cam lean......
What people don't realize is that they now HAVE to take it to a pro shop, and I can't speak for them all, just the one I work for, but if you buy your bow from us we don't charge labor to work on it. Just parts. BUT, if you don't get it from us, there is a pretty hefty labor charge.
Besides that, our repeat, loyal customers get "special" treatment and generally there is a discount or two tossed in there once in a while. Add all that up, and that BassPro bow has now cost more than the Pro Shop ONLY bow.
We, like you, cater to the hunter. We are in a rural setting made up of carpenters, farmers, factory workers and such. ( I don't mean that w/ a negative connotation, AT ALL!) My point is, they are hunters, not target shooters. The only "target" shooting they do all year is a 3D shoot or two and even those are bowhunter shoots. I've talked w/ some of them about 5 spot leagues, FITA and such......They have absolutely NO idea what I'm talking about. Point being, we simply don't carry target archery supplies, they would sit on our shelves for an eternity. BUT, we will order whatever you want, so if we don't have it, we will w/in a week.
Folks are gonna be in trouble if we don't continue support of our pro shops. Back to the labor issues......BassPro hires folks off the street. They may, or may NOT, have any archery knowledge at all, or limited at best. Again, take that bow back there for work......Good luck. I've seen SO MANY times people come in w/ a bow they bought from "X" store and the comment is always the same...."This bow just isn't comfortable. I don't enjoy shooting it." We look at it, and it's no darn wonder.....The draw length is hardly ever right, the poundage is too heavy/light, and I remember one time the guy was right handed and they sold him a left handed bow! ARE YOU SERIOUS???? The only thing they care about is the sale. Period.
OK, I've gone on long enough. Support your Pro Shops folks!