West Marine new line sur-charge

West Marine new line sur-charge... SUCKS. Sorry, I need to vent.
I went to West Marine in Alameda yesterday to get new line put on a reel as I've done many times in the past.  Paying by the foot or yard is a little more than buying a whole spool but then you end up with tightly wrapped line and I think it is worth it. However, West Marine now wants $5 to unspool your reel then $10 to spool it. That is ON TOP of the regular line fee. $15 before any line hits your reel. I told the employee sorry, not for me. I went home and ordered a spool of line online to do it myself. I'm reelly annoyed (pun intended).

West Marine new line sur-charge... SUCKS. Sorry, I need to vent.
I went to West Marine in Alameda yesterday to get new line put on a reel as I've done many times in the past.  Paying by the foot or yard is a little more than buying a whole spool but then you end up with tightly wrapped line and I think it is worth it. However, West Marine now wants $5 to unspool your reel then $10 to spool it. That is ON TOP of the regular line fee. $15 before any line hits your reel. I told the employee sorry, not for me. I went home and ordered a spool of line online to do it myself. I'm reelly annoyed (pun intended).

I've never heard of a tackle shop charging for this service before.  Good way to lose your customers to the competition.

I can see the store perspective even though it sucks. Probably takes 10-15 minutes for each spooling job. Labor is not cheap.

I can see the store perspective even though it sucks. Probably takes 10-15 minutes for each spooling job. Labor is not cheap.

Penny wise, pound foolish as the saying goes.

The store loses a sale on line and most likely a customer.  I get that labor isn't cheap but losing a customer is a lot more expensive than the $4 of labor and labor burden it costs to spool a reel.

How many of us have gone in to buy line and while they are putting it on we stroll through a few aisles picking up some tackle and lures? 

my two cents

I can see the store perspective even though it sucks. Probably takes 10-15 minutes for each spooling job. Labor is not cheap.

Penny wise, pound foolish as the saying goes.

The store loses a sale on line and most likely a customer.  I get that labor isn't cheap but losing a customer is a lot more expensive than the $4 of labor and labor burden it costs to spool a reel.

How many of us have gone in to buy line and while they are putting it on we stroll through a few aisles picking up some tackle and lures? 

my two cents

The line is marked up over 100% over cost.  They are already making their money there.

I can see the store perspective even though it sucks. Probably takes 10-15 minutes for each spooling job. Labor is not cheap.

Penny wise, pound foolish as the saying goes.

The store loses a sale on line and most likely a customer.  I get that labor isn't cheap but losing a customer is a lot more expensive than the $4 of labor and labor burden it costs to spool a reel.

How many of us have gone in to buy line and while they are putting it on we stroll through a few aisles picking up some tackle and lures? 

my two cents

Depends on the lifetime value of the customer that uses the service. If that customer only rarely buys line and a few lures it may be worth the risk of losing them to spend that 15.minutes with a customer that buys new foul weather gear every year, I'd bet WM makes nearly all their money on clothing and accessories.

  I'd bet WM makes nearly all their money on clothing and accessories.

That’s a bet you’d win.

  I'd bet WM makes nearly all their money on clothing and accessories.

That’s a bet you’d win.

given the normal specialty retailer mix its a sure bet, and especially since more than 50% of their revenue comes from the stores that have "expanded offerings" - meaning more clothing and other lifestyle products,

I work at West Marine San Carlos... My perspective on this? It’s silly. From what I’ve heard our store isn’t doing this (as far as I know, for now). I admit it can be very frustrating to have to unspool 500+ yards of line sometimes by hand, but nothing that needs to be charged for. I’m sure a few local tackle shops do charge for the service of putting it on as well, but I’d like it if we were to stay the only shop that doesn’t. Disappointed to hear about this.

West Marine tried charging for line spooling a couple of years ago when I was running the Marin City Fishing Department. I refused to charge people. As soon as I left I had heard they started charging.

Come to my shop, Bodega Tackle and we will take care of all you spooling needs and a lot more.

Something like this might work well for unspooling...until the line snags and you launch a reel across the room 

West Marine tried charging for line spooling a couple of years ago when I was running the Marin City Fishing Department. I refused to charge people. As soon as I left I had heard they started charging.

Come to my shop, Bodega Tackle and we will take care of all you spooling needs and a lot more.

Ken is a good dude. Wont bs you and will hook you up proper