Rumor surfacing.

[know1]

If you order much from Bass pro shops and you live in Ky you don't want a shop in Ky. Why? Then when you order something they have to add sales tax. Yes every little bit helps.......

But don't you already have to claim sales tax on your KY tax return for items that you bought where sales tax wasn't charged?

[MrSplitshot]

Maybe it's a rumor. Maybe it's not.

I've always thought that with Clarksville, IN and Cincinnati, OH that a BPS located in Central Kentucky wouldn't happen. However, when you look at their map, they are opening stores in areas real close to where they already have stores. Look at Georgia, look at Chicago metro, look at Texas, look at Missouri...Obviously, the demand is there and they know something...that company is a beast and growing like crazy.

I find Georgetown a little odd...obviously, it has to be on a major interstate, but with the store in Cincinnati and Louisville I would think that somewhere just south or just east of Lexington would be a better play. Richmond or Winchester, for instance...but land and future development is obviously an issue. There is kind of a "hole" in their map when you look at Kentucky and West By God Virginia.

If a company like Sportsman's Warehouse survives at Hamburg in Lexington given (1) the cost of that land, and (2) it's not a household name...then I think BPS would have absolutely no trouble whatsoever. People would come and it would be busy. It would draw people from Central, Eastern, and Southern Kentucky all day long. Everybody and their Granny's dog knows the BPS name and the BPS logo.

[chugbug]

We need a Cabelas in Winchester

[BanditMan]

Sounds cool if it is true.. What would be even better if one or something like it would fill the Lexington Mall Dead Zone!!!!

[redneckshadrap]

Sounds cool if it is true.. What would be even better if one or something like it would fill the Lexington Mall Dead Zone!!!!

I heard the same thing. Most say no, but the place I heard it made me really wonder.

We shall see....If it's true I'm about 3 minutes from it...LOL!!!!!!!!!!


Billy

[RickV]

Everyone I asked that is supposed to be "in the know" says this is a rumor.

[SuperSprint007]

Georgetown has so many lakes nearby....guess they will have the usa bassin classic on Corinith Lake or on Elkhorn......
Are there not enough BIG BOX stores(DKS, Sportsman, walmart..._) around for the bargin hunters.... say goodbye to customer service if a BPS comes here...

[redneckshadrap]

Everyone I asked that is supposed to be "in the know" says this is a rumor.

My info came from Georgetown. I heard they put a bid in...Toyota money....(not sure how that would tie in). But thier buliding a big Hamburg like area up there.

How many lakes(mileage wise) are near the one in Cincy?

Look how many lakes would be impacted within 80miles of Gtown. Lots of folks drive to Cincy from Southeast Ky to shop at BP.
Billy

[MrSplitshot]

Aside from the Ohio River, there aren't many "big" fisheries right on the back door of the BPS in Cincinnati...or Louisville really for that matter. I think that matters very little.

You don't get customer service and folks "in the know" there like you do at the smaller local stores, I agree. Unfortunately, there's a real big segment of the population that is just used to that and it doesn't matter to them. When's the last time you were wowed by customer service from the teenage chick working the register at a Wal-Mart who hates her job and is jawing about what time she gets off? It's not hurting their business any. People go. They want a great big store, with a great big parking lot, all the latest goods, and some decent prices.

Don't think for a minute that a BPS in Central Kentucky wouldn't go. People from Ashland, to Pikeville, to Somerset would frequent it without fail. Those people aren't driving here to go to Backwaters or Angler's Outpost now. I say build it...creates jobs for the people building, maintaining, and working at the store...and it's not like BPS isn't already a competitor with the Backwaters and Angler's Outposts of the world through mail order. The people that go to Backwaters and Angler's and the like now will continue to go there as long as they keep doing what they do to keep stuff on the shelves and give folks good localized baits and good localzed customer service.

My two cents...

[DJD]

I agree Backwaters will always get my business because i know my money is going to a local company plus the guys that work there are top notch as well as the guys who own the store.
"Q" whose picture is that on your avatar? It's good!

[PatientlyWading24]

It makes it really hard on the local stores. As mentioned above there are people that already travel any distance to go "get the deal" at a box store. Local business' can't survive. Those stores make their money with other products, and sell their baits for almost as low as a small store can buy them from their wholesaler.

Cincinatti and now Louisville have NO small local retailers. Either does Nashville. You would think in a market that big there would be some. but the BPS, DKS, Sprtsmans of the world have put all the little boys out of business. its very unfortunate. hope it doens't happen here.

[MrSplitshot]

Myself...I don't really pay much attention to a difference in the cost of baits between Wal-Mart, Dicks, Sportsman's Warehouse, BPS, Backwaters, Anglers, online, etc. I do notice that the smaller local shops carry some things that the big box boys don't always have, like the D&L Jigs that I prefer, for instance. If the smaller shops have it, I'll buy it there. If they don't, I'll get it where I can get it. I prefer the local guys...and like I said before, the people that are going there now will continue to go there even if BPS opens in Georgetown...the only bad thing about that is that it's a short term thinking for a shrinking group of folks.

I think the real problem lies with the generations and times changing. Whether you're talking about tires, baits, chicken sandwiches, or hardware...in the age of the internet and big budget national advertising, these kids are entering the marketplace as consumers who don't care about the local guy. They don't even know who the local guy is. They're price/brand name recognition/convenience shoppers. They're not like us and there's no sentimental or loyalty factor in there. They don't care if they are buying it from Ed who started his own business and lives two neighborhoods over and used to work with your Dad on the assembly line years ago at GE or Jimmy wearing an apron working the cash register down at X-Mart. They don't care about Ed. They don't know Ed. Jimmy's just fine, because he's fast, he's priced okay, he's got stuff, he's got a good website, and they've known who X-Mart is since they were old enough to watch TV. They've already learned all they need to know about the product on the internet. (Or so they think.)

If I owned a small sporting goods store, I'd be worried too. It is tough for the small guys to compete, but it's deeper than "We can't sell this bag of lizards for the same low price that BPS does." That's just one little piece of a great big puzzle...and maybe the least significant one. I'd be finding a way to make sure that the sporting youth knew who I was and that I found some of their flavor to put on my menu...because one day, that's going to be all of the customer base. The small shops who aren't trying to advertise, crank up a website, and get modern probably won't be around at some point. It's sad...and it'll be a part of history gone by the wayside...but it is what it is.

Capitalism is a bitch and Johnny Morris built an empire and household name full of long term competitive advantages. Got to admire him for that, if for nothing other than business savvy. There are a whole lot more 12 year olds who know who Bass Pro Shops is than the local baitshop. They see Dad's catalogs that come in the mail every week. They'll still know BPS when they're 16 and buying their first baitcaster.

Again, just my two cents.