Yellow Breeches Outfitters is Closed

[McSneek]

Bamboozle wrote:
Herb was miserable as they come

On this we agree. Maybe some of these places you expect to carry huge inventories have been impacted by the economy, the growth of internet retailers and the ease with which new inventory can be procured and quickly shipped.

Was in TCO Reading a couple weeks ago. Got escorted all over the fly tying material room to help me select items I was requesting for some patterns I hadn't tied yet. I was also there to pick up an item they had sent over from the Bryn Mawr store. Store appeared well stocked to me although I will admit they don't carry as much as maybe 10 years ago. I think more is available through them on line.

With the crowds of fisherman flocking to the Allenberry stretch of YB, the proximity of the limestone streams as well as the local population size, someone should be able to make a go of it in Boiling Springs.

 

[mattofcarlisle]

As one of the four former employees of TCO Carlisle, I feel badly some of you guys had less-than-great experiences at the shops. TCO Carlisle closed in 2008 (I believe), primarily due to the economic downturn. Since that time, Tony has continued to support my Trout in the Classroom and fly tying club here at the middle school in which I teach.
TCO Carlisle had in stock the entire WAPSI fly tying catalog, and probably had more than any of the other shops. If we didn't have it physically, it could be obtained in about a week.
I look forward to TCO moving back in the area and wish Rowland good health.
Matt

 

[Tiogadog]

I would say most retail stores are filled with great people, decent people or total a- holes. Some of my favorite shops in the past had employees that you just avoided. I am sure all of of us here could cite several examples.

Fly shops out west often times have younger guys who seem to think because they are living the "trout bum" dream they do not need to help out those of us who live in the real world. That said, some of these guys are great. I have actually fished with a few.

 

[salmonoid]

Bamboozle wrote:
Shops can do the same and it appears many do so by not treating every customer as if they were special, even the jerks.

It's really not rocket science but a lot of retailers just don't get it.

I realize there is a fine line between a clerk being helpful versus annoying, but I can't believe the number of fly shops that make you feel like you are bothering them by being there.

It has little to do with fly shops. Customer service is a dying art in many of the brick and mortar establishments that exist that offer any good or service. Create an establishment that sells a good or service and make the customer feel special and you have created a strong foundation to potentially having a successful business.

 

[EdB]

Does anyone know who the new owner or manager is going to be? I still have a unused gift certificate from Yellow Breaches Outfitters !!

 

[JackM]

I would bet the prior owner(s) are responsible to honor the value of your gift certificate. It is highly unlikely that a new owner would take on such a liability.

 

[TimRobinsin]

Rumor has it Jake will be managing the shop. I think this is a good move for TCO and even better for the CV area. I wish Roland the best. It will be interesting to see what happens. I have heard it will be even bigger than Reading. Here is hoping.

 

[addictedangler]

I did all the schools for the shop for Emily and Roland. Anyone who has paid for a school can check my web site for there school options. This is not meant for free advertising but to help Roland with those who have paid or wanted to do a school or program this year. Thanks Tony Theaddictedangler.com

 

[DaveKile]

Chris over at TCO shared this with me. I had chance to speak with him and Tony at Somerset. I am sure we will hear more as we move closer to the opening.

TCO Fly Shop to Open New Store in Boiling Springs, PA - February of 2016

TCO Fly Shop, known for its specialty fly fishing retail stores and online web presence will be opening a new location in Boiling Springs, PA in February of 2016. TCO has purchased and will be occupying the building formally known as Yellow Breeches Outfitters on children’s lake. The new store will cater to the fly fishing enthusiast in the same way that the other three TCO locations do but with an added twist. Due to the proximity to the Appalachian Trail, the new TCO store will also focus on the outdoor clientele by offering great brands geared towards the general outdoorsman.

Formed in 1990, TCO Fly Shop is the largest, most Complete Fly Fishing Outfitters on the East Coast. With 3 retail locations and a significant e-Commerce business TCO offers the widest selection of the best products available in the Fly Fishing industry. TCO is committed to providing superior customer service and works to provide each client with an excellent buying experience whether it be on-line or in the stores.

TCO’s intention in Boiling Springs is to restore the building back to its former grandeur and create a space that pays homage to the great history of the area. “It is important that we respect the founding anglers of the sport and do our part to recreate the birthplace of fly fishing,” said President of TCO Fly Shop, Tony Gehman. “The plan is to restore the building back to its state from the mid 1950’s, when it had been converted from a dance hall. It’s critical that this building becomes something that the town of Boiling Springs can be proud of. Likewise, it should become a place where people that love the outdoors will want to spend time,” said Tony.

With plans to work with both the local fly fishing community, The Fly Fishing Museum, and the Appalachian Trail staff, this new TCO location will become an amazing destination. “At TCO, fly fishing is always first and foremost in our minds and this new location will be a mecca for fly anglers. The area is home to a number of great fisheries along with a rich history and we are very excited to be part of that,” said Tony. It’s still a year away but the new TCO location in Boiling Springs is something to look forward to for the 2016 season.

For more information visit www.TCOFLYFISHING.com or email tony@tcoflyfishing.com

 

[BREECHESANGLER]

Thanks for the info dkile. It sounds like TCO is going to make the place pretty nice. I always thought that they should do some renovations to the place but I guess they didn't have the extra money. Can't wait to see what it's like in 2016. They must be doing a good amount of work and moving in for it to take a whole year until they open. Good luck TCO and see you in 2016. Good luck Rowland with your health and God Bless.

 

[poopdeck]

Maybe I'm out of touch, maybe I just don't get it but who goes into a fly shop or any retail shop wanting to be made to feel special. Is it just me, am I the only one who hates waiting for help because some nimrod is standing there jabber jawing with the employee over the merits of this rod over that rod when its apparent that person is not buying any of the rods.

Am I the only person who goes into a retail shop with the one intention of buying something and leaving? Am I the only person that could care less about the latest gear reviews or exotic fly fishing locations? is it because I have spent my entire life in the SE portion of the state that I feel this way. Rude, ignorant, young sales staff means nothing to me. What matters is do they have what I'm looking for.

So the choice seems to be a well, or at least better stocked fly shop with rude employees or a little crappy shop with little inventory run by a rude owner. Hmm, Ill take the well stocked shop and all the rude employees they can find.

 

[JackM]

You aren't the only one that goes into a fly shop to buy what you need, but may be that you are the only one who views it just like you said.

 

[AkDan76]

This past april I traveled 4000 miles and met up with an old highschool buddy that first weekend I was home. We hadn't seen eachother in 20 years, come to find out he's a certified trout nut. He drove over from Wv for 3 days of fly mania. Also met up with BigSlack for a couple more pretty dang sweet days on the water! This site and a couple trout bums made it one of the more memorable trips to date!

Our first stop was to YBO. My better half came along and basically had to drag us out LOL! Rowland was a hoot to hang with and both Andy and I picked up enough gear to arm a small militia as my gal says . We all know that's not true, I should have bought more ha! He told us to start with the kiddy hole....man alive that place ate us up! after a full day I landed one brownie below the fork. Saw plenty and was stuffed with humble pie.

Anyways, I made a promise to Rowland I must keep! If anyone knows how to get in touch with him please email/pm me. I have a small package for him I was hoping to hand deliver to him this april. I'm in the process of finalizing dates but as it stands I should be boots on the ground April 1-15th. If anyone can help out my email's akdan76@yahoo.com or a pm works as well.

Dan
Alaska

 

[KeithS]

By Poopdeck:
"Maybe I'm out of touch, maybe I just don't get it but who goes into a fly shop or any retail shop wanting to be made to feel special. Is it just me, am I the only one who hates waiting for help because some nimrod is standing there jabber jawing with the employee over the merits of this rod over that rod when its apparent that person is not buying any of the rods. "


Not that I'm one who will ever own a Helios 2 or the like, but if I'm going to spend big money, for example a car, I'll go to multiple dealers and shop around. While I'm at the dealer talking to a salesman about different models and options, someone else may be waiting impatiently to make some quick transaction. That's life. I can't schedule my shopping with everyone other prospective customer that's going to go into the same store where I intend to shop.
We all need to get a little more patience.

 

[Maurice]

KeithS wrote:
By Poopdeck:
"Maybe I'm out of touch, maybe I just don't get it but who goes into a fly shop or any retail shop wanting to be made to feel special. Is it just me, am I the only one who hates waiting for help because some nimrod is standing there jabber jawing with the employee over the merits of this rod over that rod when its apparent that person is not buying any of the rods. "


Not that I'm one who will ever own a Helios 2 or the like, but if I'm going to spend big money, for example a car, I'll go to multiple dealers and shop around. While I'm at the dealer talking to a salesman about different models and options, someone else may be waiting impatiently to make some quick transaction. That's life. I can't schedule my shopping with everyone other prospective customer that's going to go into the same store where I intend to shop.
We all need to get a little more patience.

Keith, the problem with your analogy is that after kicking the tires on your cars at the dealership(s) you can't just go home and buy the car on line and screw the guy retailing them like people do with Rods.

Perhaps there should be a finders fee...(casting fee) that is paid to the shop owner by the mfg'er when someone goes to a shop to cast a rod and then buys online. That would give the MFg'er an opening to send people to shops to get the feel and thus help keep them open.

I can't blame some shop owners for being less than cordial when people come in, touch everything, buy some splitshot, get advice and then go buy their rods online to save a buck. I don;t think anyone should feel entitled to cookies and milk at a flyshop unless you are dropping some dough beyond a tippet spool.

 

[troutbert]

poopdeck wrote:
Maybe I'm out of touch, maybe I just don't get it but who goes into a fly shop or any retail shop wanting to be made to feel special.

I'm not sure what "wanting to be made to feel special" is even referring to. Something in a previous post?

Refraining from rudeness from someone I'm handing money to is about all I expect.

But I do expect that.

And even if that's all I really expect, I think there's no question that some of the people who work in fly shops who really enjoy talking to people, who are naturally sociable, are good story tellers etc. are a huge benefit to a fly shop, or any retailer.

 

[KeithS]

"Keith, the problem with your analogy is that after kicking the tires on your cars at the dealership(s) you can't just go home and buy the car on line and screw the guy retailing them like people do with Rods."

I know plenty of people who have done exactly that. Why do you think car dealers have websites.
Besides, it was a hypothetical product to illustrate a buying scenario

 

[PennKev]

Maurice wrote:
Keith, the problem with your analogy is that after kicking the tires on your cars at the dealership(s) you can't just go home and buy the car on line and screw the guy retailing them like people do with Rods.

Problem with the whole notion of guys buying on line after seeing the same product in a shop is that most big ticket items such as rods, reels, waders, etc. Have prices that are fixed by the manufacturer and distributors. A Sage XYZ is going to cost $600 no matter where it is purchased.

Where on-line sales hurt small shops is in selection, not neccessarily pricing. Any model of any brand of rod is available to the consumer on line. A typical, stand alone fly shop can only stock a limited number of models of a limited number of products. On the other hand the internet is one big fly shop with unlimited choices.

There have always been tire kickers in retail and they were never going to buy a car or rod no matter how much they talked about it and it has nothing to do with the explosion of online sales. As i have saide, where the internet has hurt fly shops is selection. The consumer is no longer at the mercy of his local fly shop. If he wants a Scott instead of a Sage he can have it regardless of whether there is a local dealer. All of a sudden it became very difficult for the local fly shop to convince a shopper to buy a Sage because he had few other choices.
The internet makes it too easy to get exactly what you want if you are a consumer. The small retailers take the hit because they can't sell you what they have any longer and they can never hope to match the selection available on line.

 

[poopdeck]

I don't mind waiting for a sale. I mind waiting while listening to some walking living fly fishing magazine babble on while shaking the hell out of a rod. The people that just want to hear themselves talk. The people who are there merely to one up the sales clerk in the area of rod merits or general fly fishing knowledge. Fly fishing has an extraordinary number of these types and those poor clerks have to listen to them all day.

Retail shops are not there to entertain me. They are there to sell me stuff I want for the sole sole purpose of making money. I can respect that. If you want my money, have what I want. If you don't have what I want I really don't care if your a local shop or a big box store or if you stay open or close.

Troutbert see post 35.

 

[pcray1231]

For my two cents regarding TCO:

Opening of the State College store, specifically it's exact location, left a bad taste in my mouth as I am a loyal customer of FFP. Yes, I think State College can support two shops. But conveniently locating it between 322 and FFP was in poor taste, IMO.

In that sense, I WANT to dislike TCO. But I find their inventory to be pretty good, recognize their conservation/teaching efforts, find the workers to generally be highly knowledgable, and have never had a bad customer service experience.

The only thing bad I'll really say is that I have found their flies to be of general poor quality, but that's true of many shops who fill their boxes with mass produced flies. I'll also say that I wish they carried some lower priced, blue collar type brands, but I'm sure that's a business concern more than anything. It's hard enough to make a go in that business, and I'm sure competing directly with big box stores isn't the way to do it.

Anyway, I'd prefer it remain independent than have TCO take it over. But I'd rather TCO take it over than for it to shut it's doors. In this niche business, a franchise targeting an established shop turns me off. A franchise salvaging a struggling one? Not so terrible.