I feel I need to step up and defend Mike Chamberlain. I was reading all of this and remembered when my 20 year old daughter was 2 years old. She came to Ted's with me on a regular basis. She wanted a piece of gum from the gum machine...probably 2 cents or 5 cents...Mike told her that dad probably didn't have anything smaller than a $100 bill....He knew that dad had lots of cash and would spend a bunch of it at Ted's...and I did. Mike always took the time to address me by name which he does today and even if he is feeling how bad retail sucks on a given day he is polite. I still have a box set up for King fishing on the Kenai...set ups tied for me by Mike. I still fish to this day with a custom rod Mike gave me since he hadn't put an eye on one of my custom rods he had promised to do for 2 years...I was obviously patient. Anytime I needed advise he gave it....any time I ask for a donation for a good cause he stepped up....every time.

The prices have never been the lowest and I know how he feels about selling licenses. I totally disagree with how they handle licenses but I understand their frustration with the WDFW system. Believe me, dealing with the retail public sucks swamp water at times. So I work too far away to visit Mike often but I do when I can because I feel they have earned my business over the years.

With all that said I will say that some of my best customers give me all their work because I am willing to do the small stuff quickly. One of my biggest jobs came from 5 years of doing the small stuff without a complaint. As a very successful sales person I am very critical of sales people. The GI Joe's kids know nothing and I understand that going in. I like Outdoor Emporium for the selection but they could learn a thing or two about appreciation of my business (and my recommendations to others)...Still wish Mike well with the new store in Seattle... Sportco in Fife is a disaster of a retail store in my mind but they have selection ...as long as you don't mind searching for it yourself. I'm sure if I lived down by Tacoma I would shop there and eventually get better service.

In conclusion I will say that if I could shop at Bob's in Longview that is where I would go. They are excited about being good at what they do. They are interested in me and my business and they have come up with creative ways to get me to spend money there. They even have a special checkout line for licenses which is where I got my last one...slick and easy and pleasant. Now I bet they sell thousands of licenses and are glad to do so.