If anyone lives in the greater Redmond area, Sportees Sporting Goods is going out of business. Sale is on now. This is the last small operation on the eastside and leaves options of GI Joe's in Issaquah or 3 Rivers in Woodinville. This store has been around for a long time and the folks there will be missed - not to mention the extra 30 minutes driving time to buy stuff. I guess no more dropping in for some hooks, or other smallstuff on way home from work.

ya i seen that the other day have u been in there to see what they have left????

It is a shame that locals are disappearing...they could have done more to survive if they improved the staffing (one particular individual).
I swore to never go back because of it.
Their return policy was the most inflexible of any retailer in the business.
It is their fault, basically.
Just being local isn't enough.

goforchrome...

Spot on assessment...

How long is the sale supposed to last?

Fish on...

Todd

I know of the loudmouth individual you are referring to... There's a bunch of people I know that do not shop there because of him.

Oh well... Three Rivers has more of the high end gear pointed at salmon/steelhead anyway.

I never went in there, in part because of a staff person and in part because they were always out of whatever I wanted. I know the latter is a catch 22, especially if you are struggling. I am sorry to see them fail.

But I can't say enough good things about the crew at Three Rivers. They totally understand customer service.

They are only offering a 10% discount right now. At that price there are no deals...

KB's right. i bit on the sales thing too, left work early on fri. to beat all the weekend crowd at the big "sale", only to be a waste of time. they've got a handful of loomis rods, 2 left-handed curados, and most of their usual stuff. a 10% discount might be good on a loomis since they never go on sale, but for 10% off on all the other stuff which is already 10% more than elsewhere, wasn't worth the gas.
TODD:they think the sale might go on until dec., then the price will bottom out, i think, for the stock up items and such.


willy

I didn't go there because of some of the staff. I still try and support the local guys.

Used to go there all the time when in High School. Never had a run in with the one employee everyone is talking so highly of. I will have to wait till bigger discounts, then i might venture in.

the sale is a waste of time... i just got back.... the 10% discount basically cancels out sales tax and the products were expensive anyway so there really is no sale.... they are gonna do alot worse liquidating all that stuff to one buyer than actually having a sale.... i dont understand why it is not a 30% off sale or more

This isn't his only store. Don't know if he is closing his other store too or just moving stuff from this one to that one. Can't remember where the other store is....Pierce County I think. You are right, it was nice to have a place close by, but his prices on everything were pretty high. The owner is a fairly good guy but he could go from zero to obnoxious in 5 seconds.

Good for them. Not smart business people. High prices combined with a surely attitude. They reminded me of Warshals. Poeple might pay a little higher price for a freindly atmosphere. GI Joes is at least smart they have their prices pegged right at Cabela's with a few items being cheaper. They realize that with poor service at least the client can come in and touch what he wants to buy.

This business is not failing, rather they are closing because the owner has finally had enough of the retail game. He's burned a lot of bridges with vendors and suppliers by acting bigger than he is.

The Redmond store is his only location. He did have a second store on the Puyally South Hill for a while, but that's been closed for close to 15 years probably. That store really never took-off out there.

It's tough to see another family-owned local business close down, and though he's tired of the game, he brought the troubles on by his own actions.

a few weeks ago i seen him toss some guy out of his store but that's nothing new i seen that alot in all the years he's been there. lol

Outdour Emporium has it's sign across the street from 3 Rivers in Woodinville and is planning on opening a new store there.

cant wait for that.....hopefully they are smart enough to be open on sundays.... something 3 rivers could never figure out

Can't blaim 3R's for wanting a fishing day... Agree though that they should have a 1 or two person staff maybe for just the tackle side of it. Used to go to sportees when I first moved up here but they lost my business long time back. Never felt like they gave a rats a$$ about helping me (granted at the time I was struggling and only needed the bare essentials) but for that kind of service there are a lot of places with way better prices. Wish the owner and employees my best in their futures.

The OE move to Woodinville is a long way off. I'm not sure if they have even begun applying for permits. When I asked them about it a few months ago, it sounded like I shouldn't plan on seeing it soon.

Don't think it is a move... think it is going to be a new store. could be wrong, it has happened.