Question about tackle manufacturing & chartering

[Fishfinder]

I would like to get the opinion from members here on this web-site on a question that I have to deal with all the time. I have been in the charter industry, the retail, wholesale , and tackle manufacturing business for the last 28. This question especially relates to the charter industry and manufacturing industry more that the retail and wholesale tackle industry. In all of the business that I operate to try and make a living from, I have to pay for numerous licenses and pay certain taxes to city, county, state and federal governments. I have to maintain insurances for both business and personal liability. I pay employees, unemployement taxes, electricity bills, water bills, rent , morgage , or boat payments, advertising and fuel bills and God nows what other expences that I shell out to stay legal and above water so I can legally stay in business. There are a lot of people that want to be in the manufacturing business and call them-selves tackle manufactures. They manufacture lures and rigs and sell them on line , at the docks and to their buddies or anyone else that will purchase them. I had a customer ask me today, if I could come off the prices on my skirts. He said that he knew a guy that was selling them on the dock cheaper than I had mine marked. His skirts looked pretty good and he didn't have to pay any tax either. I looked at him and grinned, and told him that no I couldn't drop my prices if I wanted to stay in business, and I preceeded to tell him about all the things that I have to pay for to stay in business, and that all the other guy had to do was purchase materials and tie his skirts and sell them. The bad part was that I was more than likely selling the guy his materials that he was tying with! Ironic huh?
The same goes on with the charter boat industry, especially the small boat industry. A large number of the boats that I have competed with in the past and even now, don't have all or any of the proper licenses, insurances, safety gear or knowledge that legal charter boats have, yet they are running for way less money than the legal boats are running for. I know that good service will help keep customers for you and making sure that they have a good trip will keep them coming back as well. Sometimes it is just hard not to ***** about things when you have people cutting corners and not willing to legally comply with the way others that are trying to make a full time living are having to do ,instead of just wanting to turn a quick buck.
Well, I have said my little piece and I know there is really nothing that I can do. I am just curious what some of you might think about this situation?

Capt. Joe Shute

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

I would like to get the opinion from members here on this web-site on a question that I have to deal with all the time. I have been in the charter industry, the retail, wholesale , and tackle manufacturing business for the last 28. This question especially relates to the charter industry and manufacturing industry more that the retail and wholesale tackle industry. In all of the business that I operate to try and make a living from, I have to pay for numerous licenses and pay certain taxes to city, county, state and federal governments. I have to maintain insurances for both business and personal liability. I pay employees, unemployement taxes, electricity bills, water bills, rent , morgage , or boat payments, advertising and fuel bills and God nows what other expences that I shell out to stay legal and above water so I can legally stay in business. There are a lot of people that want to be in the manufacturing business and call them-selves tackle manufactures. They manufacture lures and rigs and sell them on line , at the docks and to their buddies or anyone else that will purchase them. I had a customer ask me today, if I could come off the prices on my skirts. He said that he knew a guy that was selling them on the dock cheaper than I had mine marked. His skirts looked pretty good and he didn't have to pay any tax either. I looked at him and grinned, and told him that no I couldn't drop my prices if I wanted to stay in business, and I preceeded to tell him about all the things that I have to pay for to stay in business, and that all the other guy had to do was purchase materials and tie his skirts and sell them. The bad part was that I was more than likely selling the guy his materials that he was tying with! Ironic huh?
The same goes on with the charter boat industry, especially the small boat industry. A large number of the boats that I have competed with in the past and even now, don't have all or any of the proper licenses, insurances, safety gear or knowledge that legal charter boats have, yet they are running for way less money than the legal boats are running for. I know that good service will help keep customers for you and making sure that they have a good trip will keep them coming back as well. Sometimes it is just hard not to ***** about things when you have people cutting corners and not willing to legally comply with the way others that are trying to make a full time living are having to do ,instead of just wanting to turn a quick buck.
Well, I have said my little piece and I know there is really nothing that I can do. I am just curious what some of you might think about this situation?

Capt. Joe Shute

Well, I would like to add something, but you pretty much said it all.

Thanks for bringing this up.

When people try to bargain for a charter with me, and tell me about other boats will to "make a deal" I simply tell them that you get what you pay for.

I charge what is necessary for me to earn a living, I have my costs hammered down pretty good, and this is what I do to support my family.

If boats are willing to play "lets make a deal" there is a reason and you get what you pay for.

[Fishfinder]

I agree Jay!

Capt. Joe Shute

[Capt_John]

I just went and bought all the permits, licenses,etc. yesterday to run charters down this way. All I've ever done is fish for work since I was a kid both commercially and charter. I'm back home and to stay here, I'm going to have to run charters as hard as I can. Now that being said, I feel like It's going to be hard to compete with so many other new charter guys that are out there now. Not going to say any names, but I know of several people in this area running trips illegally(no license,permits,etc.) and that just hang out in tackle shops offering cheap trips to cover the cost of their fun fishing the rest of the time. I feel extremely lucky that I'm getting a good amount of bookings and inquiries just from my reputation and word of mouth and I'm looking forward to the season. I feel confident that the better operations will shine through as in any other business. I will say to you Joe that you are a first class person and have a first class business. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have had my first offshore charter job and I appreciate all of your help over the years. I was really stressing about business this year myself. But after having a long talk with Capt. Lee yesterday, I feel a lot better. Not really a rant or anything, but that's my little bit.

[Fishfinder]

Good to see you are getting back into the business. I hope that everything goes well for you John, I know that you will give customers a quality trip!

Capt. Joe

[seapower]

I've got the same thing to deal with here. We've got guy's running around with all the (craftsman or made in china) tool's they own in a hand carry tool box, thrown in the back of a truck. No insurance, no training, 2nd rate (cheaper)part's ,etc, etc .... If I get the "I know a guy that does it cheaper" line, I simply tell the customer "I'll be here when your engine crap's the bed". Believe it or not I've had quite a few that actually have. They come back all apolagetic, it was your choice, just like this is. I'm not in this to get rich (just look around, no wealth here), I'm trying to make an HONEST living, that's all. Joe, I've been to your shop several time's and I'll drive right past "cheap" to come back. You've had what I need or are able to get it quickly. Brother it don't get better than that. Keep swinging. Frank,SeaPower

[DropinBack]

If you know they are no legal... why not do something about it? Confront them...

[Fishfinder]

I hope that business is good for you this season as well Frank!

Capt. Joe

[Current Affair]

Joe,

Very well stated! It happens everywhere in every industry. BTW, we are heading down in the morning. Should be there by noon.

Robert

[Fishfinder]

Glad to hear you are coming down tommorrow. I have a doctor appointment tommorrow and will be leaving around 12. I hope to have your order ready tommorrow morning. I have been keeping busy. If not ready by tommorrow, by Thursday for sure.

AS far as turning someone in for breaking the rules. I have thought about it , but usually that will create a whole new set of problems that I just don't want to deal with right now. My business is fortunately doing very well right now, I am tying my butt off, and I have been putting up with this for years. Quality and service is what I have always based my business on, and so far that has seemed to work well! AS far as the charter part of the business, I have butted heads with the legal powers to be and they could care less if someone is running illegal or not! As one female represenative of a steering committee told me. It is just recreation not a real business. That's when I about lost it. But that is how most represenatives treat the charter industry. It is a recreational hobby in their eyes, and I was told that all I was trying to do was to have it made a limited entry business so I could have it all to my-self. Then I was asked to leave after I called her a stupid ***** that had no clue and didn't need to be on that governmental steering committee.

Capt. Joe