Hackle.....?

[Artin]

So with the whole craze in hackle and prices surging all fingers pointed towards the manufacturers and I decided to email Whiting.
I have been upset that hackle prices have gone up unnecessarily. Given that women are more into the thicker feathers all feather prices have gone up. I thought that it was sorta selling out so I wrote them an email and here is what the response was. To my surprise it's not companies like Whiting who raised their prices.... hmmmm. Keep that in mind.
I thought it was cool that Tom actually wrote back himself.

"Hello Artin

I understand your feelings, but I want to clarify a few things.

Actually Whiting Farms has not raised any of their prices for several years. Rather the shops and distributors have done so because the market will pay it recently. Further the fashion feather component of our business is only a small segment of our sales, as they are not interested in any wider saddle hackle than size 14 (and we produce more size 16 and narrower than wider), and they are not interested at all in capes nor soft hackle pelts, nor our myriad of other product lines.

The shops, distributors and even the fly tying companies are the ones that are not providing the fly tiers with feathers-not Whiting Farms. Also my understanding is the other two hackle producers have sold 100% of their 2012 crops into the fashion industry, while Whiting Farms has stood as the lone company that has not.

So I think it is unfair to characterize Whiting Farms as selling out, when we are the only ones providing feathers to the tiers these days. And I agree with you that the bedrock fly tiers will be our future-I have never forgotten that.

Sincerely,

Tom Whiting
Whiting Farms, Inc."

So here is the explanation of why hackle has gone up in price needlessly and has kept me from buying.

Artin

[anacrime]

That's awesome. He's a stand up guy.

[fflutterffly]

If that is true then we should be able to go to the fly shops and ask them if they are the ones raising the prices, ask if indeed they have been hiking the price and get their answer. I'm not so sure. But this really an interesting note.

[NorcalBob]

Truth or dare? Some truth in the letter, some political rhetoric in the letter. Whiting has raised their wholesale prices a bit to dealers over the past few years. But, the majority (%) of the increases have been passed down by the retail sellers of their products, and not Whiting. Many fly shops still sell at MSRP, and their feathers go out the door very quickly. Many fly shops do not sell at MSRP and have feathers available. But all fly tyers can relax, as this feather craze is just a fashion fad which will eventually crash like all the other fads. And then tons of hackle will become available at greatly reduced prices.

[Artin]

Truth or dare? Some truth in the letter, some political rhetoric in the letter. Whiting has raised their wholesale prices a bit to dealers over the past few years. But, the majority (%) of the increases have been passed down by the retail sellers of their products, and not Whiting. Many fly shops still sell at MSRP, and their feathers go out the door very quickly. Many fly shops do not sell at MSRP and have feathers available. But all fly tyers can relax, as this feather craze is just a fashion fad which will eventually crash like all the other fads. And then tons of hackle will become available at greatly reduced prices.

I think you're right about the craze crashing. I hope it's sooner than later. I need some
It's my feeling about the matter. It's about loyalty. I choose to buy my gear and other stuff I need from my local shop. Even though I can get the same thing for less online. I can also do what my buddy does. Call up a bunch of fly shops and bargain with them on 2 Sage XI3 rods and reels and get a pretty SICK deal (free extra spools line and backing for both reels, no tax and free shipping about $300 retail savings). I choose to stay loyal to my shop knowing that being a small specialty shop in LA and competing with online retailers is tough. I would expect the same loyalty right back.
It goes both ways I think.
Fly fishing shops are a business. I as a consumer choose to pay a bit higher in prices because I think that not only do you get good products, you also get service and some friends out of it. So I don't mind paying a bit more knowing that. So with that said, I would think that in return for our loyalty we would get the same back.
I mean, I can call up a bunch of non local fly shops like my buddy did and buy rods not at a discount but get free spools and free line and backing, no tax or delivery costs. Easy. Or buy online where tax is never an issue and free shipping. Considering the $600-$700 price tag I would automatically save around $60 off the bat.
Just sayin'


Artin

[Flyjunkie]

Whiting Has raised their Prices on Hackles within the past 2 years, and have raised them earlier this year.. so that letter is not 100% accurate. I receive Whiting Mailers and they have mentioned about Price increases so Mr. Whiting is pulling your leg..

The fad has fizzled at the Spot since early September. Just as the Stylists said it would. we do not get many stylists or young ladies coming in to buy them anymore. We dropped prices on most every Hackle 5% or more. we no longer order the 20 count bundles of the long Saddles that are the most popular - the demand had evaporated...

The "Whiting 100" packs have only increased a slight amount from 2 years ago.. 3 bucks maybe. so it isn't all that bad.

You folks should stop buying those 100 packs and invest in a neck or half neck.. more money upfront, but they'll last you longer and you get a nice size azzortment that should cover you for a long time..besides the fact you get "spade Feathers" for tailing your dry flies. so buying Necks or half necks is a long term investment, that will save you $$$ over the long haul.

[Artin]

So Dean you're saying that Whiting is BSing me. If that's the case I will write him back and call him out on it. I don't like that one bit I tell ya. One bit.

[Flyjunkie]

So Dean you're saying that Whiting is BSing me. If that's the case I will write him back and call him out on it. I don't like that one bit I tell ya. One bit.

Well Doctor Tom is probably stretching the truth abit.. but as NorCalBob stated, besides Me, Whiting Farms has raised the prices over the Past 2 years.. sooo maybe Mr. Whiting is unaware.. (thought how can that be???)

Do not bother writing him back about it.. ain't worth your time really.. Just Know that the Prices were raised over the past 2 years, and Now they are sliding back down... probably after the 1st. of the year they'll be down even more...

don't bother writing back Doctor Tom... pretty pointless if you ask me....

[FlyinFish]

I think that the point is that the manufacturers have raised prices a little bit, but in line with a typical market and not really because of the fashion trend. Or at least that's what I'd hope... I remember 2 years ago talking to David at STM about the wholesale price of the 100 packs going up, and that was well before the fad.

The way I see it, let the fly shops or the manufacturers reap the benefits for a couple years, and I'll just hold out on buying any hackle until it all blows over (i.e. let the flyfishing industry suck in some revenue from the salon industry for a couple years, then we'll return to business as usual).

Plus, whaddya care about hackle? You ain't got any time to fish. You got diapers to change!

[Artin]

Plus, whaddya care about hackle? You ain't got any time to fish. You got diapers to change!

Yup, ain't that the truth!

Dean, you're probably right about writing back to him.... I got a better idea.... let's grow our own chickens! haha. We'll get eggs out of 'em as a bonus!

Artin

[Papasequoia]

The fad has fizzled at the Spot since early September. Just as the Stylists said it would. we do not get many stylists or young ladies coming in to buy them anymore. We dropped prices on most every Hackle 5% or more.

Are you back at the Spot, Dean?

[rayfound]

let's grow our own chickens! haha. We'll get eggs out of 'em as a bonus!

Not likely. Hackle all comes from Roosters!

[Artin]

let's grow our own chickens! haha. We'll get eggs out of 'em as a bonus!

Not likely. Hackle all comes from Roosters!

Eh, I would think you'd need chickens to produce the roosters. Besides, if not specified which sex, arn't they all called chickens? and if you break it down to which sex, then, you would call one a Rooster and the other a hen?

[Eric1]

The fad has fizzled at the Spot since early September. Just as the Stylists said it would. we do not get many stylists or young ladies coming in to buy them anymore. We dropped prices on most every Hackle 5% or more.

Are you back at the Spot, Dean?

Yes he is Jon.
Eric

[Flyjunkie]

Are you back at the Spot, Dean?

Yes PAPA.. back part time / 3 days a week at the Spot... it's Good...