Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

I heard thats it, no more.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

I know the Owner I saw him yesterday he used to be a member at the Golf Course where I work. He told me yesterday that they are going out of business the retail industry is getting very hard to make money competing with the internet.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

WOW! Who is left?

I was talking with the folks at Dow's last week and they said things are way off this year. They have been dumping herring all summer and had a week or 2 were they didn't sell any wholesale bait.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Not really surprised. They had a decent selection, but way overpriced.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Yikes. That's awful! It's a damn shame. I'd rather pay a little more for customer service, the ability to handle items before I purchase and having a good whack of it while cruising the aisles for things I probably don't need lol. The Internet has done major damage to a small business owners ability to run a successful retail business.

They could down size, run out of a warehouse and turn to ecommerce. This would lead to layoffs of employees and bring their prices down but at least they'd still be operational. A total revamp of their website and marketing strategy would be necessary but it's certainly worth considering. No more live bait, though.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

mixed feelings

i grew up on efinger's gear. we always shopped there for our scout camping stuff and fishing gear when i was a kid and it's where i got my varsity jacket. i rode my bike over there from somerville one day and bought a sweet knife that my mom promptly confiscated when i got home bc i'd been gone for like four hours without telling anyone where i went. lots of memories of hiding in the sleeping bag aisles with my brother etc...

but once i grew up i realized that their prices were pretty much higher than anywhere else you could shop and the old guys at the rod or gun counters were always more interested in talking to each other than helping a customer. there's a reason that many people know the store as "effinjerks"

at least when it was still in the old building it had that mom & pop feel and the smell of decades of oiled leather and seemed like a place where fishermen and hunters would feel at home. the new building just feels like any other "sporting goods" shop hawking yoga pants to soccer moms etc. i think that's probably where things went wrong... a family business can't compete with the big box stores with on sales/prices on clothing, shoes, balls, bats/rackets etc. they should have concentrated on what the big stores can't do: knowledgeable staff, local insight, variety of firearms, etc.

if it's confirmed and true, it's sad to see end like any other 107 year old family business. really, i wish that they had made some changes years ago though so that it never would have come to this.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Very crazy, i been shoppin there since i was a kid riding my bike there with a fishing rod in my backpack for those of you that mnow susan the register lady remmeber her yellin at me leave your backpacks here at the counter lol! I worked there for years my brother current and some of my bestfriends work there now still gonna be sad to see it go. All the guys over there told me personally end of december it done

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

That blows. Ive brought rods in there with snapped tips or busted guides and the guys were always really helpful for super short money. I have a couple ive been meaning to bring in for repair. Its nice to know you can walk in and out same day and not have it put in a corner and sent out to some random guys basement and get upcharged at 3 levels.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

That really stinks. They were expensive, but they always had what I needed. Spent a ton of money there. Especially the old store.

First Rays, now Effingers. :(

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

yea me too, what can we do, if anything with all those rewards points?

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Now that's some sad news to hear.

Always helpful when I was shopping there and willing to share all the tips. One issue I had that I actually mentioned here was quickly resolved and even though I do agree that prices were on a higher level than others, the fact that they went out of their way to help me with an issue stayed with me and made me come back over and over again. Sad news indeed.

Andre

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Bought my 22 and shotgun from them when they were a liitle mom & pop store in downtown bound brook
That was the early sixties you could just walk in and get your gun
You could bring your gun to school store it in the office and go hunting right after school
To me the old days were the good days.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

these places should start internet order sites to go with their store sites i would think that would save them or at least give them a chance...

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

I just got the email from Effingers confirming store closing, so its certainly not speculation.

Love em or hate em, still stinks to see an independent, family owned business closing their doors.

Not only Rays and Effingers (as someone mentioned) but Meltzer's also closed down recently.

By the way, beginning tomorrow all stuff at Effingers will be 20-40% off per the email.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Even know it sucks they are closing. Are they putting everything on sale?? Get some good gear for cheap!

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Seems like a lot of these small Mom and Pop places are going under. Hard for them to compete with the big box and interweb companies. They have a lot less buying power, can only spend so much on advertising, need to have and maintain a storefront, economies of scale favor larger companies etc.

Bottom line is most have to charge more to make a decent living so the only thing they can compete on is their knowledge and service.... Not sure about the rest of you but that's worth something to me...

Think about it this way....... Lets say you're going to spend $20 more on a $200 reel at your favorite local tackle place. Instead you decide to buy it from BigBox Company X or nostorefront.com and save the $20. Now you're on your way fishing driving down the road at 6:00 AM and need to stop for bait or have a last minute rod tip put on and the place has a sign on it, OUT OF BUSINESS.

Sucks right??

If we want them to be there for small repairs, bait, personalized service and local knowledge, we need to support them on our other purchases as well albeit for a few dollars more...

Shop local, shop small business and especially shop our sponsors when you can. Don't let a few dollars be your deciding factor because at the end of the day it's not worth the trade off.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Brilliantly put, Gerry! I also say to myself, where are my kids going to get bait when they're taking their kids fishing in the future? Obviously something WELL into the future but it's a reality. 123tackle.com ain't shipping you herring or shiners...

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

was there yesterday, bought waders and boots. no sign of a sale but the guy in shoes had to ask someone about returns and the answer was 60 days if that's an indication.

price for boots and waders was same as online.

went there because as mentioned previously I wanted to see them before buying them.

I've lived two blocks behind where Ray's used to be for 30 years and was sad when that went too.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

In addition to competition from online retailers, I think people are just not spending as much as they used to. I know I'm not. Plus outdoor sports like fishing and hunting have had a decline in popularity.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Yeah, I used to live somewhat close to Ray's when I lived in Berkeley Heights. In fact, I practically lived in Ray's store in the 1980's. I can still hear the sound of the squeaky front door and remember the musty smell of the hallway when you first walked into the building. The issue with Ray's was the real estate became really valuable on Route 22, while the over-the-counter sales were decreasing. When Ray retired, his family had the choice of running the shop and gun range or selling the land and building. They made the decision to sell everything for a rumored twelve million dollars. 12,000,000!

I never went to Efingers much. I just bought my licenses there and occasionally someone in my family would give me a gift certificate to Efingers as a gift. It's a shame to see it close, though.


.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

World is changing in front of our eyes. Hand shake, personal service, solid advise, a face and a name are being replaced with an IP address. It might at times provide benefits and conveniences but it's destroying the community as we knew it growing up. One day the world is going to wake up and realize Bill Gates was the beginning of the end.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

when you loose the mom and pop shops fishing has lost a important personality that goes along with those places and it hurts the local economy.you don't get the familiar face element that you get from your favorite local tackle shop.your not getting that with .coms and as well pointed out, where are you gonna get fresh live bait? i don't really like big retail stores. yes they might have what you want, but do you know the person your buying from and do they hunt or fish? really sad news.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Sad, very sad. I have been visiting and purchasing from Effingers since I was a child. I remember going with my father to get my first shotgun. As an adult I use to visit on a regular basis and made many purchases of guns and fishing supplies. It was sad when Ray's closed, but this is down right depressing. Effingers will be missed!

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Sorry to hear this. Yes they where way overpriced and there customer service was not good but they had a good selection and you could get a feel for what you are buying instead of looking at it online! Times are changing ...this is the wave of the future. I like the old way better!

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

I remember the deer hanging out front of the store downtown during the Christmas shopping season, imagine trying to do that now !!!:):):):)

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Open since 1909!!! Damn, what a shame.... I remember going their as a kid in the 70's... Bought my first shotgun there as well as many other items over the years...Sad to see them go.. Brick and mortars will all be extinct soon..:(

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Do not forget the new generation does not hunt and fish.
If their smartphone does not do it for them they are not interested.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

you guys better start learning how to use lures cause pretty soon we won't be able to buy bait anywhere!

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Heard the parking lot was railed today

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

great. all I wanna do is bring a couple rods in tomorrow to replace a guide and its going to be a madhouse, maybe ill wait till next week.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

I got the email today about the closing sale so figured I'd check here as I know a few people were regulars and Andy worked there.

My January won't be the same without my renew-the-fishing-license trip there. Very tough for brick & mortar shops in this day and age and with the BPS store opening in Sayreville at some point I imagine it's going to put even more strain on the mom and pop shops.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

If it ever opens... Talk about an environmental and political cluster f*ck! Maybe they'll carry live bait seeing as they'll be on the river... In 2020 lol

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Place is a mob scene, it'll be PICKED CLEAN IN 2 WEEKS, watch !!

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Bigger ticket items flying off the shelves. 20% off things $800 or more can be significant. High end reels, rods, sunglasses, guns, etc. $100s in savings.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Is it going to be a zoo if I come in this am to put a new rod tip on today around 1030

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Rod tip ??? The place is a mad house !! The store is in the hands of a liquidator, everything must go !!

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Holy crap even if you gave me 70% off anything in the store I wouldnt wait in this line. Good luck to anyone who enters

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Better off going to a tackle shop for that. Shoot west on 22 and go to bahres in Lebanon.

Re: Efinger Sporting Goods:
 

Went yesterday at 5 o'clock...hardly anyone there..NOT!!! HA! :D But i got a new pair of Orvis Waders 20% off and it really wasn't that bad of a wait in that line. 15 minutes. I was going to roam around and buy more stuff i dont need but decided to just get outta there before it got any worse. Can't imagine what it's going to be like Sat/Sun.