My first thought was also with the Mom and Pop shops, and protecting them.  More than likely something beyond my feeble mind, tho'.

Hey RW, looks like my posse's company is nicer than your posse's company  

I saw this on Tackle Tour.  Maybe this has something to do with it?

http://www.tackletour.com/news2007shimanofishingtour1-30-07.html

That does seem like a realist possibility.

they are just promoting their equip in a diff way, i guess.

but that doesn't account for the # of peed off people on this post  :

*realistic  ;D

          Hey RW, looks like my posse's company is nicer than your posse's company        

When you are the BEST you don't worry about the rest

Shimano is VERY controlling of their product prices.  They are the Loomis of the reel world.  Their top shelf products must be ordered direct from Shimano and they cannot be bought from a wholesaler.  

Shimano must approve all "sales" that a store wants to run on topshelf.  Obviously, they have a problem with the value of the trade-in coupon versus reel price.  It does give BPS a HUGE advantage over any store when they run that special.

Brad

Shimano is VERY controlling of their product prices.  They are the Loomis of the reel world.  Their top shelf products must be ordered direct from Shimano and they cannot be bought from a wholesaler.  

Shimano must approve all "sales" that a store wants to run on topshelf.  Obviously, they have a problem with the value of the trade-in coupon versus reel price.  It does give BPS a HUGE advantage over any store when they run that special.

Brad

Lets see, customers will show up, used reels in hand to get a discount along with knowing this sale is for a charitable cause.  Then they'll find out Shimano is the ONLY reel manufacturer not participating.

Shooting oneself in the foot if you ask me.

Shimano may like to protect their smaller dealers, nothing wrong with that, but the PR blunder of this is unbelievable. Now customers will get an opportunity to try out the competition and then realize everyone else has caught up to Shimano and are just as good.

Too bad for them. Their loss.

cart

I agree that Shimano is missing the boat on the trade in sale and it will hurt them with some purchasers, primarily new buyers.  The trade in I believe is only good at the store, which is a small amount of reels.  A lot of people are not close to a BPS and they will have plenty of places to buy online, BPS or other, and they are not gonna spend a lot of gas money to save a few bucks on a reel.

Of course, BPS can be hard to do business with as well, so I am sure it is not just a one sided problem.

Brad

a few months ago cabelas had 25% off all rods and reels

except SHIMANO. I guess this is a shimano thing,no discounts!

glad i use the other brand DAIWA susQbassman.

Except they forgot to tell the cashiers at the KC store, they were manually entering the 25% discount for the Shimano stuff since it didn't ring up right.  That is what one of the guys in fishing told me when I asked about why Shimano wasn't part of the sale.  Unfortunately, I had spend my money on a Loomis rod or I would have had a couple new reels as well.