Bought and traded a lot of gear there over the years! 

Yes they did do horrible, I place an order and after 7 months (yes more than 200 days), They return my money after I requested.

I even email them if they need help in business and someone to weigh in as partner but they never reply me, I was willing to partner with them.

Who would turn down that deal.

Per someone on their Facebook page all assets were seized by the bank and employees laid off. However Brian and Chad have since acquired those assets and are planning on opening a new business called “The Rod Locker”. 

8 hours ago, GReb said:

Per someone on their Facebook page all assets were seized by the bank and employees laid off. However Brian and Chad have since acquired those assets and are planning on opening a new business called “The Rod Locker”. 

I saw that video on my lunch break yesterday, and amd they also stated that they don't know how just yet, but they plan on making right with people that have gift cards and unfulfilled orders from ALF as well. 

I’ve been in that position with a sudden job loss. It’s no fun.

I’m  so glad to see Brian and Chad land on their feet with this new shop. They are two class guys.

 

On 11/18/2025 at 8:47 PM, GReb said:

Per someone on their Facebook page all assets were seized by the bank and employees laid off. However Brian and Chad have since acquired those assets and are planning on opening a new business called “The Rod Locker”. 

Do you have a link for this information?

2 hours ago, F14A-B said:

Do you have a link for this information?

Brian and Chad put up a video on the ALF elite fb page.

So....the same people that are responsible for the failure and sudden closure/layoffs are going to open another similar business??

 

14 minutes ago, Glenn said:

So....the same people that are responsible for the failure and sudden closure/layoffs are going to open another similar business??

 

I'm not sure how responsible they were if at all.... The original owner died a couple years back and his daughter took over, that's when all the problems started.  

 

I've dealt with Brian and Chad, both great guys, I hope they succeed.  

22 minutes ago, Glenn said:

So....the same people that are responsible for the failure and sudden closure/layoffs are going to open another similar business??

 

No , the guys  that were not responsible are starting a new shop

On 11/21/2025 at 10:01 AM, Glenn said:

So....the same people that are responsible for the failure and sudden closure/layoffs are going to open another similar business??

 

Not trying to be argumentative but it happens quite often, I’ve seen it firsthand in the construction business when a company folds up files bankruptcy and reopens under a new name sometimes putting the business in their wife’s name which then becomes a minority owned company and still has the same crew and many times the same equipment. All completely legal at least here in Illinois.

Not sorry at all to see these guys go. Used to order and trade items into them quite often years back. September of 24’ was my final dealing with them. Emailed them for a quote on some Loomis rods(NRX+) I had my eye on. Some were new, and some were “mint” pre-owned. Bryan Kidd was the guy emailing me back and forth. I simply asked for him to send me two separate invoices to compare pricing. One invoice was for the new rods, one invoice for the used ones. Guy refused….”yeah…I’m not doing multiple invoices for that…it’s a lot of paperwork.” Bear in mind, the prices were not MAP hence the need for quotes. 

 

Took my business elsewhere to an authorized Loomis dealer that ended up getting my bulk order and business.

 

Even if these guys open up under a new name, I’d be wary. Too many other great reputable dealers out there. 
 

Hard pass for me. 

Bought from them many times, only one problem and they corrected it immediately.  They shipped me the wrong BFS rod;  when I called they sent out the correct model without waiting for me to return the other. That was this year.  I will be waiting for Chad and Brian to open;  unlike before, this time they will have skin in the game.

10 hours ago, Maverick2017 said:

Not sorry at all to see these guys go. Used to order and trade items into them quite often years back. September of 24’ was my final dealing with them. Emailed them for a quote on some Loomis rods(NRX+) I had my eye on. Some were new, and some were “mint” pre-owned. Bryan Kidd was the guy emailing me back and forth. I simply asked for him to send me two separate invoices to compare pricing. One invoice was for the new rods, one invoice for the used ones. Guy refused….”yeah…I’m not doing multiple invoices for that…it’s a lot of paperwork.” Bear in mind, the prices were not MAP hence the need for quotes. 

 

Took my business elsewhere to an authorized Loomis dealer that ended up getting my bulk order and business.

 

Even if these guys open up under a new name, I’d be wary. Too many other great reputable dealers out there. 
 

Hard pass for me. 

I can't imagine needing a quote to buy fishing rods. In my heyday I bought/sold/traded 30 - 40 rods a year. A phone call and a pencil always worked for me.

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

I can't imagine needing a quote to buy fishing rods. In my heyday I bought/sold/traded 30 - 40 rods a year. A phone call and a pencil always worked for me.

Agreed!

 

And I don't mean to offend anyone, but even if you did... Why couldn't the customer differentiate between the new and used items? 

 

I bought LOTS of stuff from them, both online and on site since they are only a couple hours south of us. Only had one issue with a rod getting broken in shipment, and it was a used one at that. They credited me instantly so I could order something else to replace it if I wanted.

 

Then they emailed me a shipping label so I could just cut down the shipping tube and ship the broken one back after the fact.

 

Brian was always very friendly and helpful when dealing with him. Not saying that means he can successfully run a business, but I will definitely give him a chance!!

 

Does anyone know if they have reopened yet?

4 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Agreed!

 

And I don't mean to offend anyone, but even if you did... Why couldn't the customer differentiate between the new and used items? 

 

I bought LOTS of stuff from them, both online and on site since they are only a couple hours south of us. Only had one issue with a rod getting broken in shipment, and it was a used one at that. They credited me instantly so I could order something else to replace it if I wanted.

 

Then they emailed me a shipping label so I could just cut down the shipping tube and ship the broken one back after the fact.

 

Brian was always very friendly and helpful when dealing with him. Not saying that means he can successfully run a business, but I will definitely give him a chance!!

 

Does anyone know if they have reopened yet?

Not yet, I think they are still a couple weeks out.

Bought from them for years with no issues. Had Legacy Elite for a year and that was fine but it was during 2021 so nothing good was ever in stock.

 

Couple years back bought a reel that was in stock but never shipped. No communication until I badgered them. Backorder took months but eventually I got it.

 

Stopped after that. Too many other stores to deal with it. Hope the new business gets back to its old ways.

28 minutes ago, PGA Dropout said:

Bought from them for years with no issues. Had Legacy Elite for a year and that was fine but it was during 2021 so nothing good was ever in stock.

 

Couple years back bought a reel that was in stock but never shipped. No communication until I badgered them. Backorder took months but eventually I got it.

 

Stopped after that. Too many other stores to deal with it. Hope the new business gets back to its old ways.

Had a similar situation. Ordered a rod that showed in stock. A week went by and I never heard from them,

Called and they said the rod was not in stock and I would get a refund. After 2 days I called them and they said it would be 2 week before I get a refund, I ask why, They said it was their policy. I told them that it is illegal to hold someone money like that and if I didn't get my money tomorrow I would call their state attorney general office, Got my refund the next day,

A lot of guys have paid money for orders they’ve not received. Someone is culpable. If it’s bankruptcy then they should announce this. 

14 hours ago, F14A-B said:

A lot of guys have paid money for orders they’ve not received. Someone is culpable. If it’s bankruptcy then they should announce this. 

They did. have you seen the video ?

In Receivership, the bank that has taken over the business will take your funds to pay off the debts  of the business.  

Go to your credit card company and reverse the charges.  

If by miracle you receive your order, your credit card ompany will then straighten out your payment.  

Find another vendor.  

 

@catch anything - doesn't work that way - ^ see abive ^

that's why they call it receivership

I hope they figure out at least how to repay everyone that has orders in. 

Would this apply for gift cards also?

This whole thing doesn’t surprise me at all. 
 

I had ordered a used rod that I ended up cancelling before it shipped.  I paid with PayPal, and from experience it is easy to give and get refunded with PayPal.  It took nearly two weeks and countless emails to finally get refunded for a rod that never shipped. 
 

An employee mistakenly CC’d me on an email chain and called me names and a “pain in the *** customer.”  So, they were definitely having issues.