I for one am looking forward to not having to go in to the store with branches in Port Alberni and Courtney as the level of service was always poor and the prices were high if you could even find the item.

As a young kid I remember going to Frenchy`s at there old location on 9th Ave SE. It was my first candy store. I would do odd jobs like shovel snow or dig out gardens and save all my money just to go buy fishing stuff. I remember taking a series of bus rides just to get to there location. I bought my first fishing rod there. The building was worn out back then. Above the store they had low income apartments and lots of old bachelors lived there. The owners of the building did a complete renovation to the building and I remember the place looked pretty smart. All the apartments were completely renovated with new windows, plumbing and such. If memory serves me the original tenets moved back in. It was not long after that the fire burnt it down to the ground. It was a sad day in Calgary as a landmark building was destroyed. Out of the ashes came Wholesale Sports, they grew and always had a great selection of gear. I haven’t thought about that place (Frenchy`s) for decades. Thanks lure-washer for sparking a memory. GLG

I went on Friday, it is AWESOME!!! A candy store for fisherman/women.
Gear for campers, boaters, hunters etc. FYI... the Grand Opening is Friday Aug.21st/2009.
The rods & reels to choose from, nevermind the prices. GEESH!
I highly recommend a visit.

I am not overly impressed with the new Wholesale Sports. I have been there three times now and have had the same excusses given. We are waiting for the grand openning, we are getting stock soon, and we just opened.
Well it has been over a month now. My last visit was a total waste of time. I went looking for some fly tying materials. I couldn't find any flashabou or polar bear hair. I asked a salesman and all I got from him was a grunt. No understandable response. He went to the manager to ask about the items and the manager was too busy talking to his fish buddy to answer him!!!! When I finally asked the manager he said I was the third customer that day to ask and that maybe they should get some in.
I have noticed a number of trends in the store. More and more employees are spending more time chatting with each other or their fishing buddies (promoted by the actions of their managers) and less time helping customers. A definit lack of product knowledge. Are these people not being trained? A shallow inventory which is not being replenished. Prices which are not all that hot. While a few items may be a deal most are at retail with no discounts.
After walking out of Wholesale I went to Gone Fishing. Guess what, they had what I needed, their staff has smartened up and was very attentive, and they gave me a 10% discount for being a fly fishing club member.
Again a good reason to support the local merchants, and an opportunity for local merchants to compete with the big box stores.

After many years of poor service the staff at gone fishing has finally smartened up. Sorry they lost me and many of my friends as customers years ago. I only buy at gone fishing out of desperation.

I have only ever been charged full price. I once asked gone fishing for a quote on 300 Coho spoons. This was an order worth around $1000 - $1200. I did not even get a reply.

The harbour chandler was more than happy to do business.

I will go to the gone fishing closing out sale, but only if I am desperate.

Wow Id missed this thread from early on . I also have been to this store a couple of times and was hugely disapointed! At first I couldnt wait especially after being in the Kamloops store just weeks before the naniamo store opening. When I saw the selection and prices I thought the rest of the stores in the Mid Island area were in for a bankrupcy. I couldnt beleive the same items that were selling in Kamloopps for an item like a stinzelda was $2..99 but in Nanaimo it was $5.99 . same store just a differnt town. same with the flashers . in Kamloops 8.99-10.99 in nanaimo the same as every other store even lowly little french creek store had the same or lower prices!!!! They obviosly came with the HUGE selection and price was not there issue here. So if you like there franchise go to Kamloops for hot spot salmon flasher and youll save 20-30% or buy it in the new 1 in Nanaimo and pay the same as were youve been shopping for years. The service i agree was bareable aty best with very little in product knowledge shown. With the way its going the only one that will be closing there doors will be them Ill stick with my regulars stores for the other outdoor gear and go back to the wholesale fishing buiding in Errington the kill the new store

Wholesale Sports definitely has a large variety of merchandise, but within the fishing section the selection lacks many of the items we regularly use. I agree that the prices are nothing to write home about! Pacific Net and Twine in Errington (Old Alberni Highway) has hgear we actually will use at better prices and way better service!!!

I have to agree, I went to Wholesale Sports recently and looked everywhere for what I needed but couldn't find it, didn't get asked if I needed help, maybe they don't do that there?. Then went to gone fishing and they had it, also got 10% off.

As a small business owner myself, the little guys rely on word of mouth and quality of service. Big guys couldn't care less.

Also think that PNT is great, just a little out of the way for me.

I travelled to the Island at the beginning of August and stopped in there to check it out. I ended up buying a technium rod from there because I needed an extra and I thought they would have the lowest price.

Guess what I found when I went to Gone Fishin after that. Same rod, $50 cheaper. And that's their regular price.

I probably won't stop at Wholesale Sports again.

First impression........

When U.F.A. (United Farmers Assc.), bought out Wholesle, about 2yrs. ago, a higher ranking member/Exec., stated that they would be addressing the service, lack of product/pricing, that plague the stores. Since then, they have taken an aggressive approach at marketing and expansion. They have most recently purchased all the Sportsman Warehouse chain in the NW. States.
I have read some of the posts on here, that included prices found in the new store in Nanimo. I then drove in to Edmonton to compare them, it is like you are buying from a totally different company! Every one of the quoted prices from the forum was at least 25 - 50% higher there than here!

I also drove down to the new Bass Pro shop just north of Calgary. As I had purchased a new Lowrance at Island Outfitters in Vic. this last May, I had a good item to use for a comparison for pricing.
Lowrance HDS7
Bass Pro $1345.00 +5%
Wholesale (Edmonton) $1195.00 +5% (in May) $1295.00 +5% NOW!
Island Outfitters $1395.00 + 12% (in May)
For some reason, Wholesale is working off of a different markup out there, perhaps a deal made with the local outfits?

Anyone on here that requires larger items (electronics) let me know, I can probably pick it up here, pay the tax, and shipping and get it to you at a substantial savings over what you are getting gouge for out there!