Griffond Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Anyone ever heard of or ordered from here? http://www.pebblelures.com/default.asp they have pretty cheap prices on wood bodies. I was just doing some searching around to see what I could find for cheap unpainted large lure baits (musky size and what not) just to see what I could come up with and this is one of them... the other site I found was Salty's Wood lures but that one for some reason is ringing a bell in my head but I can't place it at the moment. Thanks in advance for any responses... I am just curious if it's a legit site and dealer is what I am after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Salty is a member here at TU and has been for quite a while. I've not heard of the other site, but wouldn't hesitate one second to do business with Salty if he had something I needed. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Ben is right..Salty is a good guy and has been around here for years..I haven't heard of the other one either ...Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAWGFAN Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 The Pebble's bodies look pretty nice. Did anyone find where they actually claimed what type of wood they use? Any balsa dense enough to be directly painted, as they claim, wouldn't be very "cream colored", I wouldn't believe. Anytime I've received a harder piece it's fairly reddish. Basswood or poplar maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Tnx for the comments guys... One of the problems in this industry is there isn't anyone enforcing the IRS taxes that legitimate tackle mfg have to pay...so there's been a HUGE amount of websites like this popping up all over that offer "pretty cheap prices"...unfortunately myself as a legitimate registered mfg and others have to compete against this stuff every day and it's getting harder and harder. If you have a lathe, a bandsaw, and maybe a drill press you are an instant lure business...everyone thinks there is millions to be made doing this. Far from it. Just 5 minutes before I read this post I saw an ad at the top of this forum... FishingGear.com , A site/business created to be "A marketplace for handcrafted gear"....and these guys think they're ok putting this together to let people skirt a tax that that legitimate people are required to pay? I can't compete against this stuff at prices like this....and neither can anyone else and it's getting pretty frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 I'll expect my check in the mail Salty...lol..but you are right..It really pains me to write my check to the IRS every 3 months...Most of these guys who operate like this learn quickly how hard it is to make any money and are gone in a few months time too have two spring up in their place...This Pebble Lures maybe legit..but their prices sure are cheap though...Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barr5150 Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Under the description it says "ivory wood" - http://www.pebblelures.com/2-3-Flat-Sided-Bull-nose-crank-bait-p/cbbn230.htm Never heard of it but I'm gonna look into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 google the phone number. You can tell where the stuff is from. Need say no more. It's all illicit. Nathan LOL they're like poptarts in a toaster. Unfortunately you can only fit so many people in a bathtub before the water is all gone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffond Posted June 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Yeah looks like Salty's it will be... I was hoping to find some place that had cheaper plastic musky size blanks but they are apparently rare unless your ordered a 1000 at time from china lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 As pointed out definitely one of the things that makes making lures a hard business to actually succeed at. Everyone and their mother can sell the stuff for far cheaper than some one trying to make a legit run at it. Some guys are retired and are making stuff to take up time. They put no value on their time as they are having fun doing it so material costs about all that they have to cover. Other guys are just supplementing a government check so once again just needing some money to get a case of Naty and some TV dinners. To add to the frustration many anglers are clueless about quality tackle and can keep guys above at float for ever as cheap equates to good lures for many "anglers". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 Unfortunately you can only fit so many people in a bathtub before the water is all gone... That's when you break out the fire hose Salty. Water temp is a little iffy depending on the season, but the pressure is always great. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 I have been a member of TU for over 10 years and involved in the tackle business for 20. The tackle business has always had a strong cottage industry sector that is what attracted most of the entrepreneurs on this site. History records time after time people complaining of unfair trade. There is no such thing as fair trade. Finding an advantage is what makes the wheels turn. Sometimes it is location, material costs, cheap labor, or something else.I know, there is some question as to whether or not ET is collected or other taxes are paid, but still, someone has found a way to compete. At the same time, if working with people like those who run said website is a deterrent, their reputation will take care of removing them from the market as so many others over the years. This is the reality of the commercial climate. Those who adapt will get ahead. Those who try to keep things the way they were will go the way of the dinosaur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 I'm right there with you. What seems to have happened in the last few years though is a HUGE uptick in the amount of this "cottage industry" stuff going on with a large amount of websites geared towards helping these guys pawn their wares. Yes it's not ever going to go away but it's so blatant now that it's really a kick in the teeth to guys that do this legitimately. Why should I have to deal with paying the tax when all these other guys don't and drop their prices and chop my balls off (like this pebble guy in this thread) Just because it's going on doesn't make it right. I'm stuck competing against someone bringing tackle in from India that they're not paying the tax on that I'm required to pay yet they're selling something for $1 that I got to sell for $2? I can rail about this all day. I've dealt with it for 13 years now. I'm at the point though where I'm pretty disgusted and getting ready to do something about it. I have been a member of TU for over 10 years and involved in the tackle business for 20. The tackle business has always had a strong cottage industry sector that is what attracted most of the entrepreneurs on this site. History records time after time people complaining of unfair trade. There is no such thing as fair trade. Finding an advantage is what makes the wheels turn. Sometimes it is location, material costs, cheap labor, or something else.I know, there is some question as to whether or not ET is collected or other taxes are paid, but still, someone has found a way to compete. At the same time, if working with people like those who run said website is a deterrent, their reputation will take care of removing them from the market as so many others over the years. This is the reality of the commercial climate. Those who adapt will get ahead. Those who try to keep things the way they were will go the way of the dinosaur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted June 20, 2014 Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) Salty, I feel your pain. I have had to adjust my business practices several times over the years due to what I considered unfair practices. For example, I have a wholesale soft plastic hand pouring/injecting business in Mexico (domestic only, no exports). Several US factories sell their seconds by the pound for recycling (they use the stuff to make shoes and such down here). A few guys go through the "garbage" and pull out tens of thousands of usable baits (Strike King, BPS, ZOOM, Culprit, ETC) repackage and sell them for pennies. Naturally, I informed the brand owners of what was going on as I am sure their legit sales must be affected. No action was ever taken. I raised my prices and started making more unusual shapes and colors. Sticks used to be my bread and butter, now it is creature baits. One thing I learned from that is that price is never a good way to compete. It isn't easy to find a customer base that appreciates consistency and quality, but once you do, you have a client list that is pretty inflexible (meaning they won't leave the brand for a few pennies. Right now I am recovering from a car accident and shoulder surgery (that is why I have been hanging out quite a bit here) and looking into getting into a crankbait building business. I considered buying blank bodies, then making resin baits, now I am thinking of going to wood, maybe balsa. Right now, my price is a secondary concern. I have customers who trust me do make something worth the money. I have to ensure I fulfill the expectation. It might take a few months, but I believe I can apply the same practices that have made us successful in soft plastics to making wooden cranks. Most important, I need to to it in a way that others will have difficulty imitating. I am not worried about the Chinese plastic imports, I want to compete on quality and value. Hope something comes of it. Edited June 20, 2014 by robalo01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffond Posted June 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2014 ok first off I started this thread to ask a simple question and after getting reminded of salty since I haven't looked for large bait bodies in along time I remembered... secondly for both your guys issue with pricing issues on various things I can ask a question thou... granted with soft plastics I don't see the question being to relevant... how hard would it be to offer ruff cut? and what I mean by that is use a simple spook design for example grab the big lathe chisel and cut the general shape out without smoothing it over tapered per say with a rough broom handle nose and the cone like tail but not sanded smooth just rough heck even circle grooves... I only ask because that is the hardest part of all of it... general shape... no mind you I am not saying I am not buying your stuff of current inventory listed I am just asking would rougher cut make it cheaper? The reason I ask this is perhaps another company such as the one mentioned does this I don't know... however if some elbow grease on my part meant saving a couple of bucks for bodies... I'd be game just means I would buy more is my line of thinking anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Robalo good luck with both recovery and your business! Griffond that wouldn't work very well. It would be very difficult to sand it after it's off the lathe. You would have to deal with runout etc and the body probably wouldn't end up very round. You wouldnt save anything. Sandpaper is cheap and only takes seconds to sand. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robalo01 Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 One thing I noticed on the pebble site was that they were pretty clear there would be visible differences between pieces. Not good for making consists cranks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salty's Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) LOL that's because they probably have 10-13 yo kids cutting them out on bandsaws for .20 a day pay....hey wait that's more than I make some days wonder if they have any openings Edited June 21, 2014 by Salty's 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
