Legendary Lures Posted January 3, 2005 Report Share Posted January 3, 2005 I get several emails per week from people asking for free lures. Some of the emails are pretty obvious. Some have a sad story along the lines of "someone stold my handicapped siblings tacklebox...". Some are from folks professing to be tournament fishermen and the love my product (however, I have no record of selling them any) and would I sponser them. The one that I'm not so sure about is the ones that appear to be from a school. They are going to be putting on a lure show and sale of nothing but handmade lures. "All the contemporary lure makers are participating." Does anyone else get these emails and how do you respond to them? I try to donate a few lures each year. I mostly donate to Muskies, Inc. There's a local chapter and I know some of the members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hwy-Apostle Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I havent goten these as I havent made any lures yet But I would ask for the School name and phone # along with address. you can then look up the school on the net. and contact the priceple (sp). To see if they are doing this or not. if so then you can deside. I would not call the # provided but find the published # for them. then I would ask if the person that sent the email acualy works there. this may sound sly but in todays socioty you have to be. So can I get a free lure I realy realy like yours Hope this helps and GOD Bless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeminoleFan Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I only donate to the florida sheriff's youth ranch. The kids love them and my day job (Hunt Insurance Group) sponsers them every Christmas. We donate christmas gifts and I always throw in some zebco's and lures. They are a great organisation and love what we do for them. I NEVER donate blind.. Not knowing who what when or where. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funny farm Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I get at least 5 of these a week . I dont bother . I used to when i first got them but I found most of them to be bogus , phone numbers that werent correct , no such school ect . The good news is I , toby , do accept lure donations !!!! So if you feel like you need to give some away to a poor humble lure maker just let me know Did that tug at your heart strings ? huh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 The good news is I ' date=' toby , do accept lure donations !!!! So if you feel like you need to give some away to a poor humble lure maker just let me know Did that tug at your heart strings ? huh [/quote'] I'm weeping as I type Toby I get those emails once in awhile. I'm just honest with them. I donate to 4 charity events/tournaments per year and really can't take on anymore responsibility than that. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 That's what we do Chris. We pick local charitys and donate to them. The rest we say thanks for your interest in the products and if you want to buy a bunch we will sell them to you wholesale one time only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaPala Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I'm a poor lure maker who sometimes can't afford to buy the hooks for lures I make. ; can I have some free ones too, please? Hell man, if anyone fish for recreation, they are better off than those who knows what going hungry for days mean. So I forget them. If I sell my lures, I'll sell my lures. The profits has better place to go - like the recent tsunami victims. Just my 2 cents. Schools or kids I might consider but like Hwy-Apostle say, I'd check first too. This world is too full of conman these days to be soft hearted. I even got an email soliciting funds for the recent tsunami victims & upon checking turn out to be bogus - what people will do. PS: Sorry if I came across as harsh , I get angry when I hear of people pretending to be needy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesehead Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 A fool and his lures are soon parted... Be careful about who you donate to not everyone is honest. Please contact me at www.needfreelures@suckerborneveryminute.con Seriously, Before I would donate I would check, double check, and recheck their references. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeeter Posted January 4, 2005 Report Share Posted January 4, 2005 I give you a big pat on the back for asking this question. It shows that you are a caring and concerned person. But there are just too many crooks out there. My suggestion is that you find a charity that you know is good and donate your work to raise money for that organization. I have done allot of donations to the local childrens home here in my town. I know the organization and the many of the people there. It is sad that some will flat out lie and appeal to your generousity for their own selfish benefit. Skeeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverMan Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 I have had this happen only once. A guy wrote me from "Europe" saying he was a "poor college student" that loved to fish and would really like one of my lures for "free". The first time he wrote I just deleted it. A few weeks or so later he wrote again, same story which made me think he was just mailing the letter out to whoever in hopes someone would take the bait. Anyway, this time I wrote back and told him that "I have alot of time into each lure and you are asking me to donate my time to you, would you like to donate an hour of work to me"? He wrote me back and said he understood and was sorry, never heard from him again. Jed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Hey Legend...that school group that emailed you....was this a keep kids off drugs program?..If so,I got the same email..twice.It struck me kind of funny they only wanted handmade lures too sell..Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B and D Lures Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 I donated some lures to an individual who was running a fishing contest for kids in Oklahoma. I tried to contact him after the contest to get the results and haven't been able to. I even sent him a letter. Oh well.... When I first started my business in 1997, I was contacted by a supposedly professional tournament fisherman who wanted me to make some certain type lures. I didn't have the mold to make these lures, but I did buy one. I made the lures and sent them to him, being trusting. Well, that didn't work. I never received payment and I could never contact him again. I contacted BASS(he said he fished the Redman Tour) and explained the situation. Well, I never received a reply from BASS. Needless to say, I learned my lesson from these 2 incidents(get paid first & only donate to local clubs or schools). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckarren Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 The sad part is, I have many times in the past worked with Muskies Inc on a banquet fundraiser. Now days trying to get donations for our actual fundraiser is getting harder and harder. -Corey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrs5kprs Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 I do some draw prize donations to my bass club, also to a former club. That is mostly from my back stock of plastic. Harder to part with the painted baits, although I have given a few as Christmas gifts, etc. Corey...maybe the decline in donations is because your fish are too scary Make sure you send out the members who don't catch fish to ask for goodies, meaning the guys who have all their fingers. Shoot, I don't even like the teeth on a Kentucky's tongue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
