Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: smokin joe on July 31, 2015, 08:25:14 PM
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Was wondering if anyone else is being charged extra to purchase your fishing licenses at a store instead of on line. I purchased my tidal and non tidal lic. with salmon tags at Hub sports in Abbotsford and was charged an extra $5.85 for the two. When asked why the price is higher than listed they said its because they make no money when they sell these licenses so added the extra on because of that. In the past I have never paid extra at any other store and was just wondering if this something new to all the stores or just this one.
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Working at a retailer that sell licences, I can say first hand that they can be a pain in the my friend. All retailers understand that it's a service that needs to be provided, however we make like $0.10 per licence. Last year alone our store issued over 2000 tidal sport fishing licences. Each licence takes about 5 minutes, that's roughly 167 hours of manpower sitting at the computer issuing licences. Just say the employee was making $10.00/hour, you're paying $1670 to make $200. I can see why Hubs is charging a service fee from a retail perspective.
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Nexusgoo does your store charge extra for the licenses? I never asked about how much they do or don't make I just wanted to know if other stores are doing the same.
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ahh as of right now we don't haha
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As far as I am aware of, none of the stores which advertise on our site charge an extra fee for issuing a fishing licence. Like NexusGoo mentioned, the store does not make any money when issuing these licences, in fact it costs them money, but most stores understand that it is an investment as the customers who buy the licence will most likely be spending money at the stores as well.
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If you go to the website it says they can charge extra
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Berry's flat out refused to do my license, very rudely in fact, even though I was also there making another purchase and on my way to fish right after!
Will not be shopping there again.
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I can vouch for Army & Navy, we DO NOT charge an additional fee.
Provincial Government (Non Tidal) does give us a small kick back.
Federal Government (Tidal) does NOT give us a kick back.
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a few years back Berry's charged my buddy 2 dollars to print his license , he wont go shopping there again.
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--We all just got finished complaining about Government taking a cut in to general revenue... they now claim to be puting all license fees into fisheries... still scooping the tax I am sure.
--Stores claim be be concurned about supporting the fishery so they should be on board with this...service.
--How much would one advert in the paper cost telling everyone how important the fishery is and that they support many worth while projects.
--How about supporting license sales thus directly increasing their buisiness.
--The guy at the counter is getting all kinds of intel on what and where you are going to fish. You get a salmon tag and after they print the license they should have enough brains to show you the latest and greatest gear...after all you've already got your wallet out.
--Want to make a few bucks... why not sell a water proof license holder with the store name on it instead of demanding cash for the service... sell them something.
--They buy a shuswap tag...sell them a back roads map book for the area... refer them to a fishing lodge or motel that gives you referal business.
--Get your license here and recieve 10% off purchase of none sale items in the store... day of licenese purchase only... or if you must.... post a charge for printing... with notice no charge when combined with other purchases.
--Why not print the license with store advertising on the blank side of the license...the costs could be written off as part of your advertising budget.
--Why is a store ticked off that someone is sending them a customer.
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Rod: Firstlight tackle in BBY charged my brother in-law $5 for his salt water license earlier this year. He didn't even know until I told him.
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Rod: Firstlight tackle in BBY charged my brother in-law $5 for his salt water license earlier this year. He didn't even know until I told him.
This was extracted from the NRLS Handbook (Tidal Licencing System)
"There may be a usage fee if you purchase a B.C. Tidal Waters Sport fishing licence through an Independent Access Provider who may charge a fee to assist with computer maintenance, printing and Internet costs. A usage fee is at the discretion of the Independent Access Provider."
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A fee was added to both the tidal and non tidal licenses. It would appear by all the replies that most places are not charging the extra fee and only a select few are.
the places that do charge extra should at least tell the customer before he purchases his license that an extra fee will be added and he can decide then if he wants to pay it or not.
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Working at a retailer that sell licences, I can say first hand that they can be a pain in the my friend. All retailers understand that it's a service that needs to be provided, however we make like $0.10 per licence. Last year alone our store issued over 2000 tidal sport fishing licences. Each licence takes about 5 minutes, that's roughly 167 hours of manpower sitting at the computer issuing licences. Just say the employee was making $10.00/hour, you're paying $1670 to make $200. I can see why Hubs is charging a service fee from a retail perspective.
You missed out mentioning the cost of ink and paper. Also the time taken selling a license is time taken away from selling tackle or doing some other service at the store. Sort of a double cost really.
If someone has a computer to be able to discuss this topic online, they should just be purchasing their license at home also. Great sites like this one have all the links to be able to do so.
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You missed out mentioning the cost of ink and paper. Also the time taken selling a license is time taken away from selling tackle or doing some other service at the store. Sort of a double cost really.
If someone has a computer to be able to discuss this topic online, they should just be purchasing their license at home also. Great sites like this one have all the links to be able to do so.
--If the store only exists to sell me something then I may as well not go there.
--I can go on line and purchase not only my license but the gear as well. Don't have to worry about the store not having what I want.
--The biggest edge a specialty store has over on line and big box is customer service. If they don't want to "waste time" on service they may as well pack up.
--They have to create customers. Get people interested in fishing...then sales will come.
--Now that I'm getting wound up into a full RANT.... remember when you had to purchase your license and it had to be filled out by hand...how long did that take.
--Also if anything was not filled in right...had to track down the person and get a new one issued. The government punishement for license not filled out right was to charge the store for the highest value license. That is to say if I sold a license to a senior for $5 bucks and I hadn't ticked the box indicating senior I had to pay the government the price of a regular license.
--They also had a clerk that would review every license for errors and if there were to many errors you could lose the privilege of selling licenses.
--With paper copies we had to order them each month to ensure we had enough on hand as they wouldn't just send us a full box... One of the reason was again if we lost any or could not account for some (they had serial numbers)... again we would be charged the maximum that a license could be sold for.
--I used to really tick customers off if we ran out of licenses near the end of the month and they had to go elsewhere.
--PS... I purchase my license on line as I can't stand the whining from the store owner that is giving so much back to the fishing community.
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I buy most of my fishing equipment online. I tired a while back of the attitudes of retailers here. Many Canadian retailers need to learn something about customer service instead of complaining. I have been to many countries and Canada has the worse customer service of the places I have been. They act like it is a chore to serve you instead of their job. There loss not mine as with shipping included still cheaper to order online and without the backtalk from unhappy employees.
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You missed out mentioning the cost of ink and paper. Also the time taken selling a license is time taken away from selling tackle or doing some other service at the store. Sort of a double cost really.
If someone has a computer to be able to discuss this topic online, they should just be purchasing their license at home also. Great sites like this one have all the links to be able to do so.
Ive had a computer for quite a few years now but do not have a printer and don't have the need for one.
Unfortunately one of my favorite stores wouldn't sell me a licence either.
I have to be really stuck now to go in there and spend any money.
Charge me a couple bucks extra,i don't care,but don't refuse to sell me one.
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Ive had a computer for quite a few years now but do not have a printer and don't have the need for one.
Unfortunately one of my favorite stores wouldn't sell me a licence either.
I have to be really stuck now to go in there and spend any money.
Charge me a couple bucks extra,i don't care,but don't refuse to sell me one.
Buy it online save to a pdf or whatever and print at a public library
Or go into one of the stores that offers it and just print it off.
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Ive had a computer for quite a few years now but do not have a printer and don't have the need for one.
Unfortunately one of my favorite stores wouldn't sell me a licence either.
I have to be really stuck now to go in there and spend any money.
Charge me a couple bucks extra,i don't care,but don't refuse to sell me one.
I'm in the same boat here. no use for a printer other then once or twice a year. Do iPhones have printers on them yet?
A fishing store that outright refuses to issue a license (extra fee or not) sure wouldn't get my business back. Charge me the fee if you MUST. Just print the dam thing off.
I live in Langley and still drive out to Stillwater in Ladner for all my waterfowl needs, for one reason only. Pulling up a stool and getting good customer service.
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I'm in the same boat here. no use for a printer other then once or twice a year. Do iPhones have printers on them yet?
A fishing store that outright refuses to issue a license (extra fee or not) sure wouldn't get my business back. Charge me the fee if you MUST. Just print the dam thing off.
I wonder if anyone saves the license to their devices and then when inspected by an officer, would this still prove to be valid, or an illegal license since it has to be printed and signed? Can't we do digital signature on PDF and then add to our device and show CO's when inspected? I'm sure everyone's experienced having a wet license by falling in the water or being rained on, keeping it in the wrong pocket lol...
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I wonder if anyone saves the license to their devices and then when inspected by an officer, would this still prove to be valid, or an illegal license since it has to be printed and signed? Can't we do digital signature on PDF and then add to our device and show CO's when inspected? I'm sure everyone's experienced having a wet license by falling in the water or being rained on, keeping it in the wrong pocket lol...
Problem is if you're fishing for springs or steelhead you need to be able to mark your license.
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Hmm good point, but you are able to edit your files, so if they create license that is mobile friendly, you can edit it and update when necessary?
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I was told last year by a CO in Squamish that it must be printed on standard sized paper. I had mine shrunk about half and he told me I needed to reprint it to the proper dimensions when i got home.
But I do carry around a digitally signed PDF file in case I lose it or other things happen.
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I hate to imagine what the poor hunters or fisheres of the non mobile world used to do to ensure they have their license with them!
On a serious note, the paper license cant die or run out of batteries. Only has ink bleed and maybe tears when your unfold it while wet.
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I guess they need to produce licences on stone tablets for the old farts.
Join the modern world and stop wasting the valuable time of your local shopkeepers.
They are having a hard enough time staying afloat.
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You guys are getting way off track on this subject now. Pretty bad if you cant figure out how to look after your license. Maybe you shouldn't have one.
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--Maybe the store should refuse to sell less than a dozen fly's at a time because it is not cost effective to have an employee deal with someone who only purchases one fly.
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The whole licencing system is now broken.
For decades the hand written licence has been the norm. It had it's share of flaws, but it worked. In a previous life i spent many years behind the counter issuing those licences. The vast majority of people coming in for licences, purchased nothing else. In fact, a few would go as far as getting vocally frustrated at the fact that they were not accommodated as quickly as they desired because all the available floor staff are servicing people wanting to purchase equipment. It was a PITA, with numerous other headaches that others here have mentioned, but it did work Ok.
An example I witnessed today of the new Tidal Waters system was as follows:
Customer - Can I buy a salt licence here?
Clerk - Sure, do you have your old licence or angler number?
Customer - No, I got my licence at a lodge last year and have no such number. He also tried to call to retrieve the issued number, and was given a message that it could take up to 3 days to get back to him with his angler number. He wanted to fish tomorrow.
Once an anglers information is in the system, there is no way to circumvent the process. Name, address, phone number - redirects back to the angler number request.
I'm sure the majority of people who post on this forum take care and diligence to save that information for the following years licence, but I can assure you that X1000 regualar Joe Public does not.
In these situations the shop can't issue the licence, because with the new system the onus is on the licencee to provide the information to submit for the new licence.
Regardless of time, cost, manpower, to a licence vendor. I can't blame them for washing their hands of it.
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Actually, the Tidal System lets us search you via name and date of birth.
If we enter you as a new fisher, and it recognizes you it will automatically put in your angler number. If you are not found in the system, it just proceeds to register you as a new fisher.
For Re-Print, we have two ways of searching you up either via Name and DOB, or Angler Number and DOB.
None the less, the Tidal Licencing system is "Offline" 25-30% of the time.
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The Non-Tidal System, well if you don't have your angler number I cannot do a Re-Print, except in a rare instance where we try and enter you as a new angler and it finds you.
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Hmm good point, but you are able to edit your files, so if they create license that is mobile friendly, you can edit it and update when necessary?
Just saved a signed pdf copy to my phone (that's a very good idea btw). You can add text and update it on the Adobe app. I always keep my hard copy neatly folded in a small waterproof ziplock stored in my wallet.
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Does anyone here complain that your local car dealership doesn't issue Driver's licences? The government has been piggy-backing on the on the shop owners dime to collect their "tax" and now they have a way to circumvent that. If the government expected you to collect GST or PST for them every time you made a private sale of used goods, I would bet a fair number of you would say "F* that!". Why should the shop be any different?
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Does anyone here complain that your local car dealership doesn't issue Driver's licences? The government has been piggy-backing on the on the shop owners dime to collect their "tax" and now they have a way to circumvent that. If the government expected you to collect GST or PST for them every time you made a private sale of used goods, I would bet a fair number of you would say "F* that!". Why should the shop be any different?
because it's a customer base service that's always been there to provide convenience to loyal customers who in turn support their local shops....charge for the time and material, but to out right refuse to sell licenses because of a dispute only makes one feel like a pawn in something they had nothing to do with....it's like shop owners have no concept of loss leaders and reverse loyalty acclamation.
i usually buy my licenses online, but when my pc went on the fritz, i ended up driving to Ladner to buy my license at Stillwater Sports where i also spent a good chunk of change to buy hardware that other wise would have been purchased at Berry's.
i've always been a proponent of supporting local businesses, but lately it's been feeling like a one way street where entitlement seems to be the flavour of the day.
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Does anyone here complain that your local car dealership doesn't issue Driver's licences? The government has been piggy-backing on the on the shop owners dime to collect their "tax" and now they have a way to circumvent that. If the government expected you to collect GST or PST for them every time you made a private sale of used goods, I would bet a fair number of you would say "F* that!". Why should the shop be any different?
There is a place you can go to get your drivers license, it's called ICBC service centres.
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There is a place you can go to get your drivers license, it's called ICBC service centres.
There's is a place you can go to get your fishing licence, it's called a BC Service Centre.
because it's a customer base service that's always been there to provide convenience to loyal customers who in turn support their local shops....charge for the time and material, but to out right refuse to sell licenses because of a dispute only makes one feel like a pawn in something they had nothing to do with....it's like shop owners have no concept of loss leaders and reverse loyalty acclamation.
Most people that come in to buy a licence don't spend a dime on anything else, and you don't seem them again until they need another licence. It's not a dispute that is causing shops to not issue licences, it's that there is a substantially more convenient way for the government to issue them and there is no need for the shop to offer that service.
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Most people that come in to buy a licence don't spend a dime on anything else, and you don't seem them again until they need another licence.
unfortunately that's a reality that many businesses have to cope with....no different from spending hours with a client giving them information and know how, only to have them go to another competitor willing to under cut your quote...frustrating, but a necessity to keep you afloat....or honouring a contract that ends up unprofitable because of unexpected expenses.
you do what you have to do to maintain good customer relations because the longevity of your business lives depend on it.
there's a big difference between not being able to provide a service because of restrictions and not providing because of the unwillingness of one holding a grudge.
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It's not a dispute that is causing shops to not issue licences, it's that there is a substantially more convenient way for the government to issue them and there is no need for the shop to offer that service.
my buddy use to manage a local tackle shop and i understand the incentives given for every paper license sold in the past...but even with the new system, shop owners can still provide this service for the sake of customer satisfaction...it's a small margin of loss that in the long run can help generate future revenue through alternative sales....take that away and it eliminates any potential business that cannot be afforded to be lost.
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I know that berry's sells non-tidal only, and not tidal. Tidal licences aren't done because they take much longer. Also, if a family were to want licences for each member, a new email is needed for each, or the website won't allow you to buy the licenses. Also, if another store bought the previous year's licence, every single bit of information has to match, or the licence will still be denied. I talk to the guys there and they say they used to do it, but it took at least 20 mins for each person, often more, and that can't be done when the shop is busy.
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I used to work in a sporting goods tackle store and I found it quite frusterating having to issue licenses continuously. There would always be lineups of people at the front till waiting to have their licence done. We did 'em both, fresh and saltwater (Non-tidal & tidal). Since we were so busy dealing with the licenses, many customers requiring assistance in the store would not get the help they needed. These customers that didn't get the help they needed would very likely leave with a bad taste in their mouth and would probably not be repeat customers. It was always a headache IMO. As well, I agree with previous posters that many of these customers would only buy a license and nothing else. Long story short, I think in the modern world we live in today, people should be able to go online and do their licenses through the website. Its not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination. It only takes like five minutes or so. Tackle shops are struggling enough, they shouldn't have to be fumbling around with issuing licenses all day long. Just my 2 cents.
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I used to work in a sporting goods tackle store and I found it quite frusterating having to issue licenses continuously. There would always be lineups of people at the front till waiting to have their licence done. We did 'em both, fresh and saltwater (Non-tidal & tidal). Since we were so busy dealing with the licenses, many customers requiring assistance in the store would not get the help they needed. These customers that didn't get the help they needed would very likely leave with a bad taste in their mouth and would probably not be repeat customers. It was always a headache IMO. As well, I agree with previous posters that many of these customers would only buy a license and nothing else. Long story short, I think in the modern world we live in today, people should be able to go online and do their licenses through the website. Its not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination. It only takes like five minutes or so. Tackle shops are struggling enough, they shouldn't have to be fumbling around with issuing licenses all day long. Just my 2 cents.
a double edged sword where those same frustrated customers at one time stood in line to purchase their own licenses and left others in the same boat...it's called feast or famine...hectic unending work to be done during peak season followed by leader tying/shelf organizing slower months with the possibility of cut shifts and/or layoffs.
it's as you say a specialty business where it's hard to stay above the red let alone turn a profit...so you either go above and beyond what the larger box outlets don't provide or you simply step aside because in reality you need the weekend warrior fishermen as much as the avid quality seeking angler to help with the bottom line.
i go into my favourite shop an average of 3 times a month and spend maybe $300-400/year (which is nothing in the whole scheme of things)...even with 50 more guys like me, that's only $20000/year...now turn away casual customers coming in to buy licenses and possibly some light hardware like hooks, floats, lures,line, and bait....what are you left with? this argument with people coming in just for licenses and nothing else is not a good enough reason to complain because from what i've seen a good percentage of them come back to buy gear even if not on the same day. it only makes sense because they're spending time and money for the privilege to fish...which eventually requires replenishment of supplies.
what it comes down to is the shop owners getting something taken away from them and wanting compensation....then in turn voiding the service and blaming it on the system as an excuse to get customers on their side...it's about entitlement nothing more.
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Just a thought, why can't tackle shops supply a computer(with strong security) for their customers who want to purchase a license. At the same time they might buy some things they need. This way, they are providing a service(less labor intensive?) while drawing customers in.
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Just a thought, why can't tackle shops supply a computer(with strong security) for their customers who want to purchase a license. At the same time they might buy some things they need. This way, they are providing a service(less labor intensive?) while drawing customers in.
That's exactly what I've been thinking this whole thread.
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Most people who don't have computers also have no idea how to use them. No point giving a hammer to a man with no hands.
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what it comes down to is the shop owners getting something taken away from them and wanting compensation....then in turn voiding the service and blaming it on the system as an excuse to get customers on their side...it's about entitlement nothing more.
To me it seems more like customer entitlement. The licences are offered online or at the BC Service Centre, yet you are still whining that you can't buy them at a fishing store. I've worked in stores and written out thousands of tidal, non-tidal, and hunting licences. The switch to online purchasing is the best thing they could have done.
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To me it seems more like customer entitlement. The licences are offered online or at the BC Service Centre, yet you are still whining that you can't buy them at a fishing store. I've worked in stores and written out thousands of tidal, non-tidal, and hunting licences. The switch to online purchasing is the best thing they could have done.
Agreed completely. Most people now a days have computers with internet, so why not save the gas (and the shops time) and get your license at home? As I mentioned, it doesn't take long and it's extremely simple and easy.
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--Remember when everyones vehicle license used to expire in March.... similar paroblem line up on to the street to get license. Then they allowed purchase for one year from date of purchase.
--Now that Provincial Government claims to be giving all of the money to Freshwater fisheries.. it would make sense to me to adopt the same system. Allow purchase of annual license to be one year from date of purchase rather than based on fiscal. This would eventually spread out the buying frenzy so that people would be purchasing license during slow time of year. Also when not in a rush to go fishing tomorrow they may stay longer in the store for purchases.
--As to customer service... we never told our customers to F... off no license for you... we did ask that they delay purchase when we were busy and most would... without getting ticked off at us.
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Private businesses are private businesses, they don't hold a responsibility to the public. It's a good idea for them to provide the best possible service to maintain loyal customers but if fishing licenses aren't profitable for them then they have every right to decide not to sell them and shouldn't have to apologize for it.
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To me it seems more like customer entitlement. The licences are offered online or at the BC Service Centre, yet you are still whining that you can't buy them at a fishing store. I've worked in stores and written out thousands of tidal, non-tidal, and hunting licences. The switch to online purchasing is the best thing they could have done.
...and you hit the nail on the head as to why many buy their gear down in Washington state or online or the big box stores and that is the piss poor attitude of (not just fishing) retailers here. They think they are entitled and bitch that people shop online or out of country and can not figure out why. Many business in Canada needs to learn customer service. Treat customers as 'entitled whiners' well then you won't get he business.
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Private businesses are private businesses, they don't hold a responsibility to the public. It's a good idea for them to provide the best possible service to maintain loyal customers but if fishing licenses aren't profitable for them then they have every right to decide not to sell them and shouldn't have to apologize for it.
...and when the 'going out of business' sale sign goes up the store and their piss poor attitude will have no one to blame but themselves.
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There is such fierce competition already amongst tackle shops, let alone big box retailers, so having every bit of an edge helps..
Big boxes buy in volume and can sometimes offer lower prices, so its up to tackle shops to provide that additional customer service which creates relationships and loyal customers for life. In the end they can do whatever they want, but don't be surprised when your shoppers turn to others stores providing better customer relations and services.
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To me it seems more like customer entitlement. The licences are offered online or at the BC Service Centre, yet you are still whining that you can't buy them at a fishing store. I've worked in stores and written out thousands of tidal, non-tidal, and hunting licences. The switch to online purchasing is the best thing they could have done.
As i mentioned earlier, i usually buy my licenses online, but having the option of buying it at my favourite tackle shop gives me incentive to check out their latest products and shoot the breeze with the guys behind the counter...now you call me a whiner because i believe in good customer relations...well guess what? all those thousands of tidal, non-tidal, and hunting licenses you wrote out kept you in the work so don't act like you slaved over them like some good samaritan.
...and yes you're right, as customers we are entitled to expect a level of service from ANY business, just like you would expect for yourself...when standing on this side of the fence.