Fish Lodging biz in BIG trouble

[sheephnter]

Curse me if you want- but have been to three sportsmens shows down here since first of year- and have been fishing BC waters for over 25 years now- withmany differant lodges/areas- along with Alaska- 5-7 trips a summer- so I am pretty familiar with the industry.

From the ones I know best- who talk to me openly- lots of lookers at shows but NO buyers- the worst they have ever seen (or since early 80's anyway).

There is gonna be a firesale on lodges this Spring- and IF you have put money down as a deposit- BEWARE-

Two coastal outfits Bankrupt so far this year- several more to follow- a couple "big name lodges" did not even put the money pout to attend the Portland show- where they have been coming for years- THEY KNOW- ain't no buyers

Hope it all shakes out- especially if gas prices stay DOWN this Spring and Sunmmer- if it start a big climb again- that - along with one fish limit in Alaska SE areas will Kill Alaska fishing this summer.

read it and weep boys- and if you are going fishing with a professional this year- wait and book it for greatly reduced pricing- which is allready being offered bymany- but will be even more so- later as those that need to do so to survive, indeed will do so.

Sheep

 

[Dogbreath]

quote:Two coastal outfits Bankrupt so far this year- several more to follow....

Care to name some names?

Previously you posted about a Hippa Island outfit going under I asked for a name you didn't supply one.

We all know St John's is gone but that was in the cards last year.

Yesterday I spent 20 minutes on the phone with someone who works for a Langara based lodge he said they're in good shape for bookings (of course it's more high end than some and it depends how you define good shape).

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[The Fish Assassin]

Was just wondering.. How many Charter operators are there in BC? As in how many guide boats? Anyone care to make a guess?

Take only what you need.

 

[Last Chance]

The strong will survive, and if you book using your VISA card for a deposit, one quick call to your credit card company will get your cash back to you very quickly.

For the price of a typical North Coast or QCI lodge, you could get some great accommodation on WCVI, and a first rate owner operator guide for several days.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

 

[The Fish Assassin]

quote:For the price of a typical North Coast or QCI lodge, you could get some great accommodation on WCVI, and a first rate owner operator guide for several days.

But what about the fish? I know when I guided I used to hate the customers that would constantly bring up the fact that when they went to QCI they had better fishing. Even our best days down here are barely comparable to up there.

Take only what you need.

 

[wolf]

Not now the last couple of years up there fishing has been bad it is province wide.the lodge I used to work at I talked to him the other day and his business is way down probably 30 % and in for a rough ride.
I think ALL lodges/guides/charters are going to feel it badly this year with the uncertainty of what we can fish and no news regarding it people from the states just wont come up.

Corporate america is in big troble and that expendable money just isnt there right now its really nobodys fault it just the way the economy has gone.

Wolf

Blue Wolf Charters
www.bluewolfcharters.com

 

[sheephnter]

wolf- wasn't that you I saw on Fishing BC with Mark Pendlington (SP?), out of Peregrine Lodge? A nice job you did.

I was told an outfit around Hippa went broke- don't know he name- and what has that to do with the problems? St Johns "was in the cards" you say? Most bookings last Summer were made last Spring or early Summer= Before the big money crunch- this year is entirely differaNT

THINK i AM WRONG? DON'T BET YOUR HOUSE ON IT

I DO fish with many lodges in BC and have 4 trips this summer- but I ACN afford to do it- all the contractos I know that used to take clients to QC's are cutting back to zero this year

Fact of nature= the small get washed out with the tide

Good luck to anyone that puts a deposit down this year- and don't give me that crap about do it onn VISA- I know A FRIEND THAT PUT HIS DEPOSIT DOWN LAST YEAR ON A visa AND THE HUNTING GUIDE (bc) WENT BROKE- AND HE DID not GET HIS MONEY BACK FROM VISA

 

[Dogbreath]

quote:I was told an outfit 'aroun'd Hippa went broke- don't know he name- and what has that to do with the problems?

So it was 100% rumour that you posted you have no evidence of anyone going broke.
Why post bull like that are you addicted to Bad News?

quote: St Johns "was in the cards" you say?

New ownership, who had a lot of problems even opening up and little idea how to run the operation (daily chaos on the dock and terrible food) meant people were leaving almost daily including 4 friends of mine who guided for them in the past, they predicted the place would go under as did many others.

That's what I call in the cards, easy to predict.

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[Last Chance]

Regarding the VISA thing, my "OTHER" job is a reatil store. If I can't produce a signed sales draft for a customer, they get an instant refund out of my bank. In fact, often the only way I know they have a refund is that they have TAKEN the money from my account, and then expect me to appeal it. For big ticket items, I have produced copies that I took of their drivers license and photo ID, and all they (the customer) said was that they never got it, and poof, I'm out. I have called VISA in the past when I've purchased things online and not had them show up, or not be what is expected, and I've yet to have a problem getting my money back.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

 

[sheephnter]

Well, tell ya what DOGBREATH- just let me know which outfit you working for so I can stay clear- ok?

Love bad news? Not really- I love BC and alaska for hunting and fishing- you have one of the most fantastic natural resources in the world, that I for one, can not get enough of- like I said am fishing four trips up there this summer- three on salt and one on Skeena, and one to alaska.

But tell ya what dogbreath- "passing rumors" ain't my game- passing only what I was told- and after seeing the Portland sPORTSHOW THIS PAST WEEKEND WITH MANY OUTFITTERS i KNOW VERY WELL- THEY all SAID THE same thing- "we are in for a very VERY tough year- NO ONE IS BOOKING- JUST LOOKING. I cudda predicted St Johns was going under for ya also- I fished with them 4-5 times- and the new owner was a clown. Hell he never even paid some of his guides- which as we all know is a NO NO!!!!!!!!!

Let me know DAWG- if ya wanna bet- I'll bet you at least two more outfitters go under before Sept

 

[richmake]

quote:Originally posted by LastChance

The strong will survive, and if you book using your VISA card for a deposit, one quick call to your credit card company will get your cash back to you very quickly.

For the price of a typical North Coast or QCI lodge, you could get some great accommodation on WCVI, and a first rate owner operator guide for several days.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

Good point on the visa thing...
I take over 90% of my deposits through my visa account....it's better protection for the client and adds professionalism to your business.
As far as the lodges and doom nd gloom...it's like other's have said, the strong will survive and the over extended are in for along few years.
I approached the Sheephnter in the wrong way last time and I'll take a different approach to the topic this time...
He's only trying to post warnings to all about deposit's which is a fair line of input.
He seems to have a pretty good network of lodges/guides he's comfortable with and that in it self is what is important.
Go with an outfit that has in the past treated you well and has been around for a while and do your research...
Anyhow...I hope everyone who perseveres does well and wish everyone a decent summer...

www.coastwidesportsfishing.com

 

[sheephnter]

Well said Richmake- and a class response indeed. Thank you sir

 

[Fins -n- Skins]

Wolf where you on sportfishing bc with MP ?? I think it was Yo Mama in the classic episode up the QC. By the way Mama's cafe was pretty good acouple of weeks ago.

Tournament Proven !

 

[Bogman]

Sheephnter, You"re right about the attendance and market at the Portland show. We were there also and business was poor at best . What you are WRONG about is the lodge at Hippa going broke. As I have said here before I run the lodge there and as of the end of the Portland show we are over 80% booked for this summer and have no intentions of going out of business. I would love to know where you heard that. I suspect it was from the OTHER lodge that is moving into the area as their fishing to the south has sucked for a number of years.

"Who would have ever thought it would be this much fun catching them one at a time"

 

[sheephnter]

BOGMAN

as I indicated earlier- I was told an outfit at Hippa was going under- never was told a name- is there only ONE lodge there? and if so- and it is you- glad to hear what I was told was wrong- St Johns is gone for sure. if indeed you are 80% full already for next year- you are a lucky man- count your blessings- many are not even 20% full No matter whaat they tell you

good luck to you capt

 

[Rum Buddies]

quotene quick call to your credit card company will get your cash back to you very quickly.

LC is spot, I deal with merchant accounts and online payments daily. Just book with a credit card if you guys are worried and you will have total protection. If a customer places a chargeback it is up to the merchant to prove it is not valid.

 

[Last Chance]

quote:Originally posted by Poppa Swiss

quotene quick call to your credit card company will get your cash back to you very quickly.

LC is spot, I deal with merchant accounts and online payments daily. Just book with a credit card if you guys are worried and you will have total protection. If a customer places a chargeback it is up to the merchant to prove it is not valid.

Exactly, and as a merchant you have a better chance of seeing God then getting anything out of the customer once the credit card company has debited the merchants account.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

 

[Sushihunter]

Yes, you can get your money back through the credit card companies, but you had better have a good reason and be able to document it.

A friend had an experience here in Tahsis a few years ago. I wasn't directly involved, but I did hear quite a bit of detail about what happened.

Client phoned up looking for accommodations for 2 weeks during peak season in August. A house was booked and a deposit taken. Clients were emailed photos of the house they were getting.

Upon arrival, they decided that they didn't like the house, and would not stay there. Claimed that the front stairs were not safe. (I am about 350 lbs and had no problem with them). The wife was not in good shape and couldn't climb stairs.

They found another place to stay at that also had stairs (only way to get to the bedrooms).

Now here is the thing with small towns. Everyone knows everyone else. It didn't take too long to find out that they were price shopping once they got here. They wanted to make sure they had a fallback place to stay if they couldn't find something cheaper. Once they found something cheaper they phoned and said that they would not be staying at the house and gave a bunch of reasons, the stairs being the prime one.

Needless to say, after they got back from their holiday. They called the cc company and reversed the charge for the deposit.

My friend is very much a detail person and had all the records, inluding photos of her place, and the place the client moved to, which was of lesser quality than the place they refused.

Now just try and rebook a house in mid season, at the last moment. Needless to say the house owner was out the two weeks rent.

After writing a couple of reports to the cc company and about three months, they agreed that the deposit belonged to the house owner.

Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

 

[fishin_magician]

Hmm...

Bookings don't mean SFA in the high end lodge industry. A cancellation with 2 weeks or 2 trips to go at a lodge has a relatively low probability of being filled at full price. Thus they have to drop the prices. Guides will be doing a lot of personal fishing those trips. A shortened season will also likely result as there is no reason to remain open when bookings are down.

Bookings at some of the lodges in the QC Islands are down significantly at this time with customers opting for cheaper packages, non ocean view rooms, smaller boats for guided trips, the shorter trips, etc etc. There are some "tentative bookings" which they represent as having been sold..but then they're just waiting to close the deal with preferred clientel. I suspect as the carnage continues with revenues in Corporate Canada and Corporate America, company and business junkets will also decrease..and bookings doesn't translate to "filled" trips.

Overall, business will be down and a buoyant American dollar with a 20% value premium over that of the Canadian stands to keep many Americans coming to Canadian lodges. Reverse that to parity and watch the bookings drop and dates open up. However, don't kid yourself, the sportfishing industry isn't a growth industry, particularly when so many people are watching their own backs and trying to keep their shirts on them.

Many of the lodges facing financial troubles don't offer value and don't have good management anyways so adios to those lodges.

In times like these, the cream rises to the top and the strong survive.

 

[sheephnter]

CREDIT CARD: Yes, all sounds good- "ya can get your money back"- but how does that apply to a co,pany thats has gone bankrupt- credit card company can NOT get their/or your money out of the receiver.