Fine if you’re an average-sized guy
I think your chances of finding a suitable kayak at Dick’s is significantly greater if you’re male of average or greater height and weight. You might also find something for kids. There’s very little, if anything, for women. The right kayak not only has to be appropriate for how/where you use it, it also needs to be sized appropriately. JMO.
The problem with Dick’s
– Last Updated: Aug-13-12 9:07 PM EST –
At least the one in my area. Their selection is limited and includes only low end boats. The sales staff is clueless. And the life jacket, paddle, etc. stock is also low end. So what, you say? Well there is a local store that carries a full range of merchandise. From a large collection of rec boats to high end sea kayaks. Paddles in a range of sizes and brands. Good life jackets. They also support and encourage lessons for beginners by arranging for lessons on a nearby lake and provide the equipment. So why would I go to Big Box Dick's?
Distinction
When Dick’s was brought up on my thread a couple weeks ago, I did say I would be unlikely go there…
However, I wasn’t disparaging the quality of their merchandise or saying that I was above the level of kayaks they sell.
My issue was that every time I’ve gone to Dick’s, the people working there were not in the slightest knowledgable in any sort of outdoor gear, as opposed to REI, whose staff is always able to answer my myriad of questions.
If I do my research and find out that the boat I want is being sold at Dick’s for the right price, I won’t hesitate to get it there.
Just yesterday, I found myself with about 45 minutes to kill and a Dick’s was nearby, so I thought, “what the heck?” and went in to look at their selection. It was about what I expected, but just a little better. Mostly low-rec style yaks, and a few Old Town canoes, but nothing that appeared to suit my needs. And as I suspected, there was nobody staffing the outdoors department and if I needed any help, I would have had to get assistance from someone from shoes or clothing.
here we go again
Really, what is the point of these threads? If you want to make a point about Dick’s, be it for good or ill, then go ahead and do so, but I really don’t see the benefit in trying to pidgeonhole all paddlers into three neat categories and then assign them the “appropriate” type of boat. Reality is not that neat and tidy.
For instance, one big oversight with your system is that it ignores relatively novice paddlers who may not yet have the skills that you list in the “advanced” category, but have the desire and drive to achieve them. As long as there’s no deception involved (i.e. unscrupulous sales practices) I see nothing at all wrong with recommending more specialized kayaks to those sorts of paddlers, without the need for some sort of “starter” boat. Presumably they can then make their own decision based on individual finances, etc.
And as for the “couple of times a year” paddlers, do we really need to protect them against people telling them to buy $3,000+ kayaks? You’d have to be pretty daft not to understand that that would be a pretty bad return on investment. And heck, if someone really wants to spend that kind of money on a boat that they paddle twice a year, well, it’s their dime.
Yes!!
I have a Conduit, and I think it’s perfect for #2s.
Very wise.
Thank you.
My Dick’s
is quite good. As was previously stated, probably every store in the chain is different. Mine has 13 and 14 foot boats, and the $99 Carlisle paddles, as well as decent (not amazing) PFD’s.
Also, it is the only place that i can find that is close to go to. I am sure there are better places.
I know
the three categories do not at all include everyone, I just wanted to generalize. I should have made a group four for “other.”
I guess the point of the thread was to point out that most begginner kayakers can look at Dick’s, while other, more advanced paddlers that are giving the advice would never consider doing so. I just think that Dick’s deserves some consideration from the people the it is geared towards.
Good News
If you’re happy with a store by all means shop there. It makes no matter what anyone on this site tells you. You are allowed to decide for yourself.
There are no decent kayak shops near me and the price of most new boats is out of my limited range. As a result I buy everything I can second hand and have been very pleased with the results. I once listened to reviews of others and bought a high end carbon paddle that has been a complete disappointment to me.
Don’t hesitate to try many different boats and gear to find the best for you. That’s the only one you need to please.
I think the categories are wrong
Based on paddlers I see all three of those levels are pretty much beginners.
I guess it is kind of like having a black belt in a martial art; having a roll is at the beginning of level three or three star depending on the country. The levels go up to five, and then beyond that there are the folks who teach level five, and folks that teach the level five instructors.
Still I think a level 5 paddler might find a boat to use at Dick’s many folks I know have boats in all ranges and most still have occasion to use a rec boat.
but how do you know your store is good?
What do you have to compare it with? The staff may sound knowledgeable, but be completely wrong headed.
I question your categories too. I think your category 1 is really people who don’t want to spend much money, and don’t know any better. As Don Rumsfeld famously said, there are the unknown unknowns – you don’t know what you don’t know.
Dick’s is worthless
The only high end items they carry is workout clothes and sunglasses. I’ve heard the sales staff in paddling give pure out wrong info. Shame is they bought out Galyan’s, which at least carried some high end Bell canoes and generally better gear. Not top notch across the board, but way better than what Dick’s stocks.
Big box stores around here
The ones within reach of where we live are no place for anyone to go who wants a salesperson who knows about getting someone fitted into a kayak, even to the kind of exchange you had. There are things they do pretty well, like baseball gear. For choosing a kayak if it isn’t an independent operator, the biggest store to try is Bean’s or EMS. I don’t think this is unusual.
The problem with big box stores is that there is no assurance that they will care about having knowledgeable staff in the paddling area. Since they do everything their stronger interest will be in the higher volume areas (kids’ team sports etc) and if they can sell a bunch of kayaks for a few months of the year that’s a good thing. It isn’t like a chain like even Bean’s, which stores offer basic paddling trips and offer some instruction. They have to know what they are doing, at least a bit, because they have a full program there.
Also - guys tend to forget that it is quite possible to put a woman into even a rec boat that is an unpleasant paddling experience due to its having knuckle-busting width. I and my sister are about average height for our generation, or at least I was half an inch ago at 5’4". She is paddling the same rec boat as her much larger husband, and until she made some changes to her seat and I got them both lighter weight paddles she was coming in with whacked up fingers from every paddle. The boat is still big enough on her that a lot of distance could be a problem, but then it’s a rec boat and that is not how they use them.
Most new paddlers don’t know how to sort out the good from the bad about a kayak. Assuming that the big box stores around here aren’t unusual for inland areas, they would not be anyone’s first choice. Plus, they tend not to offer the tryout opportunities of more paddling-focused places.
dicks
I thought this thread was about my in-laws.
True,
I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I have read posts on here that are obviously not true to my Dick’s. As I was researching both kayaks, I learned very, very much, and all 4 different slespeople that I talked to at Dick’s knew about chines, rocker, paddle fitting, correct paddling technique (torso rotation, etc.) and proper carrying technique.
terminology
A caveat 1st; I know that I may choke on my foot here.
Speaking as someone who has to endure that training (lately delivering it rather than receiving it and whose been involved with training Dick’s personnel this year) almost everyone who sells kayaks, from the expensive Valleys and to the lowly Pungo, is taught about those terms. While I certainly can’t speak to their ability to retain those terms, they all learn about them. Not a good measuring stick, generally.
not at all
Fair question. For me we really don’t have one nearby so it’s not convenient.
I agree with willih2o about the sales effort. All things being equal, I’d prefer to give my money to a locally owned store (or at least within the state) and ideally an independent. But all things aren’t equal so the people I describe have to earn it the sales and service. I don’t find the national chains around here to be very well staffed when it comes to kayaking but that may be a regional thing. And if the intent is to stay within 1 and 2 as described by the OP then often Dick’s and other nationals are the only choice. The brands mentioned are decent manufacturers.
The other option, though, is to shop used. Depending on where you live and if you don’t mind a few scratches, you can find some great buys.
REI
The problem isn’t just relegated to Dicks. REI used to hire certified instructor trainers like Roger Schumann of the ACA to train its employees. Then at some point they dropped that. Maybe they figured they could save money, who knows. All I can say is that now their paddling offerings are noticeably sub-par.
For example, they have a beginner’s class called “Open Coastal Kayaking”. Now, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t venture out onto the open coast until I had amassed quite a bit of knowledge and skills. It’s an unforgiving environment, no place for a beginner. And yet this is one of their beginner’s courses.
Another example (my favorite): I was paddling in Elkhorn Slough one day when I saw instruction going on, an REI class, I later found out. The instructor said, “Now I am going to demonstrate a roll.” Well, who can resist that. I had to stop and watch. Well, over he goes, he thrashes once, he thrashes twice, the hull rocks back and forth from side to side, and then out he comes, out of his boat, a wet exit, and pronounces, “I am now going to demonstrate a paddle float rescue.” Priceless. He didn’t miss a beat!
Best Post Nominations
- Poleplant
- TheBob
Dicks
So now we know. Thebob doesen’t like dicks.