I haven't really been into archery since I moved up here to WA from Alabama several years ago. I'm getting back into archery this Christmas and was hoping you folks could point me toward a good knowledgeable shop that isn't a ripoff waiting to happen (bows here are 15% or so above prices in the Southeast). Thanks!

My friend uses a shop in Everett, it's called Van Winkles. It's kind of odd in that it's an archery shop in one half and an antique store in the other. There was also one called the Nock Point,in Mt.Lake Terr.,they were right off of 220th,but moved about a yr ago. The Nock point had an indoor range as well as a pretty decent shop.

Northwest Archery established and run by the St. Charles family (Glen St. Charles) is south of SeaTac Airport.....Been in business a long time and if you aren't good in this business you 'go under' quickly. Check the yellow pages for address, but it is beyond the air port exit on I5 and west..... Check out Glen's trophy room..

When I was starting to look at bows, I had just narrowed my choices down to Mathews, Hoyt, and Bowtech so I was looking for dealers that carried those. I was going to take off work (I work down in Seattle) and go look around and a guy at work mentioned Northwest Archery. I called them up on the phone to see where they were, and talked to a guy who was less than polite. I told him that I wasn't sure of my draw length, and that I would like to come in and get my draw length measured and look at a few bows he had in stock. He gruffly informed me that he charged $25 just to check draw length! I could get the $25 taken off the price of a bow later if I bought one from him, but not if I bought other stuff. I realize that it might be a problem for people ordering stuff from catalogs after they know their draw length, but it was obvious I didn't have the skill to set up my own bow if I didn't even know my draw length and the two brands I was considering most can't be mail ordered! It only takes a second to measure draw length anyway, so even if I had done that he would have made a good impression for his moment's work and I would have probably come back to buy accessories later. It's a pretty safe bet that my shadow won't ever be darkening the door of that shop.

I found the Nock Point about three miles from my house last night (Saturday) about 5:00pm. I had heard that it had an archery range, but it looked like a fairly well-equipped shop from the outside. The sign on the window said they were open until 6:00 on Saturday and they were already closed at 5:00, probably something to do with the holiday. I kinda feel sorry for the owner, though. Another guy who was wanting to order a bow was walking away from the door as I walked up and started chatting with me. As we got in our cars and drove away, a lady was walking up to the door with a very excited teenage boy who looked really disappointed when the door was locked, liked he missed Santa or something, so I'm betting he was about to get a bow, too.

The most helpful shop around I found was up in Mt. Vernon. I think it's called Riverside Archery. I talked to a guy in there who was very helpful and didn't try to sell me everything in the shop. He explained the concepts behind a lot of the new stuff on the market and what was actually worth using and what was marketing hype. After comparing bow brands and models, I decided I wanted a Legacy and ordered it from him yesterday. It's a fairly long drive up there, but it's worth it to me to spend my money where I think it's deserved. Even if I wouldn't have decided on a bow brand he carried, I would have made it a point to buy some accessories there as a gesture of appreciation for the help he gave me.

I'm glad to here you found a good shop. I'm surprised to hear about the Nock point,when I went in with my friend they were very helpful,and their hours seemed reasonable. In this day and age with competition for business and the economy the way it is,you'd think businesses would go out of their way to gain a customer. I'm like you, if I get good service,I'll drive further and pay more for knowledge and appreciation.

The Nock Point folks might be helpful, but I don't know because the shop was closed at 5:00 when the sign on the door said it was open until 6:00. I'm betting it had something to do with it being a holiday weekend, and I'm just going to try again later. The shop that wasn't very helpful was Northwest Archery, not The Nock Point. I also tried Van Winkles previously. It's probably a good shop for an expert bowhunter who knows exactly what he needs, but it's not the best place for a relative newbie to go and the prices didn't seem exactly great. With the lack of good archery shops around, though, I'm doubting that there's enough competition to keep prices reasonable. I know the prices on bows I looked at were a full 15% cheaper down in the Southeast than they were up here around Seattle.

I'm sure your right about the pricing issues,no competition means higher prices. I think it has to do with the popularity of bowhunting in Wa. State. It's not nearly as popular as in SE U.S.

So judging from this information, I have to drive for an hour or more to find a good shop that is helpful to a newbie!??!

What about us South Sound boys? Where can we go when we know diddley and need help??

Was going to go to NW, but I trust Jason that it might be a bad idea............

Any input?

Well you can try going to Northwest Archery. I don't know how their prices are, but that's mostly because I didn't get that far into the conversation. Once he told me that he'd have to charge me $25 just to check my draw length so I could know which bows I should consider, I was done talking to him. Maybe I just come from a different culture down in the South, but I expect a shop to be friendly and helpful if they want my money. I know the loss of one person's purchases won't exactly kill their business, but if they treat enough people that way it sure won't help business any.

I don't think that your opinion comes from a different culture. I think that we all expect the same thing from a company. I for one find the $25 for checking draw length ridiculous as well and would not even consider giving them my money for it.

This board is a good place to air those types of concerns and to help others avoid the pitfalls. I appreciate the information. I may just go there and check them out, but it is doubtful they will get much business.

I have an old Bear TD revurve I wanted to get strung and checked out, so I can practice with it, but I doubt they will be much help with me if they are willing to charge that much just for draw length. I am sure I will be looking at a fortune to tune a traditional recurve!

Well I have to jump in on this one… First… I am wondering if Jason got a wrong number and someone was jerking your chain… I go to Northwest Archery they have been nothing but helpful!! They have even given me stuff at times for free out of the scrap boxes, ie. Peep Sights, cable slides… When I have gone to them for help measuring my son's draw length they did it with NO CHARGE… made several recommendation and actually gave him several shooting tips and practice shots…Second… when I was going to buy a new bow last year I was talking to them at the shop (they carry PSE and Martin compounds) and told them what bow I was interested in… they told me they didn't have it in stock but they could order it, but it may be cheaper for me to order it from a catalog… I ended up buying it from a store in Portland and then took it to Northwest and they helped me get it set to draw length at NO CHARGE.

I work with the Boy Scouts and have made several recommendations to Parent to go to Northwest and they have always been happy… (I GET NO KICK BACKS)

Now as far a getting the chance to meet a true archery legend you may get it if you are in the shop/museum and Glenn goes for a walk… what an honor!

Hey DeKuma… Don't give up on Northwest!!! They are primarily a Traditional and Recurve shop. I shot a compound for hunting, but they have always been helpful and informative! Also, about 3 years ago I took a bow making class ($325.00) (Self Yew Longbow) Jay St Charles http://www.selfbow.com/ , at that time the classes were at Northwest. What an experience and a pleasure to go home with a bow I made!

It is to close to you HomePort not to give them a try!

Now as far as archery stores, I would have to agree with HBP, Washington doesn't seem to have as much backing as the Southern/MidWestern states. The biggest thing seems to be demand. I have contacted both Cabela's and BassPro about why they don't have a store on the West Coast they both said the same thing, “Once the orders from a area/region are high enough to support a retail store we will put one in.” Also, when I was down south on business (a few years back) you could go to small retail stores and they carried at least small non-specific type hunting items. It is a different (perhaps better) culture. More hunter friendly!!!

Shoot Straight!
Shawn

wabowhunter,

Your experience is what I've heard about NW Archery before I called them myself. That's why I expected a lot better than I got and was willing to drive down south to check the place out. I settled on a Mathews bow (that actually pushed me toward Mathews a bit) so I wouldn't have been able to get it there anyway. I was pretty annoyed after that conversation and I still have that impression. That's why I said he could try going there himself. Maybe the person I talked to was just having a bad day or something. That shouldn't make everyone think the shop is awful. It just prevents purchases from one person (me). Maybe they have had a big problem lately with people coming in there for advice and then buying stuff elsewhere. If they do keep the "$25 to check draw length" policy, it's going to seriously hurt their bow sales in the long run. If the policy wasn't real, the guy could have just been jerking my chain. Either way, it's bad business and cost them a customer.

I have no use for bow shops as I don't use them to hunt...But my brother goes in to NW Archery probably twice a week and is friends with a couple of the guys that work there. I know for a fact they didn't charge him to check draw length.
He just bought a custom recurve from some small outfit that will be ready in a year and the guys at NW were excited for him! Whevever I've gone in there with him, they've always been nice.

I would definately give nock point another chance. They are very helpful. Bill Hickey is the owner and go to guy there. I was pretty happy with what I learned through them, and with the bow I bought. Service is good, and unlike other good shops I found....They stay open during general seasons.

Well, first off, I did not mean I would not give them (NW) a try since they are around a half hour away, I merely stated that the experince makes me wonder...........

Second, I in no way would pay to have my draw length measured, so if is policy, forget it.

I do know that they are more of a traditional shop and that is where I am leaning. I love the idea of traditional. No sights, no nothing but a stick and string. I will check them out either way and let you know what I find out.

Can you give me more specific information on where they are exactly??

I plan to give The Nock Point another try. I don't really hold it against them that they were closed an hour early on a holiday weekend. It was Northwest Archery that told me over the phone that it would cost me $25 to get my draw length measured. I don't even know if it's an actual policy. That phone conversation was my only experience with them. I was referred there by a guy at work who said one of his friends goes there a lot and they were a good shop. That's why I called them in the first place. A woman answered the phone then handed my call off to a guy when I said I had some questions about bows.

The shop I like the most is Van Winkle's , right off Oaks in Everett. I thought it was kind of strange at first when I went in and noticed it was adjoined to a furniture store. Don't let that fool you though. It's a very well equipt shop, and I like the Mathews bows. They also have PSE, Martin ,Hoyt and other brands as well.
You couldn't ask for a more personable guy than Bob, who is the owner. If you have him work on your bow, he will do an outstanding job. Bob knows quite a bit on the technical side, concerning any questions you might have.
I've tried all of the above mentioned shops, except for northwest archery. Even though Bob is a little more expensive, the warm atmosphere and feeling like you can ask a "dumb" question without getting slammed is worth it to me. Bob also can help you get into some selective hunts, Ranches etc, that some of the other archery shops won't or can't let you know about.
Give Bob a try, He's opened Tuesday through Saturday. Phone 425-259-9288.

Sure, they're located in the lovely hamlet of Normandy Park inbetween Des Moines and Burien. If you get to Burien (get on HWY 518 from 405 or I-5) turn LEFT on to 1st Ave...Stay on First as in wanders towards Des Moines..it's just before you hit 200th, on your right side.

Here it the cyber address...

http://www.nwarchery.com/door/

19807 1st Ave. S.
Seattle, Wa.98148

Drop this address into http://www.mapquest.com

and you should be able to get right there.

CWUGirl and WABO,

Thanks for the info. I have been to their site and tried looking up the address, but it would not register it and give me a map. At least Mapquest would not.

After looking at it and figuring where it is, turns out I have known all along. It is right across the street from my ex mother-in-laws. I have driven right by a hundred times and never stopped.

Plan on going in today or tommorrow morning. Will let you all know what my experience as a total newbie is.