Gourmet soap… Beef jerky… Tennis shoes… Ninja stars (probably). These days, you can find a subscription box service for pretty much anything. Many of them are so overpriced and niche that I question how they stay in business. I mean, how many people really want new votive candles on their doorstep every month? But of all the wares available in those boxes, fishing lures always made more sense than a lot of them. When Mystery Tackle Box launched in 2012, the idea was revolutionary: Tailor boxes to the species the subscriber chases most and send along overstock lures and baits from smaller companies that might be having a hard time getting exposure. It caught on, and in no time Mystery Tackle Box had competitors. A decade later, there are dozens of them. But if you’re thinking about signing up, proceed with caution.
Bait and Switch
According to this story, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently filed a lawsuit against four people accused of running a bogus tackle box subscription service. The suit comes after 84 customers filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau about the National Anglers Association (NAA), the box service operating illegally with a name strikingly similar to the legitimate National Professional Anglers Association. The grievances varied from being signed up for a subscription without authorization, failure to deliver goods, and unwillingness to provide refunds. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section also…
