So I have come to Goose Hummock a few times for kayak rentals. And they're great. This may sound contrary, but one of the best experiences I had there was when they actually refused me service. I went in all ready to rent a kayak for the day, and the girl behind the counter told me it was simply too windy and something something tides. "I mean if you want, I can still rent you a kayak, but you're going to be miserable out there." I mean, she could have just pocketed my money and then told me it was my own responsibility to check that sort of thing. So, in short, customer service at Goose Hummock is exceptional.
Did I say "in short?" I meant, "in long." Cuz there's more. Most recently, I went across the street from the kayak shop to the "rod and gun" store. I was NOT looking forward to this. Check me out y'all: I'm a fcking vegetarian. I leave clandestine animal rights bumper stickers at pet stores and on fishing piers. The vast majority of my donations are to animal rights organizations. In my youth I protested with PETA for christ's sake! Now I'm standing in a store surrounded by pictures of suffocating fish and decapitated deer. Why? Whyyyyyyy???? Welp, my mother had been given a really nice compound bow that she had no interest in. I was sorry to see it gathering dust, so I told her to give it to me and I'd take up target practice. Unfortunately I could barely draw the thing back. It was clear I needed some help.
And thus I found myself standing in what was, for me, a literal shop of horrors. But to my great relief, no one was butchering a deer by the cash register or spearing a wild board in the aisles. Just more friendly dudes who kindly directed me to the friendliest dude of all: Jay (Jada). The stars must have been perfectly aligned, bcs I happened to need help with a bow the day the freaking bow master of Cape Cod was working at Goose Hummock.
Jay is among the chillest, most knowledgeable, friendliest employees I have ever encountered. You could tell he loved his work and knew his stuff. He spent way more time than he needed to going over the bow, teaching me the parts, tweaking this and that, having me fire it and then tweaking some more. I got the feeling if I had wandered in just at closing time, he would have been fiddling with my bow well into the night. He talked excitedly about other stores off-cape that I should check out and other ways to get into the hobby. At the end, when I was like, "Ok what else should I buy?" He told me I honestly had everything I needed. He only charged me for the maintenance and wouldn't even take a freaking tip! Oh, ps, dude is an avid hunter and you could tell he loved it, but he never made me feel uncomfortable talking about hunting. He really only brought it up when making points about bow maintenance, etc.
In short (again), it would have been so easy for me to have a bad experience at Goose Hummock, but instead I ended up leaving with a huge smile on my face and more than a little excitement about a new sport. I obviously can't speak for anything having to do with guns or fishing, but I can say that in addition to kayak and paddle board rentals, if you have any bow needs on Cape, Goose Hummock is the place to go. Just ask for Jay. read more