Has Anyone Ever Bought Fishing Gear Off Ebay?
looking to get some sweet gear for the spring. my main source is basspro.com aka bass pro shops. however i saw the same reel/rod on ebay for a cheaper price…its just seems sketchy buying fishing gear off ebay. has anyone ever done it before? im thinking just stick with bass pro shops, but on the other hand i could save money. what would you do?
I have bought fishing gear off ebay on more than one occassion. I haven’t had any problems. I do suggest that you exercise caution when making a purchase. Keep a record from beginning to end for every auction you bid on. Never send cash or western Union. Check all sellers feedback ratings and don’t be afraid to ask a few of them questions. Know what you’re buying…do the research before you bid. Keep away from last minute bids if you aren’t familiar with the item you plan to purchase….most of these are impulse bids and you end up paying more. Stay away from items where parts become an issue for replacement….vintage reels etc. unless you plan on collectiing. Last but not least, know what the shipping charge is before making a bid. Many auctions do not state the charge and these are the ones you should be aware of. Once you bid you are in a binding contract and the seller can charge you whatever they want for shipping…many people got ripped off this way. There’s alot more and ebay has forums for avoiding frauds and what not. Check ‘em out. It may sound like a whole lot of trouble but once you get a feel for ebay, it’s like breathing and the deals come fast. I bought a Shimano Triton GT ( a 50-60 buck reel) for only 20 bucks including shipping. Keep you eyes open and make that bid….do the research first.
As others have said spend the time to check out the seller and ask questions first.
I have been selling fishing tackle on ebay for several years and even bought a few items too.I think you can get a few good deals on ebay just understand the final price plus shipping!
I have but on one occasion found that the reel was badly damaged, because its not always new you don’t know if the rods have been hit hard and have a small hairline crack which could lead the the graphite/carbon splitting in time, also you don’t know how well the reels have been kept and if they have been cleaned and oiled.
Have you done a “watch” on any of those items or checked out the closed auctions to see what those things really sold for? I bought some nice kayaks and supplies last year, and the prices at bass pro and dick’s sporting goods ended up being better after it was all said and done. Especially since some sellers have serious shipping fees on things that don’t cost more than $3 to ship.
NO
Chimp Dancer is totally right!
If you do your “homework”, you can save BIG on tackle & gear.
Here’s some more tips:
1. Don’t buy “overseas” items. (If the item is in China/outside US there is a good chance it’s a “scam” or it will be destroyed through the shipping procedures.)
2. When buying reels, make sure to ask the buyer:
A. Does it “grind” or have any bearing issues?
B. Has the drag been tested?
C. Does the bail trip unnessacarily?
ETC.
3. Buy from people that respond quickly to your emails/questions.(If it takes 3 days to respond to your Q and they have many “neutral” feedbacks, be “leary” of purchasing anything from them.)
4. Cruise/check EVERYONES feedback even if it is 98-99%!
5. Know what you want and how much it is “new”.
6. Read all the fine print, and watch out for unforseen shipping and pkg costs.
Hope this helps? Good biding!
yes , no problem, as long as you use paypal, kelo
i purchased tons of fly fishing tackle off ebay, 2 rods, a reel, i was very happy with all my deals
I HAVE BOUGHT AND SOLD FISHING GEAR ON E-BAY IT IS A GOOD SOURCE FOR FISHING EQUIPMENT.
i bought 30-06 rifle barrel and a abu fishing reel and i was satisfied