Trying Different Rod Brands

[bassheel]

I live in NC and its very few places to put my hands on rods to purchase. Bps Gander field n stream is about it. My question is do you buy a rod unseen? I would like put my hands on one before purchase. Dobyns kistler pinnicle etc rods are not to be found around here.

[Raul]

Of course I buy rods unseen, this is the third world ya know, there are two guys that sell gear where I´m at and what they sell is nothing special, another dude sold more special stuff but he closed his shop because he couldn´t sell enough special/cool stuff to pay the rent. You´ll have to take your chances, sometimes they will be good and sometimes they will be bad and you will finally settle purchasing one or two brands. I purchase Shimano & GLoomis, I purchased Kistler and ended up selling them, purchased StCroix and the same thing happened, I even took the chance of purchasing a very unknown on this side of the pond brand called GraphiteLeader and importing them all the way from Japan which ended up being really good purchases.

[buzzed bait]

i've bought a few unseen.  not my favorite thing to do but i research the **** out of everything i buy so i usually have a pretty good idea of what i'm buying.  also, i would buy from a reputable joint that would guarantee the product/shipping of the product and allow for returns if you just flat out didn't like it.

[Stingray23]

I have and will.

[HardcoreBassin]

There are so many sites with reviews that you can really get a good "feel" for the rod before you buy it.  I bought a few rods unseen, but before I do I check the return policy.  Worst case scenario, if you hate the rod, turn around and sell it to someone else!

[F14A-B]

Of course its fine to order sight unseen, if you can't get to hold or examine the item, I have access to a few places.. I still order out.. If you are not happy, pay return shipping.. It should be fine.

[CarolinaBoy4Life]

I've bought all my rod's/reel's sight unseen and never have had an issue. I do alot of research and ask questions on here or look for reviews and info online for any issues it may have. Now I have only a certain few brand of rod's I buy so I know what I'm getting pretty much and reel's I buy from TW who have a good return policy.

[ABW]

I ONLY order unseen.

[new2BC4bass]

Yup.  Vast majority were purchased sight unseen.

[smalljaw67]

I'm not afraid to buy unseen anymore but I try to do as much research as I can. I can say that the last rod I got unseen that I had no clue to what I would be getting was my Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rod, and after I got it I found it fit my style of fishing and since then I've purchased more. One thing that can help you with rod brands you are familiar with is the powers and actions stay close across all lines from the lower end to the high end. St. Croix rods that are medium power are a little more stout that other brands, so if you are familiar with a Mojo Bass and wanted to get a Legend Tournament bass, well you already know what to expect power wise and if you liked the fast action on that series then the chances are you'll like it in the higher end series as well.

[new2BC4bass]

To go into a little more detail...I have 4 casting rods and one spinning rod that I keep in Florida.  The used spinning rod was bought Online and shipped directly there.  The casting rods were all bought from local stores down there.  However, that is far from the norm for the rods I have at home.  Of the 7 spinning rods I have here, one was bought 40 some years ago and one was bought from Cabela's this year.  The other 5 were Online purchases.  Of the 35 casting rods I have here, a Tec Spec from DSG, a Lightning from Walmart and a Prodigy from Cabela's are the only rods I got to touch before buying.  Only one rod was a total disappointment.  The 7'6" MH Villain is more like a broomstick than I like.  Hadn't read any reviews on it.   I got it because I already had a ML Villain spinning rod that I like a lot.  A Falcon Expert purchased at a very low price cosmetically looks like it saw better days....a hundred years ago.  However, that doesn't seem to affect how it fishes.  When you back off the threaded cap on a used HMG, the cover separates and stays on the reel foot.  Not a hardship as the reel will be staying on the rod.  Other than those cases I have been very satisfied with my Online purchases.  Well, with the exception of a Daiwa Light and Tough that arrived broken.  I'm sure I would have like this rod as well had it arrived in one piece.

 

EDIT:  I know you didn't ask about reels, but of the 8 spinning reels currently in my line-up, the Penn 430SS on the Lightning is the only one I got to handle before buying.  I'd have to take an inventory, but I think I have about 41 baitcast reels.....not one was handled before purchasing although I do have multiples of a few reels, so you could say that I got to handle a few before buying....even if they weren't actually the physical reel that showed up at my door. 

[BassmanDan]

This won't help you immediately but if you go to the Bass Expo at the Raleigh fairgrounds in January you will find Pinnacle, Kistler and other rods that you don't normally see in the area. I usually prefer to handle the merchandise before buying but sometimes I will buy sight unseen.

[Ozark_Basser]

You can always just send it back, but I like to handle a rod beforehand.  

[DogBone_384]

I buy nearly all of my rods in person because I prefer to handle them before I plunk down my cash, and for the couple I haven't, I do what many others likely do - read reviews and opinions about possible purchases from this & other forums/sources.

[rippin-lips]

I purchase unseen but now stick to only a few brands. Went through a lot of companies and ended up not liking some of the rods. Take reviews lightly. You are the one using it. The majority of what I bought all had good reviews on here and other places. We all like different stuff. *** black for example. Everyone raves about them and though it was a good feeling rod,I couldn't handle the trigger. It dug into my finger. Had to sell the rod for $80 and $30 of that went to shipping. So I got $50 back out of $120 rod. I've had a few of those lessons and it gets expensive after you do it 3 or 4 times. I have nowhere close to look at gear. 2hrs to the nearest bps or cabelas. 1hr to gander mtn. or field and stream. All of which don't carry certain brands.

[F14A-B]

Yea, rippin lips is right on the review aspect, while you may gleam some useful info, only you can ultimately determine if the equipment is to your liking.

[SirSnookalot]

I have 2 main brands that I buy, I do try others at times.  I will not order sight un-seen, I've done it before and it isn't to my likening.  I have an opportunity to use other people's rod, that helps a lot.  I have returned several rods that I saw in person at the store, once used didn't care for them.  Bought an 8' terramer made just a few casts and went right back and returned it for a tidemaster, that one lasted 2 days.  Not bad rods but not what I was looking for.  I wound up getting a rod I already owned just with a longer length, very happy with it.  I don't take the cellophane off until I know I'm keeping the rod.

[Hogsticker]

It sucks but it is what it is. I will only purchase on line and reviews mean jack squat. What feels good to one person may be terrible to another. Big stores like Cabelas drive the little guy out of business who carried premium stuff. Then the big store stocks lame crap and mostly house brand junk. My advice - go custom

[Hogsticker]

Also if you're particular you can eliminate 90 percent of the rods on the market if they don't have the exact components you want. Reel seat, guides, rod action all come into play. I won't buy a rod if I don't who makes the blank either. Simple solution to weed through so many options. Maybe I'm crazy. Who knows

[FishTank]

I have yet to buy a rod online but that doesn't mean I won't.  For me, I like to put the rod in my hand and have one of those moments where I just picked up a magic wand for the first time.  Of course this means nothing until I have fished it.