Buying Rods From Amazon

[keyvike]

I had recieved an Amazon gift card so I decided to purchase a couple rods. Ordered two new rods, one was a Fenwick Aetos that came direct from Reeds Sporting Goods and The other was a Okuma TCS that came from Amazon. The rod from Reeds arrived in the usual heavy cardbord tubes that most venders use and in great shape. I would expect nothing less from Reeds as I have done business with them and been in their store in the past.

 

Now for the not so good news... the rod from Amazon arrived in a flimsy cardboard box with nothing but some paper wrapped around it, no bubble wrap or anything and the box and rod had been folded in half making a really nice 1 piece rod a 2 piece. Yes, a new rod is already on it's way from Amazon and hopefully it will be in one piece, but with that packaging I will be surprised if it does.

 

Bottom line is if you buy a rod from Amazon, I would strongly suggest getting one that comes direct from a reputable vender and not straight from Amazon.

[Rob96]

I bought va new Rippin Lips Supercar spinning rod off of Amazon. Agree the packaging is flimsy but thankfully the rod was OK.

[k3bass]

I had recieved an Amazon gift card so I decided to purchase a couple rods. Ordered two new rods, one was a Fenwick Aetos that came direct from Reeds Sporting Goods and The other was a Okuma TCS that came from Amazon. The rod from Reeds arrived in the usual heavy cardbord tubes that most venders use and in great shape. I would expect nothing less from Reeds as I have done business with them and been in their store in the past.

Now for the not so good news... the rod from Amazon arrived in a flimsy cardboard box with nothing but some paper wrapped around it, no bubble wrap or anything and the box and rod had been folded in half making a really nice 1 piece rod a 2 piece. Yes, a new rod is already on it's way from Amazon and hopefully it will be in one piece, but with that packaging I will be surprised if it does.

Bottom line is if you buy a rod from Amazon, I would strongly suggest getting one that comes direct from a reputable vender and not straight from Amazon.

I've never bought a rod from amazon but they really do a terrible job packaging stuff. I won't buy anything from amazon that I'm worried about getting damaged. They just stick stuff in an empty box and ship it, no bubble wrap or anything.

[shawnmc]

Bought my 7mh TCS from Amazon, arrived in that same flimsy box. Luckily mine arrived in perfect shape. Great prices but I'd be nervous doing it again.

[Montanaro]

Likely wasn't an issue from amazon but an issue from a lazy and irresponsible carrier.

[new2BC4bass]

I received a rod delivered in thin cardboard in the shape of a triangle.  Was really surprised to find the rod in one piece.

 

Hopefully you weren't expecting to win a $100,000 fishing tournament with it today. 

[*Hank]

That`s to bad     Iv`e never ordered a rod from amazon and now,probably never will.

[SirSnookalot]

Had a similar experience, my 1 piece 8' Okuma coastal inshore rod arrived in 3 pieces.  Called Amazon and they over nighted another rod.  Bit foggy on the details from a couple of years ago but I think the first rod came from a vendor, the second one a different vendor.

[keyvike]

Likely wasn't an issue from amazon but an issue from a lazy and irresponsible carrier.

I'd have to say it was Due both to poor packaging and lousy handling. It would take an awfully careful handler not to damage it with that packaging.

[blckshirt98]

I've had flimsy cardboard packaging result in broken rods arriving from both Sport Chalet and Sierra Trading Post.  Got replacement rods from both but just beware if you buy online from those two vendors.  All the "fishing only" online shops have always sent rods in the sturdy tubes.

[Kevin22]

Ive had 3 rods come in the cardboard triangle. One from ebay, and 2 from d1cks sporting goods. All were broken and all were replaced by the seller.

[keyvike]

2nd time around and still don't have the rod i wanted. This time the replacement rod from Amazon was in 1 piece however it was the wrong rod. They sent me a guide select swim bait rod instead of the TCS rod I ordered. I chose to get a refund on this one ... I'm done with trying to get a rod from Amazon.

[Further North]

I received a rod delivered in thin cardboard in the shape of a triangle.  Was really surprised to find the rod in one piece.

 

I'm going to guess that it was really corrugated and not cardboard (the stuff they make cereal boxes out of).

 

A triangular corrugated container is pretty tough, will get the job done for a fishing rod unless the carrier fouls it up spectacularly.

 

...I've ordered rads from Temple Forks Outfitters via Amazon, arrived in a similar package, it was fine...After 32 years in the packaging business, you won't get better unless it ships in a 1/4" think solid fiber tube...and those bad boys are expensive.

[Further North]

I've had flimsy cardboard packaging result in broken rods arriving from both Sport Chalet and Sierra Trading Post.  Got replacement rods from both but just beware if you buy online from those two vendors.  All the "fishing only" online shops have always sent rods in the sturdy tubes.

Interesting...all the rods I've ordered from STP came in solid fiber tubes...

 

Question: Are we talking "cardboard" (ceral box material) or corrugated (what most boxes are made of)?  I ask because there's a huge difference.  A triangular corrugated tube is way more than a fishing rod needs unless the shipper screws up massively.  There is no stacking strength to worry about, and burst strength is fine unless the shipper does something stupid...

[blckshirt98]

Interesting...all the rods I've ordered from STP came in solid fiber tubes...

 

Question: Are we talking "cardboard" (ceral box material) or corrugated (what most boxes are made of)?  I ask because there's a huge difference.  A triangular corrugated tube is way more than a fishing rod needs unless the shipper screws up massively.  There is no stacking strength to worry about, and burst strength is fine unless the shipper does something stupid...

 

Not cereal box but long rectangular (square end) corrugated cardboard.  I had one box folded in half like an accordion lol, though I have ordered other rods from STP that made it to me in good shape.  The STP boxes easily fold in half when breaking down to put in the recycle bin.

[smalljaw67]

The triangle box is actually ok, the way it gets broke is from lazy employees or ones who are pressed for time. I worked with a guy that came to us from UPS, he told me his routes were so long that he would have to go back and reload twice so if they could find a way to fit an extra package on the truck they will and a lot of times your fragile merchandise may end up in a bad way. The other, lazy employees, happens as they know certain items are not to go on the conveyor, but they don't want to pick the item up and carry it and it ends up getting folded and it happens to cardboard tubes too, I know as  it happened to me once. That came right from a supervisor from Fed-Ex, he told me straight up when I called and asked how the thick cardboard tube my rod came in managed to be bent in the middle, the guy was honest, he said that a person working on the line was too lazy to pick the item off the conveyor and carry it to the loading station, any long packages like that have to be removed and carried manually because the conveyor is on an incline and the long thin packages end up getting jammed in the rollers and then other packages keep coming until the one stuck gets removed or it breaks.