Buying rods online

[Brad Carruth]

All of my rods, except for one, have been purchased online at Tackle Warehouse b/c it’s a reputable site that people are familiar with. So I’m looking for a new medium popper rod & came across an 7ft Abu Garcia Villain 2.0 for $114.99 on a website that I’m not familiar with. Now, I know the saying, it’s too go to be true, but I ran the web address through ScamAdvisor & it said it was safe. The name of the site is UniversalMania.com. Has anyone used this site for anything?

 

[Johnbt]

This universal mania?

 

Corporate Address:

Universal Mania Inc.
1031 Robeson St.
Suite A
Fayetteville, NC 28305

 

www.yelp.com/biz/universal-mania-fayettville

 

Looks like nothing but 1-star ratings. Then there's this one...

 

"9/29/2017

The owner was recently convicted and sentenced to prison for selling counterfeit goods. I have a feeling that this business isn't operational any more."

[Glenn]

Google them. There's a ton of negative reviews and bad experiences with them posted on various sites, and none that are positive.

 

Do not order from them.

[deep]

They sponsor ***.

 

EDIT: they sponsor another bass board.

[Brad Carruth]

Thanks guys! This is why I have become a fan of this forum, the fast response from multiple members! 

[WRB]

If you are looking for a baitcasting rod for popper and a wide variety of lures from 1/4 to 5/8 oz, Don Iovino's Major Craft Splash-It rod is ideal and available from TW.

Tom

[DINK WHISPERER]

I've ordered a few times from universal mania with a Georgia address and never had an issue. Not sure if they're the same company. Found out that Tackle Warehouse will price match them so now i just do that. 

[Johnbt]

http://wncn.com/2017/05/03/fayetteville-man-gets-6-years-in-prison-after-website-sold-counterfeit-items/

 

"FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — A Fayetteville man will spend six years in prison, surrender two homes and more than $200,000 after he was found guilty of trafficking in counterfeit goods on a Fayetteville-based website, federal officials say.

Kurt Michael Krol, 36, was sentenced on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in mid-December 2015."

[buzzed bait]

On 10/18/2017 at 9:40 PM, DINK WHISPERER said:

Found out that Tackle Warehouse will price match them so now i just do that. 

every single time..... if ever in doubt, see if TW has that same exact model and they will price match if you call them.

[OnthePotomac]

I can only say I bought my new Humminbird Helix7 from them last summer and the service was first class.  They beat BPS price by $500 with free shipping and fast.  I even received a follow up email asking me if I was satisfied with their service.  On another site where they are a one of many sponsors, I have read where numerous anglers have purchased from them and still do with no complaints. Be sure comments are on the same organization because they are still alive and well.

[AC870]

I’ve bought three rods from Tackle Warehouse. They’re awesome. Super fast shipping. Even got a free T-Shirt last time. 

[Johnbt]

"Be sure comments are on the same organization because they are still alive and well."

 

Feel free to repeat my google searches. Here's another one...

 

 

 

Kurt Michael Krol gets convicted in May, and in April one Anthony Krol is made Acting CEO.

 

www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-krol-ab8a233

 

"Acting CEO at Universal Mania Inc

Universal Mania

April 2017 – Present (7 months)Fayetteville, North Carolina Area"

 

____________

 

I'm the curious sort.

 

Googled their storefront? It's tiny. Either they have a warehouse some other place or they're drop shipping. I don't care, just wondering.

 

 

[burrows]

I’ve been buying rods reels and the majority of my tackle from tackle warehouse since 2012 I’ve only bought from brick and mortar shops for any trout fishing gear during the cold months. I like tackle warehouse I wish their was another website or company that had as good of a website.

[OnthePotomac]

Just read that item and noticed Krol was convicted for selling counterfeit to Universal Mania.

[Johnbt]

He bought. He sold. 2047 shipment were sent to Krol according to the feds. Then he sold the stuff.

 

 

www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/fayetteville-man-sentenced-trafficking-counterfeit-goods

 

 

"the investigation discovered that KROL met with a representative from the Chinese company in Fayetteville to find out what products they could counterfeit. KROL then imported counterfeit products including L’Oreal (Clarisonic), HSI Professional, and Conair (Babyliss) beauty products; Garmin products; Choon’s Design (Rainbow Loom) toys; Philips (Sonicare) products; Zing Anything bottles; Harman International Industries (JBL), LG, and Bose speakers and/or headphones; and Spectrum Brands FURminator dog brushes. The investigation found that 2,047 shipments originating in Hong Kong were addressed to KROL between August 2012 and February 2015.

 

KROL sold counterfeit merchandise, as well as merchandise from legitimate distributors on the internet. He comingled the sales proceeds from the counterfeit products with proceeds from legitimate sales"

"