Poor Rod Packaging

[Nick49]

I just wanted to give members a heads-up.  Every high end fishing rod I have ever purchased online came carefully shipped in a hard packing tube.  That is, until my most recent purchase through Amazon (supplier - Kingfisher, out of Montana I believe).  I received the broken St. Croix Avid rod in a cardboard box with no packing material.  Kingfisher claims it is the fault of Amazon, but I can't imagine Kingfisher sending the rod to Amazon or anyone else without a rod tube.  And I can't imagine Amazon transferring the rod from a reliable rod tube to a flimsy cardboard box.  Amazon obviously provided return postage and credited my account, but while Amazon and Kingfisher point their fingers at each other I will be sticking with more reliable suppliers like Tackle Warehouse.

[MN Fisher]

Two rods I ordered off Amazon were shipped by Evike - both came in hard tubes, well packed with bubble-wrap around the tips and handles to support the rod in the center of the tube. I'd check who the origin-shipper was.

[kayaking_kev]

You must of never got a rod shipped from Dicks Sporting Goods.

[OG Crankster]

Sounds like someone at Dick's shipped your rod. They are equally as bad.

[cookieman]

obviously no one on here orders rods from Dicks after reading all the bad things about them. If getting them for free maybe but if not cant feel sorry for broken rods. Shame on them that are buying rods frome them

[ike8120]

My KastKing rod from Amazon came in a heavy tube. Best tubes are from TW.

[FishinBuck07]

I am so glad I have an amazing local tackle shop that I can go and buy all my stuff!  

[new2BC4bass]

7 minutes ago, FishinBuck07 said:

I am so glad I have an amazing local tackle shop that I can go and buy all my stuff!  

Geeooodd I envy you!!!!!!!

[deadadrift89]

I've had a rod come like that when it said, "fulfilled by Amazon".  I had another that came in a tube from them when it was shipped by an actual sporting goods store. So now I just make sure it doesn't say fulfilled by Amazon. 

 

X3 on Dicks sporting goods, never again

[STBen1215]

If the company ships in cardboard, they are clueless lol. Only PVC for me. Best way hands down. 

[Scott F]

1 hour ago, STBen1215 said:

If the company ships in cardboard, they are clueless lol. Only PVC for me. Best way hands down. 

I just got 3 rods and reels from St. Croix. Came in a cardboard box with the air-filled plastic packing material. I’ve gotten rods only direct from St. Croix before in tubes, but obviously, the reel boxes weren’t going to fit in tubes, so everything came in one box. St. Croix isn’t clueless. If the box is sturdy and packed correctly, cardboard can work just fine. I’ve never seen or heard of any company using PVC tubes.

[STBen1215]

18 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I just got 3 rods and reels from St. Croix. Came in a cardboard box with the air-filled plastic packing material. I’ve gotten rods only direct from St. Croix before in tubes, but obviously, the reel boxes weren’t going to fit in tubes, so everything came in one box. St. Croix isn’t clueless. If the box is sturdy and packed correctly, cardboard can work just fine. I’ve never seen or heard of any company using PVC tubes.

You are correct that carboard can hold up well if properly done. But unfortunately packages see a lot of abuse and unfortunately cardboard falls to pvc in every aspect in terms of safeguarding contents. But it weighs more and is more expensive. But it comes down to the thickness and quality of packaging as cardboard is more than capable. Glad to hear you received yours safely!

Trust me as I use to work at Fedex as a loader in high school. Kistler use to sell and use PVC and I see quite a few companies still use PVC but cardboard is the overwhelming majority as they have business accounts and receive highly discounted rates and have insurance on them.

 

I have shipped many rods for travel and selling old rods (over 50) and only ever broken 2 which were both in cardboard tubes, which were reused tubes but when I switched to using PVC all of my packages arrive safe and sound. Will only ship in PVC as I don't have to insure packages as much now as I feel much safer about them arriving securely.

 

Tight lines!

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

20 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I just got 3 rods and reels from St. Croix. Came in a cardboard box with the air-filled plastic packing material. I’ve gotten rods only direct from St. Croix before in tubes, but obviously, the reel boxes weren’t going to fit in tubes, so everything came in one box. St. Croix isn’t clueless. If the box is sturdy and packed correctly, cardboard can work just fine. I’ve never seen or heard of any company using PVC tubes.

PVC is the best but not at all cost effective for big shippers. 

[STBen1215]

1 minute ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

PVC is the best but not at all cost effective for big shippers. 

100% agree with DVT. I was speaking in terms of package safety. But I agree it is more expensive but worth it to me as an individual.

 

BTW DVT what would it take to get a custom going?

[Fishes in trees]

trying to feel your pain, but just can't - I just can't make myself buy a rod over the internet.  I have to go to the store and touch and feel it.  I realize that this means that there are some brands of rods that I will never have access to.   Oh well, life goes on.   I understand that if I live somewhere that had much more limited access to fishing gear at brick & mortar stores than I do I'd probably change my tune.  But I don't so I'll live with my internet rod purchase phobia.

[Dangerfield]

Bought my Fury 703sf from Amazon.ca and it came packed from Dobyns in a sturdy tube with PVC caps. I'll likely buy my next one the same way considering they're wayy cheaper than anywhere else.

[browne762]

Last year I purchased a couple rods from Kingfisher through Amazon and they were shipped in super oversized boxes with no packaging inside, just the rod flopping around inside. One was even two boxes actually taped together to make a new longer box. I do see lots of bad reviews on Amazon about the condition of how the rods arrive and that has lead me to believe it is mostly on Amazon. I totally assume it is the people at Amazon not giving a care in the world and not knowing anything about what they are shipping. I have also had other items (not fishing related) shipped from Amazon in some real dumb ways.

 

I don't know how the rods are shipped to Amazon (the might even be drop shipped from the manufacture on the sellers behalf) but they might be shipped in a tube with a few rods at a time which would mean they don't have one rod per tube and then need to "figure it out" when they ship them to a customer. What is funny is Amazon probably has tubes that they sell on their own website that would work... 

 

Regardless, I have decided to no longer order any rods ever from Amazon after having one come busted, then the replacement come busted even worse then the first. The replacement was actually the one shipped in the "build a box" with them putting two boxes together. It was in the shape of a "L" when the USPS driver pulled it from the back of his truck.

 

I did just receive in a rod shipped in a tube from a reputable online seller known for having good shipping tubes. The tube was smashed and then ripped all the way around. Was just held together with about a half inch of cardboard. Rod totally exposed in the middle. The end of the tube was also hit so hard it was caved in and a 1/3 of the plastic cap was missing. That I blame on the shipping service not giving a crap about what they are transporting. 

[Hammer 4]

So, over the last 12 years or so, I've bought 12 rods from TW, all shipped in the usual cardboard tubes. None of them were damaged in any way. If these were to be damaged to the point of causing damage to the rod, someone would have to run over them with a USP truck or something.

[Steveo-1969]

On 12/8/2019 at 9:56 PM, STBen1215 said:

100% agree with DVT. I was speaking in terms of package safety. But I agree it is more expensive but worth it to me as an individual.

 

BTW DVT what would it take to get a custom going?

BTW if you order a custom rod from @Delaware Valley Tackle it will be shipped to you in a PVC tube...

[STBen1215]

10 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

BTW if you order a custom rod from @Delaware Valley Tackle it will be shipped to you in a PVC tube...

Sounds awesome!!!

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

So, over the last 12 years or so, I've bought 12 rods from TW, all shipped in the usual cardboard tubes. None of them were damaged in any way. If these were to be damaged to the point of causing damage to the rod, someone would have to run over them with a USP truck or something.

I ordered a Lew's TP1 Black back during spring from TW. On the day it was due to arrive I got a text update from UPS that it was re-routed back to the seller. I had a hunch that meant bad news. Oddly, it arrived the next day at my door. The tube had been guillotined just past the halfway point, then shoddily taped back together. It flopped when I picked it up and sure enough the rod was snapped in two. Naturally the rod was back ordered until late September, so that was that. They issued a refund and held the discount over for my next order. They also told me that they ship thousands of rods and a fair percentage get busted by the shipper. They weren't surprised or fazed. I ordered a rod during BF. It arrived safely and all is well.

[WRB]

Some shippers use a triangular folded cardboard tube that works if it's not crushed.

Tom

[Bird]

What a coincidence.....had a Tatula rod in my cart, Amazon. 

I'll hold off and explore other options. 

Thanks 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On 12/8/2019 at 9:56 PM, STBen1215 said:

100% agree with DVT. I was speaking in terms of package safety. But I agree it is more expensive but worth it to me as an individual.

 

BTW DVT what would it take to get a custom going?

Email me what you’re looking for and I’ll don you a quote. 

[Bluebasser86]

Cardboard TUBES are almost as safe as PVC. Cardboard BOXES are not. I've had a few I bought from online outdoor retailers that were primarily golf/hiking/biking/running/ect stores that had some fishing gear for really cheap. They shipped in long cardboard boxes and my stomach always turns when I see that because I know the odds of them being undamaged are not good.