Rod/reel in person or online?

[gim]

I commented last week on how I refuse to buy certain items online in another thread but decided to start another one instead.

 

I prefer to buy certain items in person simply because I like to pick it up, touch it, and see how it feels in my hand.  Additionally, I like to try on clothes and shoes in person before I make a purchase to make sure it fits and its comfortable.  A lure is a completely different item on this subject.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy lures or tackle online if I had to.

 

Obviously there are a lot of people who wouldn't even think twice about buying something like a fishing rod online but there also seems to be a fair amount of in-person buyers still out there too.  I also understand that a fair amount of people simply do not live within geographic proximity to a retailer either, so they have to buy these items online and have them delivered.

 

Are you willing to buy something like a rod or reel online without holding it?

[Randy Price]

To answer your question no.  I'm like you I prefer to touch/examine the actual item that I'm going to purchase.  

[Eric 26]

Although I prefer to feel/see the rod in person I purchased 2 Okuma rods during the Tackle Warehouse Black Friday sale based solely on the recommendations/reviews written on here as no one near me carried the rod lines I was interested in. I’m glad I did.

[swhit140]

I've purchased a couple rods online from TW and didn't like the rod once I had it in hand. They have simple/easy return option.

[InfantryMP]

I just ordered a Duckett rod without ever holding it. I like Duckett rods, and I wanted to give it a try. I do not see anything wrong with it. If you do not like it when you get it, then return it for something different. 

 

My only local tackle store does not carry anything but the Wheeler series Duckett rods, so there was no way for me to hold one locally. However, I did hold the Wheeler series rods before I bought them. I have two of them.

[MacJig]

I only have a Sportsman's Warehouse around here. So, their rod selection is limited. If I wanted to buy a rod and it wasn't in stock at the warehouse then I would buy it online. But I typically don't like doing that!

[A-Jay]

I totally get the pre-purchase rod & reel 'hands on' mentality.

Makes sense. 

It's just really not an option for me as I reside in an area where there's 

almost no venders of quality bass tackle available to me.

The few local shops cater almost exclusively to the walleye anglers, ice fisherman and Great Lakes big water trollers for Trout & Salmonids. 

So I've needed to 'learn' how to buy on line.

It's been a process and I can admit that I whiffed a few times in the beginning.

But I am decidedly more savvy these days, which has payed off.

However, what this area may lack in my specific type of tackle availability and selection,

it seems to make up for in other ways.

#savinggrace

A-Jay

 

[bulldog1935]

Been mail ordering (mostly from Japan) for most of 20 years and have never gone wrong. 

I haven't looked at a rod in a store since the 90s. 

You can't cast a rod in a store - you can hold it and shake it.  Knowing what you need and how to evaluate rods and tapers on paper is more important. 

[Jaderose]

I've purchased exactly one rod online.  I HATED it.  There was absolutely nothing wrong it, I just didn't like the feel of it, the action of it, or really anything about it.  That mistake will not be made again.

[zpelletier]

I prefer to buy everything in person. But that’s a luxury I don’t have. There’s no tackle stores except for one that is exclusively fly fishing. Even the big box stores around here have horrible selection. 
 

The rise of internet shopping has made it difficult to find most things in stores

[JustJames]

If I can buy in person I would but if it is a lot cheaper I don’t mind online either. The reel is one I have confidence in buying online from here or overseas even I’ve never seen or touch in person. I always check and make sure the reel has spec I want.
Rod on the other hand, I got disappointed a few times from buying online. Mostly from brand that I never have experienced before. I always check and compare before buying but too many factors of the rod to be considered, like comfort of reel seat/trigger, the overall weight, too too heavy, too stiff, too soft. I always stay with the brand I trust but even that still got some bad taste from time to time. I think I have 3-4 rods that I buy online and hardly use them plus some 4-5 that I sold pretty cheap after I got them. 

[Pogues2300]

I order rods and reels online after I read many reviews, watch videos, then bug you fine folks on this site for your opinions. So far so good. Have sold some off not because they didn’t perform well, but because I’m upgrading and fine tuning my preferences.

[Bankc]

I prefer to buy in person.  That's not always possible, however.  Especially the last few years.  But I have bought quite a few online, and more than half were destroyed in shipping on the first attempt.  There have been a few knit-picky problems with some of those rods.  Things that I would have seen in store and probably picked up a different one over.  But nothing that was so bad that I wanted to send them back.  

 

So I try to avoid it.  Just like clothes.  But it's not always an option.  Just make sure they have free returns and will pay the return shipping if something goes wrong.  

[jbsoonerfan]

I only purchase online. I couldn't tell you the last time I bought a fishing related item in store. 

[Wprich]

I upgraded all my rods/reels last year and there are no shops around me that sell mid and high end gear to go get my hands on.  As a result I had to buy all the items online.  I did lots of research prior on forums like bassresource and others but can admit 2 of the rods I didn't like.  It was a easy return process that only costed me $7 on each return but I know if I had gotten to hold them in hand it would have saved me the hassle of returning them.

[Bankbeater]

In person. You can read reviews, look at pics, and buy online and still get a dud. I want to buy the reel or rod that I am holding in my hand at the time. 

[LonnieP]

Buying online is my only option. I’m a little over a hour away from BPS but there selection is very limited . I do my research before I buy and I’ve never been disappointed with any online purchase.

[Skunkmaster-k]

In person for sure. 

[Bird]

Live in a rural area so online mostly.

I did make the 90 minute drive to the city recently and grabbed a Lew's custom at BPS.

 

Now comes the good news.

A new tackle shop opened 35 minutes north of here and the owner is an avid bass fisherman.

He carries a large selection of Dobyns, st croix and many others so I definitely prefer to support locally and small business.....next purchase will be HANDS ON.

[flyfisher]

I'll buy wherever but usually online.  I prefer to cast fly rods before purchasing but generally I know what I want and how specific manufacturers rods perform based on previous experience.  If it doesn't work out, I pay a few bucks to ship it back, not really a big deal in the long run to save me a bunch of time.

[avid]

I have no hesitation buying a rod or reel online   Keep in mind that I’ve been fishing for nearly sixty years and pretty much know what a rod will feel like just by knowing the rod company and model info 

[Jmilburn76]

I buy 95% of my fishing stuff online. 

[QED]

Most local sporting goods/tackle stores don't stock high end stuff and forget about finding any JDM specific stuff in US stores, so yes - internet ordered stuff only.

[NorthernBasser]

26 minutes ago, Jmilburn76 said:

I buy 95% of my fishing stuff online. 

Same here. Ideally I'd like to feel rods first, but that's usually easier said than done. I'll try to gather as much information about a rod online before I order. I'm usually happy with my purchase. I have sent a few back, but that's because they either had a bend in the blank or had guides that weren't aligned. I'm a tad OCD like that. 

[Mat_ski]

I would like to buy in person, but no shop near me offers the selection of online retailers. Return process is super simple. Sometimes I order couple of rods, put reel on, make few casts in my yard and decide which one to keep. Can’t do that in the store and shaking or bending the rod only gets you so far. 
it also cheaper to buy online thanks to discounts and I don’t have to spend money on gas.