eBay Experiences

[Midnight Splash]

I see there are some very good deals on "new" reels from businesses on eBay.  What has your experiences been with buying reels sold as a new item on Ebay?  I am just a little weary that they might be refurbished.  When I buy a reel I want to make sure its brand new. Im just trying to decide if a 25% off discount is worth the risk.

[Grey Wolf]

I 've bought a couple high end reels off of e-bay  , just make sure their approval rating is 97 % and higher.

[BassThumb]

If they have lots of sales, an excellent feedback rating, and a return policy, you have more to gain than you have to lose.

I buy a lot of fishing gear on eBay, and I've only been upset with one transaction. That was two weeks ago, on a 100 pack of #2 Mustad Triple Grips that I bought for $24. I like to use the TG on spoons and as the back hook on cranks. These were some "Acme" brand knockoff and the dullest hooks I've ever seen. I can tell they were knockoffs because, among other things, they were inline trebles and real TGs are not. So I bitched at the seller and told him he was a scammer because I was 100% sure, and he tried to tell me they were damaged in shipping and that's why blah, blah, blah. I wasn't hearing it, so he refunded my money plus return shipping and told me to return them, just so I wouldn't leave a terrible feedback I assume, which I never even had to mention. These sellers are all about protecting their feedback rating, so if you're not happy, let them know and they'll make it right.

I like buying from eBay because these sellers are the modern version of the "Mom and Pop" store, and are always undercutting the prices of the major retailers.

[deaknh03]

Like grey wolf said, check their feedback rating. I have bought and sold a lot of stuff on ebay, and if the item turns out to be not as described or if I have not received the item, I have gotten ebay to refund me thru the seller, every time. If you have a doubt, read the actual feedback left from other buyers.

[Goose52]

x4 to all that was advised above. I've bought new and used reels from eBay with no problems so far. On the new reels, I've bought from established "e-tailers" that have both web sites and eBay sales.

There are some really good deals on Curados in particular on eBay - no reason to buy one at full retail...

[MNGeorge]

X5 from me also...never had a bad experience on Ebay, but I always check to see they have a good history.

[skunked_again]

ive never had a problem regardless of new or used gear.

[AndyPlaysDrums]

There should be a brand new (older model) Accurist PT at my door when I get home tonight, that I won on Tuesday night for $44! If it is indeed as new as stated, then I'll have nothing but great to say about this experience (and will probably go for another!).

[tholmes]

I've never had any problems either, and I've bought quite a bit of fishing stuff on e-bay.

Only once did I "break the rules". I placed a $20 bid on a reel that was listed as "Abu Ambassadeur reel". The description said only "silver and black" and there were no pictures. The seller had 0 feedback, but, for some reason, I took a chance. I ended up winning the auction for my opening bid and,a few days later, I got a MINT condition 5500 C3 in the mail for a total outlay of $24.50!

Tom

[b.Lee]

I buy a lot from ebay, only had one issue buying a used shimano, they guy practically threw it in the sand or something because when it got to me, it was dirty. I will tend to buy new things on eBay, and it is great for finding rare or hard to find items in the U.S.

[Midnight Splash]

Thanks for the response.  I will give it a shot.  Now the hard decision.  Curado CU50E or Pflueger Patriarch64?  :-/

[Stasher1]

I buy just about all of my reels, all of my fly rods, and alot of my line on ebay. The only problem I've ever had was a brand new Citica 200e that had a problem with the drag. I wound up selling it locally (full disclosure and buyer looked it over in person) and recovered all of my money.

Casting and spinning rods I buy locally, along with most of my lures. I like to handle them before I drop the cash.

[northern basser]

I 've bought a couple high end reels off of e-bay , just make sure their approval rating is 97 % and higher.

Agreed,  but check their actual feedback history.  If it is some who doesn't sell 5,000 things a year,  even a couple of negative  feedbacks can make them dip into the mid to low 90 percentile range.  Sometimes peoples F.B. that they give to sellers is B.S.  Click on their username and check for the negative comments.  If it is truly a bad seller,  a pattern will be apparent w/ the F.B.

[ChiCityBasser]

I've made over 300 purchases on ebay and most have been fishing gear. There are some great deals to be had on both new and used gear and never had a problem with any seller. As others have said check the feedback on the seller as they want to keep selling and keep there feedback high and ask questions if you aren't sure of something. I got my Kistler 7' Mag TS off ebay for $75 including shipping. It was used but in mint condition. There are some deals to be had and most are worth checking out.

[von]

Bought more than my share of equipment off ebay, a lot of good deals to be had.

Every now and then you get a bad transaction.  If the transaction doesn't go well, you can always file a claim with ebay and they'll get your money back.

[jamarkwe]

just bought two new Citicas for 185 shipped on Friday and will be at me door on Monday....

Check out - ohyasales

[bear7625]

I bought 4 Quantums from the same seller with no problem. I bought one for my son that broke 1st time fishing. The seller paid to have it shipped back and replaced with better reel.

[Aluma-Bass]

Check out - ohyasales

thats where i got my curado from...i use ebay alot!! good deals!!

[ib_of_the_damned]

I have had good experiences with purchasing fishing equipment from lures to reels on ebay.  There are great deals to be had if you know where to look, I recently got a 2009 Revo SX for $100.  You just have to look at the feedback score, I rarely buy anything from a seller with less than 98%.  If you decide to purchase something from a seller with a lower feedback score look at all the negative feedback they have.  I have noticed that most of the negative feedback for sellers are from impatient a**holes or people that ordered the wrong item and blame the seller.  Most of the time the ship times are accurate.  Also another tidbit of advice I can give is that you look for out of state sellers so you dont have to pay the tax.  Thats what I do unless its something I really want thats only in my state.

[webertime]

I've had great luck with fishing stuff:

Abu 5501 C3 AND Citica B (spare cranking reel) for $45, just some cleaning/lubing and they were perfect.

$200+ Quantum PT Swimbait rod for $50

2 Jointed Jitterbugs and a Sputterbuzz, all were black and older (higher quality) models, for $10

I bought a used roadbike off ebay though that was absolutely trashed, I went round and round with the seller and got nowhere.  I was a pro-mechanic for a while so it was nothing I couldn't fix, it was just not advertised as needing 4 hours worth of work to make it ridable. 

I have no problem with ebay as long as the seller has a good rep and if it's used I need to be able to handle any mechanical issues that may come with it.  If I'm comfortable rebuilding a used reel/bike/etc. I'll bid.

[repper]

go for it And get the Curado 50

[rw001]

I am about to use up my Paypal limit (10,000.00) on buying on ebay.  Anybody have this problem and what route is best to go.