Fishing Supplies Websites - 'In Stock'

[Maceo]

With my 50th birthday coming along this month, along with the colder and muddier weather, I thought I'd treat myself to a new fishing jacket and pair of boots.

After I decided which ones I wanted, I looked around the various fishing sites to find the best prices and ordered them up.

The jacket was shown as 'in stock', but having ordered it on 30th August, I'm still waiting delivery. They've told me they're waiting delivery from ESP and the dellivery should be arriving "any day now" and they'll send it on when it arrives. Took the blasted money right away though!

I ordered the boots from one site, but got a message back saying they were 'out of stock'. Ordered them from a second site, which took my money and then said in the confirmation e-mail 'out of stock - delivery expected 29th October'. So I had to ring up and cancel that. I can't keep going down to the riverbank in my street shoes until November!

I finally managed to get them from a third site which also claimed 'in stock', but when I rang up, the guy had to go and check whether he had them or not and call me back.

It seems a lot of these sites advertise stuff quite happily that they haven't got available to sell. I don't know why they don't update their sites a bit more. It would stop a lot of frustration and grinding of teeth.

By the way, the jacket thing I got is the ESP digital camo waterproof hoody and the boots are TF Gear X-Tuff fishing boots (bargain at £30 reduced from £60).

Please don't tell me they're rubbish now I've spent so much energy in getting hold of them! They look good in the photos anyway.

The boots even have a little picture of fish on the tongue. That's good. Now that I'm getting so old, if I have an attack of amnesia on the bank and forget what I'm doing there I can always look at my boots and be reminded that I'm fishing. :-)

[Rob M]

That annoys me too, when I've ordered something online and I get the e-mail saying 2-3 weeks wait. I've often wondered if that's illegal to do that. If I get that e-mail or telephone call now, I immediately cancel the order and go elsewhere. When i pay for next day delivery I expect the following day, not week!

[Simon N]

Ive Actually Just Got Myself A Set Of Those Boots Directly From Fishtec. Used Them Once In The Rain And The Grip Was Fantastic. So Far No Problems. They Were Completely Waterproof.

[Maddison_Twatter]

Another reason to use your local tackle shop

[Maceo]

Good news about the boots Simon, I'm looking forward to trying them out when they arrive. Looking at the weather forecast I'm looking at next Tuesday for my next session when the wind dies down a bit. Hopefully they should be here by then.

Maddison - you're right about using the local tackle shop, of course. I do try to use mine as much as possible because I'd hate to lose the opportunity to buy fresh bait etc right on my doorstep. The problem is, that when it comes to bigger purchases, they're pretty expensive compared to the websites. I must confess I find it a bit daunting to spend too much time in there, fingering the goods and seeing what's what. There are usually a cliquey gang of old boys up by the counter chatting and watching what you're doing. I feel a bit intimidated to ask questions which might appear 'stupid' or 'amateur' in that situation. I especially don't like taking things off the shelves and having a close look at them if I'm not going to eventually buy something!

I went to a big outdoors type supermarket place recently, which had a load of fishing gear for sale and those anonymous surroundings meant I could have a really good examination of things, unzip pockets, try out the weight of carrying seat boxes, try winding reels etc without withering under the gaze of a bunch of grizzled old carpers!

[Maddison_Twatter]

Your right about that Maceo , they can be very intimidating places. Its best to have a good idea of what you want before you go in, otherwise as my Mrs has found out you will spend hours in there.
I have become quite comfortable in my local now and will not hesitate to ask for assistance if needed, at the end of the day its in their interest to be friendly and helpful.
As for prices, yes they can be expensive so I tend to shop around the 3 or 4 surrounding tackle shops as well looking for offers and deals ect but I understand not everyone has this option.
I buy terminal tackle such as swivels and beads on line as you can buy them in bulk, which works out miles cheaper than the tackle shops.

[scottish_and_mental]

As far as im aware , when i used to take orders by card i wasn't allowed to actually take the money for the goods untill the said goods were packed for dispatch .G.A.C did the same to me when i ordered my flotation suit and had i not phoned to ask them where it was id probably have waited 10 days for my 24hr delivery .. as it happens i waited 4 days .
To date Veals mail order have probably been the most consistent and ive never had a single problem

I hope you enjoy your gear ...when you finally get to wear it

[PetayPan10]

Bought myself a box and some line, exactly the same has happened to me. Not in stock waiting on their supplier, been 5 days now.

Peter

[the pyromaniac]

Over here it's considered mail fraud if you don't have something in stock, advertise that you do, and take the money immediately. Mail fraud is a serious crime, with similar penalties to pulling a gun on a clerk in a gas station and demanding money.

[Maceo]

I sincerely wish it was the same here. If they'd said at the beginning it was going to take so long I would have ordered these things somewhere else.

I ordered that jacket on 30th August. Two weeks + later, still nothing. They told me '3-5 working days' two weeks ago and then 'any day now' a week ago. But nada. I just sent them a strong e-mail telling them I'm pretty fed up. This was ordered from 'Fishing Warehouse'. If it was off e-bay I'd give them negative feedback right away.

No sign of the boots either. They claim to have sent them 1st class on Friday by Royal Mail. Nothing. I'm going to give it another hour or so today and then ring them again. This was from 'Nailors Fishing'.

What a load of rubbish. I'm due to go out tomorrow for a little session down on the river and looks like it's going to have to be in the street shoes and freezing cold!

If I order anything else from these sites that costs more than £10, I'm going to A) ring and order it rather than order it online to check they actually have it or B) go and get it from a tackle shop instead as was suggested earlier in this thread.