It’s probably fair to say that buying fishing gear online is very much the in thing these days, with the masses having realised that the huge tackle ranges and lowest UK prices make for a pretty unbeatable deal. At the same time however, there’s no disputing the way in which not all online fishing tackle retailers are cut from the same cloth and therefore buying experiences can differ quite drastically. Some swear they couldn’t be happier while others are left wishing they’d stuck with the High Street, so what exactly is it that makes the difference?
Well, the good news is that it’s actually pretty easy to spot a quality retailer when you see one in order to make sure you make the right choice the first time. And once you’ve found yourself a comprehensive retailer you can trust, all future purchases can be made with total confidence and peace of mind.
Here’s a quick look at the primary boxes you should be looking to tick when buying fishing gear online:
1 – Independence
First of all, in order to ensure you’re able to access the largest possible range and the most objective information possible, it’s important to shop with an independent retailer only. The reason being that when a fishing tackle retailer is tied to one, two or perhaps even a handful of brands by way of contractual obligations, there’s really no way of knowing whether the advice they offer is impartial. Chances are it will be at least partially swayed by their own brand bias, so it’s a good idea to only ever buy gear from those with no such dependence. Independent retailers usually make it pretty clear that they have no affiliations, but there’s no harm in asking in any case.
2 – Direct Sellers
Though it’s not the most common thing to come across, there are many instances these days when an apparently fishing retailer isn’t in fact a retailer at all. Instead, what they are is something of a middleman who takes the orders, sends them off to the actual retailer and then keeps a chunk of money by way of commission. This in turn presents several problems for the buyer, which include longer order processing times, the inability to ask the supplier for information directly and higher prices to boot. These are pretty rare when held in comparison to genuine retailers, but should still be watched out for at all times.
3 – Genuine Specialism
There’s a big difference between a 100% dedicated fishing retailer and another retailer that also sells fishing gear along with other bits and pieces. This isn’t to say that the former of the two is fundamentally flawed outright, but at the same time it just makes sense to buy specialist gear from a dedicated specialist. This is the kind of thing that should be pretty obvious from the moment you hit their website, but feel free to take a little time out to look around if you’re unsure as to where their specialism lies.
4 – Price Promises
These days, there’s really only one plausible reason as to why any seller of anything at all would be unwilling to offer a full guarantee of the lowest price in the UK – it’s not the lowest price in the UK. This has become less of a badge-of-honour and more of a fundamental staple the likes of which should be looked for before going any further. In its absence, chances are you could get a better deal elsewhere and therefore probably should.
5 – Expert Advice
Before going ahead with a purchase…particularly a large one…take time out to look into the various lines of contact available should you wish to get in touch with the seller. This is important as while there will always be those that operate a little like fishing gear vending machines, others are more than happy to offer their own support and guidance on every area of the subject from top to bottom. It’s always nice to know you’re dealing with those who share your passion, so be sure to vie for the latter.
6 – Firm Feedback
Last but not least, there’s nothing in the world that speaks more highly for any online retailer these days than the glowing feedback of the clients and customers they’ve served before. Again, it should be pretty clear as to whether or not they have an abundance of feedback to share via their own website, but if this is not the case it’s as simple as carrying out a quick web search to find out the truth.