New or second hand
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mikench
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markcw
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Golden Eagle
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About 25 years.
It really hasn’t changed as much as you might think.
And YouTube and forums make learning easy for the thinking angler.
Despite being in overall decline the sport is quite healthy in many ways!
It really hasn’t changed as much as you might think.
And YouTube and forums make learning easy for the thinking angler.
Despite being in overall decline the sport is quite healthy in many ways!
I think certain genres of the sport are in growth, big fish fishing but in general yes I agree its long past its best.
Maybe in 25 years its not mate, a long time to me is considerably longer than that, doh!
mg: the internet has changed the world completely, including fishing. What once took weeks of research we can now do on the tap of a keyboard and click of a mouse, the problem we have now is over complicating due to information overload. My opinion anyway.
Golden Eagle
Well-known member
Every great angler, and indeed most great sportsmen, repeat the mantra.......keep it simple.
Generally I don't mind new or 2nd hand - especially if I know the history of the item or the person selling it. But with a HIGH grade pole (something relatively delicate and perhaps even brittle) it's new only. Simply because I really would worry about how it had been handled etc. The owner may say it has been looked after but there's looked after and looked after. My idea of good condition may be miles away from theirs. I just don't want to take the risk and I'm prepared to pay for that peace of mind..
See some horrors on ebay recently listed as mint ,unused,like new. When you look at the photos its a different story. I don't know if people don't look at the photos or not but many times I wonder when I see the price its realised. I do feel sorry for the buyers but they should look closely at the photos.It's a crazy world everyone wants top dollar for sometimes well used rubbish.
rich66
Well-known member
Certainly people do, I’ve also noticed a lot more of 2nd hand tackle dealers on eBay, who know nothing of the tackles history. Especially when it comes to rods I’d stay well clear of.
sam vimes
Well-known member
Just to counter the negativity about sellers a touch, there a plenty of idiot, or just plain deceitful, buyers out there. I've seen people claiming "fake" on gear that patently isn't, "it's been broken" on rods that have different length sections (especially tips) from new, and "it's been modified" on gear that went through various revisions through the product cycle.
On the upside, for those that know what they are looking at, such plonkers can disuade many buyers. You can pick up some bargains due to their interference. Unfortunate for a seller that doesn't know better than to believe the doom mongers.
However, the reality for me is that I look at, and rule out buying, the vast majority of second hand gear on ebay. I can never believe the number of folks that lay out, or stand up, rods/poles on concrete, bricks or paving. That alone puts me right off. If a seller is prepared to do that to a rod when trying to sell it, just how shabbily was it treated on the bank? The stuff I do buy is usually obscure or under-rated (in my opinion) stuff that few others value or bid on.
On the upside, for those that know what they are looking at, such plonkers can disuade many buyers. You can pick up some bargains due to their interference. Unfortunate for a seller that doesn't know better than to believe the doom mongers.
However, the reality for me is that I look at, and rule out buying, the vast majority of second hand gear on ebay. I can never believe the number of folks that lay out, or stand up, rods/poles on concrete, bricks or paving. That alone puts me right off. If a seller is prepared to do that to a rod when trying to sell it, just how shabbily was it treated on the bank? The stuff I do buy is usually obscure or under-rated (in my opinion) stuff that few others value or bid on.
markcw
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When i sell any tackle it is done face to face, that way the person buying it can see the item, and in doing that there are no comebacks on myself by someone saying it was broken or cracked or not as described, I have sold to a couple of members on here, also keep trying to get @Mikench to try pole fishing, but to no avail, A lot of tackle i want to move on geberally goes to people i know or a friend of a friend. The same principal applies when i buy 2nd hand, I took a gamble on the job lot i bought because i knew there were 2 stradic reels and a couple of poles plus the interlastic topkits were in it, The topkits alone were worth what i paid for the job lot, As it is i am very pleased with what i got, and my friend who bought the other job lot is equally as pleased with his buy.
I think it's time for me to give my two penneth on the above. I think the smart person knows exactly what they are looking for, if you're not sure what you're buying then it's probably a good idea not to go second-hand. The option of the professional advice you get from the tackle shop and the ability to look at other manufacturers versions of the equipment you're looking at/for, would (or should) trump price.
I'm not exactly an expert but I do know that ebay/PayPal has strict rules on the way that you advertise/describe the equipment. I'm pretty sure if you have advertised something at mint and it is blatantly obvious that it isn't they are not in breach of the sites rules. PayPal and eBay seem to 'eerr' on the side of consumer/buyer.
My lad tells me he's bought a few things that haven't turned out to be as good as what he thought they would be but he's had some bargains! However so balance I have to say that I'm talking about somebody else's experiences and I might be getting the 'gamblers argument'. You know the guy where they only tell you when they won!
I've used eBay to pick up quite a few things some old stick floats that was discontinued for example and others bits and bobs like that, which are precious to me. However may not if been a bargain but I was/am happy.
I'm not exactly an expert but I do know that ebay/PayPal has strict rules on the way that you advertise/describe the equipment. I'm pretty sure if you have advertised something at mint and it is blatantly obvious that it isn't they are not in breach of the sites rules. PayPal and eBay seem to 'eerr' on the side of consumer/buyer.
My lad tells me he's bought a few things that haven't turned out to be as good as what he thought they would be but he's had some bargains! However so balance I have to say that I'm talking about somebody else's experiences and I might be getting the 'gamblers argument'. You know the guy where they only tell you when they won!
I've used eBay to pick up quite a few things some old stick floats that was discontinued for example and others bits and bobs like that, which are precious to me. However may not if been a bargain but I was/am happy.
Keith M
Well-known member
Many modern rods are just re-hashes of older rods with slight differences in their build just to make them a little different or a little cheaper to make.
Greys, Drennan and a lot of other rod makers have been guilty of this in the past.
For example the older versions of the Drennan Tench float rods and the original versions of the Greys Prodigy rods have both been better than their more recent versions, and anyone who; like me; has owned both versions is likely to be aware of this.
If you can be sure that the current owner has looked after a rod then it is often well worth buying the older version which hasn’t just been changed just for the sake of making it different in order to get the average Angler to spend their cash.
Of course there are exceptions and there are still some excellent brand new rods out there; and I often buy new or improved rods, but I am also beware of rods that have been changed just for the sake of making them a newer version, because it has often resulted in a reduced quality.
As has already been said; a good rod is still a good rod even after it’s newer model (but not necessarily a better model) has been released.
Keith
Greys, Drennan and a lot of other rod makers have been guilty of this in the past.
For example the older versions of the Drennan Tench float rods and the original versions of the Greys Prodigy rods have both been better than their more recent versions, and anyone who; like me; has owned both versions is likely to be aware of this.
If you can be sure that the current owner has looked after a rod then it is often well worth buying the older version which hasn’t just been changed just for the sake of making it different in order to get the average Angler to spend their cash.
Of course there are exceptions and there are still some excellent brand new rods out there; and I often buy new or improved rods, but I am also beware of rods that have been changed just for the sake of making them a newer version, because it has often resulted in a reduced quality.
As has already been said; a good rod is still a good rod even after it’s newer model (but not necessarily a better model) has been released.
Keith
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terry m
Well-known member
I will always buy new, unless I specifically want something that is no longer in production, having said that, I rarely buy large items - rods, reels etc, as what I have more than suffices.
The premise that "......you can pick it up for a fraction of the price from your local "tackle tart" who must have the this years model."
... is not reality. Not in my part of the world. I do not know one single angler that fits this image. I accept there may be some out there, but they are nowhere near as common as some would like you to believe.
The premise that "......you can pick it up for a fraction of the price from your local "tackle tart" who must have the this years model."
... is not reality. Not in my part of the world. I do not know one single angler that fits this image. I accept there may be some out there, but they are nowhere near as common as some would like you to believe.
It may not be reality if everyone jumped on that bandwagon and possibly an exaggeration however I can assure you the people who buy the lastest kit for the sake of it do exist.
The message was they exist for example
DAIWA TOURNAMENT FEEDER ROD 12-13 FT ONLY USED ONCE | eBay
sam vimes
Well-known member
I suspect that others will believe that I'm as close to being that bloke as anyone. However, there are a couple of big issues. I don't actually want the newest stuff, I want what I think is the best stuff. When it appeared on the market is largely irrelevant to me, provided it's not been hammered. Another snag is that I very rarely sell anything. When I do, it's because I have something better for whatever niche, the niche is no longer needed, I have duplicates, or someone I know wants/needs it more than I do. I often won't hammer folks I know on price, but I try to avoid giving stuff away.
The whole concept of "tackle tarts" selling cheap is just a tired, lazy cliche. If you are going to find new gear at bargain prices, it's usually from unfortunates that overspend, often on credit, on impulse purchases, only to find that they can't feed themselves at the first sign of an unexpected bill.
Older fellas, with few pressing financial concerns and a distinct lack of willingness to embroil themselves with ebay, are the biggest source of second hand bargains I've encountered. Chances are that they've had the finances to buy whatever they wanted. They don't particularly need the money, they just want things gone.
How can you possibly tell from an ebay advert? Who knows what the circumstances are.
The only thing you can tell is that it's stated as being used once. However, as the pictures show a manky, uncleaned handle, I'd take that with a pinch of salt. There are three very obvious possibilities, a) the bloke didn't like the rod. b) the bloke has had an unexpected bill. c) the bloke has had a big change in personal circumstances, maybe even gave up fishing entirely.
Just because someone sells something, it doesn't mean that they bought it for the sake of it.
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I've bought many rods and reels second-hand, mainly because the gear I tend to like went out of production long ago. If you're careful, and a bit of luck helps, you can get what you want and at a decent price, although that gets harder as availability reduces and more people chase items.
What people class as "good" condition is pretty variable. There are those who treat their rods and reels as mere tools, which, since they paid for them, is their prerogative, and something to be used til a replacement is called for. And there are those who like to keep their stuff pristine for as long as possible - for ever, ideally - and treat it accordingly, cleaning rods, making sure no grit enters joints etc, maintaining reels. Each to their own. But I'm in the second group, and I want to buy second-hand stuff from somebody similar.
What people class as "good" condition is pretty variable. There are those who treat their rods and reels as mere tools, which, since they paid for them, is their prerogative, and something to be used til a replacement is called for. And there are those who like to keep their stuff pristine for as long as possible - for ever, ideally - and treat it accordingly, cleaning rods, making sure no grit enters joints etc, maintaining reels. Each to their own. But I'm in the second group, and I want to buy second-hand stuff from somebody similar.