Pros and cons of mail order
I get lots of junk mail every day and most of it goes straight in the
bin.
I also receive at least one fishing tackle catalogue every week, sometimes
two or three in a week!
Having bought a great deal of fishing tackle from these catologues over
the years, my conscience sometimes troubles me when I consider obtaining
tackle this way. Am I harming the chances of the owners of the small tackle
shops in making a living?
Of course, several of the mail order catalogues are issued by tackle retailers,
though these are often big businesses with genuine tackle shops backing
them.
Anything bought from mail order outlets does not give you the opportunity
to personally examine the gear before you buy, or benefit from the advice
of one of the really knowlegeable tackle shop owners.
On the other hand, small shop owners cannot possibly offer some of the
cut price bargains that mail order outlets offer you.
The small shops cannot buy the stuff for the price that big firms sell
it at due to bulk buying and trade conacts.
Most of the catalogues offer tackle at a wide range of prices including
rods and reels at such high prices that you would, in my opinion, be foolish
to buy them.
They also offer great bargains in cheaper gear though and this is a very
welcome trend.
Over the years I have come to know the good and the bad things about most
of the mail order firms.
For instance, I am very hesitant to buy from the surprising number of
firms that tell you to allow 21 days (sometimes 28 days) for delivery.
It doesn’t have to be like that because some firms are amazingly
efficient at fast and reliable delivery dates.
My last purchase from a catalogue was some items of fishing tackle that
I oedered by telephone one afternoon and it arrived early the next morning.
What a contrast to my purchases of tackle when I was a young man.
Then, you paid by installments over the counter of a tackle shop and you
did not receive the goods until you had paid the last installment.
How much better it is now that I pay by debit card, because I will noy
get myself into debt of any kind.