A Glass Fanatic's Guide to Buying a New, Fiberglass Fly Rod

Few fly shops stock fiberglass. Like it or not, glass fanatics must be skilled at internet shopping, phone/email ordering, and dealing with the unexpected. Thankfully, the majority of sales occur without a hitch. Glass forum builders have an excellent track record. However, rods get lost/damaged in the mail, parts go out of stock, and a few, er, select builders have, er, um, cough..., a history of delivery issues. Unfortunately, the FFR admins can't ensure a problem transaction is made right. We recommend that you limit your risk before you buy. To that end we offer this buying guide.

Red Flags are indications the deal is going sour fast. Please take them seriously and act on them. When I hear, "Oh, but he's such a nice guy, I didn't want to cause him any trouble!", inevitably that buyer got burnt. Treat buying a new rod as business, because it is business.

The Buying Options

Easy

Order a factory built glass rod through your local fly shop. For most situations, this is by far the best option.

• Advantages: Many factory rods have warranties and repair services. Your local shop allows convenient payment in local currency. They deal with the problem if something goes wrong.
• Disadvantages: The selection is limited to large company factory rods, such as Scott, Orvis, Echo, Redington, T&T (all good rods, by the way). Your shop may need a few weeks to complete the transaction, depending on available stock, so don't wait until the last moment to order. A deposit may be required.

Almost Easy

Order a factory built glass rod from an online vendor.

• Advantages: A larger selection of factory rods are available online, including large companies selling direct and small companies selling on eBay. Most still have warranties and repair services. Dedicated internet vultures sometimes find awesome sales (and gloat about them on the forum).
• Disadvantages: You arrange the purchase and track the transaction. The online vendor may not accurately show available stock. Payment in full via credit card or PayPal will be required. You deal with problems.
• Dealing with Problems: If the rod does not arrive as scheduled, the seller should immediately send a replacement or a refund.

Usually Safe

Buy an in-stock, ready-to-fish rod from a custom rod builder.

• Advantages: Custom builders often have their standard rod line up available, as well as quality rods taken in trade. These rods can be delivered quickly.
• Disadvantages: You don't get to choose the hardware or colors. The builder may have a limited selection of rod blanks and models on hand.
• How To: Ask questions and request photos to ensure the rod meets your needs and expectations. Expect to pay in full before the rod is shipped.
• Caveats: Be fair to the builder. If you buy an in-stock rod, don't ask to return it because you don't like the thread color. Make sure the rod meets your needs before you buy.
• Dealing with Problems: If the rod was lost in transit, the seller should immediately send a replacement or a refund. While the builder isn't at fault for lost shipments, neither are you. Don't wait for a new rod to be built, request a refund. The builder will break even by collecting the postal insurance.

The Custom Build

Commission a rod to be built on an in-stock blank with in-stock parts.

• Advantages: You get the rod you want, built how you want. Rod builders have access to a wide variety of rod blanks and components from many different suppliers.
• Disadvantages: Some builders have a waiting list to complete before your rod. Delays occur for factors outside the builder's control, such as out of stock materials.
• How To: You should expect to pay a deposit when the rod is started, with the balance due on completion. Some builders request the balance when the build is started. Be very clear about the timeline and your expectations.
• Caveats: Don't expect the builder to recall every detail you outlined across seven phone calls and scattered texts. Send an e-mail or letter carefully detailing the rod you want!
• Dealing with Problems: If the rod was lost in transit or you didn't receive the rod you ordered - initiate a PayPal/credit card dispute FIRST! Then contact the builder by email (not by phone or text). If the seller does not respond in a timely manner, escalate the payment dispute to a claim for a refund. Don't accept waiting for a new rod to be built. If you still want that specific rod, place a new order with new payments. Yes, this is a PITA for all involved.
• Red Flags: The builder a) does not respond after the deposit/balance is paid, b) requests final payment but does not send a tracking number, or c) does not provide an email invoice for final payment.

The Advanced Custom Build

Place a deposit on a custom rod to be built with a blank and/or parts to be ordered (or ship a special rod blank to a builder).

• Advantages: The buyer can request a truly custom rod, including special order blanks or rod components. The builder goes through the headache of acquiring the parts.
• Disadvantages: Delays occur for factors outside the builder's control. Special orders may fall through. Because of the time between the deposit and final delivery, if an unsolvable problem arises your deposit may be lost.
• How To: Be very clear - in writing - about your expectations and timeline. Send an e-mail or letter carefully detailing the rod you want! Expect to pay a deposit to order/design the rod blank and other parts. Confirm the rod is complete before paying the balance. Request the builder invoice for the balance payment by either email or letter.
• Caveats: Extensive custom work takes time - don't be shocked if the originally promised delivery date slips. The vast majority of rod makers keep reasonable schedules and deliver in a timely fashion without a problem. If the worst happens, your deposit may be gone.
• Dealing with Problems and Red Flags: the same as for The Custom Build.

A Really Awful Idea

Payment in full for a rod to be completed, sorta, maybe, could be real soon now...

• Advantages: Absolutely none.
• Disadvantages: If you go this route anyway, understand your payment could disappear with no recourse. More than one apparently reliable builder has gone walkabout without warning. It sucks bigtime to feel like a fool while the builder ghosts you. If you do this anyway, don't expect sympathy from your humble forum owner.
• How To: Trust me - just don't.
• Dealing with problems: Sorry. When too much time passes between payment and non-delivery, your only recourse is small claims court.
• Red Flags: You are still reading about this option. Snap out of it!

Suggestions for a Smooth(er) Purchase

Communications

• Communicate early and often with your builder: Feel free to call and discuss your expectations with regards to rod action, feel, fittings, colors, and delivery. Once you have decided on the rod you want, follow up with a letter or e-mail detailing your order!
• Create a written trail for the rod purchase: Don't expect the builder to remember every detail of your build. You are not his only client. Make it easy on them, send a letter or e-mail detailing your order! Don't omit the business details. Ask for an email describing the build schedule, the deposit/payment schedule, the return policy, shipping details, and warranty. For a commissioned, custom rod, a signed letter of agreement is wise. Request the builder invoice you by email or letter.
• The legal importance of the email trail: Written letters, invoices, and emails are accepted as legal documents. They are the necessary proof required to win a PayPal/credit card dispute. NEVER do business by phone call and text message without a follow up email! Text messages will not suffice. A professional builder will understand and respond by email.

Payments

• If at all possible, use PayPal. PayPal Goods & Services is the standard for internet purchases. PayPal offers a superlative record keeping system for both buyers and sellers. Most importantly, PayPal G&S offers protections to both the buyer and seller. PayPal 'Friends & Family', Venmo, Zelle, ApplePay, and other gift payments do not include seller's/buyer's protections. Use PayPal Goods & Services!
• If something goes wrong initiate a PayPal dispute FIRST! Then contact the builder by email. Don't accept e-mails, promises, or excuses in lieu of your fly rod. File the PayPal dispute if the promised delivery is missed or red flags crop up. DO NOT WAIT!
• PayPal disputes must be initiated within 180 days of the payment date, not the delivery date. After the dispute is filed, the buyer and seller have only 20 days to settle or escalate the dispute to a claim. If the rod arrives before the dispute period ends, the dispute can be closed without consequence. Escalate the dispute to a claim if the builder still does not deliver within 20 days!
• Credit cards offer similar protections as PayPal, but many small builders are not able to accept them. Check your card provider's buyer protection plan and the time periods for filing payment disputes. Too many buyers lose out because they wait longer than their credit card company allows.
• Debit cards do not offer buyer's protections. Use PayPal or a credit card.
• Check or postal money order. If the deal goes bad a check or money order probably cannot be recovered. Be very certain before proceeding.
• Request a detailed invoice before paying. If the builder does not send an invoice by email or letter, request one. Request the builder sends a tracking number as soon as the rod ships, preferably by email. Please be courteous and send the builder an email when you receive the rod.

Delivery and Returns

• The Mail Order Rule The US Postal Code specifies that goods must be delivered within 30 days of payment, unless the buyer consents to a later delivery. Be very, very cautious about agreeing to a late delivery.
• Insist on insured delivery with a tracking number. If the builder wants to deliver in person, make sure you both sign a receipt. Do I still have to tell you to treat purchases as business?
• If the rod is damaged in transit File a payment dispute to ensure you are refunded, then notify your builder so they may file an insurance claim (the shipper receives the payment!) Unless a new rod is delivered within 20 days of the dispute, escalate the dispute to a claim.
• Like PayPal, shippers impose strict time limits on insurance claims, so file promptly.
• Ask your builder about his return policy, including any inspection time, acceptable reasons for a return, and what portion of the price is refundable if the rod is returned.

Dealing with Problems and Red Flags

• Anything less than a timely delivery must be reconciled promptly. As stated so often above, file a payment dispute before you notify the builder. The builder may not like it, but an active dispute provides leverage to ensure either a successful transaction or a refund.

Red Flags indicate something is very, very, wrong. Please take them seriously and act quickly. For most red flags, the best course of action is to end the transaction.

• The builder won't do business in writing, such as sending emails, letters, or invoices. If the builder only communicates by phone calls and text messages, including payment requests, there is no written trail. Don't. Go. There. Don't. Find another builder before you make any payments.
• Multiple requests for the same payment or rod build details at best means the builder sucks at book keeping. Once is a mistake. More often is a deal breaker. Ask for a refund and file a payment dispute if they won't comply.
• Multiple delays starting the rod build are a bad sign. A professional builder delivers on schedule, or offers a refund. If a builder gives multiple excuses for multiple delays, file a payment dispute and recover your deposit. Watch the PayPal/credit card dispute filing windows.
• The builder stopped communicating after a payment is the surest sign of a deal gone irreconcilably bad. File a dispute and escalate it to a claim as soon as possible! Then find a new builder and don't look back.
• If the builder lies - kill the deal For instance, the builder invoices the rod, but never sends a tracking number. When asked, you are told the rod is not actually ready to ship as promised. File a payment dispute and escalate it to a claim as soon as possible. There are too many good, honest builders out there. Don't bend over for the jerks.

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