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Couriers

Alec Hague

Alec Hague

Senior Member & Supporter
Hi guys. Planning to offer for sale most of my rod collection. I plan to offer to travel for delivery/meet for free say 60 miles from home in mid Essex. Not sent anything long using couriers of late and agree with most comments I read. Has anyone used ebay lately and their own delivery service?. Do they for example take rods of 150cm plus? Looking at their site 61cm seems the longest they do. If so then of course collection only seems the way to go.
 
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Last time I sent a rod it cost about £28 to send a 12ft with Parcelforce, was over a year ago and had such a painful experience with them I vowed to never bother again. IMO Alec I would list on here with option to meet somewhere convenient to both parties, you could try with eBay and collection only but then you’ll likely sell the rods at a markdown and have to deal with the usual Herbert’s!!
 
Alan Palmer said:
Last time I sent a rod it cost about £28 to send a 12ft with Parcelforce, was over a year ago and had such a painful experience with them I vowed to never bother again. IMO Alec I would list on here with option to meet somewhere convenient to both parties, you could try with eBay and collection only but then you’ll likely sell the rods at a markdown and have to deal with the usual Herbert’s!!
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yes that's my view Alan. I think the post office still carries up to 1400/1500 for around £15 last time I looked but that wont cover many of the rods. Meeting up within a reasonable distance is my preferred option. Thanks for reply.
 
Interesting. I've been meaning to post this on here for quite a while as i would like to sell a few rods but am also on the lookout for some rods too but the postage costs could make it potentially not wothwhile

Bearing in mind the seemingly prohibitive cost of posting rod tubes I tried something; I put in dimensions of a parcel with Royal Mail/Parcel Force
but instead of a tube I used a rectangular parcel based on the type of tube used for golf clubs etc. There are available to 48" but also longer - I also thought for longer rods, it would be possible to cut one carton along the length of a corner or two and insert it into another carton then tape heavily at the join etc; all good fun. I asked for quote from my old postcode in London to an old postcode in my hometown of Liverpool. Here are the dimensions I've selected followed by the quote. I could be talking through my substantial backside but would the format of the parcel make this much difference? Haver arranged with a mate to send a parcel to him for a dummy run and see what happens. Maybe someone can check if I'm doing something stupid here (perfectly possible~ I'm an economist so in the spirit of the old joke, lets assume it works!)

Screenshot 2025-06-17 at 19.22.16.png
Screenshot 2025-06-17 at 19.22.35.png
 
Roy Daintith said:
Interesting. I've been meaning to post this on here for quite a while as i would like to sell a few rods but am also on the lookout for some rods too but the postage costs could make it potentially not wothwhile

Bearing in mind the seemingly prohibitive cost of posting rod tubes I tried something; I put in dimensions of a parcel with Royal Mail/Parcel Force
but instead of a tube I used a rectangular parcel based on the type of tube used for golf clubs etc. There are available to 48" but also longer - I also thought for longer rods, it would be possible to cut one carton along the length of a corner or two and insert it into another carton then tape heavily at the join etc; all good fun. I asked for quote from my old postcode in London to an old postcode in my hometown of Liverpool. Here are the dimensions I've selected followed by the quote. I could be talking through my substantial backside but would the format of the parcel make this much difference? Haver arranged with a mate to send a parcel to him for a dummy run and see what happens. Maybe someone can check if I'm doing something stupid here (perfectly possible~ I'm an economist so in the spirit of the old joke, lets assume it works!)

View attachment 35448View attachment 35449
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That's the normal price, packages upto and including 150cm are roughly around £12 with parcelforce depending on 24/48 hour delivery.

Soon as you go over 150 cm that's when they sting you

This pic I've attached, top quote is 150cm, bottom quote is 151cm! Same service, same weight and same postcodes
20250617_202221.jpg
 
Alan Palmer said:
Last time I sent a rod it cost about £28 to send a 12ft with Parcelforce, was over a year ago and had such a painful experience with them I vowed to never bother again. IMO Alec I would list on here with option to meet somewhere convenient to both parties, you could try with eBay and collection only but then you’ll likely sell the rods at a markdown and have to deal with the usual Herbert’s!!
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I agree with Alan.... I'll need to be doing the same Alec as you know mate, but as the rods I'm selling will be top drawer I'll only offer local collection, or local(ish) meet ups. Currently sorting out some tubes to put them in...

If the guys want a decent rod they'll travel for it mate. Couriers are painfully unreliable as some have mentioned here, and a mate had a expensive refurb done recently, only for the rod to be snapped in half upon it's arrival!
I did a 5.5hr round trip a few moths back for that 11ft Seer specialist chub rod, if its something worth travelling for some will do it. 😊
Hope all is well Alec mate! 👍👍
 
Julian Griffiths said:
I agree with Alan.... I'll need to be doing the same Alec as you know mate, but as the rods I'm selling will be top drawer I'll only offer local collection, or local(ish) meet ups. Currently sorting out some tubes to put them in...

If the guys want a decent rod they'll travel for it mate. Couriers are painfully unreliable as some have mentioned here, and a mate had a expensive refurb done recently, only for the rod to be snapped in half upon it's arrival!
I did a 5.5hr round trip a few moths back for that 11ft Seer specialist chub rod, if its something worth travelling for some will do it. 😊
Hope all is well Alec mate! 👍👍
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Sadly had a difficult couple of months Jay. Agree entirely with your comments. It's meet up or collection or nothing. Peregrines will be listed shortly.
 
Surely there's a big business opportunity out there for someone to transport fishing rods, old and new, across the UK. They could have vans with secure rod tubes, they pick up from homes/businesses and then load the rods into their tubes, and then deliver to wherever that rod/s need to go. This would just be for transporting fishing rods though so is there not some enterprising upstart out there to meet the challenge?
They could even just use the name 'Just Rods'. There you go. You heard it here. I'm too old to consider it but if I was 30 years old again then I'd have my company registered at Companies House tomorrow. ;)
 
About 10 years ago I prepared a business plan which was aimed at a rod manufacturer in conjunction with retailers to increase sales of rods. Nothing magical, just a twist on we buy any car . In those days courier fees were not extortionate to the value of used rods. Sadly today we do not have any rod/ retailer network big enough. Before anyone suggests A/D why would they bother with the bulk rates they no doubt enjoy.
 
Hi Alec just had quote for pair of rods via courier from high wycombe to York 24hr del (2xrods in plastic tube)
£38.00 too much dosh
Regards peter
 
Just a thought, ( and example ), but would you be willing to pay say £10 - £15 for guaranteed delivery ? If so, and the buyer agrees, you put that £10 - £15 in your tank, and drive as far as it gets you, the buyer, travels the rest of the distance to meet you. The buyer gets to check the rod out in person. No risk of damage from a courier, it could work in some scenarios.

P.S. no need to worry about insurance. 👍
 
Derek Funcks said:
Just a thought, ( and example ), but would you be willing to pay say £10 - £15 for guaranteed delivery ? If so, and the buyer agrees, you put that £10 - £15 in your tank, and drive as far as it gets you, the buyer, travels the rest of the distance to meet you. The buyer gets to check the rod out in person. No risk of damage from a courier, it could work in some scenarios.

P.S. no need to worry about insurance. 👍
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Depending on what car you’re driving, there could be a big difference in how far the rods get..
But i like the idea .🤔
 
Craig Lea said:
Depending on what car you’re driving, there could be a big difference in how far the rods get..
But i like the idea .🤔
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You tell the buyer, depending on how much you put in the tank, which could be negotiable, an estimated mileage. 🤷‍♂️

Or

Instead of added postage costs, the buyer could also make an offer for the fuel he/she was willing to pay you.
 
I’ve used FedEx recently, you need to register using a company name which will make life more difficult for a lot of people, but it cost me a lot less than anywhere else.

A local depot is very close which helps as well
 
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