Can anyone tell me if Cotswold Rods are still operating, please?
Ordered a replacement R1 tip section in July to replace one that I broke.
Communication has not been great and cannot get a reply to WhatsApp messages or phone calls.
Last I heard was tha the tip was ready on Friday, 22nd November saying that it had been built and would be sent out the following week.
Getting very frustrated to the point of driving half way across the country to have a word.
Ordered a replacement R1 tip section in July to replace one that I broke.
Communication has not been great and cannot get a reply to WhatsApp messages or phone calls.
Last I heard was tha the tip was ready on Friday, 22nd November saying that it had been built and would be sent out the following week.
Getting very frustrated to the point of driving half way across the country to have a word.
In reply to Post #1
If you use the search function on here you will see many of the same story, no Comms, late if ever delivering at all
If you use the search function on here you will see many of the same story, no Comms, late if ever delivering at all
Here we go again. Haven't we been here before with this company. Quality product by all accounts. Less than quality service.. 
In reply to Post #1
I bought a pair of rods from them in October and I was really happy with the service. Order processed within a couple of days and he phoned me about the order as there was an issue with the handle I was requesting. Rods posted that day via courier. I have heard plenty of negatives about the contact, so I was sceptical about ordering but thought I would just give a positive to the thread given my recent experience
I bought a pair of rods from them in October and I was really happy with the service. Order processed within a couple of days and he phoned me about the order as there was an issue with the handle I was requesting. Rods posted that day via courier. I have heard plenty of negatives about the contact, so I was sceptical about ordering but thought I would just give a positive to the thread given my recent experience
In reply to Post #4
Hopefully you won't need it , but it's the after sales that lets them down.
They put out nice work but unless I lived locally and could go in I would avoid in favour of somebody who picks up the phone.
Hopefully you won't need it , but it's the after sales that lets them down.
They put out nice work but unless I lived locally and could go in I would avoid in favour of somebody who picks up the phone.
I bought some rods off Cotswold rods probably 10+ years ago when they weren't even full time rod builders. Unfortunately they were exactly the same then - poor comms, ignore the phone, false promises etc... I thought they would have learnt some valuable lessons since then but obviously not. It's a shame cos they obviously have fantastic skills given the quality of what they produce.
In reply to Post #1
Msg him. https://www.facebook.com/cotswoldrods
Msg him. https://www.facebook.com/cotswoldrods
Spend your money elsewhere. Plenty of other rod builders offering a better service.
All sorted now.
Thanks for the comments.
Thanks for the comments.
In reply to Post #8
Difficult to do, as the R1 blanks are built specifically for them by Harrison.
I acquired the rods second hand.
Difficult to do, as the R1 blanks are built specifically for them by Harrison.
I acquired the rods second hand.
In reply to Post #9
The power of the Forum. Word as filtered back. Tom who owns the company used to post on many moons ago. Maybe he popped on. Glad you got it sorted. Even though it did take six months..
The power of the Forum. Word as filtered back. Tom who owns the company used to post on many moons ago. Maybe he popped on. Glad you got it sorted. Even though it did take six months..
Great rods BUT......... I ordered a set of rods and they eventually arrived nearly 6 months later after being told they were ex-stock.
I sent countless emails, phone calls & VM's, FB messages, Insta messages.
I even sent a legal action warning letter via recorded post.
Nobody ever answered.
I missed the use of the rods for a large French venue I wanted them for.
Eventually they answered and apologised and said the rods would be with me the next week. 3 weeks went by
.
I sent countless emails, phone calls & VM's, FB messages, Insta messages.
I even sent a legal action warning letter via recorded post.
Nobody ever answered.
I missed the use of the rods for a large French venue I wanted them for.
Eventually they answered and apologised and said the rods would be with me the next week. 3 weeks went by
.
Customer service is zilch and always has been...would've even contemplate spending a penny there... 
In reply to Post #12
Seems to be a 6 month wait on most orders with this company..
People are ordering rods. Not custom built Rollers for ****s sake..
Seems to be a 6 month wait on most orders with this company..
People are ordering rods. Not custom built Rollers for ****s sake..
In reply to Post #1
Avoid at all cost. Dealing with this company will be painful and very time consuming.
Avoid at all cost. Dealing with this company will be painful and very time consuming.
Would NEVER use this lot again ever !
How they are still in business beggars belief
How they are still in business beggars belief
And yet he was featured in one of Carl's recent fishing vlogs where he made him a custom built rod for stalking.....
In reply to Post #17
There's always time for a bit of promotion. Which will no doubt lead to some very disappointed punters of the back of it.
There's always time for a bit of promotion. Which will no doubt lead to some very disappointed punters of the back of it.
Still waiting on my new rods
In reply to Post #19
Hopefully not for 6 months like most people seem to wait. But I honestly wouldn't be surprised.😀🤔🙁
Hopefully not for 6 months like most people seem to wait. But I honestly wouldn't be surprised.😀🤔🙁
Got mine after 6 weeks and quality as good as I hoped 👌
Have they told you why the delay - how long has it been?
Have they told you why the delay - how long has it been?
These guys are worth avoiding. I waited 14 months for my rods.
I will never use them again. They do how ever make a good rod, but you honestly roll a dice on what level of customer service you receive.
My last two builds have been from Resilure. Top notch service.
I will never use them again. They do how ever make a good rod, but you honestly roll a dice on what level of customer service you receive.
My last two builds have been from Resilure. Top notch service.
In reply to Post #19
Read the reviews online then get your money back.
Loads of people paid and never received any rods, then had do charge backs via their bank.
If you take £1,200 off loads of people the interest on a big chunk of money can be very lucrative.
Read the reviews online then get your money back.
Loads of people paid and never received any rods, then had do charge backs via their bank.
If you take £1,200 off loads of people the interest on a big chunk of money can be very lucrative.
In reply to Post #19
Recently ordered a custom set. Been pretty good communication wise on fb. But I was messaging tom direct as he had done my previous rods back in the day. Anyway rods arrived after a 6 weeks or so and they are unreal. However there was one minor gripe that played with my ocd, he was good as gold about them having them back and he said he would not invoice me till 100% happy. I decided to "reject" them as he calls it. Haven't paid a penny yet, they are sitting in my hallway waiting to be collected by UPS. so credit where it is due the service, communication has been great. And I wouldn't think twice about using them again as they are at the top of the game build wise.
Recently ordered a custom set. Been pretty good communication wise on fb. But I was messaging tom direct as he had done my previous rods back in the day. Anyway rods arrived after a 6 weeks or so and they are unreal. However there was one minor gripe that played with my ocd, he was good as gold about them having them back and he said he would not invoice me till 100% happy. I decided to "reject" them as he calls it. Haven't paid a penny yet, they are sitting in my hallway waiting to be collected by UPS. so credit where it is due the service, communication has been great. And I wouldn't think twice about using them again as they are at the top of the game build wise.
I should have added to my post below, I didn't pay a deposit. Paid in full when I collected them and confirmed I was happy.
I also told Tom I wasn't in a hurry - expecting to get them in the autumn, but they were ready in 6 weeks and they've all been christened 👌
My place allows 4 rods in the winter, so I'll be getting a fourth matching rod and second utility rod from them soon in the hope of a quick delivery again, even though it's not vital.
The R1FT is a lovely blank too
I also told Tom I wasn't in a hurry - expecting to get them in the autumn, but they were ready in 6 weeks and they've all been christened 👌
My place allows 4 rods in the winter, so I'll be getting a fourth matching rod and second utility rod from them soon in the hope of a quick delivery again, even though it's not vital.
The R1FT is a lovely blank too
In reply to Post #16
Totally agree, I was ignored for months and then only when I got Toms personal number and advised regards legal action did I get anywhere. Would not recommend them and never again.
Totally agree, I was ignored for months and then only when I got Toms personal number and advised regards legal action did I get anywhere. Would not recommend them and never again.
In reply to Post #26
After all the past experiences of forum members I'm gobsmacked that anyone on here uses them for the first time, especially considering the other excellent rod builders dotted around.
After all the past experiences of forum members I'm gobsmacked that anyone on here uses them for the first time, especially considering the other excellent rod builders dotted around.
In reply to Post #27
People are obviously not reading the reviews online. Build quality issues are also now being reported.
People are obviously not reading the reviews online. Build quality issues are also now being reported.
I was about to approach them about a new set of rods as they are 20 minutes up the road from me, which would be handy. But having read reviews and posts on here I’ll be going back to Kev Clayton who I know is spot on.
In reply to Post #28
Ones he built me are spot on. Just the spigot on one doesnt push in a as far as other 2. (Like 2mm) Common thing in carp rods, not something most would care about id imagine but it plays with my ocd. Still not been collected. 1500 quid sitting in my hallway. 😂
Just been delivered some cirrus rods which is owned by elevate supplies ltd, i believe max cottis is involved on rod side. And now you buy 3 you get a free adjustable net. Unreal build quality, super slim blank. very impressed and a quarter of price including a net worth a look for sure if still in market for rods...🔥
Ones he built me are spot on. Just the spigot on one doesnt push in a as far as other 2. (Like 2mm) Common thing in carp rods, not something most would care about id imagine but it plays with my ocd. Still not been collected. 1500 quid sitting in my hallway. 😂
Just been delivered some cirrus rods which is owned by elevate supplies ltd, i believe max cottis is involved on rod side. And now you buy 3 you get a free adjustable net. Unreal build quality, super slim blank. very impressed and a quarter of price including a net worth a look for sure if still in market for rods...🔥
In reply to Post #30
just googled them, look nice, do they only come in 50mm butt rings thouogh?
just googled them, look nice, do they only come in 50mm butt rings thouogh?
In reply to Post #29
Wise man stick to Kev 👍
Wise man stick to Kev 👍
In reply to Post #31
Guess so, I got 12ft 3.5lb in jap shrink. Not gonna be casting 200 yards with them, but I reckon super for playing fish and getting a decent way out if needed. I think they might be closing the rods side down due to success of the elevate baits arm. Thats why the rods are half price now direct. 399 each on tft, pre order. Honestly for a " mass" produced rod the quality is ridiculous. JT46 japanese toray carbon is top end i really like the wrap finish. Come in a lovely neoprene sleeve aswell.
Guess so, I got 12ft 3.5lb in jap shrink. Not gonna be casting 200 yards with them, but I reckon super for playing fish and getting a decent way out if needed. I think they might be closing the rods side down due to success of the elevate baits arm. Thats why the rods are half price now direct. 399 each on tft, pre order. Honestly for a " mass" produced rod the quality is ridiculous. JT46 japanese toray carbon is top end i really like the wrap finish. Come in a lovely neoprene sleeve aswell.
Unfortunately same story here; ordered rods, heard negatives almost straight after so enquired with Tom to see if I'd get them in time for a trip some months later. Said I would (get them in time), didn't, ended up turning up about 8 months after order.
Quality was good, and I could use them on one of my waters, so at least that was something. But the whole process of me trying to order them, respond to a couple of Tom's queries then receive no acknowledgement, telephone calls going unanswered etc was just shocking. This was a real shame as I previously (some years before) had them rebuild some old Tri-Casts for me & at that time no issues whatsoever, good service & quick turn around.
Sad to say, I will never use again now.
Quality was good, and I could use them on one of my waters, so at least that was something. But the whole process of me trying to order them, respond to a couple of Tom's queries then receive no acknowledgement, telephone calls going unanswered etc was just shocking. This was a real shame as I previously (some years before) had them rebuild some old Tri-Casts for me & at that time no issues whatsoever, good service & quick turn around.
Sad to say, I will never use again now.
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