I was wondering if anyone could help me thanks in advance.
I ordered some custom rods from Cotswold rods in may last year and when I ordered them I was advised a lead time of approximately 3 weeks as he informed me he had the rods in stock.
I ordered them for a trip in late August so thought I plenty of time no problem.
After numerous conversations with the company and numerous excuses I still have not received them.
I have now asked for a refund and he said that was fine (currently paid a little over £700) but he still has not refunded me.
I have sent numerous emails and phoned literally hundreds of times but he just does not answer the phone.
I paid via a bank transfer (which actually my dad sent to him)
I'm sick now of the constant lies and need to get my my money back so I can order some from elsewhere for this year.
Can anyone recommend my what my next course of action should be
I have seen after searching about on the internet that this is a common occurrence just wish I had seen all the negative comments before I ordered
Thanks alister
I ordered some custom rods from Cotswold rods in may last year and when I ordered them I was advised a lead time of approximately 3 weeks as he informed me he had the rods in stock.
I ordered them for a trip in late August so thought I plenty of time no problem.
After numerous conversations with the company and numerous excuses I still have not received them.
I have now asked for a refund and he said that was fine (currently paid a little over £700) but he still has not refunded me.
I have sent numerous emails and phoned literally hundreds of times but he just does not answer the phone.
I paid via a bank transfer (which actually my dad sent to him)
I'm sick now of the constant lies and need to get my my money back so I can order some from elsewhere for this year.
Can anyone recommend my what my next course of action should be
I have seen after searching about on the internet that this is a common occurrence just wish I had seen all the negative comments before I ordered
Thanks alister
In reply to Post #1
Send a ‘letter before claim' with signed for delivery so you know he receives it. Give him 14 days to issue a refund before you take him to small claims court. Compile all your evidence of emails and reference them in the letter. This letter means that after 14 days if there is no refund you will make a claim against the business in a small claims court. You will win as he is in the wrong here so you'll never have to pay a penny as all costs will be covered by them when they lose.
I had to do this to get my reels from custom reels UK prior to him packing it in. As did plenty of others.
Send a ‘letter before claim' with signed for delivery so you know he receives it. Give him 14 days to issue a refund before you take him to small claims court. Compile all your evidence of emails and reference them in the letter. This letter means that after 14 days if there is no refund you will make a claim against the business in a small claims court. You will win as he is in the wrong here so you'll never have to pay a penny as all costs will be covered by them when they lose.
I had to do this to get my reels from custom reels UK prior to him packing it in. As did plenty of others.
Same old same old... Company full of broken promises and shocking customer service.. Apart from turning up at there factory and not leaving till your refunded. There's not a lot more you can do. Going down the legal root will only cost you more money.
For a company that turns out quality workmanship. Why they let themselves down with there customer service, beggers belief. Maybe they have enough work to not have to worry about letting a proportion of there custom down so badly.
For a company that turns out quality workmanship. Why they let themselves down with there customer service, beggers belief. Maybe they have enough work to not have to worry about letting a proportion of there custom down so badly.
In reply to Post #2
Ok thanks the only thing is I believe he has moved premises does anyone know if this is the current address
The old brickyard
Unit R1
Ashton keynes
Sn6 6qr
Ok thanks the only thing is I believe he has moved premises does anyone know if this is the current address
The old brickyard
Unit R1
Ashton keynes
Sn6 6qr
In reply to Post #1
This may help...
https://www.facebook.com/cotswoldrods
This may help...
https://www.facebook.com/cotswoldrods
As others have said small claims court. He will have to pay
I would NEVER use or recommend this company ever again
I would NEVER use or recommend this company ever again
I've had mixed experiences with Cotswold Rods, one build was fine without issue, then I ordered a Dr.Redfin float rod, again no issue,(although this rod was pre-built).
However, my final experience with them, you couldn't make it up, numerous emails,phone calls, in the end I had to phone Harrison's and make a complaint. I waited 16 months for two rods to be built and delivered. Harrison's were so helpful in sorting out this matter, in fact two weeks after contacting Harrisons, my rods suddenly appeared.
I will never use Cotswold rods again, for anything and I'd advise anyone else not to, you've been warned.
Go elsewhere with your hard earned.
Regards.
However, my final experience with them, you couldn't make it up, numerous emails,phone calls, in the end I had to phone Harrison's and make a complaint. I waited 16 months for two rods to be built and delivered. Harrison's were so helpful in sorting out this matter, in fact two weeks after contacting Harrisons, my rods suddenly appeared.
I will never use Cotswold rods again, for anything and I'd advise anyone else not to, you've been warned.
Go elsewhere with your hard earned.
Regards.
I'm genuinely amazed that a company like Harrisons even deals with this shower of........
In reply to Post #8
The suppliers are probably fine. It's the end user that gets the ****ty end of the stick..
The suppliers are probably fine. It's the end user that gets the ****ty end of the stick..
In reply to Post #1
Mate, it has taken me since July to get a replacement rod tip.
The only good thing, is Tom doesn't seem concerned about the payment, as he won't give me any payment details. I have asked, and shan't ask again.
As other have said in my thread a few weeks ago and in this one...Stay well away!!!
Mate, it has taken me since July to get a replacement rod tip.
The only good thing, is Tom doesn't seem concerned about the payment, as he won't give me any payment details. I have asked, and shan't ask again.
As other have said in my thread a few weeks ago and in this one...Stay well away!!!
In reply to Post #1
Unbelievable how a company can ‘operate' like this. I'm constantly worried that 1 person will give me bad feedback which will outdo the 100s of great ones Iv had. Seems here it's the other way around, 100 bad to 1 good review
Unbelievable how a company can ‘operate' like this. I'm constantly worried that 1 person will give me bad feedback which will outdo the 100s of great ones Iv had. Seems here it's the other way around, 100 bad to 1 good review
In reply to Post #10
Payment....he probably feels to embarrassed to ask...
Payment....he probably feels to embarrassed to ask...
In reply to Post #10
After 1 year I gave up asking for a new tip section
Put an add on here and got 1 within 2weeks
The guy is a joke
After 1 year I gave up asking for a new tip section
Put an add on here and got 1 within 2weeks
The guy is a joke
In reply to Post #11
You are right i do everything within my power never to have negative feedback .
You are right i do everything within my power never to have negative feedback .
In reply to Post #14
The difference is you and Vinnie care about your customers.It sounds like this guy doesn't give a ****
The difference is you and Vinnie care about your customers.It sounds like this guy doesn't give a ****
It's amazing how this company stays in business.
In reply to Post #7
Had exactly the same thing. Wasn't until i got hold of Harrison and told them my rods had been held up because they apparently had no stock of the blank i wanted. This was a lie of course. They sent my blanks the next day and i got my rods 3 weeks later.
Had exactly the same thing. Wasn't until i got hold of Harrison and told them my rods had been held up because they apparently had no stock of the blank i wanted. This was a lie of course. They sent my blanks the next day and i got my rods 3 weeks later.
In reply to Post #17
I had the same situation with a set of Century C2s back in 2017 - after having many missed deadlines and being told that they'd been posted twice the story changed to a delay in Century making blanks. I dropped Century a line to find out an ETA only to be told that they'd had no orders from Cotswold.
I was in no rush for my rods so a honest/realistic lead time wouldn't have bothered me, however when 3 weeks turns to 6 months plus it gets a tad frustrating!
I had the same situation with a set of Century C2s back in 2017 - after having many missed deadlines and being told that they'd been posted twice the story changed to a delay in Century making blanks. I dropped Century a line to find out an ETA only to be told that they'd had no orders from Cotswold.
I was in no rush for my rods so a honest/realistic lead time wouldn't have bothered me, however when 3 weeks turns to 6 months plus it gets a tad frustrating!
In reply to Post #1
Such a shame to see this being repeated over and over again.
I have a set of the original Cotswold Rods R1's that I adore and have had a couple of problems that were addressed reasonably well by Tom however, all I see over recent years is one complaint after another and nearly all about deadlines and poor communications which, in fairness is so easy to avoid especially when you are selling good products.
I hand on heart would never risk having rods built by him again due to these complaints.
The other strange thing is that on the occasions I have met him, he is a really nice guy.
Such a shame to see this being repeated over and over again.
I have a set of the original Cotswold Rods R1's that I adore and have had a couple of problems that were addressed reasonably well by Tom however, all I see over recent years is one complaint after another and nearly all about deadlines and poor communications which, in fairness is so easy to avoid especially when you are selling good products.
I hand on heart would never risk having rods built by him again due to these complaints.
The other strange thing is that on the occasions I have met him, he is a really nice guy.
In reply to Post #19
Yeah they used to be a good company, they (Tom and his ex business partner can't remember his name ) did a forum special deal on a landing net, they were very good and a great price, it must have been 10 years ago or more but back then they got great reviews, such a shame it's gone down hill.
Yeah they used to be a good company, they (Tom and his ex business partner can't remember his name ) did a forum special deal on a landing net, they were very good and a great price, it must have been 10 years ago or more but back then they got great reviews, such a shame it's gone down hill.
it looks like they're not taking custom build orders, the page comes up 404 error on the website 'about' page.
In reply to Post #21
They did a fb post asking for rod builders to take on some of their work a while ago.
They did a fb post asking for rod builders to take on some of their work a while ago.
Based on experience, could anyone recommend an alternative rod builder?
In reply to Post #23
Calvin Hancock has done the last couple of sets I've had. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him. Top end work at a fair price and communication was excellent. You can visit in person if you're close (I'm not), talk on the phone and he answers calls/emails (as should be expected from a professional)
Calvin Hancock has done the last couple of sets I've had. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him. Top end work at a fair price and communication was excellent. You can visit in person if you're close (I'm not), talk on the phone and he answers calls/emails (as should be expected from a professional)
In reply to Post #23
Kevin Clayton, super ocd, will be perfect.
Kevin Clayton, super ocd, will be perfect.
In reply to Post #25
Love all my rods I've had from Kev,top bloke
Love all my rods I've had from Kev,top bloke
In reply to Post #23
I have rods made by Jeff Rawstorne, and Kev Clayton, nothing to choose between them in quality, both are superb. Communication first class also. Would highly recommend both.
I have rods made by Jeff Rawstorne, and Kev Clayton, nothing to choose between them in quality, both are superb. Communication first class also. Would highly recommend both.
In reply to Post #23
Maybe a bit far for you but Colin from Broadland rods has built all of mine, excellent work, he does free spirits and Harrison, plus others. He is listed on the Harrison website.
He's lives at Brooke, Norfolk
Feel free to PM for more details
Maybe a bit far for you but Colin from Broadland rods has built all of mine, excellent work, he does free spirits and Harrison, plus others. He is listed on the Harrison website.
He's lives at Brooke, Norfolk
Feel free to PM for more details
In reply to Post #23
Can thoroughly recommend Chris Palmer in Woking, formally pottys leads. Built rods for 100s of customers plus rebuilt 5 sets of my rods
Can thoroughly recommend Chris Palmer in Woking, formally pottys leads. Built rods for 100s of customers plus rebuilt 5 sets of my rods
In reply to Post #18
It is a shame to see this. I have had a number of dealings with Tom, from getting my rods built and going to churn pool. I have been to the shop. He is a really nice bloke. I guess just not great at dealing with the demands many expect. So much so, when I got my custom stalking rod built I went with JB custom rods. I looked at and spoke to a range of rod builders for my main set and very nearly went with Kev Clayton.
Loads out there, I've just come across a really funky German builder, but that would be a ball ache, although it does seem custom rods are getting really custom!!
It is a shame to see this. I have had a number of dealings with Tom, from getting my rods built and going to churn pool. I have been to the shop. He is a really nice bloke. I guess just not great at dealing with the demands many expect. So much so, when I got my custom stalking rod built I went with JB custom rods. I looked at and spoke to a range of rod builders for my main set and very nearly went with Kev Clayton.
Loads out there, I've just come across a really funky German builder, but that would be a ball ache, although it does seem custom rods are getting really custom!!
In reply to Post #23
I've had four rods rebuilt by East Coast Rod Building and Repairs and his work is spot on. Check him out on Facebook.
I've had four rods rebuilt by East Coast Rod Building and Repairs and his work is spot on. Check him out on Facebook.
John Hennessy is brilliant have had a couple of sets of rods built by him in the last couple kf years.
Resilure rods are very good, and I'd recommend Darren to anyone in an instant. Had a set of aviators built by him, and currently getting a pair of chimera Avons built.
Great communications and a very skilled builder. Some of his handles with the dyed timber burls are something else, plus very unique.
Regards.
Great communications and a very skilled builder. Some of his handles with the dyed timber burls are something else, plus very unique.
Regards.
I had dealings with this lot , I wouldn't recommend at all
The customer service was awful
They didn't respond to my emails or phone calls so gave up in the end and went to Johnson Ross instead , they were excellent 👍
The customer service was awful
They didn't respond to my emails or phone calls so gave up in the end and went to Johnson Ross instead , they were excellent 👍
In reply to Post #34
Not to hijack the thread but I had poor customer service from Johnson Ross recently which was a first for me.....
Not to hijack the thread but I had poor customer service from Johnson Ross recently which was a first for me.....
Reading ALL pages