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.

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

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

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.

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

Spend your money elsewhere. Plenty of other rod builders offering a better service.

All sorted now.

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.

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..

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 .

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..

In reply to Post #1
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

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.

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.😀🤔🙁

Got mine after 6 weeks and quality as good as I hoped 👌

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.

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.

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.

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

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.