In reply to Post #25
"I understand the points about innovation, product developments ect. But, if you get China to manufacture for you, you know what the outcome is. You know they’ll just produce extra and sell it themselves. The companies manufacturing their own products aren’t on temu are they… that would create more jobs if firms started doing that! Costs would have to go up in all likelihood though."

Exactly this 🖕. I really wish more companies would manufacture in the UK. Trust me it's tough and expensive to do so, you really need to accept lower margins on your products just to be seen as having 'ridiculous' prices but keeping the prices at a level where we have enough customers that are willing to pay for quality UK made goods. None of the big companies would get out of bed for the margins we work with but then I remember hearing that one company that shall remain unnamed worked on a 10% returns due to faulty goods. You'd need higher margins in that scenario. It's always been difficult for manufacturing in the UK with wages, high taxes, extremely high energy costs etc etc, and this current government wants to squeeze manufacturing just a little more. But all us UK manufacturing companies live in hope that one day the government will realise our importance and help us become competitive again.

As for the Temu thing, it is most definitely a direct result of the big brands being so dependent on China to do all their manufacturing. It made financial sense because the manufacturing cost was/is so low but now it will start to bite them more and more.

In reply to Post #1
I am very sorry you and your sister had this experience at PE and I will look into this and the engraving issue when we get back to work. I can assure you that quality and customer service are at the top of our agenda and it pains me when I hear of a bad experience. The tackle shop is still a new and growing entity for us and something that wasn't an issue one day becomes a problem for us to solve when workload grows. Couriers are a law to their own and at Christmas it can be a soul destroying issue that every shop endures. The guys at PE are all very friendly and want to help, they wouldn't be there if they were otherwise. I know they will be saddened when I show them this post. They do get stretched to the limit at times and that is something we will address. I'm not naive to think this is the only issue we've had but reading this will be turned into a positive. We shall introduce some kind of ticketing system where any complaints are logged and cannot be cleared until fully resolved. Issues are currently logged in the head of one very busy team member. We will be in touch with both of you in due course but please accept my sincere apologies. X

In reply to Post #15
Get in contact if you need help sorting them👍

In reply to Post #16
Not fit for purpose is a little harsh. My kit gets plenty wet but I'd always try to dry it out when at home. Nothing worse that mouldy stinky kit. We use to make Prolite Grey Fixed sticks when the range was first launched, I loved them as they were super sturdy and cost effective if lacking versatility. But take up on them was weak so we dropped them.

In reply to Post #18
100% correct 👍

In reply to Post #17
If the thread in the collar is stripped then I'm afraid the outer of the stick is dead. If it's the thread on the thumbscrew then it can be repaired. But I guess it's the former. The grey finished production many years ago so I couldn't be confident if we'd have anything left to replace the outer with. That said, what length is the stick and I'll ask Simon who lovingly builds them all to see if he can find one for you. I'll also have a root around in my garage but can't promise anything. With regards the communication going quiet then that's our bad, sorry. I'll pm you what our hunt reveals.

If you experience an issue with the locking lever stiffening up this will almost certainly be due to oxidisation of the brass threaded component of the lever assembly. The likely cause is the sticks/buzzbars being packed away wet and left in that damp environment for a prolonged period of time. We use a brass thread rather than stainless as the steel is too aggressive on the carbon insert. If the carbon insert is sticky, it and the inner bore likely just need a clean and dry off.

There is still a tonne of our original grey Prolite being used to this day that is still going strong. Just avoid leaving your kit packed away wet for long periods.

If you do experience an issue with the thumb screws it's an easy fix. As the levers are designed as an assembly, we sell all the parts as spares. You can simply replace the brass component. A smear of grease will add protection. Or if you're not comfortable doing that just get in touch and we'll take care of it.

When someone puts faith in buying our products we are really grateful and with that comes a responsibility to offer great customer service, that's why we now offer 10 year's manufacturers warranty. But in all honesty, doesn't matter if it's 20 years old we'll do our best to fix something. We are able to offer this customer service because thankfully we don't get that many issues.

The lads are all at the Essex carp show this weekend so please give us a few days grace. Or if you're there have a chat with Tom, Jake or Louis.

In reply to Post #8
Honestly it was dead easy with the trailer. Once you suss how to load it properly and if your journey/lake has good paths a trailer is a doddle. Even up a slight hill wasn't a drama.

Edit : reply to #9

In reply to Post #1
I used one a few years back fishing Willen South. I would take enough kit for 2 nights, occasionally 3 nights, although as minimal as I could get away with. My first trailer was the cheaper type you can pick up sub £100 but after 10 or so trips the wheels disintegrated halfway to the lake. After a bit of investigating I found the Wike trailer as below. Really great trailer and far more heavy duty. It is a flat bed so I would take 4x 13ltr bait buckets, 2 for bait and I would put heavier items of my kit in the others. My bedchair would sit on the buckets, strapped down with a bedchair set of straps. Rods, brolly and food bag on top and rucksack on my back. Worked a treat. The wheels quick release from the body and it stores really well as it's flat.

https://www.wikeeurope.com/products/wike-heavy-duty-flatbed-trailer

In reply to Post #1
I have a little experience of this I could add. There are very few things in this industry that someone hasn't already explored to some degree. It could be they have dismissed or indefinitely shelved a product idea because they can't quite perfect the product, deemed financially unviable, or any other reason. Or just not found the time to finish the design. I have had people come to me with ideas and it's always a little uncomfortable as you don't wish to disappoint someone that feels their idea is great and you don't or explain manufacturing techniques can create big issues. But there is always the chance that someone has a blinding idea. Whenever someone has approached me at Jag with a rod support idea I always ask them to initially explain with just enough info to provide a very rough idea. That then gives me a chance to say if it is something we have previously looked at, I will then show them any drawings or cad models to prove it had already been worked on, if that was indeed the case. I can think of two occasions when exactly that has occurred. There isn't many things rod support related that I haven't had a play with at one time or another. At the end of the day, we wouldn't dream of robbing someone's idea that came to us, there just isn't the need. My suggestion would look at the manufacturers and select a company that best suits the product idea you have and choose one that doesn't have a record of copying others ideas, and thankfully there are still a few about. Korda is a good example that I know you are safe to approach without any legal protection. I would suggest not going to the expense of lawyers, just approach the good guys and you will be safe. I think most companies if they wanted to go ahead with your idea would look at a one off payment for an idea, royalties get very messy and is hard to quantify. I would also say the more refined your design is, i.e. a working design with possibly 3D printed working prototypes the more excited a company will get. If it's a concept that still requires many hours of engineering expect less enthusiasm. And lastly remuneration is likely to be less than what most would feel their product is worth unless it's the next spomb etc. Hope that helps a little and good luck with your product.