How we grade gear
Buying used tackle online usually means trusting a stranger’s idea of “good condition”. Here it means one published scale, applied by the same person, with photographs of whatever brought the grade down.
Where it came from
Three sources, sold side by side.
- New
- Brand new, sealed from the factory.
- B-Grade
- Factory seconds. Cosmetic flaws only, never fished.
- Used
- Traded in, stripped, tested and graded before listing.
B-grade is not used. It is new stock that failed the factory’s cosmetic check — a scratch on the body, a paint mark. Never been in the water, works exactly like a full-price one, costs less. What the batch has in common is written on every listing.
Four grades
New stock is not graded. Everything B-grade and used carries one of these.
- 1
As new
Usually 40–50% off new
Unused or fished a handful of times. Nothing to report.
- 2
Excellent
Usually 50–60% off new
Light cosmetic wear. Everything works as it should.
- 3
Good
Usually 60–70% off new
Obvious use. Scuffs and faded anodising are normal at this grade.
- 4
Well used
Usually 70%+ off new
Heavy cosmetic wear, or a part that will want replacing before long.
What gets checked, every time
Nothing is listed until it has been through this. Anything that fails either gets fixed and noted, or the item does not go up at all.
Reels
- Stripped, salt flushed, regreased
- Drag pulled on scales, figure published
- Bearings run under load, not just spun
- Gear play checked at the handle
- Line roller spun, replaced if rough
- Bail spring cycled 20 times
Rods
- Blank flexed and sighted for hairline cracks
- Every guide checked with a cotton bud
- Inserts inspected for cracks and grooving
- Reel seat threads run clean
- Joins test-fitted, ferrule fit noted
- Grip condition photographed honestly
Lures, line and terminal
- Hooks and split rings replaced, not resharpened
- Bibs and tow points checked for stress marks
- Used braid and mono are never resold — age is invisible
What the condition notes cover
The checks above are what we do. The condition notes on each listing are what we tell you. Where relevant, they cover:
- Scratches and cosmetic wear
- Reel body condition
- Spool condition
- Handle and bail condition
- Drag operation
- Bearings and moving parts
- Line condition
- Missing accessories
- Original packaging
- Known faults or limitations
We photograph our products as they are. Review the photos and condition notes carefully before purchasing — flaws we have already shown or described are not grounds for a return.
Three things we will not do
Use stock photography
Every photo on a used listing is the item you are buying, shot on the bench that week.
Crop out a fault
If there is a mark, it is in the photos and in the description. Both.
Resell used line
Age does not show on braid. It costs us a category and buys this page its credibility.
What if it does not match the description
Contact us as soon as you can and we will sort it. Getting the description wrong is our mistake, not yours, and the Consumer Guarantees Act covers you either way. The returns policy sets out exactly how that works.
Still not sure? Read the returns, condition and warranty policy