Free spirit a word of warning!!!!!

[spanielmad 4]

I would seriously advise anyone thinking of buying there products to be aware this is the worst company i have ever had the displeasure of dealing with in my entire life about 5 week ago my top section snapped while playing a fish so i contacted free spirit to arrange a replacement where i was told that they wouldnt deal with me direct i would have to go through one of there stockists so i went through walkers of trowell where i was told my rod would have to be sent off to see wether it will be covered through warranty as they weren't a year old yet after a few days i was told it would be replaced but there would be a admin charge of £25 fair enough i thought! Then every weekend for the next 3 consecutive weekends i was told by Walkers OT through free spirit that my top section would be here all to no avail so i rang free spirit up to see what the fook was happening explained that i'd been without my 3rd rod now for way to long and was getting very pissed off Dave (later to be known to me as honest Dave) who works for free spirit told me that because of the inconvenience and as a goodwill gesture the rod would be sent out directly to me and should arrive in the next couple of days so after a couple of days with still no rod i ring free spirit again to see whats happening where honest dave tells me that while he was off the lad who works there sent the rod directly to walkers by mistake apologised to me and said there was nothing he could do now as the shipment had already gone but it should be there tomorrow, so next afternoon i ring walkers suprise suprise still no rod day after ring again still no rod and again day after that still no rod so the guy from walkers who by the way were seeming to be getting as pissed off as me, rings free spirit where he was told that they had changed couriers but the top section along with other items had been sent and should be there shortly this was on the wednesday come saturday still no rod totally and utterly bemused and f****d right off now.. Anyway i received a call on monday from walkers to say they had rang free spirit where honest dave had assured him that the shipment containing my top section had left there place that monday morning and will be there tuesday come tuesday still no rod ... I received a phone call wednesday today the 17th to say that the rod had arrived cost £32 +vat as well as postage to be sent from walkers to me absolutely f****n fuming so i explained to the guy at walkers that i was told i would be charged £25 admin charge not f****n £40 after a short while i was told that, that was the fee they had been charged from free spirit so that is what i would have to pay + the postage charge what a f****n joke so to sum up after 5 week and more bullshit from honest dave than ive ever come across in my whole life, my rod has been replaced through warranty at a cost of the best part of £50 now im not one for slagging companies off but these James Hunts will never get another penny of me as long as i've got a hole in my arse

[LUMPHAMMER 324]

:laugh: Hahah kick in the Bollocks is what honest Dave needs.

 

All the best

[mudd dog 128]

Honest dave would need his tail salted if you ask me lol

[long dogs 580]

thats the service you get with these expensive rods feck paying 300 a rod

[WILF 46,645]

There in lies a warning to all potential buyers of Free Spirit, I beleive these are like many other rods, Jap imports.........so basically, they are just like any other mass production rod but with a massive price tag to fool any potential buyers into thinking they are getting a real quality, handmade type product.

 

My advice to anyone thinking of spending this type of money on rods is to always go for Century, Harrison or Simpsons of Turnford........I bet you would have got much better service from thew above companies as they make the rods and have the parts in England.

Many years ago, I broke the top section of one of the KMDT3s that I had, These are made by simpsons of turnford......even though they were no longer under warranty and I had bought them second hand to start with from a private seller, they replaced the top section there and then in the shop at a charge of £15!!

I am willing to bet you would get similar good service from the other English makers.

Edited August 23, 2011 by WILF

[MOO 730]

300 quid for a rod ...thats what happens when you buy cheap shit ...it breaks

[long dogs 580]

mine cost 70 each banging rods for the coin

[Plong 21]

Free Spirit rods are well over rated, the blanks are garbage there's better rods for half the money. Had a set of XS's looked just the job when I bought them, they went soft in no time worse carp rods I have ever owned. Got told Free Spirit pay around £11 a blank which are the same blanks TF Gear use on some of their rods.

[fin and fur 2]

I'm surprised that any company could even consider trading in this manner nowadays.

Such poor service should really be a thing of the past, i know of retailers who's policy would be to lend you a rod whilst yours was being repaired.

Sadly many manufacturers do charge an admin fee of £25-35 per section replaced, which i suspect is where they cover the cost of any claims.

[paddy polecat 129]

thats the service you get with these expensive rods feck paying 300 a rod

 

My thoughts exactly [bANNED TEXT], I recently tryed a fly rod which cost over 400 quid and I couldnt find any real improvement on my current rod which cost me £90, the only real difference between the two was the weight, with the more expensive rod being a bit lighter and having a slightly better quality cork handle but deffo not worth the higher price tag. I think these big priced rods from big named brands are more of a status symbol for anglers than anything else really.

[jamiew 11]

sorry to hear about your story,it might not be all free spirit, ive just got my free spirit marker butt section back which had a new eye fitted,its at least 10yrs old, free of charge atb jamiew