It’s 21st December today and I’m sat here thinking that I wish the people who were supposed to be collecting some eBay purchases from me were here, as I need to get out and get my wife a Christmas card!
And a present, maybe.
There’s no getting away from it; angling is a male-dominated sport. More and more women seem to be getting into angling, which is great, but the vast majority of the angling public are male. Therefore, it’s probably safe to say that I’m not the only angler who hasn’t done his Christmas shopping yet. Men are useless when it comes to organisation and shopping. It’s a scientific fact (probably). Mind you, I’ve started….a while back, I was doing my daily check of the eBay Deal Of The Day and found a little something for the wife. I’m not saying what it is here, in case she sees this article and the surprise is ruined, but you’ll find mention of it in our forum area.
As time is of the essence, here are a few tips for those of you still looking to get an online bargain. This is an angling site, but the principles apply to all kinds of online shopping:
Magazine Subscriptions
Magazine subscriptions are great all-year-round gifts, but are also probably the best last-minute gift there is. If you click here, you’ll see the list of titles available at Great Magazines and get an idea of what’s on offer.
The great thing about magazine subscriptions is that you, literally, can leave it to the last minute and print off the receipt, or create your own kind of ‘certificate’, to tell the recipient what you’ve bought them. Their ‘present’ then starts with the next issue and they get a reminder of just how generous you’ve been every time the latest issue lands on their doorstep!
Of course, the biggest bonus for many subscribers is that you often receive a free gift, too.
If you’re buying a magazine subscription for an angler, then Great Magazines handle Angling Times, Sea Angler, Improve Your Coarse Fishing, Trout & Salmon and Tout Fisherman. However, that’s just a tiny selection of what they do, as the range covers all ages and passions. Titles include FHM, Max Power, Heat, Match, Garden Answers, Practical Photography, Kerrang! and many more!
CLICK HERE to visit Great Magazines.
Amazon
There was a time when Amazon just sold books. Nowadays, it seems to sell just about everything under the sun! And yes, I did find plenty of cheap fishing tackle on there.
Being one of the biggest online retailers in existence, they boast the sort of delivery infrastructure that many can only dream of. Therefore, Amazon are always worth a look.
When buying from Amazon, you are given a delivery date. I realise that circumstances can change, such as sever weather hampering deliveries, but Amazon are generally pretty good.
One thing I would say is to make sure that you are dealing direct with Amazon and get that delivery date confirmed, if you’re in a rush. Some third-party companies sell on Amazon and may not be as on-the-ball as Amazon themselves. If you’re dealing with one of them, take a few minutes to check their track record before committing to your purchase.
CLICK HERE to visit Amazon UK today.
Fishing Tackle
My advice with regards to fishing tackle suppliers, if you want goods in a hurry, would be to ensure one that has a next day delivery courier service. Most fishing tackle suppliers are one-man (or one-shop) bands and rely heavy on Royal Mail. Most of the time, this is fine, but unless they offer a courier or Royal Mail Special Delivery, you may struggle at this busy time of year.
I’ve had a quick look at some of the sites Anglers’ Net is affiliated to, and here’s the score:
TackleBargains – CLICK HERE – offer an express carrier service. It seems to cost just a couple of quid mre than the usual service, so use it! They also have a ‘gift idea’ page if you’re buying for an angler.
Trev’s Tackle – CLICK HERE – offer a ‘Next Day Parcel Post Service priced at £8.00’. Again, worth the extra peace of mind. Also have a sale starting Boxing Day.
Fishtec – CLICK HERE – offer a ’24hr Courier Service (guaranteed next day) Mainland orders only – £9.95′. Well worth the extra payment. Current sale has up to 60% off.
Lathams – CLICK HERE – there’s a notice on their homepage that states, “Christmas Delivery – We will endeavour to deliver all orders over £50 placed before the 23rd December within 24 hours.” With their reputation for excellent service, I don’t doubt it. They have been recommended by many visitors to Anglers’ Net! Current sale has up to 75% off.
eBay
I must admit that I do a lot of my shopping on eBay these days. I rarely get involved in auctions, preferring the ‘Buy It Now’ fixed price sales.
There’s no blanket advice for eBay. Check out what options each individual seller offers AND then check their feedback to make sure they live up to their promises!
It’s well worth keeping an eye on their ‘Deal Of The Day’ offers over the festive period. These are featured on their homepage – CLICK HERE – and are massively discounted items that also come with free delivery.
Also, bookmark www.Cheap-Bargains.co.uk and click on this one whenever you can. It will help you grab some superb cheap eBay bargains. These are generally even better value over Christmas, as the nation tends to be somewhat sidetracked with huge dinners and repeats of The Great Escape, leaving many items going begging on eBay!
And Finally….
If you want a list of places to buy just about anything, please CLICK HERE and bookmark the page. Any purchases made via that page help keep Anglers’ Net going.
The UK, like most economies, has taken a financial battering this year. If you find that you have a few pounds left over, they may well go a lot further than you thought, so see if you can put a little time aside to grab a bargain this Christmas.
Happy shopping and tight lines,
Elton
