M
MarkTheSpark
Guest
Something in another thread prompted me to post separately on this issue. Is it just me, or do all tackle reviews start at 4 stars out of five and work upwards, and all tackle reviewers only ever get good gear?
I say this having reviewed a bit of tackle in my time, both in the days when I put together angling mags and later, when I got some freelance work with a mag.
Now, I can hold my head up high; I once went into print saying a rod rest and bite alarm were 'crap' and I can say with complete honesty I always got my misgivings about gear into print. Perhaps I was a little too kind sometimes and some benefit of the doubt was given.
I was asked to review some tackle for a mag a few years ago, when it appeared in print my criticism (of an extending fishing chair leg which kept collapsing) had been removed. When I asked why I was told it was because that particular chair leg was faulty, and that the other three legs worked (which was true).
But did the manufacturer have no chance to check what he was sending out for review? Isn't the point of reviews to identify inconsistent tackle?
I was also told by one editor that, when they came across crap tackle, they didn't review it. Why? Is that so the rest of us paying retail can find out for ourselves?
I'd be very interested to hear other anglers' views, particularly if they've bought something on the strength of a review and discovered it wasn't as described.
I say this having reviewed a bit of tackle in my time, both in the days when I put together angling mags and later, when I got some freelance work with a mag.
Now, I can hold my head up high; I once went into print saying a rod rest and bite alarm were 'crap' and I can say with complete honesty I always got my misgivings about gear into print. Perhaps I was a little too kind sometimes and some benefit of the doubt was given.
I was asked to review some tackle for a mag a few years ago, when it appeared in print my criticism (of an extending fishing chair leg which kept collapsing) had been removed. When I asked why I was told it was because that particular chair leg was faulty, and that the other three legs worked (which was true).
But did the manufacturer have no chance to check what he was sending out for review? Isn't the point of reviews to identify inconsistent tackle?
I was also told by one editor that, when they came across crap tackle, they didn't review it. Why? Is that so the rest of us paying retail can find out for ourselves?
I'd be very interested to hear other anglers' views, particularly if they've bought something on the strength of a review and discovered it wasn't as described.