Chromed Bait/Boat Guides - 3 sizes, 1 each

Here's something nice from the German collection we picked up last year: Three sizes, one each, of chrome plated bait or boat rod guides (the smaller two could easily double as strippers on larger flyrods).  These vintage (NOS) guides are beautiful and frames are finely formed The sizes are merely approximate because only one guide from each bag was measured; The chrome plating varries mildly within the lot from bright to a semi-matte and the representive photo reflects this as best as possible.  Included in this lot are:

1x 24mm OD x 16mm ID; 1.175" tall x 2.355" long

1x 15mm OD x 9.5mm ID; 0.775" tall x 1.690" long

1x 13mm OD x 9mm ID; 0.770" tall x 1.710" long

Value for these fine guides?  $2.00 - $3.00/each; over $7.00 for the lot.

To our valued eBay Buyers,

Having recently fielded several private inquiries regarding three particular topics, I would like to explain our shipping policy, our combined Golden Witch retail/eBay order policy, and our eBay ‘code of ethics,’ for lack of a better term, to all of our valued eBay clients. Erica & I want you to understand where we stand.

Shipping Fees: Our U.S. shipping fee covers Priority Mail service, which is quick and reliable, plus Delivery Confirmation, so we can track lost packages if need be. We want our buyers to receive their packages sooner than they expect, which eliminates a lot of headaches spent tracing ‘lost’ packages which, in fact, are only delayed by the mails. The fee also covers packing materials and the expense of paying the GW staff good wages to professionally package our auction items. Last but not least, it helps us to recoup a portion of the listing fee, the final value fee, and the PayPal fee. At the end of the day, we make no money on the shipping fee, but it does allow us to operate a professional service and have some hope of being in this business for years to come. We are not in the game of discounting, either through eBay or through our retail shop, primarily because my wife and I do plan to remain in the component business for a lifetime.

All of our auctions are up-front about U.S. shipping fees and we do allow, and encourage, folks to combine wins over any seven day period which usually will result in a much lower shipping fee (nickel silver bar stock and a few other items are exceptions). Overseas shipping will be by Parcel Post Air, which, though more expensive than Letter Post Air for tiny component packages, can be insured. Shipping fees are non-negotiable; if you have questions regarding overseas packages, please get an estimate prior to bidding.

I sincerely hope you find some merit in this explanation. Further, I hope the service we provide outweighs the cost and that you’ll continue to do business with us.

GW Retail/EBay Combined Orders: Please understand that Golden Witch and our eBay operation are separate entities. All eBay auctions are listed from the computer that is distant from the GW inventory. From this computer, Erica & I have little access to the GW retail shop inventory so we cannot answer shop-oriented emails here and will always refer GW inventory and/or technical questions back to the GW shop where we have a staff whose job it is to help you with these questions. Furthermore, we have no interest in violating eBay’s policies regarding the use of their venue to sell products outside their venue. While we are more than happy to combine shop orders with eBay orders, it must be done through the shop, not through eBay/Paypal. To combine orders, please DO NOT pay by Paypal because we will package and ship these purchases almost immediately and cannot go back and add them to a shop order even if that is placed the same day. Instead, place your shop order and let our staff know at that time which item(s) you have won on eBay. It is your responsibility to let our staff know your eBay username, the item description, and the lot (or item) number for items you’d like combined with your retail order. We have opened an eBay store and over time we will list a growing number of our retail products on this website. If you need regularly stocked components at retail prices, check here first; if there is something from our regular shop inventory you’d like us to add to the eBay store, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

EBay Ethics: First and foremost, please do not ask us to violate eBay policies – we will not do it, nor will we respond to questions of this sort any longer. We will not, ever, close auctions early unless we discover that the item we’re listing has been broken (cracked agate, snapped blank, etc.) since it was originally listed. We will not mis-label parcels, regarding either contents or value, when shipping overseas. We will not tell you what we’re going to list next on eBay; All eBay auction transactions are a gamble for us and we generally choose to take this gamble only on overstock or close-out merchandise, all of which has been formally removed from the GW shop inventory. If you need a specific product, please call the GW Shop – or visit our new eBay store - and expect to pay retail; only by charging retail can we afford the staff required to operate a small, service oriented shop, the benefits of which accrue in heaps to all of our valued clients. If you read our feedback, you’ll see quite a few kind words about our packing and shipping – that’s a tribute to our staff at GW.

In the end, we want you, our Buyers, to be happy with us as your Seller. We work very, very hard to constantly earn our good reputation and insofar as you extend to us your business, we will remain in business to extend to you our good products and good service.

With kind regards always,

Russ & Erica

PS – As an aside, Tom Kirkman penned an article, “Crisis In The Rod Building Industry” in the current issue (Vol. 7, #6) of RodMaker Magazine which every rod maker should read. In brief, the legitimate component vendors are being driven out of business by hordes of discounters. Too many manufacturers and importers support the concept of “any dealer at any cost” rather than supporting their service-oriented dealers. Without earning fair margins for top shelf products, we – speaking of quality component suppliers in general, not just of ourselves – will spend our efforts elsewhere to provide our families with a viable quality of life. Every time you make a purchasing decision, please consider the ramifications when you are faced with the choice between buying a discounted (and often, though not always, a lower quality) component from one source vs. buying a functionally equivalent component (often of higher quality) from a company that is dedicated to the art and craft of rodmaking. Please support the retailers who offer you support in return, whether that support comes to you in the form of quality products, technical assistance, prompt shipping or whatever else you deem to be of value other than merely low price.