Stay AWAY from any kind of commerce that has its counterpart in any african country. I saw a very interesting report on 60 minutes last year about the miriad of scams coming out from Africa.
They just come up with whatever story to get your credit card info or even think you’re stupid and pretend that you mail them or bank transfer them huge amounts of money. Every time they are a scam.
They, somehow, read your email and invent a story from there to get you hooked, kind of like matching the hatch!!
Now, to reply to the forum:
I tie every fly I fish, even sell some to friends and, from time to time, desperate spinners getting blanked that decide to give them a try on their short rods!!
It is, for me, way more expensive to buy them.
I can tie 4-10 flies/hour, depending on the pattern, and although I tie lots and lots of the patterns I use the most, I often make my day with 2-3 flies and some of them end up being fished again and again. So, for me, no online shpping for flies, just tying and I’m loving it.
The next time you fellows order from a great fly supplier you like, how about asking them WHY they aren’t a Sponsor on FAOL? Hill’s Discount flies, AND troutflies.com are.
A request for information has turned into a very interesting post in a number of ways. I wish that more non-tyers would share their yearly fly cost with us. I doubt it would make me feel better about my yearly tying materials cost but it would certainly be interesting. I should add that Hook and Hackle has a ten-foot, bronze statue of me just outside their mail order entrance.
I would second dphotaco’s warning about African emails and offers. Scams seem to be the main computers export of that area. Aside from the diamond mine scams, gold mine scams, king of some country scams, billion dollar inheritance scams, they have added a new wrinkle. Last week, I opened a diamonds-for-free email just for laughs and my virus protection caught some Trojan horse called “Steal It” or “Stealer”. I can’t imagine sending my credit card number over there voluntarily.
Bamboozle, I have just one quick suggestion. If you don’t like making poppers, try tying some gurgle pops. They’re quicker to tie than regular flies (except maybe San Juan Worms). They are durable and CATCH FISH. At $2-3 apiece, poppers start to add up quickly. Two or three bucks will tie you several dozen Gurgle Pops. I tie them from #12 to #2/0. Great fly all the way around. 8T
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
Hey there DPHOTOCO;
Just love your analogy " kinda like matching the hatch" when describing the connection between scammer and scamee. It will be used by me and YOU will get absolutely NO credit.
So there!
I have used Hills & was very well satisfied.
As far as “on-line” goes, if I know an individual, I will open it. ANY email from a company (even those I do business with), I DO NOT open!..here’s what I do & I have had no problem:
1-unless interested, I immediately delete without opening.
2-If interested, I will write down the website they want you to click on, then delete the email & go open their site or research.
3-Even companies I do business with, I delete the email & go to the website. Very infrequently, & ONLY if I have a well established relationship/trust with the company & ONLY if it’s an “email only” special (I believe Cabelas has some) will I open.
4-I will NEVER, EVER open an unsolicited offshore email!
You’ve got to be careful…the webs’ door is open to anyone!
Mike