I sold some rods on here a few weeks back. One of them, a swimbait rod was picked up face-to-face on October 11th. The rod was very lightly used, I'm the original owner and it was never put in a rod locker or even been on the/a boat. I used it to fish some mid-sized swimbaits (Roman Made Negotiators). It's been sitting in my office in a rack for the last 2-3 years until I listed it for sale. I put it in the back of my SUV to meet the guy down the street at a Chipotle, handed it to him, he put it in the cab of his F150 and that was that.

16 days later, on the 27th I got a text from the guy who bought it saying it broke on the first cast, and he wants his money back or it replaced at my cost. He said he was casting a small A-rig and it just broke.

I've fished my entire life, worked in the bass fishing industry for almost 20 years now so I know that it didn't just break on a cast without having been damaged first. So either it was damaged when I gave it to him, in an incident that I'm not aware of and neither of us noticed it, or something happened to it in the 2.5 weeks between me handing it to him and him making his first cast.

What's the proper course of action here?

Caveat emptor

Ive bought lots of used items from guys. I never assumed there was a warranty or return policy.

I think dude has some nerve to ask for a refund.

That said, its your call. Trickey situation. Id tell him sorry...kick rocks.

Maybe offer him a partial refund? Idk man

Was it an "as is" sale? Then you do not have to do anything, but I highly suspect he DID abuse it somehow which he will never ever admit. My Daiwa Eliminator 13" rod was broken by my hubby when he tripped over it while we were fishing. It is still in the shed broken. It caught a ton of fish from stripers to catfish.

There were never any terms like that specifically discussed.

I'd bet you a dollar to a rolling donut that there was nothing wrong with the rod and that the guy broke it himself.

Follow your gut.

Used is as is....kick rocks

If it was a Loomis or Dobyns or one that has a comparable replacement policy you could consider splitting the cost with him for replacement. If he acts like a jerk you legally owe him nothing. Let your conscious be your guide.

If I knew it was a solid piece I would tell him to kick rocks.

Sounds like an as-is deal to me, then.

Not uncommon for a defective rod to break within the first few uses. You didn�t mention brand but if it�s still under warranty offer to pay the shipping. If not, oh well that�s the chance you take buying out of the back of a truck.

No way, you knew the rods shape... Question his skills as a fisherman or the way he handled the rod after he bought it. No way would I give a refund...