Chinese circle hooks.

[Cwab]

Interested in peoples thoughts/experiences on the ones you can buy direct from china at a good ( to me) price compared to some badged uk brands costing perhaps double or more. Have used maybe 200 now with no probs and only use for one session and have applied serious stress without probs. Though some sharper than others.

 

[J Richards]

Lets face it, most hooks are rebranded(like most things) just depends on the quality of where you buy them from in the first place.
Pretty sure you can get an exact copy if you know where to look. As long as they are sharp and strong then happy days. I’m not too bothered with sea hooks. Bit more picky for carp fishing.

 

[Cwab]

Lets face it, most hooks are rebranded(like most things) just depends on the quality of where you buy them from in the first place.
Pretty sure you can get an exact copy if you know where to look. As long as they are sharp and strong then happy days. I’m not too bothered with sea hooks. Bit more picky for carp fishing.

Totally agree but was looking at some brands as run short and takes a while to arrive from china ( stupid of me ) and some £4 plus for x5 when x100 from china around £12 including shipping?

 

[J Richards]

Totally agree but was looking at some brands as run short and takes a while to arrive from china ( stupid of me ) and some £4 plus for x5 when x100 from china around £12 including shipping?

I know mate. Bought some 8/0 circles on Friday £8.99 for 5. Mental.
I’d say if you can wait then do. Or sharpen some of the older ones. I sharpen them the blob then vaseline to stop the points rusting. Some of mine in my box are 3/4 years old. I find i can get them sharper than are from the packed, takes time but saves alot of cash.

 

[kevothefish]

90% of the circles you see being sold online are made in the Far East and as Cwab said above most hooks are rebranded.

 

[Cwab]

I know mate. Bought some 8/0 circles on Friday £8.99 for 5. Mental.
I’d say if you can wait then do. Or sharpen some of the older ones. I sharpen them the blob then vaseline to stop the points rusting. Some of mine in my box are 3/4 years old. I find i can get them sharper than are from the packed, takes time but saves alot of cash.

Good info on the lube

 

[Wolf]

My mate bought some they were crap he put them straight in the bin,after he cut them into bits .

 

[Cwab]

My mate bought some they were crap he put them straight in the bin,after he cut them into bits .

That is unfortunate I will be mindful and stick with my source

 

[Wolf]

That is unfortunate I will be mindful and stick with my source

Don't blame you mate .

 

[Cwab]

Don't blame you mate .

In some ways was wanting to hear more negative feedback as cannot understand the price difference, though i might have been lucky so far. But there again must be hard maybe for tackle shops to survive given what china can offer and maybe I should not buy them

 

[crablante]

Is it not possible to buy larger packs in UK? For example Veals sells breakaway fastlink clips: 10 for £1.95 (or 50 for £8.50)

 

[blakdog is back]

In some ways was wanting to hear more negative feedback as cannot understand the price difference, though i might have been lucky so far. But there again must be hard maybe for tackle shops to survive given what china can offer and maybe I should not buy them

Here we go again.

So you want negatives ... the first has to be that you are NEVER buying from someone that has any input into the end product they are selling. You may be told you are buying from a manufacturer or that stuff is made to their spec but in China that doesn't happen with the small scale sellers ... and most of the people you will be dealing with for orders of consumer quantities are going to be small. Even on a fairly large scale you are dealing with middle men who source the products you want on demand at as near to the spec you want. Its very common to put in repeat orders and end up with a piece of kit from a completely different manufacturer so when you do find a good quality product there is no promise that the next order will be same.

If you are buying from a large western distributor they will be selling Chinese made products but are much more likely to be dealing directly with the factory that makes it as they are ordering numbers that only a large manufacturer has the capacity (or financial capacity) to provide. The other advantage of buying from a western importer is the fact that they are bound by western laws ... people forget that when you buy from a UK company you qualify for (highly beneficial) UK consumer protection whereas when you buy from China you pretty much get no consumer protection whatsoever. And before anybody jumps in about the guarantees on the likes of Aliexpress ... they are rarely something you can depend on, in my experience Chinese companies are general very hostile to making refunds.

People constantly bang on about western sellers ripping people off but a part of that extra price relates to all the costs involved in being a western retailer ... we get everything from import duty (larger commercial imports do not slip under the net like your couple of hundred hooks) to having to charge VAT and a UK postage charge. The Chinese get a government subsidised postal service and don't care if it falls to bits 5 minutes after arriving.

Ultimately not much of a risk on small things but I don't see the sense in taking risks on more expensive stuff ... and I wouldn't trust any western brand for sale on a Chinese site such as Aliexpress ... so many people will argue the sky is green with red dots before they will admit that they are buying fakes but that won't change the facts ... if its a European, US, Japanese brand for sale in China it's a fake ... simple as.

 

[Cwab]

Here we go again.

So you want negatives ... the first has to be that you are NEVER buying from someone that has any input into the end product they are selling. You may be told you are buying from a manufacturer or that stuff is made to their spec but in China that doesn't happen with the small scale sellers ... and most of the people you will be dealing with for orders of consumer quantities are going to be small. Even on a fairly large scale you are dealing with middle men who source the products you want on demand at as near to the spec you want. Its very common to put in repeat orders and end up with a piece of kit from a completely different manufacturer so when you do find a good quality product there is no promise that the next order will be same.

If you are buying from a large western distributor they will be selling Chinese made products but are much more likely to be dealing directly with the factory that makes it as they are ordering numbers that only a large manufacturer has the capacity (or financial capacity) to provide. The other advantage of buying from a western importer is the fact that they are bound by western laws ... people forget that when you buy from a UK company you qualify for (highly beneficial) UK consumer protection whereas when you buy from China you pretty much get no consumer protection whatsoever. And before anybody jumps in about the guarantees on the likes of Aliexpress ... they are rarely something you can depend on, in my experience Chinese companies are general very hostile to making refunds.

People constantly bang on about western sellers ripping people off but a part of that extra price relates to all the costs involved in being a western retailer ... we get everything from import duty (larger commercial imports do not slip under the net like your couple of hundred hooks) to having to charge VAT and a UK postage charge. The Chinese get a government subsidised postal service and don't care if it falls to bits 5 minutes after arriving.

Ultimately not much of a risk on small things but I don't see the sense in taking risks on more expensive stuff ... and I wouldn't trust any western brand for sale on a Chinese site such as Aliexpress ... so many people will argue the sky is green with red dots before they will admit that they are buying fakes but that won't change the facts ... if its a European, US, Japanese brand for sale in China it's a fake ... simple as.

Thanks for the info appreciated and to be fair when first had a punt on a few hooks did not expect much but was pleasantly surprised as mostly all razor sharp and fit for purpose and arrived way under delivery time and very well packaged.
To make matters worse they have performed well in the roughest of ground but only get used once though, have found braid from china for fishing rough ground also faultless.
Was informed by one importer of optical products that they will make anything within reason but communication paramount and must state exactly and precisely your specification leaving nothing to chance.

 

[chesilpete]

So we spent 500 on a rod, 200 on a reel another few hundred on sundries, they 50 quids worth of bait n fuel........ then buy cheap hooks, I cannot ever get my head around these discussions.
Buy the best, it's a only thing the fish touches!.
I can change hooks twice in a session if they are remotely damaged.
Why why why why why ..... we're talking a quid jeeeez!

 

[GPSguru]

90% of the circles you see being sold online are made in the Far East and as Cwab said above most hooks are rebranded.

The best hooks are made in Japan, and they have a surprising foothold in the market, even though being a tad more expensive.

 

[groundswell]

So we spent 500 on a rod, 200 on a reel another few hundred on sundries, they 50 quids worth of bait n fuel........ then buy cheap hooks, I cannot ever get my head around these discussions.
Buy the best, it's a only thing the fish touches!.
I can change hooks twice in a session if they are remotely damaged.
Why why why why why ..... we're talking a quid jeeeez!

But do we ?

 

[Trampster]

Whilst I readily accept that a whole bunch of stuff is made in China nowadays, I try to avoid dealing direct with Chinese sellers.
I got ripped off on AliExpress some time ago, and would sooner buy tackle from UK online retailers like Veals, although usually on eBay.
Chinese sellers on eBay are great at trying to hide their address (against eBay policy), but if an item is maked as "UK stock", it's usually a Chinese seller.

 

[Cwab]

So we spent 500 on a rod, 200 on a reel another few hundred on sundries, they 50 quids worth of bait n fuel........ then buy cheap hooks, I cannot ever get my head around these discussions.
Buy the best, it's a only thing the fish touches!.
I can change hooks twice in a session if they are remotely damaged.
Why why why why why ..... we're talking a quid jeeeez!

For clarity, from my perspective Pete the point was to establish if they are well made ( or at least some) at the price point compared to more expensive hooks which you would hope would be of better quality, but so far have found both fit for purpose which did not really expect. Have had branded hooks snap on the lift of decent fish but these things happen, also for type of fishing I do it is an advantage for a hook to bend when pulling for a brake in heavy kelp with braid, which again some branded hooks will do but under severe stress. The price difference is actually nearer £50 than a “quid”in what I experienced and numbers involved which provoked my personal thoughts and post.
Clearly to buy substandard or cheap anything been false economy but to me £50 is a huge difference and trying to establish some facts, for last decade used varivas hooks and very happy.
Have listened to several heated debates on the merits and prices of afaw rods and provenance of the blanks and profit margins which all was very ( to me) interesting.
Not loyal to any particular brand of rod and use century and afaw at moment as they do what I want and we’re handy to buy at time. Hope this gives perspective to Post 1.

 

[crablante]

Whilst I readily accept that a whole bunch of stuff is made in China nowadays, I try to avoid dealing direct with Chinese sellers.
I got ripped off on AliExpress some time ago, and would sooner buy tackle from UK online retailers like Veals, although usually on eBay.
Chinese sellers on eBay are great at trying to hide their address (against eBay policy), but if an item is maked as "UK stock", it's usually a Chinese seller.

Must keep your wits about you - even then ripoffs will still happen

I bought 4 reel handle knobs on AliExpress and very happy with them. I also bought 2 bicycle seatposts on AliExpress and very sad with them.

 

[Beach]

Here we go again.

So you want negatives ... the first has to be that you are NEVER buying from someone that has any input into the end product they are selling. You may be told you are buying from a manufacturer or that stuff is made to their spec but in China that doesn't happen with the small scale sellers ... and most of the people you will be dealing with for orders of consumer quantities are going to be small. Even on a fairly large scale you are dealing with middle men who source the products you want on demand at as near to the spec you want. Its very common to put in repeat orders and end up with a piece of kit from a completely different manufacturer so when you do find a good quality product there is no promise that the next order will be same.

If you are buying from a large western distributor they will be selling Chinese made products but are much more likely to be dealing directly with the factory that makes it as they are ordering numbers that only a large manufacturer has the capacity (or financial capacity) to provide. The other advantage of buying from a western importer is the fact that they are bound by western laws ... people forget that when you buy from a UK company you qualify for (highly beneficial) UK consumer protection whereas when you buy from China you pretty much get no consumer protection whatsoever. And before anybody jumps in about the guarantees on the likes of Aliexpress ... they are rarely something you can depend on, in my experience Chinese companies are general very hostile to making refunds.

People constantly bang on about western sellers ripping people off but a part of that extra price relates to all the costs involved in being a western retailer ... we get everything from import duty (larger commercial imports do not slip under the net like your couple of hundred hooks) to having to charge VAT and a UK postage charge. The Chinese get a government subsidised postal service and don't care if it falls to bits 5 minutes after arriving.

Ultimately not much of a risk on small things but I don't see the sense in taking risks on more expensive stuff ... and I wouldn't trust any western brand for sale on a Chinese site such as Aliexpress ... so many people will argue the sky is green with red dots before they will admit that they are buying fakes but that won't change the facts ... if its a European, US, Japanese brand for sale in China it's a fake ... simple as.

At least with Temu if you are careful on what you buy, they do give refunds as well.