Berkley/Pure Fishing Customer Service!!!!!

[Rangerman]

I recently purchased a spool of the new Berkley Fluoro 15lb to try. I have been using fluoro for several years without any problems. For whatever reason I got a bad spool and it cost me some money during a recent tournament. No problem, I understand things happen. However, after thinking about it I decided to contact them to let them know what had happened. They basically treated me like I did not know what I was doing and told me use a different knot and if that did not work to try a different knot. That was their emailed response, short and to the point. You could tell they were talking down to me (snobby, like I had no clue). Needless to say, I was not happy about their response. In the meantime, one of their competitors got word of my problem and offered to take care of their situation. Within days I got a brand new spool Vicious fluorocarbon line 15lb. Talk about customer service!!!! Just to get my point across, I responded to let Berkley know that somone else had taken care of it. They began to apologize all over themselves saying that was only the first step. How was I supposed to know that since nothing in the email stated otherwise such as they would follow-up or let them know, etc? Oh, and so now they want to take care of me and my problem. Nope, not in this lifetime! They decided to send me a "care package" for my trouble after they acknowledged their mistake. I got it in the mail and it included a couple $5 rebates off fishing line (which you can get at any bait store), a berkley sticker, a walleye harness with a couple berkley worms and a texas rig kit with a couple hooks & worms!!!! I guess this is to make up for the $20 worth of crappy line I bought! WOW!!! Needless to say I will not be buying anymore Berkley Line.

Thanks to Vicious for stepping up and taking care of someone elses problem. They know how to take care of people and their customer service is excellent!!! Also, after one day of use with Vicious Fluoro, I am very impressed, this stuff is tough with great knot strength. Even better, the price is about half of most of the other fluorocarbons and you get 50 yards more to boot.

I just thought I would pass this info along as food for thought the next time you make a line purchase. Looks to me like Berkley is getting too big for their britches!

[Col Forbin]

Sorry you had a bad experience with them. Personally, I really like the 100% Fuoro, and have not had any problems with it. However, I have recently discovered that the Seaguar invisX is hard to beat. But I am putting Trilene 100% at a close second.

[lizardking]

So Rangerman what do you think of that Vicious... whats it cost...
where can I get it?

Thanks

[Harley]

Sorry to hear that their email was no help. my only experience was when I had a problem with spiderwire mono. I called them and explained my problem. after they verified the date on the spool wasn't expired, they offered a few suggestions on different knots to try. the next day I got a call to get my address and they sent my 8 spools of Trilene Maxx. I didn't even expect anything like that and didn't even ask for it. I guess I just got a good support person or got really lucky. Since then I've been using 100% Fluoro and I love it. I haven't tried Vicious or Seagar. I try to stick with US made products but it is hard with fishin stuff.

[TR21Bassin]

Vicious is the only line that I've used the last 3 years and its all I will use. Vicious is also 100% made in the USA, at least I think Alabama is still in the US. I'm not sure about the line in question but a lot of Berkley's line is produced overseas and Berkley just respools in the US.

Charlie

[Rangerman]

So Rangerman what do you think of that Vicious... whats it cost...
where can I get it?

Thanks

There is a lot more to this than what can be explained in a post but trust me it was handled horribly. It was so bad I question whether it was the company or just a bad individual in customer service. I have always liked Berkley products (non-line related) and do not want this to affect my judgement. I'm tempted to call and speak to the customer service manager, just to find out and let them know how it was handled. However, I hate to keep beating a dead horse.

My favorite fluorocarbon is Sunline FC Sniper but it is expensive and hard to get. My next favorite is Seagar Invis-X. Both are great lines! I will have to say that the Vicious, after only one day of use, is very impressive. Time will tell if it is the real deal, but so far I am very happy. From what I saw, Vicious was running around $11 for 250 yards versus the Berkley which was running around $18-$19 for 200 yards. Also, like someone else said it is American made, Tennessee I think.

Oh well, just venting.

[thebassman30]

I recently purchased a spool of the new Berkley Fluoro 15lb to try. I have been using fluoro for several years without any problems. For whatever reason I got a bad spool and it cost me some money during a recent tournament. No problem, I understand things happen. However, after thinking about it I decided to contact them to let them know what had h

Remember to post your info on these. I agree with you. I remember when Berkley was stellar and replaced rods for free like Loomis but without the shipping. Remember you just sent back the busted rod in the tube they sent to you in.

Now, I think I have a Berkley digital scale.

Their 8lb fluoro breaks inside 6 lb with a perfectly tied Palomar or so says their scale...lol.

Great thread guys! Does BPS carry the Vicious? How do you all feel about XPS brand.

[MarkW]

Everybody or I should say that every company has probably made a bad spool of line or two. I have recently tried the Berkley 100% Flouro and I really like it-----don't like the price, but like the line. Casts great,strong and hardly any memory and very,very sensitive.
Now, Vicious, is ok--just ok. Not trying to knock them, but the first few spools I got were not so great. The line seem to shred alot while fishing around rocks or any cover. It had horrible memory---which is why I was glad it was cheap, because you had to constantly replace it and I also heard that art the end of last year, they had a bad batch of flouro too. So, I may have got that---I don't know. Vicious is cheap and you get wehat you pay for. Not the best out there, but not the worse either.

Flourocarbon in general is a "high maintenance" fishing line and it's expensive, so once you realize that and understand that---then it's all ok. You have to respool alot, check your line constantly and retie alot!!!!!

But to this day, the Berkley 100% Flouro seems to be the best!
I have only tried Vanish---crap!
Bass Pro XPS Flouro---ok, but kind of stiff and alot of memory,
Viscious---again, ok not great
Seaguar---not impressed at all
P-Line---never liked that stuff---regular or flouro!

Guess that's it!
I just hope that Berkley will lower their prices one day on the 100% stuff.
Supposedly Skeet Reese and some of the other pro's have been using 100% Flouro for about 3 years until they released it to the public. Skeet did get angler of the year using that line---so, it kind of makes you wonder.
Oh yeah---Boyd Duckett won the classic , supposedly using that line too. Who knows?

[Col Forbin]

[QUOTE=MarkW;327379]
Flourocarbon in general is a "high maintenance" fishing line and it's expensive, so once you realize that and understand that---then it's all ok. You have to respool alot, check your line constantly and retie alot!!!!!

Seaguar---not impressed at all

QUOTE]

I find myself re-spooling fluoro much less often than mono. It doesn't show the wear and tear that mono would, it is much more durable, especially around rocks and cover. I have found that twists or kinks in the line can be the end of that spool.

Also, just wanted to know if you have tried Seaguar's InvisX - it is way better than the carbon-pro, and I think it is up there or better than the 100%. I would give that a try if you haven't - otherwise I think your review of the fluoro's out there is dead on.

[MarkW]

No I have not tried the InvisX---it was the carbon pro of years past. I sure hope it's better. How is it as far as price? Where's the best place to buy it.
That's the other problem---good flourocarbon is hard to find. Well, around Louisville it is. Bass Pro carries some---but not some of the better stuff. They are too busy pushing their own brand---which is ok, but not the best that is out there.

[dc chopper]

Never had a problem with p line but plenty with both berkley and stren

[EtecRanger205]

If you get the opportunity to try High-seas Flourocarbon, I think you will like it. I use it and use a palomar knot, works fine and also lasts a lot longer than mono.