Hello Ray,

I was actually one of the guys working on the Browning Pole Alley at the Big One show.

I echo what Chris has said, Browning carry a large selection of spares and from personnel (and our teams) experience when I broke a section I ordered it on the Monday and had the section on the Thursday. All spares are now held centrally in Germany and Browning use UPS to deliver.

Obviously ALL companies from time to time can run out of certain items, it’s the same with everything nowadays, however Browning really try to have as much spare sections in stock as possible to supply what has become one of the best spares services there is now (when was the last time you saw a thread on a forum saying someone had been waiting X amount of months for a spare section from Browning)…

Back to the Pole, at the Big One Show it was the first time I had seen the Z8. I had a bit of time before the show opened on the Saturday Morning (about an hour in fact), So I had the pole up at various lengths and I was impressed, the pole and spares package for the price is very good indeed there was hardly any difference compared to my Z9. The Z8 has all the features of the Z12, like as you said pre-bushed single length kits, choice of tip diameters with or without pullers, 3 reversible pole protectors, spare no. 3 sections, short No.3 section (same as what most will know as no.4 sections), 6 tube holdall, strengthened stress points, diamond surface.

As for shops with a browning account put your postcode in to this web-site and it will show you your nearest shops http://zebco-europe.biz/en/store-locator.html

Or send an e-mail to [email protected] and they will help you.

Hope this helps

Tight lines

Mick

The fact that these dealers did not have accounts does show their bias in the response.

I have had Browning Poles since the 7500, 909, 910 X 3, Club France and now Z12, so just a bit of experience with them you could say.

True in the past have struggled on occasion, but recently they appear to have turned the brand around and the fact that the Z12 was pole of the year underpins the change.

All Brands have issues from time to time without doubt and manufacturing overseas is at the route of this and a lot depends if they can afford to carry UK stocks.

Me? I have broke sections on the bank Saturday, rang up and had replacements by the Thursday, not I may add equipment fault.

It helps if you can have some contact with th elocal Rep. Get him to come down to your local and demo the pole they will help if they can, so if you do have issues they have a face & a name, even if you are working through your shop…

Just as a point I am not sponsored, though perhaps given the cash I spend I ought to be…. no problems with Browning at all…..

Hi All
Reading many reviews like these and after long debates on what pole to buy next, a visit to the big one, I was finally tempted to go back to a Browning pole the Z8.
At the show I tried the Z6, Z8 & Z12 and at 13m they all performed well.
At 14.5m you could tell the difference between the Z6 &Z8 but the Z8 & Z12 were very difficult to tell the difference with eyes shut and swapping between the two, but at 16m you could immediately tell the difference.
However when I looked at how many times I’ve fished at 16m the past year I felt I could bear the extra weight and hold the Z8 at 16m and so couldn’t justify the extra money just for 2 or three times a year.
All the reviews pointed to the Z8 as the correct pole for me and the types of commercial fisheries I attend on a regular basis.
I put aside my bad experiences of spares availability and delivery problems after reading numerous reviews and talking to various Browning Reps saying this was no longer an issue and told of a 3 to 5 day turn around on a new pole ,so bit the bullet ordered a new Z8 last Thursday 05/09/2013 and was told should be here in 3 to 5 days.
However now into day 6 and I just called to chase my supplier only to find out it still has not arrived and is now due in sometime tomorrow 12/09/2013.
I am not a name dropper so will only say I spoke to the Rep this morning who said it should be delivered sometime today 11/09/2013.
Don’t know if this is Brownings fault or a supplier issue but I hope I don’t get a bad experience again.
Has the spares and supply issue been rectified or am I just unlucky?
I hope I won’t be dissapointed when I finally recieve the pole, however I will keep you posted how long this takes to arrive.
Clunk

As promised an update my pole has arrived and was collected today so time line was less than a week by a few hours.
However this is still a good turnaround less than 5 working days.(1 week in laymans terms)
I recieved a phone call at 08:30 am to say it had arrived and was ready for collection and fully elasticated to my choice.
As I was working this morning I collected it at 12:30 so overall a great result for me and can’t wait to try it out.
Just as a reminder to anyone who buys one check your number three section is the power number 3 if the pole is to be used for the first time on larger fish as the one in the pole is for the silver fish, as advised by my retailer.
So although I was getting concerned on delivery times yesterday I am pleased to say Thanks to all involved today.
Thats
Lee Westbrook (Browning Rep) Very helpfull
And Watmore Farm Fishery at Yately (who must have recieved and elasticated the pole yesterday late afternoon, after a sad trip to the vet saying goodby to his dog)
I can recomend this place too I’ve enjoyed a few good days sport on this lake
Thanks again.
Clunk

I tried my new Z8 for the first today what an awsome piece of kit.
Not a great days sport as I had a poor draw today but my first fish was a carp of about 5lb and another of about 4lb the pole handled these great.
High winds also not too much of an issue although I only fished a max of 13m.
So far so good with the Z8 and I hope to have a few more days sport this week.
Wednesday could be a challenge as it’s a large fish venue so hope to find out how a double figure fish feels on it.
If your thinking of buying a Z8 just do it you won’t regret it.great value
Clunk

If your after top kits, nathans of derby keep them in stock and there also on there website.