Store Policies & Legal Terms

Three Buoys Fishing Tackle operates from our fulfillment and engineering hub in Elkton, Maryland (Cecil County). All orders placed on threebuoystackle.com are processed under the following shipping guidelines:

1.1 Rods & Long Items

Rods ship in rigid tubes or reinforced cartons. Inspect the package when it arrives — if it is damaged, note it with the carrier and contact us with your order number so we can replace the item.

1.2 Dropship Catalog Shipments

Orders containing third-party dropshipped items (lures, terminal tackle, bulk line) may arrive in multiple packages from separate fulfillment facilities. Tracking numbers for all shipments will be posted to your order status dashboard.

2.1 Defective or Damaged Items

If anything arrives damaged or fails under normal use, contact us with your order number at 443-485-1083 or through the warranty & defect claim form. We will arrange a replacement, a repair through the manufacturer, or a refund, and send a prepaid return label when the item needs to come back.

2.2 Dropshipped Tackle & Accessories (15 Days)

Unopened third-party lures, terminal tackle, line spools, and accessories may be returned within 15 days of delivery for a full refund minus shipping fees. Opened line spools, custom-rigged Terminal kits, or clearance items marked "Final Sale" are non-refundable.

2.3 RMA Process

1. Contact customer support via email at crew@threebuoystackle.com or phone 443-485-1083 with your Order Number.
2. Receive your prepaid return shipping label (for defective/warranty returns) or return address instructions.
3. Pack the item securely in original packaging or appropriate protective rod tube.
4. Refunds are processed within 3–5 business days after inspection at our Elkton facility back to your original payment method.

Every product we sell carries its manufacturer’s warranty; the length and terms are the maker’s and are shown on the packaging or the maker’s site. You do not have to deal with the manufacturer yourself: send a claim through our warranty & defect claim form with your order number, and we will handle it with them or make it right directly.

Our own rod and reel designs (MIDCHANNEL and FAIRLEAD 3000) are still in development in The Lab and are not for sale yet. Their warranty terms will be published here when they launch.

Three Buoys Fishing Tackle respects your privacy. We collect personal contact and shipping information solely to process orders, communicate shipment status, provide owner support, and dispatch requested newsletters.

• We NEVER sell or rent customer data to third-party marketers or advertisers.
• Payment transactions are processed securely via encrypted, PCI-DSS Level 1 payment gateways (Stripe). Three Buoys servers do not store credit card numbers or CVV security codes.
• You may unsubscribe from email dispatches at any time using the one-click unsubscribe link.

These terms apply to every order placed on this site and to your use of the member features (The Helm, The Scuttlebutt forum, The Wharf marketplace, the catch gallery and the games).

• Prices and availability. Prices are in US dollars and are the price at the moment you place the order. Sales tax and shipping are calculated at checkout before you pay. If an item turns out to be unavailable after you order, we cancel that line and refund it in full.
• Your order is an offer. An order is accepted when payment clears and you receive an order confirmation. We may refuse or cancel an order that we reasonably believe is fraudulent, that a supplier cannot fill, or that was priced in error; in every such case any payment taken is refunded.
• Payment. Card payments are processed by Stripe; we never see or store your card number. Gift cards are stored value redeemable only on this site, carry no cash value, and are not replaced if the code is shared.
• Shipping and risk. Items ship from us or directly from a supplier's warehouse. Risk of loss passes to you on delivery to the address you gave us. Report a damaged or missing delivery within 7 days so we can claim on the carrier.
• Returns and warranty. See the shipping, returns and warranty sections above; they form part of these terms.
• The Wharf. Items listed on The Wharf are sold by the member who listed them, not by us. We take the payment, hold the seller to the posting deadline and refund you if it never ships, but the description is the seller's and disputes about condition are settled between buyer and seller with our help.
• Your content. What you post — forum replies, catch photos, fishing reports, reviews — stays yours. You give us a licence to show it on this site and in its emails, and you promise it is yours to post and is not abusive, false or unlawful. We may remove content or suspend an account that breaks these rules.
• Fishing information. Forecasts, water conditions, regulations summaries and the advice on this site are provided in good faith for anglers who make their own decisions. Confirm regulations with the official state source before you fish, and never rely on a forecast for safety on the water.
• Liability. To the extent the law allows, our liability for any order is limited to the price you paid for it. Nothing here limits liability that cannot be limited by law.
• Governing law. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, United States. If a term is found unenforceable the rest still apply. We may update these terms; the version on this page at the time of your order is the one that applies to it.

We want every angler to be able to use this site, whatever device or assistive technology they use. The site is built to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines: every page has a skip link and a main landmark, every control has a name, dialogs trap and return focus, colour is never the only signal, text meets the contrast minimums, and everything works with a keyboard alone.

If something on this site is hard for you to use, tell us: email crew@threebuoystackle.com or call 443-485-1083 and say which page and what got in the way. We answer within one business day and fix what we can quickly; anything that takes longer, we will tell you when to expect it.

Our brand motto is "Teach First. Sell Second." We hold our engineering journal, species profiles, destination guides, and tackle advice to high editorial standards. If you discover an error, outdated access note, or incorrect specification anywhere on our site, please notify our team at crew@threebuoystackle.com so we can investigate and publish a correction.