CharkBait Introduction

 Security, Operations, Privacy

Before we get into beginnings, operations... I stumbled onto a "competitor's" website the other day. What I saw pretty much tells the story of why we're different and why we've earned the trust of our clients. Upon ordering from the wanna-be competitor (with the initials A C) they try to tack on an additional purchase of a profit generating "bond" to ensure the transition is handled fairly. What does the bond buy you? (Copied from their text)

your item will be packaged and shipped via the promised shipping method
your item will ship in the timeframe promised
you will receive what you ordered as described online
all payment methods indicated will be accepted
all return and refund policies will be honored

Well, with us you don't have to buy a bond to receive this guarantee. You get a personal promise and a commitment from me personally that goes a lot further. To add a bit more differentiation between CharkBait and the plethora of wanna-be's. We're listed with the Better Business Bureau, and have a higher customer satisfaction rating than any competitor (AAA). view our Better Business Bureau  report (this is our internet's report, you will find the same rating for our retail shop)
Yes we are different, refreshingly so.

- Mark Smith
  Owner/Operator

Now, back to the tale..........

2008 CharkBait Team
Leeana Aragon customer service manager, Matt Hornschu Product Manager, Jeff Lambert Sales Advisor, Tom Harmon Warehouse Manager, Ross Nakamura Sales and Service, Aret Partalciyan Customer Service, Mark Smith Clean-up, Mark Hoffman Shop Manager. Not pictured Melissa Partalciyan accounting, Mike (Ruby) Rubin & Aaron Borhegyi Customer Service
 

2009 Edition Below - Amazing consistency of photo pose isn't it?
Leeana, Max, Melissa, Jeff, Tom, Aaron, Paul, Aret, Mark and the ever lovely Rube.

And, for 2010/11 we have another strangely familiar image with rather unique individuals. Left to right, Leeana, Max, Sergey, Jeff, Megan (San Diego) Tom, Mike (San Diego), Paul, John, JJ (San Diego), Mark and Vince (San Diego).

So, who's / what's CharkBait?

Operations: Is the CharkSite a safe place?

Shipping, hidden charges, bait and switch...?

Returns, Exchanges?

Privacy Statement

 

What's CharkBait!? Well, let's see, you're not dealing with some big faceless corporation. Or some nincompoop who's simply moving boxes. You are dealing with me, my name is Mark Smith, I'm CharkBait, with a little help from some friends. (very, very old picture...with some hair, perhaps not much but it really existed at one point...)

I started CharkBait! in the mid 90's as a hobby, with part of the website devoted to fishing the local coast, and part of the site containing education resources. (I'm also involved in education.) When I moved back to California from Texas I discovered saltwater fishing, bought a new boat, and realized it's not all that easy finding the fish on your own. So, the website became a Private Boater networking tool, for me and other guys  sharing information. At the time of the "beginning" I was an aspiring administrator working on my doctorate at USC. When work terminally interfered with my fishing I opted to change directions, and teach an at risk population of kids - doing something constructive and positive - and build CharkBait into something a bit more than a hobby. That's when I got the notion of starting a tackle business, and formally started the retail enterprise in 1997. Prior to teaching I spent 13 years working as sales manager in the consumer electronics industry, including tours of duty with Sansui Electronics, JVC, Proton and Sunkyong. I enjoy teaching, fishing, and yes even retail!

Once I went "commercial" and entered the tackle business, our goal was to grow the business the right way, and ultimately build ourselves a retail storefront.  I started out taking over my garage, moved into the upstairs bedrooms, living room... Then we got our first warehouse.  Life was great.  But, within a year's time it was way too small for our needs.  

In August 2001 we opened our first retail store.  We still maintain the warehouse.  We've had some nice slow progress over the past few years.  Learned a lot along the way. First and foremost has been the importance of everyone on our team, the investment in human capital. 

In April '07 we opened a dedicated Internet Office and Warehouse facility in Huntington Beach, CA. The new warehouse offers a lot of square footage, added inventory, and a dedicated staff working solely to expedite processing of Internet orders. Again, we invested in better service for our clients.

Let's see what else can I say? Ah, I've got a darg, I'm a Capricorn, and I like quiet walks along....oh, sorry, I got a bit off track...

Safety and Operation: CharkBait! is hosted by a large Internet service provider, host to other major businesses with an Internet presence. The host, is a twenty-million dollar subsidiary, of a multi-billion dollar telecommunications firm. I produce the files, they maintain storage space, the Internet machinery and the connection you use to access this site. There are two types of website, in terms of security: SSL sites and non-SSL sites. This website is hosted on a secure SSL computer. What that means is that when you enter information on one of the product pages, it becomes encrypted in a format which can't be viewed by anybody but me. When you visit the product pages you'll find pictures, text, and areas for you to make your selections. Once you fill out your selections, click on the "Send to Charkbait" or Submit button, you'll be presented with a certificate indicating you are going to a secured zone. There you will see the information you are sending me - secured. The encryption process only effects the information you submit to me when you "press" the Submit button on the product selection section of the tackle sales pages.  Once you send  over your order and enter your shipping/billing info you're just about done. You'll immediately receive an order confirmation. This is ONLY A CONFIRMATION. You will receive another email from us within 12 hours showing your total billing amount for your approval.

The final invoice will reflect shipping and applicable CA sales taxes. (Orders shipped within CA are taxed, outside CA are untaxed).  As of 07/14/08 we are changing our shipping policy. Orders for shipment within the USA which are over $100 will receive FREE SHIPPING. Oversize, over-weight orders will not be free...you'll still get the confirming invoice reflecting total charges for your approval prior to billing. But, standard size/weight orders will be processed and billed more quickly with the change in our operating system, and you'll save some bucks too!

CharkBait! uses the best, most expensive, secured Internet commerce system available. But, if you still would rather not conduct your transaction via the computer, you may instead call in your credit card number or fax your information - that's why we have an 800 line! You'll find the phone numbers and email addresses listed at the bottom of each page on our site. We try to make contacting us easy.

Operations, Bait and Switch, Shipping: I maintain inventory on all that I post on the website. That's one thing that is different about CharkBait! than most any other catalog company or Internet store. I'm not working off a distributor's stock, wasting your time with shipping delays. I stock the merchandise, and try to ship in a timely fashion. CharkBait is a "real" business, with real inventory. I buy my tackle from the same folks everyone else does, and can get a hold of just about every type of tackle available. Further, we have grown over the years, and now are "direct" with our major suppliers unlike most shops. As a result of our volume we can purchase in large enough quantities to have a direct relationship with our primary venders. Again, this is a significant difference from other internet based, and retail shop based stores in this field. We have become a significant player in the sportfishing community, and our purchasing power is great enough to leverage some very good buys for our clients. We work on turns, and efficiency, keeping prices as low as possible. As a result, we've been the recipient of word-of-mouth advertising over the years.  That's also helped maintain our low overhead and competitive pricing. 

Oh, yeah, bait and switch... We don't do it. Everything is on sale, nothing is "spiffed". Our sales staff does not try to push whatever has the highest profit margin, they are not paid a commission based upon sales volume or profitability.  We want you happy, and coming back again, telling friends good things about this place. That's our advertising - budgets being what they are. We try to be very price competitive, offering the most value possible. We're constantly searching out things that represent a special value. You can be sure the manufacturers who's products are represented on the CharkSite offer exceptional value, reliability, and performance. If they are not, I simply won't invest my dollars for the inventory.  Should you buy something that winds up going on special at the CharkStore, don't worry, we also offer 30 day price protection in the form of credit, and will do all that's in our power to ensure your satisfaction. If you are looking for something not displayed on one of the product pages, please send ud an email. I'm eager to add things that make sense to anglers.

Please visit our Shipping page for information regarding shipping costs.

Returns and Exchanges: Be sure of your purchase when ordering. If there's an error on the order confirmation, a script mistake, or a doubled entry, please email or call us back so we ship you exactly what you'd like to receive.  Upon processing your order, note we do no online billing a real live person actually will use the data you submit and work up a final invoice - you'll receive an invoice back via email showing the items selected - your final invoice and final billing amount. Look that over to be sure you are getting what you wish.  We try to operate efficiently. That's a key to our ability to offer good values. Customer service is also a key part of our success. We check your gear prior to shipment to ensure accuracy in shipment and the quality of the merchandise.  Do the same when you receive your order.  Please inspect your purchase upon receipt, and notify us if there's any problem ASAP.  If, in the unlikely event, you receive a damaged product please contact us via email or phone to arrange the return.  You have a seven day refund privilege on non-special order purchases.  You also have a 30 day exchange privilege for defective merchandise when you order with CharkBait. Returned goods must be in new condition, with all packaging material and warranty cards.  If we make an error, we are accountable/responsible for return shipping or exchanges. If you make an error or change your mind, you are accountable.

If you simply change your mind about a purchase within 30 days, the return will carry a 10% restocking charge as long as the merchandise is in it's original packaging, is unused and pristine in condition.  After 30 days, the product is considered used and we will not accept a return.  Again, we try to offer low prices to our clients.  We'd rather have you delay a purchase than buy an item to try, and then return.  That's not fair to the next person to get the gear you returned.  We only sell brand new gear, not used, not "demo" merchandise.  We do not have the ability to deal with returns.  We're not Target, Neman Marcus or Nordstrums.  Then again, we don't operate at 50% profit margins either.  Know what you want when you make your purchase.  We'll cover our end of the transaction's responsibility (shipping brand new gear, in top condition, at fair prices), you are expected to be responsible for your decisions, too.

No returns will be accepted without a RMA number (Return Merchandise Authorization).  To obtain an RMA # just give us a call or email.  We'll supply you with the necessary information. 

If we make a shipping error, the return shipping is at our expense not yours.  If a product is found defective we'll also pick up the shipping tab, upon inspection. Otherwise, returned goods will be at your expense.

Privacy Statement: We do not sell or provide anyone any information regarding visitors, e-mail address, nothing.  I do provide advertising banners on this site.   All such advertising is hosted on our site, so there's no issue with spamming, security or other abuses of private information or email accounts.  Spam is a pet peeve of mine, we don't do it, allow it, or condone the practice.

Contacting the Chark: Since I'm trying to work most efficiently, e-mail is the preferred method of communication. Knowing that circumstances and security may make other options preferable, you can also contact us directly via fax or phone.