Last updated: 14 August 2026.

We want the gear to work for you. Read this before you send anything back. It sits alongside your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 — this page doesn’t cancel those rights.

Start a return

Email info@thefishingcollective.nz with your order number, what you want to send back, and whether you’re after an exchange, refund, or (for a fault) a replacement. We’ll reply with how to send it. Don’t post a parcel until we’ve confirmed — we’re online only and don’t have a public drop-off counter.

Use a tracked service. Until the courier scan shows it’s with us, the parcel is your responsibility.

Change of mind

If it just isn’t right — size, colour, changed your mind — you have 14 days from delivery to email us and start the return. After that we can still talk, but we don’t have to accept a change-of-mind return.

For a change-of-mind return the item needs to be unworn, unwashed, and in the state you received it, with tags and packaging where they came with it. Wear it around the house to check the fit; don’t wear it on the water and then send it back.

You cover return postage on change-of-mind returns. Original outbound shipping isn’t refunded unless the item was our mistake. If we send a replacement or exchange, we cover that outbound shipping inside New Zealand.

Exchanges

Tell us the size or colour you want. If it costs more, we’ll invoice the difference before we send it. If it costs less, we’ll refund the difference to the original payment method. If the size you want isn’t in stock, we’ll offer a refund or wait until the next drop if that’s useful.

Sale and markdown items

Change-of-mind on sale or markdown pieces is exchange or store credit, not a cash refund. Faulty sale items are still covered under “Faults” below — a discount doesn’t wipe consumer guarantees.

Faults

If the print, stitching, fabric, or blank is wrong, email photos and a short description. Don’t keep wearing it. For a genuine fault we’ll repair, replace, or refund as the Consumer Guarantees Act requires — including covering reasonable return shipping once we’ve agreed it’s our problem.

Wear and tear, accidents, and gear that’s been through the wash or the boat the wrong way aren’t faults. If you’re unsure, send the photos anyway and we’ll be straight with you.

Drops and preorders

The same rules apply once a drop item has been delivered. Because drops are made in a batch, exchanges depend on what’s left. If we can’t swap it, we’ll refund a valid change-of-mind or fault return.

What we can’t take back

We can decline a change-of-mind return if it’s outside 14 days, worn or washed, missing bits that came with it, or returned without our go-ahead. Partial refunds sometimes make sense if an item comes back in poorer condition than we sent it, for reasons that aren’t our error.

We also can’t refund a parcel that never shows up on the way back to us if it wasn’t tracked.

How refunds land

We’ll email you when the return is in and whether it’s approved. Approved refunds go to the original payment method. Banks can take a few extra days to show it. We aim to process an approved refund within five business days of inspecting the item.

Orders you want to stop

We can’t promise to cancel or rewrite an order once it’s placed. Email immediately. If it hasn’t been packed, we’ll try. If it’s already with the courier, wait for delivery and use the return steps above.

Size guide

Tee sizing is on the product page and our size guide. Measuring twice before you order saves everyone a courier run.

Questions

info@thefishingcollective.nz · Terms · Privacy