Warranty Policies?

I've mainly fished GL3's. The GL2's are good for plugging, but I mainly drift. A GL3 can't be beat. The IMX is nice to fish, but for all the brush beating I do, I'd rather take my Grandma's china than an IMX.

I also fish Lami G-1000's. I use them in situations where I'm not as likely to drift, i.e., spinner fishing, or even saltwater mooching with light weight and live herring. I also use them for chums and kings.

Here's the warranty story:

Anyone who has ever fished with me knows that I expect my gear to be as tough as my head and legs when I steelhead fish. Unfortunately, that's a pretty unreasonable expectation.

As a result, I break rods once every couple seasons, either fighting fish, snags, or overgrown trails.

My Lami's were all purchased in the late 80's and early 90's, so they have lifetime warranties, rather than the one year warranties that Lami's come with now, so that's not a problem with me.

GL3's are always liftime warrantied.

Two weeks ago I sent back a broken Lami and a broke GL3. Six days later I get my Lami back with a new tip. The following day I get a letter from Loomis saying I owe them $52 for a new rod, as they couldn't repair the break in it.

I broke the GL3 fighting a silver this September. They've always replaced my rods ASAP with almost no questions asked, but not this time. I was warned by a friend that though their policy hasn't changed, the way they apply it has, and that a repair/replace fee is now the norm.

I'll continue to use GL3's 90% of the time, but not because of the warranty, but because they are superior rods.

Fish on...

Todd.

p.s. Anyone else noticed the shift in Loomis warranty actions?