I have personally dealt with Lamiglas and St Croix on behalf of their warranties on rods. St croix had a no questions asked, send the rod back and we will put another in the mail for you. I paid them $20 for a Avid replacement that i broke in the hatch of a suburban. Lamiglas jerked me off and wanted $70. The Avid series St Croix rods are the best rods on the market you can buy for that price tag. Fish one, try a 10lb spinning or casting...they smoke just about anything out there except an IMX or a Steelhead series loomis. I have owned them all. I do have two lamiglas rods I like, but they are just not as good as the Avids. personal choice is what it comes down to. I still love my Im7 buzz ramsey 12lb casting rod.