I am working on an article about rod breakage and warranties. I wonder how you guys feel about the topic. For example, let's say you were fighting a fish when the jig came out and smacked the rod hard. You keep fishing and moments later the rod breaks right where the jig smacked it. It's a $275 rod.

What should the manufacturer do when you send it in?

I chose number two backed by my opinion that a Rod manufacturer can and should charge you a retail premium when you first buy the rod to of course make a buck, but if/when it breaks, the expeditors fee should be based on their manufacturers cost to replace the broken component plus a smaller profit margin. They shouldn't be making tons of money off warranty repairs or exchanges, but keeping customers happy at this point by helping them maintain their inventory of rods by replacing broken parts, etc at their cost to make the completed rod tip or butt section plus a smaller profit margin compared to the margins associated to retails sales of new rods.
You can't expect a manufacturer to make two types of rods. Rod's they make money on, and Rod's they make no money on. There has to be some profit built into in every rod coming off the line.

I feel like part of the reason I am willing to spend absurd amounts of money on a rod is that I can get it fixed or replaced at a reasonable cost if not just the cost of shipping.

It would seem insane to spend in the range of 400$+ for a rod that one unlucky slip would be done for. I know guys that have spent 1K$ on a fly rod! Not me but I have spent 600$ and it made me sick in some ways but I knew it was a long time investment and I am glad I don't have to worry every time I am bush whacking with it into my secret spots.

So in summary, if the manufacturers want people to pony up and pay premium prices, they need to offer incentives and special services.

Otherwise, I will stick with the 75$ special rack rods every time. I know from experience that the difference is there (expensive versus cheap rods) but it isn't usually the difference between catching and not catching.

I picked three, but with these caveats...

No fishing rod has three or four hundred dollars worth of component parts in it...none, not even close.

When you drop that kind of change for a premium rod, you are not only buying the rod, but buying a couple of them, and they are already covering the "warranty" rods with the initial payment.

It's kind of like buying insurance, and the expeditor fee is kind of like a deductible.

Just like insurance companies, they make money on some people who never break their rod, and they lose money on some people who break a few...but the expeditor fee probably covers the majority of the cost of the rod, anyway, so you'd have to bust quite a few to make them actually lose money on the deal.

No rod company that offers good warranties ever made any money off of me

Fish on...

Todd

It was a little ironic to see this thread today as my sole purpose for logging in was to inquire about the usual turnaround time on Lamiglas warranty repairs. UPS tracking shows that they received the rod in mid-October, the check accompanying it for return shipping cleared at least two weeks ago and I'm getting a little concerned that the replacement rod may have arrived during the day and walked off before either of us made it home. Anyone have any idea what the typical turnaround time for a Lamiglas warranty repair is?

SP, it totally depends on what type of rod it is, or if it's a repair or a replacement.

Repairs obviously take longer than replacements, unless they don't have your rod in stock at the time, in which case they'll have to spin one up...and I did hear from the UPS guy that both Loomis and Lami are getting buried by warranty work lately, he told me that he is picking up and dropping off piles of rods at both factories.

Fish on...

Todd

If its a defect- it should be replaced

Other than that you have to be responsible for you actions.

They should only be obliged to fund a new rod or repair if it's a defective product. If I smash the rod it's on me to buy a new one or set of components to wrap up,

fb

This is really a question of what level of customer service does a consumer expect from a manufacturer and what level are they willing to provide. Customer service builds brand loyalty and in turn brand equity.

As a guy who works in Marketing I'd favor a limited lifetime warranty. Certain things in the first year would be free of charge followed by a tiered replacement fee schedule. As time goes by the fee would increase.

You can't always expect a manufacturer or marketer of products to keep around parts for a 5+ year old product. For more expensive items like something with a motor or electronics that use industry standard or common parts it makes sense that you should be easily able to track down replacements. But, for an item like a fishing rod it is just not practical.

Also, the manufacturer shouldn't be expected to pony up a brand new rod just because they don't have a replacement tip for your 4 year old rod, but the premium price you paid should entitle you to discounted replacement or repair. Part of that higher price tag should consist of warranty claims.

Less expensive rods would only be covered by the one year full warranty, and one year limited after that. Maybe even a one year limited.

Another option, one that most people don't like, is an extended warranty that you purchase up front like Best Buy offers. In the electronics world these aren't a good purchase for the consumer. In the fishing rod world they might be.

Remember that retail prices are usually 5x the materials cost, so it would be pretty easy for a rod company to offer replacement and not lose their shorts since they are selling replacement parts direct to the consumer and avoiding the markups by distributors or retailers.

Right, but as a loyal customer who paid a premium for a premium product, you deserve good customer service. This is my philosophy. If you were my customer, I'd want you to come back and buy from me again. There is a middle that is easily reached between companies and consumers. You could be made whole for a relatively low cost and the company could make enough margin to either profit or pay the wages of the customer service person who handles your case. You in turn tell your buddies or post the great experience you had on a public forum and create goodwill, trust, and equity in the brand.

In Dave's hypothetical above, there should be a fee for replacement.

Pretty much should be #3 these days. About 95% of all rod breakage is due to operator stupidity and should be treated as such. In legitimate cases where the rod has a true defect, failure will occur almost immediately, in a fairly non stressful situation. It is also very evident to the factory personnel inspecting it once returned as to what the "real" problem was/is.

(I'll run down to the auto dealer later today and see how they feel about options #1 and #2 if I decide to buy...)

Make no mistake, when one buys an expensive rod it's for the cool first, and warranty whine second. It's called "warranty", and not "insurance" for a reason.

Good luck with this one.

I voted for the third option, You broke it. They have no responsibility to replace it.

For sure this happens bringing in a wild fish for a quick release. It does in my case.
It has been my experience that a flawed rod will give way on the first or second trip. Beyond that is basicly my fault, brusing the rod on the boat, with tackle, and handling.

Customer service for repair/replacement should go by length of ownership IMHO. My repeat business is based on the service, after the initial sale.

How much does it really cost to manufacture a mass produced rod?

I have always bought cheap $75 or less rods, if I were to buy a rod for $150 or more it better have a good warranty. Depending on the cost of the rod, depends on the warranty.

I have many different manufactures of rods......Loomis, Lamiglas, Shakespere, Shimano, Wright/McGill......

I expect a better warrenty service from Loomis(in the old days) and Lamiglas.......less so from the others.....mainly because of what was paid for the product.

Time jets by.......my "yellow Wright/McGill", is 53+ years old....I don't even know what the warrenty was.

Broke a Loomis GLX1141......tried to get covered under warrenty, no could do.

Broke tip on a Lamiglas, 13', 3 piece, Certified Pro......drove down to Woodland........carried pieces in.....they just went back got another tip....no charge....

I LIKE Lamiglas!!!!!!!

Oh........I chose option #1.........

I think there is a difference in what people say and what they do. I'd gonwith option 2 though. As Jason B said, they are charging A LOT considering what they are giving you. Part of the reason people pay that much is for the peace of mind. The fact that may be changing means they should start charging less.

It's supprising that this is turning into a debate. If the manufactorer is not to blame replacement should be handled by the consumer. It's rediculous to ask for anything else. The manufactorer is not, and shouldn't consider itself responsible for consumer actions; this is not bad customer service! If you think they should cover replacement under this example you're just trying to get a new rod for much less or free. If you think they should replace the rod for the materials cost alone you're just trying to pay less. You wouldn't ask a boat manufactorer to replace your drift boat if you total it on the river--insurance aside; and, hopefully, you wouldn't ask them to replace your boat for the cost of materials alone. Don't ask businesses to assume responsibility for you.

I have always been under the assumption that a rod warranty on a lami or loomis would mean replacement at little to no cost. That is why the extra money is paid, a better set of guides is not worth the $200 they charge. I am not going to buy a rod for the name, when I get a cabelas rod that is almost if not just as good for $200 less, without the great warranty. Thats why i pass on the cheaper lamiglas models everytime I see one and just go cheaper, my rod breaks I go get another one.

BINGO!

As it stands now, EVERYONE is forced to pay the premium price to subsidize the abuses of the relatively few. It's turning into an ala carte world.... you get what you pay for. Rod mfrs should follow suit. Base price for a rod with an option to purchase extended warranty for those that feel they need to pay that premium up front to cover them on the back end.

Personally I'd rather see a a MUCH lower retail price up front, and just hold the owner accountable for 99% of the instances that a rod breaks. $hit happens, folks.... there should be no expectation for someone else to wipe your a$$.

Doc nailed it.

A big part of rod prices is the warranty.

I voted for option #2, but the more I think about this....I would rather pay a lower price per rod and go with option #3.