Just to let you know I broke a rod last year and it took 4 MONTHS to get it back!!! When i pay close to $400.00 for a rod and pay their fee to replace it i expect that sh!t to be mailed back asap no matter what! Lamiglas has terrible customer service with my experiences with rod replacement thru them.

Replacement generally is handled by the consumer when the consumer is at fault. But if a manufacturer can offer a replacement for a reasonable cost and make a profit they should. (not "something for nothing")

Marketing is about developing a relationship with the end user. If you and I make comparable products at a comparable price, yet I take better care of the end user, I'll likely be more successful. Your margins may be higher, but I'll slowly gain the customers that feel they were burned by you.

There is no legal or moral grounds to justify a company be obligated to replace a product the consumer is at fault for damaging, but there are business reasons to do so.

Comparing consumer goods to items like automobiles and boats is not apples to apples. Cars and the like already have instruments in place that take care of this issue such as initial warranty, extended warranty, comprehensive and collision insurance, gap insurance, and scheduled routine maintenance.

Perfect.

Yeah, that's not cool. I've seen that too in my line of work. That's why there needs to be a reasonable limit to any warranty.

Always considered the bigger the retail price in rods is in part paying for a bigger insurance policy for it. Have to admit taking advantage of that too. Cannot make a vote since I don't know the price of said rod, but I've sent a rod or two back without a note and option A was the result. They happened to be on the high end cost wise. Obvious that the cause was due to defect. They never asked so I never told, and I would've been honest if they did. Something tells me that the insurance policy doesn't exist anymore so hopefully won't have any accidents anytime soon. +1 on the customer service comment above.

SP, Todd pretty well nailed it. I too sent in a tip to my float rod in early Oct., check cashed two weeks ago. Called yesterday, and it will be sanded and out to me next week. When in doubt, call Kara or Ryan, and they'll track it down for you!

I broke a Ti2000 last year, and due to it no longe rbeing in production, they had to roll an entirely new tip section, thus taking longer.

I believe the lighter, thin wall rods are much more comfortable to fish in hand. That sensitivity is a trade off for durability.
IMHO that is for what you are paying.

Ask the CG PA guy. He picked up an older rod I offered up free to veterans/active duty a couple of years ago.
I take care of my investment in fun. Okay, it might have had some colored cork from egg dye. Beyond that it's was almost new. The rod manufacturer made a quality product.

I've broken another and I see no responsibilty or obligation from the rod builder.

Hum... I think I'd lean towards a #3, with the lower initial cost option. BUT, #2 as it stands in your poll....

I have broken 1.... 1 rod on a fish, where it was no fault of my own. It was that picture in Chuck's "BEND" thread that shows me fighting the fish on my broken float rod.

All other breaks where my own fault. For instance, last summer breaking a $600 rod, when the fish came straight at the boat, jumped, the braid looped around the 4th guide down, and when the fish hit the water...BLAMO! Pieces..... Aint a material on the market that could have survived that... BUT, for a more than reasonable ($70) fee, it was fixed.

I broke one last winter doing a triple backflip in the snow, and faceplanting on the rod. My fault, called in and was back on the water for about 1/2 what I paid for the rod....

There are true material defects... but there are far more human defects.

I'm with Jason and Todd on this one.

I paid the stupid high costs to get the "insurance" that comes with it.

Now if it's a cheaper one year warranty rod, too bad so sad. Buy another cheap one.

I agree that manufacturers should not be responsible for user error, but as others have said, a big part of what you are paying for when you buy a premium rod is the assurance that you will have it (or something comparable) for a long time. If you pay for an "unconditional, lifetime warranty," that's exactly what you should get.

I have personally had four rod repair/replacement experiences (all with Redington/Sage). In two cases, the rods broke due to stress at the ferrules, but the others were, without question, accidents that were my fault. I have always been completely honest in my descriptions of what happened, and in all four cases, the rods were repaired/replaced, quickly and without further question, for the cost of "shipping." Personally, this made me a very happy customer, and I will continue to buy from both companies as a result (the marketing is working on me). I simply can't find much negative to say about a company that stands behind its products.

This topic is much more interesting than I would have imagined. A lot of good arguments have been made for potential alternatives to unconditional warranties. Personally, I have to believe that the marketing folks for these premium rod manufacturers aren't dummies, and their unique understanding of their customer base tells them that unconditional warranties are the way to go. Indeed, they probably don't do much better than breaking even on a lot of customers (like me), but there are A LOT of folks out there, to whom money is of little concern, who will simply buy a $1,000 outfit to go on a single fishing trip because they want "the best." Their profit off those folks is what I suspect is driving their current policies.

I do anticipate the bottom dropping out of the premium rod market before too long (especially in the case of fly rods), and if that happens, there will likely be some significant changes made. We'll see.

I spend a lot on my stuff, and really try to take care of it. I very rarely break a rod(only 1). With that being said I feel that you get what you pay for, and if I make that initial large investment it should come with a reasonable warranty. I do believe that profit margins are low enough that expeditors fees should apply to accidental breakage and manufacture errors should be replaced free. so #2

If a rod company has a warranty that they will repair or replace the rod then they should honor that. If they charge a expediter repair fee, at least you should know that up front when you buy the rod. No warranty? then, I would hesitate buying a premium rod. I do want to have some insurance. But, Unlike Todd, I think some rod makers have made money off me. I don't break rods, but, then again, I don't catch enough big fish.

I wonder if any of you would change your opinions if you read the actual waranties? I see nothing here that would tell you they will replace a rod that was not defective.

G Loomis:
The GLoomis factory will inspect the rod to determine cause of breakage
For Damage determined to have occurred due to defect, GLoomis will, at the company's discretion, either repair or replace the product at no charge
Lamiglas:
If the problem is due to a defect in materials or workmanship, the rod will be repaired or replaced to you as quickly as possible. If the problem is due to an unfortunate accident, misuse, alteration or normal wear and tear, we will advise you of the cost of the repair or replacement and await your approval prior to proceeding. Please allow 10 working days for processing.

Take a Lamiglas 8'6" Medium G1000 for example:
Rod sells for $140.00
Dealer nets 35% points: $91.00 Dealer Cost
Cost of Sale 6% (salesman commision/factory sales guy): $85.54
Shipping 3% (could be much higher, especially with warranty rods): $82.97
Advertising and marketing 5-8%: $78.82
Cork, Reel Seat, Guides, Thread, and Bonding Agents say 20%: $63.06
Blank Material Cost 10%: $56.75
Labor (figure one hour time combined through process approx. $17.00 Per Hour)30%: $39.72
Misc Costs 5%: $37.73
Warranty 15%: $32.07
Profit???????????????????

Not enough to cover the costs of warranty abuse and misuse. I don't understand why and how you can build a rod in the US for less than $150.00 cost meaning the dealer marks it to between $230.00 and $300.00.

Who still offers an "unconditional lifetime warranty" on anything?

We all understand good marketing strategy, and as manufacturers typically go the extra mile to hopefully secure lifetime customers through affording freebies from time to time, even though it may not always be the wisest move to make... The first impression you make in a business deal is to be your lifetime business relationship with that individual or company... which is not that unlike raising a child.
So in American business we have coddled extended childlike beliefs, behavior and relationships in respect to there being next to zero repurcussion in mistreating "toys" as a child would, ever since that first impression.
Meaning not, "you get what you pay for" or "you get what you deserve", instead meaning, "you get what you want"?

WTF is so hard about grown folks taking responsibility for their own actions?

You're probably right on that Joe. When I bought my first fly rod, it carried a unconditional warranty. As other have said, it is peace of mind. I just looked at Sage's web page, and see that they charge a 50 dollar fee for warranty repairs. I hear that is the way the industry is going too. I'd pay 50 bucks to have my rod repaired. I'd pay 1/2 the cost of a new rod if I had to.


There is no disagreement from me on the user should be responsible for his actions. I realize there are risks involved in fishing. Lost gear, broken gear, stolen gear. etc.... Ultimately the rod companies shouldn't be responsible for that, but, if they choose to offer a replacement program and people are willing to pay for it that is ok by me. That would be one selling point for me in purchasing a expensive rod.

If a rod company doesn't promise anything, so be it, if I like the rod, I may buy it and if it breaks, well, hopefully my wife won't kill me.

Buyer Beware, that's all, or better said, Buyer be informed!...

I do find Dave's survey kind of vague. I wouldn't expect any customer service if I broke a Berkley, Griggs, or other 100 dollar rod. But, if you're going to spend 300 bucks or more for a rod, it would be nice to have some piece of mind that the company will take care of it's customer.

I didn't realize how many crooked mother farkers are on this site.

The rod didn't break because of a defect,it broke because of an accident. Not to get all holier than thou,but I wouldn't feel right trying to get it replaced under warranty,whether an expeditor fee applied or not.


IMO,#1 or #2 shouldn't even be a consideration.

I've broke 20+ rods over the years personally... Sad but true....

Most were broke during the hookset. I own several rods that I've had for 10-15 years and have made it their entire life without being broken and they're even Loomis IMX graphite..

I expect rods to break, it happens. I don't expect the manufacturer to charge me more than their expedite fee. But with LOOMIS RAISING an expedite fee on those that already own for 25+ rods, I think it's kind of bogus.... It wasn't part of their agreement when I bought the rods orginally.

I have 3 rods that are currently broke sitting in the garage that need to be taken back, knowing it will be $300 to get those replaced, I'll be doing that at another time...

Keith

I checked number 3 in Dave's poll because the breakage was not due to a rod defect. He didn't say anything about the price initially paid for the rod or what kind of warranty came, or didn't come, with it. So I assumed it was one of my spinning or casting rods that I typically pay 30 to $60 for that comes with no warranty or maybe some kind of limited one year warranty for manufacturing defects. I like the comfort of my cheap rods, knowing that if and when they eventually break, I won't be out any more than I can easily afford.

There was a time in the 1980s when premium rod makes began jacking up their prices into the stratosphere as part of the marketing hype as to their quality and performance capabilities. In order to get many customers to buy in, the rod makers began offering lifetime, unconditional, no fault warranties. The concept was a marketing success, but it began taking a toll, since the higher grade graphite and layup method makes a more brittle rod that breaks easier. Warranty replacements were cutting into profitability, and all the manufacturers modified their warranties, requiring $45 to $90 for replacement sections, depending on brand, specific policy, and so forth.

Most of my single hand fly rods are fairly inexpensive because I bought blanks and then built up the rods myself. They have no warranties. I do have some more expensive Spey rods that I paid more for than I like, but I couldn't get the performance features anywhere else at a better price. Those rods do have warranties, but they aren't unlimited, and they aren't lifetime. I fell and dropped a Spey rod a few weeks back, and the tip section broke. The rod is 3 or 4 years old, so a warranty replacement tip section would have been $65 plus $20 shipping, and I would have had to send the entire rod in for inspection and "fitting" the new tip section. Or, I could and did opt for a non-warranty replacement section at $90 with shipping fee waived, and they just sent it to me without me having to send my rod back to them. Cost me $5 more for that option. Just one of the ways a rod maker and distributor can take care of their customers and themselves.

However, my most expensive rods are made of bamboo. They came with no warranties. And I have absolutely no regrets for the price I paid for them, or for the fact that I bear full responsibility for their condition. They are works of art that I can and do fish with, and that's good enough for me.

Sg

I voted #2. When I break a rod it's an accident. I have had two break that were defects and was only given warranty on one. Never does the entire rod break only half of it. I paid for a premium rod because of the feel and the great warranty service. I only broke half the rod and if they want to keep me as a customer charge me a reasonable fee to replace only half the rod.