To or not to support the small guy

M

mlaag

Member
I wanted to hear your thoughts on supporting the Small Guy
About 3 months ago I purchased an above average halibut rod ($120.00)from a fishing shop in Langford and after using it 4 times the guides started to rust.( They were hard chrome plated stainless steel) The rust is even under the varnish that seals they guide binding). After taking it back and asking for it to either be replaced or money back I was told that they could not help me and I need to send the rod at my cost to the states to maybe get repaired. This would probaly cost about $100.00 with shipping, customs etc. The reason for this was that I did not rinse the rod and a salt water series rod will rust. After using it 4 times yeah right.If this had been one of the bigger suppliers there would have not been any problems on returning a bad product.
I can tell you one thing they will not get anymore of my money.
 
quote:Originally posted by mlaag

I still say that if it was one of the big suppliers there would have been no problem in returning it
Click to expand...
Not quite true.

Bass Pro can be quite sticky about returns, Cabela's less so and in Wal Mart you'll get blank looks and little else.

What kind of rod is it anyway?

I can't imagine any 'above average' Halibut rod that costs as little as $120 in this country.

kidphotors6.jpg
 
quote:Originally posted by mlaag

I still say that if it was one of the big suppliers there would have been no problem in returning it
Click to expand...
Not quite true.

Bass Pro can be quite sticky about returns, Cabela's less so and in Wal Mart you'll get blank looks and little else.

What kind of rod is it anyway?

I can't imagine any 'above average' Halibut rod that costs as little as $120 in this country.

kidphotors6.jpg
 
It was a daiwa vip Salt water series and yes thay can sticky but the chances of getting you customer satisfaction is a lot higher
 
It was a daiwa vip Salt water series and yes thay can sticky but the chances of getting you customer satisfaction is a lot higher
 
Yeah, I guess thats valid point but after only 3 months of usage?

quote:No rod guarantees the guides, period. It's unfortunate.
Click to expand...

Next year would you be back buying a new rod in the same store? I most likely would not.

Dogbreath I don't know but... 120 for a rod sounds to me like a good chunk of cash especially if I'd need to go back the next year and drop it again. Thats why I got meself a $24 rod from crappy tire and paid crappy tire money for it LOLOL

Don't these rods have like a warranty against breakage? Am sure anything breaks....uhm...eventually

Now if only the fishing/catching would pick up
cheers



gonefishingsign.gif
 
The Daiwa VIP Eglass series is a great choice, but the guides will rust if not rinsed Yes most everything does in saltwater.

The reason you paid so little ($120 for a rod is peanuts BTW the US price is more like $85-$90) is because the guides and almost certainly the reel seat and grips are bargain basement quality, the blank itself should last for year and years.

Since Daiwa doesn't have a corporate presence here just a few guys who sell their stuff Yes you'll have to send it to California and my guess is that they won't cover what they see as your neglect.

It won't cost a hundred bucks to send it though probably $25 or so shipping one way and there's no duty</u> on it I don't know where you get that idea.

However if they say you neglected the rod all they can do is rewrap it and charge you for it, is that what you want?

Because anyone can wrap new guides on a club like that easy why not see if the shop you bought it at has any guides that would suit and bargain for a lower price plus some thread and sealer.

It would give you a winter project and you'll have something that will last for years and years once you're finished.

BTW-I have an old Seeker eglass rod that has plain S/S guides it's at least 17 years old and has been all over the world with me and hasn't a spot of rust on it.I wash it religiously after every trip but I have heard from people who don't rinse them that they will rust after a season.To replace it in the USA the price would be over twice what you paid for your Daiwa but that's the price of quality components made to last.



kidphotors6.jpg
 
quote:Originally posted by Gypseas

Yeah, I guess thats valid point but after only 3 months of usage?

quote:No rod guarantees the guides, period. It's unfortunate.
Click to expand...

Next year would you be back buying a new rod in the same store? I most likely would not.

Dogbreath I don't know but... 120 for a rod sounds to me like a good chunk of cash especially if I'd need to go back the next year and drop it again. Thats why I got meself a $24 rod from crappy tire and paid crappy tire money for it LOLOL

Don't these rods have like a warranty against breakage? Am sure anything breaks....uhm...eventually
Click to expand...

The blank</u> is guaranteed not the guides and probably not the seat.

As always it's Buyer Beware if you didn't know what you were buying who's fault is it?

The junk I see Canadians buy is hilarious, of course the selection here sucks for the most part and service staff are often the most clueless of all.

kidphotors6.jpg
 
As a rule of thumb I rinse everything down with fresh water after a trip. All my tackle, rods , reels, downriggers ect. are laid out and sprayed with the hose. I then allow evrything to dry before packing away.( PS, do not re-sheath your cork handled Sage with out allowing it to dry thouroughly. By the following season it will be a fuzzy grey moldy mess! )
Saltwater double anodized hooks and swivles for example will corrode after one outing if left to dry in salt water.
Your $120.00 rod is inexpensive beleive it or not.I don't mean from my perspective either. The guides on that rod will likely have an impure blend of metals coating the wire stock from corrosion. Stainless, chrome vanadium what have you. It will be inconsistent period.I have seen anodized rods and reels worth ten times that amount show signs of corrosion after only several trips out if they haven't been rinsed and dried.
The retailer simply cannot do anything with your claim. Now I am not suggesting that they couldn't work something out with you. After all I would think they would opt to leave you happy and continue to get new and returning customers. If I were them I may even choose to drop that line of rod so that I need not deal with unhappy customers. Now Diawa is big so that may not be an economical vantage. I would ensure though that every one of my customers knows what they are buying and how they have to maintain it.

JMHO, but it has nothing to do with "big" or "small" business. Some of the smallest companies in town are consumate professionals and supply nothing short of amazing customer service. Walmart I don't think so.

I'd be suprised if nothing could be resolved between you and the shop for the misunderstanding alone.

Good luck.
 
With the cost of living today how can anyone afford to waste money on taking a chance with a little guy? If you bought that same rod from Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire they would either exchange it or give you a refund. If you can afford to throw your money away, spend it at the little guy's shop. Some of these guys seem to want to get rich quick too. The same rod or gear cost's up to 50% more at the smaller shops. Some specialty gear I always order through a local shop though. I'd like to support the small guys more often, but it is hard to compete with lower prices and better return policies. The service is about equal, kids working at either place who don't really know what they are selling.
 
You could take it to Island Outfitters to have the guides replaced.
Cost you $10- $12 per and they will be ceramic.

just a suggestion. :)
 
I don't know why Westshore wouldn't fix or replace your rod but there must be a reason. The salt chuck is very hard on any metal and anything that has been in or near salt water must be rinsed off. I have spent lots of time in that store and I have never had a problem with them. Being a new store I would think that they would want to help you any way they can. Being a business owner I know its not easy opening your own store and trying to make a go of it. Did you ask them if it was possible to have them fix the rod at a reduced cost or take it and have it fixed yourself. I needed a new hali rod about 6 months ago and bought the cheepest one I could find since I knew it wasn't going to be used too much and to this day it still looks good. Not sure what that means but I can see why you would be upset. I hope it all works out for you in the long run.
 
It is unfortunate for you that your guides are rusting away on your rod. They all do. I have been fishing for quite a while and had many failure due to stainless guide and roller tips. The only way to go with an halibut rod while using braided line is ceramic guides and ceramic tips, anything else will fail within 3 months. Been there ,done that ,many times !!
 
quote:Originally posted by The Fish Assassin

With the cost of living today how can anyone afford to waste money on taking a chance with a little guy? If you bought that same rod from Wal-Mart or Canadian Tire they would either exchange it or give you a refund. If you can afford to throw your money away, spend it at the little guy's shop. Some of these guys seem to want to get rich quick too. The same rod or gear cost's up to 50% more at the smaller shops. Some specialty gear I always order through a local shop though. I'd like to support the small guys more often, but it is hard to compete with lower prices and better return policies. The service is about equal, kids working at either place who don't really know what they are selling.
Click to expand...


Fish Assassin
Man, am I glad that all anglers don't have the same mentality as you....
The way I read this is that smaller shop owners are only in it for the "Big Bucks", they provide service by "kids" who don't know what they are selling, and that shopping the big box stores is truly the only way to go.........?

I'm sure other shop owners that strive to provide service and quality that the Big Stores are unable to do, while trying to survive, let alone make "Big Bucks" LOL are happy to take care of their customers that have a very different outlook that you.

I hope other owners read this, and strive even harder to operate a solid business, while you get what you deserve shopping with the big guys who are going to care about your support, by giving you deals and great service ??? LOL again.

Rant Over.
 
I have the same rod bought at x-mas. Lots of use and no problems. Gotta rinse your gear everytime you use it and I store my rods dry inside.
I am sure that they would help you out if it was a manufacture defect. I managed retail for a long time and the rule of thumb is if I can get warranty from the manufacture then you can offer warranty. Beyond that as a customer service maybe they could offer you a discount on a replacement or a repair. You can't expect them to go out of pocket for it.
Places like Walmart and Costco make deals with manufacture. They receive an extra discount to "self warranty" and then they don't send products back. They repair them, clear them out, sell off to clearance centers...

Tips
 
120 bucks for a rod these days is not a lot of money you bought it knowing what it had for eyes how is that the stores fault????
you need to rinse all SALT gear off even mine that have fugi eyes has some rust and I rinse after every use.its not hat big of a deal a little bit of rust really isnt going to hurt it and definattly wont effect the performance of the rod.

Every time you reel in the line your going to have salt hit the eyes then it dries and then gets wey every time you put it down even if it is stain less it will sometimes rust as there are so many types of that metal it is calles STAIN........less!!!! steel for a reason as it is a bit better than normal steel it all rust sooner or later

thats why you need to a daily routine on gear so it will last.

The guys at that store are great its not there fault...

I would rater support people here than a huge store like walmart as i know the money is going to local people who I know who wouldnt???

Good luck Wolf

Blue Wolf Charters
www.bluewolfcharters.com
 
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