Rod Warrantees

[Eagle Claw]

I am quite disappointed regarding a rod I bought from a major company and wonder if my experience is now the norm. I am not going to rat them out because they were good enough to make the requested repairs on a one time basis but want to discuss this on the forum. I purchased a rod about eight years ago and did not send in the warrantee card, at the time I was under the impression that it was not necessary to do do. I was also under the impression that when purchasing a high end rod in the $800 figure that the life time guarantee covered everything including slamming it in a car door, this is one of the reasons I went $800 bucks or would not have even considered it. I am now being told the card must have been sent in and repair only applies to manufacturer defect. If that is the case, why not just buy on Ebay for half the price, if there was a defect it would have shown up by now. Is this now the policy for high end rod warrantees, send in the card and you get lifetime manufacturer defect coverage. Heck for that price they should cover manufacturer defect as would even a low end rod company would. It used to be common knowledge everything including owner stupidity was covered.

 

[WBDluver]

sorry but i dont subscribe to the "enlightened" way of thinking that everybody else should be responsible for my actions. Or my actions are a result of what others do. I believe in personal responsibilbiy. The manufacturer has the responsibilbty to make the product right, you have the responsibility to send in the card, (why do you think they gave you one in the first place). You did what you wanted to do instead of following instructions and now it has come to bite you in the butt. But not really, they still are repairing in for you.

 

[Trouser Trout]

Is there a timeframe when they will accept the card? The reason for the card is simple, it documents you as the original owner and only owner who qualifies for warranty work or replacement.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I bought a Sage and mailed in my card. Many years later I broke the tip storing it improperly in my truck. I overnighted it to them and they replaced the tip knowing full well it was solely my fault and I think they only charged me something like $15 for shipping. Yes, I was the documented original owner, but I also broke it doing something stupid and it wasn't a manufacturer's defect. But they took care of me regardless and that is great customer service. Of course, some of that service is built into the high prices of the rods and I think Sage charges more than $15 these days, but they repair or replace regardless.

Other manufacturers may not unless they can't tell if it was a manufacturing defect or not. Sometimes the local fly shop you bought it from can go to bat for you. I know Shannon's does that for its customers at times. If you buy off Ebay, you don't get that service. I have yet to see a rod break for reasons other than operator error although I'm sure a defect gets by every once in a while. Most of the time it is not properly seating the sections, hitting the rod against something (car door, tree, beadhead, etc.) or high sticking a big fish instead of fighting it from the butt section.

 

[Pete]

Buy it on E-Bay for half the price, but get two...
Now you have your replacement.

With the possible exception of hand crafted split cane...
It doesn't cost anywhere near $800 to manufacture a rod.
You're also paying for the warranty replacements.
If you don't break the rod, you're paying for someone else's replacement.

 

[Thursthouse]

high sticking a big fish instead of fighting it from the butt section.

What does this mean?

 

[Rusty Spinner]

What does this mean?

Fighting a very large fish with the rod's tip and applying all of the pressure there instead of the butt section where the rod's power lies. Not an issue with a 12" trout, but hook into a 50 lb. bluefin and hold the rod tip high and watch it explode. Instead, point the rod toward the fish with less bend in it overall and the pressure will move to the butt section. Too many trout guys get used to holding their rods up high to protect light tippet and transfer that to big fish like tuna, sailfish, tarpon, big salmon, etc. only to break lots of rods. Use side pressure to land big fish, not tip pressure.

 

[Eagle Claw]

WBDluver, I actually agree with you 100 percent. My purpose in this thread was to let people know you can not assume its ok to not send in the card. Also, do not assume the lifetime warrantees are for carelessness, its manufacturers defect only. At one time everyone was saying its warranted for everything even carelessness and you really do not have to send in the card but just keep it in case you need it NOT TRUE anymore. From what I have heard these rod companies are getting bit in the ass with replacing rods. The fact they might have done it in the past does not trump the fact it will run them out of business if they continue along this path. Whatever impression they may have given ten years ago may have been bad judgement and lust for the sale but can not and will not continue. Therefore, anyone buying a high end rod has to realize you are responsible for the rod unless its manufacturers defect and you must send in the card within the stated time frame or you may not even going to get a defect repaired. That being said, its your call if you want to buy a used product on Ebay for half the price, and then buy another if you break the rod due to carelessness. The company I am dealing with are good people, that's all I will comment about them, they recognized a repeat customer and wanted to make me happy.

 

[FIN-ITE 34]

I think that standard practice for most mfr's is a $50.00 replacement cost if not factory defect. That includes the return shipping to you. So if you buy a $500.00 rod and break a tip, it costs you fifty bucks to make the rod whole again. There are a few mfr's that advertise a $25.00 flat fee, but for most, it's $50.00 for the lifetime you own it.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Not all fly rod manufacturers treat broken rods the same. Some will still replace for a low cost the rod broken in the car door while others may not replace a rod or section of a rod unless it was a defect. I guess it pays to do some research when you buy a high end rod. The prices of the high end rods at full retail are crazy these days.

 

[Joe D]

WBDluver, I actually agree with you 100 percent. My purpose in this thread was to let people know you can not assume its ok to not send in the card. Also, do not assume the lifetime warrantees are for carelessness, its manufacturers defect only. At one time everyone was saying its warranted for everything even carelessness and you really do not have to send in the card but just keep it in case you need it NOT TRUE anymore. From what I have heard these rod companies are getting bit in the ass with replacing rods. The fact they might have done it in the past does not trump the fact it will run them out of business if they continue along this path. Whatever impression they may have given ten years ago may have been bad judgement and lust for the sale but can not and will not continue. Therefore, anyone buying a high end rod has to realize you are responsible for the rod unless its manufacturers defect and you must send in the card within the stated time frame or you may not even going to get a defect repaired. That being said, its your call if you want to buy a used product on Ebay for half the price, and then buy another if you break the rod due to carelessness. The company I am dealing with are good people, that's all I will comment about them, they recognized a repeat customer and wanted to make me happy.

It all depends on the rod company. Some have always just warrantied for manufacturing defect. Others will repair or replace the rod no matter how it breaks.

 

[eddavidson9]

I was under the impression that it was not necessary to do do.

That was obviously your first mistake...guess you never read the authoritative reference material:

 

[tomfly]

I had a few moments where I failed to see the oblivious . I broke two fly rods in one season. Both were entirely my fault and included blatant acts of stupidly. Until that point I never had damaged a rod is 30 years. I still am a firm believer that there is no credible excuse for breaking a fly rod that does not have a manufacturing defect.

The first supreme display of idiocy.
I was hung up on the bottom with my 6 weight Orvis performer . While freeing the snag the split shot snapped back hitting the rod mid tip. The rod snapped on the next cast.

The second supreme display of idiocy. (This on should go down in the annals of fly fishing stupidly because it took multiple moronic steps to break the rod)

I was camping in the Adirondacks.

Moronic step Numero uno

Never rig a rod inside the cabin. Don't ask. Just take my word for it.

Moronic step number 2

There is an 8'6' rod I was holding with the tip off the rod in front of me fully rigged. I can not open the door like that. You would think a light bulb would have went off head at that point. Sadly not the case. So like the idiot that I was. I spun the rod around so the tip was now behind me.

Moronic step number 3 ( Who ever quoted the phrase bad things come in threes. I personal can not argue with that.)

So at this point I opened the screen door on the cabin (spring loaded) again a light bulb did not go off in my head. I sung the door open and miscalculated the amount of time it would take myself and 8'6" of fly rod trailing behind me to exit the doorway before the screen door slammed shut. I need not say what the result was.

Orvis replaced both tips. no questions asked. The second rod an Orvis 3 weight Western was 24 years 8 months into a 25 year warrantee.

People can say what they want about Orvis. They stand by their product warrantees . I can tell you from experience, Orvis does not discriminate against idiots. I never sent in a card. Orvis is a class act and second to none. I paid for shipping one way on both rods.

 

[lightenup]

I had a few moments where I failed to see the oblivious . I broke two fly rods in one season. Both were entirely my fault and included blatant acts of stupidly. Until that point I never had damaged a rod is 30 years. I still am a firm believer that there is no credible excuse for breaking a fly rod that does not have a manufacturing defect.

The first supreme display of idiocy.
I was hung up on the bottom with my 6 weight Orvis performer . While freeing the snag the split shot snapped back hitting the rod mid tip. The rod snapped on the next cast.

The second supreme display of idiocy. (This on should go down in the annals of fly fishing stupidly because it took multiple moronic steps to break the rod)

I was camping in the Adirondacks.

Moronic step Numero uno

Never rig a rod inside the cabin. Don't ask. Just take my word for it.

Moronic step number 2

There is an 8'6' rod I was holding with the tip off the rod in front of me fully rigged. I can not open the door like that. You would think a light bulb would have went off head at that point. Sadly not the case. So like the idiot that I was. I spun the rod around so the tip was now behind me.

Moronic step number 3 ( Who ever quoted the phrase bad things come in threes. I personal can not argue with that.)

So at this point I opened the screen door on the cabin (spring loaded) again a light bulb did not go off in my head. I sung the door open and miscalculated the amount of time it would take myself and 8'6" of fly rod trailing behind me to exit the doorway before the screen door slammed shut. I need not say what the result was.

Orvis replaced both tips. no questions asked. The second rod an Orvis 3 weight Western was 24 years 8 months into a 25 year warrantee.

People can say what they want about Orvis. They stand by their product warrantees . I can tell you from experience, Orvis does not discriminate against idiots. I never sent in a card. Orvis is a class act and second to none. I paid for shipping one way on both rods.

Moronic step number 4:
I have a very special fly rod...It is a Winston IM-6 blank, that was built buy "a guy I know", cork measured to my hand and personalized signature and all that.......I have a Winston Perfect reel on it and a Terenzio silk line......putting it lightly, the rod is the TITS!!!!!
Here is the moronic move, don't use the hand you are holding your rod in to stop a fall, you will land on it and break two of the sections.....


Thankfully, the guy who built it is a nice fellow, and fixed it...Winston supplied the blanks at no charge.....I know nothing of the warranty card, as the rod was gifted to me, making it even more special....

I am one lucky fucker!!!!!

 

[draku007]

I broke 2 weeks old Orvis ($200) rod. Went back to Ramsey Outdoors where I got the rod from. They called Orvis and got the authorization to replace it. I walked out the door with a brand new rod. Didn't even cost me shipping.
Lesson learned - buy from your local stores.
BTW not all premium $800 rods come with lifetime no fault warranty.

 

[WBDluver]

Moronic step number 4:
I have a very special fly rod...It is a Winston IM-6 blank, that was built buy "a guy I know", cork measured to my hand and personalized signature and all that.......I have a Winston Perfect reel on it and a Terenzio silk line......putting it lightly, the rod is the TITS!!!!!
Here is the moronic move, don't use the hand you are holding your rod in to stop a fall, you will land on it and break two of the sections.....


Thankfully, the guy who built it is a nice fellow, and fixed it...Winston supplied the blanks at no charge.....I know nothing of the warranty card, as the rod was gifted to me, making it even more special....

I am one lucky fucker!!!!!

You can always tell the real fisherman from the wannabe's this way. When a fisherman is walking down a path, fish in one hand, rod in the other, and starts to fall, a real fishermen breaks the fall with his face.

 

[Joe D]

You can always tell the real fisherman from the wannabe's this way. When a fisherman is walking down a path, fish in one hand, rod in the other, and starts to fall, a real fishermen breaks the fall with his face.

That might be why many fly fishermen wear buffs

 

[Trout Nazi]

Moronic step number 4:
I have a very special fly rod...It is a Winston IM-6 blank, that was built buy "a guy I know", cork measured to my hand and personalized signature and all that.......I have a Winston Perfect reel on it and a Terenzio silk line......putting it lightly, the rod is the TITS!!!!!
Here is the moronic move, don't use the hand you are holding your rod in to stop a fall, you will land on it and break two of the sections.....


Thankfully, the guy who built it is a nice fellow, and fixed it...Winston supplied the blanks at no charge.....I know nothing of the warranty card, as the rod was gifted to me, making it even more special....

I am one lucky fucker!!!!!

I too have had a good experience with Winston, after I took an unplanned swim in the Esopus one November.

 

[fluid1]

Broke the tip off a 10 year old TFO getting snagged under a drift boat...TFO gave me a choice of any one of three of their current models, free. Cork handle came loose on a 20 year old Orvis rod, they repaired and returned without cost. I'm a big fan of TFO as I believe their rods are priced right and just as good as rods twice as much.