Spinning rod question

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
t...
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:
snip Spending a lot of money doesn't necessarily equate to quality. I
discovered that long ago when I started upgrading my equipment. It is
also the primary reason why I got into rod building in the first place.
I'll take the same components and assemble a much better rod!

Buying a custom built may get you a better rod than the same
factory model but given what the manufacturers charge for blanks
it can't end up being all that much cheaper. And then there's the
warranty. If I break a G Loomis they'll send me a brand new one
via UPS for $50 and for $65 they'll get it to me in two days. If
I were to break a Huber custom built in a car door how much does
it cost to replace and how soon can you get it to me ? ;-)

Custom builts are great for fancy thread work or specialty grips
but almost all my fly rods are factory models *with* warranties.

I warranty any rod I build for life (mine! :-) against defects in
workmanship or materials. If it fails in the course of fishing, return the
pieces to me and I'll build you a new one for nothing more than the cost of
shipping.

Slam it in a car door and you're on your own! I don't warranty stupid.....
;-)

As far as turn around time, depending on what the blank was, and how fast I
can get it, probably less than two weeks.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:
"Ken Fortenberry" wrote:
... And then there's the
warranty. If I break a G Loomis they'll send me a brand new one
via UPS for $50 and for $65 they'll get it to me in two days. If
I were to break a Huber custom built in a car door how much does
it cost to replace and how soon can you get it to me ? ;-)

I warranty any rod I build for life (mine! :-) against defects in
workmanship or materials. If it fails in the course of fishing, return the
pieces to me and I'll build you a new one for nothing more than the cost of
shipping.

Slam it in a car door and you're on your own! I don't warranty stupid.....
;-)

LOL !! I don't blame you. I've never busted a fly rod in a car door
but I did have an unfortunate encounter with a malicious screen door
one time. ;-)

A lot of folks complain about unconditional warranties needlessly
raising the price of rods but how do you tell the difference between
stupid and material failure without a forensics team from CSI ? And
if you do determine the break was due to stupid is it worth the ill
will it generates to say so to a customer ? I understand that the guy
who sells 100-200 rods a year can't have an unconditional warranty
but it's a nice thing to have and I don't mind paying a little extra
for the insurance.

--
Ken Fortenberry

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message SNIP

Slam it in a car door and you're on your own! I don't warranty
stupid..... ;-)

LOL !! I don't blame you. I've never busted a fly rod in a car door
but I did have an unfortunate encounter with a malicious screen door
one time. ;-)

A lot of folks complain about unconditional warranties needlessly
raising the price of rods but how do you tell the difference between
stupid and material failure without a forensics team from CSI ? And
if you do determine the break was due to stupid is it worth the ill
will it generates to say so to a customer ? I understand that the guy
who sells 100-200 rods a year can't have an unconditional warranty
but it's a nice thing to have and I don't mind paying a little extra
for the insurance.

It's really not that hard to tell when a rod is broken through a dumbsh!t
move, there's things an experienced eye can tell. Harder to tell is abuse.

I guess I've been fortunate in that I've had to build few replacement rods,
although I have had a couple rods sent back to me with notes explaining how
dumb they were in breaking the rod. Those guys I give a big price break to,
usually just charging for the cost of the blank and I don't demand
reimbursement for my labor.

One guy said "I don't know how it happened, but the rod broke when I was
reeling in a small fish." I emailed him back saying the sneaker print right
at the break site and the bent guide might have something to do with the
break. He emailed me back and admitted that's what happened, he set the rod
down on the deck and stepped on it. I built another rod for him, with a
price break, but he paid for his stupidity and attempt at duplicity.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com