All Star Rods - Now Shakespeare

"Bob La Londe" wrote in
:

To address your concerns, The All Star warranty has not changed.
The limited Life Time warranty card states that to receive warranty
service, submit your rod along with the owner's portion of the
warranty card and $15.00 for return postage. The only thing that has
changed is the location. I think the difference the public may feel is
that we are now adhering to our policy, whereas the staff in Houston
did not.

It's a pretty stupid policy. It goes well beyond proving original
ownership to have to produce a piece of paper that you got with your rod.
It should be enough that your name matches the name on the registration
form.

Scott

Bob La Londe wrote:
I asked Shakespeare myself and got the following strict response.



Dear Mr. La Londe,

Thank you for writing. We appreciate any and all feedback from our
consumers. To address your concerns, The All Star warranty has not changed.
The limited Life Time warranty card states that to receive warranty service,
submit your rod along with the owner's portion of the warranty card and
$15.00 for return postage. The only thing that has changed is the location.
I think the difference the public may feel is that we are now adhering to
our policy, whereas the staff in Houston did not. The policy of replacing
rods, at minimal or no cost, oft times with no questions asked is the
reason the All Star company got into the red and was made a takeover target.
Our service center in Columbia, SC has no problem honoring a warranty
provided that the consumer can produce all the required documentation. Our
warranty is made clear on all of our products and we will continue to
process all claims as the policy states. The Shakespeare Fishing Tackle
Co.and Pflueger has been in business for over 100 years. Our products are
popular and are loved by many consumers worldwide. We will continue to make
quality products and provide quality service for many years to come. For
more information on our products, service and warranties, please visit our
websites:

www.allstarrods.com www.pfluegerfishing.com www.shakespeare-fishing.com.



Regards,

Patricia Walker

Consumer Services & Warranty

"just me" wrote in message
bal.net...

I broke the front section of an All Star rod - good rod, probably $100 -
$125 or thereabouts. In the past I have been able to go to the factory
here in Houston and get immediate service. All Star had been fantastic
for years, either replacing the item at minimal or no cost or repairing
it for a very reasonable price.

I went by their site today and it is closed with a sign showing a 1.800
number. I called it. It is a Shakespeare service number, as
Shakespeare bought All Star a few months back. I explained the problem
and was told I'd have to go back thru the store where I bought the rod
to get any service, warranty or otherwise. I asked if I could at least
buy a replacement section, directly. I was told, in no uncertain terms,
that Shakespeare did not provide that service.

When I explained that I had been a big fan of All Star because of their
great products and fantastic service, the lady commented, "That's the
reason they aren't in business anymore.".

I haven't had any dealings with Shakespeare or bought any Shakespeare
products for a bunch of years because this is the same experience I had
with them "back when" - their service was LOUSY then and doesn't appear
to have changed.

Castaway, you just gained a customer.

BTW, Shakespeare also owns Pfleuger (sp ??), so I'll be avoiding them,
too.

Anyone else had this kind of experience with Shakespeare?

Glen




I have a hard time believing the fact that returns and exchanges were
the reason for this more than Shakespeare wanting to further into the
green on All-Star than they currently were. Obviously if people have to
jump through flaming hoops to get an exchange less and less people are
going to do it. I have never had a problem with Loomis or St. Croix on
exchanges. I never had to prove anything to either of them. Then again
I went through a rod builder, so that probably makes a significant
difference.

It is really too bad all this is taking place, I had a bad gut feeling
about them when I stopped at the booth in fishing show in Green Bay last
month and couldn't get a second of the guys time to talk about either
All-Star or Pflueger. It is really unfortunate. Oh well, lets see how
all of this unfolds.

Chris

"Chris Rennert" wrote in message
.. .
Bob La Londe wrote:
I asked Shakespeare myself and got the following strict response.



Dear Mr. La Londe,

Thank you for writing. We appreciate any and all feedback from our
consumers. To address your concerns, The All Star warranty has not
changed.
The limited Life Time warranty card states that to receive warranty
service,
submit your rod along with the owner's portion of the warranty card and
$15.00 for return postage. The only thing that has changed is the
location.
I think the difference the public may feel is that we are now adhering
to
our policy, whereas the staff in Houston did not. The policy of
replacing
rods, at minimal or no cost, oft times with no questions asked is the
reason the All Star company got into the red and was made a takeover
target.
Our service center in Columbia, SC has no problem honoring a warranty
provided that the consumer can produce all the required documentation.
Our
warranty is made clear on all of our products and we will continue to
process all claims as the policy states. The Shakespeare Fishing Tackle
Co.and Pflueger has been in business for over 100 years. Our products
are
popular and are loved by many consumers worldwide. We will continue to
make
quality products and provide quality service for many years to come. For
more information on our products, service and warranties, please visit
our
websites:

www.allstarrods.com www.pfluegerfishing.com
www.shakespeare-fishing.com.



Regards,

Patricia Walker

Consumer Services & Warranty

"just me" wrote in message
bal.net...

I broke the front section of an All Star rod - good rod, probably $100 -
$125 or thereabouts. In the past I have been able to go to the factory
here in Houston and get immediate service. All Star had been fantastic
for years, either replacing the item at minimal or no cost or repairing
it for a very reasonable price.

I went by their site today and it is closed with a sign showing a 1.800
number. I called it. It is a Shakespeare service number, as
Shakespeare bought All Star a few months back. I explained the problem
and was told I'd have to go back thru the store where I bought the rod
to get any service, warranty or otherwise. I asked if I could at least
buy a replacement section, directly. I was told, in no uncertain terms,
that Shakespeare did not provide that service.

When I explained that I had been a big fan of All Star because of their
great products and fantastic service, the lady commented, "That's the
reason they aren't in business anymore.".

I haven't had any dealings with Shakespeare or bought any Shakespeare
products for a bunch of years because this is the same experience I had
with them "back when" - their service was LOUSY then and doesn't appear
to have changed.

Castaway, you just gained a customer.

BTW, Shakespeare also owns Pfleuger (sp ??), so I'll be avoiding them,
too.

Anyone else had this kind of experience with Shakespeare?

Glen




I have a hard time believing the fact that returns and exchanges were
the reason for this more than Shakespeare wanting to further into the
green on All-Star than they currently were. Obviously if people have to
jump through flaming hoops to get an exchange less and less people are
going to do it. I have never had a problem with Loomis or St. Croix on
exchanges. I never had to prove anything to either of them. Then again
I went through a rod builder, so that probably makes a significant
difference.

It is really too bad all this is taking place, I had a bad gut feeling
about them when I stopped at the booth in fishing show in Green Bay last
month and couldn't get a second of the guys time to talk about either
All-Star or Pflueger. It is really unfortunate. Oh well, lets see how
all of this unfolds.

Chris

I never had any problem with St Croix either. They did send me a note
telling me how to take better care of my rods though. LOL. Fenwick,
Quantum, and Lamiglass also all treated me very well with Lamiglass being
the slowest perhaps.

I hade the same problem with Pinnacle ( now Silstar), the do not support
anything but the current lines that they are producing right now. It seems
to me their attitude is, you either buy new gear from us or suffer.