Why Are Megabass Products So Expensive?

[CrankFate]

Does anyone have a link to a site that sells $1,000 Megabass bass rods? These rods must be so good, they don’t even make them…..

[evilcatfish]

51 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

Does anyone have a link to a site that sells $1,000 Megabass bass rods? These rods must be so good, they don’t even make them…..

 

The Hookup Tackle has had them recently, can be special ordered through The Tackle Trap, or ordered from overseas. Personally, if I had that kind of money to spend on a JDM rod, I'd be looking at Evergreen or the Steez Racing Design. 

 

https://thehookuptackle.com/products/arms-super-leggera-casting-rods

 

https://tackletrap.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1066_1841

 

[evo2s197]

4 hours ago, evilcatfish said:

The Hookup Tackle has had them recently, can be special ordered through The Tackle Trap, or ordered from overseas.

Yes, exactly, if someone thinks they don't exist their input shouldn't either.

 

[CrankFate]

6 hours ago, evilcatfish said:

 

The Hookup Tackle has had them recently, can be special ordered through The Tackle Trap, or ordered from overseas. Personally, if I had that kind of money to spend on a JDM rod, I'd be looking at Evergreen or the Steez Racing Design. 

 

https://thehookuptackle.com/products/arms-super-leggera-casting-rods

 

https://tackletrap.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1066_1841

 

I’m happy with my $400 Kistler Magnesium and $200 Megabass Levante. Between the two of them, I still have enough left over for an Aldebaran. Oh the horror of fishing such cheap junk...

[evilcatfish]

35 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

I’m happy with my $400 Kistler Magnesium and $200 Megabass Levante. Between the two of them, I still have enough left over for an Aldebaran. Oh the horror of fishing such cheap junk...

 

I just posted the links showing the rods do exist. Never said anything to suggest less expensive rods are "cheap junk" 

[evo2s197]

50 minutes ago, evilcatfish said:

I’m happy with my $400 Kistler Magnesium and $200 Megabass Levante. Between the two of them, I still have enough left over for an Aldebaran. Oh the horror of fishing such cheap junk...

Between the Kistler and Levante, do you have issues on who gets custody of that lone Aldebaran?

[CrankFate]

12 hours ago, evo2s197 said:

Between the Kistler and Levante, do you have issues on who gets custody of that lone Aldebaran?

? Actually, it’s on the Kistler. I have it backwards, though. I put a curado BFS on the heavy Levante and the Aldebaran on the BFS Kistler.

[evo2s197]

36 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

? Actually, it’s on the Kistler. I have it backwards, though. I put a curado BFS on the heavy Levante and the Aldebaran on the BFS Kistler.

Nothing wrong with that, whatever works best for you is what matters.

[NHBull]

Wow, another 12 year old revival ??. I'll bite.

 

I have several but have come to the conclusion that that when you compare their BC'S to Loomis BC's, the scale tilts towards Loomis, especially in the warranty Dept.

 

On the flip side, it is hard to beat their spinning rods and they have not suffered the quality control issues there.

 

Again, this is my opinion 

[KP Duty]

Americans are more likely to pay more for a well marketed brand.  Megabass and Gloomis rods are marked up $180-$240 in the U.S. versus Japan (P5/concuest).  Are the Japanese savvier shoppers?    

[ironbjorn]

Things are only worth as much as people are willing to pay. They cost a lot because people pay it.

[evo2s197]

The other benefit to expensive items is that not everyone can purchase them, so a individual that can afford high end whatever has the exclusivity factor of having what your average individual is not willing to attain, also more expensive items are usually but not always better.

 

 

[CrankFate]

10 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Americans are more likely to pay more for a well marketed brand.  Megabass and Gloomis rods are marked up $180-$240 in the U.S. versus Japan (P5/concuest).  Are the Japanese savvier shoppers?    

Yes and no. There is no middle market in Japan. America is all middle market. In Japan it’s either $50 or $1,000. They buy the expensive stuff because a lot of guys are lucky to get out 3 days a year, so they will spend the money to make the little time they get out as perfect as possible. That’s what I have been told by people from Japan.

[bulldog1935]

The Japanese love their Limited Edition and highest grade tackle, and devour them as soon as they hit the market - they reserve them before they're even produced.  They're also very faddish.  When they're on a Pflueger, Hardy, or Fenglas Lunkerstik kick, you can get top dollar selling to Japan.  

They offer many more tiers and models of tackle than we ever see from them here.  

Every reel model sold there sooner or later gets a special color trim edition - Colt Sniper, Exsence, Sephia, SLP Exist, etc.   

They also have many more niches to fish than we typically do here - they have 15 different offshore niches alone.  

Every line of quality tackle sells their mid range in Japan domestic market just as they sell their high grades.  

Otherwise, Alphas and Stradics would never sell out.  

[NOC 1]

On 6/28/2021 at 12:08 PM, TOXIC said:

Simple, at that price point, it’s not about fishing, it’s about you.  

LOL..You bet it is about me, it's my money.

[NOC 1]

On 6/30/2021 at 8:47 AM, ironbjorn said:

Things are only worth as much as people are willing to pay. They cost a lot because people pay it.

Or sometimes it is because they are better. I've had a 1911 pistol from the Philippines bought for about $400. It does everything basically required of a pistol. I also bought a $3000+ 1911 made by Les Baer. Guys who argue that it doesn't matter are clueless.

 

They would stand 10 yd back from a target, pull the trigger and hit the 2" bull's eye. To them the cheap one works as well as the expensive one. But, back up to 50 yards and the cheap pistol is unable to produce any better than a 2" group no matter how good you are. The Les Baer will put the rounds into a 1/2" group. And not get a stove pipe or feed failure in 10,000 rounds.

 

The difference is that for $400 you get some minimum wage knucklehead cranking these cheap guns out from bins full of "identical" parts. On the expensive guns you have custom parts being individually fitted by a Master gunsmith. Each part IS different, but not in the sloppy fitting cheap gun way, but in the Les Baer way. He will guarantee that his work has less than 3/10,000" accuracy in any chain of any 3 parts. That sort of thing costs.

 

The difference between a Megabass $600 rod, versus the off the rack $150 rod is similar. Most rods are built with pretty generic tapers. Ito plans and researches each of rod model for years designing and redesigning the taper and guides for a very specific use. Most Megabass rods (the higher end anyway) are made for 1 specific purpose. And then that rod is built in a flawless manner. Now you may buy the rod and not agree with his "vision" for that rod, but that rod is exactly the way he wants it and he has gone through much to get it that way.

 

It makes some guys feel better to believe that there is no difference between a high dollar rod and what they use and it's not on me to prove them wrong. It's just that until those folks actually have some of the high dollar stuff, the value of their opinion on the matter comes heavily discounted. 

[NOC 1]

On 6/30/2021 at 7:03 PM, CrankFate said:

Yes and no. There is no middle market in Japan. America is all middle market. In Japan it’s either $50 or $1,000. They buy the expensive stuff because a lot of guys are lucky to get out 3 days a year, so they will spend the money to make the little time they get out as perfect as possible. That’s what I have been told by people from Japan.

That, and according to my friend who teaches English at a University in Japan, Americans live in comparatively large domiciles and so it is common for anglers to have 10 or more rigs. Most people live in tiny little apartments in Japan so that people can't buy all the stuff we buy. They have no place to put it.

 

The upshot is that a dedicated angler in Japan might only have 1 or at most 2 rigs, but they want the best. I'd bet that most any Japanese fisherman paying $2000 for a rod and reel has a whole lot less into it than the average American enthusiast does. And the comparison goes completely off the charts when you figure in a boat, trailer and a truck to pull it with.

[ironbjorn]

39 minutes ago, NOC 1 said:

Or sometimes it is because they are better. I've had a 1911 pistol from the Philippines bought for about $400. It does everything basically required of a pistol. I also bought a $3000+ 1911 made by Les Baer. Guys who argue that it doesn't matter are clueless.

 

They would stand 10 yd back from a target, pull the trigger and hit the 2" bull's eye. To them the cheap one works as well as the expensive one. But, back up to 50 yards and the cheap pistol is unable to produce any better than a 2" group no matter how good you are. The Les Baer will put the rounds into a 1/2" group. And not get a stove pipe or feed failure in 10,000 rounds.

 

The difference is that for $400 you get some minimum wage knucklehead cranking these cheap guns out from bins full of "identical" parts. On the expensive guns you have custom parts being individually fitted by a Master gunsmith. Each part IS different, but not in the sloppy fitting cheap gun way, but in the Les Baer way. He will guarantee that his work has less than 3/10,000" accuracy in any chain of any 3 parts. That sort of thing costs.

 

The difference between a Megabass $600 rod, versus the off the rack $150 rod is similar. Most rods are built with pretty generic tapers. Ito plans and researches each of rod model for years designing and redesigning the taper and guides for a very specific use. Most Megabass rods (the higher end anyway) are made for 1 specific purpose. And then that rod is built in a flawless manner. Now you may buy the rod and not agree with his "vision" for that rod, but that rod is exactly the way he wants it and he has gone through much to get it that way.

 

It makes some guys feel better to believe that there is no difference between a high dollar rod and what they use and it's not on me to prove them wrong. It's just that until those folks actually have some of the high dollar stuff, the value of their opinion on the matter comes heavily discounted. 

And again, things are only worth as much as people are willing to pay.

[NOC 1]

1 minute ago, ironbjorn said:

And again, things are only worth as much as people are willing to pay.

If you want to keep it all that simple then I would just say that some people don't mind buying and using mediocre or worse gear, while others want better. Of course for the most part people won't pay for what they don't value.

 

Some just don't value the differences. Some do but CAN'T buy the difference. Others just don't know the difference.

 

[CrankFate]

[ironbjorn]

7 hours ago, NOC 1 said:

If you want to keep it all that simple then I would just say that some people don't mind buying and using mediocre or worse gear, while others want better. Of course for the most part people won't pay for what they don't value.

 

Some just don't value the differences. Some do but CAN'T buy the difference. Others just don't know the difference.

 

I think you're missing my point. Of course some things are better than other things and would obviously demand a higher price. This is all fine. But what something costs is entirely dependent on market value and what people are willing to spend. These rods would cost half the price is people weren't buying them, but they are. Only food and water are essential, and perhaps shelter, but anything can be shelter. These sticks are worthless if people won't buy them. You can't eat them or drink them. My dad taught me this lesson long ago.

 

[TOXIC]

My question is this… At what point does the quality of a $1,000 rod exceed what the human hand and arm can perceive? We have skin covered nerve endings that allow us to “feel” sensitivity.  There is surely a limit to what degree we, as human beings, can perceive.  Some I’m sure more than others.  To what degree is a $500 rod less sensitive than that $1,000+ rod and can we really tell the difference?  What other factors come into play other than sensitivity?  Castability? Component quality? Blank quality?  All of which add cost but what really do they add beyond sensitivity?  Certainly not durability.  I will never criticize how a man spends his hard earned money but for me I have done some blindfolded tests on differing quality of gear and walked away very “enlightened”.  

[PhishLI]

What always seems to get lost in these threads is that higher dollar gear's prices are justified simply by their low production numbers. Real R&D takes time, and those costs are factored in. Very few companies that offer high end flagship models, or even price points just below flagship, sell many total units. Small specialty companies, like MegaBass, also don't have the luxury of having high volume loss leader products that lead to bumping buyers up the line over time. Plus, they can't afford many mistakes. There just isn't that much room in the budget. Small companies are often walking a tightrope financially.

 

There's also added value when designs are attributed to a particular personality and/or their proteges. As long as there's enough of a market for those who are interested in such things, then that's all that matters to a company. Being practical means different things to different people. If higher end gear isn't for you, by choice, or out of budgetary constraints, then a person has plenty of options that'll do just fine. Regardless, bass fishing isn't essential. It's a hobby. If you've spent more than $50 on a combo, then you've spent more than you needed to, but luxury isn't about need.

[NOC 1]

14 hours ago, ironbjorn said:

I think you're missing my point. Of course some things are better than other things and would obviously demand a higher price. This is all fine. But what something costs is entirely dependent on market value and what people are willing to spend. These rods would cost half the price is people weren't buying them, but they are. Only food and water are essential, and perhaps shelter, but anything can be shelter. These sticks are worthless if people won't buy them. You can't eat them or drink them. My dad taught me this lesson long ago.

 

I understand your point. It is, after all one of the very basic tenets of a market based economic. It's just that standing alone, that statement though true as far as it goes isn't the entire story. What something costs is not just based on what people will pay for it, something costs what it costs and if the market won't bear what it costs plus profit, that thing is just not made.

 

I guess all I'm really saying is that it is not just a matter of a MegaBass costing more simply because the maker has convinced credulous dupes into paying more for something that they could find equivalent for cheap. It actually does cost more to make them and they actually are better rods than the cheaper rods.

 

I get what you are saying , that at some point it is possible that there would not be enough people who found them valuable enough to pay that much, but at that point, He just stops making rods that good. It's not like he can just ratchet the price down for that same rod down far enough to compete with the mid level and cheaper stuff.

 

They do make some, like the Leggera which ARE strictly a status/presentation buy, and with those rods, Your saying is much closer to the whole story.

 

8 hours ago, TOXIC said:

My question is this… At what point does the quality of a $1,000 rod exceed what the human hand and arm can perceive? We have skin covered nerve endings that allow us to “feel” sensitivity.  There is surely a limit to what degree we, as human beings, can perceive.  Some I’m sure more than others.  To what degree is a $500 rod less sensitive than that $1,000+ rod and can we really tell the difference?  What other factors come into play other than sensitivity?  Castability? Component quality? Blank quality?  All of which add cost but what really do they add beyond sensitivity?  Certainly not durability.  I will never criticize how a man spends his hard earned money but for me I have done some blindfolded tests on differing quality of gear and walked away very “enlightened”.  

Can you feel a tiny gnat landing on your hand? Can you feel a gnat land on your $1000 fishing rod?...I'd say we have some more to go...

 

Perhaps you are not so much enlightened as just not able to feel the difference. Maybe others can?

[NOC 1]

8 hours ago, PhishLI said:

What always seems to get lost in these threads is that higher dollar gear's prices are justified simply be their low production numbers. Real R&D takes time, and those costs are factored in. Very few companies that offer high end flagship models, or even price points just below flagship, sell many total units. Small specialty companies, like MegaBass, also don't have the luxury of having high volume loss leader products that lead to bumping buyers up the line over time. Plus, they can't afford many mistakes. There just isn't that much room in the budget. Small companies are often walking a tightrope financially.

 

There's also added value when designs are attributed to a particular personality and/or their proteges. As long as there's enough of a market for those who are interested in such things, then that's all that matters to a company. Being practical means different things to different people. If higher end gear isn't for you, by choice, or out of budgetary constraints, then a person has plenty of options that'll do just fine. Regardless, bass fishing isn't essential. It's a hobby. If you've spent more than $50 on a combo, then you've spent more than you needed to, but luxury isn't about need.

Like someone said earlier, the fishing hobby is very strange when it comes to gear. I know guys who will blow $2000 on a golf weekend flying their very expensive clubs all over the place in $800 golf bags.

 

I know people who will blow $250 for drinks and dinner at a decent restaurant and not think it a waste.

 

I know a guy who ordered a $15,000 engraved special built rifle just to take on his $20,000 safari.

 

But no one gives these guys the kind of grief we here who buy $600 fishing reels get. We even see guys who themselves have spend $100,000 or more on a boat and truck disrespect those of us who buy expensive rods and reels as being schmucks. There are a few people who have some issues to work out I think.