My $1.40 Chinese Baitcaster Arrived Today.

[lmbfisherman]

I just do not understand how someone could put someone else down by telling him the reel he bought is crap, or won't hold up, or was not worth the money when they have never been within a mile of one and probably never even heard of them until this post came up. 

 

I hope when newbies are asking questions those type of people who have never tried the products arent chiming in their unfounded opinions of stuff they have never seen in person. 

 

I think some people on here just like to post and will throw their unfounded opinions out whenever they can. 

Kevin, I have no issue with the product he bought, I only stated I probably wouldn't have bought it.  I'd be wary, and I never ONCE put him down for it.  I did say I'd be interested in hearing his experience though.  Also, I had to respond cause your post was pretty blatant stating a 30 dollar reel with less quality "parts" would beat a 200 dollar reel with better parts would be an issue.  In fact your statement frankly did the same exact thing you are accusing everyone else of.  There would've been a better way to say it, honestly. 

 

If a newbie asked to buy their first BC, I would never tell them to go cheap.  Personal experience, when I bought a cheapo baitcaster..I got frustrated and stopped trying one a few years.  Then I learned and listened to others, bought a quality 100 dollar BC and wow what a difference.  There is a big jump from 100 to 200+ bc in performance and I'm sure others would agree.  Just like a under 50 dollar retail and 100 dollar has a major difference. 

[tomustang]

I just do not understand how someone could put someone else down by telling him the reel he bought is crap, or won't hold up, or was not worth the money when they have never been within a mile of one and probably never even heard of them until this post came up. 

 

I hope when newbies are asking questions those type of people who have never tried the products arent chiming in their unfounded opinions of stuff they have never seen in person. 

 

I think some people on here just like to post and will throw their unfounded opinions out whenever they can. 

 

 

Reread the thread, there's no proof of ownership, no trying out, no testing, no fish being pulled on it. Where's the use? Review? What does it look like?

 

 

How about a thread where someone actually uses a product instead of saying how much they bought something and how much they praise it without using it.

[deaknh03]

LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT. THIS WAS NOT A $1.40 REEL. IT WAS A $30 REEL. The seller listed it at $1.40 + $30 shipping to avoid ebay fees. It costs them MAYBE $3 to ship it to you. 

 

This is NOT a $1.40 reel, it is a $30 reel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ebay charges fees on shipping equal to the actual cost of the item to deter sellers from doing this, so he must have had another reason to charge $30 for shipping.

[Kevin22]

Be careful taking it apart, especially if the instructions/schematic are in chinese. Don't take it apart unless you know you will not break it. Doesn't matter what these guys think about it. If you do not want to open it up then dont. 

 

But if you feel comfortable with it, open it up and show us some pictures. 

[bigbill]

I will ask again. What is the frame made of and what do the internals look like?

It's all plastic frame wise. I haven't opened it up yet. I did open up the side cover were the adjustable magnets are and it looks like any baitcaster I have looked at.

[deaknh03]

Be careful taking it apart, especially if the instructions/schematic are in chinese. Don't take it apart unless you know you will not break it. Doesn't matter what these guys think about it. If you do not want to open it up then dont. 

 

But if you feel comfortable with it, open it up and show us some pictures. 

He could open it and then say "it's all chinese to me!!!" 

[bigbill]

Ebay charges fees on shipping equal to the actual cost of the item to deter sellers from doing this, so he must have had another reason to charge $30 for shipping.

I think they had the price and shipping mixed up at first.

[Kevin22]

Be careful taking it apart, especially if the instructions/schematic are in chinese. Don't take it apart unless you know you will not break it. Doesn't matter what these guys think about it. If you do not want to open it up then dont. 

 

But if you feel comfortable with it, open it up and show us some pictures. 

 

Kevin, I have no issue with the product he bought, I only stated I probably wouldn't have bought it.  I'd be wary, and I never ONCE put him down for it.  I did say I'd be interested in hearing his experience though.  Also, I had to respond cause your post was pretty blatant stating a 30 dollar reel with less quality "parts" would beat a 200 dollar reel with better parts would be an issue.  In fact your statement frankly did the same exact thing you are accusing everyone else of.  There would've been a better way to say it, honestly. 

 

If a newbie asked to buy their first BC, I would never tell them to go cheap.  Personal experience, when I bought a cheapo baitcaster..I got frustrated and stopped trying one a few years.  Then I learned and listened to others, bought a quality 100 dollar BC and wow what a difference.  There is a big jump from 100 to 200+ bc in performance and I'm sure others would agree.  Just like a under 50 dollar retail and 100 dollar has a major difference. 

 

 

Agree with all points!

 

Just understand, the chinese CAN make quality items using quality parts for 1/10th the price of other places. But they usually don't so they have a bad rep. If they wanted to, I bet they could make a reel identical to the energy PT or similar cheap enough to sell for $30.. using the same parts. Figure Quantum is retailing the energy pt for $159.99. They are getting them made for less than $50 each in their factories. Now take out the mark-ups at the mfg and they could sell them for way less than the $50 point quantum buys them at. 

[SudburyBasser]

Jesus, a lot of posts arguing about something that hasn't seen a drop of water touch it.

 

Personally I'm quite skeptical. I've ordered bargain products from China -- including an ill-advised purchase of a GPS/DVD/CD head unit for my Jeep -- and I find you generally get what you pay for.

 

[Kevin22]

Ebay charges fees on shipping equal to the actual cost of the item to deter sellers from doing this, so he must have had another reason to charge $30 for shipping.

 

That is only recent (2013), before that we (ebay sellers) could list an item for $0.99 and $40 shipping and only get charged 12% on the $0.99. Of course it was against ebay policy, but we still did it. Then they started charging fees on shipping as well. I'd guess the seller has had them listed for a long time and just didnt convert it over until now. Ebay buyers were probably giving them low ratings on shipping costs and that drove them to switch it around. 

 

Besides that, I don't see a reason he would have it listed the way he did. Maybe to avoid some sort of chinese tax on profit? Write it off as shipping expense instead of profit. 

[deaknh03]

That is only recent (2013), before that we (ebay sellers) could list an item for $0.99 and $40 shipping and only get charged 12% on the $0.99. Of course it was against ebay policy, but we still did it. Then they started charging fees on shipping as well. I'd guess the seller has had them listed for a long time and just didnt convert it over until now. Ebay buyers were probably giving them low ratings on shipping costs and that drove them to switch it around. 

 

Besides that, I don't see a reason he would have it listed the way he did. Maybe to avoid some sort of chinese tax on profit? Write it off as shipping expense instead of profit. 

It's actually been over 2 years that they have been charging fees on shipping, some sellers still try the high shipping fee/low "item" cost route, in an attempt to "trick" unwitting buyers.

[deaknh03]

I have seen those reels on ebay for years now, and they do have a cool look to them, I just couldn't muster up the nuts to buy one.

[Kevin22]

Man time flies. It was really 2 years ago? seems like it was sooner than that. 

 

I don't agree with those sellers that try and trick buyers, that is not cool at all. I am always honest and will usually list as free shipping just to make it easier on buyers. 

[bigbill]

Don't you think that some of this fishing equipment is way over priced?

Now we expect a kid to spend $150 to $200 for a baitcast reel?

Now how many expensive baitcasting reels will these kids buy? If they cut back on the over pricing there profits would be higher because there sales would be higher in numbers.

What's your limit price wise for a top shelf reel, how much would you be willing to actually spend max wise?

I can fish with any rod, any decent reel but I need good fishing line. The fish doesn't know how much your tackle costs. I still have my first Wal-Mart spinning reels and there still working for $15 to $35. Now I use okuma and Finor spinning reels. Is there any difference between the Wal-Mart reels not much but the feel smoother.

Price wise is there a limit or ceiling in the market when it comes to cost for a reel?

My point us do the reel manufacturers target price first or quality?

[deaknh03]

Man time flies. It was really 2 years ago? seems like it was sooner than that. 

 

I don't agree with those sellers that try and trick buyers, that is not cool at all. I am always honest and will usually list as free shipping just to make it easier on buyers. 

I agree, I haven't charged shipping for anything in at least a year, it looks better to a buyer, and I just make it up in the sale price anyways. 

[deaknh03]

Don't you think that some of this fishing equipment is way over priced?

Now we expect a kid to spend $150 to $200 for a baitcast reel?

Now how many expensive baitcasting reels will these kids buy? If they cut back on the over pricing there profits would be higher because there sales would be higher in numbers.

What's your limit price wise for a top shelf reel, how much would you be willing to actually spend max wise?

I can fish with any rod, any decent reel but I need good fishing line. The fish doesn't know how much your tackle costs. I still have my first Wal-Mart spinning reels and there still working for $15 to $35. Now I use okuma and Finor spinning reels. Is there any difference between the Wal-Mart reels not much but the feel smoother.

Price wise is there a limit or ceiling in the market when it comes to cost for a reel?

My point us do the reel manufacturers target price first or quality?

price is paramount for any corporation, then quality is fit in to suit the margins.

[deaknh03]

Any rod and reel will catch fish, you can use a stick and string to catch a fish. I personally prefer to use my semi higher end gear. I think it instills a sense of confidence, I like the look and feel of my reels and rods, and I get some gratification when I see and use them. My OCD is very happy when I look in the garage and see thousands of lures and stacks of combos..

[*Hootie]

This topic is starting to look like a gang war....lol.

Hootie

[tomustang]

This topic is starting to look like a gang war....lol.

Hootie

 

and the two groups are: The ones who want proof and the ones who can't show it

[*Hootie]

and the two groups are: The ones who want proof and the ones who can't show it

Looks like we have a catch 22.

Hootie

[JunkYard814]

I can see why you are getting aggravated that people are giving you crap about buying a cheaper product, and I will never do it, because it is up to buyer to determine what he is willing to spend and what makes him happy. Everyone's situation is different.

 

The problem I do have with this thread, is you are pretty much doing exactly what you are complaining about and looking down on people that spend a lot more on their fishing stuff. 99 times out of a 100, a $50 reel would never compete in overall quality with a $200+ reel. If you really think the only difference between a brand new  $25,000 Harley and 1972 Suzuki is price and prestige , then you have never owned an expensive product in your life to appreciate what higher quality is, which is fine if you are ok with that.

 

Cheaper is not always better. More often than not, it's quite the opposite. 

[gravestone]

If Bill is happy with the reel that's all that counts. My own personal experience with Chinese reels are less than satisfactory.

 

I bought 2 high end surf reels about 5 yrs. apart , Van Staal is the name of the reel. First one was made in CT. when VS was an independent co. Then WC Bradley {the people that own Zebco} bought them.

 

Zebco moved operations to China ,raised the price on the reel and produced a lesser quality product. The VS rep claims that they shipped the same machinery to China that they used in CT to manufacture. That very well maybe but you still the machinist to operate that machinery !

 

Long story short the quality of the "made in China" reel was not even close to the first reel I owned.

[slonezp]

I will ask again. What is the frame made of and what do the internals look like?

Nobody's listening to you.

[bigbill]

I'm retired with three incomes right now I can afford it but m frugal. I'm not rich but comfortable I don't kringe when the fuel man comes. I have other expensive hobbies.

[bigbill]

Nobody's listening to you.

I did answer him a few posts back.