????????

[Capt.Bob]

Interesting thoughts here. If your rod is under 90 days from point of purchase, return it to the store you bought it and exchange it. Beyond 90 days, the entire rod: guides, reel seat, all components are covered under the warranty.

One aspect that you need to keep in mind, regardless of money spent by having a rod builder do it locally, is that if it is not an approved Loomis warranty center and you have them repair or replace anything on the rod, it will void the warranty. The same is true of all manufacturers of modern rods. Part of that reason is that they want those rods back in-house to determi e the failures and the issues. They cannot correct them if they don't know about them.

In the past 3 years I have dealt with loomis and St. Croix over issues with rods , The Croix was my fault I dropped it at the river and the second guide from the tip landed right on a rock, Explained to St. Croix it was my fault, it didn't matter they told me it was still covered send it in and  and a check for 10 bucks for return shipping, they would fix it and ship it back, I asked If I could have my rod builder repair the eye since it was cheaper than sending it to them but I didn't want to void the warranty, and was told I had nothing to worry about, it was still covered!! But that's St. Croix!!! 

 

The loomis IMX was a tip broke right at the bottom of the tip, naturally I wanted a new rod, They told me I had to give them a credit card # and it would cost 60 dollars to replace it and They would send a call tag with the new rod to send the damaged rod back, as long as they got the broke rod within 30 days, there would be no charge, if not bthey would take 235.00 out of my credit card, along with the $60.00 replacement fee.  I myself have never had an ayelette come out of any rod, but then thats why I own over 20 St. Croix Avids , Elites and Extremes, I only own the one Loomis, and have no intentions of adding any more.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

If the company is willing to replace it, then by all means let them. But as a custom rod builder, I tend to be cynical when it comes to broken inserts. A 4 week old rod that's been used multiple times will probably have some user error when an insert falls out.

user error? you got me I put a rod sock over before I traveled silly me...

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Like others have warned, especially at Dick's and Gander Mountain, be prepared to return them more often than factory direct or a sporting good shop's that are small enough to monitor customer abuse would probably have meant you didn't have to take it back at all. For most a 25 to 50  mile wasted trip for a return cost most of us $12.00 to $20.00, if your time is worth anything there are better options, either way the played with rods seem to have more problems???

yeah I did take it back and got a abu Garcia veritas I love it . Dicks is right next to my college,  so it really wasn't that bad 2 lefts turns there, 2 right turns back

[Hooligan]

In the past 3 years I have dealt with loomis and St. Croix over issues with rods , The Croix was my fault I dropped it at the river and the second guide from the tip landed right on a rock, Explained to St. Croix it was my fault, it didn't matter they told me it was still covered send it in and  and a check for 10 bucks for return shipping, they would fix it and ship it back, I asked If I could have my rod builder repair the eye since it was cheaper than sending it to them but I didn't want to void the warranty, and was told I had nothing to worry about, it was still covered!! But that's St. Croix!!! 

 

The loomis IMX was a tip broke right at the bottom of the tip, naturally I wanted a new rod, They told me I had to give them a credit card # and it would cost 60 dollars to replace it and They would send a call tag with the new rod to send the damaged rod back, as long as they got the broke rod within 30 days, there would be no charge, if not bthey would take 235.00 out of my credit card, along with the $60.00 replacement fee.  I myself have never had an ayelette come out of any rod, but then thats why I own over 20 St. Croix Avids , Elites and Extremes, I only own the one Loomis, and have no intentions of adding any more.

I've had just as many issues with St Croix guides as others.  It happens.  

That said, they're not St Croix, they're Fuji.  What St. Croix does better than almost all others is reel seat alignment and fit.  I've NEVER had a problem with theirs but have had Loomis, Sony's, Kistler, and others that are flat terrible.  Check, I broke 5 NRX at the reel seat.

[Capt.Bob]

I've had just as many issues with St Croix guides as others.  It happens.  

That said, they're not St Croix, they're Fuji.  What St. Croix does better than almost all others is reel seat alignment and fit.  I've NEVER had a problem with theirs but have had Loomis, Sony's, Kistler, and others that are flat terrible.  Check, I broke 5 NRX at the reel seat.

Like I said, never had an issue unless it was my fault! Like you said that's because there all Fuji as far as what St. Croix does best, "I" think it's everything in building a great rod when they come from Park Fall's, take your chances with the lesser imports, some say that's subjective, but what I feel they do do the best, with there rods that matter anyway(the ones made in the USA and backed for a lifetime) and isn't subjective but proven, is build the best blanks in the world, their own, and only available from St. Croix, and made right here in the USA!!

 

I am not accusing you as the cause but if you have problems with many guides all the time and I and others don't and I am hard on my gear,,,,,, and know plenty,using the most quality guides. I would think much of them have to be self inflicted!!!! Common sense if you think about it!! I hated the looks of the recoil guides on my Extreme's when I got em, but after a season using them, think there the smoothest, most sensitive, lightest, and most durable guides around, could cure your problems, my next custom will use Recoil guides!

[Capt.Bob]

If the company is willing to replace it, then by all means let them. But as a custom rod builder, I tend to be cynical when it comes to broken inserts. A 4 week old rod that's been used multiple times will probably have some user error when an insert falls out.

It's like those in Prison, there all innocent, didn't you know that!!! Very few are willing to admit their own mistakes today, it's to easy to make everything someone else s fault, just the way it is.

[S Hovanec]

If you're gonna use Recoils, use a SiC or Alconte tip. You won't be sorrry!

[J Francho]

Rods shouldn't have to be babied.  I think a rod manufacturer has to expect a certain amount of abuse, and respect that fact when honoring returns.  If there a pile of Alconite guide rings popping out, then it's up to them to take that loss in replacement up with their supplier - Fuji.  This doesn't give the user cart blanch to beat the crap out of their gear, but rods get abused, mostly unintentionally.  It's part of the sport.  I know I got rid of my rod tube storage in my boat, as it was beating on my guides.  I'd rather they be in a sock under deck, or strapped in on top - not in a tube.

[SirSnookalot]

My rods are fished pretty hard, I do not baby them.  All my rods have fuji guides, I do have the occasional insert pop out, because the guides sometimes get corroded and crack, just a fact of life.  Other than that I don't recall ever having an insert pop out of get chipped.  My 2 main brands are Star and Hurricane, I can take my rods to any dealer for an over the counter lifetime warranty exchange, glad I've never needed to.

[Capt.Bob]

If you're gonna use Recoils, use a SiC or Alconte tip. You won't be sorrry!

That's what Kevin my builder said also, coming from two builders that what their doing, I will take your advice. Thanks for the heads up!!

[Hooligan]

As I've transitioned to more and more rods that use reconcile I agree.  Sure didn't like them at first, but now I don't want anything but.