Jumping Ship Sorry Abu

[Chance_Taker4]

I own 8 rods spinning and casting combined all Revo SX paired on Veritas I felt for years Abu Garcia was the best company out there and defended it until I was blue in the face. But I was in the market for a new spin and cast combo so I decided to look at other rods and reels while I was at BPS last night and I couldn't believe what I found in Daiwa reels. WOW! Are those reels smooth, I ended up saving cash and buying a Legalis reel and it is heavier than the Revo S spinning reel I was looking at but it is a hell of a lot smoother for a $59.95 to $129.95 comparison. And as for the Casting reel I just loved the Daiwa Lexa 100, again heavier but a lot smoother than the SX) and the Lexa was on sale for $99.99 compared to the $159.99 tag on the SX couldn't beat it. When I get off work I am buying 2 of the Tatula Type-Rs.

 

As for rods for these reels I had to look at new rods now that I found better (to me) reels. After looking at a few brands I found that the sensitive, action, and power in the Shimano rods are superior to the veritas rods I use. I ended up buying a Clarus spinning rod and Compre casting rod. It seems to me (some one with more knowledge can help me with this) the Clarus is more sensitive than the Compre.

 

Anyway I have been rambling sorry for such a long post just wanted to let people who are in the market that some products under $100 are comparable if not better than the three digit equipment you really just pay for the name.

[.RM.]

Jumping Ship Sorry Abu.....You didn't jump ship, actually Abu jumped ship when they went with Pure Fishing.

From Sweedish built and quality, to Chines built with crap.....

 

Good Luck & Tight Lines!  

[Hogsticker]

Good choice. Just my 2 cents of course

[bigfishbk86]

I will never understand the fascination with abu, especially the rods.  I'm just happy most people are coming around and not wasting their hard earned money on these products. 

[Chance_Taker4]

I will never understand the fascination with abu, especially the rods.  I'm just happy most people are coming around and not wasting their hard earned money on these products. 

I love the Veritas, the stiffness was a plus to me. However I was starting to get a little frustrated with the poor guided build on every rod every rod I own has some kind of guide malfunction weather they are bent when I bought them or have to much epoxy or whatever they use to station their guides. 

[new2BC4bass]

I've read that the Tatula rods are simply amazing at their price point.  Might want to try a couple with your Type Rs. 

[thehooligan]

I was considering one, nice rod for the money...

[ColdSVT]

Lol...I find the one brand only guys to be funny

I own one Abu, a gen 2 STX. Great reel! so I bought a gen 3 STX and it was great while it worked for those two short weeks

[aavery2]

I sure hope the folks over at Pure Fishing will be able to sleep tonight with all this well thought out and highly detailed criticism of the their product.  If you don't like their product, why not write to them and let them know your disappointment, see what they can do to make it right.   Standing on a soap box on a internet forum that is obviously heavy supported by Shimano Fans only makes it look exactly like that.  Choose to do something productive about it.

[Drewski73]

I sure hope the folks over at Pure Fishing will be able to sleep tonight with all this well thought out and highly detailed criticism of the their product.  If you don't like their product, why not write to them and let them know your disappointment, see what they can do to make it right.   Standing on a soap box on a internet forum that is obviously heavy supported by Shimano Fans only makes it look exactly like that.  Choose to do something productive about it.

 

He did the single most productive thing a consumer CAN DO about it. He spent his hard earned dollars elsewhere!

[aavery2]

He did the single most productive thing a consumer CAN DO about it. He spent his hard earned dollars elsewhere!

I don't disagree with that, as it is exactly what I would do in the same situation.  But not before he spent several hundred dollars on a product that he finds problem with.  What if someone had taken the action to actually contact the company and let them know what they are experiencing, maybe something would have actually gotten changed.  I guess what I am trying to say is that you can come here and air it out and it just sounds like brand bashing, or you can actually go to the company, spend the same amount of time and help get it fixed.

[Chance_Taker4]

I sure hope the folks over at Pure Fishing will be able to sleep tonight with all this well thought out and highly detailed criticism of the their product.  If you don't like their product, why not write to them and let them know your disappointment, see what they can do to make it right.   Standing on a soap box on a internet forum that is obviously heavy supported by Shimano Fans only makes it look exactly like that.  Choose to do something productive about it.

I am not bad mouthing Abu Garcia at all I am still a fan the Revo line of reels. My only intentions was to write a post to show that I was brand loyal to Abu. And decided to see what else was out there and found that you can get rods and reels from different manufactures for the same price if not cheaper that performs the same as the high end Abu lines. And as for Shimano I have had three Shimano reels and could not stand them they reeled like s**t and I could hear the hear grinding straight out of the box. I was just trying to help other anglers out there looking for products that don't cost an arm and a leg

[Chance_Taker4]

Chance, 

You didn't mention a rebate?  Did they give you the $25.00 rebate card with the Lexa 100?  I've got them, for BR members at my everyday price for $106.00 with a $25.00 mail in rebate, offer expires June 2014.  I hope you don't pay to much for the Tatula Type R.  I have those for $165.00 including shipping anywhere in the lower 48 states.

Ron

http://www.beatthebigboxboys.com/store-categories-Daiwa-Reels_4128061.html

BPS never mentioned the rebated on the Lexa yesterday to me I am going today to get a couple Type-Rs so I will take my receipt in and try to get them to give me the paperwork also if BPS wants more than $165 for the Type-R I will be coming to you

[Drewski73]

I don't disagree with that, as it is exactly what I would do in the same situation.  But not before he spent several hundred dollars on a product that he finds problem with.  What if someone had taken the action to actually contact the company and let them know what they are experiencing, maybe something would have actually gotten changed.  I guess what I am trying to say is that you can come here and air it out and it just sounds like brand bashing, or you can actually go to the company, spend the same amount of time and help get it fixed.

Im not sure he ever had a specific "problem" though, reading his OP. He just compared his brand of choice with an open mind and found it to be of lesser value, or lesser quality than other available brands. I dont disagree with your sentiment, I just dont see that the OP had an issue that customer service could have helped him with. He also mentions more than one other brand that he is replacing his old brand with. I dont see brand bashing at all. Im sure Pure Fishing wishes that all brand bashers had 8 Abu Garcia combos!

[aavery2]

I am not bad mouthing Abu Garcia at all I am still a fan the Revo line of reels. My only intentions was to write a post to show that I was brand loyal to Abu. And decided to see what else was out there and found that you can get rods and reels from different manufactures for the same price if not cheaper that performs the same as the high end Abu lines. And as for Shimano I have had three Shimano reels and could not stand them they reeled like s**t and I could hear the hear grinding straight out of the box. I was just trying to help other anglers out there looking for products that don't cost an arm and a leg

I personally did not take it as you were trying to brand bash, but some of the later comments took that type of tone.  Every company out there has great products and some that need improvement, I am just advocating contacting whatever company it may be and see what they can do to help, and give them the honest feedback so that they can possibly make corrections.

[aavery2]

Im not sure he ever had a specific "problem" though, reading his OP. He just compared his brand of choice with an open mind and found it to be of lesser value, or lesser quality than other available brands. I dont disagree with your sentiment, I just dont see that the OP had an issue that customer service could have helped him with. He also mentions more than one other brand that he is replacing his old brand with. I dont see brand bashing at all. Im sure Pure Fishing wishes that all brand bashers had 8 Abu Garcia combos!

As I did not quote the OP, my post was directed more towards the flow of the thread and not so much one individual post.  He had expressed that he is an ABU fan, and who better to hear from than someone who actually has used their product and is considering moving on because he has found more value in a similar priced product.

[Chance_Taker4]

Im not sure he ever had a specific "problem" though, reading his OP. He just compared his brand of choice with an open mind and found it to be of lesser value, or lesser quality than other available brands. I dont disagree with your sentiment, I just dont see that the OP had an issue that customer service could have helped him with. He also mentions more than one other brand that he is replacing his old brand with. I dont see brand bashing at all. Im sure Pure Fishing wishes that all brand bashers had 8 Abu Garcia combos!

Correct I have no problem with Abu I just feel why should I pay more for a product if I can get the same performances out of another product from a different manufacture for a lesser price. The only problem with Abu I had was with the guides either being bent or over glued. I know this is from the manufacture because I have gotten Veritas from Bass Pro, Wal-Mart online and Tackle Warehouse all the same issues. It didn't cause problems I just bent the guides back if needed. And I will buy more Abu products in the future if it suits my needs just not all my combos are going to be Abu.

[Fishwhittler]

I own both the Team Daiwa T and the Abu Garcia Vendetta V1, which are at the same price point ($70 - $80).  I have to say that the Daiwa rod is built better; the components are aligned better and seem to be a bit better quality, and the overall finish is nicer with fewer flaws.  The Vendetta is a decent rod, I'd just rather spend my money on the TDT.

[OkobojiEagle]

Considering the original poster made his new purchase "last night", I think I'll wait till he has a chance to use his new gear for a while before I put much stock in his product comparison.

 

 

oe

[bass1980]

OP what you did was just fine, switch brand. "WE" all have bought products for our daily lives and we all have had bad or not up to par products but 98% of us have never or thought of writing a letter of complaint. A forum is just that, to brag, complain, discuss, debate, and inform on social media.

[TNBassin']

I jumped ship from Abu awhile back. And I did give them every opportunity to make things right. Reel after reel failed, or more specifically the braking system and the thumb bars didn't want to reengage on my SX or STX. My S had the constant issue with the brakes. Went Shimano and haven't looked back.

[aavery2]

I jumped ship from Abu awhile back. And I did give them every opportunity to make things right. Reel after reel failed, or more specifically the braking system and the thumb bars didn't want to reengage on my SX or STX. My S had the constant issue with the brakes. Went Shimano and haven't looked back.

As I recall you had almost immediate problems with the rod and reel combo that you were using at that time and contacted Shimano about the issue, did they get you a good fix for the problem you were having?

[TNBassin']

I Took both Chronarchs to BPS and tried them on a few different Crucials and still had the issue of the side plate not wanting to open easily. It turned out to be the tolerances between the reel body and the side plate evidentally as Rockchalk suggested, as a few outings with the reels the issue went away. Still odd that it only occurred with the chronarch and crucial rods. There was never an instance where anything was technically defective though.

[aavery2]

I Took both Chronarchs to BPS and tried them on a few different Crucials and still had the issue of the side plate not wanting to open easily. It turned out to be the tolerances between the reel body and the side plate evidentally as Rockchalk suggested, as a few outings with the reels the issue went away. Still odd that it only occurred with the chronarch and crucial rods. There was never an instance where anything was technically defective though.

Glad it worked out, did you try other Shimano reels when this happened?

[TNBassin']

No just the Chronarch. The Chronarch on a Compre rod didn't have any issues. I still think it was the frame of the reel flexing a Tad initially though. The wearing of the tolerances fixed it but still frame flex is what I still think.