2014 Shimano Stella

[Chris at Tech]

Yeah, this reinforces the comments I've seen elsewhere. 

 

It's a tough enough of a pill to swallow to see a Stradic FH, for example, that you paid $120+ for 8 years ago no longer have parts available.  But when you're dropping 5x that amount on a Stella, I'd kinda expect that getting factory parts for at least ten years should be a no-brainer.  A reel like that is purchased for the long-haul, at least in my opinion.

 

I think by sheer luck, I happened to get my two Stradic 2500FH reels service by Shimano a few weeks before their end of parts support.  Now it appears my two 4000FI and one 5000FI are on the clock

[War Eagle 44]

I can see where the lack of support for their products less than ten years old would be super frustrating, luckily for me one of their big parts/warranty vendors is only about 40 minutes from my house and happens to be my favorite tackle store to boot (Mark's Outdoors). The only down side to Mark's now days is they stopped selling Shimano parts, they used to, not any more. They'll warranty or fix any Shimano reel it doesn't matter how old salt or fresh.

 

I'd really love to have a new Stella but I don't see that happening any time soon. I just don't have that kind of cash lying around to "waste". I have a 3000 FD that I picked up at Mark's from a guy that used to work there that went to work for Shimano. It was one of his demo reels but it was one he never got around to fishing, in fact he never even opened the box, it still had the plastic dot on the lid. Picked it up for $400 even, no tax. I thought that was pretty good deal. I can't really remember what the 3000 FD's went for new back then.

 

It's by far the best spinning reel I've ever fished with. I don't really fish it all that often anymore but I love to. Like the one guy said above I'm afraid I'll throw it in! Don't think I'm just being paranoid I've already thrown my Calcutta DC in the lake. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and let my boat drift into a fallen tree top, well a nice big wasp nest was right in the end there and in all the chaos of me dancing and flailing about my Calcutta Loomis CBR combo went flying out of my hand into the lake!!!

 

It actually wasn't a problem because it killed two birds with one stone this particular occasion, by me jumping into the lake to save my rod it also got me away from the wasps.

 

Wow, sorry to have gone WAY off topic there fellas. yeah Stellas rule.      

[SirSnookalot]

Yeah, this reinforces the comments I've seen elsewhere. 

 

It's a tough enough of a pill to swallow to see a Stradic FH, for example, that you paid $120+ for 8 years ago no longer have parts available.  But when you're dropping 5x that amount on a Stella, I'd kinda expect that getting factory parts for at least ten years should be a no-brainer.  A reel like that is purchased for the long-haul, at least in my opinion.

 

I think by sheer luck, I happened to get my two Stradic 2500FH reels service by Shimano a few weeks before their end of parts support.  Now it appears my two 4000FI and one 5000FI are on the clock

My 2 4000s are on the clock too, 1 has run the limit of repairs for me and the other may get repaired one more time if needed.  I do like the performance of the reels but the downtime and customer service haven't been great experiences.  If I'm on first name basis with customer service, I'm dealing with them more than I should be.

[Capt.Bob]

The 2000HG is only $674 online at PLAT.

well then is there a multi discount available,,,,,,,,just kidd'n, like anything else, I would have them if money was no object, their better just not $350.00 to $450.00 better. The thing I have to consider is money for other goodies. It always cost more for better equipment, and once you get to the top the price goes up much more for less gain, the Stradic is a great reel the Sustain better but for 100 bucks more I am limited to the outfits I use them for, and have justified a couple Sustains, the Sustain to the Stella is like the same jump in quality but over 350 bucks more, so my limit is drawn here, if I had the money, yes I would be willing to pay it to have the best!! The sad thing is when the Stellas have a few years on them and a couple model changes, with the drop in price for used reels, the new Sustains and Stradics are sharing most of the technology with these couple model older Stella's. So if you like the new Stella and can't justify the price, wait 4 or 5 years and you will have very close to the same reel in a new Sustain or slightly less in a new Stradic.   

Yeah, this reinforces the comments I've seen elsewhere. 

 

It's a tough enough of a pill to swallow to see a Stradic FH, for example, that you paid $120+ for 8 years ago no longer have parts available.  But when you're dropping 5x that amount on a Stella, I'd kinda expect that getting factory parts for at least ten years should be a no-brainer.  A reel like that is purchased for the long-haul, at least in my opinion.

 

I think by sheer luck, I happened to get my two Stradic 2500FH reels service by Shimano a few weeks before their end of parts support.  Now it appears my two 4000FI and one 5000FI are on the clock

I had a couple FH Stradics this past winter in for repairs, and even though Shimano didn't stock some of the parts anymore, I found them from some of my other parts suppliers. The 4000FH parts I was given the contact from Shimano service where I might get them. I have had to look and check with a few suppliers but have always been able to get parts for older Shimano's so far, As for current reel's yes I two have been a little upset having to wait for parts to be available, and have lost some repairs because of it. % years ago this happened far less and when it did on small parts Shimano used to just take my name and address and send them N/C. This was on some parts under 5 or 6 bucks, now you pay for everything, even inflated shipping!!

[SirSnookalot]

well then is there a multi discount available,,,,,,,,just kidd'n, like anything else, I would have them if money was no object, their better just not $350.00 to $450.00 better. The thing I have to consider is money for other goodies. It always cost more for better equipment, and once you get to the top the price goes up much more for less gain, the Stradic is a great reel the Sustain better but for 100 bucks more I am limited to the outfits I use them for, and have justified a couple Sustains, the Sustain to the Stella is like the same jump in quality but over 350 bucks more, so my limit is drawn here, if I had the money, yes I would be willing to pay it to have the best!! The sad thing is when the Stellas have a few years on them and a couple model changes, with the drop in price for used reels, the new Sustains and Stradics are sharing most of the technology with these couple model older Stella's. So if you like the new Stella and can't justify the price, wait 4 or 5 years and you will have very close to the same reel in a new Sustain or slightly less in a new Stradic.   

 

I would agree.

[John G]

The technology may be the same 4 or 5 years down the road but if it doesn't say Stella, it's not a Stella.

[Tywithay]

The technology may be the same 4 or 5 years down the road but if it doesn't say Stella, it's not a Stella.

The features have the same name on the label, but not the same materials or refinement.

[Capt.Bob]

This is true definitely better materials, but you get the refinements for 1/4 the price. Like I said I would love to have them, but at $350 -$450. more than the Sustain and Stradic,,,,,,I'll live with the difference, till my bank account is a little better healed anyway!!

[F14A-B]

Yep new and better technology always in part transfers over in a couple of three years...

[Maico1]

The reel is beautiful, but I am most impressed with the fact that Shamano continues

to make technical improvements on their flagship reel. My newest model is a 2500FD,

but my favorite is a 2500FB. Looks like it might be time to kick it up a notch!

They are sweet..BNIB 3000.