Quantum Smoke Sale, Thoughts?

[OHBASSIN]

I've been looking for a good spinning reel for a St. Croix avid rod. I saw that cabelas has this reel on sale for $100, the SL30PTi model and it seems like a pretty good deal. Wondering if anybody has any experience with this reel.

Thanks!

[RustyShackleford]

I was not impressed. The baitcaster was an astonishment. I actually prefer my old Pflueger to the spinning. Lew's has their Tournament Pro HP at that same price. I spent the extra for the Gold Spin High Speed and I love it.

[SirSnookalot]

I've used them a few times, the saltwater version, and if I were in the market it would be my next reel.  I own a Quantum Cabo 40, hands down my favorite reel with nothing being a close second.  If there would be a complaint it would be the weight, which is fine on the rod it's mounted on.  For use on a lighter rods is probably the reason Quantum came out with the Smoke series.

 

When you deal with Quantum you deal with a company that provides excellent customer service.  My buddy sent his 30 smoke in for a cleaning and requested a 40, they just replaced the 30 with a new 40, no charge.  Same thing happened to me prior to my friend, I sent a Boca in for cleaning and asked to upgrade to a Cabo stating I would pay the difference.  A new Cabo arrived, no extra charge.  Freshwater warranty 48 hours, saltwater 24 hour turn around time.

[OHBASSIN]

Good to know about their customer service. I went out to a local dicks sporting goods to see if I could mess around with one of these, of course they didn't have it.

[fishballer06]

I'm on the opposite end of the Quantum CS spectrum. I bought a new Smoke baitcaster about a month or so back from DSG when they were on sale. Whenever I opened the box at home, I noticed the EVA grip knobs were kinda rough and beat up for a brand new reel. I sent an email to Quantum explaining the situation and how I was upset over the condition of the knobs for a brand new reel. They emailed me back and told me that if I wanted them to warranty it, I would have to ship it to them for their review. They then later explained that grip wear is not something that they warranty and that they would most likely not warranty it for me. So I then replied and asked if I could just buy the new foam knobs and replace them myself. They told me that they don't sell the knobs separate and that I would have to buy the entire handle assembly in order to get new knobs. 

 

I was pretty bummed that they literally wouldn't just send me the $0.05 knobs and make me happy. It's whatever though. The reel still works fine, it just isn't perfect cosmetically. I guess I can't complain for the price I paid. 

[Choporoz]

I have a Smoke spinning reel and my wife and I both have a Smoke baitcasting reel.  The baitcasting reels are fantastic; I want more.  The spinning reel, not so much.  It isn't awful, but I prefer most others in the price range.

[adam32]

I think that's a great deal. I have a smoke spinning reel and it's a great reel , I prefer it to any pflueger I've used and most of my shimanos.

[adam32]

I'm on the opposite end of the Quantum CS spectrum. I bought a new Smoke baitcaster about a month or so back from DSG when they were on sale. Whenever I opened the box at home, I noticed the EVA grip knobs were kinda rough and beat up for a brand new reel. I sent an email to Quantum explaining the situation and how I was upset over the condition of the knobs for a brand new reel. They emailed me back and told me that if I wanted them to warranty it, I would have to ship it to them for their review. They then later explained that grip wear is not something that they warranty and that they would most likely not warranty it for me. So I then replied and asked if I could just buy the new foam knobs and replace them myself. They told me that they don't sell the knobs separate and that I would have to buy the entire handle assembly in order to get new knobs.

I was pretty bummed that they literally wouldn't just send me the $0.05 knobs and make me happy. It's whatever though. The reel still works fine, it just isn't perfect cosmetically. I guess I can't complain for the price I paid.

It was probably a reel that had been used and returned. The DSG here has a bunch of reels on clearance that have definitely been used. I'm always skeptical about buying any reel from dicks that's not in a sealed clamshell package.

[OHBASSIN]

Interesting. It sounds like their BC are good but just kind of eh for their spinning models. That's kind of disappointing considering that they look very well built, online anyways.

[adam32]

Interesting. It sounds like their BC are good but just kind of eh for their spinning models. That's kind of disappointing considering that they look very well built, online anyways.

I find the total opposite to be true. I've always liked their spinning reels but always thought the casting reels weren't very good.

[bigfishbk86]

I had 2 smoke baitcasters (150's) and both, while reeling in fish, took a complete dump on me.  All i know is i heard a loud SNAP and the reel was a coffee grinder and the anti reverse was gone.  Sent both back to quantum and got new reels, sold them both immediately.  I would consider myself a quantum fan and have never had an issue with any quantum reel except for the smoke baitcasters.

[FishTank]

Based on what I am reading here (having not used the smoke) I would pass.  

 

If you are looking for a value priced reel, you might check the Pflueger Supreme.   I just picked one up and it seems solid.  I have yet to here any negative reviews on this forum or from anybody in general. 

 

Just a side note, I have had several older Quantum reels and my experience with them was less than positive.  

[OHBASSIN]

Yeah that's kind of what I'm thinking as well.

Thanks everyone for the input though! Time to start looking for more deals

[adam32]

Did you see it in the store for 100 bucks? I looked at cabelas on line and they are on sale for 119. I would definitely buy a few more for 100 dollars, I may even order a few more at 119.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm a Quantum spinning fan all the way, my choice for future purchases.  My Quantums are strictly used in saltwater, I appreciate both the performance and durability.  I'll buy a smoke for inshore fishing but I would like to see a different knob on the handle.

The issue here is freshwater spinning, my criteria is somewhat different than it would be in salt.  I am not catching fish that produce blazing runs, I don't need a drag that would rival the performance of an offshore spinning reel and I'm not running down the beach a few hundred yards to avoid being spooled.  I want a reel that is smooth on retrieve, IMO a president fits that bill perfectly.

[0119]

I was pretty bummed that they literally wouldn't just send me the $0.05 knobs and make me happy.

Thats what soured me to shimano. 12 reels I couldnt use because the septon turned to goo.  Only thing arrogant customer service could say was go buy knob covers we dont make those models anymore.  No interest in just selling me the replaceable knobs.

[OHBASSIN]

Did you see it in the store for 100 bucks? I looked at cabelas on line and they are on sale for 119. I would definitely buy a few more for 100 dollars, I may even order a few more at 119.

It was on sale a few days ago, looks like it went back up yesterday.

[OHBASSIN]

I'm a Quantum spinning fan all the way, my choice for future purchases.  My Quantums are strictly used in saltwater, I appreciate both the performance and durability.  I'll buy a smoke for inshore fishing but I would like to see a different knob on the handle.

The issue here is freshwater spinning, my criteria is somewhat different than it would be in salt.  I am not catching fish that produce blazing runs, I don't need a drag that would rival the performance of an offshore spinning reel and I'm not running down the beach a few hundred yards to avoid being spooled.  I want a reel that is smooth on retrieve, IMO a president fits that bill perfectly.

This seems to be a reoccurring thought throughout these posts. So I started looking at the president and the supreme and I really like them. Looks like there's sales on the last years supreme for a little more than the president right now because they just came out with their new supreme.

Thank you for your opinion, it helps out a lot!

[RustyShackleford]

It was probably a reel that had been used and returned. The DSG here has a bunch of reels on clearance that have definitely been used. I'm always skeptical about buying any reel from dicks that's not in a sealed clamshell package.

I actually bought my last 2 reels for the family there with an open clamshell. Then again, I made the manager open it so I could test the reels myself. Only good thing about Dicks is the decent customer service. They never carry the CCI Standard Velocity ammo I need...

[AQUA VELVA]

Lemons come in all sizes and shapes from washing machines to cars and trucks to boats, rods and reels. I know a bad one can leave a bad taste in your mouth but thats how it goes sometimes. My baitcasters have always been Quantum and I have never had a problem with any of the dozen that I owned through the years.

[offsidewing]

I went into my local Cabela's to pick up a Plunger President after catching the Supreme XT on sale for $99 the week before. Sitting one row up on the reel bar was the Smoke 30PTi for $59. Yes, the reels were marked down 100 dollars plus the hoodie mail-in offer. They only had one left in the box or I would have bought two. Figured I'd try one out for the price.

[smalljaw67]

Thats what soured me to shimano. 12 reels I couldnt use because the septon turned to goo.  Only thing arrogant customer service could say was go buy knob covers we dont make those models anymore.  No interest in just selling me the replaceable knobs.

 

I'm not really brand loyal, I will try a lot of stuff and form opinions based on my experience and the only reel that I ever had fail on my is a Shimano Symetre, 2 of them actually. The reason I won't buy any more Shimano reels isn't because they aren't good, they are considered to be the best, but customer service is hit and miss. My first Symetre had a bail spring go after 2 trips and so I took it to a small tackle shop which was actually an authorized dealer to be fisxed but he had to order the springs so I purchased another one as I needed it for a trip coming up and that one failed, bearing went bad in one outing so I called customer service and told them my problem and what they told me caught me off guard and I had to have the person repeat it. He told me that is was too bad my reels failed but if I would have purchased a better reel from the line I wouldn't be having these issues, that was, and is, a $100 dollar reel. That was the last time I ever purchased anything Shimano, and I'll be honest, I've looked at the rods and some reels but I just can't bring myself to buy anything from a company that told me I should have purchased a higher end reel as if $100 wasn't enough for them to be concerned about. As for the Smoke reels, I think it is the best casting reel Quantum ever made, aluminum frame and side covers, both sides and under 70z and the performance is great, 3 yeas and no problems, I'm not sure I like the spinning reels without anti-reverse. I will say this, Pflueger has impressive reels for the price point, I really like the Supreme casting reel, at $100 I'd have to say that it is a deal and on sale it is killer, light and smooth yet still feels super solid, those are proven.

[S Hovanec]

I'm always skeptical about buying any reel from dicks that's not in a sealed clamshell package.

 

 

I'm the same way with the Shimano boxes.  If that little clear tape dot is cut, I'm not buying it.

[SirSnookalot]

Like 0119 & smalljaw67 I was talked to in a condescending manner a couple of times, didn't bode well with me. A customer rep should take care of each case exactly the same, without prejudice to the price of the product.  Dealing with Quantum 2 times, none of which was on the phone, my service was taken care promptly and to my satisfaction.  I like their spinning reels too, they may get the nod the next time around for me.

[J Francho]

Spinning reels haven't had bail springs since the mid 80s.