using rod warranty vs cheaper box store rods.

[kpla51]

Ok so I had a rod that I loved, cost me about 100.00 and I snapped it in a door. I didn't get upset but then noticed it will cost me $70.00 to get a replacement. While its still cheaper than getting a new one it hurts. Im thinking of sticking to a rod i can find anywhere like academy/dicks so in case I snap another one I can run down the street and exchange it or pick one up easily. The rod I had was not sold at very many retailers so I didn't have that option. Do any of you stick to big box store rods like lightnings and such for the ease of replacement? 

[TnRiver46]

I have never bought one that costs more than $40 and cheap fishing rods are surprisingly tough. I have never bought an ugly stick either. Most of what I get is between 15 and $20 and will last a couple years

[Brayberry]

I'm the king of using a $30 - $60 rod, and sticking on a $150 - $200 reel on it. No complaints.  Right now one of my favorite rods was a $20 Field and Stream store brand rod, with a Revo on it.  Cast like a dream.  Back in middle school (late 90's) I bought a Walmart branded rod (FLW) for $9.  Still works great to this day, and I've probally caught 1000+ fish on that rod alone during the last 20 years

[Hog Basser]

You can catch fish on anything....cane pole, a stick you find in the woods, whatever.....it's all just a matter of personal preference for you.  I don't go much over $100 for any rod (although I do have a hand-me-down GL3 from my brother he got used, but I didn't pay anything for it and he was frugal so I know he didn't pay much).   I do like being right around that price point, but it does hurt when I break one stupidly.  The point is, if you're comfortable fishing it, fish it.  Some people want the extra confidence that comes with a  more expensive rod and many of them do have some nice tweaks that can help with sensitivity and all, but you can still catch the same fish on a cheaper rod. 

[Lures'n'Liberty]

You'd be flat out amazed at what you can find at the flea market sometimes. I have scored more than one rod that retails for $40-75 in a $15 bundle, complete with reels. I've passed a few beaters on to the kids, girlfriend, and a few of the neighborhood kids that didn't have a fishing pole and cherish the higher end stuff. Recent finds in the last bundle were a nice light action Shimano, a medium Cherrywood, a Sears branded Daiwa Goldcast 120, and a Goldcast 80 underspin, along with 4 other semi decent combos that went to the kids. The reels were a huge find, as I do not use baitcasters much and almost exclusively fish with Daiwa Spincast gear. I'd have never actively sought out the underspin but it has found it's way onto my panfish rod and I have grown to love it.

[FreddoB]

I had my hands on a Berkley Lightning Rod (@ Walmart) that can be had for about $40 and would like to try one of those out. I do have rods in the $120- $140 class that are a blessing to own but I'd hate to break one. If I did, I'd be trying the Berkley out. It's nice and light for a MH fast action baitcasting rod. I was an Ugly Stik user all my life but I'm liking lighter/faster rods that are available now. And note, I'm not knocking the Ugly Stik rods, they've served me WELL over my life...!!

[Hot Rod Johnson]

If you broke your rod fishing 50 pound braid on a 10 pound rod, or lifting a giant fish into your boat using only your rod, or accidently broke in another fashion then please use the OOPS Replacement Program designed for these situations... Provided that you registered your product and you are the original owner, a 1 Year warranty will cover most failures due to normal fishing situations.... If your rod broke because of material, or craftsmanship it will be replaced quickly and at no charge other than the return shipping.... An Authorized Retailer will possess a brick and mortar storefront location. Fishing rods will not be a warranty product purchased through online auction or marketplace sites (i.e. e-bay etc) due to the untraceable nature of the transaction. A receipt from an Authorized Retailer is a requirement for warranty claims. Claims without proof of purchase will not be accepted. This is the jest of many fishing rod manufactures... Most manufactures warranty will vary from this policy but will have guide line on their stipulations... They may offer a extended warranty in regards for repairs or replacement at additions cost...

[jtharris3]

I picked up one of the Lew's Carbon Fie rods at Dick's not too long ago. 7' MHF action. At the time they had them for 69.99. I'm pretty impressed with it. It's actually lighter then my St. Croix Mojo Bass rod and in my experience has performed just as well.

[JigMaster4]

I used a daiwa jupiter as an all around rod a couple years ago when I was getting more serious about fishing, now its my cranking rod because I upgraded my bottom contact rods. But it was/is great and was only $40-50

[Hot Rod Johnson]

This would be my selection if I were to buy good quality fishing rod for the money, and I have many of them... They are like a "Time-X Watch" they take a licking and keep on ticking"... The Powell Inferno Crankbait and Jerk bait Casting Rods @ $99.99... The Powell Nuisance Casting Rods @ $ $89.99 are both great buys at this price point. They will get the job done...They are Backed by one-year Warranty...They normally go on sale at certain times of the year...

[kpla51]

3 hours ago, Brayberry said:

I'm the king of using a $30 - $60 rod, and sticking on a $150 - $200 reel on it. No complaints.  Right now one of my favorite rods was a $20 Field and Stream store brand rod, with a Revo on it.  Cast like a dream.  Back in middle school (late 90's) I bought a Walmart branded rod (FLW) for $9.  Still works great to this day, and I've probally caught 1000+ fish on that rod alone during the last 20 years

Funny you say this, I had to put a $200.00 reel on a $25.00 cherrywood to get me through the weekend. 

[LxVE Bassin]

My max on rods is $150 and I won't buy a rod unless it has a 5 year warranty or more. The cheapest I will go is an ugly stik and I have shut my door on it plenty of times 

[Bluebasser86]

I fish a lot of the Ethos rods from Academy, they're great for me. Also have several Lightning Rod Shocks that have been good so far. I didn't pay more than $40 for a single one of them and I use them right along side my St. Croix Avids and LTBs. Even have a couple that beat out the high dollar rods for the starting line up spots. 

[PECo]

I've been using mostly Shimano spinning reels and rods for a while, and have broken more than my fair share of rods. I've gotten warranty replacements for most of them for just the cost of shipping. However, Shimano has a new Express Rod Service Plan that replaces broken rods with "no questions asked" for fifty percent of MSRP and it even pays for two-day shipping:

 

http://fish.shimano.com/content/dam/shimanoweb/fish/sac-fish/en/techdocs/Shimano EXPRESS Rod Service.pdf

[NYWayfarer]

Like you mention I like sticking to a rod i can find at my local box store.

 

Dicks carries St. Croix Triumph and Fenwick Eagle rods. Both are great rods and if you get the replacement plan you can just walk in and get another one if you break them.

 

Walmart carries Abu Garcia Vengeance and Daiwa Jupiter rods with the same deal.

 

Both stores carry Berkley Lightning rods (regular and Shock) and Cherrywood HD rods. These are cheap solid rods. At this price point I don't sweat it if I snap the rod tip off in a doorway.

[Stasher1]

IMO, if rod breakage due to transporting/traveling is a serious problem for you, you'd be better off investing in a higher quality two-piece rod than a cheap one-piece store brand rod.

 

With that said...

 

Warrantees are great and all, but if you're breaking rods in doors, ceiling fans, etc, that's not a warranty issue. It didn't break due to a manufacturing flaw, It broke due to a careless act. That's nobody's fault but your own.

 

 

[Boomstick]

You can get an ugly stik gx2 at Walmart and you're unlikely to snap that catching a larger fish than you were targeting. They also sell the Berkley Cherrywood (around $22) and Shock (around $40), both which are good for the price.

 

Most of my rods are either rods that I got in a cheaper combo, or a cheaper rod. I have one Daiwa Tatula and for mid grade and higher, that's it.

 

That said, breaking rods in a door isn't exactly a fault of the rod, and probably isn't covered under the warranty either. Like Stasher said, you might want to consider a two-piece rod if you're having issues breaking them in doors.

[NYWayfarer]

Dick's has a replacement plan where you can get a replacement even if you break the rod. It's different from a regular warranty.

 

I personally would not try to get a new rod if I broke the old one due to my own clumsiness  through a manufacturers warranty. That's why I like the replacement plan.

[kpla51]

6 hours ago, Stasher1 said:

IMO, if rod breakage due to transporting/traveling is a serious problem for you, you'd be better off investing in a higher quality two-piece rod than a cheap one-piece store brand rod.

 

With that said...

 

Warrantees are great and all, but if you're breaking rods in doors, ceiling fans, etc, that's not a warranty issue. It didn't break due to a manufacturing flaw, It broke due to a careless act. That's nobody's fault but your own.

 

 

I fully admitted that it was my fault. With that being said theres still a no questions asked warranty that the company offers, you just have to pay the replacement fee. I was not trying to have them replace it 100% free. Ive never broken a rod and I'm very cautious with them but I was talking to my wife and the door slammed behind me.