Ordering from Japan?

[Swinghead]

I see on the high end reels they are in the neighborhood of a hundred dollars cheaper. Are they the same reels and are there any issues ordering from them ? Digitaka was the one I was looking at specifically. 

[Dwight Hottle]

No issues at all. The JDM reels are the same or better than the USD reels. The only difference is the warranty. If it is same reel sold in both markets you can get warranty repairs in the US. If it is a reel not imported for the US market you would have to send it back for repair. But almost all reel repair companies in the USA should be able to handle your repair. Warranty repairs are pretty rare in higher end reels from my past experience. I have purchased at least a couple dozen reels from Japan with zero problems. Digitaka is a good vendor.

[jbsoonerfan]

There are also some slight differences (at least with Shimano) in maybe spool size, knob size or handle size. Other than that, you wont notice a difference. I have probably ordered my last 20 reels from Japan. Great experience every time.

[LCG]

I ordered a Shimano slx mgl from Asian portal fishing a few months ago. Arrived super fast and 100% legit. Obviously the instructions are in Japanese and there is no warranty, but the savings is worth it. You can find schematics online easily. Very happy and will buy direct from Japan again. 

[ifish4bass]

As stated above, slight differences in most Shimano reels, but no issue with quality. Shipping is only issue as it does take a while.

[scbassin]

I have Ordered reels From Japan I the past. It is easier to find left handed ones. As far as shipping The last 2 that I ordered  Came from Asian portal fishing. The 1st was a good while ago & I received it in 4 days. The other was in the last couple of months & I received it in 3 days. There is nothing slow about there shipping & it's free. IF I order from the West Coast I normally use the 2 day shipping For which there is a charge. The 1st day don't count & week ends don't count But I don't like coming across country in a truck so I pay for the 2 day that normally takes 3 to 4.

[fishraptor]

I ordered a Daiwa Ballistic LT5000D-CXH from Khoder Laden (Germany). The only reason I ordered it from them was because it was a 6.2 ratio that I could not find in the states, only the 5.2 speed.  I have no idea why but it took over 6 weeks to get ?????  

 

when looking for reels overseas are their any big companies I should consider that have a big selection and good reputation ?   Like our Tackle Warehouse here. 

[lunkerboss923]

I'm having that problem right now! The place where I occasionally browse is a JDM seller (Asian Portal). They currently are all sold out of right handed everything. 

On 1/26/2021 at 2:54 PM, fishraptor said:

When looking for reels overseas are their any big companies I should consider that have a big selection and good reputation ?   Like our Tackle Warehouse here. 

I'm not sure if it's frowned on to name drop, but Asian Portal is about the best there is, but their selection is horrible right now. 

[Trox]

Never ordered reels, but have ordered a ton of lures. no issues.

[jgordon]

I ordered one once from ebay came from Japan and then the day it showed up I missed the truck had to sign for it.  So then had to wait until Monday haha but it came reasonably quick and no issues.  

[bulldog1935]

if you want to work out the differences between Japan-spec reels and export models to the US, search the reel on JPFishingTackle News

https://www.jpfishingtacklenews.com/shimano-stradic-19/

 

What you'll find is they offer us 5 or 6 models they think meet our tastes, while they offer 13 or 15 variants to JDM. 

By comparing spool capacity and gear ratio, you can match JDM models to US models.  

 

Just like their rods, and while they fish bass and trout, they have that many different offshore niches from XUL to XXH.  

https://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default/language/en/cPath/38/rod.html

[Tuchifabz]

Buy American only.

 

[jbsoonerfan]

10 minutes ago, Tuchifabz said:

Buy American only.

 

LOL, Like an Ardent?

[bulldog1935]

On 1/30/2021 at 9:17 PM, Tuchifabz said:

Buy American only.

 

You can do that if you limit yourself to bench-made reels - Seigler, IRT.  

(betting their barstock still comes from China, though Seigler claims not).  

Rod blanks rolled in the US include Lamiglas, St. Croix (a few other customs) generally priced above $250/

Crowder still makes cost-effective rod blanks in the US.  

My buddy has a gang of IRT spinning reels ($500+/), but last trip, improper spool shimming from the factory shut down his day with a spinning reel birds nest.  Of course he sent the reel back for them to solve, and I'm sure they did.    

[Deleted account]

18 hours ago, Tuchifabz said:

Buy American only.

 

My first car was a '72 Chevy Vega....

[Swinghead]

20 hours ago, Tuchifabz said:

Buy American only.

 

Where is the phone or computer made you typed that on?  Lol 

[Tuchifabz]

12 hours ago, Swinghead said:

Where is the phone or computer made you typed that on?  Lol 

Maga

[CFDoc]

On 1/23/2021 at 7:43 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

 I have probably ordered my last 20 reels from Japan. Great experience every time.

Same here.

 

I still buy the occasional Lews from US distributors. But I sent a lot of money this past year to Japan for fishing equipment.

 

I have yet to be disappointed with any purchase.

[SproDD79]

I just ordered a Met HG from Asian Portal, It arrived 4 days later, I was shocked at how fast it came.

[torm]

Man they make our shipping look like a joke, I ordered a conquest bfs and the guy emailed me back saying they were on vacation and will it send out soon when they were back. I got it in two days after they sent it. 

[ATA]

bro order from asian portal, you'll get it within 48 hours.

9 hours ago, CFDoc said:

Same here.

 

I still buy the occasional Lews from US distributors. But I sent a lot of money this past year to Japan for fishing equipment.

 

I have yet to be disappointed with any purchase.

Same here

[Emiliano]

Made my first order from Japan Lures, hope to receive it fast as you

[RichF]

Asian Portal finally got some Scorpion MGLs back in stock today so I had to jump on it.  This will be my first JDM Shimano...and certainly not my last.