What makes a person…

[Cbump]

I’ve owned 3 fuegos and never spent more than $60. I’ve sold an LFS for $40. So the “people buy what they can afford” argument doesn’t make much sense, which is the point of this thread. Why pay $50 for piscifun when you can pay $50 for Lews?

It has to be uninformed buyers. 

[optimator]

Like someone posted earlier, social media. The ads you see on bookface make some of this crap look amazing to someone who doesn’t know what exactly it is that they’re looking at. 

[Tatulatard]

1 hour ago, Cbump said:

I’ve owned 3 fuegos and never spent more than $60. I’ve sold an LFS for $40. So the “people buy what they can afford” argument doesn’t make much sense, which is the point of this thread. Why pay $50 for piscifun when you can pay $50 for Lews?

It has to be uninformed buyers. 

People that want to buy new for a warranty I guess or don't want a used reel because it is precived as "old tech" and want the new thing without being aware it is worse.  They look at the weight, drag number and bearing count of some plastic aliexpress reel sold on amazon and think they are getting a better reel for less.

[MN Fisher]

4 hours ago, PourMyOwn said:

If I needed a sub 100 dollar reel I'd buy used. Curados, Citicas, Team Daiwa Advantages etc are all so much nicer than Kast King and the like. 

I did exactly this - well almost. Two Pflueger Patriarchs, a 7.1 and a 7.9, from ALF's used area...paid $75 and $80. Both had a little boat-rash, but mechanically are 10/10.

 

I've also gotten decent reels from Digitaka at much less than USDM prices...even lower than sale prices most times.

[optimator]

7 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I did exactly this - well almost. Two Pflueger Patriarchs, a 7.1 and a 7.9, from ALF's used area...paid $75 and $80. Both had a little boat-rash, but mechanically are 10/10.

I bought my last Fuego CT from them. I can’t see where it was ever used. $50

[Kirtley Howe]

10 minutes ago, Tatulatard said:

People that want to buy new for a warranty I guess or don't want a used reel because it is precived as "old tech" and want the new thing without being aware it is worse.  They look at the weight, drag number and bearing count of some plastic aliexpress reel sold on amazon and think they are getting a better reel for less.

I would have no problem buying a quality used reel....IF I can touch it, feel it, and try it out before I buy, as a lot of sellers are, shall I say, creative in their descriptions of condition. Perhaps I am more cynical than most.

[ironbjorn]

17 hours ago, optimator said:

I honestly have no idea. Unless due to their budget they absolutely have to. But even back when I had to do that I learned pretty quickly that buying cheap usually ends up being more expensive in the long run when you have to prematurely replace it. 

That's how everything works. More money has been made off the poor than anyone else. People have 50 bucks at a time but not always 100+ at a time. 

[TnRiver46]

13 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

I appreciate value but. 99$ LFS is  as low as I go. Why do people buy this garbage ? There are enough challenges during an 8 hour day fishing that I don't want to deal with equipment failure. I learned that when I started fishing again 33 years ago.

I’ve been fishing for longer than 33 years and never paid over $50 for anything ?‍♂️ 

[Tennessee Boy]

Lew’s doesn’t make their reels and their low end spinning reels start at $39.   Can any say for sure that these reels are not made in the same factory as the Piscifun spinning reels that start at $22?

[Eric 26]

As someone who owns a few of the “good “ brands and 4 Piscifun along with 1 cheap Kast King I feel like I can chime in. First off I I’ll say my $40.00 Piscifun definitely wouldn’t hold spool tension no matter what I did so it’s gone. My $40.00 shipped to my door KastKing was bought because I didn’t want to purchase another Revo X which is the only 5 speed reel in my budget and although I wouldn’t want to be hauling in 5 pound bass or even 2-1/2 pound peacock bass with it I’m happy catching 1/2-1-1/2 pound pond bass with it. My 3 Piscifun Carbon X reels have treated me well for the past several years owning them with one taking a full blown dunk which I let dry completely and it’s like nothing happened to it. I’ve told a few members on here privately about them and have received zero complaints and positive comments from their experience also. Not everyone has the budget or desire to purchase a Stradic or higher quality Shimano or Tatula or higher Daiwa but I can honestly say I’d purchase a Carbon X over a Comparable priced Pfluger or Abu Garcia such as the Revo X spinning reel which I contemplated buying prior to my 2000 sized Carbon X. My first Piscifun a Saex Elite is still available on overseas sites and is built by the same company building Ardent reels as it’s basically a different colored Ardent Elite.  One of my favorite things about this site is the usually non judgmental attitude towards anyone’s gear preference but it seems there are many comments on these reels being “low end” without actual use. I’m hopeful this response doesn’t come across as me being bitter and to answer the original question I myself enjoy looking for and sometimes finding a cheaper alternative including buying used or close out gear to get myself on the water with my limited time as I’m not a professional fisherman and I try not to judge those who enjoy the highest end gear but rather enjoy reading about how much enjoyment their gear brings to them.

[A-Jay]

The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten.

Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.

It represents the wise choice of many alternatives.

YMMV

A-Jay

[Mobasser]

I think most serious fisherman like to buy quality gear. Cheap gear will fail when you need it the most.           Good qaulity tackle is more enjoyable to fish with, and if taken care of, will last many years.

[bulldog1935]

I've mentioned before about spinning reel being the most complicated piece of fishing tackle ever devised, with the internal stresses and strength of materials limits never understood until just the past decade of CAD analysis. 

Spinning reels fish-through.  They begin smooth and accurate and lose both over time. What you (should) pay for is keeping that on-spec function working longer, and a decade from now may recognize why your Stradic was an exceptional value.  

  Even green Penns fished-through.  

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Lew’s doesn’t make their reels and their low end spinning reels start at $39.   Can any say for sure that these reels are not made in the same factory as the Piscifun spinning reels that start at $22?

i dont buy Lews reels under 100 either

[Tatulatard]

I don't know.  Daiwa $50-$60 egg beaters are on point.  I would need to hear a serious argument to get a piscifun over a regal.

[garroyo130]

Y'all are overthinking it ... its because when you searched fishing reel on amazon, piscifun was the first result, now the first result is kastking. The algorithm tells us what to buy now ... 

 

That said, the Piscifun Sword is a fairly good fly reel and is one frequently recommended on the fly forum as a budget option. 

[mrpao]

First off, many people are not brand picky or want to invest heavily into fishing tackle. That's why Wally world, Academy and Bass pro sell so many cheap combos. Most of the people fishing at my local lake are using the cheapest gear they can find. It's rare to even see any combos over $100 in someone's hands. 

Myself, I'm a shimano person but also have a ton of daiwa's. But I also have lews, piscifun and even a Kastking. My rods are mainly shimano but I also have rods from many other manufacturers too. I like to try new things. You never know when you might find a hidden gem.

For example, I like using my piscifun carbon x spinning reels. I actually use them way more than my cheaper daiwa spinning reels. I like the light weight and the way they fit on most reel seats. I change out the foam knobs to the daiwa cork I knobs and they feel pretty good. For $40 to $50, I feel they are a good buy. Are they up there with my Vanford, Vanquish, Stella or Exist?  No - but they serve a purpose and I enjoy using them.

There's nothing wrong with buying cheap tackle. Not everyone wants to spend $500 on a combo. Some people only want to spend $50. It makes the world go around.

[Cbump]

6 minutes ago, mrpao said:

Not everyone wants to spend $500 on a combo. Some people only want to spend $50.

That’s the point of this thread. I feel like people don’t know you can get a Lews classic combo for about $60 and that is a pretty solid Rod/reel. Same with berkley lightning Rod or cherrywood and an Abu silver or black max. 
 

Sorry I just couldn’t see myself buying a brand online I’ve never heard of over an established brand you can go get at Walmart right now for the same money. 
 

I agree with the guy that says It’s Amazon marketing. 

[Kirtley Howe]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten.

Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution.

It represents the wise choice of many alternatives.

YMMV

A-Jay

True. But I would also say that a fish does not know if it is caught on a $20.00 combo, or $200 combo. Buy what you want, and enjoy.

[TOXIC]

In my best Rod Serling Twilight Zone voice…..Imagine if you will a factory in China where a buyer comes in, sits down with a catalog of parts of varying price and quality and puts together a reel of their design and price point.  Your trip through the Twilight Zone is to know who the buyers work for and the markup they put on the product once it’s branded with their name. 

[Mobasser]

For me, the enjoyment factor is important. Good rods and reels are simply more fun to use. And, there's a confidence factor also. Good gear is up to the task of hooking and landing good size bass.

[Tatulatard]

1 hour ago, Cbump said:

That’s the point of this thread. I feel like people don’t know you can get a Lews classic combo for about $60 and that is a pretty solid Rod/reel. Same with berkley lightning Rod or cherrywood and an Abu silver or black max. 
 

Sorry I just couldn’t see myself buying a brand online I’ve never heard of over an established brand you can go get at Walmart right now for the same money. 
 

I agree with the guy that says It’s Amazon marketing. 

The problem is that these cheaper brands are well known by those who buy them.  They are all over YouTube sponsoring fishing channels and reviews of their product.  Its very easy to come across these brands watching YouTube and the often undisclosed sponsorship is expressed as high praise by those touting the product.  Combine this with the light weight, high drag numbers and bearing count and the viewer can get sucked into believing they have discovered some hidden gem of a brand or product and that they savvy buyers. 

 

"Why get an old fuego ct when I can get an piscifun amoy m that is lighter with more drag for the same price?"  Not realizing that the alloy m isn't a proven platform like the fuego ct or talking braking system or what will happen when they need parts into consideration.  Interestingly piscifun has a strong YouTube based following and the two reels I have are merely adequate for the price but my actual hidden gem cheap reel, the johncoo ares, has zero presence outside of european pike fishing circles and aliexpress reviews.

 

[TOXIC]

I forgot to add that I made my very, very, rare reel buy the other day.  I was with Bass Pro for so many years, I used mostly all their gear, I repped for Quantum and got a heavy discount and have a lot of their gear but I saw the close out deal on Duckett reels and the 3 for the price of 1 and had to get a piece of that deal.  I’m impressed with the spinning reels I got but I can guarantee you they are rebranded from another maker. 

[Tennessee Boy]

32 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

In my best Rod Serling Twilight Zone voice…..Imagine if you will a factory in China where a buyer comes in, sits down with a catalog of parts of varying price and quality and puts together a reel of their design and price point.  Your trip through the Twilight Zone is to know who the buyers work for and the markup they put on the product once it’s branded with their name. 

Very wise thoughts from someone who's voice I have come to respect in these matters.  A Chinese knockoff by any other name is still a Chinese knockoff.   It doesn't matter if it's Piscifun or Lew's.  It's doesn't even matter to me if the quality is there.  I like to reward the people who got us here not the one's that copy their work.  

 

That's how I make my tackle buying decisions but I do not expect others to do the same.  Buy what you like for whatever reason you like.  

[garroyo130]

I think the question I'm now asking is is a CC80 and Abu Black Max really better than the $60 Piscifun? I don't have direct experience with either so I'm genuinely curious to hear from anyone who does and not just someone who says "Duh Abu and Daiwa are better".