Rod brands with great customer support and "warranties" (insurance)?

[MediumMouthBass]

Ive been fishing with $55 Aird X rods for awhile, they are fantastic rods no doubt. But im wanting to start investing further into my love for bass fishing and start buying some nicer higher end gear. I started overhauling them so far and have 5 nice rods, ideally i want 22 combos in total for casting and spinning. Im not the type of person who only wants 1 thing, i more so like having options and different things to try.

 

Im looking for a rod company/companies that #1 Makes rods that last, and arent prone to breaking easily. #2 Has great customer support if any issue happens. #3 Has a generous "warranty" program that if my rods snap, or have a defective issue it wont be a total loss (even if i have to cover a portion or half of it+). I havent snapped a rod yet, but between unknown factors and the poor QC that plagues every industry post Covid i want to make sure im not throwing my money away. And because ive only fished with cheaper rods so far im very hesitant about spending so much more for better rods, having this type of program would make me feel less uneasy about it, and have more confidence going forward.

 

Im definitely planning on buying a few more Dobyns because of their insurance like program and maybe a few made in America St Croix's as well. What other companies are very good at these things? Ive been looking at some Ark and Falcon rods too but im open to any suggestions.

[MRQturbo]

Gloomis 

[WRB]

ALX

St Croix

Dobyns

Kistler

G. Loomis

Tom

[FishTank]

G. Loomis. 

[rangerjockey]

I haven't broke a rod in 25 years so it's just not something I even consider when buying.

Performance wise , G loomis , Daiwa and Alpha Angler.

[Bigbox99]

Those crazy warranties are replacement programs and are baked into the price of the rod.  If you break rods or are rod breakage is a strong concern then it can be a very good service to have. 

 

If you don't break rods and make use of the replacement program I feel like you are overpaying for the rod since most of the companies with these kind of warranties are rather dull looking with questionable fit and finish compared to something like a Megabass or JDM rod.  It's not that they are a bad value it's that money and effort put into making a stunning rod above ad beyond just making a functional rod was put towards the replacement program/warrenty.  

 

If you have the belief that rod breakages are due to user error from high sticking or hoisting fish into the boat or bank using the rod and you believe yourself to be unlikely to do any mishandling then buying JDM with no warranty can be a great option.  This is what I do as often as I can when buying a rod and feel like I get awesome, gorgeous looking rods for fraction of what I would spend on TW. 

 

There isn't a right or a wrong way.  You just have to know yourself and your preferences.  

[little giant]

Falcon

G Loomis

Kistler

[woolleyfooley]

1 hour ago, Bigbox99 said:

Those crazy warranties are replacement programs and are baked into the price of the rod.  If you break rods or are rod breakage is a strong concern then it can be a very good service to have. 

 

If you don't break rods and make use of the replacement program I feel like you are overpaying for the rod since most of the companies with these kind of warranties are rather dull looking with questionable fit and finish compared to something like a Megabass or JDM rod.  It's not that they are a bad value it's that money and effort put into making a stunning rod above ad beyond just making a functional rod was put towards the replacement program/warrenty.  

 

If you have the belief that rod breakages are due to user error from high sticking or hoisting fish into the boat or bank using the rod and you believe yourself to be unlikely to do any mishandling then buying JDM with no warranty can be a great option.  This is what I do as often as I can when buying a rod and feel like I get awesome, gorgeous looking rods for fraction of what I would spend on TW. 

 

There isn't a right or a wrong way.  You just have to know yourself and your preferences.  

With something like the Dobyn’s rods, you have to pay a fee to have the rod replaced. I feel like this mitigates how much is baked into the price of the rods, but that’s just my opinion. 
 

I get what you’re saying though, especially if the replacements are free.

[F14A-B]

GLoomis 

[J._Bricker]

I’ve had great customer service experiences with G. Loomis, Daiwa, Shimano, and Powell Rods when it came warranty or repair/replacement issues.

[wvhunt]

The only rod issue I've had was a Fenwick.  They were excellent to work with.

[webertime]

Evergreen/Daiwa 

St Croix 

Of note, if it doesn't break in the first 6 months of use, realistically it didn't break due to a manufacturer defect.  

[WRB]

Customer service includes having personal contact with rod company, a live person who knows their product.

The ability to exchange a rod is another factor to consider.

Tom

[Hulkster]

G. Loomis. 

 

 

[ABU is overpriced]

Wish Megabass had a great warranty on rods.😑Its the one big thing that bothers me about the company.

[GReb]

Falcon and Dobyns have both replaced rods under warranty for me with no issue at all

[MediumMouthBass]

I hear you guys, i know most rods with a defect will break during the first few trips. But a few of my rods i bought years ago i still have in packaging. I often buy when somethings on sale not when i need it. So having warranty longer than a year is a nice add on for me.

 

The main reason i want a insurance based warranty program is because accidents do happen, i could fall on it, fish a jerkbait and wack it into the side of the kayak, lose balance in the boat when theres a wake and step on one, etc... And then theres the way i handle my rods, i dont high stick them but ive put my Aird X's through alot, i dont think any other rod i own except my Ugly Stiks would still be in one piece aside from them. Ive thrown them on the ground a few hundred times (often in rocks bank fishing) thrown them in the kayak, clumped 6 combos together and walked miles (where they would bang into overhanging trees, bushes, branches, rocks, etc). I also fish many areas with lots of grass, the one day i mustve brought back atleast 100lbs to the bank. Ive wacked them into trees several dozen times, ive also stepped on a few of them accidentally wearing steel toes while bank fishing😬. Another one i was carrying while wading through the creek and i slipped on rocks, i used it to break my fall, that ones still 100% to this day (but that might just be because i was in water?). So far only 1 rod had the top guide pop out, and the 2nd ones top guide shreds line. No breakage, but again these cheaper rods ive found to be almost indestructible.

 

I am pretty cheap, ill admit it. I only buy when i can get a heck of deal on fishing gear. To spend the amount i plan on to upgrade my rods i feel more comfortable knowing if they cant handle the same amount of stress, atleast i wont be out of all my money. Im more so leaning towards Dobyns and Falcon because both have helped quite a few guys out even when they admitted it was their fault.

So im thinking about filling most of the rods with Dobyns, ALX, and Falcon, however i think ill pick up a few from Kistler and Shimano just because a few of them stand out to me

 

Thank you guys for the comments, before today i never really thought about Kistler or ALX!

 

[Maverick2017]

#1 G Loomis

#2 Falcon (from personal experience)

#3 Halo (from personal experience)

 

My Falcon experience centered around a brand new Cara in which the top 3” of the rod snapped while I was rigging up. Was either a defect or undetected damage. Falcon replaced it immediately.

 

Halo was great also. Had an HFX that looked like it had a hairline crack in the locking nut but wasn’t sure. Halo sent out a replacement right away free of charge and was told to keep the original rod.

 

 

[rangerjockey]

7 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I hear you guys, i know most rods with a defect will break during the first few trips. But a few of my rods i bought years ago i still have in packaging. I often buy when somethings on sale not when i need it. So having warranty longer than a year is a nice add on for me.

 

The main reason i want a insurance based warranty program is because accidents do happen, i could fall on it, fish a jerkbait and wack it into the side of the kayak, lose balance in the boat when theres a wake and step on one, etc... And then theres the way i handle my rods, i dont high stick them but ive put my Aird X's through alot, i dont think any other rod i own except my Ugly Stiks would still be in one piece aside from them. Ive thrown them on the ground a few hundred times (often in rocks bank fishing) thrown them in the kayak, clumped 6 combos together and walked miles (where they would bang into overhanging trees, bushes, branches, rocks, etc). I also fish many areas with lots of grass, the one day i mustve brought back atleast 100lbs to the bank. Ive wacked them into trees several dozen times, ive also stepped on a few of them accidentally wearing steel toes while bank fishing😬. Another one i was carrying while wading through the creek and i slipped on rocks, i used it to break my fall, that ones still 100% to this day (but that might just be because i was in water?). So far only 1 rod had the top guide pop out, and the 2nd ones top guide shreds line. No breakage, but again these cheaper rods ive found to be almost indestructible.

 

I am pretty cheap, ill admit it. I only buy when i can get a heck of deal on fishing gear. To spend the amount i plan on to upgrade my rods i feel more comfortable knowing if they cant handle the same amount of stress, atleast i wont be out of all my money. Im more so leaning towards Dobyns and Falcon because both have helped quite a few guys out even when they admitted it was their fault.

So im thinking about filling most of the rods with Dobyns, ALX, and Falcon, however i think ill pick up a few from Kistler and Shimano just because a few of them stand out to me

 

Thank you guys for the comments, before today i never really thought about Kistler or ALX!

 

I don't think your going to find a rod that you can throw and step on. Honestly what your describing is just being careless .

If there's a defect in manufacturing the rod company should make it right but they shouldn't have to pay for someone to abuse the product.

If I throw my highball glass through the TV watching the hockey game should Visio give me a new one ?

 

[OG Crankster]

Johnny Morris.  Walk into Bass Pro with your broken rod and walk out with a new one. No questions asked. 10 year warranty.

[rangerjockey]

1 minute ago, OG Crankster said:

Johnny Morris.  Walk into Bass Pro with your broken rod and walk out with a new one. No questions asked. 10 year warranty.

That's a good idea. You can return a condom at BPS.

[woolleyfooley]

10 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

That's a good idea. You can return a condom at BPS.

BPS sells condoms? 😂

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Had an issue with an Ark rod, didn't have a good experience at all with their customer service.  They took a really long time and sent me the rod back loose with no padding in a tube.  I take good care of my gear and the guy who inspected my rod said the rod was in outstanding condition, so getting beat up because the dude who packed it was incompetent or lazy is BS.

St Croix had outstanding cust service.  Its still good, but its not at all what it once was.

13 Fishing had the best customer service I've ever experienced.  I had a rash on a rod i got from them.  I sent a picture of it in, they told me to keep it and priority mailed me a brand new one for free.  Unfortunately I think with Rapala being majority owners now, that may come to an end if it hasn't already.  

 

[MediumMouthBass]

15 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I don't think your going to find a rod that you can throw and step on. Honestly what your describing is just being careless .

 

Im bank fishing with rods i bought for $33 im not going to baby them, and they dont need it as all are showroom like condition (minus the 2 with top guide issues). I dont have the luxury of spending 10 minutes each time i move to put rod socks over the rods when im moving every so often down the bank. I also had lots of stiffness in the back from injuries, there was a time it was very hard to bend down or forward so tossing the rods onto grass was my best option. I eventually had to kneel down to pick them up, but there was no way i was doing that twice per stop along the bank. I also fish some places where walking through skinny trails for miles through the woods was the only way to get a good spot, im more focused on not stepping on the rattlers we have everywhere than looking for a tree that might be overhanging and hit/brush up against the rods. I then fish a very small creek with branches and rocks everywhere, i try to be careful but sometimes you hit a branch. The stepping on it was my fault, i didnt think my foot was near the rods. What you call careless i call finding a way to do what i love and enjoy life. To each their own.

 

15 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

If there's a defect in manufacturing the rod company should make it right but they shouldn't have to pay for someone to abuse the product.

If I throw my highball glass through the TV watching the hockey game should Visio give me a new one ?

 

Id say you must be fun at parties, but im not sure you get invited to many.

 

If i were to snap a rod over my knee, that would be comparable to what you are talking about. In that case i wouldnt ask the company for any help, however if the company takes a $100 rod, and adds $30 to the price for their built in "insurance" based warranty and even has in their website description it covers accidental breaks and encourages you reach out to them and use it then im going to use it. Dobyns has had this program for awhile, want to know why? Because you still pay $80 to get it shipped to you, they gain lifelong customers, and when you go to tell your friends what happened they just gained a few more. When people hear Dobyns rods, they dont think about the rods, they think about the legendary warranty.

15 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

If there's a defect in manufacturing the rod company should make it right but they shouldn't have to pay for someone to abuse the product.

 Where do you fish, in your living room with bubble wrapped rods? This is life, stuff happens, you cant control everything, and accidents occur.

Nor should i have to pay $100-200 for a rod that i take a total loss on if it were to break because your ethics dont agree with it.

 

I feel this is worth adding, accidental damage causing a break isnt always the rod owners fault, say you buy a rod from a big box store. These stores treat their rods/kayaks/reels horribly, theres many ways something can occur damage.. I bought a rod last month that i had to straighten out a few guides, the other rods that were with it had snapped/smashed tips, all kinds of damage. Most people entering the hobby wont know what to look for, so imagine how much money they will be out come spring when its past the return date and the manufacture tells them its not a defect? (and when i went back last week all the rods had sold) Shipping today is a disaster, and people that have no idea about fishing gear making minimum wage are the ones stocking them on shelves. And if they drop a rod on concrete (not grass) when stocking the aisles all it has to do is hit the right spot to create a small fracture.

 

I also talked to the local DSG manager, he sold us an Old Town for 50% off because it looked like it went through a warzone. He told us they have many items that come damaged or get damaged in the fishing/kayaking section when they unload the trucks.

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

BPS sells condoms? 😂

yeah, they call them drift socks. But I find them a little snug.