What do you buy more often, new or used reels?

[ABU is overpriced]

Personally prefer grabbing used in near mint condition to save $$.

[papajoe222]

As my passion for reels revolves around older Daiwas, it's used for me. The last one I picked up was an Alphas in mint condition. Now I'm on the look-out for a Zillion, but I gotta get the $$$ first.

[MediumMouthBass]

Today used reels are closer to MSRP than new ones. On marketplace they actually cost more most times. I buy all my reels new from Midway and DSG and get between 20-80% off regularly when they have a sale or open box items.

 

However im not against buying used reels, if given the chance to get one in good condition for the right price id buy it.

[newapti5]

Once I discovered Japan online used tackle market, I just couldn't go back anymore. Maybe in the future when yen gets much stronger.

[ABU is overpriced]

38 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

As my passion for reels revolves around older Daiwas, it's used for me. The last one I picked up was an Alphas in mint condition. Now I'm on the look-out for a Zillion, but I gotta get the $$$ first.

Which Alphas did you grab?

[Maverick2017]

Only new and usually from Japan. Used can really be a gamble.

[Sp33dSnake]

I bought my first new rod/reel in 10 years last week...a Lew's Mach Smash Medium/Fast 7' that was discounted.  Paired it with a Shimano DC 70 (also discounted).   Usually, I get my stuff second hand from pawn shops.  I bought a BPS Carbonlite with a 7' BPS Pro Qualifier M/H Rod that was missing several guides.  I bought the reel for $35 and got the rod for free.   A months work of weekends and entirely too much time went to putting new guides (four missing), and I got proficient in putting guides on rods, lol. 

I might try to build a rod of my own one day. 

But I typically try to get the most out of my money.  I still have a 6'6" Medium Fast BPS IM6 Tourney Special I got when I was 16 (22 years ago).  I kind of prefer it over modern rods because all the modern rods I see have micro guides, whereas my rod has smallish guides that have plenty of room for leader knots.  Unless it snaps in two, I doubt I'll ever get rid of it.

[Mike L]

I’ve never bought a used rod or reel except for one time when a friend had a Curado 200E7 that he wasn’t using.

I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Choporoz]

I have bought only 2 used reels one Daiwa, and one Shimano).  I regret both purchases.

[Junk Fisherman]

I've never bought any used rods or reels.  I've sold many though.  I don't even try to ship rods anymore due to the ridiculous shipping cost.  Living in a heavily-populated area, I just set an attractive price and I always end up selling them.  

[VolFan]

I wait for @A-Jay or @roadwarrior to sell their stuff and buy used that’s better than new.

[Jar11591]

Anything used I’ve bought, I purchased on the flea market section here. Couple reels and a couple rods. Everything was like new and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy more used gear from the flea market section. 

 

[DogBone_384]

New.

[Dwight Hottle]

Like  @Mike L I never bought a used rod or reel except buying one from a close friend who didn’t want it but I did. 

[LonnieP]

New only.

[DaubsNU1]

Spinning reels are all new, and all Shimano. 

 

Casting reels are all Citica's or Curado's. Four OG's were purchased back in the 1990's. And four "newer" found via eBay or swap meets. 

I really love these reels. Rock solid, get the job done, great feel. 

 

[MRQturbo]

I buy a mix of new and old.. If they are in mint condition used for a good price I'll scoop them up.. 

[ike8120]

Always bought new.

[Lead Head]

2 years ago I bought a Scorpion DC, about 4 months later I bought a 21 Zillion. Scorpion got replaced by the Zillion and went unused until I eventually sold it. Of the 12 reels I currently have in service, the Zillion is the only one that isn't a pre-Twing Daiwa purchased used. 

 

I build my own rods.

[FishTank]

I buy new stuff mainly but I do have a few used gems I have bought over the years. 

 

In reels, I've got a Core 101MG, a Metanium MG7 Limited Edition,  a Core 51, and a 2012 Antares. I also have a Megabass Evoluzion 30th Anniversary Edition Super Diablo II. I love all this stuff and use it regularly.  The 2012 Antares has seen the most use but it's built like a tank. It probably last longer than me.

[BC VC basser]

I’ll buy used on occasion. My best score was a Shimano Curado B at a thrift shop for $10….Been a great reel!

In total of the 20+ setups I’ve got 3 used reels and 1 rod

 

[FrnkNsteen]

10 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

As my passion for reels revolves around older Daiwas, it's used for me. The last one I picked up was an Alphas in mint condition. Now I'm on the look-out for a Zillion, but I gotta get the $$$ first.

Me too.... Most recent was a nice clean Daiwa left handed TD Sol I picked up a couple weeks ago. Already had one I picked up a year or so again and like it, so I picked up another. You don't see the lefties as often.

 

3 hours ago, VolFan said:

I wait for @A-Jay or @roadwarrior to sell their stuff and buy used that’s better than new.

Funny!! I've bought one from A-Jay too! I think I bought a nice clean Daiwa "Skipping" rod from him a year or so ago.

 

Bought a reel from FishTank too. Both were in great shape for a fair price!!

[ABU is overpriced]

Suprised to see so little love toward the used market. I guess if you don't tinker with reels, and aren't able to replace a bearing, worm gear, main gear, etc, used is less attractive. I got another used Z2020 last year, swapped the gear set, had to clean one bearing, serviced the whole reel, and its as smooth and silent as new. Got the reel for like $140, and for that price it's unbeatable.

[FryDog62]

Admittedly, I tend to be an impatient person and have a low tolerance for stuff that doesn’t work. I like things new and under warranty. Less chance it got used and abused by the person that owned it before me.
 

New stuff can still hiccup, but you minimize the chances, and many times have a decent warranty to get a replacement if needed.
 

That goes for vehicles, boat motors and fishing equipment, etc.  Worst thing for me is to finally get quality time off to go do what I like and - the truck doesn’t start, the outboard won’t run, or my reel yaks up a hair ball. 
 

 

[Bigbox99]

I used to buy a lot of used reels that were better than new condition in that they would be flawless and have upgrade parts that made then better than new.  I'm still in the market for some rarities like an Alphas KTF or Pixy with 2010s BFS parts on it fully upgraded.  Not the Ray's Stuido slop I usually put on my reels but real time capsules from that golden era of BFS that will be lost to time.  Stuff like ZPI parts, KTF and Cosugi spools. 

 

I'm mostly buying new now.  I was building a collection of Megabass Daiwas and other desirable older Daiwas and Shimanos (well just the one for now) at a time that new Daiwas and Shimanos were kind off the rails and considered worse than the older offerings.  Now they we have reels like the current gen Zillions, Bantams, Met B, 24 Tatula 100, 80, 70 and the current crop of Curados I am starting to take a liking to the new offerings and adding them.