Lifetime rod warranties

[bilgerat]

I got one with my Avids. Loomis has it. Cabela's has a 25 year warranty on their XML's.

What's the longest you plan on using a rod until you retire it, sell it, whatever ? After a few years I know I get the itch for a new one.

Don't get me wrong, I like knowing my sticks are covered. But has anyone here fished the same rod for 25 years? Not just owned, but fished somewhat regularly?

I wonder the average age of the rods St. Croix and Loomis see come through their warranty / repair departments. I'm gonna e - mail St. Croix and ask. I'll post back if / when they answer.

[Bassoholics Anonymous]

I figure on fishing my rods until they DO break, however long that may be, and when they do, hello new model courtesy of St. Croix, G.Loomis, or Shimano. ;D

[cyph3r]

i personally feel the 1-3 year warranties are too short, even the 5 year ones are short. i have a rod that i still use that is 6 years old and is getting to the point where the glue holding the guides on the rod have dried up so my guides can go around and around my rod....and since it was only a 1 year warranty from bps...im out of luck:T...

granted if your disposable income allows for changing rods every few years, then i guess its a moot point, but for me a lifetime warranty is one criteria for rods i am going to buy

oh and kind of answering your question most rods beyond a 5 year warranty jump to a lifetime warranty so for all intents and purposes i do require a rod with a lifetime warranty

[Raul]

But has anyone here fished the same rod for 25 years? Not just owned, but fished somewhat regularly?

I do, I still fish with my old Berkley Lightning Rods I purchased in 1982.

[bocabasser]

i have an abu garcia conolon from 1985ish. i bought it a long time ago and it is still one of my favorites. my loomis, carrot stix and my bass pro rods all have great return policies. i just brought back a bass pro crankin stick to bass pro on monday. i snapped it in half trying to bully a fish out of some heavy hydrilla. the guy looked at it and said this model is an 2006. he then gave me a brand new one. bass pro is great for stuff like that.

[twelvebass]

HOPE YOUR CARROT STIX EXPERIENCE IS BETTER THAN MINE. NEARLY 3 MONTHS SINCE MINE BROKE, STILL NO REPLACEMENT. iT IS MEDIUM ACTION, WHICH THEY SAY IS OUT OF PRODUCTION. THEY REFUSE TO REFUND MY MONEY SO I CAN BUY ANOTHER FROM LOCAL RETAILER. BUNCH OFCRAP I THINK.

[Bassn Blvd]

My girlfriend bought me a 6'6 Loomis IM6 in 1987 or 1988.  Back then, this was the top of the line for Loomis.  I still use this rod. Actually, I let my dad use it since I'm overstocked.  He fished with it last weekend.  I thought of breaking it and doing the expediter service on it but that would be dishonest and I also don't have the heart to break a perfectly good rod.  I'm afraid of Karma. I also thought of stripping it down and rebuilding it but honestly, it functions as perfect as the day it was given to me.

[flechero]

What's the longest you plan on using a rod until you retire it, sell it, whatever ?

About 15 years was my longest regularly used rods.  They were IMX. (4 of them)  I sold them a few years ago when I replaced all my rods.

I still have 2 original all stars from the (I think) late 80's...  I have had them out on loan for a good while... but they are still fished nearly every day by the guy.

[roadwarrior]

I expect to buy new rods and perhaps get rid of some over the years,

but I am confident I will be fishing several of the rods I own for the rest

of my life. MBR844C, PR844S and BCR854 are three I will always fish.

8-)

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I buy mostly shimanos that way if i do sell it i can get what i paid for it all i do is tell um if it breaks on ya take it to a shimano dealer they will exhcange it free of charge that usally sells it along with it being a shimano

[MarauderYak]

I buy mostly shimanos that way if i do sell it i can get what i paid for it all i do is tell um if it breaks on ya take it to a shimano dealer they will exhcange it free of charge that usally sells it along with it being a shimano

I'm not saying what they will cover (I've never tested them), but the Shimano warranty clearly states it's only for the original retail purchaser, and all warranty claims must include the original receipt.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I buy mostly shimanos that way if i do sell it i can get what i paid for it all i do is tell um if it breaks on ya take it to a shimano dealer they will exhcange it free of charge that usally sells it along with it being a shimano

I'm not saying what they will cover (I've never tested them), but the Shimano warranty clearly states it's only for the original retail purchaser, and all warranty claims must include the original receipt.

I believe thats if you send it to them .Some places depends on who is at the counter OR/AND if they are a shimano dealer they will do it no receipt

[bilgerat]

Got this reply to my e - mail to St. Croix. Pretty cool to have the President of the company reply personally:

Thank you for your message. Since we do not record the age of rods

returned to our Service Center, I cannot determine the average age of

rods we service. I can offer a few comments, however.

St. Croix has been selling rods for 61 years and it is not uncommon to

see rods which are 20, 30, or even 40 years old returned for service.

Service includes guide replacements, new cork, etc.

The length of the warranty on our rods ranges from 1 year to the

lifetime of the original purchaser. Many models we sell offer a 5 year

warranty and our highest-performance rods feature our limited-lifetime

warranty.

Regardless of whether the warranty period has expired, we offer a

service plan for all rods we've sold since the beginning in 1948.

Most St. Croix rods which are damaged have not become so due to

something we did wrong in the design or construction. Rather, most are

damaged due to accident or misuse or normal wear. However, due to the

extremely competitive nature of the fishing tackle industry, most rods

are repaired or replaced at a cost which is much lower than the cost of

buying a new rod.

I hope this information is helpful.

Sincerely,

Paul

Paul Schluter - President