My new Kistler Z-Bone

[dan1942]

I see peoples point with the warranty issue but I might just grab one to try to pair up with a 51 core but then again I can get a shimano cumuls rod for the same price with an over the counter warranty.  maybe its worth the wait to see what the new G.loomis line will look like on Aug. 13th

[Dockhead]

Don't people have rods custom built all the time? And don't those rods, when they cost in upwards of $300, usually have a stout warranty?

I know everyone wants to see what the deal is with these blanks, but they are available to other builders, aren't they?

Which brings up another point; are the blanks really that great? Loomis put his name on the Temple Fork product that is out now, and from what I have heard they are lacking. Not to say these blanks are similar, but who knows. You have to wonder when this seems like such a stretch warranty wise.

If you want one and can afford it, more power to you.

It will probably turn out to be a masterful marketing strategy in the end.

[Skeet22]

Ive recently picked up a few kistler rods and love them. As far as the warranty its not as bad people think. The warranty claims are handled on a case by case bases. You can have an un registered  Kistler rod that you slam a car door on and chances are you will get a brand new updated rod at a very good price even though the damage is of no fault from Kistler. The chances of a rod breaking from a factory defect are slim to none so why should Kistler or any rod company be responsible for our own actions? This is what is wrong with the world today, people expect to be bailed out of problems that are self inflicted and are always looking for handouts. Trey Kistler is smart enough to realize that if he offeres an unlimited lifetime warranty he will be taken advantage of by a million irresponsible people and more than liklley lose money in the process. I actually admire what he stands for and will continue to support Kistler. I personally will not be purchasing any $400 rods anytime soon but if I did and broke it some how that was my own fault I would be pi##ed but in no way would expect Kistler to eat it on my account. Im just not a big fan of handouts to the lazy, unwilling, and irresponsible. Sory for the rant

[Dan:]

I'm not saying that they SHOULD take care of rods that break as a result of negligence or accidents. I'm just saying that other companies DO, and it seems like a poor choice as a consumer with limited funds to go with the company that does not offer an "insurance" policy.

[Dan:]

Don't people have rods custom built all the time? And don't those rods, when they cost in upwards of $300, usually have a stout warranty?

No, not generally.

[SDoolittle]

It will probably turn out to be a masterful marketing strategy in the end.

I don't know. It seems like the majority of people here  are more interested in the warranty than quality of the product.

[Dan:]

It will probably turn out to be a masterful marketing strategy in the end.

I don't know. It seems like the majority of people here are more interested in the warranty than quality of the product.

I think some of us just don't think it's a smart buy. The blank MIGHT be better, but at that level, how much better than a GLX or Steez can it be? Marginally. Combine that with no insurance like that offered by other companies...no thanks....but I'd be glad to buy a LTX or LTA!

[Stasher1]

Don't people have rods custom built all the time? And don't those rods, when they cost in upwards of $300, usually have a stout warranty?

No, not generally.

In some cases the blank is warranteed against manufacturing defects by the manufacturer, but it's up to the builder whether he  wants to warranty the parts/labor that went into building it. Which means, you may receive a new blank but you're still out of pocket for the cost to rebuild the rod.

[Dan:]

Don't people have rods custom built all the time? And don't those rods, when they cost in upwards of $300, usually have a stout warranty?

No, not generally.

In some cases the blank is warranteed against manufacturing defects by the manufacturer, but it's up to the builder whether he wants to warranty the parts/labor that went into building it. Which means, you may receive a new blank but you're still out of pocket for the cost to rebuild the rod.

precisely. Plus, it's up to the manufacturer to determine if the failure was their fault or not. Also, this in no way includes accidental damages like St Croix, Loomis, etc...

[Gone_Phishin]

It will probably turn out to be a masterful marketing strategy in the end.

I don't know. It seems like the majority of people here are more interested in the warranty than quality of the product.

I think some of us just don't think it's a smart buy. The blank MIGHT be better, but at that level, how much better than a GLX or Steez can it be? Marginally. Combine that with no insurance like that offered by other companies...no thanks....but I'd be glad to buy a LTX or LTA!

Yup, well said Dan.  I love my LTA's, and if I can continue to find them at sale prices, I will continue to buy them and fish the heck outta them.

Warranty issues are the sole reason why I do not own a JDM stick.  I'd love to, but as a non-boater there's no way: I transport my rods up stairs, into a vehicle, into a boat, and then in the reverse order at day's end.  This fosters too many opportunities for a busted rod.

I'll continue to buy JDM reels, as I feel much safer protecting a reel from a mishap than a rod.

[muskiebassfisher]

what if it breaks casting a lure or setting a hook. then your out of luck. that's bullsh-t for a $400 rod. i hope this a$$hole doesn't start a trend. considering the guides and the cork are the cheapest part of a rod and that the whole rod can be melted down and recycled into a new one, kistler is out of his mind.  this is just greed.  why bother hiring new employees, pay salaries, shipping costs and all the other headaches when he can just pocket your money and not back up his product.

[SDoolittle]

what if it breaks casting a lure or setting a hook. then your out of luck. that's bullsh-t for a $400 rod. i hope this jerk doesn't start a trend. considering the guides and the cork are the cheapest part of a rod and that the whole rod can be melted down and recycled into a new one, kistler is out of his mind. this is just greed. why bother hiring new employees, pay salaries, shipping costs and all the other headaches when he can just pocket your money and not back up his product.

Muskiebassfisher, we've kept this debate civil so far. Let's try to keep it that way. How many rods have you broken on a hookset or while casting? I have been fishing for thirty plus years and have broken exactly one rod. That was an el cheapo flipping stick and I was throwing a swimbait that was quite a bit heavier than what the rod was rated for. I have noone to blame but myself and I would be absolutely embarrassed to ask a rod manufacturer to replace that rod. I shop for quality first and look at the warranty as a bonus...definately not the deciding factor on whether or not I'll purchase something.

[LAO162]

Maybe there's a business opportunity here.  Offering insurance on rods that carry only a 90 day or 1 to 5 year warranty.  Any actuaries here?  LOL   ;D

Speaking objectively, I'd love to fish with a Z-Bone.  But, I can't afford spend $400 on a rod without the insurance policy.  I guess I also can't spend $500 for a rod with a lifetime breakage insurance policy either 

However, I'd like to hear more discussion about the attributes of the rod   Knowing how well the LTX performs, I can only imagine how nice the Z-Bone LE would be.   For Kistler Fans I think the real discussions will be comparing the LTA, Z-Bone ST, LTX and Z-Bone LE.  With the higher modulus blank and and embedded insurance policy, I suspect many Kistler fans will still favor the LTX over the Z-Bone ST.

[Skeet22]

Its seems that most people are expecting an "insurance policy" on their rods vs a "warranty"which is two totally different things. A 90 day warranty on a fishing rod seems reasonable to me as any factory defects should be identified by then. Anything outside of 90 days should be treated as an insurance claim. If I were in the rod buisness i would offer a insurance policy with a set fee at purchase depending on the price of the rod and a deductible to be applied at the time of the incident. There is no way i would offer a lifetime unlimited warranty on a fishing rod and be taking advantage of by hundreds or thousands of people who do not take care of there equipt. This would be benificial for people who spend $400/$500 on a fishing rod. For those that spend $100/$150 bucks on a rod it would probally make more sense to opt out of the insurance policy and make sure we take care of our equipt.

[Deputy Dave]

WOW!!!

In my original post I just mentioned how much that I liked my new Z-Bone rod now that I had had the opportunity to get out on the water and use it. Now there's 4 pages of flame throwing at Kistler Rods because they don't have the same "warranty" policies as some of the other rod companies.

I'm not going to even comment on all the post bad mouthing Kistler because they don't offer the same warranty as brand "X". It's real simple, if it doesn't agree with you then just buy brand "X" I on the other hand am just a guy that doesn't get all hung up or stressed out (or very obviously MAD about it while typing rants on this forum) and really enjoy fishing with Kistler rods. Their rods are the most sensitive rods that I've fished thus far in my life. I'm not going to stop buying/using them because I might slam one in the door of my truck and break it 91 days after I buy it just because Kistler won't send me a new rod after I send them the broken rod with a note that says "this rod broke on a hook-set" like everybody does.

This has already been stated here but when I'm not paying attention and stick my rod in a ceiling fan and break it getting that rod replaced by the manufacture has nothing to do with a "manufactures warranty" gentlemen. The manufacture may call it a "life time/over the counter warranty" but it's actually "insurance policy" that the cost of is figured into the price when we buy the rod new. When your not paying attention and rear end somebody that's sitting at a stop light in your brand new Ford F150 pick-up truck exactly who do you call? Have any of you called the dealership that just sold you your new truck a few days ago and tell them that you need a new front end. Go ahead and ask if that covered under the "manufacturers warranty". It sounds like several here expect Kistler, and any other rod company that doesn't offer a no questions asked, over the counter warranty(insurance policy) to be the Ford dealership that I listed in my example. We all know that in the example that I used we would all call our insurance company when we crash our vehicles, not the vehicle manufacture in an attempt to have it fixed as a warranty issue. Are tackle companies any different? I'm not saying that some companies don't offer this type of warranty (Shimano) Again, if you just can't bring yourself to spend your money on a rod that doesn't offer a replacement insurance policy regardless of how great the rod is then just buy one that does, but don't get "obviously" mad at the companies that don't. Needless to say they don't want/need your business.

In the mean time.....I fished another local bass tournament tonight and caught 6 bass on my new Z-Bone rod. I don't remember the thought of there only being around 40 days left on my 90 day "limited warranty" ever crossing my mind while I was fighting any of these 6 fish. I'm just really enjoying my new rod! I still think that it's awesome and is the most sensitive rod that I've ever owned. I guess I should be concentrating more on how bad Kistler screwed me when they sold me this rod that I can't even get a new one for when I slam it in my rod locker door and break it a couple years from now. I have just under 20 Kistler rods. With all the stress that I should probably be under with the crappy warranty I should probably not even leave the house with any of them.

Come on guys!!!! Do you really get this stressed out and angry about the Kistler Rod Company not offering you a better warranty? If so, while your busy with that I'm gonna be on the lake fishing my Kistler rods and have a great time fishing tournaments this season!!!

[SDoolittle]

Spot on!

[Glenn]

This thread has teetered on the edge for awhile now, and then somebody somehow made a thread about a rod into something political.  What an incredible stretch!  *facepalm*

Posts have been deleted, and now this thread is closed.  Congrats.