Alternative to G Loomis products

[Dan-K]

Also, the warranty fee increase didn't happen over night. There has been plenty of talk about the increase but yet you still went and bought one. And then you went and broke it because YOU were careless and not paying attention to what you were doing.

How about instead of a warranty, you buy accidental fishing rod breakage insurance. ;D ;D ;D ;D

that's funny because of the two loomis dealers in my area, one had no idea about until they recieved a letter around the first of the month. The other shop had no idea until told them. This was also the most recent loomis stick I purchased, the others were within the past year. To contradict what you are saying, there is no denying that the $50 expiditer service has been a huge factor in the sales of loomis rods in the past. I'm not saying that loomis' quality is not great, I just can't see spending $100 to replace a $230 IMX rod. GLX and NRX makes spending one bill seem more "do-able". Anyway, the intent of my post was not to get into a heated debate. I am a consumer in a free market society. I am no longer happy with a particular company so I will likely spend my money elswhere. 

[Bassn Blvd]

It seems Loomis rods have a history of breaking where yours did.  I don't know if it's just coincidence or something they're doing to the rod during manufacturing.  The only Loomis rod I broke was user error and it too broke about 4 inches from the top.  The break was super clean as if a hack saw was used to saw it in to.  To this day I swear it was a manufacturers defect but I went with the expediter service to avoid argument with the company.

[Hot n Tot]

If a Loomis rod breaks on a fish it is a free replacement. Too many guys have abused the $50 no questions asked expediter policy, so I'm not surprised that they raised the fee. I once broke an MBR782 trying to free a snagged lure. Totally my fault, but they replaced it for free.

[Bassn Blvd]

FYI, here is the Falcon warranty. It doesn't say what the reduced price is but I was told 80 bucks or half the price of the rod.

http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/pdfs/Lifetime%20Falcon%20Rod%20Warranty.pdf

[Nixstyx]

I know very little about expensive rods, and even less about Loomis, but it seems to me they should honor the $50 replacement cost, considering it was sold under those terms. I'd be pretty upset if that happened to me, and I'd hope that Loomis customer service would honor those terms. I understand these rods are expensive, but personally I'd be upset if I had to pay anything to have a warranty honored. In my opinion a warranty doesn't imply that you should have to pay 1/3 of the total cost to have a defective product replaced. If you pay anything it's not a warranty, it's a "replacement plan".

Obviously it's not on the same level, but last week I took my BPS extreme rod back to the store because one of the line guide inserts popped out. The customer service associate had already told me to go pick out a new rod before I even showed him what was wrong with it. That is customer service. Yes, I know BPS has a lot more ability to "eat" the cost of a $100 rod, but I hope you can see my point.

Or... maybe my new point is that, after hearing this, I think I'll stick to cheaper rods that are financially easier to replace if there is a factory defect.

[5bass]

I think the Avids offer great bang for the buck. I know very little about G. Loomis rods; so, I can't say if this is similar to the IMX rods.

IMX > Avid (by far)

[Stasher1]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I think any manufacture making a sweeping change to their warranty should start by marking their current production models somehow and grandfathering the older rods. Something as simple as an "a" added to the model number would suffice.

Old model - old warranty terms

New model - new warranty terms

Seems pretty simple to me, and probably far less likely to alienate customers.

[Bassn Blvd]

I might be wrong but the only part of the warranty that has changed is the expediter service.  They still replace for free any rod broken by manufacturers defect. 

The "no questions asked"  warranty is increasing by 50 bucks, which still is a better warranty than the Falcon Cara rod warranty that was previously mentioned.

[rubba bubba]

Why don't you read RoLo's thread and see how well they took care of him with his warranty, not expeditor, claim.

And as for not buying a rod for the warranty, nobody buys a rod for the warranty.  However like any sizeable purchase all features related to the product are weighed when compared against other products.  Now that one of the features has changed substantially, it alters the total equation.  Enough for some to leave, not enough for others.  Just because you don't value the expeditor service in your equation doesn't mean that everyone else shouldn't as well.

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm just playing the other side.

Loomis MBR844C (IMX) is $285. You break it and pay $100 expediter service, you're still up $185.

Falcon Cara rod is $169. You break it and pay $80 or half the price of the rod for expediter service, you're still up $90.

Shimano does not offer any warranty other than manufacturers defect.

Dobyns is $60 for no questions asked warranty.

Out of those 4 manufacturers, it appears to me that Loomis still has the best warranty.

[Bassn Blvd]

Why don't you read RoLo's thread and see how well they took care of him with his warranty, not expeditor, claim.

And as for not buying a rod for the warranty, nobody buys a rod for the warranty. However like any sizeable purchase all features related to the product are weighed when compared against other products. Now that one of the features has changed substantially, it alters the total equation. Enough for some to leave, not enough for others. Just because you don't value the expeditor service in your equation doesn't mean that everyone else shouldn't as well.

To me, 50 bucks is hardly a substantial altercation when you're paying 400-500 bucks for the product.

[Dan-K]

I'm just playing the other side.

Loomis MBR844C (IMX) is $285. You break it and pay $100 expediter service, you're still up $185.

Falcon Cara rod is $169. You break it and pay $80 or half the price of the rod for expediter service, you're still up $90.

Shimano does not offer any warranty other than manufacturers defect.

Dobyns is $60 for no questions asked warranty.

Out of those 4 manufacturers, it appears to me that Loomis still has the best warranty.

IMX - $285. Replacement $100 = $385

Cara- $169. Replacement $80 = $249

Shimano ????

Dobyns - $219. Replacement $60 = $279

any way you slice it, Loomis comes up short. Don't look at it as they raised the price $50, look at it as they increased the price by 100 percent.

[Dan-K]

Why don't you read RoLo's thread and see how well they took care of him with his warranty, not expeditor, claim.

And as for not buying a rod for the warranty, nobody buys a rod for the warranty. However like any sizeable purchase all features related to the product are weighed when compared against other products. Now that one of the features has changed substantially, it alters the total equation. Enough for some to leave, not enough for others. Just because you don't value the expeditor service in your equation doesn't mean that everyone else shouldn't as well.

To me, 50 bucks is hardly a substantial altercation when you're paying 400-500 bucks for the product.

If I were to go out today and buy an NRX rod I would gladly pay the $100 if I broke it. That is simply not the case nor the discussion here. I payed less than list for an MBR783C when the replacement cost was $50. I broke it, whether it was my fault or manufacture defect, it should be replaced for $50. It's the principal.

[Bassn Blvd]

Lol! Bro, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to come off as an ars but I think you're wrong. Loomis comes out ahead over the rods mentioned. The only company I found that comes out ahead is St. Croix, I think.

If you can swing it, look at the Loomis NRX rods. Yes 450-500 bucks is a nice chunk of change but you get a one time, no questions asked, FREE replacement if it breaks. Regardless of reason.

And , I do agrre that you should get your replacement for 50 bucks if that was the deal when you bought it.

[repper]

no offense...but you were clumsy. without going into the engineering involved with such a high dollar piece of equipment, it was not built to withstnd the kind of force you put on it when you pulled with the big end of the rod while the very fragile tip was not free to move. that is not loomis' fault, and in my opinion they are very generous to replace a rod broken in that manner , at any cost. that was not a manufacturers default. i dont blame them for raising the price to 100. they probalby get very tired of replacing perfectly good rods which have been broken by mis handling. i have broken a glx myself when taking it out from my rodlocker so i know of what i speak. and i gladly paid the 50 bucks for a new rod. and i am way more careful now.

[SJB1226]

That sucks. Let me ask you a question though. What is the warranty specifications on your car? Is it a lifetime warranty or can you replace your car if it breaks?

My car is not a graphite fishing rod. Nor does Toyota offer/advertise a flat rate repair or replacement program for a set price. If they did and my car broke, I would expect them to replace it for the price they advertised as the replacement cost at the time of purchase. If I were building an arsenal of rods today, I would shy away from Loomis simply because of the $100 replacement cost. I will however call Loomis in the AM and express my concerns, in hopes of only having to pay $50 to replace it. I doubt I will get far but we will see.

That was a pretty rude post by him bro! and your reply was dead on! when a big part of the reason someone buys your product is the replacement program and then you up a change it well that says a lot about that company! I ordered 3 NRX's I had to try them and I do like my GLX's dont fish them anymore they just dont have a place on the boat with all my JDM stuff but I used to enjoy fishing them VERY much and they was/are stellar rods. I will let you all know about the NRX's when there in my hand.. they will probably be sold off pretty quick or put away in my fishing room in the rod closet.. but yeah Loomis killed there sales by doing this and the will pay for it with less sales.

I do have 4 Dobyns Extereme and wow is all I can say I really like them and they are the only non JDM or Custom rods that make it in the boat and stay there. They are very very good rods, very sensitive very strong and look really good... They balance very well with light reels and heavier reels.. I have 3 with Steez 103's on them and one with a Zillion PE on it. they just feel good in the hand and are easy on the eye. if you buy one you will like it better then those IMX's IMHO.... I know I do well I cant say that I have never owned a non GLX loomis... that will change hopefully tomorrow I cant wait to fish my NRX's and see if there what the are cracked up to be.

[SJB1226]

If the replacement fee was $50 when you bought it, you should be grandfathered in.

Yup 100% and not only should you be grand papied lol in you shouldnt only be able to get one rod replaced.. there was no limit on it back then... now its a one time deal per rod and thats BS... When stocks drop from lowered sells they will do something! probably go back to how it used to be. or suffer smaller bonus for the CEO's lol

You will never win the fight bro they are gonna say your wrong when your right.. but thats what some people on forums do... at point of sale you was told this...then it changed and you have to pay the same thing as someone that buys the same thing after they know the new terms... its wrong simply said and it doesnt matter if I got mad and snapped it over my knee... I was told no questions asked 50 bucks its replaced well then I expect to have it replaced for 50 bucks when I snap it over my knee... It has nothing to do with carelessness it has nothing to do with clumsiness it has to do with Loomis backing out on a deal that helped make them who and what they are before Aug 1st... now they arent so hot and if these NRX's arent totally stellar then Loomis is in for a rude awaking. If I broke one of my NRX's because of something I did the one time free replacement is cool and im happy with that because I knew thats what it was at point of sale. now what in two months there gonna say no more 1 time free replacement we now have a one time half price replacement? lol She-Mano is something else!

One time I broke a GLX BCR852 casting a 3/8oz jig with no trailer so I wasnt over loading the rod with weight on the cast... it snapped at the 2nd guide the rod was about 20 casts old (I had the rod for like a year and a half) and Loomis wouldnt replace it free said it was from throwing to much weight... then I had a BCR802 GLX that I broke high sticking and it was 100% my fault but I wanted to see and sent it back and boom new rod for free. lol that was 2-3 years ago sometimes I dont know about them but I did love there no questions 50 dollar new rod deal and so did all other peeps that fished loomis...we will all see how it ends up and I truly believe it will go back to 50 buck... but I believe it will stay only a one time replacement now. thats my opinion and you know what there like.

[Ballpark Frank]

After being a longtime Loomis-Lover, I have gone to St.Croix for both conventional and fly. I don't want to get into the specifics since I am not looking to debate. From personal experience and stories relayed here, I think Loomis is hurting their reputation(actually could be Shimano management ).

[rubba bubba]

Why don't you read RoLo's thread and see how well they took care of him with his warranty, not expeditor, claim.

And as for not buying a rod for the warranty, nobody buys a rod for the warranty. However like any sizeable purchase all features related to the product are weighed when compared against other products. Now that one of the features has changed substantially, it alters the total equation. Enough for some to leave, not enough for others. Just because you don't value the expeditor service in your equation doesn't mean that everyone else shouldn't as well.

To me, 50 bucks is hardly a substantial altercation when you're paying 400-500 bucks for the product.

I noticed you conveniently left off you can only use it once now as well.

[tyrius.]

I don 't buy a rod because of it's warranty. I buy it because of it's quality. If you need a warranty because you're clumsy and break your rods then why should Loomis replace it, as they always have for 50 bucks

You may not factor in the "warranty" in your rod buying purchase, but many other people do.  I don't see why anyone would NOT factor in the expeditor service when purchasing a high end rod.  If 2 rods are equal in sensitivity and one provides a replacement program for $50 per breakage then that one makes much more sense financially.  And now after MANY people have used the expeditor service as a factor in their purchase Loomis doubles the price and restricts it to ONE replacement.  Everyone who purchased a Loomis rod with the expeditor service has every right to be upset about it.  That's a pretty drastic change.

[SJB1226]

Why don't you read RoLo's thread and see how well they took care of him with his warranty, not expeditor, claim.

And as for not buying a rod for the warranty, nobody buys a rod for the warranty. However like any sizeable purchase all features related to the product are weighed when compared against other products. Now that one of the features has changed substantially, it alters the total equation. Enough for some to leave, not enough for others. Just because you don't value the expeditor service in your equation doesn't mean that everyone else shouldn't as well.

To me, 50 bucks is hardly a substantial altercation when you're paying 400-500 bucks for the product.

I noticed you conveniently left off you can only use it once now as well.

But I made sure to note it lol :

[burleytog]

Warranty does not equal free replacement for any reason.

[Dan-K]

Warranty does not equal free replacement for any reason.

True, but the advertised $50 expiditer service does......

[jeb2]

I don 't buy a rod because of it's warranty. I buy it because of it's quality. If you need a warranty because you're clumsy and break your rods then why should Loomis replace it, as they always have for 50 bucks

You may not factor in the "warranty" in your rod buying purchase, but many other people do. I don't see why anyone would NOT factor in the expeditor service when purchasing a high end rod. If 2 rods are equal in sensitivity and one provides a replacement program for $50 per breakage then that one makes much more sense financially. And now after MANY people have used the expeditor service as a factor in their purchase Loomis doubles the price and restricts it to ONE replacement. Everyone who purchased a Loomis rod with the expeditor service has every right to be upset about it. That's a pretty drastic change.

Very well said. There are several very good rods out there, so the warranty/replacement policy for sure plays a part in my decision. It used to be a no-brainer. GLX is a great rod with a great warranty/replacement. Buy more GLX's! Easy decision. Now the door is thrown open for me since their policy is now just average. I'm also looking at St. Croix as they get a lot of accolades and have a great warranty/upgrade program on the higher end stuff.

One of the reasons for the increase, according to a ShimLoomis customer service rep on a different forum, is because folks were "abusing" it. While I understand that, I'm insulted that their policy now assumes I'm an abuser. And there's nothing to keep them from doubling it again in 6 months or whatever when they decide there are still too many "abusers".

Just bad policy, IMO. Grandfathering in the older rods, only allowing Xpeditor once or twice a year, not doubling the price, giving more than a 2 week notice on the change, etc would have gone a long way to making this a less bitter pill for loyal Loomis owners.

[tyrius.]

Warranty does not equal free replacement for any reason.

Hmm, last I read Loomis has a warranty program where an angler could send their rod in for replacement if it was a true manufacturer's defect and then they have the separate and distinct expeditor service which is a no questions asked replacement program.

Loomis made no changes to their warranty program.