I am not getting all this return stuff; MILD RANT

[Pigsticker]

Back in July, I happened to be in the BPS in Foxborough when a fellow brought in two Johnny Morris signature spinning rod combos. He claimed his rod broke while he was fighting a fish. To top it off, it broke near the handle.

I happened to be in line behind him, and he proceeded to tell me that he was not about to lose a five plus pound bass, so he handlined it in. The line he was using was braid.

Pardon me if I'm skeptical, but, imo, there is no way you could handline a bass that size with braid. Your hands would be sliced raw. Let's just say I took his yarn with a very large grain of salt.

What puzzled me was turning in both combos for new, even though he only broke one. Go figure.

I handlined a 11lb4oz bass using 65lb Sufix braid. No cuts. Rod also broke at the handle when I set the hook. Straight braid, a buttoned drag and a fish that big, if you really lean into her, somethings gotta give.

Yeah I do not know why people think heavy braid cuts you. I handle 65lb+ braid alot and do not get cut at all. Now the lighter braid like 20lb test will slice right through you.

On the return stuff topic I think any damaged gear should be taken directly to the maker. Usually they are happy to replace it even if your at fault. Also I think lifetime warranties like Shimano's(rods) applies to any way it is broken you get a free one, no fraud needed there.

[Muddy]

Back in July, I happened to be in the BPS in Foxborough when a fellow brought in two Johnny Morris signature spinning rod combos. He claimed his rod broke while he was fighting a fish. To top it off, it broke near the handle.

I happened to be in line behind him, and he proceeded to tell me that he was not about to lose a five plus pound bass, so he handlined it in. The line he was using was braid.

Pardon me if I'm skeptical, but, imo, there is no way you could handline a bass that size with braid. Your hands would be sliced raw. Let's just say I took his yarn with a very large grain of salt.

What puzzled me was turning in both combos for new, even though he only broke one. Go figure.

I handlined a 11lb4oz bass using 65lb Sufix braid. No cuts. Rod also broke at the handle when I set the hook. Straight braid, a buttoned drag and a fish that big, if you really lean into her, somethings gotta give.

Yeah I do not know why people think heavy braid cuts you. I handle 65lb+ braid alot and do not get cut at all. Now the lighter braid like 20lb test will slice right through you.

On the return stuff topic I think any damaged gear should be taken directly to the maker. Usually they are happy to replace it even if your at fault. Also I think lifetime warranties like Shimano's(rods) applies to any way it is broken you get a free one, no fraud needed there.

I do not think so here is the Shimano Lifetime warranty:

Shimano Rod - Limited Lifetime Warranty

As used herein, Shimano will mean Shimano American Corporation with respect to United States warranty claims and Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE with respect to Canadian warranty claims. Shimano and Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE warrant to the original retail purchaser that this rod will be free from non-conformities in materials and workmanship. Shimano's sole obligation under this Limited Lifetime Warranty is to repair or replace, at Shimano's option, a non-conforming rod at no cost to the original retail purchaser other than the cost of packing, insuring, and shipping the rod to Shimano. This Limited Lifetime Warranty will be considered VOID if the rod is found to have been subjected to repairs not authorized by Shimano, or if it has been modified, neglected, improperly maintained, misused, abused, or the appearance of the product reveals damage by your failure to provide proper maintenance.

To request warranty repairs on a United States warranty claim, send your rod, postage prepaid, to Shimano or return it to the retailer that it was purchased from. To request warranty repairs on a Canadian warranty claim, send your rod, postage prepaid to Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE or return it to an Authorized Canadian Warranty Center. All warranty requests must be accompanied by a valid dated sales receipt and a brief note describing the difficulty you are experiencing with the rod in as much detail as possible.

Rods that are repaired or replaced by Shimano or Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE under the terms of this Limited Lifetime Warranty will be shipped back to you with Shimano or Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE paying the return shipping charges. If your rod should be found to require repairs outside of the coverage provided by this Limited Lifetime Warranty, Shimano or Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE will perform the repair or replacement and bill you for parts, labor, and return shipping charges. Retailer and wholesaler outlets are not required to perform warranty repairs or exchanges on behalf of Shimano or Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE, nor are they authorized to modify this warranty in any way.

THIS LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY DOES NOT EXTEND TO OR COVER ANY DAMAGE TO THE ROD NOT RESULTING FROM A NON-CONFORMITY IN MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP; ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY MISUSE, ABUSE OR TAMPERING WITH THE ROD BY OTHER THAN NORMAL USE OF THE ROD; OR ANY NON-CONFORMITY OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM REPAIRS PERFORMED OTHER THAN BY SHIMANO OR AN AUTHORIZED SHIMANO SERVICE PROVIDER.

Like I said it is about taking responsibility for our own actions 8-)

[ptomacbass]

is that why you don't need no stinkin she-mano?

[Pigsticker]

You make a good point,

But have you tried to exchange a rod from them muddy? They are very nice

Let me say that I have broken my fair share of rods from abuse and have taken it like and man and bought new stuff. You will not find me passing off a broken tip as a bass fight gone wrong.  

I was just pointing out the best warranty out there

[Muddy]

No I do not own any Shimano stuff. I do own Fenwick and Cabelas rods, as well as Pflueger reels. Except for the Fenwick rod I broke( I didnt contact themas it was my fault)  I really have never had to use any warranties because I have not had issues using their products.

I am sure Shimano is a generous with their customes as a lot of the bigger companies and tackle suppliers are.

[Poolie727]

Personal responsibility and honesty seem to be going the way of the Dodo bird for many people today.

I was standing in line behind a guy at REI a couple years ago who was returning a pair of hiking boots that looked like they'd just been round trip on the Appalachian trail. He told the guy behind the counter he wanted to return them because he just bought them and they didn't fit. REI has a pretty much no questions asked return policy but the guy behind the counter gave him a look like, "suuuuure you just bought them" as he started the process of giving the guy his money back. That look must have p!ssed the guy off because he starts ranting that REI makes tons of money and they can afford to give him his money back.

I'm not sure what irritates me more, the idea that he honestly though they should give him his money back for a pair of boots that were obviously worn out, or that he could stand there and tell a bold face lie... and get all upset about it.

The more I'm around people the more I love my dogs :-)

[Raul]

I 've owned a lot of rods throughout the years, I 've only experienced 3 rod breakeages in my life, 2 were my fault, simple stupidity on my part so there was no reason for e to complain, the other one was clearly a case of bad material/defect/workmanship, the rod literally exploded into pieces ( it was one of those polymer injected tip Lightning Rods ), took it to Academy where I bought the rod and they replaced it with a new one at no cost, but heck, I didn 't abuse of it, I did take the receipt.

Other than that I certainly wouldn 't demand the retailer or manufacturer for a refund if it were my fault.

[moloch16]

I don't think I'd last long in the retail business.  I have a habit of telling people what's on my mind  >

[Joe Boss]

Preach on Muddy!! Must be a Brooklyn thing my brother, I agree 100%

I would only return something if it was defective right out of the box. If tackle breaks through my own misuse I go out and buy something new...hmmmm I think I need to accidentely step on one of my old rods, excuse me.

[SimonSays]

That's why I'll only stick to rods with accidental coverage like st croix and loomis (the only 2 I know of, are there any more?)

If it's not my fault then I'll get it replaced due to the manufactures defect.

If it is my fault, I'll get it replaced anyways because it's written in the warranty that I can.

You win both ways!

stick to loomis or stcroix and there'll be no problems =D

[G_Clark]

BPS, Cabelas, whatever, they sometimes take these rods back without much questioning because they just send them back to the manufacturer and they get credit for it. The rod manufacturer has a ton of a markup so it is just a drop in the bucket to them. At some point it would get to be too much and this is when you see tougher return policies and the like. Someone mentioned on this thread that they broke a rod pulling in a load of moss. If this rod was a good quality rod, they should replace it. A good quality rod should be able to take considerable flex without breaking. I don't see anything wrong with returning a rod that broke while using it under like circumstances for which it was designed. Pulling in moss is no different than pulling in a big 40 LB Catfish. I had a 40 LB Cat on my medium power Falcon rod 2 weeks ago, it was a fluke, but it happened. The rod was bowed over like a horseshoe and it did not break. With that said, even the best of rods have their limit. The point is if a rod breaks while you are using it under like fishing conditions, loads, etc. they should replace it. If you slam the tailgate on it, that is not like fishing conditions. It was not made to be a tailgate wedge.

[flechero]

even the best of rods have their limit.

Very true, which is why even the cheapest of reels have a drag.

[jax]

It is not just return policies. It is law suits also. I had to pick my little girl up from day care the other day and take her to the Dr. Her day cares goes every other week to a pizza joint for kids her age. They lock the place down and let the kids have fun. They have $0.25 toy machines there. Apparently my little girl somehow skinned her finger on the quarter slot. Day Care called me and asked that have the Dr. take a look at it. I asked them if this was something I should go and yell at the owners of the Pizza place for. Her teacher stated they closed the machine down, taped it off, and did everything they could to make Sierra comfortable. Her teacher stated the owner truly was distraught and knew nothing about the faulty machine.

I took her to the Dr. they cleaned it up again (Day Care and the pizza joint owner did a very good job the first time). She tore a pretty good chunk of skin off her finger. We now have to watch it to make sure it doesn't get infected.

Could we sue? Yes!!!! Would we win? Probably. Am I going to sue? Hell no!!! The pizza place is a good clean place. It is their business to stay in business. Not hurt little kids. This was a fluke accident. They are fixing the problem. It wasn't life threatening or life altering. It was learning experience for her. Now she knows not to put her fingers there. Granted it messed the skin up on her finger pretty bad and it looks extremely nasty. It tore the skin off half way down the side of her finger but it will heal.

It makes me mad that other people would try to own the pizza joint for that same instance. Granted they could have offered us a free pizza or to at least have paid her our $20 co pay but oh well. They are a good place for the most part.

[Muddy]

I do not get the connection between a law suit in a pizzaria and taking advatage of liberal return policies for fishing equipment. I have read so many threads about fellas either being happy with the return policy or dissapointed with it, not one thread that was about suing over a broken rod

[Joel W]

I've been a retail drug store manager for more then 16 years, and in the retail industry for more then 40 years. So I can tell you 1st hand that it's not the cost of the returned item that most stores care about these days, it's keeping or making a new customer that will hopefully continue to purchase products from your store rather then a competitor.

With a receipt we take back everything including open food items and drugs. Without a receipt we give store credit for the full amount whether it was recently on sale or not.

Most national brands are returnable to the manufacture unless the wholesale price was discounted so that they weren't returnable.

Two years ago I broke a Capricorn spinning reel, so I called Cabela's to inquire if I could purchase the broken parts. I was contacted by customer service that the reel was out of warranty, but that they would issue full credit, just send the reel back. Which I did, and purchased a much more expensive reel. Shortly after that I received a check for the shipping. I've also received the same exceptional service from BPS. The end result is that I purchase the vast majority of my bulk winter purchases equally from both companies.