Shimano Crucial

[Jaheff]

I pulled the trigger on a crucial rod today at 25% off.They offered me a 17 dollar in store warranty and I said no, cause of Shimano's lifetime warranty.I have only broken one rod in my 12 years fishing.I have 5 Clarus rods that i have never broken. Should I go back and pay the 17 bucks?

[GTrombly]

No, from what I have heard shimano is pretty good on their rod warranty. I think most people have said they just bring them back and trade them in, sounds like the store is ripping people off.

[Stasher1]

No, from what I have heard shimano is pretty good on their rod warranty. I think most people have said they just bring them back and trade them in, sounds like the store is ripping people off.

Yes, Shimano does offer a lifetime warranty on many of their rods but the retailer is under no obligation to swap it out for you. Some places will tell you to ship it back to Shimano for replacement. If that's the way this retailer operates, the $17 may be worth it to have your rod replaced since shipping a rod back to Shimano will cost you more than that.

[GTrombly]

That could be the case, but I would try to purchase it from a retailer that lets you swap them out. If he has only broken 1 rod in 12 years the $17 might not be worth it, who knows?

[Stasher1]

Even if the retailer currently allows you to swap it out, they may change this policy at any time. My local BPS will only do an over the counter swap on Shimano rods if there's an issue within the first 12 months. After that, you're on your own. According to the Mgr, this is the result of a request made by Shimano during a meeting with BPS management to crack down on the misuse/abuse of their warranty policy.

Makes sense if you think about it. If you use the rod for a couple years and then the tip breaks, how likely is it that it was a manufacturing defect?

[Hooligan]

More and more I'm becoming a believer in the BPS "protection" thing. GEar guard, I think it's called. If you consider that it is going to cost you $25-$35 plus the actual warranty processing fee, the gear guard is worth paying the $18 on a $159 rod. I have gotten it a couple times on rods now, and have been pleased with the result.

[BobP]

I think Crucials have a lifetime over the counter warranty against manufacturer defects. That means take it back to any Shimano dealer and they should hand you another. I say NO on the extra cost store warranties. They are almost never worth the money. The fact that stores push them so hard should tell you something - they are a big profit maker for them..... not for you.

[Hooligan]

I think Crucials have a lifetime over the counter warranty against manufacturer defects. That means take it back to any Shimano dealer and they should hand you another. I say NO on the extra cost store warranties. They are almost never worth the money. The fact that stores push them so hard should tell you something - they are a big profit maker for them..... not for you.

There's no such beast as over the counter anymore, not even on the Cumara. You might get lucky and have that done at a dealer, but Shimano wants everything shipped in for warranty. In terms of whether or not the additional cost is worth it, look at it this way: You burn a wild card on an NRX from your buddy stepping on it in the boat. You get the replacement and the rod breaks when you are fighting a fish. When you send that rod back to Loomis, it's determined that you had wear on the blank because you didn't put the rod in a sock in the rod lucker and the tubes have worn the blank to the point of being easily broken. Had you used the protection/service plan, you're only out $65, if you're going to use the Expeditor, you're out $100.

Like I said in my previous post, the financial benefits are becoming apparent to me in terms of long term ownership. If I'm going to break a rod because of workmanship, it's usually almost immediately. If I break a rod a year and a half down the road, you can almost bet it's my fault, and the extra protection is going to save me $50 at a minimum.

[WdyCrankbait]

I would make sure you register your Crucial on Shimano's website to at least have an "electronic history," of the rod.

I have two Crucials (one over 3 years and another over 2; no problems) and do not think the $17 is worth it. It is a profit maker for the seller, you are getting, say BPS involved in getting you a new rod if something happens that is the $17. If you think it is worth it, go for it!

[BobP]

I like high end rods as well as the next guy but: There ain't no free lunch. You pay for a "no questions asked" warranty policy right up front when you plunk down big bucks for the rod.

[Hooligan]

But you don't get no questions asked warranties anymore. That's the thing. If you break a rod by car door, they are going to be able to tell that, and they're not going to replace it. They're not going light on the warranties anymore, I know several people that have had rods not replaced for the fact that there was nothing wrong with the blank, it was entirely user error. That's becoming more and more common.

I have two Crucials (one over 3 years and another over 2; no problems) and do not think the $17 is worth it. It is a profit maker for the seller, you are getting, say BPS involved in getting you a new rod if something happens that is the $17. If you think it is worth it, go for it!

Where it is worth it is in those situations that you have a fee associated with replacement or warranty anyhow. The fees are going to cost you more money in handling and repair/replacement than the $17 at the time of purchase. What's more, is that it is truly no questions asked. The only other replacement of that nature is the Expediter, and that is $100. How does that not make sense? Furthermore, it's going to cost you more than $17 to ship a rod back to Shimano in the first place. For me, it's a no-brainer. It's insurance against the inevitable.

[Jaheff]

So I called the store this morning and got more details on their store warranty. They use their own insurance company to back up the products they sell.So for the first year it would be 18 dollars, if I want two years it would be 29.97.Like I said, I paid 112.49 + tax for the rod at 25% off..I think i'll take my chances. I only live an hour away from Shimano Irvine...

[Stasher1]

In that case, I'd say skip it. A two year warranty would bring you back up to full retail price, and that extended warranty would only be good at that store. I'd pass, but then again, I'd pass on Shimano rods in general.

One of the big selling points for Shimano's rods over the years has been their lifetime warranty with over the counter free replacement at many dealers. With Shimano cracking down on the warranties, and dealers opting out of the over the counter replacement deal, they're no longer as appealing as they once were, imo.

Think about it for a second, would you have bought that rod if it only came with a 1yr warranty?

As rod technology improves, the sensitivity gap between the newer $100 rods and older $150 rods is rapidly shrinking. Some rod companies are resting on their laurels and coasting on their reputation instead of improving their rods. As they sit still, the other manufacturers are catching up, and in some cases, passing them by with newer lighter designs at lower prices.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing really wrong with the Crucial. I just think there have been enough improvements in rod design over the past few years that they may not be as competitive in the $150 market as they once were...especially when you compare them to some of the newer $100 rods.

I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but I'm feeling generous today and thought I'd share it anyway.

[Jaheff]

In that case, I'd say skip it. A two year warranty would bring you back up to full retail price, and that extended warranty would only be good at that store. I'd pass, but then again, I'd pass on Shimano rods in general.

One of the big selling points for Shimano's rods over the years has been their lifetime warranty with over the counter free replacement at many dealers. With Shimano cracking down on the warranties, and dealers opting out of the over the counter replacement deal, they're no longer as appealing as they once were, imo.

Think about it for a second, would you have bought that rod if it only came with a 1yr warranty?

As rod technology improves, the sensitivity gap between the newer $100 rods and older $150 rods is rapidly shrinking. Some rod companies are resting on their laurels and coasting on their reputation instead of improving their rods. As they sit still, the other manufacturers are catching up, and in some cases, passing them by with newer lighter designs at lower prices.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing really wrong with the Crucial. I just think there have been enough improvements in rod design over the past few years that they may not be as competitive in the $150 market as they once were...especially when you compare them to some of the newer $100 rods.

I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but I'm feeling generous today and thought I'd share it anyway.

I agree 100%, I wouldn't of pulled the trigger on a crucial if I didn't get it at 25% off.There is no way I'm a good enough fisherman to pay full price...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I won't buy an extended warranty on anything. The various replacement programs are often confused with warranties when in fact they are a type of insurance. Insurances are prfit centers. I'd much rather pay a fair price for one rod and take of it.

[Grey Wolf]

I won't buy an extended warranty on anything. The various replacement programs are often confused with warranties when in fact they are a type of insurance. Insurances are prfit centers. I'd much rather pay a fair price for one rod and take of it.

Totally agree !!!!!!!!!