a lot of the manufacturers honor the warranty but with a 'shipping and handling' cost. my guess is that's the actual cost of the rod....
Printable View
a lot of the manufacturers honor the warranty but with a 'shipping and handling' cost. my guess is that's the actual cost of the rod....
Maybe I'm simple but this seems not very complicated to me.
If I pay (usually more) for a rod because it has an Unconditional Warranty then when it breaks for WHATEVER REASON I will happily and without guilt expect a replacement. That's what unconditional means and that's why I paid for it.
On the other hand, if it's a manufacturer's defect only warranty and I smash it in a car door, I'll suck it up and deal with the replacement myself. I don't like fraud from a manufacturer and I expect they don't like fraud from me. And we both deserve that much respect.
Diane
I've had salesman literally say, "even if you slam it in a car door, we'll replace it." Why should I argue with them?
A couple of years ago I watched a man play a salmon so badly the rod was bent like a horseshoe. It broke. He laughed and said no problem, that was the THIRD one he had broke that week. It didn't break because it was defective, it broke because he was an idiot!
And I helped to pay for his THREE rods.
Actually he probably took that one back and got a fourth.
[This message has been edited by LadyFisher (edited 31 October 2005).]
Tyflier implies that originally the intent of the unconditional lifetime warrany was that the manufacturer was expressing confidence in the quality and reliability of their rods, and that the buyers are the ones who have taken the idea to unrealistic extremes. The first long term warranty I ever saw was from Orvis, and they made a big splash by saying they didn't care how you broke it, they would ask no questions, and would happily replace the rod. I remember one ad showing a bird dog chewing up an Orvis rod, in which the text of the ad said "when your best friend chews up your other best friend". Ads like these are what set up the "unrealistic expectations". The first unconditional "lifetime" warranty I can remember came from Redington. They described it as the "car door, river" guarantee. While I agree that there are some idiots out here that could and would tear up an anvil if given the chance, I believe the rod manufacturers have nobody to blame but themselves for the situation they find themselves in. Unfortunately this also seems to have driven up the cost of a quality rod significantly.
Larry Compton
"I've had salesman literally say, "even if you slam it in a car door, we'll replace it." Why should I argue with them?"
That is what Redington factory told me. it does not matter to them how it broke.
jed
as far as you paying for others neglligence, let's be honest here--do you think the price of rods will drop drastically if they eliminate the warranty? i don't. so you'll be paying for it anyway and not getting it.
My dad was a custom home builder from the 1920's to the 70's. He would build a house one at a time and take his time to get it right. He would give the buyer a lifetime gaurantee.. My dad's lifetime that is... My mom used to say don't do that, someone might take you up on the offer, she had a lot less faith in humanity than dad did. Nobody in 50 years took the offer. Back then people took responsability for their actions, if they broke it was always their fault.
The lesson I learned from my dad was to always be a professional and do the job right the first time.
When I sell a custom fly rod I give the buyer 30 days, if it doesn't break in 30 days it will never break from anything I did wrong or any defects in the components...FB.
Dianne - I think you summed it up perfectly.
Thank you.
Probably my post on breaking a rod that started all this stimulating discussion (and more). Interestingly enough, when I asked advice about buying rods *most* (not all) said spend a few more bucks and get the one with the guarantee. Though I seem to be enduring a few cyber "down the nose" looks, guess I'm glad I did.
Sorry if I cost you money.
hide hunter--so YOU'RE the one!!! i look at it this way--at the end of the year the govt. offers me a refund on the taxes i've overpaid, and i take it. if i break a rod the rod company offers me a new rod for the overpriced rod i bought, and i take it.