I bought a gatti pa 3 piece 9ft 8wt a few years ago.This was a factory made rod that a friend of mine recommended for a discount price.I’ve only used the rod about a dozen times in the three years I’ve owned it.The second time I used the rod I was throwing streamers for steelhead and the fly hit the rod tip and broke it.I called Gatti in Montana and they said that the warranty was good for only one unconditional repair.
They fixed the rod,which took forever to get back from Italy,for free.Last week I broke my tip again while steehead fishing.I’m not sure how it broke,but when I went to cast the tip was just dangling.I called up gatti to see how much it would cost to get it fixed and they said it would be 176.00 to fix the tip.I only paid 280.00 for the rod.I think this is one of the worst warranties on the market.Has anyone one else had any problems with gatti rods braking?There is no way I would ever buy another gatti again.The company won’t stand behind there product.With sage,scott.loomis,winston.tfo,all good companys that stand behind there product,I can’t see how gatti stays in business.I’ve asked a few guide friends of mine about gatti and they said they never heard of them.If anyone has had a good or bad experiences please let me know.
thanks,lucky strike
I’ve seen them before, but dont know much about them. You might try asking how much a replacement tip section of the blank would cost and wrap the guides (from your broken tip) yourself of have someone local do it fo you.
Here’s the latest prices I found on their website.
http://www.gattiflyfishing.it/pricelist2009.htm
Did’nt see a 9’ 8wt, but looks like about $230 range for entire blank.
EDIT: the 230 is Euro’s, thats about $310 USD
I don’t see you complaint. You bought a $750 rod for $280 discounted price(assuming this is one of the older PA or perhaps even a FRHP), you break a tip and they fix it for free. You break a tip again and feel $176 is too much?? I’d pay to get the rod fixed myself, your still ahead of the game.
Ray,
I thought the same thing.
Lucky Strike,
It’s not like the rod was defective. It’s worked for years. You got it for well under retail. I’m surprised they fixed it the first time you broke it. Actualy reading the warranty card before you buy, even calling and making sure that what you think the warranty is and what it really is are the same before you buy, is prudent practice.
Few of the ‘fixit no matter how it broke’ warranties are really ‘free repair/replace’ anyway. There is almost always a fee involved. For many of the US based companies, it’s often in the $50+ range.
It’s an Italian made rod, so since it has to be shipped internationally, you’d expect it to cost more to get it done. If you are hard on your equipment, thinking about things like this before you buy is usually a good idea.
I see no problem with Gatti over this. All the reviews I’ve read about their rods have been positive, and I know quite a few custom builders that swear by their blanks.
It’s okay to not like the rod. But paying $280 for a high end fly rod and expecting the company to repair or replace it for free every time you break it for the rest of your life is just not reasonable.
Sorry, but that’s just how I see this.
Buddy
A warranty is a warranty. No matter what you paid…UNLESS stipulated at the time of purchase that it is somehow changed. And I can see them rightfully changing it, but…
Just because I got $3000 off the last car I bought doesn’t mean the warranty is anything less.
Thanks for the feedback.
I’m lucky I only paid $280.00 for the rod.If I paid 700.00 for that rod I would expect it to be a little more durable.I use my sage xp 90% of the time and never had a problem with it.I used the gatti twelve times and broke the tip twice.The warranty said I would get a 60% discount on all warranty work after the first free repair.When I called gatti they said they didn’t give the 60% discount on that model,so I would have to pay the full price to get it fixed.To tell you the truth I don’t think the rod is worth 176.00.I’d pay 75.00 to have it fixed but in the back of my mind I’d be wondering when it was going to break again.Anyway I bought a used sage rplxi on ebay for 200.00 and I’m throwing the gatti in the trash.
The only Gatti I have ever seen or cast is the one JC used to teach us newbs how to cast with. I absolutly love that Gatti. Somehow it just fits me and my rather odd casting style right. Now I find out that Z ( Steve ) has the exact same model as Jim’s. Next fish in I’m going to get that one on a huge grab and run like hell discount sale.
If any of you have ever seen me run you know how far I’ll get.
If I were you I’d get it fixed. For gosh sakes don’t pitch it, if you’re going to toss it then I’d suggest offering it to someone on here who would love to have it broken or not and will spend the bux to fix it up again.
Gatti rods are expensive. I’d beg for it but I have no use for an 8wt.
Beadhead flies have done in two of my rods both were replaced under warantee no questions asked. Now I don’t pitch beadheads I only troll with them instead.
I’m sure that there are a number of us on the board that would be willing to pay shipping to tke the rod off your hands, instead of you throwing it in the trash…
I’m going to give the rod to a rod builder friend.If he wants to build a new tip section more power to him,I hope it last longer than it did for me.At least he’ll get a new rod sock and case.
Thanks for the comments.
Frankly, having you given the explanation about hitting the rod with your steelhead flies, I would highly suggest getting someone to help you with your casting. I’m not there so I can’t help much, BUT you might try casting off slightly to the side instead of directly overhead. Really, have someone watch you cast and see if they can figure out what you are doing. That is an expensive bad habit. I wouldn’t want to sell you a fly rod.
Hugs,
LF
I’ve built a number of rods for customers on Gatti blanks over the past couple years, and I’m also friends with Brian that owns Gatti USA out in Montana which you spoke too. Gatti blanks are nice, they are faster action and very light. Some of the lightness comes from a slight decrease in wall thickness to save weight, so you simply have to be a bit more careful with them than some other rods. Not that they break easy or anything, but like any other high end item you have to be careful with it. Tha fact that Gatti does the first break free is really almost unheard of. Most all companies charge you $50 for a new unwrapped tip, so the price of the second break isnt that far off if you consider you got the first replacement for free. Also as someone else said, Sandro Gatti is in Italy, so your looking at a good $35-$40 of that charge going to shipping.
Steve
I have several Gattis, I did break a tip trying to land a large King salmon. I came up too sharply and ‘candy-caned’ the tip. Gatti did not replace the tip, they replaced the rod. Sandro said it should not have happened, I still think it was my fault. Some of the folks here have cast one of our Gatti rods either at a Fish-In or class, the response is pretty much the same from all. It is a terrific rod, the technology to produce a rod with uniform wall thickness is one I wish all rod makers had, it makes the rod lighter and with fewer vibrations. I know Gatti will never be a big name in the US, Sandro would rather fish (and take his son fishing with him) than fight the wars of commerce. All in all I can’t say that I blame him. At one time the rods were going to be 'finished, assembled here in WA state, having the rod made in the USA would have made a big difference. In today’s economy? Who knows. Of all the things that might have been, that one is still very difficult for me.
As a rule I do not respond to these type of comments but there comes a time when it becomes necessary. Of course it looks as though me commenting is not needed due to the comments of others and I thank you for that. In all good consonance I can not say for certion if the gentleman who started this thread is in fact the individual who sent me the bellow email but there are a lot of similarities.
“Hi Brian I broke my rod in two places.The tip section and the middle section.I have a fr908-3pa.I would like to know how much the two sections would costto replace,and where I have to ship it .I broke my tip a couple of years ago so I guess I have to pay for this one.
Thanks,”
This email states two broken sections not just the tip. In addition the individual who sent this email also called me. The rod he wanted was infect was not on the 60% sale list and that was not to his liking. A sale is a sale and items are added for a specific reason like overstock. Had it been on the list it would have been shipped from Italy and the buyer would need to pay import duty and if in the future the rod was sold then excise tax would need to be paid.
The individual that sent the above email was quoted $179.00 for replacement of the tip and mid section by phone call about 2/23/2010. $30.00 of the $179.00 was service charge to cover shipping. In our phone conversation he stated that he fell and broke the two section and that he often breaks rods because he does not take care of them.
The GATTI warranty is very clear. One breakage is covered for one section, The side B of the warranty card must be sent to Italy within 30 days of purchase or the warranty is invalid. I take care of that.
The FR908 -3PA is no longer a in stock blank although replacement sections are available. If it was a stock rod with the drop in value of the dollar it retail for $700.00 plus change.
This individual stated a number of times that he did not like the GATTI warranty and that is OK but it will not be changed just for him.
Again I wish to thank those who made positive comments on this subject I do appreciate it.
Brian T. Ahern
Any impact to a rod shaft that damages the stuctural integrity at the point of impact will weaken that spot and greatly increase the chance of failure. A beadhead fly or a deep scratch in the surface of the shaft wall will bring about failure. I’m not certain what the warranty covers in the case of your Gatti but I think you have been treated fairly. Warranties are intended to cover structural failure at the point and time of manufacture. Using them as a result of failure due to ones own mistreatment is inappropriate.
Trout Trainer, Welcome to FAOL, interesting first post. (I’m guessing no on has ever had trouble knowing where you stand on an issue) In my opinion warranties are just what they say on paper if the warranty covers all damage, it covers all damage. Its not a moral issue its a contract. As far as the Gatti goes when you buy something high end made in Europe, then you sometimes wait for service. in this case shipping time and expense. Kind of like owning a high end sports cars sometimes you wait for parts.
Eric
If the rod was warrantied, it should be covered. If a company is not being responsible and backing up their warranty then we all should know about it and then we can make a decision to buy from them or not. In the past, I have seen other posts regarding problems with Gatti. Overall, I think we are lucky that these rod companies warranty them at all – after all, they are a tool and tools can break. A bead head fly -especially the larger salmon type flies - breaking a rod tip is very common. To have rods warranteed for years, or even life, is just crazy and we all tend to get the Costco mentality whereby we can buy something, use if for in some cases years and then return it to Costco and get our money back—Crazy world!
fish fiberglass
Eric,
I have no argument with your view. Any differences we hold are only a reflection of the princples we each choose to live by.