Just got a 7 wt T&T back from repair, and they charged me $40. They repaired the same rod ~6 years ago for free. Looks like my lifetime warranty expired???
I remember hearing some ruminations about the demise of lifetime rod warranties but didn’t think that applied to rods bought with one.
Don’t mean this as a rant, but it was a bit of a surprise and disappointment from such a high-end company. Could someone fill me in on what’s happening in the industry wrt rod warranties?
I don’t know about T & T, but Sage charges $30 for a repair, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s money well spent relative to having to buy a new rod or pay retail price for a repair.
My rods have been broken by me. None were a function of faulty blank, craftsmanship, etc. Rather they were car trunks, Weighted nymphs hitting tips, etc. so I’d actually feel guilty if I didn’t have to pay some pennance for my stupidity.
I’m just glad they offer the service to keep my favorite rods on the streams–and oh, they’ve been fast a repairing and returning them as well.
Just my take.
Mike
Good day sir. Rod warrenties seem to be pretty much what they have been for a while all though most companys are charging some fee for handeling and shiping as the cost of doing of free service goes up.(sounds like a counterdiction) I think T & T is a great co. and if they will fix and or replace a rod for 40.00 (twice) you should blush, go fishing and say realy nice things about them. lol
Rich
This can be a touchy subject but 1) rod co.'s don’t have to offer any warranty, 2)$40 is probably reasonable for a new section and 3) the consumer is paying for the equivalent of probably 2 or 3 rods when he buys a premium rod so the companies should take care of them. Maybe rod co.'s should offefr a lower price w/o warranty for people who want to gamble on n ot breaking their rod.
Rod companies can sell premium rods to guides, fly shop owners who make quotas etc. for 1/4 of the price of a new rod and they probably break even or make a few bucks.
Paying for a premium rod includes paying for premium service after the sale in my opinion
Hey Josko!!
Sorry about your T & T!! Most of the companies today charge something for their warrantee work now.
Also, I want to thank you again for all the information on Andros, even though my company canceled the trip right after I purchased all my gear. Ironically I was supposed to go to Hawaii June 1st for a week and then on to Guam for a week. I found out yesterday that that trip was canceled as well. Fortunately, I did not make any additional purchases. I already had everything form that canceled Andros trip. If I didn’t need the money I would quit this job. A guy can’t even fish!!!
Reminds me of the time about 25 years ago or so when an acquaintance of mine broke his year old Fenwick graphite rod. It was a 8 footer. He asked them if they would replace it with a 7 and 1/2 footer which they did. All he paid was shipping!
I broke the tip off a multi-piece Fisher (Remember them?) travel rod at the ferrule on a trip to Montana in 1988. It was my fault and I told them so, nevertheless, they repaired it and only charged me shipping costs. I thought that was extremely generous of them, as I had offered to pay full freight. I still use the rod in it’s 7 and 1/2 foot 5 piece, 5 weight configuration. It never did cast well in it’s 9’ 6pc 6wt configuration.
How would you all feel about paying (for example) 300.00 for a rod with a life time warranty agenst manufacture defects and 330.00 for a no fault warrenty? (10%) like an insurance policy.
Rich
i had to pay $30 to get my Scott repaired. it was a flat fee under warranty i assume for shipping/handling and admin junk. had i known it was gonna be that much to fill in a hole in the cork, i would have done it myself. bleh.
take him fishing
I realize it’s a good deal, inexpensive repair, etc, etc. It’s just that when I bought the rod, they were heavily advertising their free lifetime warranty. Now that I bought the rod, it turns out the ‘free lifetime warranty’ is no more.
Could it be the warranty was for a one-time repair and I lost it when I broke the rod for a second time?
If GM offered a free x year warranty and then refused to honor it, all heck would break loose. Is this somehow different?
Try emailing them and ask for explanation…40.00 seems high but they do have freight and paper work…but then again you paid for that when you bought the rod (?)
Think how much they make when people buy their rods and reels and then end up tossing them in dumpster or donating to second hand stores. People buy the stuff not realizing there is a warranty with it…of course they or some might not want to pay for repairs…etc. And good stuff does get tossed. Last item I bought at second hand store was a good condition Sage DS 9’0 5 weight 2-piece with Sage 106 reel (made in England)for $7.50…You can find great fly fishing rods and reels at second hand stores for less than 20.00…The people selling it do not know the value of this stuff…and it feels a little dirty doing it…but hey!..And I have come across several great deals.
Brand New Tioga Spool 8 weight…2.00
Brand New Nor Fin Fly Reel…1.50
Used but great condition St. Croix Imperial 4-piece 5 weight with tube…3.50
???
Hi Gents,
I just took a quick tour of T&T’s on
line site. I see no mention of a guarantee
on thier rods. Warm regards, Jim
Rod cos. have a problem with offering a free repair policy b/c there is no rationing tool. Put a charge on it, and people are less likely to put the rod across their knee after the second season or whatever else they dream up.
Sending a rod off for repair if it is not to the graphite itslef involves more trouble and downtime than it is worth. I’ve damaged guides and threads and justpaid to have them repaired locally to avoid shipping the rod off, having the extended loss of time, and the risks that go with UPS, etc. Tried collecting on a shipping insurance policy lately?
I agree with Josko–if you sell it with a lifetime guarantee you should guarantee it for life. I don’t think you can say $40 covers shipping and handling, unless you are shipping it on the QEII or something…
I bought a T&T rod and was told I had a lifetime warranty. I think that means you do not have to pay to get your rod repaired for the lifetime of the rod (including its repaired self). If they charge Shipping and Handling I can accept that. $40 sounds a little steep for that.
I would address T&T and ask them what is going on. I am interested in hearing their rational.
jed
I also own a T&T lps and it does have the warrenty if the card is sent in.I also have 3 loomis’ with the $50.00 expenditure fee charged for rod breakage.Loomis now even if you have a small problem that you want fixed and keep your old rod tries to make you get a new one instead.I had a older model discontinued that the cork handle chipped
away and wanted me to get a new model,i politely said no thanks!If i have the money to purchase a 500.00 rod,40.00 is a small price to pay for repairs,esp when most breakages occur because of owner neglect…
Hi Josko,
Could you let us know what infos you get if you contact T&T about the fees ?
I bought a T&T two months ago and sent the life time warranty card… So I would be glad to know if there any charges for repairing a rod…
Even if I never borke any rods yet.
I just spoke with Lon Deckard, the President of T&T. He said the $40 is a processing charge, similar in concept to what the other companies do with their warranties. It is about what I paid for my repair on a Redington Rod and what I was told would be the costs for the same service with an Elkhorn.
jed
Rawthumb - One thing must be kept in mind in doing what you suggest: You will most likely have “voided” any warranty the rod had.
—David
(formerly known as “clueless”, and only the name has changed)
No worries about the T&T warranty. They’re just a smaller company that believes in doing things the right way. I was told recently by someone who’d sent a rod in for repair that T&T didn’t simply repair the damage to the section; instead, they built a completely new section according to the specifications corresponding to the rod’s serial number.
This is a company for which American craftsmanship still means a great deal. I’m happy to support them.
Fred
A note on my contacting Lon Deckard. I sent him an email in the evening and got a phone call early the next morning. I know they repair their rods with the same staff that builds them. Because they are small and of the highest quality they can get a little back logged in the repair dept. from time to time. When I visited their factory to see about buying a rod they showed me a wide range of choices and when I said that I could not afford their high end rods they insisted on my trying them anyway, just because they wanted to show off their quality. They even offered to loan me a rod for a weekend if I desired. This is why I love T&T. Its American craftsmanship and pride that makes you want to buy from them.
jed