Rod repair costs

RCF said:
Many of the rod manufacturing companies are lucky just to make it through the pandemic. They are still being affected by supply chain issues and will continue to be for some time. Obviously they have to look at where there is profit so that they can 'keep the doors' open. New rods have a lot higher profit margin than repairing rods. Do not blame the companies for making hard choices. They are trying to survive...
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Yup, just as consumers must make hard choices.
 
RCF said:
Many of the rod manufacturing companies are lucky just to make it through the pandemic. They are still being affected by supply chain issues and will continue to be for some time. Obviously they have to look at where there is profit so that they can 'keep the doors' open. New rods have a lot higher profit margin than repairing rods. Do not blame the companies for making hard choices. They are trying to survive...
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If what @Driftless Dan suggests is true, and I think he's onto something, then rod manufacturing companies might actually be able to lower their new rod purchase price since warrantied repairs seem to be waning. I believe the warranties were built into the original pricing. Quite frankly, not to beat a dead horse, a new Sage is not remotely on my bucket list; easy to say - I was awfully tempted to buy a 696 Pulse when they were discounted/discontinued. I've fished with one several times, a nice rod.
 
Nick Clayton said:
This is a prime example of why I appreciate a company like Echo. They make fantastic fishing tools that don't cost an arm and a leg. They have great customer service if I choose to go that route, but mostly at the prices they charge I don't worry too much about breaking a rod and just move on.

I own thousand dollar fly rods. They are great rods. But the only thing that allows me to confidently use them is their warranty. The second that goes away I have zero interest in spending that much money on a fishing rod.
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Exactly! This is a timely thread as I'm rod hunting right now. This certainly skews my decision towards the more affordable rods I've been looking at.
 
I take considerable comfort knowing that once my defective Sage X is repaired and returned I will have a nice emergency backup rod in case one of my decent rods is damaged.
 
My XP's still work...
So do my RPL's...
;)

I may upgrade to another rod in a few more years, if I need to.
Picked up an old bamboo rod a few months ago, first rod I've bought in over 10 years.
Fish seem to be disinterested in my rod choices lately, they all show about the same level of cooperation regardless of rod choice I make.
 
Porter2 said:
Maybe I missed it but in Sage’s new warranty stated ….
“ One exception is the rods manufactured with a serial number Q, R, S, or T. These rods carry an unconditional, original owner lifetime warranty…..

Which rods are these? Off hand I can’t think of any of mine starting with those letters. Do have AA and Other letters. (I’ll have to check). But why are these rods singled out?
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After reading your post I checked and found some of my RPLs and two-handed rods have serial numbers of the Q and S vintages. Three others are of K, O and P vintage so I wonder if these are earlier models?

But just what does "unconditional lifetime warranty" now mean? I see folks writing about their rods which are current models still not returned after over six months and others can't even get a response to their calls or emails. This isn't what I'd call good or even reasonable service by any standard, whether for a warranty or otherwise.
 
Pescaphile said:
After reading your post I checked and found some of my RPLs and two-handed rods have serial numbers of the Q and S vintages. Three others are of K, O and P vintage so I wonder if these are earlier models?

But just what does "unconditional lifetime warranty" now mean? I see folks writing about their rods which are current models still not returned after over six months and others can't even get a response to their calls or emails. This isn't what I'd call good or even reasonable service by any standard, whether for a warranty or otherwise.
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I'm thinking it means whatever the acrimonious outcome of meetings between the marketing and financial mofos determines.

There was a time when Fenwick was the premier flyrod brand...maybe Sage is sliding down that slippery slope. Lots more hungry sharks out there these days.
 
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krusty said:
I'm thinking it means whatever the acrimonious outcome of meetings between the marketing and financial mofos determines.

There was a time when Fenwick was the premier flyrod brand...maybe Sage is sliding down that slippery slope. Lots more hungry sharks out there these days.
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It's interesting that Sage just revised their repair fees. A little blowback doesn't hurt. I won a Fenwick HMG blank (590-2) at PSFF.ORG about 1980, wrapped it up; it was a sweet rod.
 
How about prepay for warranty coverage or pay what the repair costs in the future if you need it?
 
That’s a good one too. Hope the repair returns that rod to its former glory of a jedi casting and fish fighting tool it is!!!

Post how it goes. Interested. Also interested if you respond in 2022 or 2023 😉?
 
Creatch’r said:
Damn…. Broke the butt section of my 896 XP on the skiff last week during a little mishap battling a redfish. $195 to repair. Yikes. Be careful with your old sages.
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Actually I have seen a couple XP’s repaired in the butt section and both contained new updated reel seats/grip combos like you would see on a newer sage.
 
The cork of the older sages higher end rods were much better imho. Thick and denser cork. New sages look pretty with all the filler (think the filler is better today than 20 years ago). But they don’t age as well as the older sage grips … of course this is my opinion. There is still good quality cork out there but think it is more sparse and harder to obtain. Personally I hate cheap cork that easily pits and falls apart shortly after a few fishing trips. Grips will soil but they should remain solid and intact. 20 year old rods basically and the cork while patina is solid.

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Porter2 said:
The cork of the older sages higher end rods were much better imho. Thick and denser cork. New sages look pretty with all the filler (think the filler is better today than 20 years ago). But they don’t age as well as the older sage grips … of course this is my opinion. There is still good quality cork out there but think it is more sparse and harder to obtain. Personally I hate cheap cork that easily pits and falls apart shortly after a few fishing trips. Grips will soil but they should remain solid and intact. 20 year old rods basically and the cork while patina is solid.

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I’m actually pretty sad about the idea of new cork. I’ve been working on that distinguished dirty cork look for many years. I’m thankful the rod can be repaired at all. It’s not replaceable IMO. But $195 is pretty insane. I just bought a redington classic trout brand new for less then that.
 
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