Rod repair costs

[Stonedfish]

I think there is something to be said from a PR standpoint as well.
I own some classic rods which I purchased new.
I get a lot of marketing stuff from them, but I can't recall ever having received anything about them changing their warranty policies or increasing the cost of repairs. They seem to just put it up on their website without notification.


I thought this was pretty classy way to handle it when another company had issues with their lifetime warranty and people abusing it.

A Letter to Our Customers

Since 1912, our mission has been to sell high-quality products that inspire and enable people to enjoy the outdoors. Our commitment to customer service has earned us your trust and respect, as has our guarantee, which ensures that we stand behind everything we sell.

Increasingly, a small, but growing number of customers has been interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent. Some view it as a lifetime product replacement program, expecting refunds for heavily worn products used over many years. Others seek refunds for products that have been purchased through third parties, such as at yard sales.

Based on these experiences, we have updated our policy. Customers will have one year after purchasing an item to return it, accompanied by proof of purchase. After one year, we will work with our customers to reach a fair solution if a product is defective in any way.

This update adds clarity to our policy and will only affect a small percentage of returns. It will also ensure we can continue to honor one of the best guarantees in retail, with no impact for the vast majority of our customers. To learn more, please view our fullreturn policyat llbean.com.

L.L.Bean has stood for quality, service, trust, and getting people outdoors ever since my great-grandfather founded our company over 100 years ago - and that will never change. Thank you for being a loyal customer and we look forward to continuing to inspire and enable you to Be an Outsider.

Sincerely,

Shawn O. Gorman
Executive Chairman

 

[Buzzy]

I got the same letter from LL Bean - understandable.

I think there is something to be said from a PR standpoint as well.
I own some classic rods which I purchased new.
I get a lot of marketing stuff from them, but I can't recall ever having received anything about them changing their warranty policies or increasing the cost of repairs. They seem to just put it up on their website without notification.


I thought this was pretty classy way to handle it when another company had issues with their lifetime warranty and people abusing it.

A Letter to Our Customers

Since 1912, our mission has been to sell high-quality products that inspire and enable people to enjoy the outdoors. Our commitment to customer service has earned us your trust and respect, as has our guarantee, which ensures that we stand behind everything we sell.

Increasingly, a small, but growing number of customers has been interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent. Some view it as a lifetime product replacement program, expecting refunds for heavily worn products used over many years. Others seek refunds for products that have been purchased through third parties, such as at yard sales.

Based on these experiences, we have updated our policy. Customers will have one year after purchasing an item to return it, accompanied by proof of purchase. After one year, we will work with our customers to reach a fair solution if a product is defective in any way.

This update adds clarity to our policy and will only affect a small percentage of returns. It will also ensure we can continue to honor one of the best guarantees in retail, with no impact for the vast majority of our customers. To learn more, please view our fullreturn policyat llbean.com.

L.L.Bean has stood for quality, service, trust, and getting people outdoors ever since my great-grandfather founded our company over 100 years ago - and that will never change. Thank you for being a loyal customer and we look forward to continuing to inspire and enable you to Be an Outsider.

Sincerely,

Shawn O. Gorman
Executive Chairman

But for Farbank/Sage -
This is a really cool thread @Stonedfish started: nice going Brian. ;-) I'm down to only three Sage fly rods, one I've tried to sell here and on WFF a few times. Now that I know it is truly a collectors item, I'm keeping my 890-3 RPLX - best carp rod ever, and since they're all old, if one of them breaks: tomato stake it will be*.

Since the onset of the pandemic I've purchased three Echo rods, one TFO, a glass rod kit and with the help of (the other site) forum members, modified a pretty much useless three piece bamboo rod into a nice two piece rod. No Sage purchases, none likely.




* I'm trying to read William Faulkner, his run on sentences are a challenge, mine too.

 

[Mossback]

I'm pretty much through buying rods, and definitely through buying new rods.
I like my Sage rods, I've owned a bunch, and still use them of course.
Had a couple repaired over the last 30 years, but none recently.
My Rplxi 11 wt is currently broken, I'd like to get it in working order, but can probably just buy a used one for 150, as opposed to paying 225 for a repair.
No Tarpon trips planned, so no rush.

 

[Porter2]

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?

 

[RCF]

We should be addressing most/all(?) rod companies and how much they have changed. It is just not Sage that changed all though it may be the most recent and hits close to home.

Would I luv to get the Loomis Xpeditor no-fault lifetime warranty that was in-place when I bought most of my rods --->$25 and a new rod air shipped the next day? Absolutely!

BUT if they honored that warranty now they would lose money on every warranty rod! It may not even cover the shipping cost nowadays and definitely not the new rod.

It seems each decade there is a major change in warranties. Last one I remember was in 2013-2014 timeframe. I have come to the conclusion that as long as it covers manufacturing defects and workmanship it is about what one can expect now. When a company does more than that - It will provide more business. Just expect it will change because the company can not support every model and size forever. What you buy today may not be covered in 5-10 years...

 

[Peyton00]

Naive:
Showing a lack of experience, wisdom or judgement.



Nothing is permanent except change.

If it appears too good to be true.....

 

[flybill]

Nothing is permanent except change.

If it appears too good to be true.....

Can I use this as my tagline? I've been laid off 4 times from work.. and that doesn't include consulting gigs for 15 of 20 years as a web dev IT consultant.. no worries, I had two years where I fished over 150 / year for each of them.. that doesn't suck!!

 

[Buzzy]

The Sage warranty saga: Yesterday morning I pulled my vintage (vintage graphite?) FLi 590-2 out of its case; as I ran the reel seat locking nut up and began tightening it, the reel seat started sliding off the rosewood spacer. What to do? While I really like this old fly rod, shipping it to Sage and paying for their expert repair wasn't in the cards for me; the cost for this is more than I paid for the rod new. Solution: hardware store, Locktite epoxy, good as new this morning.

 

[Lake flyer]

Last year I broke my Orvis 7’6” 4wt Brook Trout rod six weeks before the 25 year warranty ran out. Called Orvis and sent it in. They called back and gave the bad news that they didn’t have any of the original blanks which were two piece IM 6 unsanded. They replaced it with a new four piece Super Fine 7’6” 4wt. I was disappointed not to be able to repair the original however I completely understand the reason. Old blanks sitting around for years are dead money the company could have used in the meantime. I actually really like the new rod as the action is similar to the old rod, four piece, and yet as light as the old rod. I am impressed with the improvements in graphite still giving the same feel and in my opinion a better rod.
I feel that Orvis lived up to their warranty as best they could and am only sorry my own stupidity broke the original rod in the first place.

 

[Stonedfish]

The new Sage warranty costs seems to me to really make the old models worth a lot less.
I see people trying to sell XP’s for $500. Break it and you are now $725.00 into a XP.
What was the cost of a brand new XP when they were still in production?
Don’t get me wrong, I own and like a lot of the old Sage rods and it is what a buyer is willing to pay. Just my opinion but some of the prices I see would be foolish to pay when you add in the new warranty costs.
I know I won’t be buying anymore of the old Sage classics.
SF

 

[Porter2]

They (XP’s) were in the $580-610.00 range. And yes …some used but in nice condition are fetching north of $700.00 on the big auction site. But I imagine this warranty policy will put a dent in the used market as you mentioned.

 

[Stonedfish]

They (XP’s) were in the $580-610.00 range. And yes …some used but in nice condition are fetching north of $700.00 on the big auction site. But I imagine this warranty policy will put a dent in the used market as you mentioned.

Keep in mind also that the $225.00 cost is per section. That makes it crazy expensive should someone have a major failure or accident with a older model rod.
SF

 

[jasmillo]

Yep I just tried to log in and I no longer have an account. My email address which is the same one I have had for nearly 20 years is no longer recognized. So how do I now prove that I’m the original owner of my rods? Has anyone created an account with Sage? If so does is still exist or not?

A phone call will be made. Share the results when it happens. Probably next week.

I called last week and asked about my Maverick which has been with them since late October - that would be 6 MONTHS ago for a rod currently in their lineup. When I checked in after 4 months, it was a graphite shortage driving the delay. When I called last week it was because they were waiting on “components”…ok. I also have two other rods that need to go in that I would really love to have for an AK trip in July. I was told “that will not be an issue, running about 8 weeks now”….ha, yeah not depending on that. Also, where is my rod you’ve had since October? I’ve said it earlier in this thread. I think Sage fast action rods are great for beach applications. I actually just bought another 6 weight Sage rod as well (Sonic) mainly to be used in the beach. If this level of service continues, I’ll fish them until they break, trash ‘em and replace them with an alternative. 6 months for a current lineup rod…come on.

BTW, also asked about my account which no longer can be found either. Answer -“IT is working on it”. Ok, as long as it comes back and there’s are no issues with me registering my Sonic late due to you working through your tech issues.

BTW, venting here but never do this to the service guy I talk to on the phone. They are probably getting lit up every other call at this point and it’s not going to result in a different outcome. It would be nice if they answered an email on occasion (excuse “we are catching up with the repair center being closed”)…I guess they shut down email too .

 

[Porter2]

….
BTW, also asked about my account which no longer can be found either. Answer -“IT is working on it”. Ok, as long as it comes back and there’s are no issues with me registering my Sonic late due to you working through your tech issues……

I will be very surprised if any of the older post card registered rods will transfer to the updated far bank website accounts

 

[krusty]

The Sage warranty saga: Yesterday morning I pulled my vintage (vintage graphite?) FLi 590-2 out of its case; as I ran the reel seat locking nut up and began tightening it, the reel seat started sliding off the rosewood spacer. What to do? While I really like this old fly rod, shipping it to Sage and paying for their expert repair wasn't in the cards for me; the cost for this is more than I paid for the rod new. Solution: hardware store, Locktite epoxy, good as new this morning.

Yesterday, on my first outing of the season, my new 5 wt Sage X (which I purchased less than a year ago from a local flyshop and only fished a few times since then) rear seat came completely free of the wood shaft. It's quite apparent from examination that Sage only used a dab of cement on a very limited segment of the spacer...maybe a quarter of it had any cement.

I won't be repairing it myself (though I'm sure I could do a better job than the 'craftsman' that botched the job at Sage); it's clearly a manufacturing defect and Sage should repair it for free. Will return for their repair and see how this turns out.

I've never had any flyrod fail in this manner, very disappointed in Sage's vaunted quality, and very doubtful I'll ever purchase another Sage flyrod.

 

[Buzzy]

Yesterday, on my first outing of the season, my new 5 wt Sage X (which I purchased less than a year ago from a local flyshop and only fished a few times since then) rear seat came completely free of the wood shaft. It's quite apparent from examination that Sage only used a dab of cement on a very limited segment of the spacer...maybe a quarter of it had any cement.

I won't be repairing it myself (though I'm sure I could do a better job than the 'craftsman' that botched the job at Sage); it's clearly a manufacturing defect and Sage should repair it for free. Will return for their repair and see how this turns out.

I've never had any flyrod fail in this manner, very disappointed in Sage's vaunted quality, and very doubtful I'll ever purchase another Sage flyrod.

That just sucks. I'm sure you have a few backup rods while you wait for Sage to repair your X. If not, I'm sure North40 or the Silverbow would love to sell you a 590 R8. Rate the R8.

 

[krusty]

That just sucks. I'm sure you have a few backup rods while you wait for Sage to repair your X. If not, I'm sure North40 or the Silverbow would love to sell you a 590 R8. Rate the R8.

Nope, not hurting for flyrods....but the next ones I purchase won't be Sage. Lots of great rods out there!

Actually, the worst part was that I was fishing with a very experienced flyfisherman when the rod failed, who thinks people who pay Sage prices for rods are fools (perhaps quite rightfully so!). He was, of course, far too much of a gentleman to gloat!

I never labored under any delusions that a Sage would help me catch more and bigger fish, but I didn't expect such a thing of beauty to be so shoddily made where it really matters.

 

[Banned user]

These fly rod manufacturers which are charging increasingly excessive amounts of money are sending a message to the public: "We don't really want to be in the rod repair business." I don't mean this in a bad way, strange as it sounds. Sure, they'd rather you just buy a new rod; they're business, and businesses are around to make money. But I think that the more important issue is that it's probably not cost effective for them to have a staff devoted to repairing, but not making, fly rods.

 

[krusty]

These fly rod manufacturers which are charging increasingly excessive amounts of money are sending a message to the public: "We don't really want to be in the rod repair business." I don't mean this in a bad way, strange as it sounds. Sure, they'd rather you just buy a new rod; they're business, and businesses are around to make money. But I think that the more important issue is that it's probably not cost effective for them to have a staff devoted to repairing, but not making, fly rods.

I agree...which means it makes more sense for flyrod customers to purchase one of the wide variety of 'non-premium' rods of only marginally inferior quality and performance for prices sometimes 1/4 to 1/2 of the high end brands....some of which have superb warranty and repair service.

 

[RCF]

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...