I bought several Shimano rods from a well known local tackle store that carried an over the counter life time warranty last year. While fishing this past weekend one of the tips broke while trout fishing. I took it back to the tackle store to find out that Shimano no longer honors that warranty. I was told that if I had the receipt I could send it back for a one time replacement. I am not mad at the local tackle shop (that’s why I am not naming them, but I will not be buying anymore Shimano rods in the future). Way to go Shimano!!! Integrity clearly is not a part our your company’s culture!!! Fellow fisherman if you are considering buying Shimano please be aware that their warranty means nothing!!!
They changed their warranty policy a few months ago (8-1-14) because people were abusing it. I know that I personally broke a handful of Trevalas that had to be replaced. It seems Shimano must have been losing money on everyone bringing back the broken rods.
quote:Limited Lifetime Warranty Rods
Effective August 1, 2014 the warranty on all Shimano rods is changing to a Limited One Year warranty. Please note that we will honor the limited lifetime warranty on all rods purchased prior to August 1, 2014.
To make a claim on a Shimano rod that was purchased with a limited lifetime warranty, please send your rod postage prepaid to Shimano. To request a warranty claim in Canada, send your rod postage prepaid to Shimano Canada Ltd. / LT?E. All warranty requests must be accompanied by a valid dated sales receipt and a note describing the difficulty you are experiencing with the rod in as much detail as possible.
Rods sold prior to August 1, 2014 with a limited lifetime warranty are:
ATL, CL "A" Series, CLC/CLS, CNC/CNS, CPC/CPS "A" & "B" Series, CRC/CRS, CSC/CSS, CUC/CUS, CVC/CVS, IGFA, PCF,
SFS, TDR w/2 digit numbered models, TEC/TES, TFC/TFS, TLA, TLC/ TLS/ULC, TLI/TLR/TLT, TMC/TMS, TRC/TRS, TSC/TSS, TVC/TVS, TZC/TZS, ULC, V-RODS, VTS/VTC
THIS LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY ONLY COVERS DAMAGE TO THE ROD RESULTING FROM A NON-CONFORMITY IN MATERIAL OR WORKMANSHIP; ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY MISUSE, ABUSE OR TAMPERING WITH THE ROD BY OTHER THAN NORMAL USE OF THE ROD; OR ANY NON-CONFORMITY OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM REPAIRS PERFORMED OTHER THAN BY SHIMANO OR AN AUTHORIZED SHIMANO SERVICE PROVIDER IS NOT COVERED.
Back when I was an assistant manager at a sporting goods store in Columbia, we’d have people bring rods into the store that clearly were broken by abuse…getting stepped on, broken in car doors, tailgates, rod boxes - all those guys expected a new rod to the replace the rod they broke by abuse - not by defect in the rod.
I’d much rather have a warranty against defect in workmanship and materials than a “you break it, we’ll give you a new one” warranty and lower the price of the rods…because they have to figure the price of each rod you buy has the cost of replacing it 2-3 times.
That “you break it, we’ll replace it no questions asked” warranty has simply run up the cost of the rod you buy in the store. If you ain’t breaking and replacing your rod 2-3 times, you are not getting your money’s worth on the purchase.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 19 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 1 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Rod blanks are costing China manufacturers around $8 dollars or less to produce. Hardware on a rod is not that expensive. Everything is markup including “replacement warranty.”
Few customers of products have come accustomed to “I broke it, you replace it” mindset than fishing rod owners. Just saying.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 19 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 1 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
Star rods… American made in the Carolina’s not saying shimano isn’t a good product but star has never once did me wrong! Fishing wise or return policy wise walk in with broken rod walk out with a new one! Hate to hear this about shimano as I own some trevalas myself!
Also if you want a good rod that isn’t mass produced and a real life time warranty your man is key largo rods! He’s a great guy and gives you me a loaner rod until mine is fixed! A bit more expensive but a (**() good rod! And a hell of a rod builder!!!
Seeker Rods in California stands behind their product exactly how any customer would want. Star Rods is similar, but some of their rods are not made in the USA and have the more limited warranties, i.e. Aerials and Bill Fisher.
Same kind of warranty with Connelly Rods in FL.
Notice a trend? Buy something built in America by a small company, and you’ll be able to call a company up on the phone and demand satisfaction vs talking to a store who’s afraid of losing their Shimano line or a local “rep” who deals with the stores.
Flame away at me for saying that, but it is the truth. A large company selling a broad array of items has power over a small retailer that needs to sell that brand and its items in order to remain viable.
The small company, if they’ve been around a while and want to stay around, will be more likely to eat the cost of a replacement rod when a customer says defect and the company could say abuse.
Claim, some rods have $200.00 worth of components on them. That’s wholesale cost. When such a rod costs $350.00, its pretty ridiculous to not offer a lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship or at least have a 60 or 100 dollar replacement cost option if the rod was broken due to my abuse.
There is no such thing as an unbreakable fishing rod. The warranty of a lot of the equipment we use is a major reason for why I pick that particular equipment. The company’s support system and procedure for the warranty is as equally important as whatever the warranty terms state though…
The Trevalas had to have lifetime warranties at first because everyone was leery of such a light weight rod fishing in the stated applications of heavy drag pressures. I have found the trevalss to hold up very well compared to the terez line. Either one get replaced if defective. Local dealers were pushing the shimano rods over rods like the other aforementioned brands by telling you there was a walk in and walk out warranty. The chickens came home to roost, and the same thing cannot continue wit
There should not be a lifetime warranty on anything, EVER!
Why not?
Because it costs competitors more to get into a market dominated by an established company?
Craftsman hand tools vs Kobalt & Husky? Even Stanley tools in wally world have a lifetime warranty against defects.
Curious about your reasoning.
Many new companies wisely offer lifetime warranties to gain customer confidence. Then, when they actually stand behind their warranties, the company’s good will grows even further.
For example, Pioneer Boats and Release Reels.
I welcome all the “major” companies to continue in a trend away from lifetime warranties. I will continue giving my business to those younger companies willing to stand behind their products and support their customers. I will gladly pay a premium for that service as well…
No problem telling everyone that the primary reason I will not purchase a shimano reel is because of them not standing behind a product that was clearly defective when I was a teenager. How many $$$$'s of dollars have I spent on fishing reels since then? - all because they would not replace a broken graphite frame lever drag reel that was only a few weeks old from Boaters World…
I have purchased a few Shimano trevala rods as well, because of the walk in exchange warranty a local dealer offered. No other reason. That service was worth a great deal to me. It is a shame when people abuse a warranty structure, whether it’s a dealer’s or manufacturer’s.
I don’t buy any fishing tackle for my own use without durability and future value being a major factor. For my nephew- no- I will buy something that’s cheap and meant to be thrown away. Otherwise, I am going to pay more for a product with a good warranty, and I’m going to buy more of that c
