Sam, et al.,
Every major fly rod manufacturer builds a warranty into the cost of their rods. If you buy a completed rod, the entire rod is under warranty. If you buy a blank, just the rod blank is under warranty. Some companies offer a 25-year warranty, some offer lifetime, some only 1 or 2 years depending on the model.
All manufacturers calculate and build the cost of the warranty into the retail price of the rod. I asked the head of marketing at Sage about 8 or 9 years ago what that cost was, and I was told about $50. Perhaps inflation has made that cost rise.
Every manufacturer gets to make a choice about a few things regarding their warranties – how long the repair time is, what the processing fee should be, what to charge for shipping back to the customer (or shop), how to handle manufacturing defects vs. obvious user error, whether to honor original owners or not, whether to replace or repair damages, and how long to hold onto the mandrels they use to roll new blanks.
Sage, Winston, Scott, and a few other manufacturers tend to keep a supply of mandrels on hand that date back 4-5 generations of their high end rods, and 2-3 generations of their low end rods, as well as a ton of extra blanks of all their rod weights.
When the manufacturers run out of blanks or the mandrels get worn out, they stop making those blanks and they offer an upgrade to the most similar new model (sometimes for a fee).
Repair time can vary from manufacturer, especially with companies that have a huge following. Below is a list of warranty and repair information for the rods we sell. Click each manufacturers name for links to their warranty information on their websites:
Sage
· Lifetime original owner warranty.
· 4-5 week repair time, $50 processing and return fee.
· Repair when applicable, replacement when broken.
· Does not usually enforce original owner warranty stipulation.
R.L. Winston
· Lifetime original owner warranty.
· 4-5 week repair time, $50 processing and return fee.
· Repair when applicable, replacement when broken.
· Does enforce original owner warranty stipulation to registered owner.
Redington
· Lifetime original owner warranty (for all but 2 rod models).
· 2-3 week repair time, $30 processing and return fee.
· Repair when applicable, replacement when broken.
· Does not usually enforce original owner warranty stipulation.
G. Loomis
· Limited lifetime original owner warranty.
· 4-5 week repair time, $20 processing and return fee.
· Repair when applicable, replacement when broken.
· Does not usually enforce original owner warranty stipulation.
· For NRX owners, Xpeditor service (2-day service for $100 – a new replacement rod is mailed), and Wild Card registration allowing you to walk into ANY Loomis dealer and exchange your broken rod for an over the counter replacement (if in stock).
Rise Fishing
· Lifetime original owner warranty.
· 3-4 week repair time, $25 for section, $50 for entire rod processing and return fee.
· Repair when applicable, replacement when broken.
· Does not usually enforce original owner warranty stipulation.
Temple Forks
· Lifetime original owner no-fault warranty.
· 1-2 week repair time, $25 processing and return fee.
· Complete replacement when broken.
· Does not usually enforce original owner warranty stipulation.
I cannot speak for Orvis, LL Bean, or Cabela’s because we don’t sell their products, but all rod manufacturers have pretty much similar warranties.
Hope that clears a few things up.
Richard
From: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com [mailto:tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Sam Hauser
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2013 8:32 PM
To: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Orvis Streamline vs ll bean quest
Thanks for the advice guys!
Sent from my iPad
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