Being a Custom Rod Builder myself, I can reply for how we deal with these sort of "problems", and comment on the "big boyz" policy here in Scandinavia.
Naturally a small company like ours are not able to offer a "no questions asked warranty". And it should not be a surprice to anyone that such warranty costs money ie, increases the realistic price on a rod. So those who take good care of their rods, will eventually be paying an overprice - to cover for those being - not so carefull !!
We therefore obviously give a lifetime warranty on manufacture mistakes - even to second hand owners. Should an accident happen, we will repair any rod at a very favourable cost and meantime naturally loan you a replacement rod.
The cost for a replacement part corresponds to the work involved in the respective part, ie a bottom section, with cork, reel seat etc, will be approx., 1/3 the cost of a new rod, a tip might be 1/6 or even less.
Prices for Rods in Scandinavia like Loomis, Sage and T&T are very costly Rods and levels around USD 1,100-, due to import taxes and other irritating stuff. But they are still very popular rods and especially due to the "no q´s asked warranty" . But in Scandinavia even if you have the above warranty, there is a fixed fee for replacing the rod. This fee I now for a fact can be pretty high. Loomis (imported by Guideline) claims a fee of approx. USD 250,- + shipping, and then you might even have to wait a while for a new rod - or the repair.
So in real fact it is a matter of a calculation wheather you should choose a small company with good service and pay a realistic price for your rod, or if you wish to pay 1/3 or even double of a custom build to get the above warranty.
But, what puzzles me more is that, quite a lot of anglers accept to pay the same high cost for Corean - or Chinese build rods well known that, the actual selling price is minímum 4 times to cost. I am not saying that these Rods are no good, but you do not have an individually hand build rod, build by western world highly paid craftsmen, instead made partly by machines and cheap underpaid labour.
In fact some of these Rods are quite good and nice, only the manufacturer/seller, makes too much and unrealistic profits putting these rods way to high in price compared to hand made rods.
Funny, because - if you buy a Corean or Chinese made car, you would expect to pay less than for a Chevy made "at home", - and you would´nt mind paying more for that Chevy !!!
Michael Koch
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