Selling rods, question of value.

[Pete]

I am not selling any rods. But I've got a question about selling rods. You can have a rod built on a particular blank, but it could be "factory" or custom built by a specialist or homebuilt. Will the rod have a significantly different resale value if you sell it used depending on the source? I guess it boils down to this; if you buy a used rod, would you pay more for a factory rod because the warrantee is transferrable than you would for a beautifully wrapped custom built rod?

[Bubzilla]

Pete,

I see used factory rods advertised all the time that include a statement about the rod's warranty. Unfortunately, it's obvious that the people selling these rods have never acutally read their warranty. Rod warranties are generally not transferable in any way, shape, or form. They're almost always exclusive to the original owner (sometimes referred to as original purchaser in the warranties themselves), and the only way anyone other than the original owner can usually benefit from them is to essentially commit fraud, i.e., represent themselves as the original owner. As an example of how rod warranties commonly read, here's a statement of warranty from the Lamiglas web site:

"Lamiglas Limited Warranty
Lamiglas rods are warranted against defect in material and workmanship for the period specified for that series to the original purchaser. If your rod fails, send it in a disposable container, prepaid and insured, with dated proof of purchase to: [address deleted]"

Loomis has virutally the same warranty. Even fly rod makers, who generally offer unconditional lifetime warranties these days, don't offer transferable warranties. Although one company, Redington, has publicly stated that it will honor their replacement policy no questions asked--more or less ignoring the specific language of their own warranty.

Now if you're honest with some rod makers and tell them you bought the rod used, they still might offer you some sort of arrangement. I've heard of this happening, but never had it happen to me personally. They are not, however, bound by their warranties to lift a finger. One fly rod maker, Winston, has actually even taken to e-mailing high-bidders on auction sites to inform them that the rod they're bidding on does not come with a warranty--regardless of what the seller has claimed. That caused a huge stink on a couple fly fishing bulletin boards when it happend, as I'm sure you can imagine.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]</p>

[moman]

My read of the St. Croix warranty is that the lifetime unconditional warranty IS transferrable.

[Catch 22]

I'm under the impression that only St. Croix's fly rods have that warranty. All their other rods carry conditional warranties. I've been concerned about buying custom rods for that very reason. Factory rods are kinda boring. But how nice to just return it for a new one without all the hassle. Although, I've been looking at some of the Sage rods. A neighbor is getting one of their drift rods built from L-Rods. I want to check it out.

[Bubzilla]

Moman,

Here's the information from their web site:

"St. Croix's Legend® Ultra®, Avid™, Imperial and Pro Graphite fly rods feature our unconditional lifetime warranty. Legend® Elite™ and Avid casting and spinning rods feature our limited lifetime warranty. Premier Graphite, Pro-Glass®, Wild River™, Ben Doerr Surf System, Ben Doerr Elite, Tidemaster®, Classic Cat and Premier Saltwater rods all carry a two-year warranty. This warranty applies to the original purchaser only."

You'll note the last sentence. Similar to Lamiglas, they also indicate that the original receipt is required for warranty service--with all of their rods. I couldn't seem to find a copy of their warranty's actual wording, however. If you have one of their warranties lying around, I'd like to read it if you don't mind posting it--never owned a St. Croix.

Should have added that the fact a warranty is unconditional has nothing whatsoever to do with trasferability. After all, ignore what the warranties say for a moment, and just use common sense: if a rod is guaranteed for life, and it were transferable, whose life is the measuring time for the warranty?

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]</p>

[Thumper]

Again ... It sure is nice to walk into Fisherman's Marine with your busted North River rod and walk out again in five minutes with a brand new one. No questions asked. Now that's a warrantee!

[TH]

We warranty our rods for the life of the rod...
totally transferable.
I don't know wabout other custom rod builders? I guess it is up to the indiviual.
Has anyone been asked if they are the orginal owner? Or asked for their warranty cards?

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: TH ]</p>

[Bubzilla]

Glad to hear that TH! What precisely is the "life of the rod", though? Just as a hypothetical, if I buy one of your rods, fish with it for ten years then sell it, and in another ten years it breaks, is there a warranty? And, is your warranty conditional or unconditional?

Thanks

P.S. to answer your question about being asked about a warranty card, yes. High-end Scott rods, for example, have serial numbers. If you aren't the registered owner, you're in trouble. And, besides, doing it while just hoping you're not going to be asked kind of proves my fraud point, doesn't it? After all, there are lots of things dishonest people can do. Misrepresenting themselves as original owners in order to take adavantage of a warranty is probably not the worst, but it's wrong nonetheless.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Bubzilla ]</p>

[WheresMyBobber]

You guys must break a lot more rods than I do. Warrantee is the last thing I think about when I fishing rod. :whazzup: