Hey 2coolers-
I thought it would be important to share with you, a problem that had with Shimano today, that Shimano has refused to solve. In 2012, I splurged and purchased two Shimano Saragossa(4000) reels for about ~$400 each, in hopes that the investment in a high quality reel that was backed with a lifetime warranty, would give me years of service and avoid the semi-annual repurchase of spinning reels for my family and guests that can't manage bait casters. I recently took both reels in for service to an authorized center(Anglers Anonymous in Katy) for repair a few weeks ago as the bails were not returning to center and engaging properly to wind the line. I learned that an $8 part....Bail Arm - Shimano Part# RD-12026, was required to repair both reels. It is important to note, that both reels are in like new condition...with no rash, corrosion, or physical damage and they are always in blue reel bags when they are not on the boat. To my disappointment, I learned that Shimano was no longer making that part and after a search of three shops provided by Shimano for parts, that none were available.....anywhere. I was told that the "lifetime warranty" effectively means .... as long as they have the parts. The customer service rep I was talking to....Glenn Simmons(gsimmons@shimano.com) said they now do that to encourage customers to upgrade to new gear...and that if they made parts forever(ie...lifetime warranty models), that customers would purchase less products. To which I responded, "No **** that is why I purchased a $400 reel with a lifetime warranty". I then asked for an upgrade credit towards the purchase of a new reel.....and they simply refused.
I also have a Shimano Stella ($700 reel) that for the moment, is working fine, of the same vintage, that will some day put me in the same position.....with an expensive, non-supported and non-functional reel. After calling around to other local tackle shops (Roys in Corpus, FTU) I am learning that similar things are happening with other Shimano products including Currado's, Calcutta's, and a whole cast of spinning reels. In short, Shimano no longer offers the lifetime warranty on their products, and simply stops making parts on some of their models. They do seem to expanded all of their product lines with many, many, many cheaper bait casters and spinning reels.
So I believe what we are all experiencing is simply "planned obsolescence" with their higher end products. Shimano products previously backed for life, are merely disposable products that after a few years, will end up in the trash irrespective of the initial purchase price. As a matter of principle, I am done with the higher end Shimano reels that I have loyally purchased over the last 20 years. All the spinning gear is heading to ebay and the bait casters will be replaced with other brands when they break. I ordered two new $140 Penn reels today to get my spinners ready for family use this summer.
It is frustrating to now see the "cheapification" of this great brand.....I am done with Shimano.
If you own a Gloomis rod(yeah they bought Gloomis) and are a previous fan of their "expediter service", be forewarned that they no longer turn rods around in a week.....almost all of their rods are on backorder for expediter delivery.....although you can go down and buy a brand new GLX just about anywhere. The "no questions" asked $50 replacement fee for a damaged rod is now $130+tax....with no guaranteed delivery day for the return product. I presume I will give them 45days to send me a rod, then will bounce the charge on my Amex for non-delivery. Shimano, Gloomis, PowerPro, and any other brand they "cheapify"......won't be in my shopping cart in the future.
Kindly,
Corwin Moczygemba
I thought it would be important to share with you, a problem that had with Shimano today, that Shimano has refused to solve. In 2012, I splurged and purchased two Shimano Saragossa(4000) reels for about ~$400 each, in hopes that the investment in a high quality reel that was backed with a lifetime warranty, would give me years of service and avoid the semi-annual repurchase of spinning reels for my family and guests that can't manage bait casters. I recently took both reels in for service to an authorized center(Anglers Anonymous in Katy) for repair a few weeks ago as the bails were not returning to center and engaging properly to wind the line. I learned that an $8 part....Bail Arm - Shimano Part# RD-12026, was required to repair both reels. It is important to note, that both reels are in like new condition...with no rash, corrosion, or physical damage and they are always in blue reel bags when they are not on the boat. To my disappointment, I learned that Shimano was no longer making that part and after a search of three shops provided by Shimano for parts, that none were available.....anywhere. I was told that the "lifetime warranty" effectively means .... as long as they have the parts. The customer service rep I was talking to....Glenn Simmons(gsimmons@shimano.com) said they now do that to encourage customers to upgrade to new gear...and that if they made parts forever(ie...lifetime warranty models), that customers would purchase less products. To which I responded, "No **** that is why I purchased a $400 reel with a lifetime warranty". I then asked for an upgrade credit towards the purchase of a new reel.....and they simply refused.
I also have a Shimano Stella ($700 reel) that for the moment, is working fine, of the same vintage, that will some day put me in the same position.....with an expensive, non-supported and non-functional reel. After calling around to other local tackle shops (Roys in Corpus, FTU) I am learning that similar things are happening with other Shimano products including Currado's, Calcutta's, and a whole cast of spinning reels. In short, Shimano no longer offers the lifetime warranty on their products, and simply stops making parts on some of their models. They do seem to expanded all of their product lines with many, many, many cheaper bait casters and spinning reels.
So I believe what we are all experiencing is simply "planned obsolescence" with their higher end products. Shimano products previously backed for life, are merely disposable products that after a few years, will end up in the trash irrespective of the initial purchase price. As a matter of principle, I am done with the higher end Shimano reels that I have loyally purchased over the last 20 years. All the spinning gear is heading to ebay and the bait casters will be replaced with other brands when they break. I ordered two new $140 Penn reels today to get my spinners ready for family use this summer.
It is frustrating to now see the "cheapification" of this great brand.....I am done with Shimano.
If you own a Gloomis rod(yeah they bought Gloomis) and are a previous fan of their "expediter service", be forewarned that they no longer turn rods around in a week.....almost all of their rods are on backorder for expediter delivery.....although you can go down and buy a brand new GLX just about anywhere. The "no questions" asked $50 replacement fee for a damaged rod is now $130+tax....with no guaranteed delivery day for the return product. I presume I will give them 45days to send me a rod, then will bounce the charge on my Amex for non-delivery. Shimano, Gloomis, PowerPro, and any other brand they "cheapify"......won't be in my shopping cart in the future.
Kindly,
Corwin Moczygemba
