Mania Lures

[BarryW]

It seems that many posts concerning bait companies focus on the negative. I would like to relate a POSITIVE experience I had with Mania Tackle, Indianapolis, Indiana.

I broke the lips on two Jakes. I e-mailed Mania Tackle and told them how it happened. Frankly, one of the lips broke when we boated the first musky I ever caught and the other when I threw it one too many times on the rocks. They told me to mail both of them in and they would replace them at no charge.

I sent the baits to them, with a $20.00 check explaining that I understood they would have some costs to ship the lures back and I just wanted to be fair with them.

Well, I got the box from them yesterday. In the box were my two Jakes with the broked lips. Replacement lips (3 for each of them) and two brand new Jakes, with the color and pattern matched. Also enclosed with a sales brochure and yes, my $20.00 check.

Diana, sent me a note that she was returning the check, but thanks for the thought. All I have to say is that I wish more companies, regardless of the industry, operated this way.

Thanks again for your service.

BarryW

[Quebec Guy]

Yes, I agree here that I can say "thumbs up" to MMT. Not only do their products catch fish, but we can actually contact the managers directly if need be, and their service is excellent. I have been looking for the Redhorse pattern for some models lately, and the pattern is now discontinued, but MMT managed to track some unsold lures in a distant store, and they took them back so that I could have them. Again, MMT, THUMBS UP! Pat

[Ernie]

too bad the paint job sucks. I have had 3 new jakes go bad, turn a milky white after about 4 casts. the old jakes never had that problem.

[slimm]

Ernie, why not try and send them back? Two positive posts about their customer service so why not try that? Also perhaps there was a faulty batch? I don't know, I don't own a jake, but would consider after hearing about that kind of service.

ryan

[THE_MARV2]

Here We go again!!!
Dear Mr. Guest User,
Musky Mania Tackle and I, myself, have addressed this issue many times over. So many times in fact that it's old and growing mold. If anyone should take it that I am a little upset, You are very correct in your assumption.
Check the Archives on Musky Hunter as it happened there not all that long ago. The paint job, my friend, is amongst the best you will find. The top coat issue is four years old. A mistake was made, happens to everbody, and both Mania Tackle and Durst products have owned up to it and take care of it as fast as it surfaces.
I don't feel that neither Mania Tackle nor Durst Products has any more explaining to do.
If you do indeed, have lures with a topcoat that turn white when exposed to water, Than instead of *****ing about it or "slamming Mania Tackle" SIMPLY return the product to Mania and they will replace it. What more do you want other than to create more problems??
Do you not understand what you read in the posts above?
I will not address this issue politely any longer as any further slamming of a company, ANY Company , that will replace a defective product is highly uncalled for and does nothing but make trouble AND a fool out of you.
As you see I don't hide behind anything other than my name.

[Quebec Guy]

Again and again... I agree with Mr. Durst here. A bad company is one that does not stand behind its product 100%, and believe you me this is not the case with MMT. Ironically enough, I own more than 50 MMT lures of all kinds, and purchased upon different occasions in time, and I have NEVER had any trouble with the paint jobs, which, I find, have even become stronger over the last year. I hope some people like POSITIVE stuff about life... and one sure positive thing is to catch quality fish with quality lures. Tight lines everybody! Pat

[THE_MARV2]

BarryW and Quebec Guy,
I want to thank you very much for your support and positive posts and believe me, MMT and D.P. are very appreceative of evryones patronage and will continue to do our best to provide you all with great products in the future.
I do watch these boards but post little do to the "negatives" as happened above. I hate to see this against any company or individual. Problems should be discussed on a broad basis not degraded.
Again, thank you very much.
Tight lines,

[Musky Fever]

Way to go Stan!!!!!!!

[Musky Mike]

Very good reply, Stan. Complaining takes very little, If any, effort.
Working thru to satisfactory solutions takes a fair amount of effort for all concerned, especially for the manufacturer and contracted services. The funny (not humorous) part of this is that, if all industries stood behind their products the way the fishing industry companies I have delt with over the years have, there would likely be a whole lot less for folks to grumble and complain about. Folks need to remember, all things manmade are subject to failure - that's life -the important thing is how does the manufacturer handle such failures. If they stand behind their product and make it right, they have done everything humanly possible and certainly deserve our respect.

[tomcat]

Barry, when you deal w/ the #1 musky company in the world, what do you expect? It's always nice to hear the good stories too. Musky Mania is top notche w/ customer service, product quality, blah blah blah....

[Big Gus]

you say the top coat issue is 4 years old?
are there still baits out there with this problem or have they been recalled?
I have heard of recent issues with cloudy baits... they must be some of the old ones that are still out there. Is there any way to tell which ones are the old ones and which ones are new?
Gus Macker

[Crazy Canuck]

I also purchased a MMT product (a Jake) with a finish that turned milky when exposed to water. I simply sent an e-mail to MMT and they told me that the problem has been fixed and to simply send the lure back and they would replace it. The lure was promptly replaced and I have not had any other problems. I firmly believe that MMT products are the best in the world and should not be put down. Keep up the good work Pete!

Keep your hooks sharp.

[matt_obrien50]

Sweet I can get some new jakes

[Dan Klis]

One thing to remember is that every major manufacturer (fishing, computer, clothes) is going to have quality control problems every so often. Most maufacturers do not support there product like Musky Mania Tackle does. I have had a ton of success using Pete's products and will continue to purchase them.

Dan

[THE_MARV2]

Big Gus,
The top coat problem is ( rounded out) about four years old maybe only three as I have lost count but it has definetly been a long time. Yes, some stores have stock back that far ( depends on store size) I know a store that STILL has a couple of the old discontinued Dying Fish. I think that's been close to five years now since production ceased. By the time we found out that there was a problem with that topcoat we had ran about 3500 baits. There is no way of telling where they all went so we have to wait for them to surface and deal with it accordingly. There is only one way that you can tell for sure but not pratical. You can run the lure under a black light and it will have a slight "Blue Hue" to it. That was a special trace element we put into the topcoat for UV enhancement of light hitting the finish. For some reason the "trace element" changed the structure of the topcoat allowing it to turn "white" and go soft. After it drys it would turn clear and hard again. It was not acceptable for market but it was applied by mistake by one of our ( well intended ) employees. They simply grabbed the wrong can before I had a chance to dispose of it. The best way to know for sure is when the lure turns white and soft after being exsposed to water for a few minutes.
Musky Mania and Durst Products have done our best to make up for it. I can only hope they are all back in as this has been devistating for both companies and a hassle for our customers. The only thing we can do is to replace the bad lure promptly when returned. Please, keep bearing with us. Thank all of you great people for your support and belief in a great product.
Many Releases to all,

[Jim McCullough]

Dan hit the nail on the head. Every company is going to have problems with their products at some time. How they deal with it determines what kind of company they are. Musky Mania and Stan Durst have shown that customer service is tops on their list. I don't think you can ask for much more than that.