Reel Quality

[Popeye]

I had a conversation with a pro fisherman and guide who also owns the local tackle store. He told me that reels you buy at Walmart are not same as a reel you buy elsewhere. He said the model number might be the same but he may not be able to get certain parts to repair them. He also said there is a code inside to indicate it is a Walmart or K-Mart reel. These reels are built special for Walmart and K-mart.
Has anyone heard of this before? If this is true and I have no reason to doult his word I wont be buying anymore reels from those stores. You dont save that much money and you wind up with a throw away reel.
Any comments?

[eleyfish]

I have a hard time beleiving a manufacturer would make two different reels with the same model #. If you buy it from a local shop you might pay a little more but you should get better service and a selection outside of what Wal, K, or Meijer mart carrys. On the other hand IF he is lying to you about this what else would he lie to you about? I would ask him for more clarification before you go judging him.

[sib]

I've heard that line from sports shops before, but I don't buy it most of the time. The chain stores move alot of merch and are buying in bulk compared to ma and pa baitshops. Buy in bulk and you pay far less per unit than buying just a couple.

Loss leaders are another ploy to get you and I in the chain stores. A store sells a product for a loss to get you through the door. Once through the door the hope is you will buy the sale item and something else. I picked up some Offshore boards at Gander last spring for $17.99 a piece, I suspect that was a loss leader.

I think it would be more costly to produce 2 similar reels with different components, than produce one reel.

Some manufacturers have multiple lines. One line for the department stores and another line for the niche markets. Generally the department stores get the entry line and the specialty stores get a different line with a higher perceived value. So when the consumer compares the department store product to the specialty products it's not an apples to apples comparison.

In this case it's an apples to apples comparison and I believe the units to be identical. If they truly were different what would prevent someone from buying from both and returning the more expensive box with the cheaper reel in it? It just doesn't make sense and would be more of a hassle for the manufacturer.

I would be more worried about getting a refurbished piece of electronics at one of the "super low" warehouse or outlet type store. I think Gander reels are the same as any other of that make and model.

[CNDFish]

I work for a Large packaged goods company, No it's not General Mills, but we do make food:-) and we do often produce specific products for larger customers, sort of.
What happens is that the suffix on the UPC code is changed on the product to indicate it is a made-to-order product. The product quality and formulations remain the same, but slight packaging alterations are sometimes made. I suspect this is also true for tackle companies as these large customers may have specific requirements(plastic peg packs rather than boxes for reels)and warrent individual production runs.

With that said,I feel that the products that are often considered lower quality are just that, you get what you pay for. Most of the products carried by the discount chains have been produced for a price point and not the end consumer, IMHO.


Shawn
www.fishingxcanada.com
Shawn
www.fishingxcanada.com