View Full Version : St. Croix best price?
swede sd
01-23-2005, 08:47 AM
I'm looking for a new st. croix spinning rod. Where can I find the best price? (mail order).
Mattman
01-23-2005, 09:11 AM
St. Croix sets pricing. Retailers sell at that price or loose their dealership. Closeout's on discontinued or last years models will be your only sales.
Matt Davis
Better to have and not need than to need and not have!
dewyg
01-23-2005, 09:17 AM
There warranty is terrible, I only used to buy St. Croix but dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth. I found Fenwick has a quality product with a wonderful warranty. I'm sure everyone has different opinions and I would like to hear more.
JigginWalleye
01-23-2005, 09:47 AM
"warranty is terrible"???? well must have been you because I have not had any problems on returning something and getting repair or replacement. I have sent in 2 Avids and one Legend and they have treated me with the upmost respect and fast service.
Also as far as discounts... it is true. If the get caught selling below the listed price they will give a warnings and if they continue they might lose the chance to continue selling them. I have a friendly dealer that has a 20% off sale (pretty much all the time) when you ask and even sometimes they have posted it next to the rods. They have been caught but just warned, (so far). There is a pretty good markup in those rods. Where I am at there isnt much in the way of tackle/bait shops so if they pulled the rods then who would they go too thats close?
Just picked up one of the new Blue Tournament rods the other day... $200 less 20%= $160.00 plus tax. Cant wait to see if there is much difference between that and my Legend.
bountyhunters
01-23-2005, 10:33 AM
I was fishing teel lake WIS back some yrs .broke rod in the trunk .lady at ST.CROIX in park falls .said hope a muskie broke that! I said no a trunk lid did it .took me over to a rack of new rods and said help yourself .FREE .now thats service , sent that same rod back six yrs later broken and they sent me another FREE rod .maybe you didn;t smile alot that day?
SLIPKNOT
01-23-2005, 06:02 PM
St. Croix's customer service is second to none. Anytime I or any of my buddies have had a problem, the rod has been replaced with a new one no questions asked. Its great to see companies like st croix still caring about the customers!
i didn't realize that it was still legal to enforce that type of pricing on dealers. and really guys, didn't you pay for those replacements when you paid for the first rod?
dewyg
01-24-2005, 07:53 AM
Why should I have to send my rod to St. Croix? Should you not be able to bring it to the dealer and have it replaced immediately? Our fishing season is to short as it is, why should I have to wait, you definetily pay enough.
dewyg
01-24-2005, 07:53 AM
Why should I have to send my rod to St. Croix? Should you not be able to bring it to the dealer and have it replaced immediately? Our fishing season is to short as it is, why should I have to wait, you definetily pay enough.
>There warranty is terrible, I only used to buy St. Croix but
>dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth. I found
>Fenwick has a quality product with a wonderful warranty. I'm
>sure everyone has different opinions and I would like to hear
>more.
I used to by St. Croix's only and loved them. I loved their customer service as they replaced two of my rods that I broke, no questions asked. This was about 10 years ago. Well, last summer I broke a tip off one of my spinning rods so I contacted St. Croix again letting them know how much I appreciated their help in the past and that I had broken tip I'd like fixed or replaced. This time I was given the run around and finally offered a 40% discount on a new one. This was nice enough but not the St. Croix I was used to. Times are changing I realize but customer service needs to get better, not worse, if customer loyalty matters. This was my personal experience with them so I've moved on.
Labs
>There warranty is terrible, I only used to buy St. Croix but
>dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth. I found
>Fenwick has a quality product with a wonderful warranty. I'm
>sure everyone has different opinions and I would like to hear
>more.
I used to by St. Croix's only and loved them. I loved their customer service as they replaced two of my rods that I broke, no questions asked. This was about 10 years ago. Well, last summer I broke a tip off one of my spinning rods so I contacted St. Croix again letting them know how much I appreciated their help in the past and that I had broken tip I'd like fixed or replaced. This time I was given the run around and finally offered a 40% discount on a new one. This was nice enough but not the St. Croix I was used to. Times are changing I realize but customer service needs to get better, not worse, if customer loyalty matters. This was my personal experience with them so I've moved on.
Labs
reelman1
01-24-2005, 09:02 PM
How did you break the tip? Was it really a defect or was it damage that you did to the rod?
Dodge1
01-25-2005, 06:02 AM
>I'm looking for a new st. croix spinning rod. Where can I
>find the best price? (mail order).
There have been some tremedous deals on new St. Croix's on eBay.
In all cases the breakage was completely my fault and I was honest with them about it. Like I mentioned the first two times they really took care of me but the last time things changed a bit. Times change and maybe they have their reasons for making these changes. This was just my experience and I'll move on from here. I'm not about to throw away all the St. Croix's I have but when I'm ready for a new rod I won't be walking right to the St Croix racks to pick one out, I'll have to shop a little bit.
GOod luck
Dodge1
01-25-2005, 11:53 AM
Let me get this straight. You broke the rod and are complaining that St. Croix didn't fix, or replace it, for free and then they had the unmitigated audacity to only offer you a 40% discount on a new rod?
Wow, how old was the rod?
>Let me get this straight. You broke the rod and are
>complaining that St. Croix didn't fix, or replace it, for free
>and then they had the unmitigated audacity to only offer you a
>40% discount on a new rod?
>
>Wow, how old was the rod?
>
Dodge1-
You got it! As I mentioned, all three rods were broken by me, or the kids, and the first two were replaced at no cost to me. I was blown away by their generosity. Most recently, due to policy changes with the company, a discount was offered which was nice but I was hoping they would take care of me like in the past. Bottom line is they set a precedent in the past of replacing broken rods, no questions asked, and now they are changing this policy. That's their choice and I've made my choice. Nothing to really debate here.
Labs
JoyBoy
01-25-2005, 03:48 PM
>Let me get this straight. You broke the rod and are complaining that >St. Croix didn't fix, or replace it, for free and then they had the >unmitigated audacity to only offer you a 40% discount on a new rod? >Wow, how old was the rod? - Dodge1
>You got it! As I mentioned, all three rods were broken by me, or the >kids, and the first two were replaced at no cost to me. I was blown >away by their generosity. Most recently, due to policy changes with >the company, a discount was offered which was nice but I was hoping >they would take care of me like in the past. Bottom line is they set >a precedent in the past of replacing broken rods, no questions >asked, and now they are changing this policy. That's their choice >and I've made my choice. Nothing to really debate here. - Labs
Times change, company policies change, sometimes even company ownership changes. I understand that St. Croix has modified their repair/replacement policy recently, now offer lifetime warranties on the highest end models only, two-year warranties on Premier series. The fact that they (and G. Loomis, for that matter) were so liberal in past years is terrific, but those liberal warranties in no way obligate those companies to continue warranty programs that end up being money-losing propositions.
As far as Labs' position is concerned, he's fortunate to have had oppotunities to take advantage of the more liberal policy St. Crois used to offer, good for him. The fact that he excercised his warranty rights in the past doesn't mean that he shouldn't shop elsewhere now that their warranty policy has changed, that seems to me a clear case of free enterprise at work, so I agree, there's nothing to debate as far as that goes, and no issue that Labs has to defend.
With respect to loyalty, whether so-called customer loyalty, company loyalty, etc., it seems to me that the concept most people operate by is an illusion, there never has been such a thing. In general, companies are loyal to their employees and/or customers only as long as it remains profitable to do so, and that seems to have always been the case. Those few organizations that do otherwise are rare indeed. If you're loking for loyalty, get yerself a good dog or loving wife!
By the way, dewyg, when you buy a fishing rod or reel, you enter into a warranty contract with the manufacturer, not the dealer. It would not be economically feasible for the dealer (in many cases, a relatively small mom & pop type bait shop) to manage vendor warranty issues.
Tight lines! - JB
Well Mr.Pickles I can only speak for myself, but the reason I switched to Fenwick from St.Croix was the "mom&pop" store owner told me St.croix was difficult to deal with and he would replace at any time the Fenwick with no issues. Apparently Fenwick has an amazing warranty and covers all returns. I only have 30 rods and can honestly say I have never broke one, but if I do and it is not my fault, I want it replaced. I feel that if I'm spending 200-300 on a rod it should not break when I'm fighting a bass, I mean one fish in a tourney could be the one that cashes the check.
FisHn2DMax
01-26-2005, 09:46 PM
>There warranty is terrible, I only used to buy St. Croix but
>dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth. I found
>Fenwick has a quality product with a wonderful warranty. I'm
>sure everyone has different opinions and I would like to hear
>more.
You've got to be kidding? Please tell us you were just kidding.... I think you've got it backwards!!! My Fenwick HMX "MH" casting rod failed at the worst possible moment as I was setting the hook on a large laker. My dealer sent it back to fenwick only to have fenwick/ pure fishing deny the warranty with no reason stated. I called them and they would'nt even give me the real reason why they denied the warranty? The local dealer felt really bad ( he saw the failure and felt it should have been covered) he help me on the cost of a new Loomis! The dealer told me things appear to have changed at Fenwick/pure fishing. Their warranty and service is not what they used to be and he will not be buying their rods anymore given the poor warranty response to given his customers, in recent months..
That is now two Fenwick rods that have failed me and both times Fenwick /pure fishing has not stood behind their products. I use and own many different brands of rods Loomis, St. Croix and even a few cabelas house brands and have never had true rod failure. The really good news is I will never have to deal with Fenwick issues again as all my Fenwick rods I had are now all broken. I do know this, I will never own another Fenwick rod!
Again, no disrespect intended, but I think you've got it 180 out!!! St.Croix is the "wonderful" company and it's Fenwick/ Pure fishing that leaves a bad taste in customer mouths. :)
Mattman
01-27-2005, 05:04 AM
Warranty policies are changing folks. Across the boards. Too many people feel that the price of their rod includes free lifetime replacements for idiotic expectations and treatment of the product. There is rampant misuse of that policy. Plain and simple. The rod industry made a horrible mistake in implementing those policies and now they are regretting it. It is becoming a serious financial impact for the rod companies. All of the rod manufacturers are slowly changing their policies and moving away from the no-fault warranty. Lets face it, 99%, or better, of all rods that make it to consumers are good products with no defects. Those rods with defects are the only rods companies should be replacing at no charge. The rest of the rods that break do so due to neglect and abuse, but still consumers feel they deserve another. The financial burden for the rod companies has become too much and people are now going to have to start become more accountable for their actions.
Matt Davis
Better to have and not need than to need and not have!
fishhunter
01-27-2005, 07:24 AM
when i broke my st croix i never even taked to anyone at st. croix, I just sent it back with a $10 check like it said on their website and recieved a brand new rod in less than 2 weeks. To me that is excellent service. They also wanted you to send a note stating the problem all I put was "it broke"
Dodge1
01-27-2005, 09:09 AM
Well stated Matt.
Poke-Eye
01-29-2005, 07:13 AM
Great point. The rod you bought must have had their "lifetime guaranty". The lady you dealt with handled this in the manner as explained when the rod was sold to the original purchaser. Have that happen now and a St. Croix dealer will give you a song and dance how they discontinued your model and it will cost you a fifty + shipping to upgrade to a "far superior rod". Ya right! I don't think so. Why would I continue to purchase products from a company who's warranty is not worth the crdboard it is written on. JMHO.
fishhunter
01-29-2005, 03:17 PM
no it will cost you $10 and mine was replaced with a newer model
peter8
01-30-2005, 08:07 AM
I had a new -never used avid- blow out of my boat(rod sock = kite) on the way to try it out.I back tracked but someone else was home smiling about their good fortune!I sent the warranty card in with my story. A few weeks later I got a call from St. Croix. They said the president of the co. read my letter and wanted to extend a 40% discount on a replacement rod.Pretty good warranty on my boneheaded play!! I wonder if Shimano would be so kind about my reel? I've also had 1 other rod replaced -10 bucks -no problem.I have been to their store several times. In it they have a barrel full of broken tip rods that have been repaired.All rods in the barrel are $30 . My favorite musky jerkbait rod came from that barrel.Its a 7-6 thats now about 6-9. They used to leave all rod info on the blanks. Now they take a razor knife and scrape it off.When I asked why I was told some people were buying a rod for $30 taking them out and breaking them and bringing them back to take ADVANTAGE of their great warranty.With costs (and people) the way they are I guess you can't blame the co. for tighting up on warranty claims, I don't think I could have been treated more fairly on my warranty claims and also don't think you can find a more sensitive rod than a St. Croix. Oh ya--- ALWAYS secure my rods now!!
peter8
01-30-2005, 08:07 AM
I had a new -never used avid- blow out of my boat(rod sock = kite) on the way to try it out.I back tracked but someone else was home smiling about their good fortune!I sent the warranty card in with my story. A few weeks later I got a call from St. Croix. They said the president of the co. read my letter and wanted to extend a 40% discount on a replacement rod.Pretty good warranty on my boneheaded play!! I wonder if Shimano would be so kind about my reel? I've also had 1 other rod replaced -10 bucks -no problem.I have been to their store several times. In it they have a barrel full of broken tip rods that have been repaired.All rods in the barrel are $30 . My favorite musky jerkbait rod came from that barrel.Its a 7-6 thats now about 6-9. They used to leave all rod info on the blanks. Now they take a razor knife and scrape it off.When I asked why I was told some people were buying a rod for $30 taking them out and breaking them and bringing them back to take ADVANTAGE of their great warranty.With costs (and people) the way they are I guess you can't blame the co. for tighting up on warranty claims, I don't think I could have been treated more fairly on my warranty claims and also don't think you can find a more sensitive rod than a St. Croix. Oh ya--- ALWAYS secure my rods now!!