stinger spoon return

[Ryan]

Like many others I have had problems with the chipping of paint. Does anyone know if you can send the defective ones in and get new ones. I emailed a guy who I think can answer this question but I haven't got a reply as of yet. If I do get an answer I will let everyone know.
Thanks
Ryan

[Skiffer]

At $3.00 a shot you would think they could hit the finished side of the spoon with a little polyurethane to prevent the chipping from happening but they don't. Get a can of spray polyurethane and lightly spray the spoon. It's working for me but I don't know how much longer I want to keep buying them. Luhr's-Jenson sells a similar spoon but it has a single hook, not a treble. I just got a couple this week and I'm anxious to try them out. I put treble hooks on them.

[t-man]

I do not know if the ones you have are more than 1 1/2 years old but they did start a new process this past year that does stop the chipping. I've used pro kings, northports and others and have had the same problem, mine will start chipping after about 10 to 20 fish. if you are catching enough fish to chip it then what's 3 dollars for every 10 to 20 fish. I would pay that each day if thats what it took.

[Skiffer]

If it only cost $3.00 bucks to go out fishing that would be an incredible bargain. But if your trolling 4 spoons, that's $12.00 bucks. If you add to that the $50.00 you just spent on gas, then the price per pound of walleye gets pretty steep if you don't have a successful trip.

[Lund_Dude]

I bought mine in several different bait shops from Port Clinton to Vermillion in July of this year. After 2 fish, the finish was noticably chipped and after 5 fish I had an unpainted spoon. This has not happened to me on aly other spoons I have purchased and we do use a lot of ProKings.

Does the odor of the polyeurothane cause any fish spooking problems? How water resistant is the poly?

[Skiffer]

I would think that there wouldn't be any odor if you let the spoons dry and age for a few days. This past weekend I caught 7 walleye on the spoons in about an hour trolling, so any suspicions about odor are moot. Polyurethane is pretty tough stuff. Again, the spoons only have to be sprayed lightly. I have not been using the modified spoon long enough to give you an expert opinion, but it looks to me like they are going to hold up very well. This spoon is a very good bait, but it doesn't take very long for the paint to come of regardless of wether or not you are catching fish.

[phil wilson]

I think that for $3.00 you're getting a bargain. when the paint wears off and you don't think it'll catch another fish throw it away. I've got several that I'm afraid to throw away. No paint, Still catching fish. But still, look at the price of crawlers. $.10 each. How many dozen can you use in a day? Other spoons may keep paint longer but I haven't found on that works as well as the Stinger Scorpion.

[Dean]

Got tired of buying stingers and watching the paint wash off also. Found some spoons on the walleye central product line called Fintails. Not many colors to choose from but they do catch fish and most of all the paint stays on. They cost around $3.00 to.

[John]

Try using Rak Spoons. They just came out last year are shaped much like a Stinger and the paint does not chip off like the stingers. The Stinger spoons paint has been chipping off since they day they started making them and I am convinced that they do not want the paint to stay on so that we will keep buying more. Thank goodness there are other spoons out there that work just as good, if not better. Rak spoons have the same shape, come in 3 different sizes and the paint stays on them. Give them a try. Pro King is another favorite of mine and the paint stays on those as well.

[Skiffer]

If anyone from Advance Tackle reads these comments I'm sure everyone would be interested in hearing from you.

[Airwave]

Why so someone can rip them a new A## like they did Don.at Hi-Way Baits..Many times now days some of us who try to give good info just don't anymore. It ain't worth the insults. We just don't know how much were missing out on because lately this forum has good people not wanting to post good info.Say what you want but were all losing out. Granted I can probably catch fish without this info but if I didn't appreciate the help why am I here? Oppinions don't have to be personal attacks and I have never seen any company say Oh ok since you think I'm such a jerk how can I help you..

[ETT]

Well said. It must be your turn in the pulpit. Thanks.

[Lund_Dude]

You are talking apples and oranges pal (don't take this as a slam). There are jags who insist on ripping all people and all products all the time. You need to take what they say and let it slide. It is too bad we have to put up them, but that is the nature of the 'net. That said, I post what help I can and screw them if they don't like it. I don't let it bother me.

But...On the main issue, I believe that we have a legitimate claim against an otherwise excellent product. I purchased these spoons this summer for the first time based on the recommnedations of the guys here, after using different brands of spoons my whole life. I was pleased with the fish catching abilities of the lure and was dissapointed with the durability. I even contacted the mfg and got a blow off "we will look into it" type response. I do believe that when we are paying a premium for their product, quality needs to be an issue. It would be nice if someone affiliated with Stinger would give us a corrective action to the quality problem. 'Nuff Said! ;-)

[Skiffer]

Airwave, sounds like your the one trying to start trouble here. Someone asked an honest question and for the most part everyone gave honest answers. No one slammed Advance Tackle. I would think they would be interested in knowing ways to improve there bait. I would think they would also want to let us know about improvements they have made. And respond to the reply that someone in this topic expressed that they thought improvements had already been made. This is free information to them. Obviously, the people who have been using these are all of the same opinion. The paint quality on them has not been very good. We're not idiots. I own about 25 of these spoons. Thats $75.00 I've spent with this company. I own my own company, and if quality control is a problem, I'd fix it in a hurry. The point is, this is useful information to everyone. Your comment had nothing to do with the original question. Why would you mention Hi-Way Bait in this topic?

[Robertp]

I agree. I have been using these spoons for two seasons. They do catch fish but the quality of their product finish is terrible. I would hope that they address this issue. I've had the paint chip off in an afternoon without ever having caught a fish. If they aren't willing to address the issue I hope someone duplicates the design and provides a longer lasting product. I'll use the product for now but I don't like pissing away $3. a pop for the crap quality of the finish.

[jerry and colby]

Now that everyone is POed, you may find that Michigan has a law against the coating process that is required for the paint not to chip. This is not a qote, just info from a guy from the area when I met hin on Lake Ontario.
JR

[puzzled fisherman]

Well, if Michigan, has such a law, I guess I will have to think twice about purchasing a car from Detroit! Wouldn't want the same problem as with the spoons.

I have a hard time blaming the lack of durability on this....

[eyegetit]

Are Rak spoons as thin as the Scorpions? I've seen alot of spoons that look like a Scorpion, but when you turn them sideways they're thicker. I think what makes the Scorpion so deadly is the enticing flutter it produces.

[John]

Yes the Rak's are as thin as the Stingers. They only came out last year, so they are not easy to find. They are shaped much like a stinger and they have the same color selections. As a matter of a fact, they will custom make spoons to your color specifications if you so wish, but I assume that you have to buy a decent amount for them to do so. I am a charter captain on Lake Erie and have been using Stingers for the past 3 or 4 years and I agree they catch fish. I have been getting the same results with the Rak's, however the paint does not ware off the Rak's. The only bad thing about the Rak's is that they are hard to find. Not many stores/bait shops are carrying them yet. I am sure once the word is out people will start using them and seeing their results and more bait shops will start to carry them.

P.S. I do not repersent Rak and I do not work at any bait shops, I am only passing on information to give everyone another option for trolling spoons that I have found to work for me..

[gotfish1]

Ok, my turn. I just started using stinger spoons and if I can find another that holds the paint, I'd be an idiot not to go with it. There is absolutely no excuse for producing a spoon that doesn't hold it's finish. I own (as all of you do) several different kinds of spoons that keep their paint. Michigan Stinger company needs to be reading this series of correspondence. Let's give them a chance to redeem themselves. After all, if you are in business, you generally would like to stay in business. I'd really like to see a post from a Michigan Stinger rep. Are you out there? Are you listening?

[REW]

To prevent the chipping - spray on a clear coat of poly.

Then - to get a final dry, eliminate all odors -- bake the spoons in your oven at 125 degrees for 2 hours.

This temperature won't hurt the paint - but completely cures and deodorizes the poly - plus it gives you a harder finish.

take care

REW

[Magic Marker]

Rew, You still sound like your missing the point,Why should we as the customer have to re-paint them? I have a hundred+ stinger spoons now. but these will be the last if those other spoons are more durable. There's absolutely no reason why they can't put a decent paint on them for what they cost. Dan Marker

[Ryan]

Thanks for the tip; it is worth a try
Ryan

[Duckman]

Do like I did. Sit down with some thin metal, get out the pliers and grinder and whip some up. Paint em and catch fish...worked for me. I never tried a hammered finish though....Well just a thought.........

[Airwave(OH)]

OK heres your reply to the paint problem . We know about and have been trying to solve the mystery as to why. We have had several Major paint companys say thet can fix it and have tried many different things in the last couple years. It is better on some but real bad on others. One thing I would like to say is IT IS NOT ON PURPOSE> I would much rather hear what a great spoon we have than the problems.We put a very expensive clear coat on now but that is not the problem. It is a paint adhesion problem,it seems to be certain colors more than others and there may lie the problem, nobody else offers as many colors to my knowledge anyhow. Maybe some of them just can't be used . The one thing I can tell you is we have put all things aside and are determined to get to the bottom of this. This absolutely will not be a problem by next season. This is our # one priority until it is fixed. I would also like to address my last post - I was not trying to start a fight-someone missed the point. The trend lately has been to attack anyone who post here and alot of us are relutate to do so because of it. I feel we are ruining a good thing. That is why I brought up the Hi-Way Bait issue. I apoligize.I let it get to me. I will gladly try to answer questions as best I can. Believe me none of you are more frustrated about the paint than we are, just know that we are NOT ignoring it. IT WILL BE FIXED!!!!

[ryan]

Airwave,
Thanks for the post! Hope things get straightened out soon.
Ryan

[Skiffer]

Airwave, I assume you are Advance Tackle. Thank you for the response. It sounds very positive. I believe everyone must like this bait or there wouldn't haven't been such a reaction. In this case, it appears that this forum has been extremely beneficial to everyone. The bait is improved, you make money and we catch fish. Everybody's happy. By the way, I bought a couple more this week from a different store. The finish was noticibly different.

[Todd]

This is what we have been hearing for a long time from Stinger, were working on it. In the meantime just keep buying the ones we sell you.This way we can keep on selling more and more. As for the Rak spoon its made in Canada and the Dealers rhat are selling them around Lake Erie are selling them for the same price as a stinger,are the canadians paying federal excise tax to our government,I dont think so. So you fisherman buying Rak Spoons dont complain in a few years about where are our tax dollars going, Buy American. There are spoons made in this country where the paint stays on and they catch fish.

[DEAN]

Skiffer, i'm sorry to say that I have tried the stinger spoons for the last time.,and so have many of my friends. Were all tired of hearing were working on the problem. Try and send them back and ask them to replace it because the paint came off. See what a very nice answer you get. The answer I got isn't fit to print. As for me and some of my friends, Goodbye stinger. If anyone can give us the name of some spoons that keep there paint on and are near the same size let us know.

[Dave in Mpls]

Horse Hockey!

Michigan does NOT have a law against the coating process that is required for the paint not to chip. Michigan, like any other state, has Air Quality guidelines that manufacturers must adhere to, based on the facilities Potential to Emit (PTE) of VOCs, hazardous air polutants (HAPs), etc. The company simply doesn't want to invest the $$ in the pollution control equipment neccessary to engage in a particular type of process, or go through the steps to get an air permit which would be required if the facility's PTE exceeded certain thresholds. That is certainly not to say that there are other types of processes and/or finishes that could be used to up the quality of the coating used on these spoons. It's a $$ thing, like anything else - "We're selling X number of spoons just the way they are, so why should we spend $ to improve them"

[No Clue]

Heres someone spreading crap he knows nothing about...Have you ever been to the facility??? NO!!!!

[Dave in Mpls]

No Clue-

No, I've never been to the facility.

I have, however, worked extensively with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in developing their Air Quality program, so me thinks I may know a thing or two about the regulations affecting manufacturing and painting facilities in the state. I have also worked with several clients throughout the midwest in the area of applied finishes, including air atomization spray, airless, electrostatic, HVLP, electrode deposition, and powder coating. Finally, I've placed more than one phone call to the facility in regard to the paint problems and getting spoons replaced that are void of finish after a days use. You add all this up, and I may just know a little something about the situation.

I would have answered you directly, but no email address....go figure

[No Clue]

But you claim to know how there facility is set up.You DON"T. I didn't say you didn't know anything about air pollution control. They have state of the art ventilation & air polution control system. Just thought you might like to know. As the person earlier said -they have promised to have the problem solved before next season-what else can be said .Lets see if they come through before we rip em apart and make accusations. This is just my oppinion, just like you have yours...No E-mail address because this board is getting nastier by the day and I don't want Crap sent to my Computer..