Kistler

[Alan]

Don't like to bad mouth a company but I had my last dealings with Kistler rods today. When I called to report a broken Helium that was less than two years old I was informed it would be a $125 fee to replace it. I understand the one year warranty but half price of a new rod to replace one barely out of warranty? That puzzles me. Sounds like they are trying to make money off the warranty rods too. I expect to get more than two years service out of a rod that costs $250....that's just me. I actually own two purchased at the same time and one broke in less than two months and has been replaced...so I was out money on that one too. I just threw the broken rod in the trash and will replace it with a G Loomis for a $100 more than I was going to pay to warranty the Kistler. Know their warranty is $100 fee but I own several and have had great service out of them so I know I will be getting a quality product that will last.

[willfish4food]

Give Dobyns a look.

[cowtrimmer]

What was wrong with it that it needed warranty work ?

[Fishmark]

I went through the same thing with them recently. Love my new Dobyns!

[StratosBrad]

Kistler is notorious for this type treatment, even IF The rod was in warranty. They did that to me on a 3 month old helium II
I did the same as you.
I also sold all 17 of my others and never looked back.

You couldn't give me one of those rods.

[StratosBrad]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by willfish4food &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Give Dobyns a look.</td></tr></table>

And this.

[JerryT]

1 year warranty...2 year old rod...But it is barely out of warranty ???

I am not a big kistler fan myself....But i do understand how warranty's work

[paw paw]

how did you breaking the rod have anything to do with their warrany? was it a manufacturer defect or did you break it and are looking for kistler to eat it for you?

[Yama225]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by willfish4food &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Give Dobyns a look.</td></tr></table>

[Dbl00CustomBaits]

I REALLY like my St. Croix Legend Elites.

[mickey2520]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by paw paw &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">how did you breaking the rod have anything to do with their warrany? was it a manufacturer defect or did you break it and are looking for kistler to eat it for you?</td></tr></table>isnt that what a warranty is for if there junk breaks they replace it

[cowtrimmer]

So hypothetically speaking if they give you a one year warranty and on day 400 you break the rod tip off the company is no good ? here is the warrenty copied from the website. I like it because it doesnt have a bunch of 'fancy' words in it that people should be able to understand.

KISTLER "SMART" WARRANTY

Here at Kistler it is our belief that we manufacture the very best fishing rods at the very best value. And we back our rods with a ONE YEAR Limited Warranty against manufacture defect or component failure.

If within One Year of purchase (noted on your registration of the rod) your rod should break and it is clear from inspection this break was due to manufacturing or component failure, we will replace your rod with a new one at no cost minus shipping.

If it is unclear as to the cause of the breakage, we still want to make it right by you, our customer so we will contact you and discuss with you options such as discounted repair, or replacement. Obviously we can’t cover screen doors or clumsy feet, but we do want to work with all our customers to make their Kistler purchase a pleasant one.

You are also protected by our Extended Warranty that is offered for claims on rods aged over One Year from date of purchase. A prorated replacement cost will be provided to you after we receive a completed Warranty Claim Form online. This portion of the warranty is not intended to cover accidents, abuse, neglect or normal wear and tear.

Lastly, it is vital that your rod be registered with the serial number section completed, so we can offer you the very best protection against any unseen manufacturer defect.

Our rods enjoy a 99.5% flawless performance, but that .5% does exist and we at Kistler want to make sure 100% of our customers are happy with our products.

Tight Lines,

Trey Kistler

President and CEO

[cougarcat22]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by willfish4food &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Give Dobyns a look.</td></tr></table>
I got 3 Dobyns now Great Rods

[paw paw]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by mickey2520 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">isnt that what a warranty is for if there junk breaks they replace it </td></tr></table>
if the breakage is due to a defect yes. if it's due to the fact you have 10 thumbs, 2 left feet and tried to pull the dock you just snagged back to the boat. NO. i know this is the hard part for some but you just have to use a little common sense in these matters

[Fishmark]

I tried to warranty a Helium that was about 2 months old that snapped on a hook set. It was about the 5th time I had it out. They said if it would have been a manufacturer's defect, it would have broke on my first trip and they would be happy to replace the rod for a "pro-rated" rate of $90 plus shipping.

[cubswin]

if you wanted a longer warranty than a year, why on earth did you buy a rod that has a 1 year warranty.

Granted some companies will work with you, and it sounds like Kistler was giving you half cost for a new rod. I don't see a issue with that at all.

I've never had a problem with st croix rods or glmoois. Gloomis does have a fee to replace rods, believe its 100 dollars now up from the 50 it used to be.

[fastlaser]

Ever notice that they changed their warranty to a 1 year limited. It used to be lifetime. I found out the hard way that their idea of lifetime means shelf life in the store. I broke a magnesium ts. They wanted more to " warranty " the rod than what it cost to buy it. Never again I went to St. Croix.

[mickey2520]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by paw paw &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
if the breakage is due to a defect yes. if it's due to the fact you have 10 thumbs, 2 left feet and tried to pull the dock you just snagged back to the boat. NO. i know this is the hard part for some but you just have to use a little common sense in these matters</td></tr></table> no actually it was a 2lber the last time and the funny thing is my GLX's dont seem to be as brittle and I have just enough common sense not to buy there junk even when they try to give it away :thumbdown

[StratosBrad]

The one I broke had the "lifetime" warranty.

[Mark G]

I have been fishing for close to 50 years and have never broken a fishing rod fishing. They break because I step on them or smack them on something. Most failure is caused by outside influence.