[www.cabelas.com]

These are truly decent rods for fish in the 10 to 50 pound range. How do they do it for so cheap? I can’t even come close to buying the material to build this rod for under $20. Heck you even get a free hat with this deal.

Once you buy components by the 10,000++++, you'll understand. I would also think if someone is going to order this rod, they'll need a reel, some hooks, sunglasses to fit under the hat, line, etc, etc.

They use very cheap components, overseas labor and mass produce them. They only need to make a buck or two in order to turn a decent profit on the thousands and thousands they will sell. Rods like these are commonly made overseas for well under $10 each. Most likely, it's a decent rod that would serve the needs of the average fisherman well enough.

Of course, if you're interested in selling custom rods to the fishing public, you shouldn't be targeting the same market that Cabelas is. You'll want to go after the guys who are looking for a much better rod than these.

I'd advise you to read the following-

[www.tackleworks.org]

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Like that artical says. You have to convince the fishing public that your rod will out perform that rod.
That's the hard part !!

Those rods at Cabela's are probably a lot better than some of the "custom rods" that I have seen at fishing shows in the last two years. Some of the rods were pure trash. There are a lot of good custom rod builders in the Houston-Galveston area but either can't afford or don't want to pay what the shows charge for display areas. So the general public only gets to see some of the poorest excuse for custom rods that I have ever seen. T Bud Custom Rods, one the best, was not the show this year. Another excellent rod builder and a good friend of mine, Bill Fisk, passed away this year. These two were the truly good custom builders displaying their wares. Other than that it is all sad news. T Bud was doing multicolored weaves twenty years ago and using the best guides available on his rods. He was the first builder that I know of that was making two piece off-shore rods for sailfishing. He developed a unique weaving jig and taught weaving classes. However, he demanded a high price for his work as well he should. I once asked him how he could sell a rod for $600 while I was getting $200 for mine. He answered, "Different clientel." He also advised me to look for folks that are used to owning the best and don't mind paying for it. That is where the resposibility of a custom rod builder kicks in. Don't make and sell junk just to make a cheap sale. It is not worth it you or the customer.