Curious why each of you buys the components you choose for your rods.

Wondering what the motivation is...cost,availability,quality, good customer service,where product was manufacturered, uniqueness (think I just made that word up LOL).

Which is most important to you as a rod builder...would like to hear from all levels of rod builders pls.

I try to get stuff nobody (or very few) people have. I prefer top of the line everything, and the harder it is to get them the better because I know most people won't go through the obstacles neccesary to get some of the neater components.

I buy products that I believe will hold up and get the job done properly. I don't want to ever have to replace a guide or reel seat due to a malfunction or defect nor be bothered by something that doesn't quite do the job the way I want it done. And I generally don't consider cost a factor. In the long run, spending more can be less expensive than saving a few bucks at the outset.

This isn't any sort of statement against the lesser expensive items available these days. In fact, I think the quality and durability of most rod building items from top to bottom is better today than at any point in the past.

...........

First off I would have to say good customer service is number one. Just starting my own business, cost and quallity would run a close second. The uniquenees is something I try to come up with on my own.

Personally, I think that the quality of today's components is VERY good and differnces in quality between manufacturer's is slim to none. As far as availablity goes, that usually isn't an issue for me. I would imagine that 90% of all components sold are via mail order or internet. The internet has turned the whole world into my personal little store LOL!!! For the most part, I use the same few vendors that carry the items that I use (for the most part, they are all good. I have had great customer service from every vendor that I have dealt with). I think that building a good relationship with vendors is more important than trying to price shop and save a few bucks.

The particular rod that I'm building determines the components that I use. On one rod, I may want a Fuji NPS seat and American Tackle Titan guides, on another, I may prefer the Batson VS3 guides and an American Tackle Aero seat and Lamiglas Texilium grips.
While cost may enter into some things (Cermet - NO, Alconites - YES) it is rarely a factor since other than my personal rods, the customer decides on components). Place of manufacture is a non-issue with me and uniqueness(it's a word) is definately a plus.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Just as an aside, approximately 80% of all rod building components are sold through mail order catalogs. About 15% through internet sales and the rest direct. Not really on the topic here, but it shows how important printed dealer catalogs remain.

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Most of my customers know what they want, if it's an item I don't think is going to work, alternates are suggested. Vendor's customer service is very important to me and is the reason Batson Enterprises is at the top of my list.

Good point, Tom! There are several vendors (very good ones that I like) that I do very little business with solely because they have no catalog and their web site are outdated and inaccurate. Maybe, it's just me, but when I'm sitting around in the evening thinking about my next project, I love to browse through a catalog (Mudhole has by far the best in the industry - sort of a rod builder's "Playboy") and be able to see. and price the various components. I don't want to have to wait (and I won't) until business hours and call a supplier to compare prices/styles between two guides.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Because I primarily build rods for myself or gifts for people...I usually have a budget (closely monitored by my wife LOL).

I want components that have a certain level of quality but more often than not I don't buy the most expensive items. I also find myself using batson Enterprises products more and more because of the quality, value, and availabilty.

Of the 5 or 6 places I have done business with that are sponsors on this site all have been really great.

Mudhole's catalog is like a rod builder's Playboy, that got a chuckle and a smile. Good one Mike. But you have to admit Rod Maker Magazine still has the best "centerfolds".
LOL
Lynn
Santa Rosa, CA

No doubt about that, Lynn. It's full of rod porn!!

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Personally I stick with components that have held up well on the rods I have built. I prefer fairly simple straight forward stuff (i.e. I always use cork grips for freshwater rods to me EVA foam is cheap looking.) I use a lot of Fuji hardloy guides also because they last and I have had virtually no breakage. I also have a buddy for whom I build rods. If the rod and components used stand up to his abuse they've got to be good. As many stated I stick with vendors that I have used many times. However sometimes I feel I should be experimenting more with different components, but for me cost is important, as I'm not in it as a business. I tend to try different materials / components on rods I build for myself and let those customers I've built for pick what they like as they're paying for the rod. I have to admit that since I've found this site I've learned a lot about what's out there and will start trying more new materials / components.
.

I buy the best components my customer can afford. If I'm making a rod specifically for someone, the starting point is what they want. Through the process we get to what they can afford to spend. That usually means making substitions and removing certain "extras" until we get to a point where they're satisfied with with the rod I can build for what they're able to spend with enough for me to make an acceptable margin. There's no point in my agreeing to a price and spending all the income on the best components I can buy. Sure, the customer has a great rod - he's happy and I'm proud of the work but what was the point if I've made no profit? This is not always a short, easy process and may require a lot of educating on my part.

If I'm building for myself or as gifts for family and friends then that's another matter. As an aside here, if I'm making inexpensive rods as gifts, I do not put my name or my company name on the cheaper rods. I prefer to think of the cheaper "gift" rods as "home made" not "custom made" and to my way of thinking there is a significant difference, especially when it comes to pricing rods for a profit. My company name goes on "custom" made rods. I do have certain preferences for blanks and components and concentrate most of my purchases between 4 or 5 vendors. I prefer to shop on-line (I don't normally use a great range of components since I normally build only fly rods and a handful of freshwater casting rods) and like to deal with those who keeps their websites current. I find myself relying on catalogs most of the time anyway. Mud Hole does a great job with their website but they are the exception rather than the rule. I also want every customer to have a superior quality rod that is something unique and that he's proud to own. If I can't give him that then he may as well go to BPS or Walmart. In order to provide that little something extra, I'll sometimes need to shop around until I find it. That search for the something "extra" keeps me plenty busy with experiemental projects too.

Sam Stoner

I order by catalog mostly just checking the site for web speciaIs and closeouts, I have a catalog handy in every room in my shop. I look for the best quality component for the job at hand that isn't the cheapest, but isn't the highest priced either unless I run into those cha-ching "Money is no object" builds. Alconite guides are a reasonable step up from the old stand by Hardloy guides (which also can be ordered in three differnt styles to facilitate concept guiding paramiters) Alconites are suposidly lighter, at least in their CFAT/BFAT tips but the ring hardness is greater than hardloy's and they are not an arm and leg more like SIC guides, its a reasonable viable and affordable upgrade for about $10 more per build. I also build alot of ergonomically shaped custom fit foregrips of a larger length and dia. 1-1/4" cork is what I'm after at a reasonable rate and good quality. (I have re-filled alot of shimano rod handels and the cork they use is well below this grade of cork) I don't get the high end 1-1/2" cork or the super select stuff that costs $2+ an inch either. I found a supplier that gets the job done for .72 cents an inch, which allows me to shape, design and install more cork and get paid for the labor instead of just paying for the real expensive cork and not having budget room for the labor necessary to form it

When looking for a distributor, I look for a good fill rate, so the product is aways in stock, then locality, The Distributor I use is close enough that if I call in an order by 9:00 am it will be on the UPS truck at the early pick up at 11:00 am. and arrive the next day (there is a major UPS hub near by) Its just like paying for next day air for the price of ground. I first call them and check for availability and have alternatives to get things rolling promptly. Then any calls or mix ups in items shipped takes less shiiping time to and from. Somethings I don't trust or like are: projected restocking dates, and often their minium to backorder might be above the cost of the item I want that they are currently out of, so alternatives if possible have to be contimplated and planned for, or I have to order enough of the item they are out of to meet their backorder minimum. Good customer service in this day and age is a given, so much so it need not be mentioned as it is the foundation all else is based upon

Joe,

I have to say service, availability, and quality in that order. If I buy from a store that just "drops the ball", I'll not likely use them very often, and if they go "0 for two" most likely they'll loose me entirely.

When I first started buying rod building supplies it was more than frustrating, orders were never full, backorders were forgotten, just a nightmare-still is with some. I couldn't believe the hardest part of rod building was getting parts!

SERVICE!!!: take care of me, communicate-let me know what is happening and when, dont leave me hanging for weeks on end-have a web site or good catalog and BE REACHABLE, return emails, calls and such

Availability: send me what I order, have it in stock or get it quickly

Quality: provide a quality product at a fair price

These three things will keep me in your store

DR





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2006 08:25PM by Duane Richards (DR).

Reputation and durability. In angling, especially fly fishing it is so easy to pay too much. Most of my work is not new gear, but re-fits and repairs on spinning and casting rods. You can't go wrong with Fuji Hardloys and Mudhole customer service.

For new custom rods I work to a price point so cost is important, but never at the expense of quality. Like Tom, I don't ever want a rod coming back because something I did, didn't hold up. I order about 2/3 of my needs to stock and you would be amazed at the difference in shipping costs, which after all do represent a cost (as a percentage spread over the total stuff in the order). Some vendors have won my heart just on the way the handle shipping, especially on small orders. And yes, I run through the catalogs, comparing prices and always looking for new stuff, too.

The ability to work with a vendor, to get good advice, is way up there on my list. Specials and close-outs play a part, if it's something I know I can use. For me as a customer, I quess it's customer service, availability, cost, and a the patience and willingness to help on the odd circumstance that make my choice for me. I've got about half-a-dozen sources, with one primary. Likewise I've got some that I'll never deal with again - I just can't afford to risk a dissatisfied customer because my vendor can't supply what I need, or to lose money because of the true cost (including shipping and surcharges) that end up on my credit card.

The quality of the stuff my small circle of vendors send me is the best it's ever been. They back it unconditionally. There's not much more you could ask. My customers are always pleased and sometimes amazed at what they get, and that's all the proof I need that the components I'm using are quite good enough. When the customers brag to their friends about what I built for them, that says it all.

Uncle Russ