For those of ya'll that have a rod building business, how does one go about setting prices for their rods? Is there a basic formula? Is a number picked out of the air? I ask because I was in a bait and tackle shop the other day and all the rods where customs from local builders in the area. As I was looking at the rods and prices, I was shocked. A bent butt trolling rod for $135. I can't hardly get the butt for that much! Yet there it was a bent butt trolling rod for $135. Other rods by the same builder where also priced incredibly low IMO, ie- 30# trolling set up for $60. So, Is there a formula for prices or do some folks just go all willie nillie?

Some charge retail component cost plus either a per foot or per guide charge, or a set labor fee for a build.

I see some weird stuff too. Some cheap rods I saw were done using no-name import components (very suspect quality) and, in some cases, I know they are not paying the FET, and probably doing other things illegal - like not paying the sales tax. That alone can drop the price a bit!

I thought I was high until I saw some other guys prices. I encourage people to look at my work under a magnifier. I have seen some really ugly custom work online. Oh my!

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2013 03:54PM by Chuck Mills.

For one, if they are pre built then they are not custom rods. They may be hand wrapped or hand assembled. Pricing depends on the skill of the builder and the quality of components. There is no magic formula.

______________________________________
Super Tight Lines......Don

if you want to make money -- get into computer work - software -

Bill - willierods.com

bill boettcher Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> if you want to make money -- get into computer
> work - software -

Funny. I keep asking myself if this is worth the work. I just love building, so, I guess.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

It is a labor of love
Try to beat the large companies and there prices ????

Bill - willierods.com

If you're going to attempt to compete on price, get into another business. The guys who are buying the $135 bent butt trolling rods are never going to be customers for quality custom rods. They're not where you need to be looking.

...............

I ran into the same problem with building custom golf clubs,,,,if you add up all the tools and equipment you need and then the extra materials you need ,just in case,then you have to agree that there just ain't no money in it.

"Custom" rods filling the shelves in a tackle shop aren't custom rods. They are factory rods made by small time assemblers. There are people, even on here, that build 1,000+ "custom" fishing rods every year...and many don't do a very good job of it.

Unless you want to build a hundred rods a month you won't compete with these production builders.

A true custom builder competes for an entirely different clientele.

hi craig,i have had this problem in my area(d.c.-balt) in many of the small bait shops"custom"may mean"off brand or no brand".many of the bigger suppliers have sell outs,bin sales,inventory reduction type sales from time to time on pre built rods or handle assembled rods.there is nothing wrong with these rods and if you were to own a small shop you can make a little profit on them,but they are not custom,as a custom means fit to the client.did you happen to look at the rods in question carefully,i.e.,name brand guides of good quality and for intended purpose,name brand reel seat/bent butt,double wrapped guides on the offshore rods,etc.these are the hallmarks of a custom build vs. a pre built.i will admit there are times when i build rods for shops or consignment,due mostly to my ADD(can't stop building),and i usually do not go hog wild with wraps or fancy seats and guides,but my name is on the rod and i do use the best quality components that i can afford with out pricing the rods out of consumer,but still do not consider these "custom".as for basic pricing,there are to many variables from build to build to break it down that simply,i charge a basic flat rate of 10$+guide price for a simple repair,but a custom 10' hatteras heaver may be as much as 600$ or more

www.southriverrodsllc.com

If the rods are in a tackle shop and was not build to a specific customer they are not custom.
For me a custom rod must have a client associated. How can i build a custom rod if i dont know the client needs, the favorite colours or favorite soccer team or if he wants a special image on is rod?
Just the way i see custom rodbuilding.

Abraço
Nuno Paulino

Lots of chest beating in this thread.......

So if a rod is completely unique to anything else out there, but not built for a specific person it is not considered custom?

I dont agree. I also dont agree with putting other builders work down to showcase my own as truly "custom".

The next time I get told to "do your thing" and the customer doesnt provide specifics on every aspect of the build I will be sure to tell them I read they arent really getting a custom rod..............

Hi Craig,
Some excellent points from all above, especially Nuno.
Quite often someone who has just started will build some rods and put them in a store "on consignment" trying to attract some customers with a ridiculous price. This makes it look like custom rods are cheap to the severe detriment of good builders.
If you want to sell rods which isn't easy you need to work out what your time is worth to you and charge accordingly.
If you make decent rods and want to sell a few then "word of mouth" is your best advertisement.
If you are able to make a bit of a name for yourself then the customers will find you. If you are really good then be careful as too many customers can cause a problem. That can take the enjoeyment out of building and it can become like any other "job" where you are struggling to meet deadlines.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Custom or hand built was not the main theme of the OP's question. He was asking how they priced them so low.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

Adam and Chuck....

Adam, everyone sees it different but if you are building a for the customer that says do your thing,,,you are building a rod for a specific customer and you know what his intentions are for using the rod....it is custom.

Chuck... not his main theme but I think the point has to pushed a little that the price of assembled rods will be lower than a true custom. Usually less personal touches, etc.

As for the main topic..take a closer look at the workmanship on those rods and I bet you will find that the quality is quite a bit lower than what most custom buyers are looking for.

Just my 2 cents take it or leave it.

______________________________________
Super Tight Lines......Don

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2013 08:40AM by roger wilson.

Don,

When I build a rod for a non profit org. to later sell with no customer at the time of the build, but build the rod exactly the way I want it built, its custom. I chose the materials, I decided on the layout, I chose the colors and wrapped it. And if its not custom, where else can I get that same rod?

I think the talk of custom vs handmade is just competitive marketing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2013 08:01PM by Adam Curtis.

Don Morse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Adam and Chuck....
>
> Adam, everyone sees it different but if you are
> building a for the customer that says do your
> thing,,,you are building a rod for a specific
> customer and you know what his intentions are for
> using the rod....it is custom.
>
> Chuck... not his main theme but I think the point
> has to pushed a little that the price of assembled
> rods will be lower than a true custom. Usually
> less personal touches, etc.
>
> As for the main topic..take a closer look at the
> workmanship on those rods and I bet you will find
> that the quality is quite a bit lower than what
> most custom buyers are looking for.
>
> Just my 2 cents take it or leave it.

Don, good point. I understand.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

When I see the word custom I think well made top materials, can be made anyware.
when I see hand made I see a craftman working in a small shop making things with there hands and there hearts and the love of what thay do, and you cant find that any ware else.
I have worked with my hands my whole life and I have been blessed with the smiles on all there faces with what ever I made or built, a piece of a branch turned into a whisel for a kid
or the tree for a table.
Hand made rules.

Curt

Ah ... the old "custom" or "not to be custom" question.

Beauty, and value/price, are in the eyes of the beholder - that's all there is to it. Furthermore, wouldn't everyone here agree that a "rack rod" built by one of our "Masters" of the trade would most definitely be worth more than a "commissioned" rod built by a novice builder.

There is ALWAYS someone selling for more and less. It should NEVER enter into your pricing - this isn't the commodities market.

Estimate the value of your time, experience, artistry, etc. and assess a fair and honest price to it. If you are happy AND the customer is happy, that's all that matters.