OK Tom, what is ROD geeks? ;>)

I'd rather be fishing!!

Click on the link to the left.

"A line of high performance fishing rod blanks designed by the experts at the St. Croix fishing rod company and sold factory direct to custom rod makers."

About 2-1/2 years ago I got a phone call from Bob Penicka who is the operator of Axiom North America, maker of rods and blanks from their plant in Mexico. They are partnered with St. Croix in some form or fashion. Bob was previously the president of Callaway Golf Company.

Bob explained that he was thinking about getting into the blank business, selling direct (for reasons he later explained) and asked what I thought about such a venture. I gave him the same answer I give everybody who asks me about getting into the rod blank/component manufacturing/distributing business - “You’ve got rocks in your head. This industry is covered up with duplicate products, dealers, etc. Margins are slim and nobody is making any real money. Forget it. Go into the donut business and you’ll do better. The rod building blank and component business is a losing proposition all the way around.”

Then he explained that he planned to offer custom colors, on demand, with no quantity requirements, for a $15 upcharge and could deliver the product in two weeks, direct. And... the product was one that rod builders already knew and trusted. Plus, his company was already making a rod line and selling those direct and had the infrastructure in place to sell consumer direct. He seemed to have really done his homework in an industry where many don't.

At that point I told him that if he could actually do all that he claimed, then he’d have a niche that might allow him to grind out some market share in this otherwise over-saturated “me too” market.

He didn’t rush, he spent two years getting his ducks in a row and debuted the company at the 2014 International Custom Rod Building Exposition. He had a great show and to my knowledge, has been able to do what he said he was going to do. If you’ll note the new Rodgeeks ad in the latest RodMaker, they’re now expanding into additional 2-piece and fly rod models.

Time will tell how Rodgeeks eventually does, but Bob has thus far impressed me with his business acumen.

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

Thanks for the information Tom. I guess I missed the ROD geeks name in the sponsors list. Looking through the available blanks there seem to be few that I have customers for.

This is where I get confused. I always thought that St. Croix's higher line blanks were made in the USA. Now where does "higher line" start at? I used to think SC3 and above. Now I'm getting the impression that SC2 and SC3 are made in Mexico by Axiom?

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Russell,
Does it really matter what country items are made in as long as they do the job that the final user wants them to do?

Be safe

When you run a large buisness and have to pay the labor costs ( HERE IN THE STATES )
You too will go Overseas
The products are made with QUALITY
If not Complain to them And they will correct it

Bill - willierods.com

I agree with Roger. I buy blanks from dealers that advertise on this forum and never give a second thought of where the blanks are made. I am old enough to remember when people laughed at you if you drove a Japanese car. I now wish that I could afford a Lexus.

I still would love to have a 70 chevy - Rebuilt

Bill - willierods.com

Where things are made does matter to me. I can't find a shirt at most stores that is made in the USA. The same with most everything else. When it comes to rod blanks, I like to stick with our USA made blanks by companies that have a good reputation, that I have dealt with before and I am assured of the quality I will get. Many US companies were driven out of business by foreign companies. Maybe some did not keep up with times, but most were put out of business because of cheap labor and prices that they could not compete with.

Hi,

Rod Geeks produces great blanks. I have about 20 models in the shop presently. The quality is excellent and they delivered in 2 weeks as they stated. The finish and colors are beautiful. My friend is building on them with success. As soon as I get all the fluke orders filled I will have time to build demo rods on the RodGeek blanks. Am looking forward to fishing them.

Capt Neil Faulkner

So far I have only bought nine. They are as functional as they are beautiful and my customers love them. The ability to build Custom rods on Carbon 2 and Carbon 4 blanks with the 13 colors offered gives me endless possibilities ! And I will bet, just like the addition of two piece and fly rods, you may see more colors in the future. Titanium ??

Tom

Tomscustomrods.com

Well, since they have so many advocates I may have to check them out further and perhaps give them a try if they make blanks for salmon and steelhead fishing. So far I don't see anything that would qualify in their line up that would qualify.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2014 11:43PM by Randolph Ruwe.

Hi,

Patience! It takes time for a new company to design and produce all the products that will eventually be needed. I am sure that they are designing blanks that we will find out about when they are ready. When that happens you will be glad you wited.

Capt Neil Faulkner

I believe in buying American where ever possible. More important then what I believe my customers want "made in the usa". That said I also need a to sell the best product for what my customer needs. If no American made productfits the nitch then I will fill the bill with outside products. I do know many customers that will gladly pay extra for us made.

Actually, I care less about where the blank is made than about any information I give out is accurate. I used to think I was correct in saying St. Croix's blanks were made in America. Now I don't know which ones are and aren't (if I ever did).

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Saying they are made in North America would be correct.

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

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but are these all two piece blanks, or are there also one piece?

Not a stupid question. Most are one piece offered in two versions. A carbon 2 and a carbon 4 similiar to the St Croix SCll and SClV in quality of graphite.

If you click on Rodgeeks on the left it will take you to their website. Then go to the tag Blanks at the top. At the bottom of the rods listed are the ones they offer in two piece, the rest are one piece.

Tom

Just because Carbon 2 and Carbon 4 might be similar to St. Croix SCII and St. Croix SCIV respectively, doesn't make them the same rod blank. Just like many companies that offer their products as their own and then sell similar products as private label, but that does not make them the same product. I'm not saying they are different and I'm also not saying they are the same rods between the two. I also find it interesting that for the higher priced rods (Carbon 4 and SCIV's) that the price is so much different. I know one company doesn't have any middle man to pay, but that still leaves a big difference between the two. The only way that I can rationalize this is they are not the same blank meaning maybe same base carbon/graphite, but different in technologies that make up the rest of the blank.

What are your thoughts?

Chester

May your line be tight and your beverages be cold!