Rant: Okuma

[tackdriver]

I am going to keep this relatively short..


I own 3 Okuma spinning reels and want to have them serviced. Err, wanted to.. A friend told me that they service reels fairly cheap and also have a program where you can upgrade your existing reels.

To make a long story short: I called Okuma about the servicing of the reels and the possibility of upgrading them. The rep tells me that they will not take them as trades as an upgrade and gives me an ASTRONOMICAL quote to service the three reels. (I could buy a new 525 mag for the cost of the service)

I can honestly say that I am not really happy. The reels need a lot of work despite my best efforts to keep them in good shape. And I just can't believe that they don't care about their customers enough to offer reasonable $$ servicing of the reels.

Once again I spoke to my friend and he insisted that they do in fact upgrade reels for small fees. Anyone have any experience with this? :--|

[jimmy z]

I don't know how mechanically inclined you are, but I do all of the work/service/repair, on all of my own stuff. That includes rods.
Maybe it's something to get into to, if that's your bag.:)

[tackdriver]

I have taken them all apart, greased, lubed buffed and polished what I could. But there are a few parts which are pitted and rotted from the salt despite my best efforts to keep them clean. Just saying, kinda blows my faith in okuma. Especially after reading all these awesome reports of how great shimano takes care of their customers.

[jimmy z]

I hear ya. I have had a few Okuma's over the years, and one thing I know about 'em, is that they have to be lubed after an outing.
Did you try to get the parts on your own?

[bstarling]

I've had limited interactions with the Okuma folks, but did need a ball bearing for a Convector. I called them and they sent it by mail for no charge.

Bill

[Billy J]

penn is the way to go

[tackdriver]

I've had limited interactions with the Okuma folks, but did need a ball bearing for a Convector. I called them and they sent it by mail for no charge.

Bill

You're lucky!

I am happy that they helped someone out. It would appear that I could go and buy three more Okuma salina reels for the same price it would cost to fix the ones I have(local store has em on sale). I don't know if the rep was having a bad day, or just didn't want to help. I just felt as though i was being told to "go jump off a cliff".

One might think that they would want to take care of a customer who has bought several of their products to ensure future business.. Not the case here.

[SeaSalt]

I've had great experiences with my Okuma. Sent in my reel with bent shaft and they fixed it free of charge...

thats weird...

[sprtsracer]

I am going to keep this relatively short..


I own 3 Okuma spinning reels and want to have them serviced. Err, wanted to.. A friend told me that they service reels fairly cheap and also have a program where you can upgrade your existing reels.

To make a long story short: I called Okuma about the servicing of the reels and the possibility of upgrading them. The rep tells me that they will not take them as trades as an upgrade and gives me an ASTRONOMICAL quote to service the three reels. (I could buy a new 525 mag for the cost of the service)

I can honestly say that I am not really happy. The reels need a lot of work despite my best efforts to keep them in good shape. And I just can't believe that they don't care about their customers enough to offer reasonable $$ servicing of the reels.

Once again I spoke to my friend and he insisted that they do in fact upgrade reels for small fees. Anyone have any experience with this? :--|

Give these guys a call. They are your state's authorized factory warranty for Okuma. You may get a better deal.

CAROLINA REELS - 1017 BERN CIRCLE ANDERSON, S. CAROLINA. 29626 (864)231-5914
WEB: www.carolinareels.com EMAIL: carolinareels@aol.com

As far as your friend, ask him where he got his reels. I think it's Dicks Sporting Goods that has a policy like that. If he got them there, it's a store incentive, not an Okuma Factory policy.

[saltandsand]

As far as your friend, ask him where he got his reels. I think it's Dicks Sporting Goods that has a policy like that. If he got them there, it's a store incentive, not an Okuma Factory policy.

I'd never heard of a policy like this until seeing this thread. Never thought to ask since I considered fishing equipment to be "buy it and it's yours to use or resell" type of equipment.

[AL_N_VB]

I'd never heard of a policy like this until seeing this thread. Never thought to ask since I considered fishing equipment to be "buy it and it's yours to use or resell" type of equipment.

how is this advice helping this thread?


Please think before you type.

The Okuma reel could have been just bought or the reel could have a Dick's replacement warrenty....

I used to work for Dicks and if you bought the warrenty replacement plan you could trade in your used, broken reel, within 365 days of purchase...no questions asked. Just make sure you have your receipt.


Unfortunately if the reel is the AV65 or AV85...its probably shot. I had both and after 1 season the plastic parts and bearings inside froze up. Braid and them reels do not play well together.
No matter how much TLC you gave em...the Okuma quality will not measure up to a mid level Daiwa ( tierra) or mid level Shimano spinning reel.

[atblis]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saltandsand View Post
I'd never heard of a policy like this until seeing this thread. Never thought to ask since I considered fishing equipment to be "buy it and it's yours to use or resell" type of equipment.

how is this advice helping this thread?
I was actually about to make the same comment as saltandsand. The point is that he is pissed off about not getting a service that I and apparently others have never heard of. Basically being pissed off that they won't let him "upgrade" is unreasonable. What the heck company does that anyways?

Not being able to get parts is understandably frustrating, but I thought it was understood that Okuma reals are intended to be disposable. They might someday not be true (everybody starts somewhere), but that day hasn't occurred yet AFAIK or care.

Poke around on the net. Try searching for "Okuma reel parts" on the net.
http://www.mikesreelrepair.com/index.php?cPath=21_26
http://www.buckosparts.com/Serv02.htm
http://www.hickystackleshop.net/okuma_1.html
etc.
etc.