I don’t think it has anything to do with quality. I can get a lews mach 2 combo rod and reel for $150 but if I were to get the same items but separate it would cost me a total of $230. Bout 130 for the reel, and 80 for the rod and only difference is, is that the reel doesn’t come In a box. Got the Mach 2 combo and it works just fine, just as well as the one I got separately.