50 to 100 times a year really isnt a test of durability is it?  I fish twice a day most days, at least 5 days a week once a day.  I lost thousands of $ spending it on curado/stradic and higher model shimanos. Sarcastic customer service techs and their inability to provide parts a year after D became E or F became H, made them $ down the toilet.  

I take back Mitchell being so perfect.  Long ago Mitchell was bought out & remanufactured to startup problems.  NO counterweight was installed. They said they were having a problem.  Asked if I could install the weight or would need to send it back. I did the simple installation.

 

They had a CORRECT FIX READY & worked to help me..........   At 77 I can not wait a year or more for repairs. 

I take back Mitchell being so perfect.  Long ago Mitchell was bought out & remanufactured to startup problems.  NO counterweight was installed. They said they were having a problem.  Asked if I could install the weight or would need to send it back. I did the simple installation.

 

They had a CORRECT FIX READY & worked to help me..........   At 77 I can not wait a year or more for repairs. 

You ought to google mitchell museum.  A forum of really nice guys, all specializing in old Mitchells. Lots of tutorials and interesting Mitchell history.  I got knowledge there to help me make a few smart buys off ebay on a couple prisitine 300's

50 to 100 times a year really isnt a test of durability is it?  I fish twice a day most days, at least 5 days a week once a day.  I lost thousands of $ spending it on curado/stradic and higher model shimanos. Sarcastic customer service techs and their inability to provide parts a year after D became E or F became H, made them $ down the toilet.  

 

I have been fishing Shimano reels since 1997. One of my reels (CTE200GT) is on my dedicated striper rig. Between big fish and

10,000 ton boulders, this reel has been through 100 years of comparable "bass fishing". I have had it serviced occasionally, but

the reports come back as good or better than new.

 

Although I have generally worked with sponsors (DVT and The Reel Mechanic), I have also worked with Dan Thornburn (Bantam 1),

Product Support Specialist for Shimano America Corp. The level of professionalism demonstrated by this man is representative of all 

my dealings with the company. I consider Shimano's Customer Service the Gold Standard.

I will say it.  ALL reels are NORMALLY designed to be great. The reject ratio is usually not that high for any run.  But if the outspoken person gets a reject ??

 

It will be posted all over the web.

 

So get lucky. Get a good one & enjoy fishing.

0119, I didn't ask if you were happy, I stated that I was happy with the quality of my Shimano reels. You can buy what ever you want. I am also happy with how much I fish, It doesn't make me unable to offer an opinion because I don't fish as much as you do. See how easy that was. Each of us is allowed to voice an opinion on this site.

Two reels I have seen last a long time for me with a lot of use are the Chronarch 200e (Curado 200e for me but same reel) and a Shimano Symetre.  I know some folks will probably cry foul on these selections but they have held up for me and I really don't "maintain" my reels just add a little oil here and there on the casters.

0119, I didn't ask if you were happy, I stated that I was happy with the quality of my Shimano reels. You can buy what ever you want. I am also happy with how much I fish, It doesn't make me unable to offer an opinion because I don't fish as much as you do. See how easy that was. Each of us is allowed to voice an opinion on this site.

Yup and I voiced mine

I have been fishing Shimano reels since 1997. One of my reels (CTE200GT) is on my dedicated striper rig. Between big fish and

10,000 ton boulders, this reel has been through 100 years of comparable "bass fishing". I have had it serviced occasionally, but

the reports come back as good or better than new.

 

Although I have generally worked with sponsors (DVT and The Reel Mechanic), I have also worked with Dan Thornburn (Bantam 1),

Product Support Specialist for Shimano America Corp. The level of professionalism demonstrated by this man is representative of all 

my dealings with the company. I consider Shimano's Customer Service the Gold Standard.

 

From Mitchell caps through Penn Internationals, there are very few reel brands I haven't owned.

Believe me, that statement is not meant to be boastful, and frankly I find it more embarrassing than elating.

In any case, my two favorite reel brands ultimately boiled down to Shimano and Daiwa.

Of late however, I've had some issues with Daiwa reels (namely: Advantage & Steez),

So in my mind at least, Shimano sits on top of the heap. 

I have no opinion or knowledge regarding Shimano's warranties or tech support,

simply because I've never had the need for either. 

 

Roger