Anyone ever purchase a rod or reel from China? When going on Ebay to look for a new reel, there are a lot of options for what look like awesome reels, but they're from China. I have bought many other products, not necessarily fishing products, from China and all but a memory card came perfect and just how it was described. Any suggestions?

 

1 hour ago, Ridi620 said:

Anyone ever purchase a rod or reel from China? When going on Ebay to look for a new reel, there are a lot of options for what look like awesome reels, but they're from China. I have bought many other products, not necessarily fishing products, from China and all but a memory card came perfect and just how it was described. Any suggestions?

I bought a KastKing "Royale Legend" Chinese 12BB bait caster for thirty-five bucks, just to try it.  I think it was pretty much a waste of money.  I would recommend spending at least a hundred bucks on a name-brand reel, even if it means waiting to save up the money.  I have two Daiwa Tatulas I bought new for $92 each and I honestly enjoy them as much as other reels I have costing two or three times as much.

"Made in China" is not a guarantee of a sub-par product, but I don't think I'll mess with any more of those reels until one with a proven value is identified.

Tight lines,

Bob

I seen a 10 BB reel for $25 on Amazon and had to order one to find out what it was all about. Its pure junk. Flexes a lot when you catch a fish, does not cast worth a dang, brake system is a joke. Do your self a favor and just spend the extra money and pick up something decent.

Bought 2 last spring from different people on E-bay. Both were 10 BB, one red, the other white. Put 10 LB braid on both reels and put on medium action rods. The red reel on first cast stripped the gears while I was reeling the crank bait in. The white one has done good, fished most of the year, never had caught a large bass on it to see if it will fail me. Won't waste my money on these reels again.

hahah that definitely answers my questions. Going to pass this time around. Thanks Ya'll

Yeah don't even waste your money or time. These reels are not made in the main manf. plants in China like some of Pure fishing or some BPS reels. Some of the PQ were made in China and some in Korea. Not to say you cannot get a good reel made from China but obvious issues arise when you are buying an unknown manf. reel without much warranty to stand behind it or company to shoulder the blame if it does fail

The problem is not where it was made but by whom it was made. My Daiwa Revros 2004 is made in China, yeah, but it´s made by Daiwa, not by some obscure manufacturer you know nothing about.

I think they try to fool people into thinking it is decent quality by saying it has a high number of bearings, but that is never a solid measure of quality.  

Higher bearing count does not equal quality!

The Shimano Zodias rod is made in China. I wouldn't be afraid to purchase that rod. As for reels just like Raul said... If it's from a top company but made in China it's still a quality product. All those others for $25 or so I would skip over. 

Chinese food and ladles are the only Chinese items I purchase. 

I bought a Powell Rod from my local tackle store, it's made in china. Very well made rod. 

9 hours ago, Redlinerobert said:

Chinese food and ladles are the only Chinese items I purchase. 

Uh, that made me laugh.... 

 

My Megabass Orochi xx was made in china.

The short list would be reels not made in China or with parts made in China.

Tom

Ok again. Raul had it right. The country where the rod is made has nothing to do with the quality. Quality is all based on the PRODUCT MANAGER. The person who developed the rod  or reel had to approve it before it left the factory. Poor quality is the Product Managers fault. Not the factory or the country. A good Product Manager can develop great products in even the worse factory in China if he/she knows what they are doing. Even $1000 megabass rods are made in China. And all Fuji Guides are made in China. 

13 hours ago, Redlinerobert said:

Chinese food and ladles are the only Chinese items I purchase. 

That's Racist. 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

The short list would be reels not made in China or with parts made in China.

Tom

Then you would not be able to buy a reel. 

13 hours ago, Incheon Basser said:

 

Then you would not be able to buy a reel. 

That's not correct at all. The best reels are made in Japan. 

25 minutes ago, 5fishlimit said:

That's not correct at all. The best reels are made in Japan. 

Just because a reel is made in japan doesn't necessarily mean all the parts were made in japan