5 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Got mine yesterday.  Thanks, @IndianaOutdoors.  Box looked like it had been packed by a six year old and smacked around the playground for a couple days, but rod seems perfect despite the box. Same great handle as my other....great balance and feel.  This might supplant my other ETSM as my favorite rod. 

Box? Mine came in a tube with plenty of packing paper. Glad the rod is ok.  What reel did you pair it with?

Yes, it came in a triangular thinish cardboard box.  

Was going to put on the Tatula from the rod it is 'replacing', but I impulse-bought a Quantum Smoke on sale from Cabela's today, so when that arrives, it is going on the new rod.  I have one Smoke already and absolutely love it.

Mine came but I had to unfortunately return them.  They just didn't fit right with the reels.  The reel seats were super tight (yes I know the cork will mold into them eventually) and on one, the back split grip blank was scratched pretty bad.  They are refunding me but mine were shipped in a thick cardboard tube with packing so they couldn't move.  They were returned the same way they came.  Strangely, they (FFO) called me to process the return since they don't store info in their system.  The girl I talked to was super nice so just in case you have to return them, they were more than helpful.