I don't want to say that Abus are overpriced, but i have to say that they're well overpriced😁 When Shimano and Daiwa exist, what is the point of going with Abu? They don't offer a single product that is superior to the other two, their higher end reels are as expensive as Japan Made Shimanos and Daiwas, they don't retain their value in the used market, and because of the low yen, Shimanos and especially Daiwas can be had for crazy deals.

How is Abu Garcia surviving against these two?

Abu is a joke now. Not even sure how they are holding on the way the economy is.

Their bread was the Ambassadeur. Well they just started making them in China. I think we all know how that will play out? The butter was the affordability, and marketing towards beginners.

Remember when you would walk into a Walmart and see Black Maxes, Pro Maxes etc.... Complete combos as low as $60, often times included a few baits for free too! I loved mine so much i bought several, easy to use, simple, and dirt cheap.

The new Max X is poorly made, uncomfortable and MSRPs for $90. They also stopped putting them in stores, havent seen a single one in Walmart yet, and they sold a bunch of product only because they were in Walmarts across America. Revos were also less than $80, and most of the rods varied from $50-100.

 

The old school round reel and budget fishing was their thing, and they did it better than anyone. Had the market cornered, and decided to throw it away to compete against Daiwa and Shimano.... Imagine Kia selling a car for as much as a Mercedes, While still only offering Kia quality.

 

The new rods and reels are ridiculously expensive, subpar materials, horrible reviews (especially rods), lack of customer service too. Guys get broken rods and call cs, no one answers. Email? maybe if you are persistent for a few weeks youll get to talk to someone. Their new pro rods MSRP for $200 for example, and they look like garbage. Check it out, the color scheme is something else.....

 

Its Pure Fishings fault, look at Spiderwire. The most hated on braid there is. Berkley? Lures cost $10 and have bills breaking constantly, or they are in the hot seat for copying another bait for this years i cast. Fenwick? Rods snap like twigs. Pfleuger? Terrible reviews, the life long users ditched them and couldnt take it anymore.

No one buys a plastic Abu reel for $120, or an aluminum framed one for $200 over a Tatula, LFS, SLX, Curado, Zillion, etc.... Nor will they pay $120-200 for rods when Dobyns, Falcon, Shimano, and Daiwa are the same price.

Im very fond of the Abu combos, rods, and reels i own. They have great memories, and shaped my bass fishing to what it is today. But i cant imagine ill ever buy another one of their products, especially for the outrageous prices they ask. And the lack of quality they currently offer. Pure Fishing is the reason so many worried when Dobyns got bought, and this is why.

 

 

Lews is the new Abu, tons of marketing to beginners. Stocking DSG and Walmarts to the max, promoting all over social media/youtube. Offering affordable rods and reels, doing sales all the time. Thats why so many people are buying Lews, even though Shimanos and Daiwas are often better.

why would other people's money or interests matter to you

 

 

I don't buy Abu anymore. I bought alot of them before my young uneducated self tried Shimano & Daiwa. 

Nobody pays full retail for an Abu or Lews. You can usually get them at least 20% off year round from certain retailers. The STX at $160 and SX at $120 are good buys. I’ve had more problems with Shimano and Daiwa in that price range over the last 5 years. Now if you’re talking over $200 then I agree. Just get a zillion, met, or bantam. 

I’m not really sure how to take that. 
so do you really mean why buy any brand other than Diawa or Shimano?

I guess I have many different brands of reels. I like trying different equipment.

I have not personally been so impressed by my Diawa and Shimano reels that I think everything else is inferior. Then again , I don’t buy the high end stuff. 
To each their own, it doesn’t really matter to me what other people prefer.

My first “good” baitcaster was a gen 4 Revo SX. I thought the Abus looked cool and I found a nice Veritas to pair it with. I thought that combo was the bees knees. That was until it went geary on me (probably due to my bad habit at the time of locking down the drag and pulling straight back to break free from snags)

 

Looking back it casted well, was smooth, and probably compared well to a $100 Shimano or Daiwa. Abus aren’t bad reels, there are plenty of worse options, but most experienced anglers know that there are 3 better brands and stick with those. They are however, frequently on sale, have a few gems in their lineup, and are “eye catching” to some novice anglers like I was. Their new reels look pretty ugly to me though and I’m sure that isn’t helping their case either.

 

I ended up trading that Revo in a couple of years later at the BPS trade in event and got a Chronarch with it

8 hours ago, Dan N said:

I’m not really sure how to take that. 
so do you really mean why buy any brand other than Diawa or Shimano?

I guess I have many different brands of reels. I like trying different equipment.

I have not personally been so impressed by my Diawa and Shimano reels that I think everything else is inferior. Then again , I don’t buy the high end stuff. 
To each their own, it doesn’t really matter to me what other people prefer.

No, just Abu in particular because they're part of the "big 3".

10 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Imagine Kia selling a car for as much as a Mercedes, While still only offering Kia quality.

lol... are you talking about Dodge/jeep?? 

 

That is a great analogy 

 

Why would you buy an ABU over a Shimano or a Daiwa?

 

Is this a trick Question ? 

A-Jay

I’m going to throw in my .02 in. So I’ve purchased an Abu Garcia and was gifted one. The gifted reel was/is a Revo X in a 5.4:1 gear ratio and at the time I knew nothing about the JDM market, the second is a Revo ALF in a 6.4:1 gear ratio I purchased on a close out deal from Tackle Warehouse. I will also add I’m a bit of a budget buyer and given the chance to do it again I would probably not buy/ask for the Revo X but it has and continues to serve it’s intended use. I will add both of my reels are left handed retrieve and when I received the Revo there weren’t a whole lot of options for a 5 speed left handed retrieve at least in the domestic market. As for the Revo ALF in my opinion it’s every bit as nice as my Tatulas and being a more compact frame it was and continues to be one of my favorite purchases.

14 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

why would other people's money or interests matter to you

 

This is a fishing forum, you know where someone comes to ask a question....

And i know for a fact peoples money and interests have mattered to you at one point or another.

 

It seems a lot of people so far missed the actual question. Its not " why would you ever buy an Abu"

 

Its why pay $120 for a plastic framed Revo when an LFS is $100, SLX is $100, Fuego CT is $120.

Why pay $200 for their pro rods when you can buy a fantastic quality, highly praised and reviewed Dobyns, Falcon, Daiwa, Shimano, Lews, many many others that are between $100-200. 

 

Maybe hes curious what hes missing? Is it the way the reel looks? The way it palms in the hand? How it feels? A life long Abu user just wanting to keep buying reels from the company he did decades ago? Maybe they have good sales that undercut a rod/reel from Daiwa or Shimano by 50%. Or is it the person just had nothing but issues with Daiwas and Shimanos and Abu's gave them good results.

 

No rational person pays 25, 50, 100% more for something else for no reason, so hes asking why? What makes them special and worth paying more than a Daiwa or Shimano?

4 hours ago, Gera said:

lol... are you talking about Dodge/jeep?? 

 

That is a great analogy 

 

Honestly shouldve just used Dodge, but it was late and i was tired. Their Durango RT was $42,000 a few years ago, now its $72,000.

TRX $72,000, now any remaining ones are $130,000. And they want $40-50k for the Hornet😂 But ive seen a few Kia's pushing that $60-70k mark too.

3 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

I will also add I’m a bit of a budget buyer and given the chance to do it again I would probably not buy/ask for the Revo X but it has and continues to serve it’s intended use.

Abu used to run sales frequently, they were the budget fishermans brand. Now they reduced sales, increased price, while keeping quality the same or less. Which is more than likely why the OP is asking this question.

well you just returned to block - I won't read your crap again.  Would that you were man enough to say you to my face. 

When people ask for a recommendation, may offer one on topic if I have one.  

By definition, offering unsolicited advice defines control freak, dumb control freak is nutso.  

There's a big difference between making a positive contribution on the forum and randomly trolling with a negative opinion, such as the premise of this thread OP.  

 

20 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Honestly shouldve just used Dodge, but it was late and i was tired. Their Durango RT was $42,000 a few years ago, now its $72,000.

TRX $72,000, now any remaining ones are $130,000. And they want $40-50k for the Hornet😂 But ive seen a few Kia's pushing that $60-70k mark too.

 

Their case should be studied for years on how to destroy a brand... Somehow, Previous Stellantis CEO believed that by a twist of his wand he could convert their US market vehicles to be high end ones..  what??? complete unawareness of their brand position in the market.

 

 

11 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

well you just returned to block - I won't read your crap again. 

 

Is there a way to block users here? Asking for a friend.....

"their higher end reels are as expensive as Japan Made Shimanos and Daiwas"

 

I just looked at some casting reels on the TW site. ABU has a $550, but Daiwas run up to $750 and Shimanos up to $600. It's all play money past about $250 or $300. Play, as in it's a hobby and I'm blowing my play money budget on it (if I actually limited myself to a budget.) I could be down at the bowling alley every week spending $75 on three games, shoes, a burger and a pitcher of beer, but I don't. Or maybe it would be $100 these days from what my wife spends to take our 2 little grandsons bowling once a month.

 

I bought 3 ABU Premiers in 2012 and they are still fine reels. Meanwhile I have purchased more Daiwa Steez than Shimano Metanium and certainly prefer the Steez variations more than the Metaniums even with the brass gears I added.

www.abugarcia.com/products/max-x-baitcast-combo?currency=USD&variant=42039890083979&stkn=846e8546609e&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqL28BhCrARIsACYJvkdwvB4aFts6EH8EA5rF8HsehDWSbUMY6mGdeujaSA7WsjILfxf1PaYaAkE_EALw_wcB

 

Max X Baitcast Combo,  7'  MH  Right

$54.99 $89.99

The banner on the home page says free shipping on orders over $50  and to see details.

I’m going to add on to my original answer. Again at the time of receiving my Revo X I held quite a few different reels and felt then as I do now the Abu offered quite a bit of reel for the price, with that said I preferred and still do the Daiwa braking system to that of the Abu and or the Lews LFS that as I’ve said before just doesn’t fit right in my hands and if they offered a 5 speed Fuego or Tatula CT I would have probably ended up with one of them instead. As far as being a plastic framed reel I can assure you it’s not and is an aluminum frame with carbon/plastic side plates which is quite normal even in the Daiwa/Shimano lines and fits really nicely in my hands to boot. Also as was shared with me by ironically @bulldog1935 the Revo X platform was used by the aftermarket company ZPI to produce the “Alcance” a reel that bulldog owns and hey if it’s good enough for them it’s definitely more than good enough for me. As far as my saying I wouldn’t purchase the Abu currently it’s because of this site that I’ve discovered purchasing from Japan and I really do prefer Daiwa although I’m using casting reels from 6 different companies currently. I will say the new Abu Revo’s do feel good in hand but I’m also just as inclined to want to try a Sevin branded reel as they also fit in my hand. Oh how I need to win the lottery 😜

4 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

As far as being a plastic framed reel I can assure you it’s not and is an aluminum frame with carbon/plastic side plates which is quite normal even in the Daiwa/Shimano lines

I think we might be talking about two different Revo X's. Im talking about the 5th gen with an all carbon frame, not the 4th which was aluminum. The reels from Daiwa and Shimano with plastic/carbon frames that are equivalent (CC80 CR80 Caius) cost $70-80. Which is $50 less. OP's original point makes sense when you start to compare prices.

The Abu Revo 4th gen was a steal and a heck of a deal back then, because it would be sold regularly on sale for $80. So just a few years ago Abu was miles ahead of both competitors selling there plastic junk for the same price. (Yes thats right, an aluminum framed Abu was the same price as the big 2's plastic junk) Abu shouldve took the win, and stayed being the budget fishermans company. Because they were the only game in town, and they had the win handed to them.

4 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

and fits really nicely in my hands

Which matters more than we think, i hate my Tatula 150 because it feels like im holding a brick.

 

 

Its interesting theres so much controversy here, i know the old school Abu fanboys (1 comes to mind in particular) were upset by this thread and called it trolling. Blocking a guy for stating a fact Abu costs more than other brands? Okay then.

And that the OP and i are the devil for saying anything about it, but its the truth. Whether people like it or not.

Do Abu reels still offer something to the table? Yes absolutely. But they dont offer anything to back up the steep price increase compared to what they were selling for and whats already on the market.

On sale Abu reels are still very good for the money, like the Rexo SX on Amazon right now for $120. Its actually $115. Heck of a deal compared to even the JDM Daiwas and Shimanos. And because i like the design and color im really thinking about buying one. But this is a rarity today, as Abu keeps doing less and less sales and trying to sell only for MSRP most of the time now.

 

I personally love all the Abu products i have, even got a t shirt and a few hats. But im not going to let my love for my older rods and reels keep me from seeing the truth. A $10 pizza is a $10 pizza, no matter how much the fanboys tell you its worth $20.

 

Imagine if Daiwa took the Tatula CT and sold it for $210.

Lews the LFS for $150.

Shimano the SLX XT for $180.

(US and JDM prices)

Id be boycotting them too. Its nothing personal against Abus products (well minus the rods), its against the prices.

 

Shimano, Daiwa, Lews, and Abu all have their issues, strenghts, and weaknesses. And each one brings something different.

But would anyone here actually buy a 5th Gen Revo SX that MSRP's for $170, Revo STX $230, Zata $190, Rocket $330, Winch $230, Zenon X $350. Over a Tatula 100 from Japan for $110? Tatula CT from the US for $150, SLX XT for $125? JDM Zillion for $210? JDM Zillion HD $240?

 

Or on the low end, would anyone pay $120 for the Revo X over the LFS $100, SLX $100, Fuego Ct $120?

 

Some might because they might just love the reels, whether its looks, fit and finish, or how it feels, but for the majority if they can get more for less they will go that route.

@MediumMouthBass I was definitely referring to the 4th generation Revo X and to be perfectly honest I didn’t even realize the 5th or newer 🤔 generation was made from carbon throughout.  With that said I do realize the Seven branded reel is made from carbon/plastic even though I will admit I would rather have an aluminum frame. At very least Seven doesn’t seem to be trying to hide that fact under a really nice paint job. I will add that lot of my personal preference for Daiwa comes from both their braking systems and what I perceive as a better built product vs what the materials used are and as I’ve already stated elsewhere I don’t really care where it’s being manufactured as long as it doesn’t have a ton of notable problems. But with that said I’d definitely take an SLX over the new Revo X and or the Seven at the current prices.

1 hour ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I think we might be talking about two different Revo X's. Im talking about the 5th gen with an all carbon frame, not the 4th which was aluminum. 

 

Or on the low end, would anyone pay $120 for the Revo X over the LFS $100, SLX $100, Fuego Ct $120?

 

Some might because they might just love the reels, whether its looks, fit and finish, or how it feels, but for the majority if they can get more for less they will go that route.

With that said I can see all sides of this debate and I’m enjoying reading all of the different responses. 

3 hours ago, Eric 26 said:

But with that said I’d definitely take an SLX over the new Revo X and or the Seven at the current prices.

4 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

As would i, but if you or anyone else on here are interested in some heavily marked down Abu products check out my post in the latest sale thread. Makes them very affordable and comparable to the offerings from Daiwa/Shimano/Lews

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Why would you buy an ABU over a Shimano or a Daiwa?

 

Is this a trick Question ? 

A-Jay

Do you like bantams? 

19 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

Do you like bantams? 

As of now, I'm undecided.

But it's looking pretty good.

Btw, how's that Electroconvulsive therapy going ? 

A-Jay

20 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Why would you buy an ABU over a Shimano or a Daiwa?

 

Is this a trick Question ? 

A-Jay

Seems to me, it wasn't all that long ago I remember you posting that were thinking about they by the Bantam and wanted people's feedback.

 

I take it you liked it pretty well!! 🤣🤣