I don't know who can afford to spend this much on a fishing reel. It's ridiculously more expensive than it is buying from Japan.

Tacklewarehouse prices-

$750 for a Steez A. What the hell???
$700 for the new Ryoga in 150 size.
$800 for a Steez SV Light
$800 for the 24 Steez SV TW
$450 for the 21 Daiwa Zillion
$500 for the Aldebaran BFS
$500 for the 2018 Aldebaran MGL (mega ripoff for what you're getting)
$540 for the Met DC
$490 for the Metanium 150B

These prices are out of this world. How can anybody not pruchase directly from Japan when they're this ridiculous?

6 minutes ago, WetBlanket said:

How can anybody not pruchase directly from Japan

Because the average consumer doesn't even know this is an option

In my country the price of Metanium B is more or less than USD 1000. That is true insane. I buy directly from Japan

1 minute ago, Peacedivision said:

Because the average consumer doesn't even know this is an option

Probably right, but i feel like somebody that is looking to buy flagship/high end gear, should be more knowledeable, especially nowadays.

5 minutes ago, Peacedivision said:

Because the average consumer doesn't even know this is an option

I for one didn’t know until I read it on here, although I’m sure someone on YouTube is sharing the same information.

Don't worry, they made it more difficult to buy from Japan too.

14 minutes ago, WetBlanket said:

Probably right, but i feel like somebody that is looking to buy flagship/high end gear, should be more knowledeable, especially nowadays.

When I worked in the industry, I was shocked where this equipment actually went. I would bet that 50% or better of high end equipment goes to folks who have means, but no knowledge. They just want the “best” because they purchase the best of everything. I had guys that would buy an entire high end rod series in every configuration offered, setup with the nicest reels. Then they’d come to fish; and it would become painfully obvious they had far more money than fishing experience.

Guiding was the same way. About half of the guys just wanted a picture of a trophy fish for their office, and didn’t care how they got it. There’s many a dentist office wall sporting a picture of the dentist holding a trophy fish I caught and handed him by request. Boring clients if you ask me. I always preferred the guy who saved his pennies to go out for one day and learn patterns of our water with a guide, then fished it on his own the rest of the week. That dude was always a good time, and felt more like fishing with a buddy than a client. And as a bonus, that guy could generally cast well, and execute what you showed him. Some of those guys got invites to join us to fish in our free time, while we couldn’t get away from Dr. Dumb fast enough. Those guys always purchased mid level equipment that offered the best value for the money, because they were well informed consumers of their hobby.

I’m sure Tackle Warehouse does quite well on selling high end gear. Ignorance and wealth are not mutually exclusive.

52 minutes ago, Peacedivision said:

Because the average consumer doesn't even know this is an option

Some do and still purchase locally- my brother is one of them. He gets stuff at the Spring Classic, fishing shows, etc. He likes to shop in person.

@KP Duty Yeah I'm still the same with rods. I have no issue importing reels and baits/terminal but I would be really nervous about breaking an imported rod with no US warranty.

You didn't mention the Stella FK at $900

Ya, prices are high. They're higher for everything these days....MUCH higher. But what can you do about it?

37 minutes ago, Glenn said:

......"Ya, prices are high. They're higher for everything these days....MUCH higher. But what can you do about it?"

Gotta love it! A question I can't answer without breaking a rule! 😇

Sooooooo........ staying on the right side of the rules!

1 hour ago, Peacedivision said:

I have no issue importing reels and baits/terminal but I would be really nervous about breaking an imported rod with no US warranty.

I don't worry about warranties on that kind of stuff because they've already priced in the warranty so I'd have to break enough rods over time to overcome the extra expense they charged for the privilege. Maybe I've just been lucky, I don't know. I can say most of the rods I've ever broken have come down to user error, and it's generally only the cheaper ones that break for any other reason.

4 hours ago, WetBlanket said:

I don't know who can afford to spend this much on a fishing reel. It's ridiculously more expensive than it is buying from Japan.

Tacklewarehouse prices-

$750 for a Steez A. What the hell???
$700 for the new Ryoga in 150 size.
$800 for a Steez SV Light
$800 for the 24 Steez SV TW
$450 for the 21 Daiwa Zillion
$500 for the Aldebaran BFS
$500 for the 2018 Aldebaran MGL (mega ripoff for what you're getting)
$540 for the Met DC
$490 for the Metanium 150B

These prices are out of this world. How can anybody not pruchase directly from Japan when they're this ridiculous?

Let’s see the Canadian prices lol

Tackle bros 🤦🏻‍♂️

3 hours ago, Glenn said:

You didn't mention the Stella FK at $900

Ya, prices are high. They're higher for everything these days....MUCH higher. But what can you do about it?

Whine and complain as much as you'll let us?!

7 hours ago, Glenn said:

You didn't mention the Stella FK at $900

Ya, prices are high. They're higher for everything these days....MUCH higher. But what can you do about it?

Take up tenkara (no reel) :)

The Bait Monkey never asks if you can afford a new real. He only tells you how much you need one, how happy you would be if you buy one ( better yet two), and how you can't possibly live without one. The Monkey always wins.

I upgraded about 2/3 of the reels in my quiver this past year, 92.9% of which were purchased from JDM vendors. In addition to the pricing advantage the JDM offers, they are also more likely to offer shallow spool options, which is often noticeably better performance-wise.

57 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

I upgraded about 2/3 of the reels in my quiver this past year, 92.9% of which were purchased from JDM vendors. In addition to the pricing advantage the JDM offers, they are also more likely to offer shallow spool options, which is often noticeably better performance-wise.

I’m the same way, for both rods and reels. Price is a factor, but availability is a far bigger factor. For quite some time I’ve found the domestic market to be very wide but also very shallow.