I received in the mail a LE that I bought from an internet site. I understood that the rod was the last model w/ the brown finish. Great!! I thought. That's my favorite stick w/ the absolutely beautiful iceberg brown finish on the custom-looking handle. I thought I'd pick up one more LE before these beauties were all gone. Well... what do I get in the mail? A LE w/ a brown finish but w/ an aweful looking reel seat that isn't finished... just plain gray graphite! I call St Croix and they tell me that the company that used to finish the reel seats quit work for them so for 4 months the LE's were produced like this. Has anyone else received one of these rods? Is it just me, or is this really unacceptable? All the catalogs including on-line ones and ST Croix's own refer to the beautiful finish on the handle. I know the blanks still the same, but something tells me this just isn't right.

I would send it in to St. Croix, include a nice note regarding the problem

and request a replacement.  I bet they send you a perfect new rod.

8-)

I would find this unacceptable. Are you sure you spoke to someone in their warranty department. I have always found their customer service to be world class.

No, I did not talk to someone in the warranty dept since I didn't break the rod.  I agree w/ you, St Croix's customer service to this point has been exemplary.  So much so, that I now own 10 of their rods.  That's why I was so taken back by the claim that, oh well, here's what happened, that's the way it is.  Definately uncharacteristic.  Just wondering if anyone else had this problem.

Out of Curiosity I would like to see a picture of this rod.

well, this is kinda scaring me out of buying the LE online...:/

Great rods on sale at Reed's:

http://www.reedssports.com/Category/main.taf?cat=1754

I have had great service with both Reed's and St. Croix.

No issues.

8-)

Great rods on sale at Reed's:

Link goes here...lol

I have had great service with both Reed's and St. Croix.

No issues.

8-)

Why do decisions like these have to be so difficult? I'm stuck between a EC66MF (link you have) or a MBR783 from Loomis. Ever since I got my IMX I've been completely in love with it. It just seems like everything is just about perfect with it. The Legend is supposed to be even better yet cheaper, though.  

It's not better.

I have two Legend Elite that I like and bought on sale for a significant discount to G.Loomis: ES70MF and EC70MHF.  I consider the Elite Series comparable to Loomis IMX. I also fish Avids: AVS66MLF, AVC66MF and AVX70MM. They are all fine rods at their pricing points and for the techniques I use them for.

On the other hand, my two G. Loomis rods are my favorites: GLX MBR844C and GLX PR844S.

8-)

I would send it in to St. Croix, include a nice note regarding the problem

and request a replacement. I bet they send you a perfect new rod.

8-)

I bet RW is right, but I don't see St.Croix as being the responsible party here but the Mook who sold the rod in the first place.

I went with the EC70MHF to match with my E7 and use for plastics mostly.

My MH Compre has a relatively soft tip and I can just continue to crank with it.

It's not better.

I have two Legend Elite that I like and bought on sale for a significant discount to G.Loomis: ES70MF and EC70MHF. I consider the Elite Series comparable to Loomis IMX. I also fish Avids: AVS66MLF, AVC66MF and AVX70MM. They are all fine rods at their pricing points and for the techniques I use them for.

On the other hand, my two G. Loomis rods are my favorites: GLX MBR844C and GLX PR844S.

8-)

You just made my decision even more difficult.  

Oh well...I'll probably wind up going with my gut and getting the Loomis. I still can't get over how much I enjoy fishing my first and only (at the moment) Loomis. I was pretty much set with an MBR783 paired to a Curado until I saw that the Legends were on sale.

Save a few bucks, or go with the rod I pretty much know I want?