Summary of whole post below-
I am grateful he has taken the time to post to this forum and carry on conversations. You guys can tag team me all you want if you get some sort of personal enjoyment out of it. Scot I take nothing you said personal I can see, in a way, where your coming from but you and half of the people who replyed cant see where im
really coming from. I follow or quoted or w/e Fish Chris? I hardly know the guy and have maybe mentioned him one time on this forum since I been here in an example most likely, that is it. Whats so wrong about wanting the finest in quality in any price range? Are you saying there isnt a few things they can add in their 200+ dollar reels to make them just a little better? Yeah they have a flagship model and those are the ones I look at right away when looking at a companies offerings for the first time or when something new comes out. But- their flagship reel (anyones flagship) cant possibly cover all situations. In a market where people are using rods and reels technique specifically almost all of us are buying atleast one or two reels from there mid-high end line ups. So whats wrong that I want to see a little more on an already good product? Where did I say im an expert? Why must some of you feel the need to form a little cheering section against someones whos enthusiastic about every part of the fishing market? Some of you I know, some I consider even friends and I take no offense but comon, there is nothing wrong with what im saying. Its customers like me who always ask for more that keep companys on their toes. If it werent for customers who demand a certain expectation in a product they could get away with selling anything they want. You dont have to like my expectations in reels and rods but dont disrespect them. I respect everyones opinion and expect the same in return, even if its something you disagree on. I dont know what else to say but youll take this as you will. Sorry you feel that way and think you know what my real intentions are. Those who know me know im a very easy guy to get a long with and am often misunderstood. This last page of replys toward me is a prime example.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
My Replys to everyones posts-
AmericanSkin wrote:You know, aside from a few members including Iangler, Scot, and Johnny, it seems as if much of this particular forum is being used to antagonize Bantam1 and the rest of the Shimano USA crew. This is absurd, considering the fact that they've chosen to take the considerable time and effort to create and maintain this support program despite no ostensible financial gain or direct conceptual competition from other manufacturers.
Im not antagonizeing him and I made that perfectly clear to him that I meant no disrespect what-so-ever, I also spoke maturely and in the same tone as the names you metioned. Why must you (and others) point me out? I addressed issues that
I am concerned about.
Wal-Mart marketing? That's an outright joke; the high-end US reel models, including the Calcutta DC and Calais variants, are identical to the JDM market and include Shimano's phenomenal warranty. Game, you purport to appreciate the upper echelon of the tackle market yet you refuse to acknowledge the fact that the elite sector of Shimano, be it JDM or USDM, is a mirror image of the other. The complaints being heaved at Bantam seem geared more to the low to mid-end market - if you demand the best, buy at the highest share of the market, and realize that all of these companies, regardless of your individual loyalties, are businesses. They are not here to cater to your specific wants and desires; though as enthusiasts we may feel entitled to a certain level of sophistication, there is only so much that any company can do to satisfy the consumer market.
Are you saying that im wrong for wanting a little extra quality in the mid-high end products? Like I said earlyer.. reels and rods have became pretty technique specific and their Calais DC is not the only reel id want to use for all situations and on all rods. Wal-mart marketing- I mean when I said this in response to his post that will not include the clicking dragstars/spool tension knobs etc. A couple bucks is not going to make or break a deal for me, an average (if that) income American. Aside from the left handed availability of some reels
none were complaints only suggestions from one customer who would love to see that extra pinch of quality/performance, call it what you will.
Instead of asking the gracious employees here to construct a "better" reel than the Steez (which is purely personal opinion, by the way) or referencing JDM tackle that almost certainly has never been in your hands, why don't you attempt to understand the economics of the tackle business and use the forum for its intended purpose of general USDM queries and extended warranty support? We should be counting our blessings that we have a company in the US market that is devoted enough to its consumers, both enthusiast and casual, to share its knowledge base with us, free of charge and without obligation.
Dont assume you know what ive used and havent used. If you clearly read this whole thread youll see he came out and said he would put his Calais A against anything in my arsenal. I then replyed with my opinion saying id put my Steez against it and stated this is my opinion. Why do you feel you have to attack my opinions and make me out to look like im being rude and obnoxious when im clearly conversating with him expressing my concerns?
And if you've read the El Salto article, the new line of USDM rods does in fact come outfitted with SiC guides. A closer examination of many of the above posts will most likely reveal biases that undermine the effectiveness of this extremely valuable resource.[/i]
I did read it.. I just dont remember every single detail that was said as too much was said.
Bantam- Glad you guys are using them on the new rods, ill be buying atleast one.
Scot wrote:Reel Old Geezer wrote:you quote Fish Chris because in your world if he says it's so...
Who's Fish Chris?
I'm not an active participant but read along and try to learn from the goings on at another fishing forum. Not sure what the TT policy is so I'll just say that if you would like to know what site it is..drop me a pm. Fish Chris is a "trophy hunter"/fishing nut....seems like a nice guy.
And Bantam...I think you'll find that most of us will admit to our own personal lack of intelligence...but collectively I think we = one smart dude
Fish Chris and I have talked on a few occasions, the only thing we seem to agree about when it comes to tackle is our braid. So I really would like to know where this is all coming from because it makes no sense what so ever to me. I may be wrong by saying this but if your saying this " think you'll find that most of us will admit to our own personal lack of intelligence" towards me. I spend hours upon hours doing reseach into things and testing stuff on my own on the water. You guys see me all over the boards. Im constantly studying gear and building relationships with people. Im by no mean a dummy when it comes to it. Im not saying im an expert but I do know some things. If it wasnt intended towards me then that part lost me.
Fbass wrote:AmericanSkin wrote:We should be counting our blessings that we have a company in the US market that is devoted enough to its consumers, both enthusiast and casual, to share its knowledge base with us, free of charge and without obligation.
That's right. Over here, Shimano is a joke. They make good reels but that's not the point. It's imported by Normark Rapala.
-No real customer service. In fact they don't answer the phone from individuals.
-Even though in french, half the catalog is not available in the country!
-Over the counter warranty? never heard of!
-Took them about 10 years to figure they could maybe sell the good old curado! In fact until about 2001, you could choose between spinning reel and spinning reel!
-I've seen reels going back and forth more than 5 times between shimano and the store before maybe shimano would consider trading it for a new reel. Doesn't always happend though! I know customers who are right now sitting on a shimano calcutta reel that has never worked. And I'm no expert either but te store I used to worked at sold more stella 10000 than any other reel combined! Not exactly wal-mart!!!
-I think they order their reel from japan once maybe twice a year. They order the reels basically to cover the orders they have received already. So basically every time a customer walks in with a request, it's a 6 month wait. Shimano here has virtually no inventories. It's always out! Ginrin made a killing here! Tropical fishing (that's how it's called here) is highly popular. People buy loads of stella 10000 and saltiga! When people found out they could buy their stella just days before going fishing and pay 40% less, they went nuts! No wonder it was Ginrin Pêche and not ginrin fishing!!!
So GO, every day be grateful for the Shimano you have cause not everyone has it! And a guy from shimano on a forum like this one here??? that's SO cool! I don't think they even have computers over here, much less the internet!
So Bantam, if you ever meet the movers and shakers in japan tell them people are laughing here if you put customer service and shimano in the same sentence!
FBass im not familiar with your market but you can import stuff like a lot of us do. Its worth it.
Again Wal-mart is not refering to cheap im refering it to the deal shopping consumers who pay less and get less even if they think they're getting more. You apply this to reels your getting what you pay for, bottemline. Would a couple bucks really be an obsurd suggestion for clicking dragstars/spool tension knobs? This is just one example, there are many. Ofcourse we all want deals and to pay less but what your sacrifcing is greater to some of us then what your saveing.
....I can totally see where the guys coming from. Shimano has resources at their disposal most of us probably don't conceive. I'm also quite sure if ANYBODY does...Shimano knows their product 
