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Product Insight on new Calcutta's

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jeb
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Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by jeb »

Thanks for the Product Insight write up on the new USDM and JDM Calcutta's. I look forward to the full review, but you are right on the money about the frustration level with the non-access issue on the USDM product. Goes right to the top of the "What were they thinking?" category. Interesting to read that it sits higher on the rod, too.

http://tackletour.com/reviewshimcalcutta12vsd.html
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by USA-RET »

Certainly something I wasn't happy to hear. Shimano seems to be taking a page out of the Daiwa playbook. :doh: Adjustable brakes with limited access. ](*,)

Cutting manufacturing cost would be my guess rather than the answer given (which actually goes against Daiwa philosophy now that I think about it). :lol:
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by jeb »

Bantam1 has mentioned the cost thing as at part of the reason in some of the threads here about it, so I'm sure you're right.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by WoodT »

USA-RET wrote: Cutting manufacturing cost would be my guess rather than the answer given (which actually goes against Daiwa philosophy now that I think about it). :lol:
Thought Daiwa's was to deny cutting costs while also increasing price...one no-oil-included Steez at a time? :lol:

Agree with the unfortunate lameness of the new Calcutta design. Bums me out. The article also pointed out something I hadn't considered but would be pretty frustrating...of the models which are "adjustable" popping a brake and having it fall into the spool.

I did chuckle at one of the official lines also being "no side plate....to enhance rigidity!". After all, we know the historic knock on Calcuttas being all prone to flexing and strength issues. :lol:

I'm just excited about exchange rates (someday) falling and consumers getting increases in functionality at lower prices. :whistle:
lpquick
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by lpquick »

I don’t get cutting cost, having two different designs instead of one would not seem to be the cheapest if you ask me. Either way it’s a slap in the face. I still don’t understand why America is left out of the picture while so many other countries are not.
Last edited by lpquick on Mon Nov 05, 2012 11:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by zodiak311 »

*sigh* I will be getting a Conquest. Another Shimano fail...
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by haoz »

I did highlight having no quick access side plate is rubbish and a grave mistake and Bantam was quick to point out how costs is king.

anyways, the JDM model is just a click away, and it gets sent right to your door.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by q1w2e3_89 »

What a complete joke! What's the marginal profit of saving on some screws for each reel? Maybe $2 for a mass producer? So if Shimano profits $100 per USDM Calcutta, the cost saving is worthwhile if less than 2% of potential buyers are deterred. From what I've seen and heard, the actual figure is probably closer to 30%. That's such a silly move.

I'm all for keeping exclusive products on the JDM market, but at least have an understanding that Americans aren't stupid.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by Buck2thPerch »

USA-RET wrote:Certainly something I wasn't happy to hear. Shimano seems to be taking a page out of the Daiwa playbook. :doh: Adjustable brakes with limited access. ](*,)

Cutting manufacturing cost would be my guess rather than the answer given (which actually goes against Daiwa philosophy now that I think about it). :lol:
I doubt Shimano is taking a page out of Daiwa's playbook.

Daiwa increased thier prices well over 20% on some models since 2010. However, Daiwa has kept almost everything intact. I took my Steez EX 100HS apart and I cannot dicern any differences between the old Steez 103SHA versus my new Steez EX. Here are the differences: Longer newer handles on the Steez EX, Same looking Spool (probably different in weight since one is a 103 and the other is a 100), No more Red highlights on the 7:1:1 Gear Steez, and last but not least the 7:9:1 Gear found on the Steez EX 100XS with purple highlights. Yet, the new Steez costs $100 more and no more 103 size?

Shimano on the other hand, has watered down some of thier products - Chronarch, Curdao, Citica, and now the Calcutta.

However I will agree, both companies are now sourcing and building thier reels in Malaysia. Cost cutting? Definitely. Quality cutting? Jury's still out on this.

So in the end, its "Pick your Poison". With Daiwa, you give up an arm, leg, marriage, mortgage etc,. With Shimano you get...well watered down products. Perhaps its time to go back to Zebco's and Ugly sticks - at least you know it will not cost a fortune and you know what you are getting.

I will agree with Cal, I love my Conquest 50. I have no desire to sell it and move onto the Calcutta D/12. Very disappointed.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by Bantam1 »

I have said it before and I will say it again. The cost of the extra machine work and parts would have priced the reel higher. We are getting hammered on the exchange rates right now which is why everythng continues to go up and we lose features because of it. If we kept all the features and brought the reel over at say, $50-60 more, would you all be happier and willing to pay almost $500 for the Calcutta?
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by Tokugawa »

Bantam1 wrote: If we kept all the features and brought the reel over at say, $50-60 more, would you all be happier and willing to pay almost $500 for the Calcutta?
Think about where you are asking that. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by BucketHunter »

With shipping it will cost about 475 to get a JDM model to my door.
Factor in the extra tooling cost of building two reels, the sales you lost by people not buying it, the wholesale cost savings of being able to ship in bulk vs buying rare a specimen and I think we have easily breached the tipping point of negative returns on Shimano's decision.
I was always Shimano, don't love diawas, but I don't know where to turn.
WIth PURE Fishing stealing so much marketshare from you guys last year, I thought we would have seen some improvements.
The quality of the spinning reels is the last straw for me. That new Symetre is junk.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by muskyhunter »

tested the old Saros F over the new x-ship reels (Stradic and Saros FA) and the new ones aren't as powerful as the old. would have thoguth the newer xship would be better.
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by BucketHunter »

Saros F is a tank. I have 3 of those, and 4 symetres.
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hobobob
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Re: Product Insight on new Calcutta's

Post by hobobob »

Thank you Cal for cutting the red tape and getting the info to the public. =D> I wasn't aware of the reel foot difference. All the ads was concentrated on Top where they made improvement. Nobody care to look at the bottom. Nice detective work there. To think I was about to give one of my conquest 51 for a new Calcutta. You saved me some major headache and resentment. I'll save my money and wait for the Osaka 2013 show. \:D/
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