Low cost Chinese fishing reels and other equipment

[jambop]

You will notice I did not use the word cheap because I am old school and cheap means more than just costing less than a realistic equivalent rod or what ever.

Anyway I have been watching countless youtube vids of private individuals reviewing and assessing Chinese made reels and other stuff. I have to be honest and say that the overwhelming impression I am getting is that these products are actually not only low cost they are largely very well made. I wonder what the feeling is of the fishermen on here, if they use these products, as to how they see them in terms of quality? What got me thinking was one reviewer who was a dyed in the wool ABU user who notice that many ABU product were now being made out in China and he said rather than re-equip his boat with new ABU reels he bought a make called Ming Yang. Long story short he stripped the reels as soon as he got them and checked the guts of them compared to his similar ABU's and could not fault the reels at new. He then had them on his boat being used everyday for a year stripped, checked and still had nothing but good things to say about them.
I know that a huge amount of stuff you would never even think is made there is now made out in China, so on the back of that is it time to swallow hard and admit that the Chinese manufacturing of consumer products is not what it once was?

 

[bacon]

I hear Kast King getting good reviews for the cost, baitrunners and spinning reels. In the fly fishing game it's maxcatch gear that gets the thumbs up for cheap and chinese.

Edit: Sorry. I meant bait casters!***

 

[Andy135]

You will notice I did not use the word cheap because I am old school and cheap means more than just costing less than a realistic equivalent rod or what ever.

Anyway I have been watching countless youtube vids of private individuals reviewing and assessing Chinese made reels and other stuff. I have to be honest and say that the overwhelming impression I am getting is that these products are actually not only low cost they are largely very well made. I wonder what the feeling is of the fishermen on here, if they use these products, as to how they see them in terms of quality? What got me thinking was one reviewer who was a dyed in the wool ABU user who notice that many ABU product were now being made out in China and he said rather than re-equip his boat with new ABU reels he bought a make called Ming Yang. Long story short he stripped the reels as soon as he got them and checked the guts of them compared to his similar ABU's and could not fault the reels at new. He then had them on his boat being used everyday for a year stripped, checked and still had nothing but good things to say about them.
I know that a huge amount of stuff you would never even think is made there is now made out in China, so on the back of that is it time to swallow hard and admit that the Chinese manufacturing of consumer products is not what it once was?

The challenge that I have with using Chinese gear is that usually the designs are ripped off from the original manufacturers and set at a price point to undercut them.

The original manufacturer contracts with a chinese factory to manufacture reels, and sends them the design documents etc. When the contract is up (and maybe even when it's not) the factory continues to use the design (illegally?), then bring to market carbon copies.

If we all buy the copies then we have no right to complain if/when the original manufacturers go bust, or can't afford to continue to innovate with their products.

So as a point of principle, I try to buy original brands. Otherwise in a few years all we'll have left to buy would be chinese copies and no innovation.

 

[Beach]

I heard that some Penn reels are made in China.

 

[Beach]

I hear Kast King getting good reviews for the cost, baitrunners and spinning reels. In the fly fishing game it's maxcatch gear that gets the thumbs up for cheap and chinese.

I have also heard that Cast King reels seem to be doing well. Maxcatch - not sure. I have a couple of Jarvis Walker 2000 size reels s/s mainsheet and designed for salt water use, made in Australia. Not the lightest but really well made.

 

[Neilos]

I heard that some Penn reels are made in China.

Yep....the two Surfblasters I have are Chinese made....and they're great!
There's Chinese and there's Chinese crap....had a couple of reels a few years ago Lineaffe Vigor....total crap....handles 9n both of them snapped the first time I used them.
So some can be total rubbish and others can be very good.
Get what you pay for generally.

 

[Beach]

Yep....the two Surfblasters I have are Chinese made....and they're great!
There's Chinese and there's Chinese crap....had a couple of reels a few years ago Lineaffe Vigor....total crap....handles 9n both of them snapped the first time I used them.
So some can be total rubbish and others can be very good.
Get what you pay for generally.

I number of things including cars, fishing equipment, motorbikes - BMW 310R, KTM's Suzuki, Honda are manufactured under license in China/India/Malasia/Thailand etc. It really depends on quality control from the OEM's

 

[jambop]

Yep....the two Surfblasters I have are Chinese made....and they're great!
There's Chinese and there's Chinese crap....had a couple of reels a few years ago Lineaffe Vigor....total crap....handles 9n both of them snapped the first time I used them.
So some can be total rubbish and others can be very good.
Get what you pay for generally.

Very true you do get what you pay for though nobody can expect to pay the very low prices some of this fishing gear is being sold for and it be any good in a rough ground situation or hauling in a large ray, tope or the likes. On the other hand pulling up a mackerel or whiting off a sandy bottom would probably be no problem.

 

[chesilpete]

Does anyone really want to be buying Chinese gear at this time.......... buy British, European or even Korean 70K dead is enough for me to stop spending any of my coin on enriching their economy.

 

[jambop]

Manufact

The challenge that I have with using Chinese gear is that usually the designs are ripped off from the original manufacturers and set at a price point to undercut them.

The original manufacturer contracts with a chinese factory to manufacture reels, and sends them the design documents etc. When the contract is up (and maybe even when it's not) the factory continues to use the design (illegally?), then bring to market carbon copies.

If we all buy the copies then we have no right to complain if/when the original manufacturers go bust, or can't afford to continue to innovate with their products.

So as a point of principle, I try to buy original brands. Otherwise in a few years all we'll have left to buy would be chinese copies and no innovation.

Manufacturers have only themselves to blame they farm this work out for profit through cheap labour. It has happened in so many area's of consumer products. However I would actually take issue with you on the point of where I would buy my product. If I knew I was getting a well made product that did not claim to be something it was not ie. a fake I would buy it without hesitation! On the other hand if I saw something for sale that said on the box it was a Daiwa , ABU or Penn and I knew that what was in that box was not a product licensed to be sold under the name of that brand then I would not buy it, even though it was a good product, that is counterfeiting and not the same as copying .

 

[jambop]

Does anyone really want to be buying Chinese gear at this time.......... buy British, European or even Korean 70K dead is enough for me to stop spending any of my coin on enriching their economy.

This is a Trump' esque sort of stand point... people in Britain are going have to get used to having Chinese overlords. Very soon we will be looking to China for more inward investment in Britain and for somewhere to sell our goods and services post Brexit.

 

[Neilos]

This is a Trump' esque sort of stand point... people in Britain are going have to get used to having Chinese overlords. Very soon we will be looking to China for more inward investment in Britain and for somewhere to sell our goods and services post Brexit.

Its impossible not to buy Chinese....so many of our products are made there.
Look around your house and see if you could replace everything with non-Chinese products. Bet you can't.

 

[Andy135]

Manufacturers have only themselves to blame they farm this work out for profit through cheap labour.

I disagree. Every manufacturer seeks to lower their operating costs in order to deliver a price point that their target market can sustain, and to criticise them for doing so is a little unreasonable. If their target market (e.g. western European anglers) were prepared to pay the labour costs of producing the product in, say, the UK or France, then they would do so. We as a target market are ultimately accountable here for wanting high quality at ever lower costs.

I also feel it's unfair that manufacturers designs are copied - the chinese factory has not had to bear any of the R&D costs that the original manufacturer will have priced into their products - R&D isn't free, and it has to be paid for with a percentage of the RRP. The chinese do not have to recoup these costs so are unfairly able to price lower than the original manufacturer, even without a labour cost differential. I for one don't feel it's right to reward someone who has gained an unfair advantage to bring a product to market. If you feel otherwise then that's your business.

 

[Trampster]

I heard that some Penn reels are made in China.

Penn are part of Pure Fishing, who are one of the biggest fishing tackle manufacturers in the world, and I would think that most of their products are manufactered in China, which is why, over the last 8 months there have been some serious tackle shortages both here and in the USA.

I was disappointed when I couldn't find a new Penn Surfblaster anywhere about 4 months ago, and the few 2nd hand ones available were making in excess of £90. So I relied on an old name and bought a new Mitchell Blue Water RZ9000 (also part of Pure Fishing) for £30. I've now picked up a Surfblaster for a really good price too. Putting the two side by side, there isn't a vast difference in quality - sure, the Penn is a better reel, but I'm not sure it justifies the £120 price difference between the two. If you want to know what brands are under Pure Fishing ownership, have a look at the Brand tab on their website: https://www.purefishing.com/

 

[Tournamag]

I disagree. Every manufacturer seeks to lower their operating costs in order to deliver a price point that their target market can sustain, and to criticise them for doing so is a little unreasonable. If their target market (e.g. western European anglers) were prepared to pay the labour costs of producing the product in, say, the UK or France, then they would do so. We as a target market are ultimately accountable here for wanting high quality at ever lower costs.

I also feel it's unfair that manufacturers designs are copied - the chinese factory has not had to bear any of the R&D costs that the original manufacturer will have priced into their products - R&D isn't free, and it has to be paid for with a percentage of the RRP. The chinese do not have to recoup these costs so are unfairly able to price lower than the original manufacturer, even without a labour cost differential. I for one don't feel it's right to reward someone who has gained an unfair advantage to bring a product to market. If you feel otherwise then that's your business.

No they want more profit for as little outlay as possible as many have shareholders who only interest is return on there pennies not the longevity of companies.
Bean counters are another Parasite of company life!.
Many brands like Pure fishing are owned by Brands that are owned by bigger brands that often have no idea of markets selling into just the cost and the price =Returns and sales so all they want is lowest cost/pricing for maximum returns Reason why there is a Growing Grumbling/Up roar in USA over what they have done to Penn Reels.

There are Shysters like the one that tried to turn/rip everyone off with there DJR650 reel (Alan Hawke Review on the whole saga)Tried to say was a Stella Beater for $500'ish Secret Jap made body.Grease.Bearings.clutch material was special.Gearing was ??? etc etc Yet was a Chinese Ebay special $40 odd Alan had bought Same reel on Ebay already as smelt a rat and used it then when DJR turned up took apart and compared and exactly same reel down to a T.
So Con man came on under another name tried to say Alan had under mined trade etc etc But we all told him he had as destroyed trust within trade so now you see a reel say in your mind you know think is this right or over priced or is other the same thing just cheaper!

 

[Dutchman]

I never look at make/price i just get what i can afford and want to buy.

I have 3 boat rods that i bought for £9 each 10 years ago, still ok i have replaced two tips at £1 each Criccieth Shop (great shop) still ok

I must admit i was given a Penn reel and that give me another 15-20yds cast when lure fishing

 

[Tournamag]

Penn are part of Pure Fishing, who are one of the biggest fishing tackle manufacturers in the world, and I would think that most of their products are manufactered in China, which is why, over the last 8 months there have been some serious tackle shortages both here and in the USA.

I was disappointed when I couldn't find a new Penn Surfblaster anywhere about 4 months ago, and the few 2nd hand ones available were making in excess of £90. So I relied on an old name and bought a new Mitchell Blue Water RZ9000 (also part of Pure Fishing) for £30. I've now picked up a Surfblaster for a really good price too. Putting the two side by side, there isn't a vast difference in quality - sure, the Penn is a better reel, but I'm not sure it justifies the £120 price difference between the two. If you want to know what brands are under Pure Fishing ownership, have a look at the Brand tab on their website: https://www.purefishing.com/

This one is Based on the old Muff buster/Affinity that was Stolen from Daiwa that is now copied by many others Like ESP carp reels which are just over priced reels!

 

[Tournamag]

Plus if you think your Gear has the Balls take a trip to somewhere like Ascension Island im sure the sharks etc there will show you how to turn it into bits of Scrap pretty quickly
@chesilpete @CKB

 

[chesilpete]

This is a Trump' esque sort of stand point... people in Britain are going have to get used to having Chinese overlords. Very soon we will be looking to China for more inward investment in Britain and for somewhere to sell our goods and services post Brexit.

Everyone has a choice, my choice is not to buy Chinese.
Its up to everyones conscience..... I work for a big German group and we will no longer buy anything Chinky

 

[Mr Fish]

Very clever the Chinese, they’ll make it to whatever spec you want, hence why we get everything from cheap knock offs to decent kit.

Of course, how many Western companies bother to specify top notch materials and stay on top of the QC?
All they see is the bottom line and how much money they’re making on the mark up.