Imports, From China?? 2024
bigbill reply :
I'm seeing more and more imports from China lately from reels to lures. The reels have lots of bearings and different gear ratios too. I'm thinking we went over there to have them manufacture our reels and they broke away from doing business with us or reverse engineered our equipment and now there manufacturing there own. The prices are way beyond affordable it's silly. I think I'm going to buy a few just to test them. I'm sure our bass will let me know how good the quality is when they test them too.
I have had cheap garbage reels fail before because they weren't meant to catch bass. But the quality of these reels looks better.
Any thoughts or experience with these Chinese reels?
Some of the Chinese lures look great. But they were offering some at $5 for 4 or 5 lures and that seems to be changing slowly but surely. The 5 lures comes with free shipping. I'm sure once they catch on the cost may go higher.I think they may work because the colors/ patterns are different than what we're using. Time will tell.
I can't knock it yet even our name brand stuff is marked from China too?
Bigbill
Btw, a new baitcasting reel with the 6,3 ratio, magnetic brakes, metal spool and more for $30 the temptation is hard to beat. With free shipping. The only downfall is the one month shipping time. I feel the need to test it.
deaknh03 reply :
I've seen the reels and lures as well. I did buy some of the lures, they are garbage, at least the ones I bought. Bills break off, bodies broke in half, and thats not with any hard use. The reels have a very cool look to them, but I would be hesitant.
Sam reply :
May I suggest staying away from these off brand Chinese offerings?
Invest your dimes and pennies in known products.
A cheap reel breaking while fighting a fish, on a fun day fishing or in a tournament will ruin our day.
Shimano has some lower end reels that should perform better than these Chinese knockoffs.
If anyone out there disagrees please let us know and the reasons why. Thanks.
bigbill reply :
I have all good reels I was looking to venture out and test a Chinese reel out. The broadcaster has all the bells and whistles for $29. The spinning reel was $12. It could be a start of a good thing or the beginning of my adding more reels to my scrap pile. But for $29 it looks neat.
SirSnookalot reply :
Quote
Shimano has some lower end reels that should perform better than these Chinese knockoffs.
If anyone out there disagrees please let us know and the reasons why. Thanks
I can't agree or disagree, just call it the way I see it. I don't see the problem being Chinese labor, is it really any different than the labor in Malaysia and that's where my stradics are made. The materials and designing could have more influence that the actual assembly. As far as reels goes I stick with name brands and many of them are made in China and I can't say they have been problematic, they have actually performed well. We know why major companies make reels there, it's all about the overall expense. Overall I'm pleased but I would probably not buy a "knockoff", considering the fact that I find name brands to be affordable.
I'm sure I'm going to have 40,000 people disagreeing with me, being a spinning user I don't feel bass put that much stress on my reels. For bass fishing I use 3 supremes and a $30 Shakepere agility for several years, each reel works as good as the day I bought them, my biggest bass are actually caught on the Shakepere which is silky smooth. That said this reel would not last too many 10# tarpon or jack crevalles before it was wasted, just not built for that kind of stress.
lanzbass reply :
Oh the days of Mitchel Ball rearing Reals made in South Dakota ! I have had and am still using for 3 years a Daiwa PS2`2B Made in Japan . ...Lures ? I hit yard sales and look for any old ones that I can fix up 
wngan9447 reply :
For that price, it's not bad test it.
I deal with Chinese knock offs all day long being in construction.
If you want to be successful with this idea, keep in mind that these knock offs are meant to duplicate another brand. Make sure the brand they are duplicating are also made in china. More than likely you are getting the same parts.
BobP reply :
Lots of rods are assembled in China. I got no problem with'em. Chinese reels? Don't know of any, but plenty are made in Malaysia by Abu, Shimano, etc. and I've never been able to tell any difference from reels assembled in Japan. Lures, specifically knockoff lures are a different animal. Chinese factories turn them out for pennies from molds that mimic expensive Japanese lures from Megabass, Lucky Craft, etc. But the lure internals are never the same. So if you think a $5 Chinese knockoff of a $25 Megabass Ito Vision 110 jerkbait might be "just as good", you're deluding yourself. I build and paint crankbaits for a hobby and have tried many knockoffs over the years. If I had spent the money buying originals instead, I would have probably come out ahead because so many of the knockoffs went straight to the trash can after an aggravating trial on the water. And I would have caught more fish, which is the important thing!
Capt.Bob reply :
I do find it sad that feeling imports from anywhere are so acceptable these days, sadly they are becoming preferred, I just don't get it??? 
buzzfrog reply :
seen a few sellers selling them, very high end looking, a few are indicial specs of the stradic ci4. not sure were stradic is being made but these "rip offs: were from sequol SK. probably the same deal as Nike and off brand shoes being made in same factory but one has a check on them,
baluga reply :
On 8/3/2013 at 4:20 PM, SirSnookalot said:I don't see the problem being Chinese labor, is it really any different than the labor in Malaysia and that's where my stradics are made.
It's not about the labor itself, it is more of the quality control they follow or implement on producing the products. Chinese products have poor quality control, I would stay away from Stradics or any Shimano or Daiwa products when it's made in China.
Imagine.. a Conquest 100 made it China for half the prize.. Geez .. they can have it.
Greeneye8181 reply :
On 8/4/2013 at 4:26 AM, Capt.Bob said:
I do find it sad that feeling imports from anywhere are so acceptable these days, sadly they are becoming preferred, I just don't get it???
Imported products have always been preferred it's just now it's becoming impossible to avoid it. Our fellow American's are shipping the factories overseas to avoid taxes but mainly for the cheap labor that isn't unionized.
The flip side to that is it creates a more affordable product so the money you save buying it can be used elsewhere. Eh, sorry economics is another interest of mine second only to fishing!
But yeah, generally speaking Chinese is synonymous with low quality. I stay away for that fact.
Kevin22 reply :
I saw the same reels you did. I was tempted to try one but the 1mo+ delivery was a deal breaker. By the time I finally decided to try one it wouldnt have gotten here until hunting season and I wouldnt be able to give it a good try.
MAYBE I will buy one this winter and try it next spring. Big MAYBE though, probably be a waste of money.
Capt.Bob reply :
On 8/4/2013 at 7:40 AM, Greeneye8181 said:Imported products have always been preferred it's just now it's becoming impossible to avoid it. Our fellow American's are shipping the factories overseas to avoid taxes but mainly for the cheap labor that isn't unionized.
The flip side to that is it creates a more affordable product so the money you save buying it can be used elsewhere. Eh, sorry economics is another interest of mine second only to fishing!
But yeah, generally speaking Chinese is synonymous with low quality. I stay away for that fact.
Thinking like this is exactly what I was referring to, in such a short time they all have it figured out,,,,,, 
I've figured a little of that out in my nearly 59 years myself. 
SirSnookalot reply :
On 8/4/2013 at 4:26 AM, Capt.Bob said:
There is a difference between an imported product and an American manufacturer making their products in another country to benefit their own bottom line.
This forum in particular is very pro Shimano, that company is foreign and their products are not made in the U.S., I guess one could say Shimano is an imported product. We buy Shimano because it's a good product, not because it's an import and some of our members "bleed" Shimano.
The U.S. being involved in the global economy both imports and exports items, some of our exports include medical technology, airplanes both commercial and military, autos and off road heavy industrial machinery. If we took a good look at the labels of our clothing, some may opt to walk around naked and barefoot.
Quote
It's not about the labor itself, it is more of the quality control they follow or implement on producing the products. Chinese products have poor quality control,
I wonder what we base the term quality control on? I personally have not been to a Chinese factory and couldn't comment on their quality control firsthand. Like many I get that kind of information on the net, probably much of it from people that haven't been there either or even being an expert in the field. Not implying that the quality control is good or bad, just saying I don't really know. I have seen 100's of quality control departments in American plants. Some more sophisticated than others but the nuts and bolts of it is, a person at a workstation checking a part for proper size and imperfections. If it weren't for bad parts I wouldn't have made a living for 35 years in the scrap biz.
0119 reply :
Do the workers in Daiwa's China factory have a poorer work ethic than the Malaysians building Shimano's? Shimano's rep. constantly says their Malay manufactured reels are better than the reels made in Japan because of newer machinery. Newer machinery doesn't make the reel, the man operating the machine makes the reel. Do Abu's Korean factory workers produce a better product than their Chinese factory employees? Are any of them less motivated than St. Croix's Mexican employees? My daughter is a huge Apple fan and makes fun at my Samsung Galaxy. My thought is I'd rather have a product built in Korea by a long standing political ally than by a company who chooses to benefit a country I thought I'd always feel was our enemy. That being said I bought a Abu Inshore Spinning Reel made in China and thoroughly impressed by its quality. Just maybe, where something is made doesn't really matter. The factory worker's training and the line supervision of the parent company directing its manufacture is what matter's.
BobP reply :
I think there are political, commercial, and social reasons why it's easier and more effective for a company to exert good quality control in a factory in one country, say Malaysia or Korea, than in another, say China. You can certainly lament that the best product is not made in the U.S.A. You can make a political statement by only buying "Made in the USA". Good luck with that! Like 99.9% of consumers, I'll buy what I perceive to be the best product that I can afford. If that's something from the All American Reel Company assembled by workers belonging to the Reel Workers Union of America - I'll be first in line.....but ONLY if the price and quality are competitive.
baluga reply :
On 8/4/2013 at 2:07 PM, SirSnookalot said:
I wonder what we base the term quality control on? I personally have not been to a Chinese factory and couldn't comment on their quality control firsthand. Like many I get that kind of information on the net, probably much of it from people that haven't been there either or even being an expert in the field. Not implying that the quality control is good or bad, just saying I don't really know. I have seen 100's of quality control departments in American plants. Some more sophisticated than others but the nuts and bolts of it is, a person at a workstation checking a part for proper size and imperfections. If it weren't for bad parts I wouldn't have made a living for 35 years in the scrap biz.
If you don't know what areas are covered in quality control then I guess you really don't know what it takes to make a quality product. You don't even need to go to a Chinese factory to know if they have a good quality control, their end product will tell.
21farms reply :
my beef is with unlicensed/copycat chinese products, not 'made in china'-products legitimately manufactured for another company under contract. when a company doesn't invest money in costly research & development to create their own products and simply steal others' intellectual property, of course they can sell their stuff for significantly less.
catchnm reply :
Ok...................so has anyone actually purchased one of the reels and tested it yet?
SirSnookalot reply :
On 8/6/2013 at 1:28 AM, baluga said:If you don't know what areas are covered in quality control then I guess you really don't know what it takes to make a quality product. You don't even need to go to a Chinese factory to know if they have a good quality control, their end product will tell.
That department does not control any quality, their function is just to check parts to see if they meet specifications. I know exactly what quality control is. What matters is the set up the machinery and materials being used. I agree with 0119 regarding work ethic, whether it's Maylay, China, or Timbuktu, none of these people want to lose their jobs for poor work performance.
buzzfrog reply :
On 8/6/2013 at 3:29 AM, catchnm said:Ok...................so has anyone actually purchased one of the reels and tested it yet?
that's what im saying lol
baluga reply :
On 8/6/2013 at 3:29 AM, catchnm said:Ok...................so has anyone actually purchased one of the reels and tested it yet?
All we are saying is that most of the products that are made in china are questionable in quality so why take the risk. I used to go for savings as priority when buying things but until I realized it is costing more in both time and effort fixing the d**n thing plus the cost of fixing it.
But..You can always try it... It's your money anyway. Maybe you'll get lucky and get your money's worth. It's a hit and miss when dealing with Chinese products anyway. But mostly miss. 
bigbill reply :
In America the bigger companies I worked for laid off there quality control / inspection departments. They had the cnc machine operators doing there own inspection on there parts. This has been going on for many years now. Colt firearms is one of them. There quality has been iffy since the '80's because of it. Once you get rid of your quality control department there goes your product down hill. I've seen this in every big well known company here.
Ok I'll order a baitcasting reel for $29. I really don't need it now so I can wait a month.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
All one has to do is look at a simple can opener.so easy to make. They are worthless....they won't even put made in China.they just have China stamped on them.I don't care who you are or what degree you have I'll put my made in USA boots,knives,etc up against your product made in China anyway.with a couple grand to show what is more reliable
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
And if they can't even make a can opener open a can the right way anytime .amagine the more complicated things
bigbill reply :
I got away from electric can opener I purchased the kitchen aid hand can opener for the whole family, along with a kitchen aid mixer and a keurig coffee maker for everyone too. I want my kids to have good stuff plus dad gets great coffee to with the fresh cakes too. Don't forget about the fresh pasta too. My wife wears out vaccumnes too I purchased her a Dyson the pet hair one since the Dyson no more wearing them out.
I ordered the Chinese baitcaster reel. I got the right handed crank. I'm amberdexterious anyway from working under car dashboards. I can use either left or right hand reels.
For $35 delivered we will hammer it this fall.
Most of our fishing stuff is marked made in China anyway. All my rods are made in China.
I mainly use Finor spinning reels from Florida. My other reels are okuma spinning reels.(Japan)
My baitcasters are Mitchell, Shakespear & okuma.
I have to go were the best value, quality and price is. I like trying and testing new products I done this for the engineering group I worked for over 20years in the r&d test lab. We would develop it here in the USA then send it to a sister company overseas to be manufactured there. Then we took there first products that they manufactured to our designs here to life test them to see if there up to our standards. China is one of our sister companies. My company has been into overseas manufacturing since the late 1800's. It's surely paying off in profite today. My engineering group is one of the top ten in the country.
You know when our sister company in Japan came to see us. The Japanese people want the latest and greatest technology available today no matter what the cost but it better be dependable and reliable. We need to manufacturer the best product out there. We also have the most modern test labs in the country for testing electronics too. Other companies send there stuff to be tested to us.
I know all about quality and testing for it.
baluga reply :
As the famous Chinese trading catch phrase goes "Mai Yi Song Yi"........
buy one take one..
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Not to be political...but buying/dealing with a commie country is like selling guns to drug dealers because they pay top dollar....in that perspective it just ain't right
bigbill reply :
It's our American free trade system that allows it.
After losing my job in '83, again in '84, again in '85 due to cheaper machine tools from overseas no one cared but I seen this happening down the road for sure. Then I found a great job with sisRioter companies in every country over the world that has manufacturing capabilities too. We do all the engineering in the USA. Then most of it goes overseas to be manufactured. It's the American way, it's our free enterprise system.
If we didn't import our goods here we wouldn't have any cars, no appliasces, no tv's, no music, no fancy electronics, nothing. Think about it hardly anything is made here. The car manufacturers from Japan moved here. There hiring more Americans than the American car companies.
There is a big shift in manufacturing going on. We have gotten fat, dumb and lazy and the Mexicans are taking the lower paid jobs.
It's like we're importing people who want to work.
Now we're does that leave the Americans who want to work? Remember me in '83, in'84 and In '85??? Out of work right.
SirSnookalot reply :
When I first went into the scrap business back in the early 70's driving American products was a must, bad things happened if you didn't. Either you were not allowed past the gate guard, could walk out of a plant to a flat tire, or be personally threatened. That's changed to quite a degree but if I were still in business my work vehicles would still be American.
We weren't union but paid very close to union scale and benefits based on job description. Employed were people of Anglo ancestry, African American, and Mexican or Latin ancestry. I will say the Mexicans were never late, seldom missed a days work, didn't take cash advances, gave the maximum effort, never said " that's not my job", and always had a smile on their face.
Kevin22 reply :
I'll be looking forward to seeing your review on the reel!
bigbill reply :
When I was 100% buy American products in the early 80's no one else was. Then in 1983 what caused our first recession? I went from union job to union job. More like sinking ship to sinking ship. I don't think no one took the lumps more than I did. No one seen it. Today we're still spiraleing downward. We never go up, we level off for a while then dive again. The booming 60's, 70's are long gone. The good paying trade jobs are gone too. In the 80's it was the 21% interest rates on new machine tools that took my job. No one is going to buy a million dollar machine at 21% interest. Sometimes I think the
middle class gets too far up the ladder money wise so having a recession knocks us back down again.
I can't wait to try this new reel. It could be there foot in the door to supply us with fishing stuff. They been doing it for years and we never noticed it. We probably taught them how to manufacture lures and reels already anyway. Now they cut us out and there on there own. We did predict when China starts manufacturing look out.
Capt.Bob reply :
On 8/6/2013 at 9:31 PM, eddieg said:Looking forward to the lock on this thread
Ya,,,, reality is kinda scarey aint it! 
bigbill reply :
I think most of these break out companies probably did work before making reels for a name brand shop that sells fishing equipment. Or they copied someone's reel.
Kevin22 reply :
It may not take you a month to get it. I bought some chinese jerkbaits (I know, crap.. but 6 for $1 I will find a use for them!) straight from hongkong, they arrived at my door in 9 days including a weekend.
primetime reply :
Almost every fishing reel you can buy now is made overseas.. Keep in mind that Paatents do not apply overseas as in America..I used to only use Daiwa and Shimano reels growing up and then started buying Revo's and Pflueger and recently Okuma....Long story short...Even a Japanese lure is most likely manufactured in either China, Honk Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, or Costa Rica, Mexico....I recently purchased a Pflueger Supreme for $90 a year ago and was at a Gander Mountain and could not help but notice that their 9bb Plus one reel looked exactly the same as the Plueger and then the Shakespeare for $30 felt the same and had writing in all the same places. I did research and they are all made in Korea, but that is also not true. All Bass Pro Reels are made in China and they don't lie because all the cheap and best stuff is made in China. We do not even make Ardent anymore. It may say Made in USA, but that is because they are allowed to say it is as long as one piece like a washer is made in the USA...Even Yo-zuri lures say...Assembled In Phillipines..BUt are made in China.....You can buy Yo-zuri lures from China direct but they are expensive and will not save you money unless you buy 1,000 or 10,000.
Long story short....My Okuma Serrano, Helios, Pflueger Supreme, Bass Pro Reels, and Revo's have all been ok but have had alot of issues compared to the reels I used to get from SHimano, Daiwa, and Bass Pro growing up....I purchased identical Chinese reels of the Pflueger supreme, and another reel that had same coloriing and carbon body like the Helios for $45. I also matched up the best reel Cabelas Sells and found that in China for $21.
Alll 3 reels are the exact same reels and now everyone in my fishing circle just buy them from China. Reverse Engineering anyone? Maybe...But no plastic gears and all the scare tactics people use. My "Fake Pfueger is the exact same and handles as well and so are all the rest...If it is made in China, than if it weighs the same, looks the same, has same gear ratio, line capacity, magnetic drag etc...IT is not a knockoff..The term Chinese Knock off does not make sense unless you are looking to buy a Ford Car in China.Every OEM or Company in China is sold on a stock exchange like in the USA if they are public, and every company has to disclose where it's products are made. I found all Bass Pro lures/reels/Rods were made by an OEM in China and that Same Oem also makes 75% of the lures you and I buy for alot of money....They save you about 40% to buy direct, and they are the same....You can get cheap lures in china just like you can in the USA. You get what you pay for but if you realize that a Gander Mountain reel and a Shakespeare and a Bass Pro reel are all the same reel with different "Brands on them"....Why not buy the same one that has chinise writing as it is the same reel....
Long story short..You will love your new reel....Japan Barely makes anything in the fishing industry...Maybe they assemble it after China makes 99%. I now have 3 baitcasters that cost me under $100 that would retail for roughly $600 in the USA or $400 if I just went to bass pro, Cabela's or Gander. My Serrano and Helios are the same and actually my "Fake" Pflueger Supreme seems to be better. All the Abu Garcia reels are garbage in my opinion especially the Revo.
and one more....I used to have a $320 Japanese Megaforce Daiwa reel that I loved..I sold it on Ebay for $200...Good thing...I now have the same reel for $66 bucks. Been 9 months, have landed 30lb snook no problem...Drag is great...reel is great....Enjoy...It is the new world....Capitalism baby!!!!! Why would any company build in the USA when they can go overseas? Wallmart is perfect example. Without China we would not have any jobs at all, forget about Manufacturing....
I am a rep for a large American Company who makes top end Electronics and Everything we make is made in China.....our TV at Best buy for $1500 is not really any different than the one at wallmart for $900...Except the model number ends with a 35 instead of 00.....We all get caught up in China makes junk...Ever been to Icast? Does Berkley Powerbait and Gulp even have American Writing on the packages? If you are looking for only American Made Lures and line and reels, have fun fishing with just a limited selection of inferior products that cost alot more money....I think it is terrible, but in the 80's supply side economics or as George Bush called it against Reagon- Voodo Economics until he got into office and supported the same policies has changed our country forever and China, Indonesia, Malaysia create our jobs....We can't even build road and bridges anymore
primetime reply :
Also...Prado- which makes Booyah, Rebel, Smithwick and about another dozen tackle companies...Storma and Rapala....CHINA....Rapala is no longer tank tested..Start looking at your lures more carefully and you will be suprpised....My Lucky Craft Pointer is made in China just like all my Sebile Lures as Ilure makes them.....I met the nice Chinese Factory reps at Icast.....THey make new soft baits and companies like Berlkley just add them to the Havoc, Powerbait and Gulp Lines and so does Reaction Strike, Northland etc...I met the reps for each company and went through the Chinese catalogs 2 years ago and thought to myself....Who would ever want to make this terrbible soft bait part of their product line.....Now it is called the Sick Fish and in the havoc line. I grabbed samples of the beat Shad 2 years ago from the chinese.
Skinny bear and Roboworm etc....Easy to get in China and MOQ is only 1000 pieces...Strike king is now Costa Rica. I could go on forever as I have had a blast buying spro Lures for $4.00 and getting the Jackall Giron for $6.
gravestone reply :
On 8/2/2013 at 10:44 PM, bigbill said:Any thoughts or experience with these Chinese reels?
Chinese reels are like the Japanese reels of the 60's. Japanese reels were inferior to American & European reels. Today Chinese reels are inferior to Japanese reels.
SirSnookalot reply :
@primetime.........well said and for the most part I think you are right on the money.
bigbill reply :
I just purchased 20 fishing rods, new old stock. Everyone of them no matter what brand says "Made in China".
Every fishing product I purchase, after I purchase it says made in China. From rods, to reels, to lures, to line, to even snap swivels.
Look at our clothes, our home products, everything is from China or Japan but more likely from China..
I was buying Chinese lures on an auction site for 6 for, 5 for, 4 for around $5 with free shipping. Slowly but surely I'm seeing some of them going for just 1 for under $4. The amount is going down while the cost is going up. Every Chinese reel there has bids on them. The cheaper ones.
I wish we would import the barefoot doctors who ride bicycles who cure cancer would come here too. Our survival rate could be higher.
*Hootie reply :
Starting to get very close to political views here. I believe that is taboo on this forum.
I think we should have a catagory called "All I want to do is gripe." Thats mostly all I have gotten from this topic.
Hootie
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Agreed...hootie.btw I just bought 3 made in USA products that kids in a third world did not build for 1spoonful of food for the week I'm happy twice.
Capt.Bob reply :
On 9/2/2013 at 5:56 PM, hootiebenji said:Starting to get very close to political views here. I believe that is taboo on this forum.
I think we should have a catagory called "All I want to do is gripe." Thats mostly all I have gotten from this topic.
Hootie
On 9/2/2013 at 8:38 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Agreed...hootie.btw I just bought 3 made in USA products that kids in a third world did not build for 1spoonful of food for the week I'm happy twice.
This is the only thing I heard that made sense on this thread!! 
FOR GOD SAKE,,,,, now they want to import doctors that can't afford shoes,,,,, 
It is time to put the kids and their mentors to bed,,,,,Where the he!! is a Mod when their needed!!! 
Capt.Bob reply :
you gotta be kidding me, the anti is being supported??????????? this is ridiculous, don't mention your lack of lust for foreign markets,,,,,,, why are the only views supporting American made preferences being banned???????? 
Is it because we are being supported by foreign markets, take head American's,,,,,,or is that a question that can't be asked also,
Glenn reply :
Bob....knock it off. You asked for a mod, then you complain the thread got modded. I removed posts that were leaning to far past the "no politics" rule we have.
I tried to calm this thread down, but obviously you won't let it.
We're done.
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