My Take On Brand Loyalty 2024
Quitlimpin reply :
Thanks to Raul. I saw this quote in another thread and it really got me thinking. This quote rings especially true for me with regards to my reels. I started off fishing Quantum reels as a youngster. I thought that they were "it". That is, until I got my hands on a gen 1 Revo STX. This was a game changer for me. All of the sudden, I was an Abu guy. I ended up with 3 or 4 STX's and 2 SX's. All was fine and good for a year or two. I got a nice little bonus from work and decided to grab a Curado E7. I was blown away. I had never felt a reel so smooth and easy to use. Next thing I know, I'm ditching the Revos and "upgrading" to Shimanos. Somewhere along the line, I got my hands on a Zillion. Wow! What a machine this dude was. So here I go again...traded a couple Curados for Zillions. I grabbed a Sol, an Alphas and a 153 HSTA. I was officially a Daiwa guy!On 1/26/2013 at 8:18 AM, Raul said:Never say: " from this well I will never drink" ...... you end up drowned in it.
But, I wasn't satisfied. I missed the power of my Revos and the reliability of my Curados. Then, the light bulb went off in my thick head. They were all great reels that served their own purpose. Each one did certain things better than others. I have wasted so much time, effort, and money over the years attempting to pigeonhole myself into using only one manufacturer. My lineup presently has several of each of the "big 3" and honestly, I'm pretty stoked with my current arsenal. My obsession at the moment is pimping out my Daiwa's, but I'm sure that will change, and I'm cool with that.
Now for my rods, I'm definitely a Loomis guy, or maybe it's Dobyns, or it could be Lamiglas........
tomustang reply :
It would definitely help if reels were cheaper so it didn't feel like too much of a gamble when trying them out.
bassh8er reply :
I was a strict BPS guy but bought a Curado 50e and 200e. The Shimanos are nice reels and their longevity is well known so I know they are going to be dependable.
I will say, however, that I will take my BPS Prolite Finesse over my 50e any day.
new2BC4bass reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 11:27 AM, bassh8er said:I was a strict BPS guy but bought a Curado 50e and 200e. The Shimanos are nice reels and their longevity is well known so I know they are going to be dependable.I will say, however, that I will take my BPS Prolite Finesse over my 50e any day.
Wow. Never used, or seen, a Prolite Finesse reel, but they must be the cat's meow! I love my 51E.
I started out where the OP is right now......with reels from several manufacturers. I don't see that ever changing. I have mostly Daiwas, but have a Gen 1 STX that travels to Florida every year with me, a couple older Chronarchs, a Lews TP, 3 Abu Black Mac 1600 round reels, Pflueger Patriarch XT and a couple Trions. Somehow my Daiwa collection just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
I'm currently in the process of upgrading a Sol, and plan on upgrading the 1600s before the weather warms up. It will be my first attempt at working on reels. I no longer can afford to send my reels out for professional cleaning, so I will be learning how to do that as well.
My rods are all over the ballpark as well. Daiwa, Fenwick, Airrus, Tec Spec, Berkley, Falcon, Shimano, Cabela's, Abu and plan on trying ***, Powell, Pinnacle, maybe an Okuma.
skeletor6 reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 11:02 AM, Quitlimpin said:Thanks to Raul. I saw this quote in another thread and it really got me thinking. This quote rings especially true for me with regards to my reels. I started off fishing Quantum reels as a youngster. I thought that they were "it". That is, until I got my hands on a gen 1 Revo STX. This was a game changer for me. All of the sudden, I was an Abu guy. I ended up with 3 or 4 STX's and 2 SX's. All was fine and good for a year or two. I got a nice little bonus from work and decided to grab a Curado E7. I was blown away. I had never felt a reel so smooth and easy to use. Next thing I know, I'm ditching the Revos and "upgrading" to Shimanos. Somewhere along the line, I got my hands on a Zillion. Wow! What a machine this dude was. So here I go again...traded a couple Curados for Zillions. I grabbed a Sol, an Alphas and a 153 HSTA. I was officially a Daiwa guy!But, I wasn't satisfied. I missed the power of my Revos and the reliability of my Curados. Then, the light bulb went off in my thick head. They were all great reels that served their own purpose. Each one did certain things better than others. I have wasted so much time, effort, and money over the years attempting to pigeonhole myself into using only one manufacturer. My lineup presently has several of each of the "big 3" and honestly, I'm pretty stoked with my current arsenal. My obsession at the moment is pimping out my Daiwa's, but I'm sure that will change, and I'm cool with that.
Now for my rods, I'm definitely a Loomis guy, or maybe it's Dobyns, or it could be Lamiglas........
Are you sure you didn't just buy different reels in search for "the best reel". I find this much different from brand loyalty. I don't see how someone can be in search of "brand loyalty". If you had "brand loyalty" you would have never made the switch to go out and try something outside of said brand. I feel there is a difference between the two.
I get your point though, I do find that each product has its own strengths and weaknesses. Also, I purposefully enjoy buying different gear from different manufacturers just to see what is out there. I find that aspect of buying gear interesting and fun. It also makes you more well-rounded in terms of being able to know the strengths and weaknesses that some companies have against each other.
I feel there is not a company that dominates all aspects of a certain market. "Brand loyalists" will argue that point, but if I were to give out my choices for "The best rod under <$50, <$100, <$150, <$200, <$250, <$300, <$600" You will probably see about 5 different name brands which supports the idea about not sticking to just one brand.
sarcazmo reply :
Brand loyalty is ok in moderation... Loyalty to one thing to the exclusion of others is pointless. Why limit yourself?
War Eagle 44 reply :
I fall on the exact opposite end of this discussion. I started out buying reels from many different brands, Shimano, Garcia, Quantum, & Daiwa. I'm now a 100% Shimano guy as far as reels are concerned. Not knocking any of the other brands, they all make some really good tackle, it just simply came down to enjoyment while fishing for me. I just enjoy using Shimano reels more than any other brand I've tried, granted I haven't tried any of the newer reels from Daiwa, Quantum, Garcia, or Lews so who knows maybe I'd like one of them more now. I won't find out any time soon though because I'm still 110% satisfied with my Shimano gear. I guess I fall into "if it ant broke don't fix it" category.
I'm also not really purchasing many newer Shimano's either due to being happy with what I already have. The newest model Chronarch I have is the B, I only have two E model Curados (51 & 301), and my Stella is the FD version. The majority of my fishing I do with Citica E's and my Chronarch B even though I have more high end gear, I rarely use it.
I'm not trying to say my way is the "right" way and you're wrong I'm simply saying I get more enjoyment out of having all the same brand reels. I didn't settle on Shimano because they're "Shimano" I picked them due to real world fishing experiences and what works best for me. It could have easily been Daiwa, I had plenty of their higher end gear to test. I used to own a Pixy, TDZ, Alphas, Steez, Fuego, & Zillion. All really really good reels, I just prefered Shimano.
In the end as long as you're enjoying yourself participating in this great sport of bass fishing then it really doesn't matter what gear you're using. Simply fish what makes you the happiest and enjoy it.
skeletor6 reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 2:29 PM, War Eagle 44 said:I fall on the exact opposite end of this discussion. I started out buying reels from many different brands, Shimano, Garcia, Quantum, & Daiwa. I'm now a 100% Shimano guy as far as reels are concerned. Not knocking any of the other brands, they all make some really good tackle, it just simply came down to enjoyment while fishing for me. I just enjoy using Shimano reels more than any other brand I've tried, granted I haven't tried any of the newer reels from Daiwa, Quantum, Garcia, or Lews so who knows maybe I'd like one of them more now. I won't find out any time soon though because I'm still 110% satisfied with my Shimano gear. I guess I fall into "if it ant broke don't fix it" category.
I'm also not really purchasing many newer Shimano's either due to being happy with what I already have. The newest model Chronarch I have is the B, I only have two E model Curados (51 & 301), and my Stella is the FD version. The majority of my fishing I do with Citica E's and my Chronarch B even though I have more high end gear, I rarely use it.
I'm not trying to say my way is the "right" way and you're wrong I'm simply saying I get more enjoyment out of having all the same brand reels. I didn't settle on Shimano because they're "Shimano" I picked them due to real world fishing experiences and what works best for me. It could have easily been Daiwa, I had plenty of their higher end gear to test. I used to own a Pixy, TDZ, Alphas, Steez, Fuego, & Zillion. All really really good reels, I just prefered Shimano.
In the end as long as you're enjoying yourself participating in this great sport of bass fishing then it really doesn't matter what gear you're using. Simply fish what makes you the happiest and enjoy it.
It sounds to me like the shimano "brand" was not the driving force for the reel changes. You just found what you thought to be the best reel at a certain pricepoint. So, you made the logical choice to change everything to what you felt best. As long as you did not think they were great because they carried the name "Shimano" then I dont find that being "Brand Loyal".
I see you mentioned "as far as reels" are concerned". That leads me to assume you fish rods other than Shimano. Thus, you are not "brand loyal" in that aspect either. I feel like too many people get tagged with that term, when in reality it is not the brand that drove them there, it is the products performance.
SirSnookalot reply :
From my perspective brand loyalty can breed narrow mindedness, you may just overlook an item of equal or better performance or better value. No question that BR is a very pro Shimano board, they do make some nice equipment. Some of the other forums I'm on and the places I fish Shimano is not near as popular. I like my 2 stradics and my 2 spheros, when they don't need repair.....lol, but do they fish better than my Abus, Penns, Pfluegers, Daiwas and Quantums, the answer is no. Would I buy Shimano again, sure but I'd buy the other brands as well, it boils down to the whim of the day.
War Eagle 44 reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 3:07 PM, skeletor6 said:It sounds to me like the shimano "brand" was not the driving force for the reel changes. You just found what you thought to be the best reel at a certain pricepoint. So, you made the logical choice to change everything to what you felt best. As long as you did not think they were great because they carried the name "Shimano" then I dont find that being "Brand Loyal".
I see you mentioned "as far as reels" are concerned". That leads me to assume you fish rods other than Shimano. Thus, you are not "brand loyal" in that aspect either. I feel like too many people get tagged with that term, when in reality it is not the brand that drove them there, it is the products performance.
Yes I came to my Shimano reels only conclusion after trying 4 major brands, but I might be more of a brand loyalist now because when looking for a new reel I only look at Shimano. I look at it as I've found what works best for me so no need to try anything else. I'm perfectly aware that's really close minded of me but hey what can I say.
As far as rods go I fish Powells mostly with some Shimano and GLoomis sprinkled in. I also have one Falcon that I really like.
rockchalk06 reply :
I have always been a brand loyalty whor$ much like the resident LMG 
. After coming to this board I started looking at other brands and hearing all the claims, I finally bought a Shimano product and couldn't be happier. I can't say it's better than my Abu's but for what I bought it for, it works great.
As was said earlier in the thread, if you keep to one brand because of loyalty or being narrow minded, you miss out on some really good stuff out there. I kept with one brand of rod for the whole loyalty thing, and made due with what I had. I needed a rod for a certain technique and what was available didn't cut it for me. For me being the important part. I found a different brand of rod, after opening my mind, and my first cast I was like "holy Hanna".
*Hootie reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 2:26 PM, sarcazmo said:Brand loyalty is ok in moderation... Loyalty to one thing to the exclusion of others is pointless. Why limit yourself?
Very well said. My feelings exactly.
Hootie
*Hootie reply :
They're killing you here LMG.....narrow minded?....
limited?......WOW!!!!
Hootie
LgMouthGambler reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 6:26 PM, hootiebenji said:They're killing you here LMG.....narrow minded?....limited?......WOW!!!!
Hootie
Call it what they will. Ive tried others, but nothing came close to my Shimanos, so there is where I lay. Lol. Its not that it just has the name, its that it has the form and function that works for me.
rockchalk06 reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 6:38 PM, LgMouthGambler said:Call it what they will. Ive tried others, but nothing came close to my Shimanos, so there is where I lay. Lol. Its not that it just has the name, its that it has the form and function that works for me.
There is a difference between being narrow minded refusing to use a product because of brand name and refusing because of a negative issue or being unhappy. In your case you had an issue with a different brand of product and chose something different 
tomustang reply :
I play with many brands as much as I can. But I have a ton of shimano reels, why? Well because they were CHEEEEEEAP! Why not get 1 citica 200e for $49, 6 curado 200e's for $74 (DSG), 2 curado 50e's for $100 (BPS), and a 301e for $130 (Cabelas) and all new?
I 
DSG for their clearance sale and 
whoever that guy was that posted the thread
*Hootie reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 6:38 PM, LgMouthGambler said:Call it what they will. Ive tried others, but nothing came close to my Shimanos, so there is where I lay. Lol. Its not that it just has the name, its that it has the form and function that works for me.
I know I can't say I'm brand loyal....YET.... but I sure do LOVE my Chronarchs and Curados.
Hootie
LgMouthGambler reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 7:14 PM, hootiebenji said:I know I can't say I'm brand loyal....YET.... but I sure do LOVE my Chronarchs and Curados.Hootie
Youll get there in due time, lol.
*Hootie reply :
Someone mentioned in a post above, " the big three", meaning Shimano, Abu Garcia, and Daiwa, as they probably no doubt are the big three.
I can remember back when the biggies consisted of, Pflueger, Shakespeare, South Bend, Langley, and a few others. Then in the early 50's, along came Abu Garcia, and they slowly pushed everyone else to the back of the bus. They pretty much owned the show for the next 30 yrs. Then, fast forward to the late 70's, early 80's. First low profile reel, Lews Speed Spool, first ones manufactured by Shimano. Then about 1980 Shimano started making their own low profile reels, beginning with the Shimano Bantam 100. Lews had to find another builder, I believe it was Ryobi, then along came Daiwa, all three gaining ground on Abu Garcia, and eventually moving out in front. So the big three became Shimano , Lews, and Daiwa. { I think for a while, Abu Garcia and Shimano probably tied for top position}.Then after the death of Lew Childres, the Lews man, Lews dropped out of the market for many years. Now Lews is back, and back with a vengeance. Will Lews move into top position? I don't know, and no matter what you say, you don't know either. I remember when no one, not me, not the pros thought anyone could push Abu Garcia out of first place. I heard Hank Parker say, he didn't think any reel could make him put down his Abu Garcia 4600C's, until he picked up a Revo.
So, here we are 2013, some awesome low profile reels, Shimano, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, yes, Shimano leading the pack, and no doubt, will for some time. But who knows whats next. You have Lews. Quantum, Okumo, still have Pflueger, Browning, Ardent, yes, and even some store brands, i.e. BPS, Pro Qualifier, Johnny Morris, all jockeying for position.
I do know this, we should be thankful for Shimano. They keep all the other guys trying harder. And be thankful for all the other guys. They keep Shimano on their toes. Also, know this, we are the actual winners. We get to fish with some of the finest fishing tackle ever made, thanks to good "ole" competition. God bless the tackle manufacturers, and God bless bass fishing.
And that, "fellers", is my take on brand loyalty....... Good Day....
Hootie
LgMouthGambler reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 8:01 PM, hootiebenji said:Someone mentioned in a post above, " the big three", meaning Shimano, Abu Garcia, and Daiwa, as they probably no doubt are the big three.I can remember back when the biggies consisted of, Pflueger, Shakespeare, South Bend, Langley, and a few others. Then in the early 50's, along came Abu Garcia, and they slowly pushed everyone else to the back of the bus. They pretty much owned the show for the next 30 yrs. Then, fast forward to the late 70's, early 80's. First low profile reel, Lews Speed Spool, first ones manufactured by Shimano. Then about 1980 Shimano started making their own low profile reels, beginning with the Shimano Bantam 100. Lews had to find another builder, I believe it was Ryobi, then along came Daiwa, all three gaining ground on Abu Garcia, and eventually moving out in front. So the big three became Shimano , Lews, and Daiwa. { I think for a while, Abu Garcia and Shimano probably tied for top position}.Then after the death of Lew Childres, the Lews man, Lews dropped out of the market for many years. Now Lews is back, and back with a vengeance. Will Lews move into top position? I don't know, and no matter what you say, you don't know either. I remember when no one, not me, not the pros thought anyone could push Abu Garcia out of first place. I heard Hank Parker say, he didn't think any reel could make him put down his Abu Garcia 4600C's, until he picked up a Revo.
So, here we are 2013, some awesome low profile reels, Shimano, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, yes, Shimano leading the pack, and no doubt, will for some time. But who knows whats next. You have Lews. Quantum, Okumo, still have Pflueger, Browning, Ardent, yes, and even some store brands, i.e. BPS, Pro Qualifier, Johnny Morris, all jockeying for position.
I do know this, we should be thankful for Shimano. They keep all the other guys trying harder. And be thankful for all the other guys. They keep Shimano on their toes. Also, know this, we are the actual winners. We get to fish with some of the finest fishing tackle ever made, thanks to good "ole" competition. God bless the tackle manufacturers, and God bless bass fishing.
And that, "fellers", is my take on brand loyalty....... Good Day....
Hootie
Wow, pretty well said. Hes right. At this time in fishing, we have some of the finest and advanced technology in fishing equipment. Whats next? Who knows? The sport has come a long way since I started in '92 thats for sure. I applaud Hootie for one heck of a post. 
*Hootie reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 8:13 PM, LgMouthGambler said:Wow, pretty well said. Hes right. At this time in fishing, we have some of the finest and advanced technology in fishing equipment. Whats next? Who knows? The sport has come a long way since I started in '92 thats for sure. I applaud Hootie for one heck of a post.
Thank you much LMG.
Hootie
jbone177 reply :
Brand loyalty makes sense to me. But it has its limitations. I dont understand people knocking other brands when they themselves have little to no experience with them, just to try to justify their purchases/preferences. But when someone has had great experiences with one brand and their product/customer service, I completely understand being loyal to a brand.
Im fortunate that I am just breaking into this sport again and dont really have any bias towards any brands (yet). Im sure that will soon change. I can already feel the bug biting as I look for my first baitcaster and rod combo. It feels like the more settled I get on purchasing something the more attached to it I become. Its weird LOL.
jhoffman reply :
A brands loyalty from me personally has always been built on performance and customer service. I might absolutely love a product but if it fails and you wont help me remedy it then I will not be back.
Two companies over the years have really stood out to me, both are not in the bass industry.
1: Elite Archery - 100% transferable warranty. I bought this bow in my lineup used. When the limbs splintered I sent it back and had a bow with new limbs sitting at my door a week later...no charge
2: Orvis - I lost a $700 rod/reel combo when I fell in over my shoulders in water on easter sunday two years ago in a raging trout stream. Dropped the rod to save my life. A week later when the water came down a young man caught it and returned it to me. The blank, all that was left was about 6" after the cork on a 9ft rod. I contacted them, told them the story, sent it back and they actually upgraded it to their newest version... no charge.
Its experiences like those that keep me coming back for life. Im a relatively new father, had I lost that rod and reel without someone backing me up there is no way I wouldve replaced it. I simply wouldnt have been able to afford to at that point in time.
deep reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 2:29 PM, War Eagle 44 said:I fall on the exact opposite end of this discussion. I started out buying reels from many different brands, Shimano, Garcia, Quantum, & Daiwa. I'm now a 100% Shimano guy as far as reels are concerned. Not knocking any of the other brands, they all make some really good tackle, it just simply came down to enjoyment while fishing for me. I just enjoy using Shimano reels more than any other brand I've tried, granted I haven't tried any of the newer reels from Daiwa, Quantum, Garcia, or Lews so who knows maybe I'd like one of them more now. I won't find out any time soon though because I'm still 110% satisfied with my Shimano gear. I guess I fall into "if it ant broke don't fix it" category.
This!
upnorthbassin reply :
I'm always looking for something new to try or looking for a good deal on something. That usually means a wide variety of stuff. If I do find something that I really like....a few months later I find something else that I like just as much. There are brands that I like but that doesn't mean that I will only use that brand. Maybe that will happen if I find perfection.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I used to be brand loyal to Shimano reels until they started changing up the Curado every few years and I wasn't liking some of the new models as much. For me it wasn't so much brand loyalty as just having all my reels feel and work the same so it was easier to pick up any setup I had on the deck and start fishing it. Now I have Shimano, Lews, Abu, Pfluegar, Okuma, and BPS and I use and enjoy all of them. I am pretty brand loyal with rods, just haven't found anything that I like nearly as much as my St. Croix's.
jerzeeD reply :
Nothing wrong with brand loyalty. If something is comfortable and reliable, why not return and buy another product from the same company. I have been driving Toyota trucks for years.....why? It isn't like I woke up one day and said "Toyota is the best". Not at all....I had to buy a series of disappointing POS vehicles that drove meto try Toyota. Once I tried my first Toyota truck, it got to 200k miles with no real repairs and minimal maintenance. Meanwhile, my Jeep it replaced needed a new engine, trans, and clutch at 110k. Other vehicles by GM, Chrysler, and Audi have been very disappointing as well. So now I drive Toyota trucks based on my experience with them, and probablly will for a long time until my experience changes.Moral of story...If a company makes a quality product that works well, what is wrong with being a repeat customer? There are alot of money pits out there in life, no matter what you are buying. Nothing wrong with sticking with the tried and true.
Jig Meister reply :
I stick to certain brands because of a money issues, for what I have to spend I stick with what I like and what works, if I buy something new that turns out a bad choice, that is a big hit for me.
if I was in a different situation I wouldnt care about trying whatever.
HeavyDluxe reply :
Brand loyalty is a completely different thing, IMO, than brand SNOBBERY.
I use Yamamoto soft plastics exclusively. Why? Well, for whatever reason they have always and consistently seemed to produce for me. One day, I threw very similarly-colored, stick baits from three different manufacturers. I threw them from the same spot on the same bank in succession. For whatever reason, the GYCBs resulted in a clear, objective uptick in hits, hooksets, and landings (to say nothing of 'quality of fish').
Is that luck? Superstition? Was I more confident with the 14k gold sticks on my line and fished them differently? Maybe. Whatever the reason, on my limited budget I'll choose to spend the funds on GYCB stuff whenever I can because I 'feel' like it will serve me better.
Correspondingly, if someone asks me for a recommendation, I'm going to point them - unapologetically - to GYCB products. That's brand loyalty. It's worked for me, I'll keep working it, and, if you ask, I'll tell you to work it too.
What I never understood is the sense of irrational superiority and snobbery that comes with certain brands. You'd never hear me saying something like, "This senko is absolutely better than your sink-o, and if you keep buying that crap you're a fool."
So, being loyal to a brand is admirable... it may get a little foolish, but it's harmless and, so long as you're having fun, who cares? However, the minute we start attaching some sense of self-worth into the brands we use, we go crazily off the rails.
Bass Junkie reply :
I am open to trying any brand once, and I will give them a fair shot. I have built confidence in some brands because they have always satisfied when it comes to the products functionality, quality, and service to the customer. I have also built a lack of confidence in some brands for various reasons, and there are a few that I won't touch. This is just how things have played out for me. I too was a Quantum guy, until I bought a Quantum Re-Ax and fished it along side an STX. The difference blew me away. I have since discovered that of all the braking systems I have tried, Quantums are the most ineffective for me personally. They are also the least smooth of any main stream reels I've used. I am not calling them rough, because rough they are not, but they are not smooth. This is an example of how I build a lack of confidence in a company. Between the lack-luster performance and the lack of customer service, I have lost all confidence in Quantum. You might think that from there I became an all Abu guy, but that's not the case. I simply find what works best for me, and offer an un-biased opinion on them to the best of my human ability. Just because pro X uses this company's product does not influence me, as I am not pro X. To me it is a personal thing, and if that comes to putting a Core 50MG7 on a Steez rod.... 
0119 reply :
HeavyDluxe you hit it right on the head, theres a lot of brand snobbery here, I fall into that category myself.
Fishes in trees reply :
A decade or so ago, I was very brand loyal to All Star rods. All of my tournament gear and most of my back up rods were All Stars. The reason for this was simple A - they had a great warranty program. If you broke the rod, they replaced it. You'd get it replaced off the shelf if the store you got it at had one. You could swap it for something similar if the store had one you liked. Or you could have the store send it in and in a relatively short period of time, you'd get a new rod back.
Now, I knew about this program long before I bought my first All Star rod. The deal for me was simple, an All Star rep was nice to me. If I ran into him in a store he'd say hi. We both fished BFL and when I ran into him at the tournaments we'd talk. He was very good at getting stuff not only from All Star, but from other companies that he repped for and nearly every tournament he had goodies for the guys he'd talked into getting All Star rods.
Sadly, those days are gone. All Star rods got sold to Shakespeare, quality control diminished and their rep system got disbanded. He had health issues and doesn't fish tournaments anymore, it has been several years since I've seen him, I ought to look him up and see where he's at.
Anyway, that is my brand loyalty story. Nearly any company can have my brand loyalty if they are nice to me and take an interest in my fishing.
I can remember when BFL tournaments were Redman tournaments. The organization that ran the Redman tournaments always had swag to give away, every tournament. Not so much at BFL. They have shirts, caps, etc. for SALE, but very seldom are there any complimentary gifts.
Oops, my brand loyalty story turned into a rant - better stop - sorry.
J Francho reply :
I'm more about model loyalty than brand loyalty.
Hooligan reply :
On 1/28/2013 at 4:38 AM, J Francho said:I'm more about model loyalty than brand loyalty.
This. I'm 100% about quality gear. That means being loyal to gear that is loyal t ome. Brand snobbery has nothing to do with it. There are brand snobs here, and that's just fine. In most cases they're uneducated, and really have no idea what they're talking about. I tend to pay less and less attention to what those people say over time, and can tell you that if you filter it, the surrounding posts make a lot more information available...
Anyhow. I'm loyal to reels that serve me well, be it Daiwa, Lews, Shimano, Ardent, or otherwise. Yes, the VAST majority of my reels are Shimano Chronarch, Curado, and Core- however, I've also got many others from other manufacturers. There are reels that can do everything well, but there are also reels that can do specific things better.
Rods are a different story for me. It isn't so much about model loyalties, or brand loyalties here. It's about what works. I fish mostly NRX and Cumara lines. Is it because I'm loyal to either for any reason? No, not really. It is simply because they offer what I am looking for in rods with specific lengths and actions and they do just what I want in the capacity that I want them to do it. It's exacting. Dobyns is another manufacturer that build specific rods for specific purposes and I've found that it meets my demand in that rod. That's where it lies.
kickerfish1 reply :
Not brand loyal to any particualr company as I have reels and rods by many manufactures. I probably have more dobyns rods and shimano reels at this point. Of my 20+ outfits they all see use throughout the year depending upon conditions and intended applications. When considering a new purchase or upgrade I consider ALL options and then start narrowing it down based upon reviews, hands on tests in local stores, and comparing the rod/reel options to a set of criteria. As long as the product is of good quality and meets the criteria I am willing to try it.
skeletor6 reply :
On 1/28/2013 at 4:49 AM, Hooligan said:This. I'm 100% about quality gear. That means being loyal to gear that is loyal t ome. Brand snobbery has nothing to do with it. There are brand snobs here, and that's just fine. In most cases they're uneducated, and really have no idea what they're talking about. I tend to pay less and less attention to what those people say over time, and can tell you that if you filter it, the surrounding posts make a lot more information available...Anyhow. I'm loyal to reels that serve me well, be it Daiwa, Lews, Shimano, Ardent, or otherwise. Yes, the VAST majority of my reels are Shimano Chronarch, Curado, and Core- however, I've also got many others from other manufacturers. There are reels that can do everything well, but there are also reels that can do specific things better.
Rods are a different story for me. It isn't so much about model loyalties, or brand loyalties here. It's about what works. I fish mostly NRX and Cumara lines. Is it because I'm loyal to either for any reason? No, not really. It is simply because they offer what I am looking for in rods with specific lengths and actions and they do just what I want in the capacity that I want them to do it. It's exacting. Dobyns is another manufacturer that build specific rods for specific purposes and I've found that it meets my demand in that rod. That's where it lies.
There are many excellent points brought up here. I would just like to comment on the statement in red.I find that the best and most accurate information that is given on this forum comes from those who try to judge their equipment objectively and give unbiased comparisons based on their knowledge and experience in such departments. Often the most inaccurate information comes from those who push their favorite brands on people and claim it to be the "best" when the only experience they have is with said brand. If you look hard enough you can find the people on this forum that actually know what they are talking about.
I believe, naturally, that people will gravitate towards the products that perform the best. Is that "brand loyalty"? I don't believe so, I feel those same people would switch their equipment if something nicer came along in the same price department.
Quitlimpin reply :
Perhaps exclusivity would have been a better title choice than loyalty. I'm glad to see this thread not turn into a dumpster fire.
Bankbeater reply :
I have no problem with brand loyalty as long as the product quality is consistant. Too many times I have see the quality start to lapse just because the company was #1, and they had a good amount of brand loyalty.
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