SMITH LTD Warranty?

[spoonta66]

Does anyone know what sort of warranty SMITH australia offer?

I took my new Bayliner out for a spin this morning, hooked up an SX40 and first cast the top runner broke off? Anyone know why this might happen? I know they have very light tips but this is rediculous.

I returned it today to Bill Fisher Tackle in Frankston and they said they had to post it to SMITHand have them assess the rod.

Has anyone here returned a rod to SMITH before?

[Mark M]

Contact Steven Philp, always found him to be direct and very helpful.

email: mail@australianangling.com.au

www.AustralianAngling.com.au

[MAINEVENT]

Finally used my Smith jigging rod last weekend. First drop hooked up on a Sambo and the thing snapped clean in half. Right at the top of the grip. NOT HAPPY! And I tell you if was hard work reel up a 30kg Sambo with just the butt. The charter operator said they are a brilliant rod and his customers have used many in the past and he has never seen that happen. He was standing next to me when it happened and said it wasnt due to high sticking or anything done incorrectly. Returned the rod to Campbells and they said they have to send it away to the supplier and he makes the call whether its a warranty issue or not. That was on Wednesday he said will get back to me hopefully Friday as yet no news.

[spoonta66]

Mark,

Thanks for the contact details, I emailed him today. Hope I can get a quick turn around as I am keen to get into it this Christmas holidays to warm up for the Vicbream round in the Yarra in Feb. I wish they could do an instant changeover as they had one in stock when i dropped it off on the weekend!

MAINEVENT,

I will race you to see who gets an answer first! Did you land the fish?

[MAINEVENT]

Fish landed. Waiting for the pics to be emailed. My breath is not being held.

[MAINEVENT]

Spoonta how did you go?

[spoonta66]

I have not heard back yet. Didn't think I would get an answer quickly due to the time of year.

[MAINEVENT]

All I can say is GOOD LUCK! mine was a $700 case of too bad so sad. Warranty what a load of DohDohDohDoh!

The last Smith rod I willl ever buy.

[spoonta66]

I'm not going to accept that at all. Every rod I use is smith and I will take it as far as possible to get warranty replacment. I beleive consumer affairs and the ACCC have a warranty task force to ensure faulty products are replaced as I beleive there is some entitlement under Australian law and it is not up to the supplier.

[MAINEVENT]

Get your paper work ready then mate.

[spoonta66]

Under Auatsralian law statutory implied warranties overide any manafacturer or supplier warranties which allow for cancellation of the contract and full refund if the product is faulty, it is up to the manafacturer to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the item is not faulty if they refuse a refund or exchange:

Statutory implied warranties
Regardless of whether a voluntary or extended warranty is available, the TPA, Fair Trading
Acts (FTAs) and Sale of Goods Acts (SGAs) protect consumers when they buy goods and
services. They do so by implying certain rights and obligations into all consumer contracts,
and these can be categorised as:
• ‘conditions’, which are essential terms of the contract — that is, terms that are so
important to the purpose of the contract that, if they are breached, will allow a consumer
to cancel the contract and seek a refund as well as seek compensation for loss or damage;
and
• ‘warranties’, which are less significant terms —that is, secondary considerations that are
important and, if they are breached, will generally allow consumers to seek damages, but
will not allow consumers to terminate the contract.

[wafish]

Ive used a few smith rods and know alot of guys with them all with only good things to say.

Only thing I can think of is the butt wasn't put in all the way? How where abouts did it snap i.e how far from the bottom of the top section ?

[MAINEVENT]

wafish I have also heard nothing but good things about Smith rods also (i have a dancing bream too) which is why I spent $700 on one of their jig sticks, ontop of spending $4000+ at the store on the same day! But I believe a good rod/company should also back up their product with a warranty (more than just a warranty on paper, maybe some after sales service too). But at the the end of the day if they the company or the supliers arent going to provide "a warranty" or honour a warranty I dont want to touch them. It always seems to come down to a our word vs theirs situation or they can some how twist what happen to the rod back onto you to say it was user fault eg you didnt have the 2 pieces pushed in properly. Which is exactly what they said! What a joke! When the rod was physically pushed in all the way there was 2-3mm of blank showing were the binding finished then the butt started. I pointed this out to the guys in the store when I went back and they said yeah it didnt look right either? When I looked at the other rod at the store it didnt have this gap? Would this mean a manufacturer error? Surely it could happen? Why could mine not physically go in all the way? At the time I bought it it was the only one on the shelf so I couldnt have noticed this as being a fault? Its disappointing that you buy top of the range gear for good money but get a less than satisfatory warranty and get put into a $700 too bad so sad situation.

Spoonta I reckon you'll need that info. I also work retail and know how the system works too. The customer has all the rights for better or worse. Im just too mellow for my own good sometimes. At the end of the day you shouldnt have to pull out all the stops for an honest warranty claim.

Went out again yesterday with the same charter and I told him the story and he said that it should have been a replacement rod under warranty no questions asked!

A big lesson learnt for me I can tell you.

On a slightly more positive note the "replacement" rod I got landed some nice fish yesterday and im happy with the rods performance.

[Drewy]

I'm sorry, did I miss something or did you say $700 for a replacement? Thats not a replacement, thats a new rod! At least I would expect a replacement to be at warehouse pricing or I wouldn't be using the product. In the past I have broken daiwa gear and explained to the reps and store persons that it was my fault and they still replaced the rods for free, no questions asked.

I've heard a lot of great things about all the Smith products and the guys running the show so this sounds a little strange to me.

Regards
Drew

[MAINEVENT]

Might be some confusion Drewy. I didnt pay an extra $700 for another Smith. The replacement rod is a deal I "worked out" with the retail store I bought the rod from after them telling me the supplier wouldnt do anything in regards to a warranty. Got a Daiwa Saltiga 55 Deep instead.