Walmart Reels

littlered16 · Post by **littlered16** » February 22nd, 2006, 4:35 pm

I'm looking at getting a Stradic 4000. Its $20 cheaper at walmart than Bass Pro Shops. Any theories why? Some people think it may be lower quality. Also, any opinions about Bass Pro brand rods. They have a combo with the Stradic and a 7'6" inshore rod for $180. Separately they are $240.
Thanks

Castaway · Post by **Castaway** » February 22nd, 2006, 4:38 pm

About the bass pro rods I have to for my baitcasters and I like them, and they are not very expensive either!

Post by **Charles** » February 22nd, 2006, 6:43 pm

If it's a Stratic it's a Stratic, doesn't matter if it comes from Wal-Mart or Tiffany's.

I highly doubt Shimano, or any other company for that matter, that cared about the reputations of their products and their company, would supply a lower quality product to discount stores. I wouldn't.

Wal-Mart is willing to sacrifice a certain amount of profit on a single item to make volume sales. In other words if you can get it $20 cheaper than somewhere else, you're more likely to pick up 2, and maybe a few other things while you're there, and tell your friends about it.

Post by **Eerman** » February 22nd, 2006, 7:42 pm

I've gotten a couple of those BPS/Stradic combos over the last couple of Christmas'. I've got a 4000 and 2500. I've been pleased with both.

Post by **Chalk** » February 22nd, 2006, 7:43 pm

The reel is probably comprised of the same parts but are of the same quality and tolerances, who knows...I have several Abus that came from walmart amd Kmart they have held up well for me

I have several Bass Pro rods (BPS Extreme Woo Davis and Crank'n Stiks), I like them, the Extreme is wanting to corrode around the guides, there brass and probably not meant for saltwater. The crank'n stik is really nice, thinking of buying several more of them.

finniefish · Post by **finniefish** » February 22nd, 2006, 8:37 pm

Do not know about other brands or Walmart but I purchased a penn captiva via cabellas, great reel. Than I found a penn combo captiva reel and penn rod at sports authority. The combo reel was definitely not the same quality as the one purchased through cabelas, obivious differences. I would think that if it as a reel in the box your probably getting the same reel regardless of were its purchased, combos however I am now sceptical of.

Post by **T Smith** » February 22nd, 2006, 8:52 pm

might be a little off topic, but I think I heard somewhere that some of the shotguns or rifles in wal-mart are made by the company whoever they may be remington, winchester, mossberg, etc. at a cheaper rate and then they sell that model only at wal-mart or k-mart. It seems like they just are'nt finished quite as nice. I think if the reel comes in a box its the same everywhere. Wal-mart did use to sell better stuff it seems, they used to have alot of Penn and Shimano but now its all jarvis walker (cheap penn), tidewater or fishmaster.

leonreno · Post by **leonreno** » February 22nd, 2006, 9:02 pm

I have seen WalMart sell a lower cost model that was similar to the national model for less, but usually the model name/number is different and usually looks a little different. I do not think Shimano would sell a cheaper version of the Stradic to Walmart because if it was not as good and people started complaining about their Stradic's then it would hurt their brand.

gypsea · Post by **gypsea** » February 22nd, 2006, 10:14 pm

I know for a fact that abu garcia reels are not of the same quality as tackle dealers. A friend of over 35 years is an authorized abu repair shop and refuses to work on walmart reels. The reels are basically made cheaper. If you find a product that has the exact same model number then it's ok. As someone else said, the products made for walmart will have a different model number.

Post by **Charles** » February 22nd, 2006, 10:58 pm

Some of my casting reels are the Abu 5500CL3 (L-Wal-Mart). I've seen the internals of the 5500CK3 (K-K-Mart). Unless Abu did something undetectable with use or the naked eye, they're the same reel as the 5500C3.

I do all my own service work on all my reels.

Post by **Cranfield** » February 23rd, 2006, 6:28 am

The massive buying power of Stores like Walmart, allows them to sell at discounted prices.
Its not just fishing tackle, look at branded power tools and similar items.

Shimano and other major Manufacturers are hardly going to tool up, just to make sub standard versions of reels.
I suspect this is propaganda put out by the smaller Tackle Shops.

Post by **Charles** » February 23rd, 2006, 6:36 am

Cranfield wrote:Shimano and other major Manufacturers are hardly going to tool up, just to make sub standard versions of reels.

I was thinking of this, too. It would cost them more to retool than a more cheaply constructed version of an item would be worth.

I read something about this somewhere, I think on one of the bass fishing forums, back when Abu first went to the K and L designations. As I recall, the upshot of the article was that Abu did this just to track sales.

Post by **Chalk** » February 23rd, 2006, 9:06 am

Cranfield wrote:Shimano and other major Manufacturers are hardly going to tool up, just to make sub standard versions of reels.

True there not going to tool up to make a cheaper reel, but they may have dies and stamps that are at the end of there life cycle (falling out of tolerance) and they make a run with that machine for walmart...They can do the same with the internal parts as well....bearings for an example, they may buy a batch of lesser bearings.

There was a good show on 60 minutes or one of them shows about how walmart is not good for America, their business tactics are good for profit, but not for the American economy...

catchin1 · Post by **catchin1** » February 23rd, 2006, 9:16 am

Chalk wrote:
There was a good show on 60 minutes or one of them shows about how walmart is not good for America, their business tactics are good for profit, but not for the American economy...

The show was on Frontline and was entitiled "Is Wal-mart Good for America". Their final analysis was "maybe". I say no. As will most folks that are manufactoring in the U.S.

Post by **qoutrage** » February 23rd, 2006, 10:05 am

As I have said before, I buy my reels at Walmart. No biggie for me, since I don't spend that much time on the water. I get a year or three out of one of um and buy another, when it gets too noisy or breaks.
When ya get my age, ya don't want your gear to out last you and wind up in the hands of your replacement or in a garage sale. Besides that , it's kinda neat to go to W/M and get yorself a new toy every now and then.