I had happily owned a CND custom spey 13'6 8/9 for 7 years. It was a butter smooth rod, cast great, and it was my go to winter stick. On a recent trip to the skeena, the rod broke, just folded in half on my first cast. No big deal, rods break, it happens.
The issue here is that because the initial U.S. distributor is no longer, there was nobody in the US that would fix it, this meant 1 sending the rod back to Japan (if i could find who to send it to, just try going to the CND spey USA website and getting any information) 2 finding out if my rod would even still be covered. Turns out, it wasn't. I've copied the email I received from the head of CND japan to show you what kind of 'customer service' they provide. Basically they want me to pay 320 bucks to buy a new rod because they are unwilling to repair a rod I bought with an unconditional lifetime warranty. I would never expect this kind of treatment from sage, loomis, winston, scott, or any of the other major rod manufacturers. Needless to say I wrote them back saying that they had lost a former customer. I'm still just livid. I don't normally ever slander a company or a business, but this was outrageous and totally inconsistent with industry norms.
> Hi Steve,>> Thanks for your continuous interest and use of CND spey rod.>> As we have no longer distribute our products to USA and your rod has been> sold by initial distributor of North America, CND Japan could only offer limited warranty service.>> And please kindly understand that Lee and Nancy got no responsibility for> those rods sold> by initial distributor and they are just giving service by their generous> voluntary mind to CND customers.>> Follows are detail contents of my last offer.>> 1: Warranty parts cost $144.00-> 2: Difference of price $173.00- (B.Spey 13'6" #7/8/9 - Custom Spey 13'> #8/9)> 3: Shipping cost $ 33.00- (CND Japan taking half of shipping> cost)>> Total $350->> All prices are calculated based on Japan domestic prices for the warranty.> (Exchange yen80 / US$)>> This offer to replace a new B.Spey 13'6" rod (RRP $725.00- Japan price)> which offers 4 section with better specification.>> If you are not happy with this offer, I could only reduce another half of> shipping cost for $33.00-> So total $317.00- (Shipping cost free) This is the best I could offer.>> Kind regards,>> Nobuo Nodera>> CND Japan.
>> Nobuo,>>>> The rod that I purchased with an "unconditional warranty" cannot be>> repaired, and can only be replaced for 350 dollars?! There has to be>> some>> other option for replacement. I understand that the rod has been>> discontinued, but other manufactures typically offer the exchange>> without>> an additional 250 dollar fee. I hope we can come to some kind of>> arrangement. Thanks - Steve>>>>>> Best I could do is exchange to B.Spey 13'6" rod with difference of>>>> price and spare section cost.>>>> Which should be around $250- + shipping cost ($100-)>>>> Then he could get new B.Spey 13'6" from Japan.>>>> If only he could accept this offer, I could arrange exchange service.>>>> Best regards,>>>> Nobuo.
< 2015 >>>> Update
The issue here is that because the initial U.S. distributor is no longer, there was nobody in the US that would fix it, this meant 1 sending the rod back to Japan (if i could find who to send it to, just try going to the CND spey USA website and getting any information) 2 finding out if my rod would even still be covered. Turns out, it wasn't. I've copied the email I received from the head of CND japan to show you what kind of 'customer service' they provide. Basically they want me to pay 320 bucks to buy a new rod because they are unwilling to repair a rod I bought with an unconditional lifetime warranty. I would never expect this kind of treatment from sage, loomis, winston, scott, or any of the other major rod manufacturers. Needless to say I wrote them back saying that they had lost a former customer. I'm still just livid. I don't normally ever slander a company or a business, but this was outrageous and totally inconsistent with industry norms.
> Hi Steve,>> Thanks for your continuous interest and use of CND spey rod.>> As we have no longer distribute our products to USA and your rod has been> sold by initial distributor of North America, CND Japan could only offer limited warranty service.>> And please kindly understand that Lee and Nancy got no responsibility for> those rods sold> by initial distributor and they are just giving service by their generous> voluntary mind to CND customers.>> Follows are detail contents of my last offer.>> 1: Warranty parts cost $144.00-> 2: Difference of price $173.00- (B.Spey 13'6" #7/8/9 - Custom Spey 13'> #8/9)> 3: Shipping cost $ 33.00- (CND Japan taking half of shipping> cost)>> Total $350->> All prices are calculated based on Japan domestic prices for the warranty.> (Exchange yen80 / US$)>> This offer to replace a new B.Spey 13'6" rod (RRP $725.00- Japan price)> which offers 4 section with better specification.>> If you are not happy with this offer, I could only reduce another half of> shipping cost for $33.00-> So total $317.00- (Shipping cost free) This is the best I could offer.>> Kind regards,>> Nobuo Nodera>> CND Japan.
>> Nobuo,>>>> The rod that I purchased with an "unconditional warranty" cannot be>> repaired, and can only be replaced for 350 dollars?! There has to be>> some>> other option for replacement. I understand that the rod has been>> discontinued, but other manufactures typically offer the exchange>> without>> an additional 250 dollar fee. I hope we can come to some kind of>> arrangement. Thanks - Steve>>>>>> Best I could do is exchange to B.Spey 13'6" rod with difference of>>>> price and spare section cost.>>>> Which should be around $250- + shipping cost ($100-)>>>> Then he could get new B.Spey 13'6" from Japan.>>>> If only he could accept this offer, I could arrange exchange service.>>>> Best regards,>>>> Nobuo.
< 2015 >>>> Update