Repair update:
I sent the reel out on October 5. they have the reel, but "will not be opneing up the box" until some time next week as it was inventory time last week and the service department was closed. This caused a back up in reel service which will make this about a 3 week turn around... :bsod:

At least when I sent my VS's in I could call up and bitch and they would get right on my reel. I tried to explain to the service rep on the phone a few minutes ago of the urgency of getting this reel back and he repeated to me that it would be 2 - 3 weeks.

That just blows.U buy a 700 dollar reel to use for striper fishin an its gonna miss the best part of the fall run.Damned if u do damned if u don't.
My first reaction would be to really give em hell.not sure thats gonna fix ur reel any faster though.I would call every day.

Sorry, can't sell you a 300 since I don't have one anymore. I like and use the 250 jigging. It works awesome. Has 50# calcutta on it right now but will be changing it over to 65# whiplash next week :happy:

Thanks for the updates on the Saltiga guys. I've only used mine a couple of times so far but it has worked well. Its been hit with some sand and I hear it sort of grinding out but its back to normal after a few seconds.

Are you guys noticing better casting than a large spool diameter such as teh VS?

Also, what is the best way to service this reel, and how much do you think it will cost? I'm guessing it would be a good idea to bring it to an anuthorized Daiwa dealer?

Thanks!

whats up TLap,,,I don't know but.. I'ld be PO'd haveing to send in that reel and it hasn't gone through one fall, I know you fish it hard but still. And whats up with the service department being closed? Being that the pricey reel is fairly new to the public, they couldn't keep the so called service "department" open during this time of year?.. at least for the high end reels.

They should really have a counterpart to Shimano's "Platinum Service Plan" for reels like the Saltiga.

Your just asking to piss off customers when you sell something that expensive and then tell them to pound sand for a few weeks when it comes time for repairs.

My only thoughts about having the reel serviced at a local Daiwa dealer would be the parts issue. I'm not sure they'd have any on hand since it's a relatively rare reel. But maybe.

Damn !@#$ing Japanese!

We should nuke 'em a THIRD time. :af:

I think you need to go up the food chain. You need to talk to the National Sales Manager, not some peon from the service dept.
Try asking for Terry Pederson.

Bernzy

MUCH better distance and acuracy than a VS! When you cast a Saltiga, the line feels like it rockets off the spool. Since I have fallen back on my VS, it feels like the line is falling off the spool on a cast.

If I do not have a good answer by next Monday, 1.5 weeks into this process, I will be asking to speak to someone above a service rep.

I truly hope your experience with Daiwa's Customer Service is better than mine. It took them 6 weeks to repair, not replace, a reel that came broken in the box. I spent considerable time emailing and phoning with 0 satisfaction. Granted this was not a $300-$400 reel but I missed most of June and all of July using it.

To top it off, when the reel was returned, it had been put back together incorrectly and I had to fix it. Dawia will not be getting any more of my money.

Guys-

Check this reel out.

http://www.accuratefishing.com/pdfs/TwinSpin-30.pdf


For some reason it's production & distribution is being delayed...


Toby - how are you making out with your Saltiga?

I will ditto on the crap service with daiwa....a few years ago I bought a daiwa emblem XIA for bonito fishing he derby....loved the reel and then smoked goes that bearings...3 week turn around and two outings later back to the factory...three weeks later it comes back....a week of fishing and back to the factory....reel never was right again...in my basement for two years now as I got tired of fighting with daiwa....

I just bought the Emblem Pro for distance spinning but do not trust Daiwas customer service

They've been working on that bad boy for years. 2+ that I've known about at least. They've told me it's going to be surf friendly, but I'll belive it when I see a final production model I can take for a spin. Their real focus is the West Coast tuna crowd.

The 2 prototypes I've seen were bulky and heavy and didn't seem sealed in any way. That reel in the pdf definitely looks like a more refined reel then what I've seen though. Expect big $$, but also an incredible spinning reel.

Yeah -- seems much more like an offshore boat reel...

This is my biggest concern. I really want to get one for those nasty condition nights but I am waiting to see how Toby's reel is delt with (service wise, I can't live with a 6 week turn around.) I now how 5 stellas and had my first issue with one of them right before the derby. While IMO they are not as heavy duty as the saltiga's they approach that price point and are in the same league. Shimano's service is fast with the platimum service plan that comes with stellas, I got mine repaired within 24 hours and overnighed back to me...charge: $0.00 (I did pay for the shipping out to them though)


Speaking of excellent reels, have you seen that new shimano Torsa? Jezzzz, I don't think I have ever held a piece of precision machinery like that before, simply unreal.

Sandman-

I have both the Saltigas (4000 & 4500) & Stellas (5000 & 8000). While I tend to "baby" the Stella more in the surf because of the feeling that it is not as "waterproof" as the Saltiga, I really think both reels are about the same when it comes to strength, drag-ability, cranking ability, ability to handle nasty conditions. Also, if you look at a Stella diagram there are plenty of seals in the reel to somewhat "waterproof" it. I love fishing the Saltiga's but I like fishing the Stella's just as much. I am starting to think it may be just that Daiwa advertises the Saltiga as "waterproof" while Shimano does not, leading to the feeling that the Stella is not as durable.

When you throw in the Daiwa service thing, which I will experience this offseason when I send my reels in, it may be just that the Stella is as good an option as the Saltiga.

Ok, finally have time to post up again.I got the reel back on November 2, I think.

It took about 27 - 30 days to get the reel back. I had to call Daiwa again and bitch at them about sending a $700+ reel in and losing it for the peak of the fall run. After expressing my discontent with the entire situation and telling them I should have bought a Shimano as they send a new reel when you kill one, I got my reel right back. I was psyched to put the reel back in the water after she came home, and left for Block the next day. I fish 4 straight nights out ther with it, submerged for a good amount of the time. While I didn't tangle with any big girls, the reel worked flawlessly again. They replaced the entire foot section and side of the reel connected to it, as well as the bearings and did a greasing on the reel. I was very happy with how the reel came back to me, even if it did take a lot longer than I had anticipated.

Since receiving the reel back, I have spoken to several Daiwa personel and I have built a bit of a relationship with them. Everything seems to be in order, and I am happier than ever about the reel.

So, after a season of beating the cr@p out of the Saltiga 4500, I would recommend it to anyone looking to get a high end surf spinning reel. I am seriously contemplating selling my last VS and buying a second Saltiga this off season.

27-30 days without the reel.And they replaced the entire foot section and side of the reel connected to it as well as the bearings.But you're happy with with it.Whoa.I understand that you fish harder than most but you bought a $700+ reel it broke and you waited a month to get it back and you're gonna give a thumbs up?

Don't take this personally or do but you sound like someone trying to justify spending 700+ bucks on a reel that didn't make a full season and you got crappy service to boot and yet you'll buy another and recommened it to others.Did I miss anything?

how much did the repair cost, or was it warranty?

Christian, it was all warrantee covered. :smokin:

Daiwa now offers not only the Saltiga SA-Z4500, but the new Saltiga Blast SA-B4500. They appear to be very similar. The former has 14 BB and is listed as MH action, the latter has 9BB and is listed as H action. Has anyone compared the detail specs between the two. Anyone know the price difference? Any preference between the two?

Biggest difference = NOT waterproof.

I'll have each reel in the shop this spring.Price of the blast is about 30% less.
The differance being 5 bearings and the blast is not sealed. also the handle on the Saltiga is machined and the Blast is HD cast.

Mike, what sizes will you be stocking? I am still trying to locate a 5000 to see in person.

the blast may not be waterproof, but it still works great and catches everything from schoolies to BFT w/out skipping a beat. i don't fish the surf a ton, but mine has been splashed and dropped in the sand and dropped on rocks numerous times and it still works like it did out of the box.