So I was replacing the line on my reels...no, seriously
I left the rods standing up against the side of the house and when I went to get them out of the rain 2 of the 3 butt caps were rubbing off black like shoe polish really badly...
The only thing I can think of is if maybe some solvent got dumped on the grass sometime this summer? Don't think so but I don't know what would else could do that.
-spence