US VS vs Chinese VS - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

cheferson · 01-06-2009, 08:46 AM

WHat are the differences between a us made van staal and a chinese made model??? Ive heard the handle is fixed and that the anodizing is better in the chinese version. Anyone had any negative experiences with the chinese made models???

Raven · 01-06-2009, 08:53 AM

Crafty Angler · 01-06-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven

Raven · 01-06-2009, 09:32 AM

uhuh

Crafty in a blizzard lol

cheferson · 01-06-2009, 09:45 AM

Raven · 01-06-2009, 09:56 AM

lead in the paint job i'd wager

Crafty Angler · 01-06-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven

uhuh

Crafty in a blizzard lol

Actually, Rav I was supposed to do some plug testing in a sheltered cove tomorrow - given the forecast, that might be pretty accurate...

ivanputski · 01-06-2009, 10:19 PM

I have a chinese VS, but its the only one ive ever owned, so i have nothing to compare it to... no problems... is it really such a shock they are now made in china though? its no secret that the usa only exports 2 things... jobs, and empty shipping containers bound for china...

Rocco34520 · 01-06-2009, 10:33 PM

My first VS will be a China made one. So i hope theres no problems with them.

Gunpowder · 01-07-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocco34520

My first VS will be a China made one. So i hope theres no problems with them.

\

yah same for me... still trying to save

Adam_777 · 01-07-2009, 04:50 PM

The holes in the spool intead of being round are more like little slits and are slanted slightly .......The drag knob is made of weaved straw.The lube is mashed rice meal.This is what I've heard from a local source .I have the USA VS250.Leaking out of the box really nothing to be proud of.

Rocco34520 · 01-07-2009, 05:12 PM

My friend said that SWE tested the china made VS this year and found no issues with them. Good news for me! Id rather support the US economy but i just cant spare the $700 right now.

PurpelNoon · 01-08-2009, 07:09 AM

I always felt that being American made was the sole support for it costing what it does. But to still cost that mcuh and be made in China is insane.
I have a 250 which is about 3 years old and when serviced the last year(Chinese parts) it is the only time I can say the reel isn't performing the same as it did). Anyhow, now that they are made in China, I would no way pay the asking price on another one.

cheferson · 01-08-2009, 09:08 AM

Anyone know when parts started being manufactured in china? What serial number on the reel starts the made in china VS???

Raven · 01-08-2009, 09:15 AM

not that i can afford a VS reel but after reading this post

and hearing about the reduced quality from the manufacturing going over to china i'll never buy one...

i've read where certain components were found to be radio active in other products because they just melt down everything all together...

customs made them ship them all back to China...

cheferson · 01-08-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpelNoon

.
I have a 250 which is about 3 years old and when serviced the last year(Chinese parts) it is the only time I can say the reel isn't performing the same as it did).

How do you know the parts they replaced were made in china?? WHat difference in performance have you noticed?

ivanputski · 01-08-2009, 04:26 PM

Pete_G · 01-08-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanputski

Many reels that have the "new" fixed reel handle are U.S. reels.

It's by no means a reliable way to ID a reel. There was actually a very long overlap where there were both star knobs and fixed handles. It started being seen on the bailed reels and VS275 long before "Made in China" had even hit the Internet rumor mill.

ivanputski · 01-08-2009, 04:21 PM

the easiest way to spot a chinese made VS is the handle/arm... the USA made reels have a little star-shaped knob on the corner so you can unscrew the handle... the chinese reels dont have it at all... just a flush hex-head screw... if im not mistaken...)

ivanputski · 01-08-2009, 04:56 PM

I stand corrected... I should have said that I have never seen a star handled chineses model... anyways, the chinese ones say "made in china" on them (reel seat) mine does. I'm no authority, thats why I always throw in a disclaimer...

Pete_G · 01-08-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I stand corrected... I should have said that I have never seen a star handled chineses model... anyways, the chinese ones say "made in china" on them (reel seat) mine does. I'm no authority, thats why I always throw in a disclaimer...

No one knows the truth or has all the facts these days. There's so much misinformation drifting around I rarely bother to correct it in the event I know the truth; it would be a 24 hour a day job. That's assuming what I've been told is completely the truth.

It's like the rumor that Chinese parts were being used in US reels before the move to China. I don't know if it's true. I've never asked. But I bet if you really questioned those who "know" that US reels had Chinese parts they'd struggle to prove it. They could be right. Or not. I don't think it matters enough to warrant a 6 page pissing match every single week on SOL, that's for sure. The reels are the same as they ever were. If you don't like the price, don't buy them, if you can't accept a foreign made reel, don't buy them. I just don't understand the excitement.

But the reel handle facts above I'm sure of. I've never seen a Chinese stamped reel with a star knob but I have seen plenty of reels not stamped "Made in China" with the fixed handle.

saltyric · 01-08-2009, 07:23 PM

I bought a VS200 in the fall......made in China. Fished it fairly hard, no problems......Love the reel. Here is a photo of the new handle.

Zeno · 01-08-2009, 05:49 PM

no idea what is so fascination about VS (or ZB for that matter)
I could not care where they are made. I vote with my wallet so if I don't like the product ,I wont buy it.
My VS is in the garage ,caked in salt.Has not been washed since the trip to Cutty in June. And it wont probably get washed till show season when I will have to clean it out. More out of embarrassment then desire. You know what, I expect it to perform flawlessly after i wash it. And if it doesn't? It will go back to VS
There is got to be more important things to discus then where is a darn reel made
Now if asked if they should of raised the prices in middle of economic collapse....now that could be an interesting conversation

Rocco34520 · 01-08-2009, 06:08 PM

cheferson · 01-08-2009, 06:56 PM

I wasnt looking to start a pissing match here like on sol, or fascinated with a reel. I was just looking to purchase another vs200 before the price increase. Ive used one assembled in the US for a while now, and love it. I wasnt sure if their had been any issues since the manufacturing move overseas, and was looking for some 1st hand experiences from this season

before i dropped another $600+ . But now it doesnt matter as i found a US made NIB VS200b at a great price. Thanks

Zeno · 01-08-2009, 07:09 PM

I am not saying you did; please don’t take it that way. Berating people is not my style…. I was just commenting how every question about these reels turn into half-truths, innuendo filled threads. Fact is, no one other then VS knows what is made here and what abroad. I certainly would have a hard time recommending this reel to anyone in the economy. But if I was in the market for one, it would be my #1 choice. The best part is, you can find a barely used one for some ridiculously low prices. Which is great for a guy like you looking for a reel. I doubt you’ll regret your decision