Attn VS Owners...

[Zeno]

Some of you guys are cracking me up...whatever you are on ,I want some

Some of you drive a Benz that cost you a 100K yet this magnificent piece of German craftsmanship comes only with a warranty for few years.Gees ,for that kind of money it should be warranted for at least ,what a hundred years?Let do analyst.
VS at $600 ...one year
Benz at $100000....($600 per year basis).............basically your Benz should be warranted for .......166 years.Maybe we should ask Dr.Z to design a reel instead of the car.

Its just a darn reel,if you have time to stress over this you got waaaaay to much time on your hands.Life is too short ,fish hard

[MAC]

Originally Posted by ChiefLinesider

Exactly, I think your paying to get into the VIP room. Where you can be in a small group of people that own one. You choose your color & PAY to keep your semi-unique appearance. & Keep your reputation up on the rocks. It seems the Van Staal has become more of a symbol, like a right of passage, a sign to give respect, that the owner has become an accomplished surfcaster.

Up until a few years ago I thought the same thing. Then I got one and my thoughts changed. No other reel has been able to do what this reel can do period. When wading out to a bar or rock I use the rod as a staff totally submerging the reel. This is the only reel to be able to survive so far.

Can you bury the spheros in the sand. Then dig it up and rinse it in the ocean and expect it to perform. I doubt it...........

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

Van Staal's yearly service program is often a bit tough to interpret (both for owners and those selling them...) so I just talked to Craig about it since the news of the updated price of servicing has just recently hit the public.

Reels DO NOT need to go back every year. The idea of required yearly service is a hangover from the CT days, and hasn't been in effect for quite a while. It is recommended, if you regularly and completely submerge the reel, that you do so. If you're just getting splashed, it is unlikely you would want or need to send it back. If you have several reels (many VS owners do) and one spends all it's time as a back up or sees minimal service it's really pointless to send it back every year. If your main reel is running flawlessly at the end of the season, rinse it off and put it in storage and wait for spring. Sending it back isn't required.

If you do wait 5 years and you fish the reel senseless, there is the possibility that you'll have to pay for parts outside the normal line roller, drag washers, and o-rings. Whether a yearly servicing or waiting 5, 7 or 10 years makes more sense financially for you is your call.

Any additional questions can be posted here (and I'll do my best to answer them) or even better send them directly to the source, Craig Cantelmo at ccantelmo@vanstaal.com

Pete, I am a bit confused by this. Does not sending it back every year change in any way what will be serviced/replaced for free, or at least above and beyond the now $50 fee I have sent my 250 in every year since I got it. Each time it has come back with a bag of parts that were replaced at only the service charge. Let's say I feel the reel is working fine at the end of this season, but then halfway through next season it siezes up. Would they charge me any additional fee when I send it back since it has been over a year since the last time I sent it in? If there is no requirement to send it in, why not wait until it craps out to return it? Do they have it in writing somewhere stating you no longer need to send it in every year? I have had my 250 last anywhere from 1 month to over a season between emergency repairs.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

I skipped last year's servicing on my twice retrofitted VS 250 B. The drag is shot and the action is very stiff. Like hell they don't need to go back every year - and I am religious about taking care of my equipment (freshwater rinse, etc).

Anyways, why the hell should I have to depend on VS to service it?

n.b. there is an excellent thread with photos floating around on SOL on how to service your own VS by Rich Smith. I have not attempted it yet as I'd probably screw it up.

Maybe you're too nice to your reel. They don't like that.

Seriously though, the idea is to put when to send the reel back in your hands.

If something's wrong send it back; if not, fish it.

As for servicing your own reel, just don't put it back together wrong. There's zero warranty love if you do that.

[leptar]

Originally Posted by VanStaal_Product_Return_Form

ANNUAL SERVICE CHARGE
Annual service for reels within warranty will be charged at the current rate of $36.95. This does not cover line roller, drag
washer or handle bearing replacement for reels beyond 12 months from original date of purchase. Parts and labor charges
will apply (See Additional Charges).
Annual service for reels out of warranty will be charged at a rate of $36.95 plus additional parts and labor as required to
establish limited lifetime warranty status (See Additional Charges).

Ok $50+shipping when you feel the reel needs to be serviced still gets you to establish limited lifetime warranty status? or is that only if you service yearly...
The wording makes it seem as if you don't send it in yearly you will be out of the warranty loop therefore having to be charged $50+parts and labor....

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

Pete, I am a bit confused by this. Does not sending it back every year change in any way what will be serviced/replaced for free, or at least above and beyond the now $50 fee I have sent my 250 in every year since I got it. Each time it has come back with a bag of parts that were replaced at only the service charge. Let's say I feel the reel is working fine at the end of this season, but then halfway through next season it siezes up. Would they charge me any additional fee when I send it back since it has been over a year since the last time I sent it in? If there is no requirement to send it in, why not wait until it craps out to return it? Do they have it in writing somewhere stating you no longer need to send it in every year? I have had my 250 last anywhere from 1 month to over a season between emergency repairs.

You're basically right on.

The only thing to consider is that typically if the reel has been serviced regularly (yearly or so) they're likely to cover the parts for you if something goes wrong.

If the reel comes in destroyed ten years later after zero service visits they're going to be a little less forgiving.

I would email Craig if you want something definitive in writing.

The new service page:

http://www.vanstaal.com/Service.html

The product return form is dated though, hopefully when it is updated there will be some more clarity...

[piemma]

I agree with Mac. I put my VS250 through absolute hell. I use the rod as a wading staff and the VS is underwater half the time. I have fallen on it. I fish impossible places on th Narragansett shore. Wade out to submerged bars, fish Deep Hole, Carpenters, Napatree and a ton of other places. Other than one problem which was a faulty seal that VS put in during the maintenance in Dec of last year, I have had ZERO problems.
I have fished penn 704s and 706s for 30 years and they are good reels. Almost bullet proof. But I have had problems with them like everyone else that fishes in the surf 100+ night s a year. Bail springs broke (until I converted the 704 to bailess) dog springs broke. Drag washers froze unless you cleaned them every couple of trips. Drop it in the sand and you are screwed. Got to take it apart.
That being said, I think it comes down to what you can afford or what you feel comfortable spending. After 40+ years in the surf I felt I wanted to fish with a VS. To each his or hers own. JMO

[wheresmy50]

I'm not saying a Shperos is a better reel, I'm only saying that with so few moving parts, and with the way people react to long warranties, there has to be a reason why VS doesn't offer one. Someone has to have crunched the numbers and decided that it wouldn't work financially.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by piemma

I agree with Mac. I put my VS250 through absolute hell. I use the rod as a wading staff and the VS is underwater half the time. I have fallen on it. I fish impossible places on th Narragansett shore. Wade out to submerged bars, fish Deep Hole, Carpenters, Napatree and a ton of other places. Other than one problem which was a faulty seal that VS put in during the maintenance in Dec of last year, I have had ZERO problems.
I have fished penn 704s and 706s for 30 years and they are good reels. Almost bullet proof. But I have had problems with them like everyone else that fishes in the surf 100+ night s a year. Bail springs broke (until I converted the 704 to bailess) dog springs broke. Drag washers froze unless you cleaned them every couple of trips. Drop it in the sand and you are screwed. Got to take it apart.
That being said, I think it comes down to what you can afford or what you feel comfortable spending. After 40+ years in the surf I felt I wanted to fish with a VS. To each his or hers own. JMO

I think this sums up the reasons why some decide to get a VS more then anything else.

It has been my experience as well.

Reality is, for most, issues outside of normal occasional service are rare.

[RIJIMMY]

Thanks guys, got my questions answered.
I got mine 5 months ago and its fine, so I wont send it in this year, I'll go another season. Unfortunatley I do know how well the drag works.........

[spence]

I fish mine hard, sometimes as much as once a week. It gets punished, I don't even bother to wipe the water off of it when I take a wave across the boots.

It's the entire lifestyle I guess. Sort of like the Marlboro Man...

-spence

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by spence

I fish mine hard, sometimes as much as once a week. It gets punished, I don't even bother to wipe the water off of it when I take a wave across the boots.

It's the entire lifestyle I guess. Sort of like the Marlboro Man...

-spence

I bet those shiney boots are wiped off IMEDIATELY though!

[rockyroady]

Originally Posted by spence

I fish mine hard, sometimes as much as once a week. It gets punished, I don't even bother to wipe the water off of it when I take a wave across the boots.

It's the entire lifestyle I guess. Sort of like the Marlboro Man...

-spence

Good stuff!

[spence]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

I bet those shiney boots are wiped off IMEDIATELY though!

Nope...I always keep my shell cordovan polished to perfection. The thin waxy coating is like water tight body armour.

-spence

[ProfessorM]

Can you purchase parts from them? If so I would fix or maintain my own. P.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Oh hell PM you could make your own parts

[ChiefLinesider]

Just got an email back from Craig. Asked him alot of questions. I am now sold on a Van Staal. He emailed me back overnight. Great service. And everything made sense. I like the idea of the new service program where you arent entitled to send it in each year. & you only pay for what you want to have done, You only pay for wear items. Not everyone is going to be swimming with their reel. I feel I am going to be very happy now owning one. I suggest if you have any questions email them or call. You'll feel like part of the van staal family.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by spence

I bought an new old stock VS off Ebay and had the thing sieze up the first year...

Bought a Calcutta 400TE at SWE and had the free-spool lever break after one season.

-spence

Spence, these problems must have been caused by you reeling backwards because they surely weren't caused by use...