Penn cleans house

[lurch]

sorry guys but if a quality reel comes from overseas I will buy it. However, if there is a quality reel within the same price range as the overseas reel I will buy the american reel.

i hope Penn is seeing this post from Mikecc!! Let it rip big fella!!!

[rwilhelm]

Is Penn changing the design on the 704Z and 706Z? I went to their website and they have the 706Z weighing at 25.5 ozs and the gear ratio at 4.6. I remember the weight being 21 ozs and I think the gear ratio was 3.7 or 3.8. They have the 704Z listed at 22 ozs, before the 704Z was heavier than the 706Z?

[PurpelNoon]

I noticed the same thing. Maybe if we are lucky they will improve the anti-reverse and limit all that play.

[bcaron]

After a lot of research and shopping around (and around and around) I went with Shimano. Hard to beat the features and quality for the price. And it was on SALE, something I never saw from Penn. I looked long and hard at the Penns, believe me, I wanted one. But I couldn't justify the cost vs. value for my hard earned green. You're right- they did it to themselves. Another example of arrogant management not listening to anybody. I'm sure some of the people at Penn have been trying to tell their bosses for years what the score is. Same problem where I work. I'm beginning to think the problem isn't necessarily Chinese business practices, its poor American leadership in the manufacturing sector.

[PurpelNoon]

I agree with you in that if Penn could just "update" the 704 and 706 to improve things such as the line roller(706) and the significant handle play, I would have no need to buy a VS, Saltiga or any other reel for that matter. But, they choose not to embrace change nor listen to their customers, the anglers. Sure I still use my Penns, but I like the fact that other companies who DO listen to the customer, and they will get my business.

[Swimmer]

As usual MikeCC fills us in on all the pertinent inside guff with a manufacturer. That is one of the things that make this list what it is. Where else after reading and listeneing too our buddies could we go to get this information and make an informed decision? No where. Mike has told us many things about Penn before but today we learn some more.

I sent a Penn 9500 back for premature bail floppage and when I called the factory to check someone in the office wanted to know how much or long I have been fishing. I supposed that is a fair question though in retrospect. The direct cause of all of the manufacturing and replacement parts coming out of China no doubt is managements confusion over how important the consumer and retailer opinon is.

Just remember the NAFTA bill was signed into legislation by Bill, spread the wealth, Clinton, not Goerge %$%$%$%$. NAFTA accelerated the rush to outsource like nothing else ever.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by bcaron

Another example of arrogant management not listening to anybody. I'm sure some of the people at Penn have been trying to tell their bosses for years what the score is. Same problem where I work. I'm beginning to think the problem isn't necessarily Chinese business practices, its poor American leadership in the manufacturing sector.

You hit the nail on the head. Several years ago there was an article in Fine Woodworking where they went to Taiwan and toured factories that made woodworking equipment. US buyers bought the cheapest equipment that was available. Price is not the only thing that counts.

[PurpelNoon]

In today's economy, I can see how things are being made elsewhere, but something that really has to be done is regarding China's government that allows companies to infringe patents. Honda alone has several patent lawsuits against Chinese companies that are literally producing Honda vehicles such as the Civic, with a Honda logo and everything, when in fact they are pure knock-offs. That is scary.

China should at least be made to play by the same rules that other foreign countries do.

[Billybob]

How are you gonna make China play by the same rules when they have a complete different set of priorities?Things like the environment,safety,patents they don't mean squat to a country like China.
Most of these people don't have drinking water, electricity, infrastructure, health care, etc. Do you think they care about patent infringement?
So, you say the U.S. should not import goods from a country like this? We should not be trade partners with a country that doesn't play by the rules, right?
Who's gonna push this? The irony is that the big U.S. manufacturers are the one's migrating to China.Their rushing over there to build their plants and take advantage of the cheap labor market.And, they have the lobby $ behind them to make damn sure the gates stay open.Meanwhile, wall street's loving the ROI, the company's are making money, and the gov't is telling you this is good for the economy.
Wait til it all comes crashing down.

[BK From Penn]

First time posting on this board, so a quick intro is probably appropriate. My name is Brent Kane. I am the Advertising & Communication Mgr for Penn Fishing Tackle. Having been with the company for just over two years, I have seen a fair amount of the changes and can appreciate the concern and resentment towards Penn. I also worked at Fisherman's Headquarters in NJ for about 10 years prior and saw what was happening to Penn. About five years ago, I had given up any faith on the company. They allowed quality to slip, processes to slide, and their name to turn. Quite honestly, it pi$$ed me off, and when the company sold to the new owners I knew things would improve. Two years ago, I managed to get a position with Penn, and I have been holding on tight ever since; it is a bumpy ride. There were many things wrong, and to fix them is not an overnight process. As they say, what a long strange trip it's been.

From what I have read on this board so far, it seems like a pretty good group, and is the reason why I am offerring my email address to answer questions on Penn issues. Please feel free to ask anything with the exception of pricing, deals, product specifications, or what reel is best matched with what rod. My answer to these is simply see your local Penn Gold Label Dealer. As far as questions that pertain to Penn issues, I'll answer anything as honestly as I can. Quality, decisions, direction, production, relationships with Dealers, new product suggestions, whatever else you can think of??? I can be reached at bkane@pennreels.com I will have no problem with my reply being copied onto the site for others to read or even argue back to me with their take on my comments. I apologize for taking this approach, but the last time I spent time on a fishing forum it became impossible to keep up with all the topics, threads, and posts. I hope this approach works.

I look forward to receiving your emails, and all I ask for is patience; I will try my best to answer any inquiries the same day, but depending on other priorities, it may take a day or two.

Best regards,
Brent