Zee Baas - The Successor to the VS

[piemma]

Let's be serious here. I fished with 3, 704's converted to manual pick-up for the last 30 years. Probably caught 5000+ bass and blue. My family chipped in and bought me a VS250 2 years ago. Great reel.

Would I buy one for myself...no. Is it worth the money...yes.
Would I spend $1,500 for a spinning reel. No way! I have driven cars that cost less....
Just got to put it in perspective. I make pretty good money and can afford one but I feel that the price is excessive regardless of the quality/features. I mean, my God, it's fishing ! Maybe if I was commercial and really needed one to put food on the table I'd consider it but I think that the price is out of line for a hobby. You can buy 2 VS250s with money left over for waders and an Aquaskinz top for that price. Just my opinion.

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by piemma

Let's be serious here. I fished with 3, 704's converted to manual pick-up for the last 30 years. Probably caught 5000+ bass and blue. My family chipped in and bought me a VS250 2 years ago. Great reel.

Would I buy one for myself...no. Is it worth the money...yes.
Would I spend $1,500 for a spinning reel. No way! I have driven cars that cost less....
Just got to put it in perspective. I make pretty good money and can afford one but I feel that the price is excessive regardless of the quality/features. I mean, my God, it's fishing ! Maybe if I was commercial and really needed one to put food on the table I'd consider it but I think that the price is out of line for a hobby. You can buy 2 VS250s with money left over for waders and an Aquaskinz top for that price. Just my opinion.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by piemma

Let's be serious here. I fished with 3, 704's converted to manual pick-up for the last 30 years. Probably caught 5000+ bass and blue. My family chipped in and bought me a VS250 2 years ago. Great reel.

Would I buy one for myself...no. Is it worth the money...yes.
Would I spend $1,500 for a spinning reel. No way! I have driven cars that cost less....
Just got to put it in perspective. I make pretty good money and can afford one but I feel that the price is excessive regardless of the quality/features. I mean, my God, it's fishing ! Maybe if I was commercial and really needed one to put food on the table I'd consider it but I think that the price is out of line for a hobby. You can buy 2 VS250s with money left over for waders and an Aquaskinz top for that price. Just my opinion.

That's basically my feeling. More then twice as much as a VS? Is it twice as good? I just have trouble believing that.

People will definitely buy it though.

"He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it - namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to obtain."

- Mark Twain, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

[cheferson]

If peole are lining up to buy this water at $30 , why not a $1200 reel?

[JohnR]

I think it comes down to the VS debate on steroids...

If it is the best reel in the world, some serious anglers will buy it for that reason. The other significant sales will be from those that want to be seen with it... I really like the VS and I probably would like this one too but it is tough - for me - to justify stocking the stable with the current VS and Saltiga rate...

Me, I'm still looking for the sub $250 submersible reel. Imagine if the Nautil did not have a PLASTIC housing . That reel would have been a lot better...

[Karl F]

chef...
Great point.
There is a niche market for everyone. People paying 30 bucks for a drink of water, and the guy grabbing the free stuff outta the bubbler, both thirst quenched.
Where I work, true story, very weel dressed young guy comes to counter with a $59 bottle of Grey Goose Vodka, I'm just finishing up waiting on a biker dude with a 9.99 bottle of Guzzlers Vodka.. biker guy looks at the young fellow, winks, and holds up his jug.. "Both do the same thing, get ya drunk, make ya puke, only difference is, I wake up with an extra $50 in my pocket!"... maybe, maybe not ... young guy just looked like he was disgusted...
Like my friend that sells used cars says, "There is an ass for every seat!"

I gotta buy another spinning reel soon, (new 1088) don't wanna (really can't) go over 150 bucks.... wanna good one tho.....

[NIB]

While we are Quoting people PT Barnam Said "theres a sucker born every day".

[Joe]

I think we are more apt to see a dunkable, improved 704/6 clone at $400-$500 before we are likely to see one at $130-$250.
Why would a company take on the inherent risk and cost of a new product for the lower end of the market when there is nothing in the middle? Now, they may say they mean to produce it cheaply and they may solict input to that end, but I really can't see them passing up the vacum that exists in that middle range.
I think VS has got it down pretty good with respect to price matching quality - how much more value can you add in order to justify another layer on the market?