Attn VS Owners...

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Canalman

Hmmm.... spend 160$ a year on a disposable lesser reel or 50$ a year on one that will last for life.... I think I'm ok with thr VS thanks.

-Dave

You're overlooking the $700 initial outlay in your cost/benefit analysis Over ten years, your cost of ownership is $1200, or about the same price as a self-serviceable Zee Baas. Plus return shipping, and over the last ten years, the price of VS factory service has doubled, from $25 to $50. Who's to say it won't run 100 clams in 10 years?

I spent $35 on a Penn 704 33 years ago. $5 for a new shaft about 15 years ago, and other than drag washers, eveything's original.

It's getting close to the point where it's cost me a buck a year to own it.

20 years ago, I paid $10 for a used Squidder, and another 3 bucks for new drag washers. What's that work out to, about 65 cents a year?

Both of those reels still run like a top.

It's cost me $70 a year to own my $420 VS 250 and I've never even sent it in for service.

Unfortunately, you are right, in the bigger picture. They don't make either of those other two reels any more and most of the new stuff is disposable after a season or two.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Mike P

You're overlooking the $700 initial outlay in your cost/benefit analysis Over ten years, your cost of ownership is $1200, or about the same price as a self-serviceable Zee Baas. Plus return shipping, and over the last ten years, the price of VS factory service has doubled, from $25 to $50. Who's to say it won't run 100 clams in 10 years?

You really need to quantify the "enjoyment", "fish catching" and "coolness" values as well to compute the net present value over the life of the reel.

I used the formula below to help choose a VS250 over a Penn 704z.

3 years later I still haven't caught squat

-spence

[gone fishin]

Spence - You are a piece of work !! Maybe a good Rummy replacement

[Rockport24]

LOL spence.
I guess its kind of like owning a fancy sports car, you want the performance, but then you gotta put high-grade fuel in it every 10 miles and spend $500 a tire for replacements. In the end though, when you are screaming around a corner at 70mph with a babe at your side, it's all worth it.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Mike P

You're overlooking the $700 initial outlay in your cost/benefit analysis Over ten years, your cost of ownership is $1200, or about the same price as a self-serviceable Zee Baas. Plus return shipping, and over the last ten years, the price of VS factory service has doubled, from $25 to $50. Who's to say it won't run 100 clams in 10 years?

I spent $35 on a Penn 704 33 years ago. $5 for a new shaft about 15 years ago, and other than drag washers, eveything's original.

It's getting close to the point where it's cost me a buck a year to own it.

20 years ago, I paid $10 for a used Squidder, and another 3 bucks for new drag washers. What's that work out to, about 65 cents a year?

Both of those reels still run like a top.

It's cost me $70 a year to own my $420 VS 250 and I've never even sent it in for service.

Unfortunately, you are right, in the bigger picture. They don't make either of those other two reels any more and most of the new stuff is disposable after a season or two.

Then you have to compute the risk of the ZeeBaas. Just because it's serviceable doesn't mean it won't need parts.

Also you have the bonus risk that the company might not make it (there is history to support that possiblity...) and then you won't be able to get parts. $1200 paper weight...

[tattoobob]

It's only money, and if your happy it is all worth it, to me anyways

They have a new trainee in there so she is probably making twice what the old guy got to service them

[fishpoopoo]

I just posted some new figures over at SOL if you want to see what the NPV is over 15 years, with and without salvage value and varying the cost of capital.

There is no amount of utility that I could derive to justify paying $1,700 +/- for a stupid spinning reel. I'll just rely on my Fin-Nor Ahabs and 706's.

This is ridiculous - for $50 and shipping I could buy another reel.

Why did VS do this? Because that's what ZeeBaas is charging to service a reel (but on paper ZeeBaas' are self-serviceable). And because they probably are losing money on servicing.

Anyone looking for an old style VS250B (interior counterweight) with some reel rash, let me know.

[fishpoopoo]

what the hell, here they are

the takeaway from all the numbers:

If you plan to own a dunkable reel for a while, it makes more sense to get a zeebaas (assuming the damn reel works as advertised, which, judging from preliminary indications from people in the know, it is).

JohnR - if you are reading this please let me know what you think of the reel.

[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

[Redsoxticket]

Q. Can any part for the reel be purchased directly by the customer from Van Staal in the event the customer does their own repair and servicing.
Q. Does Van Staal have a price for the parts posted.
Q. Does Van Stall have schematics avaiable to customers.

[ChiefLinesider]

They don't seem too confident in their product if they only offer a 1 year warranty.
& its 50 dollars plus parts for servicing? So if you had 100 bucks worth of parts that need to be replaced, you have a $150 bill sent to you (without notice? Anything under $200 without a call?)


And if someone buys a used reel & they want to put a warranty on it, They are getting slapped with a big chunk of change for a 1 year warranty?

I would also be interested in a parts list cost. What is an average repair bill? Or what if it starts leaking outside of the warranty? What will that repair run you? What is covered in the servicing? .....looks like ive got to make a VS phonecall

[fishpoopoo]

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.

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.

[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.