sending in an Abu for repair?

[goblueM]

After my debacle with Wayzata Bait and Tackle not fixing my Revo Toro 60, I am thinking of sending it into Abu itself. It's not covered by warranty anymore, anybody know how expensive fixing some stripped gears are? Any experience sending reels into Abu? THanks

[RUNnGUN]

I have had the gears strip out on 3 of my 4 Abus and they have never been the same since. I say get rid of it and go with Shimano.

[muc33]

goblue, I buy the reconditioned Abu's all the time at the Fisherman's Factory Outlet in Spirit Lake, but have never sent one in.

[Stringerless!]

Curious to see replies since I have 5 gallon buckets full of em. I have an old daiwa millionaire that still works like a charm. The only musky reel I have not had trouble with.

[TomWehler]

Send them in all the time to address on box..Sprit Lake.

Can't quote a figure but cheaper than new.

Send in two or four at a time....sometimes was chraged for labor only...others just for parts.

[WallyGator12000]

Like Tom, I've had great luck with Abu's customer service and repairs on reels out of warranty. I've even got a brand new replacement once on an out of warranty reel and was charged a very small amount for the "repair." Spirit Lake is where I sent them too.

That said, I've gotten rid of all my Abu's at this point because even though the customer service was awesome, I was tired of having to send them in, sometimes multiple times a season. I run almost all Shimanos now.

[Esox_Magnum]

They will fix them or replace then, only Abu's I trust for muskies are the Toros, the rest buy doubles of, you'll need them while one being fixed.

[-Marc V-]

I'll second a couple things folks said - Abu's customer serivce is fantastic. Love working with them. Really, I shouldn't need to talk to them if the reels held up.

On a positive note, I've had reels they said were beyond repair and charged me 40-45% off retail for new ones. If you're thinking of staying with Abu's that might be an option if they still offer it.

I've been thinking of selling my Abu's and switching to Shimano's. The quandry I'm in is if any musky reel will hold up the way I expect them too with what I put them through. If only the big blades wouldn't produce. Reels wouldn't break, wrists wouldn't ache, no slime on the net...

[brad coin]

GOBLUE

Im good friends with the Minn Muskie show promoter,,,last year ABU had a booth at the show and you could bring your reel in and the factory techs would take it apart and replace any bad parts,,,It looks like their comming again this year,,show is in April if you can wait,, even if they dont end up comming you would still have at least 6 weeks to get it fixed before any musky season opens you may want to wait for that

[goblueM]

thanks for the info brad, unfortunately I'm in Virginia for grad school now, so I won't be coming to the muskie expo.

i ended up sending the reel into Spirit Lake, hopefully I can get it back sometime soon, guys are hammering the skis out on the river here (no closed season!)

[delmuts]

" guys are hammering the skis out on the river here (no closed season!)"

That will be enough of that!!

I know it is early, but is there a motel close to the center where they have the muskie expo? We plan to come up there this year. Thinking i may need to get a room booked soon.

[brad coin]

delmuts book RIGHT NOW!!!!!

The expo is the same weekend has the NCAA frozen 4 hockey tourney at XCELL in St Paul so that means that hotel/motel rooms will be at a premium if you wait

How close to show do you want to be??? because Concordia actually rents out Suites right at the show these I hear are very nice and it sounds like the people who used them had a good time at nite, a little on the pricy side but cant beat the location

for other hotels go to the expo HSOforum for a list I know one of the hotels from last year was dropped because their charging $175 a night durring tourney.

[rugbymn]

GOBLUE

Im good friends with the Minn Muskie show promoter,,,last year ABU had a booth at the show and you could bring your reel in and the factory techs would take it apart and replace any bad parts,,,It looks like their comming again this year,,show is in April if you can wait,, even if they dont end up comming you would still have at least 6 weeks to get it fixed before any musky season opens you may want to wait for that

They were great last year. They took everything apart and replaced the gears in my reels for no charge at all.

Any word on if the Shimano guy is going to be there, too?

[Esox_Magnum]

Yes Shimano is listed as being there also again.

[goblueM]

well i sent it in monday, and got it back today - unbelievable. no charge as far as I can tell

[harvey lee]

I have sent reels in for some type of repair in and out of warranty and I have recieved great service and a super fast return.

I have never been charged one dime in approx 4 returns and 3 were out of warranty.

I do not know how one can beat that type of CS.