Was talked in to buying...

[Knoc]

Limited Guide series NI8 Scheels outfitters rod. (SOLGN-661mtxf). My intentions were to go in there and buy a Quantum Dominator bait casting reel and a Fenwick/St.Croix rod, but the sales man really pushed this one on me and said it was alot better quality and compared to a G-Loomis because of the NI8.. Everything sounded really great and the rod looks and feels great. Im just curious about experiances with this rod.

I usually try to stay away from store brands but I really liked this rods feel. Should I went with my instinct and initial fenwick/St.Croix? This rod was a little more than I wanted to spend. ($159.99, I was looking to spend around $100-$125). Keep it, return it and get a Fenwick/st.croix or cough up some extra cash and get a loomis?

Any help would be appreciated.

[JoeTC]

I think scheel's brand rods have been known for good quality and the how it feels to you is all that really matters so I'd say you made a good purchase. That said, I've had bad experience with pushy sales people there as they work on commission. I was looking for a specific rod once and they tried to sell me every other rod in the store, telling me I was wrong on what I wanted.

Joe

[Selmer]

Pushing me heavily on a store product will get me to purchase the exact opposite, every time. Especially if I go in knowing what model I want. I enjoy having a small, well-stocked outdoors store here in Montevideo with friendly owners and employees. If they don't have it, Jon orders it for me, I get it for the same price as Cabela's/Scheels/Bass Pro, etc. and don't have to pay shipping, plus money and taxes stay in town.

[slipperybob]

curious...What is NI8? Is it just a model number or does it actually mean something?

[fish_eat_sleep]

If you like the rod, keep it. If it doesn't feel right then return it. Most rods have decent warranties if your worried about defects. If you can justify the extra cash just fish it for the season and give it a shot. store branded rods are not junk. If they were.. nobody would walk out the door with them. I'm sure its a great rod. Usually store brands have better materials for less cash. Your not paying for the brand name. Its a win/win if you like the rod.

[Rick G]

Nothing wrong with the Scheels rods. I own a few and they are right on par with my loomis collection or my Croix's as fer as weight and sensitivity go. Better warantee than any other rod I have ever owned

[gloomiseye]

Should have bought a loomis

[mnviking28]

The reason that Scheels, Cabelas, Bass Pro, Gander, etc. push you on their store brand rods is the RIDICULOUS margin that they have in them. I worked for one of them (I will allow them to remain nameless here) in their fishing department. Their second from the top rod when I worked there was a $140 rod. Their cost, depending on length and action was between $27 and $35. When I quit there, I think I had accumulated 8. At regular price, that would be well over a grand. I had less than $250 invested in them. They are a decent rod, but I don't think they are on par with an upper end GLoomis. To me, they were like a GL2. Their top rods I think are more like a GL3. I think the IMX is a step above and GLX is 2 steps above any of the store brands.

[Knoc]

It really feels great in the hand and seems really sensitive when I rub the end on the carpet. Have to wait and see until bass season I guess.

[TrophyEyes]

Loomis vs. any other brand. Loomis all the way.

[katotowner]

Quote:

I enjoy having a small, well-stocked outdoors store here in Montevideo with friendly owners and employees.

What store would that be?

[NCLaker]

For your $100-125 price range, you can often get more bang for the buck for a reputable store brand rod imo, especially if it part of a combo deal. As long as you know they stand behind the warrenty. One drawback is on resale, if that matters to you.

I personally like to stay with certain brands of rods, and even the same line from that manufacture if it makes sense. Makes it easier to align rods for the type of fishing I'm doing, and more consistancy on how they handle and feel. I've gone Fenwick for most of my many rods - may not be quite the same class as top end Croix or Loomis rods, but I think you get a great quality rod for the price as well as great experience with their warrenty.

[Jarrod32]

What store would that be?

I think he is talking about JD over at Runnings....

[dan z]

I also bought a scheels limited guide this spring( titanium guided one), I had 2 broken walleyes series rods so I just traded them in and upgraded a bit... I love there rods. there light, have great action, and there is always great service behind them. I have also worked at a red logo store and they do have some mark up but that isnt why I buy there rods now its the performance that gets me everytime... Heck most of the time the sales guys just leave me be because they know that I know about there branded items...

[lindy rig]

Even my upper end St. Croix does not compare to G.Loomis

[Dave S]

I think scheel's brand rods have been known for good quality and the how it feels to you is all that really matters so I'd say you made a good purchase. That said, I've had bad experience with pushy sales people there as they work on commission. I was looking for a specific rod once and they tried to sell me every other rod in the store, telling me I was wrong on what I wanted.

Joe

Never had a problem with Scheels. Sales people would ask if I needed help and when told no they'd keep on walking. They've been nothing but professional when I've gone in to look for something.

How are you so certain they're working off commission? I'm guessing this is one of those my uncle's daughter's boyfriend's grandpa said..........

[dan z]

How are you so certain they're working off commission? I'm guessing this is one of those my uncle's daughter's boyfriend's grandpa said..........

they work off commission I know for a fact!

[mnviking28]

Don't be so quick to put Scheels employee's on a pedastal, they DEFINITELY work on commission. I was offered a department manager's job there, over half of the salary was commission. It was basically minimum wage plus commission. As I said, I worked for another one of the big stores. Part of my job was to "shop the competition". I was in there one day and watched their archery department manager sell a bunch of stuff to a guy that he wouldn't have needed if they would have properly set up this guy's bow. Reason in my mind-commission 100%. The manager's there make commission on EVERYTHING sold in their department. The commission is higher on some things than others, especially on store branded stuff. Ever wonder when you buy a pair of shoes there why some of the sales people put a number or initials on the box, or walk you to the counter? It isn't because they are trying to get your phone number! I bought a fish house there last winter. I called in to the store and asked if they had any as it was the end of the season, they had one left. The kid I talked to said "I will put it on hold for you, but I am not going to be at work tomorrow when you come get it. MAKE SURE you tell them when you get here that I was the one that set it out for you." Why do you think he did that? Cause he wanted an "atta boy"? Or cause he wanted the commission?

[leechlake]

while this post was about a rod but because now it's about commission:

what's wrong with someone getting paid on commission? The store employee should put the customer first and help them out but he or she works for the store. The store is in business to make money, the person working there is trying to make money. The best way to do it is to balance making money and also helping out the customer with his needs.

I'm not in the sporting goods business but next time you're at a store look around at all of the dollars of inventory on the shelves and racks. Grocery stores have low margins because they are turning inventory fast, I would assume sporting goods turn inventory much slower therefore they need higher margins to stay profitable.

But anyway, if you like the rod doesn't matter what it says on it and the fish doesn't care either way. If you got paid commission to fish vs hourly pay would you fish harder though?

[Knoc]

I dont think the guys in St.Cloud work on commision. I dont see how they could. Unless is a general section commision. I can ask though next time I go in there. Theres a couple guys I gotten to know that work there on a name basis, so I could ask them.

He didnt push it on me as hard as I might have sounded. It was just one that he had seemed to really like and have alot of good things to say about. It is a really nice rod and I know Im going to love it, I was more wondering on the quality and mechanics of it since I never owned one.

[JoeTC]

Never had a problem with Scheels. Sales people would ask if I needed help and when told no they'd keep on walking. They've been nothing but professional when I've gone in to look for something.

How are you so certain they're working off commission? I'm guessing this is one of those my uncle's daughter's boyfriend's grandpa said..........

I know many people that have worked at Scheel's, I wouldn't have stated it if I hadn't known for fact. I have no issues with Scheel's and like the store I just don't like any salesman (at any store) that talks down to you like they know best because they work in a fishing dept. Certainly not all Scheel's employees are pushy and many I'm sure are very helpful. People should just know that if they are there and a saleman tries to change their mind that it's not always for your benefit.

Joe

[mnviking28]

I don't have any issues with them either, I was just trying to just say "buyer beware" on why they do what they do and if a salesperson is trying to push you towards the store brand (at least in sporting goods), that is usually the reason. Yes, it is a "sectional commission" on their entire department. There isn't anything wrong with a commision based pay system and if you are happy with the rod, great. I have bought the store brand too and have usually been happy with it, just trying to provide some insight on why they do what they do.

[itchmesir]

I would never take the advice of a big box worker on a big box brand rod... it's their job to make them sound a 100x better than anything you plan on walking in the door to buy... unless i personally know the salesman and i can trust their word... also they leaned you towards a more expensive rod.. that's what people in the retail biz call an "up sale"...

[mojogunter]

Even my upper end St. Croix does not compare to G.Loomis

I have a couple of St. Croix Legend Xtreme jigging rods that I like better than my IMX Loomis jigging rod. I also have a Loomis GLX HSR9000 for rigging that in my opinion is the best rigging rod made. Both Loomis and Croix make outstanding rods. You can't go wrong with either.

[Knoc]

I would never take the advice of a big box worker on a big box brand rod... it's their job to make them sound a 100x better than anything you plan on walking in the door to buy... unless i personally know the salesman and i can trust their word... also they leaned you towards a more expensive rod.. that's what people in the retail biz call an "up sale"...

I do my own research and pretty much know what Im buying when I go into stores (Im not a "shopper", I wanna get in and get out). This guy had just asked if I needed help when looking at rods and I said no, Im just looking, and then he had just asked what I was gonna buy, and I told him a Croix or a Fenwick for bass fishing. He had mention to me about how everyone had been talking about the scheels rod I mentioned, so I figured Id check it out, and it was dam nice.

I tried it out today off the dock and Im REALLY diggin the sensitivity. I cant wait to really try it out once bass season starts.