Marcum question

[DRH1175]

I have one question that comes up in the vexilar vs Marcum debate that I never really hear. How is the service of Marcum and will the be here in 10 years? I am asking this cause I know that Vexilar has great customer service. And after owning a color point I want customer service. And a company that will be around for a long time!

[CNY Tim]

Yes Definitely!!! MarCum has giving me assurances that they are in it for the long haul. And I agree both Vexilar and MarCum's customer service are excellent!

[marine_man]

To me, there's no question Marcum will be around for a long time... I've got a vexilar right now... but if I had the cash I'd jump to a LX-5 in a heartbeat... regardless, for one company to invest as much money as they have, and develop as many products as they have in the short time they've been in the business says something to me... and it says that a lot better than the other company that hasn't had anything new other than a carrying case in the past 3-4 years...

marine_man

[Big Pine Walleye]

I cannot answer to how long they will be in business--but I can tell you that I am truly impressed with their service. I have had a couple of questions in the passed and I e-mailed them and had a response (by name) within minutes. Then, I called them about the upgrade and the gentleman who answered talked to me by name and remebered me from our e-mails. In this day an age--that is service!

[BUSHWAC]

As awesome as my LX-3 is and the fact that I can’t wait to get an LX-5 in my hands. The fact that Vexilar is losing market share, it might be wiser to ask how long Vexilar is going to be around. I have seen some die Hard Vex fans jumping ship. No it’s not a Chevy/Ford thing. My hard core Chevy Friends would never drive a Ford, ever!! But Two of them have Dumped the Vexilar for Marcums!

[Northlander]

All I can say is Marcum keeps getting better all the time and I have had nothing but great service from Marcum the few times I needed it. I like to have the best I can afford and now its Marcum. If something better comes along I will try that as well. That LX-5 is going to be hard to top though!

[icedog]

I have both the FL-18 and LX-3. Tried to use both equally last year and have to admit that the FL-18 became the "ice shy basement queen". The LX-3 works better for me (just my opinion)

The question about longevity...Who knows how long you or I will be around?! Tough to predict about companies too. I like the Marcum product and I like the Vex product. Both have done me right from a service stand point.

I just like the Marcum better for my type fishing.

Oh by the way...I am salivating like a big old icedog to get my hands on a new LX-5....hope it is as good as the specs say it is.

[DRH1175]

I am shy simply cause of Colorpoint I had some problems with it they sent me a new transducer. That wasn't the problem and their answer was just the way they are. I could still fish with it. Just very annoying. Now Hummingbird who bought them out won't even service them. I just want to know that the marcum won't be like that.

[katoguy]

Could be that Vex could be sold in the future??? New owners might the do the same to Vex as Humminbird did to Colorpoint???

No one knows what tomorrow may bring in today's marketplace.

[Matt Johnson]

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about either MarCum or Vexilar. Vexilar is not going to sell out to anyone, they've established quite a name for themselves and their exceptional history and performance can attest to that. Not a single unit that Vexilar makes can be labeled as "bad" and they have a very good product. And I say that knowing I use MarCum units. I choose the MarCum units because they have what I want when looking for a flasher or underwater camera. I want what will suit me the best, and what I feel offers the greatest opportunity for me to be the best ice angler I can be.

Competition is a good thing, and it drives other companies to design and create new products to match/compete with the competition. I'm sure Vexilar will continue to design products that push the competition level, as will MarCum. That's the beauty of it, without this level of competition, I don't feel we would have the exceptional flasher units that we have available to us today.

MarCum will be here for the long run. While they are a new company and have taken a few bumps and bruises, they have risen to the challenge and designed a new line of products that have just set a new bar in the electronics industry for ice fishing.

[Rick]

Vex will always have my respect and admiration. They helped make ice fishing what it is today.

The good thing for us is that MarCum has jumped into the market place and raised the bar for the third year running on depth finders. I can say MarCum has earned my respect and admiration.

Vex will need to do something if they expect not to lose too much market share. You can only ride a fantastic brand name so far when the competitioon has raised the bar as high as MarCum has.

Right now for the same price you get so much more with a MarCum than any Vex priced comparably. MarCum has figured out how to compete with a super brand like vex - MarCum just makes a superior product and provides outstanding customer service.

It's a no brainer, when you have a company that is innovative like MarCum, not only are they very likely to be around but they are likely to rapidly become a leader in their market niche.

[aquafang]

Rick,

You're right about carrying the name. Vex had the corner on the market for a few years and they have a good name. Their engineers are just sitting back and watching the money roll in without them doing anything. Well, they've watched marcum pass them up and they didn't do a thing about it. I would have to say that Vexilar has the "Garth Brooks Syndrome"(I hate Garth) Just put out whatever and it will sell just because of your name. Well Where's Garth now?(died with the 90's. Sound familiar?) He's there, people still like him, but theres alot better now. Vex will lose out this year for sure. My guess is they might get something new for next year when they see their sales drop. And it may be even better than Marcum. But I think they waited one year too long. It's time to wake up engineers! Your days of laying around and collecting a paycheck are gone.

Ty Smith

[Gus]

I think everyone has posted something valid here. What I'd like to point out is that it seems like Marcum has a hard time keeping shelves stocked. I have yet to see an LX5 or LX3TC anywhere. Last year when I was looking at Marcums in the store, most places were sold out frequently. It gets old waiting for something to be in stock while there is a pretty Vex sitting right there for a similar price. I think Vex sells a lot of units because of the name, and because they are actually in the store. Hopefully they play catch up with technology or Marcum finds a way to keep store shelves stocked. Maybe it's not Marcums fault, maybe it's the retailers. I don't know.

Right now I'm still using my FL-8 (which works just great and helps me catch a lot of fish) but upgrading will probably happen sometime this year. I just hope the LX-5 will be available.

[Dry_Fly]

Have to be a good coon dog on a hunt to get your hands on one for sure. Has to tell you something about the product when they don't stay on the shelf long. I think I probably got one of the first LX-5 out this year. Looking forward to some ice now.

[hovermn]

You bring up a good point. So far the only Marcums I've seen are through websites, including Marcum's. I'm guessing that they're not big enough yet to put out enough models to satisfy all of their retailers. Hopefully after another good year they'll have the opportunity to grow large enough to mass produce their units. Mass producing sounds like a bad thing, but it puts more units on the shelves and brings costs down. As long as they continue their tradition of quality parts and labor, they'll stay #1 in my book.

-Ex Vex user.

[aquafang]

I don't think the retailers order as many marcums for one thing. At Cabelas for instance. I asked the employee why they had pyramids of vexilars and only a few marcums. He said right away, Service. I think the reps have the retailers convinced still, that vex is the best. I think the retailers order about 25:1 more vexes. Remember, I own both and love both. But I think that the marcums have surpassed vex for now. And if the mass production thing does change and is an issue, if it brings costs down on the marcum, watch out! It's already lower.

Ty Smith