Shimano Service -- Unbelievable

[Lals]

Unbelievable, I sent my reels to Shimano to get them cleaned and lubricated and they replaced a few of them for the normal service charge -- a TE 300 and a couple of spinning reels. If you have Shimano reels, I would highly reccommend that you send them once every couple of years as they will replace worn parts as well as clean and grease the reels. The first year I sent reels to Shimano (2 years ago), they replace 18 parts in a Calcutta for the price of cleaning and lubricating -- that Calcutta is still working great! Back then, it cost $12 for Calcutta but now it is $20 -- I guess it was a little more expensive for them helping blokes like me. It costs $25 for a TE, $20 for a Calcutta and $15 for a spinning reel.

Go on their HSOforum and they will tell you how to get them serviced. Fish.Shimano.com and go to the service section.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Thanks, Lals, that's good to know. I had a similar experience with Pflueger. I sent a spinning reel in for some work, and they sent me a brand new one for the price of shipping!

[Random guy]

Good info Lals. Thanks

[TECK]

I sent in all # of my Calcuttas. Great service

[bigbritt]

did you just slap them in a box and write a note telling what you would like done to them? got two calcutta's that need a good once over.

[Lals]

I put a note in the box asking them to clean and lubricate the reel. They send the reels back and send the bill later. This year when they sent the reels back there was a note asking that in the future I go to their HSOforum and log in the request (HSOforum is in my note above). If you do this, they would also give you a tracking number and a packing slip.

More and more people are sending their reels to Shimano. In fact, I learned about this from the boys at Thorne bros. Last year, I sent them in April and they didn't come back until late June -- big back log. I sent them in a few weeks ago and the turnaround was a couple of weeks. The message here is to get them to Shimano early before the pre-season big rush. However, if you have TE's, the service is always just a few days, I believe.

Regarding the TE 300. I bought my first TE this year and after a few months it seemed to be not working as well but it was still nice, well I sent it to Shimano for cleaning and lubrication and they found something and just replaced it with a new reel.