Wakina, thanks for putting it out there. It's a shame when sportsman are afraid to share info about an inferior product for fear of a lawsuit. I am the kind of person who would stand up to any such threats....lol now that I think about it....that attitude has cost me in the past. Oh well, I'd still rather be a stand up guy.

Anyway, I'm glad it wasn't the rods I'm using. But now you have me thinking about the solid blank through the handle. I never really considered what would happen if the cheaper rods failed. What I don't understand is how your friend lost 2 reels. You would think he would have learned after the first one broke. Must have thought it was a fluke.