Rex, I understand your dilemma. Walk into any tackle shop and there are a host of surfcasting rods from $60.00. Okay you may get a season out of them or two if you are lucky, but you know you are buying crap and you get what you pay for. However, when you put a further $200.00 on the purchase price and you are now paying $260.00 for a rod, I think you are entitled to get a rod where the basics are right, not just a rod that looks pretty. Eyes, ferrules and butt caps are basic fundamentals, they should be up to standard.

For users to read the manufacturers have now decided to put quality eyes on the latest model I feel is an insult to those who believed they were getting quality for their hard earned money. If they now admit the early eyes were of an inferior quality, how about putting the better eyes on the rods of those people who patronised their products in the first place.

To quote Tui: Yeah ... Right!!!