Sonik Carp Rods - I feel conned!

[John Wood 2]

I was seriously thinking about buying 3 Sonik SK4 carp rods until I went into a tackle shop in Bicester today. I must admit that they do look and feel good, but was disappointed to hear that it is EXACTLY the same blank as the Greys Prodigy Plus. The only difference is in the fittings. Its obvious when you look, but the shop assistant confirmed this by saying the Sonik rep said it was true.

Yes, they do offer three for the price of two which may seem good value but why all the hype about a new company with exclusive high quality gear when all they seem to have done is copy Greys? This is all too common - you only have to look at the Svendsen Group (Okuma, Pro Logic Scierra etc who also make the TF Gear range.

The odd thing is that the prices vary hugely between one name and another even when the product is the same. the SK4 costs £10 more than the Greys Prodigy Plus.

 

[njb51]

Go for the Greys then.

/forum/smilies/smile_smiley.gif

 

[trev (100M bronze)]

Its just a cunning ploy to keep the tackle tarts spending money. The fish dont care how much you paid for your new rod.

 

[Wobbly Face (As Per Ed)]

All blanks come from China. I think there is only 3 facturies so rod companies are going to get the same blanks as each other. Its only the livery, handle, eyes and other fitting that are dfferent and the finish.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

Quite right wobbles.

I am surprised that many are not aware of what is involved in the manufacture of carbon fibre blanks. These blank maufacturers in the far east churn out rods by the thousands aday, mainly short baitcasting and spinning rods for the USA market.

Some of the specialist coarse and fly rod blanks they make are a darned nuisance to these companies.

 

[KAR]

SONIK has a RAPIDEX warranty in place to recover any damaged parts. If you happend to break on of your rods then for £35 SONIK will send a new part and you'll have it within 24hrs. For an extra £10 that plus a 3rd rod free doesn't seem that bad to me.

 

[Tommo!]

Not if you take into account the Greys lifetime guarantee, and the price that you can get if you shop around.

 

[John Wood 8]

I just wish they'd be a bit more honest. Do you go to Ford and buy a vauxhall corsa with a fiesta badge on?

 

[John Wood 8]

I think daiwa still make their blanks in Scotland. What about Hardy up in Alnwick.

 

[Frothey]

<blockquote class=quoteheader>John Wood 8 wrote (see)</blockquote><blockquote class=quote>I just wish they'd be a bit more honest. Do you go to Ford and buy a vauxhall corsa with a fiesta badge on?</blockquote>


no, but you can go go into SAAB and by a Vauxhall with a different badge on it....

Buy a Sony TV and get an Samsung panel with a different badge....

Its all in the marketting!

 

[Ian Gemson]

<blockquote class=quoteheader>trev (100M bronze) wrote (see)</blockquote><blockquote class=quote>Its just a cunning ploy to keep the tackle tarts spending money. The fish dont care how much you paid for your new rod.</blockquote>


Well said Trev there is lots of tackle out there that catches anglers better than it catches fish.

I would go with a Greys rod its a well know company everyone has got one or has owned one so they are tried and tested.

Tight Lines

 

[Frothey]

everyone has got one or has owned one so they are tried and tested.

century or harrison might dissagree!

 

[Ian Gemson]

<blockquote class=quoteheader>Frothey wrote (see)</blockquote><blockquote class=quote>

everyone has got one or has owned one so they are tried and tested.

century or harrison might dissagree! </blockquote>


I am sure they might but be honest go down the average carp/runs water and the rods you will see time and time again are Greys rods.

I have been fortunate to have visted 100's of tackle shops and there are only a very small percentage that have stocked Century or Harrison rods.

Dont get me wrong I am not talking about the quality or value of any of the manufacturers products as I am sure they are all very very good. However the average angler looks for value for money and low cost over exclusivity and high end products.

Tight Lines

 

[BOF39]

Not sure about "only avery small percentage"stocking Century or Harrison rods. Most of the speciallist tackle shops sell these rods, but under their own, or a well known anglers name, (not Nash or Fox though /forum/smilies/big_smile_smiley.gif). They are the main manufactures of the top class Uk made rod blanks to the trade.

Yes the Far Eastern blanks are quite acceptable to the vast majority of us (I have a set of them too), but its only when you move away from the "norm", that you start finding the limits of such rods, in terms of distance, loading, and quality of fixings.

BOF/forum/smilies/wink_smiley.gif

 

[stephen webb]

John,

Even Hardy's are now made in china! If you look at the marksman range they all carry the made in China sticker! Though I think it is only the blanks that are rolled there, and they are finished in the UK, which is why they can carry a union jack on them as well.

 

[JASON BELL 2]

ID GO FOR GREYS VERY GOOD RODS. GREAT AFTER SALES. WHEN I BROKEN MY END SECTION IT TOOK 5 DAYS FOR BRAND NEW SECTION AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED

 

[Clive Moore 2]

ive never had 'em but i understand Greys are the dogs teste's

 

[Tinca Tinca]

The Hardy rods are all Chinese sourced. How on earth they can justify their retail price I do not know. I use Fordham and Harrison rods and do not mind paying a premium for Harrison. At least they are built in the UK.

 

[Frothey]

<blockquote class=quoteheader>JASON BELL 2 wrote (see)</blockquote><blockquote class=quote>

ID GO FOR GREYS VERY GOOD RODS. GREAT AFTER SALES. WHEN I BROKEN MY END SECTION IT TOOK 5 DAYS FOR BRAND NEW SECTION AND NO QUESTIONS ASKED</blockquote>

hmmm, not so sure - the spreader on my £130 landing net refuses to stay open after 2 years, and they want to see the receipt or charge me £40 plus p&p for a new one. who keeps till receipts for landing nets? told them where it was bought and sent a link to the review i did, but heard nothing back. i was even happy to pay for a new spreader thinking £20 tops - the entire net probably costs about that to them.

 

[will spencer]

frothey i'm shocked an angler of your calibre doesn't keep hold of all your receipts.i demand a receipt for everything down to a single packet of hooks.insurance companies are b**tards these days.