ZT-Pro upgrade - really?

Let me say now; I have championed the ZT-Pro hook tyer from day one. I bought one (Pictured above), and I reviewed it at the time, see HERE. I still think it is an excellent piece of kit.

A couple of months ago or so, Gizmo Angling announced that the original model would no longer be available and an upgraded model would replace it. Upgrade kits for existing owners would also be available. Fair enough and they have had a lot of problems with supply, but I can understand how a new, small company can get caught out. They have tried to keep everybody informed and ended up eventually getting there, or thereabouts by now. The full saga is published along with other stuff on their Facebook page that can be found HERE if anybody is interested.

I know this sort of thing is not for everyone, but I was wondering if anyone on here bought one and had bought the so-called upgrade? As far as I can see, none of the faults in the original have been addressed, namely the handle movement and the backlash in the toothed belt. It seems to be a new plastic base with a couple of trays incorporated and a complicated method of collapsing it down to make it transportable. To be frank, why would you want to take it to the bank? It is much easier to fold the original flat by simply removing two screws.

Okay, again shown on the FB site, you can kick the thing around the yard in its packing and hit the plastic base with a ball pein hammer, neither of which I have any intention of doing.

It is a shame that Gizmo has gone down the change for change sake route but I have seen it before in other small industries where someone had a great idea and instead of running with it and sorting out the minor irritating "niggles" they 'improve' it by changing it for change sake.

As far as I can see this is not an 'upgrade', it does not tie hook lengths and better and by taking it apart, any fine adjustment is lost. Or am I missing something?

Ralph.

It looks far to complicated for me Ralph and for what it costs I can buy a lifetimes supply of hooks to nylon!

mikench said:

It looks far to complicated for me Ralph and for what it costs I can buy a lifetimes supply of hooks to nylon!

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Yes, I know, and as I said hook tyers are not for everyone. I am just looking for anyone who has upgraded to see if I am missing something? I think not.

It is such a shame that small start-ups seem to need to change everything. The original machine is good, a few very minor improvements/amendments would have corrected the odd issues discovered in use. The real shame is that those tiny modifications have not been made and just ignored.

Ralph.

Give them feedback Ralph and see what they say! Maybe they cannot see the wood for the trees!

What is the cost of the upgrade kit?

mikench said:

Give them feedback Ralph and see what they say! Maybe they cannot see the wood for the trees!

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I have tried on several occasions but the usual answer is that they are aware of the problem or they just ignore it. On one occasion I mentioned a couple of "issues" and their response was "Issues? That is a bit harsh, 'niggles' is more like it" or words to that affect. No mention of the problems, so I gave up.

Ralph.

s63 said:

What is the cost of the upgrade kit?

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£45.00 to existing customers, and they are saying that is less than cost. I think it probably is. Long-term the one piece base would be cost-effective from their point of view, always assuming there is a long-term market. I suspect there will not be, as the item is a specialist piece of kit and will have an initial sales surge that is likely level out to a few units a month very quickly.

Ralph.

It appears to me they need all the goodwill and positive feedback they can! So far on this post they don't really deserve a great deal of either!

I cannot remember how much the product costs but several hundred pounds I recall so it's market is limited. They need you Ralph!

mikench said:

It appears to me they need all the goodwill and positive feedback they can! So far on this post they don't really deserve a great deal of either!

I cannot remember how much the product costs but several hundred pounds I recall so it's market is limited. They need you Ralph!

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The cost of the ZT-Pro is £145.00 - a fair price for a specialist piece of kit made by a small (very small) outfit trying to do something useful. But, it will only have a limited market, the secret is to know that.

Ralph.

fishplate42 said:

£45.00 to existing customers, and they are saying that is less than cost. I think it probably is. Long-term the one piece base would be cost-effective from their point of view, always assuming there is a long-term market. I suspect there will not be, as the item is a specialist piece of kit and will have an initial sales surge that is likely level out to a few units a month very quickly.

Ralph.

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£45? Your having a giraffe, lol.

I seem to recall that when this device was launched (less than a year ago)? They decided after a couple of months to add a hair rig adaptor, at extra cost naturally. Something so basic you'd think this would have been included from the start.

I've just had a look at their website, maybe it's the cynic in me but I can't help thinking this company should be could "uvebinad", just look at thie accessory page of addons and make up your own mind, and remember this all about tying a hook to a piece of monofilament.
ACCESSORIES - Gizmo Angling Online Store

Admittedly somewhat slower but I can tie my hooks to a decent enough standard and if faced with a choice I'd rather spend my money on a 13ft Acolyte rod, no substitute for that!

I suspect that they are appealing to the likes of one of my old fishing mates. He's now a rather keen open circuit commie matchman. He has a nasty habit of tying his hooks on boring work related train journeys. Having a device that folds up into its own container can only broaden their fairly limited appeal. However, it's never going to have much beyond a fairly limited appeal unless they can reduce the cost to a fraction of what it is.

I rather like the look of either version of the ZT-Pro. However, the chances of me paying £145 for a device to tie hooks is nil. I doubt that I'd be prepared to pay £45.

s63 said:

£45? Your having a giraffe, lol.

I seem to recall that when this device was launched (less than a year ago)? They decided after a couple of months to add a hair rig adaptor, at extra cost naturally. Something so basic you'd think this would have been included from the start.

I've just had a look at their website, maybe it's the cynic in me but I can't help thinking this company should be could "uvebinad", just look at thie accessory page of addons and make up your own mind, and remember this all about tying a hook to a piece of monofilament.
ACCESSORIES - Gizmo Angling Online Store

Admittedly somewhat slower but I can tie my hooks to a decent enough standard and if faced with a choice I'd rather spend my money on a 13ft Acolyte rod, no substitute for that!

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It all looks like a mess to me. I don't get this 3 inch hook tyer lark. Mine will tie 4 inch lengths with the original head and 3 inch lengths with the hair rig head.

I for one will not be buying an upgrade kit that does nothing to address the existing issues with the system. I think they have lost their way.

Ralph.

sam vimes said:

I suspect that they are appealing to the likes of one of my old fishing mates. He's now a rather keen open circuit commie matchman. He has a nasty habit of tying his hooks on boring work related train journeys. Having a device that folds up into its own container can only broaden their fairly limited appeal. However, it's never going to have much beyond a fairly limited appeal unless they can reduce the cost to a fraction of what it is.

I rather like the look of either version of the ZT-Pro. However, the chances of me paying £145 for a device to tie hooks is nil. I doubt that I'd be prepared to pay £45.

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The silly thing is, the original will fold up much easier than the upgrade.

It is a case of each to their own. I bought one because I was curious. I do use it, but I am perfectly capable of tying any hooks I need on the bank without a machine if needed. I only use mine for producing batches of hook lengths. It is much quicker than I can tie them by hand and every one is identical. Having said that there is no way I could justify the cost, but for me it is not about that. I admit it, I just like mechanical gadgets, but not enough to waste my money buying an upgrade that dose nothing to address the existing issues.

Ralph.

Well you must be in the minority Ralph. According to their Facebook page they have had to apologise for not taking phone calls or answer emails over the past five days because they are shipping "thousands" of orders out in time for Xmas.

And guess what, the update version has a a fault with a new part not available til 2018.

They must all be millionaires but I'm struggling to find their listing on the Footsie 100.

fishplate42 said:

The silly thing is, the original will fold up much easier than the upgrade.

It is a case of each to their own. I bought one because I was curious.
Ralph.

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Does your curiosity stretch to a Roller or a Bentley Mulsanne? I can recommend a half decent chauffeur.