I broke the center section of my 10ft VSR and posted it back to masterline at the start of August. I got a email yesterday after several phone calls saying the following:-

This is to confirm that we have received your Diamondback rod back but unfortunately I have to advise you that we are no longer able to provide you with a replacement section for it.

The original Diamondback rod factory is no longer in production although the stock and goodwill were acquired by the Cortland Line Company. The Cortland Line Company have offered to replace your rod with a brand new Cortland Pro-Cast rod which is the only 10’ #7 rod that they now sell.

Although it is not made in the USA like the original Diamondback rod it is , none the less a superb rod and I am sure that you will be pleased with it.

Please can you confirm to me that you would like us to proceed on this basis. I should mention that there will be a £25 handling charge for bringing this rod in to the UK on your behalf.

Has anyone else had the same response??? I feel a little agrieved that all Im offered is to have to pay £25 for a rod that costs less than half the price of the original.

Comments Please.

WW

Well, on one thing they are right. The VSR was and is a fantastic rod.

You could try asking for a Flawless if there are any about. Not as good as the VSR but still an excellent Rod.

I agree about pricing but if the Company has gone the price is bound to fall throught the floor.

I got my 5/6 Still water VSR from the States, some years ago for about £250 and a year later picked one up for my Son for £110.

Wouldn't part with it, lighter even than a Loomis and a real wand.

What about Home Insirance?

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Roy

I had a Diamondback Classic 9ft #5 4 piece which I liked very much. I broke two female ferrules the same day. I shipped the rod back. The rod was out of production. I agreed to a DiamondFly rod as a replacement. It was twice as stiff as the Classic and handled a #7 line better than the #5 it was labeled as. I sold the rod to a friend who liked the action for use with heavily weighted flies. Simply, since Cortland became involved with the DiamondBack Co. the rods, which were originally manufactured here in Vermont, went into decline and now you see the outcome. The locals who built the Vermont made rods took great pride in their work. It is the unfortunate reality of outsourcing manufacturing.


Bobby

Hi WW I broke a Diamondback some 30yrs ago which I still use my suppliers wanted £50 for a new top section so I got the rings repositioned cost me £15 and I still use it today.
In answer to you been costed for £25 that will be for post and handling and this happens when I've broken my Sage twice in the past, I think they've given you a good deal and with postage keeps going up the parent companies can't put it on their costs I hope this helps you.

Robbie

Give David Norwich a call to make you another section. It will cost but at least you'll have most of your original rod, not a replacement inferior rod.

Pity that Diamondbacks are no longer made in the US, I had an All American and still have a VSR , I haven't seen a bad Diamonback rod made in the US, they all were better rods than most of the other more popular brands.

The Diamondback blanks are very popular here in the PNW with folks who 'build their own.' Google suggests the VSR may still be available, but you'd have to 'pay up' for a new one.

One other possibility is to log into/join Washington Fly Fishing

If there are any of these 'kicking around' these folks could be an excellent resource as to 'where.'

Fred

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

I have both the All American and the VSR, both execellent rods. WW have you checked the price of the replacement rod , it's a dam sight cheaper than what the VSR cost new. A while back my freind had the same prob and the repleacment rod was also a lot cheaper, he made a few complaints to Cortland Customer Care USA (see address below) and they supplied him with another rod which was on par with the orignal price and performance of the VSR. Best of luck getting it sorted.
Ed.


Customer Care
Cortland Line Company, Inc.
PO Box 5588
3736 Kellogg Road
Cortland, New York 13045-5588

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http://www.fordsflytying.com/

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/trade-cla...have-look.html
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http://www.flyforums.co.uk/trade-cla...le-holo-flash-
http://www.flyforums.co.uk/trade-cla...-feathers.html

+1 to the above. Little need to contact Cortland direct over the years, but each situation was 'settled' well to my satisfaction.

fae

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"The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a
living are now outnumbered by those who vote for a living." -- Anonymous

Thanks all for you comments.

Masterline has forwarded my concern to cortland who will hopefully get back to me soon. I am gutted at the fact I have broken this rod and it does not seem that it can be fixed without a fair bit of expense, something I thought lifetime guarantees were to protect against. I am reluctant to accept the new rod as I doubt it will match the VSR in perfomance. I also have a few friends with this rod, will they face the same choice if they break the rod???

I have spent a small fortune on Cortland lines in the past so hope I get some pay back with decent customer service. Which sounds possible with the positive feedback from fred and fords.

Will keep you posted as Im sure ther will be more anglers in the same position sooner rather than later.