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| People often let personal issues interfere with clear thinking. St. Croix is a BUSINESS not a LIABILITY. Through the Triumph and Mojo Series', St. Croix has STRENGTHENED their market share and no matter where those 2 series are made.......'Sconnie/USA folks will reap some benefit. Oh yeah, and Rich is a good dude. Just sayin'. |
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Posts: 37
Location: wisconsin | No beef with the Schluters other than the companies philosophy shift. Money is money...
Second, I quit tournament fishing in '94 I was not released. Again, my beef was with the simple Staff philosophy shift after the fact.
Though I will add that my "few" dealing with Rich were less than what I would call a great experience. Bad day on his end? I dont know.
I could and should have left him out of the original posting as he has nothing to do with where I was originally heading . Then again it all adds up.
The St Croix pro-Staff is better today than 20 years ago, no argument there.
My point and beef is sending jobs south of the border or any country for that matter PERIOD.
I believe I made no derogatory commentary about the Mexican people or the quality of work they do, Merely pointing out that the Schluters decided to send jobs out of WI when there are plenty of people to fill those jobs here in WI.
At an average "starting" price of $150 for a U.S. made rod, I believe St Croix can afford to pay an American worker to build the few series they funneled south of the border.
Lastly, I just found out that some of these rods were being made in mexico, hence my poll based on Jeff's very own words back in the day. Had I actually had a "personal" beef with St Croix, Rich, or Jeff, It would stand to reason that I would have said something long before today as I have been inactive since '94 by my choice.
I still wear the frigging St Croix swag daily , but the foreign made rods stick in my craw , capitalism or no capitalism.
Hope that clarifies my position. |
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Posts: 991
| the legend tournaments and premiers are great rods, I must admit im kind of a hypocrite since I switched over to TI rods which are made in china (I love the length and after using the TI for the first time I couldnt go back to my st croix with 14' butt ends) but if you do have the money why not have a rod maker personally make you a rod and support small business' as well. I plan on doing that when I am no longer a student |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | peedenmark7 - 11/16/2011 8:01 AM
At an average "starting" price of $150 for a U.S. made rod, I believe St Croix can afford to pay an American worker to build the few series they funneled south of the border.
Doubtful. If it were possible someone in the industry would be doing it.
Also, St.Croix employees are benefiting from this. The rods are still being sold by the sales force, the distribution is still being done in WI, purchasing for the materials I'm sure is still being done in-house, etc. The only difference is that there are a few people that wouldn't have been hired to manufacture the new product lines. So the good jobs are still intact (if not expanded upon) and the lower wage jobs are in Mexico for a product line that couldn't be manufactured at a price point that would have been justified otherwise.
Again, where's the problem? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | The only way it's possible to build a rod in the U.S. at the prices charged for Mexican rods is
A: Company assumes loss for every rod built
B: Hire unskilled workers or those willing to work below minimum wage and without benefits (illegal immigrants)
C: Use the absolute cheapest components possible and no warranty and risk damaging reputation
None of those are very good options IMO but heck if you think you can build a rod here and sell it for $80-$150 bucks and be successful, good luck.
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