End of parts support for Shimano?

[Lunker Larry]

Shimano was always great at parts availability and delivery. Even during covid. Now, you look at their sight and for popular reels like the Tranx 400 and 500 parts availability has become questionable.
I went over the parts list for the Tranx400 and 500 and this is what it states:
Tranx 400
Discontinued - 55 parts
out of stock eta or no eta listed - 14
Tranx 500
Discontinued - 63 parts
out of stock eta/no eta - 47

ETA's have not been reliable. Just received a A/R pawl ordered in October. Had a number of eta's during that time.

This doesn't look promising. Have these reels reached the end of their support life? Both are pretty much the most sought after reel in the muskie world and continue to be sold everywhere.

[Keta]

I quit Shimano years ago due to parts and poor customer service.

[foakes]

I also gave up on working on these Shimano's, like Lee, a few years ago.  Wasted too much time trying to track down parts from multiple sources that were fast becoming extinct.

Part of the issue, as I understand it, is that they changed their part numbering system.  And with the tens of thousands of parts, assigning new numbers took some time. That was last year.

So a part may show discontinued —- but actually be in stock.

However, in many cases (generally the part I need!) —- they are truly out of those parts and have used up the inventory —- and will not make any more.

It is a mystery to me why a solid Japanese long time company like Shimano would not support their products longer?

I guess it must be new management, or the company was sold, or??

Sad...

Best, Fred

[MarkT]

The TranX 400 and 500 are still current production reels. You can't get parts? It's not like these are original Curado's that haven't been made for years!

[JasonGotaProblem]

The coat of losing the small handful of customers who actually fish hard and often enough to wear out parts is apparently less than the cost of maintaining warehouses full of parts.

Most just buy the pretty reel, and leave it on the shelf most the time.

[Hytekrednek]

It will cost them my business too if the parts I need are never available. I spend around 2k a year on their reels. I expect commonly worn parts to be available. If not, I will go to a brand that will support their product and customer rather than abuse them.

[boon]

Per Fred's post, Shimano re-numbered all of their parts in the last 6 months. Everything on the old numbering system will show as "discontinued" even if the same part with a new number is totally available. It is a huge pain in the rear if you're going off the original schematic and associated part numbers.

EDIT: I know it's very cool to hate on Shimano around here but thinking they would not make parts available for a relatively high end, current model reel is, erm, novel.

EDIT Again: Assuming you were on the Shimano CA site, all those discontinued parts literally list the replacement part number underneath?

[jurelometer]

Per Fred's post, Shimano re-numbered all of their parts in the last 6 months. Everything on the old numbering system will show as "discontinued" even if the same part with a new number is totally available. It is a huge pain in the rear if you're going off the original schematic and associated part numbers.

EDIT: I know it's very cool to hate on Shimano around here but thinking they would not make parts available for a relatively high end, current model reel is, erm, novel.

EDIT Again: Assuming you were on the Shimano CA site, all those discontinued parts literally list the replacement part number underneath?

if you go to the Shimano USA site and go to the parts section (to order parts online) many/most of the Tranx 500 parts are listed as discontinued by number- no alternate part number identified by name (for example no main gear). 

Take a look at the high speed model:

https://fishshop.shimano.com/collections/trx500hg

Agree that this is most likely just a screw-up. But it is still not a good look. 

Curious as to  what anyone  has heard who called them live.

-J

[MarkT]

The new part numbers are there, not really clearly stated!

»=INDICATES A PART SUBSTITUTION

BNT4429      <—- old part number
>> 10KX2     <—- new part number

[boon]

Every "discontinued" part has the new part number listed underneath it?

Ok it's not by name but if you're deep enough into reel repair to be ordering parts direct then surely you can figure this out.

[Keta]

I know it's very cool to hate on Shimano around here but thinking they would not make parts available for a relatively high end, current model reel is, erm, novel.

I love my Shimano reels but not being able to find parts for a 15 year old and $400 at the time reel does not make me thrilled with their corprete policies.

[jurelometer]

The new part numbers are there, not really clearly stated!

»=INDICATES A PART SUBSTITUTION

BNT4429      <—- old part number
>> 10KX2    <—- new part number

Every "discontinued" part has the new part number listed underneath it?

Ok it's not by name but if you're deep enough into reel repair to be ordering parts direct then surely you can figure this out.

Nope. You cannot order these parts, at least online. 

The old and new part number are just description fields for the same item.  If it is listed as discontinued, you can't add it to the cart. There are not separate items for the new part numbers.

I didn't try this on a bunch of browsers, so maybe it is a presentation issue, but I sort of doubt it. 

-J

[Keta]

Dealing with Mystic and Mo is far easier.

[Lunker Larry]

if you go to the Shimano USA site and go to the parts section (to order parts online) many/most of the Tranx 500 parts are listed as discontinued by number- no alternate part number identified by name (for example no main gear). 


Canadian site is the same. Some only have the new number, others still show both. For example:

BNT4874
>> 10FJB PAWL CAP $1.99 $1.99 Out Of Stock ETA : 2024/08/25

BNT5611
>> 10QW4   Discontinued

10SWF   HANDLE ASSEMBLY   $54.99 $54.99   Out Of Stock ETA : 2024/08/06  Notify Me

I cannot come up with a reason they would change part numbers that probably range into the millions. Are they clearing their books of old part numbers they no longer stock. That would make sense as it must be extensive but of no use now. What schematics will be reissued with the new numbers?
Anyway, just me griping a bit. You know what they say about us old farts and change.   

[MarkT]

The new part numbers are there, not really clearly stated!

»=INDICATES A PART SUBSTITUTION

BNT4429      <—- old part number
>> 10KX2    <—- new part number

Every "discontinued" part has the new part number listed underneath it?

Ok it's not by name but if you're deep enough into reel repair to be ordering parts direct then surely you can figure this out.

Nope. You cannot order these parts, at least online. 

The old and new part number are just description fields for the same item.  If it is listed as discontinued, you can't add it to the cart. There are not separate items for the new part numbers.

I didn't try this on a bunch of browsers, so maybe it is a presentation issue, but I sort of doubt it. 

-J

The new part numbers are there, not really clearly stated!

»=INDICATES A PART SUBSTITUTION

BNT4429      <—- old part number
>> 10KX2    <—- new part number

Every "discontinued" part has the new part number listed underneath it?

Ok it's not by name but if you're deep enough into reel repair to be ordering parts direct then surely you can figure this out.

Nope. You cannot order these parts, at least online. 

The old and new part number are just description fields for the same item.  If it is listed as discontinued, you can't add it to the cart. There are not separate items for the new part numbers.

I didn't try this on a bunch of browsers, so maybe it is a presentation issue, but I sort of doubt it. 

-J

They're sold out but it's there... https://fishshop.shimano.com/products/10kx2