Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Ooh,

I tried that for the main gear, and there it is!

https://fishshop.shimano.com/products/10CP3

So if you look at the schematic, find the old part number,  search through the Tranx 500 part ordering  pages for the old part number and  find the corresponding new part number, ignore that it is listed as "Discontinued", cut and paste the new part number into the URL, you are rewarded with a page with the part that can be added to your cart. 'Cause if you don't want the part bad enough to dig for it...

Oh, and to make it as inconvenient as possible- once they tag the part as "Discontinued" the description is wiped out, so you can't search for the part by name.

Now that is what I call stellar customer service!  /s

Tried this on two different browsers now, same result.

Let's see how long this takes for Shimano to clean up. 

-J

Quote from: jurelometer on August 02, 2024, 10:46:09 PMOoh,

I tried that for the main gear, and there it is!

https://fishshop.shimano.com/products/10CP3

So if you look at the schematic, find the old part number,  search through the Tranx 500 part ordering  pages for the old part number and  find the corresponding new part number, ignore that it is listed as "Discontinued", cut and paste the new part number into the URL, you are rewarded with a page with the part that can be added to your cart. 'Cause if you don't want the part bad enough to dig for it...

Oh, and to make it as inconvenient as possible- once they tag the part as "Discontinued" the description is wiped out, so you can't search for the part by name.

Now that is what I call stellar customer service!  /s

Tried this on two different browsers now, same result.

Let's see how long this takes for Shimano to clean up. 

-J

Their website also often has bad info, making the more expensive reel have better specs than the cheaper version. They blame it on bad data entry. The true specs are on the box!

Quote from: jurelometer on August 02, 2024, 10:46:09 PMOoh,

I tried that for the main gear, and there it is!

https://fishshop.shimano.com/products/10CP3

So if you look at the schematic, find the old part number,  search through the Tranx 500 part ordering  pages for the old part number and  find the corresponding new part number, ignore that it is listed as "Discontinued", cut and paste the new part number into the URL, you are rewarded with a page with the part that can be added to your cart. 'Cause if you don't want the part bad enough to dig for it...

So... one more step than before? You can also just type the new part number in the search box at the top.

I mean, we could title this thread "The internet is hard and I don't like change and I also don't really like Shimano, generally speaking" and it would serve the same purpose.

Not every part shows up as being available when you search that way. I've been doing that since the change after talking to Shimano.
What about the abundance of back ordered parts. It's never been at the level it is now.

"I really don't like Shimano 'cause I have much more enjoyable things to do than go on an exploratory expedition just to find a part for their overpriced fishing equipment" would be an appropriate title if I were writing it.    😂

But they do make realy nice reels. 

Seems to me

Quote from: boon on August 03, 2024, 10:07:48 AM

Quote from: jurelometer on August 02, 2024, 10:46:09 PMOoh,

I tried that for the main gear, and there it is!

https://fishshop.shimano.com/products/10CP3

So if you look at the schematic, find the old part number,  search through the Tranx 500 part ordering  pages for the old part number and  find the corresponding new part number, ignore that it is listed as "Discontinued", cut and paste the new part number into the URL, you are rewarded with a page with the part that can be added to your cart. 'Cause if you don't want the part bad enough to dig for it...

So... one more step than before? You can also just type the new part number in the search box at the top.

I mean, we could title this thread "The internet is hard and I don't like change and I also don't really like Shimano, generally speaking" and it would serve the same purpose.

More accurately "The internet is hard for some of the folk at Shimano."

You skipped over the part where the customer has to deduce that interspersed with parts that are directly orderable, some or all are of those parts listed as unorderable ("Discontinued") are actually mislabeled and are orderable if you add a secondary step to search for them.  Don't know if you have actually gone to the page linked earlier, but it is worth a look.

Shimano has earned a lump or two here. 

-J

Japan is going broke. The yen is collapsing and they are basically in a recession.

They finally stopped their long battle with deflation.  Japanese tourists in Hawaii used to be everywhere; like our ants.  Since the pandemic they're nowhere to be seen.

God this thread got good fast

Quote from: mikeysm on August 03, 2024, 11:02:46 PMJapan is going broke. The yen is collapsing and they are basically in a recession.

Unfortunatly we are not far behind.

It's unfortunate that Shimano didn't handle their transition to the new part numbers more professionally.

On the other hand, they more than any other manufacturer in recent history, have been the leader in the development of innovative mid-priced and high end saltwater reels.

As much as I love my Penns, I have to admit that no other reel manufacturer has come close to matching Shimano when it comes to the depth and breadth of quality saltwater reel series introduced over the past two decades.  Trinidad, TLD, Talica, Tiagra, Tranx, Calcutta, Stella, Baitrunner and probably many others are trendsetters that have withstood the test of time.

As to service, while it is upsetting to find that parts or service are no longer provided for a discontinued series, I have had nothing but great experiences every time that I have called Shimano.  From top to bottom, they have always done their best to take care of my parts and service needs, often going above and beyond the call of duty.

Considering all of the above, I am willing to cut Shimano some slack with their parts number transition.  They will hopefully get it straightened out in the not too distant future.

Thanks Randy,

That is a fair take  from the pro-Shimano side of the house. 

I think as an industry leader, Shimano is also bearing the brunt of the ire for changes in the industry  that are less popular here.  The constant churn of new models with ever shortening support lifespans, the decreasing availability and increasing prices of parts, expensive "premium" models with little technological improvement from reels made 30 years ago, and marketing content that is so over-the-top as to be entirely laughable.

Shimano is not the only manufacturer doing this.  Just the most visible. 

As for me:  Shimano did make some excellent reels - some of the classics are still good reels today.  I can't comment on more recent models, as they are usually the most expensive reel in the category that I am looking at, so I buy something else.

Back on topic- I picked another current model- Trinidad, and found the same issues with parts that Larry noted for the Tranx - the mislabeled "discontinued" parts plus plenty on back order.

Hopefully Shimano straightens this out.


-J

Shimano has been a gripe since the moment they added the BB1 and fishing reels to their repertoire.  I wonder if people that use Shimano bike parts feel the same way. They're very good at design and manufacture but also very good at marketing.  Selling you a reel that you will keep and fish with for the rest of your life is not a goal or part of their business plan. If you want the design then you have to stomach the marketing ploys too.

Planned obsolescence wasn't invented by Shimano!