What are the main questions that you ask customers before recommending a rod to them?

Is there or have you seen a questionnaire that covers all the bases well?

For example:

Baitcasting or Spinning?

Salt Water or Fresh Water?

Thanks for your input

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

You ask the customer what are you going to fish for particular species or general fishing a little bit of everything with lures, crank baits, plastics,spoons ,jigs float rigs with live bait and or trolling rigs big and small and then you can suggest spinning, closed face spin casting reel style or bait casting reel and last fly fishing.
fresh water general a medium to medium light for spinning and closed face reels , level wind bait casting reels mostly crank baits and larger plastic baits with or without a jig .
as for salt water you use some of the same questions closed face reels don't figure in to salt water and boat or surf or inshore
or make suggestions based on you knowledge of the type of fishing in you local

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

#1) Why do you want a custom rod? (This eliminates a lot of tire kickers in my world.)

The rest in no particular order.

What are you fishing for?
How are you going to use this rod? (plastics, cranks, inline spinners, bait, dry fly etc.)
What rod are you currently using for this particular application?
What do you like about it?
What don't you like about it?

And a whole lot of others but that is a start.

Hello John.

This is from my checklist.

Before First Meeting: Ask the customer to bring along the rod or rods that are the closest to what they want.
Also bring the reel or something close to the reel they intend to use on the rod.

Price: Before spending time with them get a general idea of what they want and what they use now.
I then tell them what they can expect to pay if I build them a rod.
Giving an accurate price range is important. If they are fine with it, arrange the initial meeting.
Revisit Price only at the end of the meeting. Notes-notes-notes.

First Meeting:

Why:Why do they want a custom rod? Do they need a custom rod? Do they know how to protect a custom rod? What types of fishing will they be doing with the rod?

Material: Working with the rod they brought briefly discuss the different materials available and the
effects of changing to a different material covering, everything from performance to durability.
Take notes and move on. Notes-notes-notes.

Action & Power: Ask if the rod they brought is exactly what they are after in a new rod.
Talk about what the terms “action” and “power” refer to. Ask if they want something faster or slower than what they brought. Ask if they want a rod that is more or less powerful, and how much so than the one they brought.
Take the CCS measurement and see if you have what they need in stock (probably not). Notes-notes-notes.

Length: Ask if they want shorter, longer, or the same length rod and tell them the difference of going up or down. Notes-notes-notes.

Handle: Talk ergonomics (V10#3) next talk rear butt length, longer or shorter than what they brought.
Ask if they need a foregrip, on bass rods it is very rarely needed (look at the one they brought, is it clean?).
Take a minute to talk handle materials and which one or ones will be the best for the intended use.
Check the old rod was it liked or would something else be better? Next we talk grip and reel seat diameters, ask about the old rods and what changes they would like to make if any. Show them some seats and let them handle them. Notes-notes-notes.

Guides: Give a quick run down on different guides and guide systems.
Talk ring materials, cost vs. performance. Look at their old rod or rods, how well are they taken care of? If they fish salt water push towards titanium frames. Notes-notes-notes.

Cosmetics: Talk wraps, stickers, boat colors, team colors etc-etc. Notes-notes-notes.

Price: Give it to them straight. Don’t forget to pad a little for price changes and or expedited shipping. Never hand a customer a bill for more than what you quoted. If anything, drop a few dollars on the final bill or throw in a rod sock or something unexpected.

Delivery: Add 2 weeks to the delivery date for unexpected things, and if you get done “early” so much the better, but never be late!!!

Education & Care: Give the customer a brochure for the care & use of the rod (go over the details).

Warranty: Give the customer a copy of your warranty policy.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

I try to start by asking them what rod they are using for this purpose now and what they do and don't like about it. From there we have a place to start with improvements or changes. It is so much easier to give them what they want if you have something concrete to start with.

RJH

Rob Hale Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I try to start by asking them what rod they are
> using for this purpose now and what they do and
> don't like about it. From there we have a place to
> start with improvements or changes. It is so much
> easier to give them what they want if you have
> something concrete to start with.
>
> RJH

Winner! Rob nailed it. Many times (for me) that lead to them coming out to the shop and bringing the rod that they liked the best, but wanted one faster or more powerful, etc. I even had a guy bring two rods out and he wanted one in-between on power.

_________________________________________
"Angling is extremely time consuming.
That's sort of the whole point." - Thomas McGuane

Thanks everyone. good comments.

Flex Coat Company
Professional Rod Building Supplies
www.flexcoat.com

After talking for a while My main question is -- what do you think you will PAY for this rod -- Tire kickers run ?? LOL I find a lot go to a store check the prices of off the shelf then think they can get it for that price

Bill - willierods.com