About a year and a half ago I broke the tip off my salmon rod in the car door. Can't remember if that one was a Loomis or a Lamiglass. Anyway, I was unclear on whether that rod was a write-off or what. So I took it back to Outdoor Emporium, admitted how I broke it, and ten days later had a perfectly good new top section for ten bucks. Not sure if that is OE's policy or if I got some friendly good-customer treatment but it got me to thinking that the place you buy your gear can be more important than the actual manufacturer's warranty.