Every rod is built to order, by hand, for the water it's going into. This page defines exactly what we stand behind, and for how long.
Warranty — Lifetime warranty on our workmanship.
This is a Limited Warranty — see "The terms" below for what that means and how claims are handled.
What "workmanship" means
This warranty covers the build — the parts of the rod that reflect our hands, our process, and our decisions at the bench. It is not a warranty on the rod blank itself, and it is not a promise against breakage, damage, or normal wear. Those distinctions matter, so read on before you assume what's covered.
Covered for the life of the original owner
- Guide wraps and thread finish — no cracking, lifting, or guide movement under normal use
- Reel seat, handle, and grip bonding — no loosening or separation from the blank
- Ferrule fit and alignment on multi-piece builds
- Hardware attachment — hook keepers, gimbals, winding checks, butt caps
- Overall build integrity as delivered at handoff
Not covered
- Rod blank material failure or breakage — the blank carries its own manufacturer's warranty, and we'll help you route a claim to them
- Normal wear — fading, surface scuffing, guide insert wear from line friction
- Impact or accident damage — car doors, ceiling fans, rod racks, foot traffic, transport
- Corrosion from saltwater exposure without freshwater rinse-down, or improper storage
- Damage from exceeding the rod's rated line or lure weight, forced hooksets, or drag misuse
- Any repair, modification, or re-wrap performed by someone other than C & E Custom Rods
- Rods purchased second-hand without the original order on file
- Commercial, charter, guide, rental, or other business use — unless disclosed and approved in writing at the time of order
What "lifetime" means
Lifetime refers to how long you, the original purchaser, own the rod — not a fixed term of years, and not a guarantee tied to the business remaining open. Coverage is non-transferable: it stays with the person who placed the original order and ends if the rod is sold, gifted, or otherwise passed on.
Because most builds are arranged by DM or phone rather than checkout, we log every order against a build record at the time it's placed. Keep your order confirmation or invoice — it's what we'll ask for first.
Making a claim
- Contact us at chris@cecustomrods.com or 508-817-1351 as soon as you notice the issue. Include your order number or the name/date on file, plus a description and photos.
- We'll tell you whether the rod needs to come back to the shop for inspection, and where to send it.
- We determine, at our discretion, whether the issue is a workmanship defect or falls under an exclusion above. This decision is final.
- Confirmed workmanship issues are repaired or, if that's not practical, replaced with a build of equivalent spec — our choice, not a refund.
- You cover shipping to us; we cover return shipping on approved claims.
The terms
This is a Limited Warranty, as that term is defined under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act — not a Full Warranty. In practice, that means:
- Remedy is repair or replacement, chosen at our discretion — not an automatic refund
- We may require proof of purchase and an in-house inspection before approving any claim
- Labor or materials on repairs beyond routine scope may carry a cost, which we'll always quote and confirm with you before starting any work
- Coverage applies to personal, non-commercial use only — see the exclusions above
Our responsibility under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement of the rod itself. We are not responsible for incidental or consequential loss — a missed trip, travel cost, or lost tackle — connected to a warranty issue. This warranty is offered in addition to, and does not reduce, any protections you have under Massachusetts law.
Questions before you buy, or need to start a claim? We're a two-person shop and read every message ourselves — reach us at chris@cecustomrods.com, 508-817-1351, or @cecustomrods.