You have found the fishing reel you have been looking for and the price is right. But, the fishing reel has the store's name on it. The first question that you should get answered is, "Are repair parts and service going to be available for the fishing reel when it needs it?"

In many cases the store negotiates with a name brand fishing reel manufacturer to make production runs of their fishing reels with the store name on them. The store also arranges with the name brand manufacturer to provide assembly drawings and repair parts for the reels manufactured with the store name on them. This is the best of all worlds for the store, anyone who purchases the store brand reels and service centers who repair fishing reels.

In many cases that is not so. Assembly drawings from the manufacturer with parts numbers are not made available. If this is the case you will be OK during the warranty period of the store brand fishing reel if the store will replace the fishing reel with a new identical model reel. When the warranty ends you will be at the mercy of the store if the fishing reel needs parts or service. You can either buy a new fishing reel from the store or the store may refer you to a repair center who they hope can find a way to repair the reel for you. Repair center technicians may recognize who made the reel by its design and be able to substitute needed parts. If not you will have an excuse to buy a new fishing reel!

If you have a Cabela's store brand fishing reel Cabela's does not provide parts or service for their fishing reels. They also will not provide me with who makes their fishing reels so I can determine if parts are available. I have talked with six different people at Cabela's including a rep at the corporate office. He told me they would discuss it and get back to me. That was in 2007!

Bass Pro has an in house reel repair center for their store brand fishing reels. Contact Outdoor World Rod & Reel Repair at 417-873-5274.