Production manufactured rods?

[Terry Coging]

I sometimes wonder about the compromises made by rod manufacturers in order to simplify or to speed up production? It's not just the cheap stuff from china etc., either. Rarely see a stripper guide on the handle section these days. Guides fitted close to joints causing the other guide spacing to not be quite right. Poor quality corks on expensive high end rods! - no excuse for this.
Good design costs nothing. OK a fair bit of testing, but we enjoy that 

[James Laraway]

If things are made in China and are therefore cheap ( lets say sub £100 rods)  i don't have an issue however.....when a company is selling mid to high price rods not being funny i don't want crappy cork, rings or spacing

Terry, you have set me off now...

Hardy - your 'designed in Alnwick' without spelling out 'made in china' means nothing other than premium cost to the customer and maximum profit for the company. If its made in china it should be cheap to the consumer end of. ( don't get me started on iPhones which are all made in china yet they want you to pay £1000 for).

Is something is made in the UK, US or say Scandinavia i don't mind the higher price tag personally as long as the product is quality

Rant over

I sometimes wonder about the compromises made by rod manufacturers in order to simplify or to speed up production? It's not just the cheap stuff from china etc., either. Rarely see a stripper guide on the handle section these days. Guides fitted close to joints causing the other guide spacing to not be quite right. Poor quality corks on expensive high end rods! - no excuse for this.
Good design costs nothing. OK a fair bit of testing, but we enjoy that 

[Terry Coging]

I bought a cheap 11' #4 wt from China because it sounded interesting. It turned out to be an object lesson of how to spoil a lovely blank. It's described purpose was completely wrong as was the handle, reel seat shape and size and guide spacings. After some investigation I've secured a couple of exactly the same blanks.
Mocked one up and tested it alongside the bought rod - exactly the same and interchangeable sections. Now in the process of doing the blank justice with a new build.