Frequently Asked Questions

Question:

How do I buy products on this website directly from Batson?

Answer:

Batson is a wholesale-only distributor.  To buy Batson blanks and components directly, you must set up a Batson wholesale account.  Team Rainshadow Gear items can be purchased by all visitors here.  For wholesale account setup information please click here.

Question:

How can I locate a Batson dealer?

Answer:

Batson has a network of quality dealers that can be found on our “Where To Buy” page here.  Batson have several dealers that also offer wholesale programs.  On our dealer map, dealers that offer wholesale programs are shown with blue icons, retail dealers are shown with red icons.

Question:

I want a custom rod, but I’m not a custom rod builder.  How much does a custom fishing rod cost, and how do I find a custom rod builder?

Answer:

Batson wants every angler to experience a custom rod, so we have created the ultimate "Find a Rod Builder" page.  Anglers can now browse professional rod builder profiles that include robust builder details including price range, lead time, warranty policy, full contact links, and more. Start browsing rod builder profiles here:  https://batsonenterprises.com/find-a-rainshadow-rod-builder You can also reach out to us at the Contact Us link at the top of the page. We love referring anglers to custom builders that can help create the perfect custom fishing rod for any application. 

Want to learn how to build your own rods?  We’ve got you covered.  Check out our YouTube page here for instructional videos that will get you on the road to rod building proficiency. Batson also has wholesale customers that offer rod building education programs. Rod building educators are identified on our Find a Rod Builder Map with a graduate cap (mortarboard) icon.

Question:

I want to learn how to build fishing rods. Where do I start?

Answer:

Batson doesn't offer any formal rod building education program. However, we do have a list of great rod building education resources you can access here. In addition, we have created a Pro Tips Playlist on the Batson Enterprises YouTube Channel which spotlights some intermediate to advanced tips and tricks related to unique and technical rod building topics.

Question:

Where are Rainshadow Rod Blanks made?

Answer:

Batson designs, tests, and distributes Rainshadow Rod Blanks in-house at our headquarters in Sequim, WA.  We currently source our blank manufacturing in China, and South Korea.  If you have questions regarding where a particular series is manufactured, please submit an inquiry through our contact form here, or call our sales staff at 360-681-2381. 

A note regarding Rainshadow and Chinese manufacturing:  We understand that some folks may have objections to Chinese made products and we respect people’s beliefs and opinions.  That being said, Batson has been partnering with the same factories in China for up to 20 years and we can state with confidence that the quality and delivery provided by our trusted blank manufacturers in China meets, and often exceeds, that of domestic blank manufacturers.  

Batson recognizes there is a demand for high-quality USA made rod blanks, and we continue to seek and evaluate new sources for USA blank manufacturing.  Batson sells 100,000+ rod blanks each year, not only to custom builders, but to high-volume private label rod brands as well.  We have yet to find a domestic blank manufacturer that can deliver the volume of high-quality, high-performance rod blanks required to meet the demands of our customers.  We hope this clarifies our position on this topic.

Question:

I need some assistance choosing a rod blank and/or components. 

Answer:

You’ve come to the right place.  A great way to find the right rod blank is our “All Blanks – Power Search” section here.  This option allows you to filter down 500+ Rainshadow rod blanks to a few specific options based on several criteria such as length, lure rating, fishing application, and so on. 

If you have component selection questions, we suggest you check out our all-new build suggestions here.  These build suggestions (a.k.a. prints or rod recipes) are listed by blank model and contain a visual blueprint of the build, guide spacing, and a complete list of component part numbers.  See our complete list of build suggestions here.

Want to speak with an expert?  Just reach out to us and we’ll get you in touch with a member of our knowledgeable rod building sales staff.  You can submit an email inquiry here, or just pick up the phone and call us at 360-681-2381 between 8:00am and 3:30pm PST Monday through Friday.  You can also message us on our social media channels which are monitored during business hours.

Question:

I broke my Rainshadow custom rod. Is it under warranty?

Answer:

The short answer is YES!!  Rainshadow rod blanks are covered by Batson’s limited lifetime warranty as defined on the Batson warranty card included with every blank we sell.  

In practice, Batson goes above and beyond to handle warranties the old-fashioned way.  This means whether your blank arrived new and was broken in shipping, or you fished it for 20 years before it was slammed in a tailgate, we will get you fixed up quickly and fairly.  You can begin a warranty case or get more information on what’s covered here.

Question:

What is Batson's shipping policy?

Answer:

Wholesale orders are shipped to U.S. addresses under a program we call Batson Guaranteed Shipping. The program rates are based on multiple factors including item type, order volume, destination, and are sent by ground service through a major carrier (FedEx, UPS, or USPS - Batson staff assigns carrier under the Batson Guaranteed Shipping Program).

Batson Guaranteed Shipping Benefits
-Orders ship the same or next business day.
-Lost or damaged shipments are reshipped immediately at no expense to the customer.
-Batson handles any loss or damage claims with carriers.

Customer-Specific Shipping Instructions: Orders shipped using customer carrier account numbers or using other special shipping instructions (e.g. Batson emails weights and dimensions for a shipment, and customer replies with attached shipping labels) are considered FOB origin and do not qualify for the Batson Guaranteed Shipping Program benefits listed above. Contact your Batson sales rep to add your shipping carrier account number, or to add other permanent special shipping instructions to your account info file. Special shipping instructions must be clear, concise, reasonable, and will be used for all customer orders going forward. Special shipping instructions are subject to approval by Batson management.

Back Orders: Batson only charges for items and their related shipping charges when those items ship. In the case of back ordered items customers will receive notification when those items become available, at which time the customer can cancel if no longer needed, combine with a new order, or have the item shipped. Batson will make every effort to ship back orders at competitive rates. Batson does not cover shipping charges for back ordered items.

International Shipping: International customers will be sent shipping quotes to approve unless permanent shipping instructions are on file.

Question:

Are you currently accepting new pro staff members?

Answer:

The bulk of the Team Rainshadow family is made up of passionate rod builders and anglers that enjoy fishing Batson products. Team Rainshadow does maintain a limited number of sponsored anglers and professional builders.  If you’d like to be considered for sponsorship, we encourage you to submit an angler resume or rod builder resume to [email protected].  We’d love to see it!

Question:

My Batson order confirmation has an amount listed at the bottom for Federal Excise Tax. What is this?

Answer:

Federal Excise Tax is collected by the IRS on fishing rod components and/or fishing rods on their first sale within the United States. Batson collects FET (Federal Excise Tax) separately, as opposed to including it in the product price (common with retail fishing tackle sales.) Batson will charge federal excise tax on applicable items unless customers have a form 637 registration on file with the IRS. You can read a good article about FET by Tom Kirkman here.