Pretty Disappointed. I called Strike King as I've purchased 2 fouled up KVD Square Bills that run awful and no response via the voicemail or e-mail I left them. Main objective is to get new working baits sent out. It doesn't sound like they're standing by their word of fixing any issues...

some of what your saying is correct, but most of their tackle comes from the sponsor and not BP or Academy and they get the same lure except they get the best of that production line (cream of the crop) out of quality control.Each store has a different grade of product. Buy the same bait @ Tackle Warehouse, Bass Pro, Academy, Cabelos and Walmart and compare and you will notice the poorest quality is usely the one that cost less (Walmart) and so on.

HUH??????

I caught that too...

One thing to remember KVD gets all he wants free. He can go through as many as needed to get ten that run correct. That would cost the regular guy a bunch for 10 good lures!

Seems like your math might be off. I get my KVD 1.5's for $5.29 each. Lets say the hooks your using now cost $0.10 each. I can buy a 6pack of Mustad KVD Elite Triple Grips for $4.99. That's about $0.83 each. I'm sure a company like Strike King could get them even cheaper in bulk at wholesale cost, but let's say $0.83 each. So take off the $0.20 cheap hooks and add $1.66 for retail KVD's and the cost is now $6.75 not $10. You'd sell even more with the good hooks, most of us are changing them. I'd pay $7.50 for them with the good hooks just to avoid the hassle.

The first quote was in response to the Chinese MFG/Costa Rica MFG argument. I'm not an SK defender, but I don't think anyone is dumb enough to think the Chinese production cost are greater than US production cost. We have 401K's and health care, they have cots and a guy with a bull whip threatening their lives.

OK I saw this also not sure if others thought the same thing I did. But here goes
This is one of the things wrong with this country. Here is a company that enjoys there profits from selling products to us here in America. But it is all made in some foreign
country by workers making 1% of what an american worker makes. Why because they can make more profit. $$$$$ Why not tax these foreign products so that it would be as cheap or at least more competitive for things to be made in America. That way when it broke or you needed customer service you wouldn't have to talk to some person in India who is trying their hardest to speak good english BUT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND ONE WORD THAT YOU ARE SAYING!!!! For example I have and HB 1197 when I have a problem I talk to someone in Alabamba who speaks very understandable english knows exactly what I am talking about and either fixes my prob on the phone, ships me my part very quickly, or has me ship my HB to them and they fix it for me almost immediately and then quickly ships it back. And I am a very happy customer.
Sorry for the rant
But just saying.
Not knockin SK specifically I actually use some of their stuff.
I think a lot of us would buy stuff from companies that made things here in America.
I mean Americans will do a lot of things but we can't work for twenty-five cents an hour.

You are right Chris is not at Strike King anymore but there are two people that handle Customer Service at the Plant. Mark Copley who handles Media Relations and Public Relations and Valerie Dixon who handles inside Customer Service. They can be contacted though www.strikeking.com

I want to say I like Strike King and do use more than a few of their products. I understand why they make things in China and Costa Rica. I too would like to see them make things here but it's just not going to happen for low cost,low margin products. I don't want this to turn into a bash Strike King thread. I'll probably buy some more of their stuff this week, I'll just check the quality before I head to the cash register.

I've only had to contact SK customer service once, it was a great experience... it was several years ago but they had a replacement bait to my house within a week of me contacting them. Give them the benefit of the doubt and let SK have a chance to make it right. I love me some SK cranks, and I really love the price of the new 1.5 and 2.5 baits. Some companies make them in China and still charge $15 each....

So you are saying someone actually is testing/QCing each bait that comes off the production line and codes them based on quality and ships to particular retailer?

I have not had any that I have had a problem with. I also think there are alot of fishing people that have no idea how to tune a bait and likely screw it up and never get it right and then complain. It was probably fine before they touched it. If anyone thinks the seam is noticed by the fish you are working it waaaaaayyyyyy toooooooo sllllloooowwww. The products are top notch for the price point and so is the service side for legitimate concerns IMO. As far as where and who makes them....well lets just say you all want the shat cheaper, then there you have it. Alot of complainers, just save the reciept and have the retailer manage the return, they also make money off the product as well as the guy who delivers it. Why is there a need to get the home office involved in a $3.00 complaint. You can resolve it right down the street in a short period of time, then if you feel want to give them feedback send an email. I wish many more of you were that into the ethanol that is screwing up cumbustion engines, or feeding the poor in our country but it is easier to complain about a lure that swims a little left. Get a grip on reality, its just a cheap novelty item for entertainment, much like that macdonalds burger you stuff down your gullet, but the lure may last a little longer. If it was a surgical tool I might better side with more of you. These are my observations and opinions and are in no way a reflection of anything else.

FYI...I have never hand carved a lure in my life, this IS the internet.

First of all, thank you StrikeKing for posting here (if in fact you are who you say you are). Second, this discussion made me take a look at my KVD 1.5s. Seems they were all made in China with not appearance of seams. The odd thing is that I had to wait like everyone else for a black back crank, and it has no red gill plate. So, I'm thinking the bidding starts around $50. :P