The reel spinning around the rod is something that can be fixed by a good builder. We fix many rods that end up with this problem. There are 2 ways to do it: 1- Replace the reel seat, rear grip. 2- Drill a few holes in the reel seat, being careful not to drill into the rod blank itself, and load it up with epoxy. ( easiest/fastest way)
Here is the deal with a rod like Ande. Its like that box of chocolates!!!! Sometimes you are getting a dam good rod, other times you are not. ( they can be the same exact model, but maybe manufactured a year or 6 months apart).
There is not a rod blank manufacturer out there for every brand of rods we see today. Many rod manufacturers, make a large run of rod blanks and companies will buy their blanks, placing their name on them and placing their own hardware based on their specs. This means there are times when you can buy an Ande Rod, that is the same exact rod blank as that $300 rod that has another brands name on it. This is the case with many rods today. Sometimes we get lucky, other times we do not.
Have you contacted the company? I have sold $50 rods that certain brands will stand behind and replace, if it is a defect and not abuse. Which brings me to another possible answer...... if you purchased these rods all from the same person, it is also possible that they were damaged without him even knowing it. If you have a picture of the spot where it broke, PM it to me or post it here and I may be able to tell you if it was a defect, or if it was a damaged rod, prior to you using it. Not all rods are created equal and Ande usually offers a composite or glass rod blank that will hold up much better than graphite. Still, it may have been doomed prior to you buying it.
A defect will break with a certain look, while abuse or accidental abuse will show another type of break. To be honest, Ande & Tsunami are the 2 top brands I sell to my summer/weekend warriors that are tough on rods and toss them in the bed of their pick up, all the while damaging them with every turn and red light. They have always held up to the abuse of most customers. Let me know if you have a picture. A close up of where the break is, from a camera or decent cell phone should do it.
