I have a St Croix that I bought years ago and it is a nice rod. I bought the three G.loomis spinning rods (2 bronzebacks 1 GL2) from Backwaters and they have always said that if you buy from them and break it, they will swap it out with the same rod off the rack so you won't have to pay the return fee. I don't know what Angler's Outpost does. I'll be asking AJ that when he gets back in town. So I guess it matters where you buy it, but you are correct that you can buy 2 Avids for 1 G.Loomis and they are nice rods.