as for where to buy them.....i guess id say buy them at the online store that sells the cheapest....
use a shopping search deal like NEXTAG google shopping to compare prices and shipping.

now for the rant

personally i prefer a rod that has a full cork grip.....not just half of one or none like the carrot stix have.
and they still charge $150+....funny how marketing works....Alot of companys these days are cashing in on the (it costs more so its better these days)especially in fishing....

a perfect example of this not in fishing is Gibson Guitars....what they do when they want to increase there sales is raise the prices (itstrue)...nobody buys the Melody maker(great simple guitar)or the Les paul Jr....they want the $4,000flame top les paul with special wound "burstbuckers" and a "vintage Nitrocellulouse finish"
the new thing they are pushing lately is there automatic High techFretting "PLEK" machine...that probably cut 5 jobs at thefactory...all while they raise their prices... Its marketing my friend...the les paul today is the sameles paul (basically it was in the 60's)
sorry for the rant:

buy the rod you like.

for a cheapo i like the Berkely lightning rod...
for a mid graderod i like the Shimano Clarus

for a upper graderod i like the Shimano Compre....they are a hundred dollars and have a lifetimewarranty(over the counter where i buy at) i like the Fenwick HMX line of rods better (thegraphite(feel and actionis better imo)but the Warranty is only FIve years so i go with the Compre.....no rod competes with these ones for the price of 100$.

they are what i prefer for bass.


basically i fish for bass in the Muddy Misssissippi river...usually in 5 foot of water or less....sensitivity is not an issue... i use Mono line still as well(i like the stretch and it casts the best)......

....i know its supposed to be amore sensative rod because it doesnt have a grip....(but i just think the company is spoonfeeding you a bunch of BS...while they get away with spending less money on making a rod.

if you miss alot of fish....try paying more attention(it works for me anyway)...make sure your hooks are razor sharp.

a rod without a cork grip just doesnt cut it for me.

but dont let that stop yourself from buying one....if you like it....buy it, the quality is good on them
to me they just seem like an Unfinished rod....i dont care what color you dye the graphite, or the little bitof sensativity not having a corkgrip gets me.

also these "ultra sensative" bigillioun Modulous high dollarrods, the blanks are Brittle thats how they get more sensativity....causing more guys to accidentally snap there rods whenthey hammer back on that monster stump bass they thought was a 6 poound largemouth...(so much for sensativity)....