Hello Backcountry Pilots,
Yes Cabela's has let me down. I recently purchased a 4-Man 4-Season “Expedition Tent” for an upcoming trip to Alaska. The $350 tent including shipping was used twice and I have only owned it a little over a month.

While setting the tent up in a no wind condition one of the aluminum poles broke at the joint. Anyway after calling the Cabela's Service Line for the third time they finally spoke to me. The two previous calls involved extensive hold times and the promise that they would call me back, that never occured. All I wanted was a tent pole.

Anyway today I was informed that they could not replace the broken pole and told me I could contact the “overseas” distributer to see if they could help me. My response was that I didn’t purchase this tent overseas and I think they should stand behind their product.
Then the Cabela's service representative then told me I could return the entire tent and then receive a replacement tent in about two months because the item was on “back order”.

I sure wish American companies would purchase American products. This tent was made in Viet Nam. Has anyone else had problems with Cabela's?

Thanks for listening,

James
Spokane

When I was shopping for a tent and sleeping bag last summer, I could not find anything that was "Made In The U.S.A."

Anybody have any good leads?

All I did was google search made in the usa tents and I got:

http://www.usstuff.com/tents.htm

The links on the site seem to be alive. Site indicates 3 United States manufacturers make tents. Be aware it will cost you to support your local stores and your country. I just hope that it pays back eventually.

I could not find anything that was "Made In The U.S.A."

Anybody have any good leads?

These guys claim to make all their tents in Salt Lake City, UT

http://kirkhams.com/index.php?p=catalog&parent=112&pg=1

I don't own one of these tents so I don't know much about the tent companies left in the US but here is a site that lists them.
http://www.usstuff.com/tents.htm

We vote with our pocketbooks and your vote will be appreciated.

(Edit: While I was posting, some one already posted the site)

The $350 tent including shipping was used twice and I have only owned it a little over a month.

It would have cost quite a bit more if it was American made, don't you think? I have a cousin that sells and installs interior shutters in the Chicago area. I think it is ridiculous, but they send the wood to China where the shutters are made in a compound where the workers come to work and sleep for weeks and months. After the shutters are made, they're sent back here----this is a lot cheaper than hiring someone in Chicago.

http://www.wiggys.com

problem solved...

https://www.kifaru.net/TIPI2009.html

USA Made. Problem Solved.... Again

They're not cheap, but TNF does not F around, at least on tents. Mountain Hardwear too.

North Face Mountain 25

Mountain Hardwear EV3

I generally don't bother with Cabelas on stuff like sleeping bags or tents. Camo shirts, maybe...

You guys are on it!

Two thumbs up for Kifaru stuff! Innovative and very well made. Expensive but worth it.

-rh

Frankly, I've never been very impressed with much of anything with the Cabelas name on it. Most of it is junk.

North Face VE-25 is the tent you want if you plan to sleep out in nasty weather. And, where you're going---that's what you'll find.

MTV

shortfielder wrote:http://www.bigagnes.com/

All of Big Agnes's stuff is made in CHINA. I live in Steamboat Springs (their offices are based here) and my business is just down the road from their warehouse. They get several deliveries of containers from China all year long.

This may not satisfy the gist of the thread but if you just need the dang thing to work soon there are several outfits on the web that will sell you repair parts and replacement sections for typical tent poles. We use Quest Outfitters at work here.

BRD wrote:http://www.wiggys.com

problem solved...

I think their tents are actually from an Australian Company. Not saying they aren't sturdy...

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote: We use Quest Outfitters at work here.

Great link!

This may not satisfy the gist of the thread but if you just need the dang thing to work soon there are several outfits on the web that will sell you repair parts and replacement sections for typical tent poles. We use Quest Outfitters at work here.

Thanks Richard,
Quest Outfitters has the parts I need. It just pisses me off that I paid a lot of money for a new expensive tent that Cabela's won't stand behind. I appreciate the link, and will buy a few new tent poles. Cabela's has lost a customer for life, and I'm cutting up my Cabela's credit card too. I guess a guy should just buy stuff/junk directly from China and avoid the $$$ middle-man at Cabela's Corporate Headquarters in Sidney Nebraska? This sucks!


James
Spokane

James:

Buy your sleeping bags from Wiggys. Wiggys.com. Mentioned in earlier post. Can't say enough good about them. I beleive they are based in CO. If you call your likely to talk directly to Mr Wiggy himself. Outstanding product and used alot in AK. They are spendy but they stand behind their stuff. Top Notch. I'll be at JC 2010. Ask Rob to introduce us.

Oregon M5 flyer w/ 2 Wiggy bags

You will NEVER have problems with customer service at REI returning stuff.