once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:

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

problem solved...

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

I might be the first to admit, but I really don't mind buying products from some foreign country's. My first choice is to buy product "Made in the U.S.A", second is any other country except China, Taiwan, Korea, or any other Asian country except Japan.

The problem is, even though a product may be "Made in the U.S.A", most products might still contain raw material/parts that are from other country's like China. Take the sleeping bags and tent for an example. Even though some of the mentioned items may be "Made in the U.S.A.", is the raw material (fabric/insulation/thread), poles, other parts "Made in the U.S.A., too? Or from China? I dunno....

Customer service will make or break a company, too (I believe). Hearing James story makes me think about steering away from big stores like Cabela's now. But it's amazing that the company (Cabela's) would let their customer service department treat customers that way with the tough economy we are having. The company I work for can't stress enough how much the customer is #1 no matter what your position is within the company.

James,
Did you try returning the tent for refund or credit? I've returned some stuff that I had for a long time when I wasn't satisfied with it. I don't think the Cabela's brand gear is all that great, but their service has always been top notch.

Return it if you can and get a North Face, Mountain Hardware, Marmot, etc, from Sierratadingpost.com at a great discount.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/outdoo ... tents/all/

I live quite a ways from the Cabelas stores here in MN. 120 miles to Grand Forks, 200 miles to Rogers, and 275 miles to Owatanna. The one I frequent the most is in Rogers when I need to make trips to Mpls/St. Paul. I purchased some game cameras there last summer and after getting them home and trying them out the did not work worth a crap. Well, I can't just turn around and tak a 400 mile trip to return something. It was 2-3 months later before I could return them. They informed me when I did get back that I had exceeded the return time period. I was stuck with $300 worth of worthless crap. I can't see why they wouldn't accept a return especially since most returns are put in the "Bargain Barn" with prices that are still above wholesale. Their customer service used to be MUCH better. They have been going down hill from what I see in that department. Maybe they grew too fast too soon. Recently the only place I go IF I stop at Cabelas is the Bargain Barn. I figure if I can't return it I may as well save some money from the get-go. You can occasionally find some good deals there on discontinued items. I got a top of the line Zeiss VM/V 3-12x56 T* for less than $900!!! This is a $2,000 scope.
WW

had more problems with Vietnam then tents.

A favorite of mine for outdoor gear is REI. Plus you can pretty much return anything, any time, for any reason.

http://www.rei.com
http://www.rei.com/outlet Big deals on discontinued stuff.

Plus when someone returns their lightly used pack or tent cause they don't like the color, I can go to the "REI Used Gear Sale" and get it for pennies on the dollar.

Hello Back Country Pilots,

UPS showed up at my house today to pick up a package for Cabelas without any heads up. I really don't want to send off my $350 tent to never see it again. They told be on the phone that this item was on back order and that it could be two to three months before a replacement would be available. Following is their very personal e-mail I recieved today too. Just fed up!

James
Spokane
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Subject
Feedback for Answer ID 120 (Rated Helpfulness: 0%)

Discussion Thread
Response (Jared) 04/15/2010 04:27 PM
Dear James,

Thank you for contacting us. We do carry replacement parts for a large number of our tents. We also can attempt to special order products or parts we do not have on hand. If you can email us with the item number and part you are inquiring about we would be happy to look into it for you.

Please contact us if you have any other questions.

Sincerely,
Jared
Customer (James Black) 04/14/2010 11:36 AM
This feedback is about:
https://cabelas.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ca ... _faqid=120.

Cabelas could provide parts and or sevice for the products you sell. I don't want to call "overseas" for a $350 tent I just purchased from you company!

James
Spokane.

Question Reference #100414-000688
Date Created: 04/14/2010 11:36 AM
Last Updated: 04/15/2010 04:27 PM
Status: Responded
Order Number:
Question Type:


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I have a Big Agnes...it's a big piece of crap. The vestibule zipper broke on the second outing.

Here is the real tent for Alaska, whenever you get done screwing around with those fly-weight backpack granola jobs:

http://www.alaskatent.com/products/tent ... c_oven.htm

Heavy, expensive, and worth it, especially when it's windy and cold. The only down side is its really heavy. You'll need a bigger Maule, James.

gb

gbflyer wrote:those fly-weight backpack granola jobs

Says the guy with a 206.

Always been a fan of L.L. Bean - these days they sell much of the same crap as everyone else (good luck avoiding foreign materials or labor altogether) but they do guarantee it 100% for life. I've returned a couple of things years after I bought them and they never game me any problems.

We bought a queen size air mattress from LL Bean a few years ago and it always leaked. Sent it back for full credit, no problems. Bought our current tent from REI and couldn't be happier, also gave up air mattresses for the luxury and bigThermarest pads. Light duty tent is a Sierra Designs we have had for 25 yrs!!!

FloatFlyer wrote:We bought a queen size air mattress from LL Bean a few years ago and it always leaked. Sent it back for full credit, no problems. Bought our current tent from REI and couldn't be happier, also gave up air mattresses for the luxury and bigThermarest pads. Light duty tent is a Sierra Designs we have had for 25 yrs!!!

FF...tell me more about the Thermarest pads...Please?

Hi-C;

Have a look here: http://www.cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-r ... t/category

Number of retailers carry them, including REI Check out the REI outlet store at www.rei.com

They have changed the names on their mattresses, so I don't know what I have matches up with what is on the website.

I went from the shorter lighter Thermarest when I stopped carrying my camp on my back.

I now have the Deluxe which probably equates to the Base Camp model. Unless the ground is really lumpy, I don't have a problem sleeping on this. Then again I never was bothered by the pea under the mattress. The extra comfort of the "Dreamtime" would probably make the little extra weight worth it.

These folks also make the multifuel MSR stoves( XGK or Dragonfly)

Oh yeah ! All made in the USA

After giving up on the air mattress we visited the REI store in Seattle, awesome. We wanted the closest thing we could get to a mattress and still be able to roll it up for the plane. I am not sure of the name of them and they are in BC, but we both got extra wide and long. I am 6'2" and do not want to suffer. This looks like them but wouldn't swear to it. http://www.rei.com/product/797487

Thanks FF & TomD..I'll check them out. I used an air mattress I bought last year from Cabelas, nothing wrong with the quality, just couldn't sleep on it.
My problem is space. I could take a bigger ground mat but I would have to leave something else out. There look like they might do.
HC

Yeah, I quit buying anything from Cabelas a few years ago. Same story, they didn't want to stand behind the product, so I choose to vote with my wallet. I get good ideas from their catalog, but I go somewhere else. Most of it is from China and just as crappy, but at least Cabelas isn't getting my $$ anymore.

We used VE-24 tents all over Greenland for some work out of our back packs for years....Always worked, even had one attacked by a muskox when we camped on his trail. I have seen them lay down in 90 mph winds and spring back up afterwards. That tent has morfed into the VE-25, and it is made overseas....but is quality and the parts are common. We have returned it several times for zipper replacement (glacial sands eat any zipper) and North face has replaced them at no cost...no hassle. North Face VE-25

The Cabelas problems in Montana are complex. Cabelas "trophy properties" was going about the state buying and subdividing private wildlands (many near here in the breaks) which were access to public lands, some were in block management with full public access from sportsmen. These actions restricted access to public lands and the new owners could then have what Cabelas advertised as "unique access". Restricting access to public access to public lands is "frowned upon" here in Montana...Cabelas sent corporate lawyers to the Fish and Game (at their invitation) and did the only thing Cabelas knows how to do....offered $$$ to the state. Cabelas initially denied having anything to do with this land scheme, until the chair of our commission presented them with a page from their website advertising these Unique Access issues.

Cabelas has just grown too much from its original concept... R

James,

I beleive you are likely to encounter some serious wind without much cover. For the kind of money you are spending, I would suggest a mounaineering tent, not only for its weight but its ability to handle the wind. I have had a Mountain Hard Wear Trango tent staked at 50+ miles an hour with rain and not a tree in sight. It feels good to be dry and warm and know your shelter will not fail you. I have also used a few North Face and Sierra Designs tents, but my favorite is that Mountain Hard Wear Trango 3.1. Look for a last year's model and you can get some good deals on a new mountaineering tent.

The best value for the money on tents I may have ever received goes to REI --one of their tents would be better and cheaper than the comparable Cabella's tents I have looked at.

I do have to admit I have looked at the Cabella's Alaknak tents as a base camp option for hunting. I really can not justify another tent --at least not with hunting season still months away.

Ahhh tents....

Chet

Thanks Chet & once&futr_alaskaflyer

Like a wise man said last night on the BCP Chat, "the only difference between Cabela's and Walmart is the color of the roof". So I ordered up several replacement poles from Quest Outfitters in Florida after some good advise from once&futr_alaskaflyer, thanks! I actually really like the tent but just learned that Cabela's won't support their products so I'm on my own. This is a pretty good four season tent, but I'm going to buy some better stakes too.

Cabelas just lost a good customer is all. Those product reviews are a joke too. Obviously they just post the ones that support their imported products. After looking at some of my pictures, heck I look like the cover of a "GD" Cabela's catalog with all the stuff I bought over the years..

Anyway Chet, it looks like you really have a good time with your Maule too. Rob and I are looking forward to flying our Maules up to Alaska this summer. Thanks for the advise. Backcountry Pilots are a wealth of knowledge and hard charging spark plugs with can-do attitudes!

James
Spokane

Hope the poles work out for you.

Before my knee blew out I climbed mountains for fun all over the western hemisphere. But the second worst blow I ever endured was at a beach campground on the north shore of Kauai one clear winter's night.

Ours held. Everyone else was blown into the parking lot in tatters. You never know when you need a good tent vs an ok one