gkdiamond

You really do not know what you are talking about. An employee did not screw up nor was JM screwed out of $8. You like to jump to a lot of thoughtless conclusions. Look at their policy for returns without a receipt. I don't know what you are talking about "mention it" there was nothing to mention. There was no social media to matter - it's all in your head. It is non of your business why I signed up but yes I wanted to talk about it. This is a public forum, regardless of your difference of opinion maybe you should be welcoming new members.

It actually broke in 2004 but it wasn't until recently that I saw a post on Cabela's 100% Unconditional Lifetime Warranty and thought it was covered. I did get some good use out of it!

Russ, there wasn't any nerve involved, I was instructed to return it. I don't know why you would be embarrassed but that's you. If a manufactures lifetime warranty is not for a lifetime then they spell it out in their warranty as Cabela's currently does in their lifetime warranty. Since three different reps did not have a problem with it I really do not believe they made a big deal at the office at all. But if I was the subject of many jokes so what, why would I care.

Their current warranty is for manufacturer's defects over the reasonable life of the product. To say that I was in the wrong for going back to Cabela's is a ridiculous statement. I thought the rod was covered under a 100% Unconditional Lifetime Warranty. There is absolutely nothing wrong with making an inquiry about the warranty. It is not for you to decide what that warranty covers or how long it should last. Yes you are right, all warranties are the subject of manufacturers approval and after being given all the correct information and five detailed pictures THEY made the call to ship it back to them when they could have simply said it is not covered under warranty and there is no proof of purchase. As far as saving face on social media, that is nonsense. A simply search will show that there are several hundred negative complaints on sites like Yelp, Consumer Affiars, etc. They could have said no for the reasons given and no one, including myself, would have given it a second thought. I am very proud of myself thank you for your concern.

I'm not really sure what your comment means or why you would abuse the next guy buying a bike? Yes they took me seriously and that was after I emailed them first and told them I thought it was a 1983 rod and that I thought it was under their Lifetime Warranty program and I had no receipt. With no proof of purchase on record and no warranty I would not expect anything so as I said Cabela's was very fair.

While searching for what Cabela's warranty service was in the 80s I came across this thread and thought I would add my just recent warranty/exchange experience. I bought a Cabela's rod (Cabela's Mag Touch Fish Eagle Graphite Casting Rod) in what I guessed was 1983 from their catalog. It broke about 9" down from the tip. I just assumed that Cabela's had always offered their 100% Lifetime Warranty before the changes so I emailed Cabela's customer service to inquire about a replacement. I told them I no longer had the receipt but the warranty/registration card I mailed back at the time would prove my purchase. The first email I received back the next morning said she was having some trouble locating a rod to match the description I had provided and could I respond with a picture of the numbers on the rod. I replied telling her that the 5 1/2' length is no longer offered in Cabela's Fish Eagle Casting Rod line-up. The closest rod currently in the Fish Eagle family is the FE54C664-2-B (2 pieces) and FE54C664-1-B (1 piece), both with the same Power, Action, Line Weight and Lure Weight as mine but 6 1/2' in length instead of 5 1/2' as well as attaching five pictures of the rod and markings. Twenty-five minutes later I received a second response from another rep saying "We can replace the rod with SKU #04639996 which is the FE54C664-2-B. I am including return instructions on the rod that you have now. Just return that one and include this SKU number so our returns department can send you out the correct one." I thought WOW to good to be true and so easy. Today, nine days after Cabela's received the returned rod, I got this email from a third rep: "We have received your return but need some additional information to process your exchange order. The Cabela’s Fish Eagle Casting Rod, Item Number 13-9235, the item you are exchanging for is higher in price, then item that was returned. We have a balance due of $75.66. The Mag Touch Rod you returned was 33 years old, this is out of warranty. It was 100% satisfaction, not warranty, back then and was stated “on arrival of your order,” not for the rest of its life. We were unable to find a Proof of Purchase, we used the lowest sale price of $19.99. This offer is for Exchange or Gift Card only, unable to credit card. If you wish to complete this order please call us with the payment information. For security reasons do not send payment information via email. If we do no hear from you in 48 hours, a Gift Card will be issued for the exchange amount." I guess I'll have to take her word on no lifetime warranty in 1985 not that it would matter with no proof of purchase. I can't be sure but it seems like they would have exchanged it straight across if it had been under the Lifetime Warranty and proof of purchase. She added tax to the current price of the new rod but did not subtract the $19.99 exchange credit from the balance. I am not sure why but it doesn't matter. It makes more sense to take the credit and if I want the rod wait for a sale. I paid $11.75 to ship my rod back so that puts me up $8. All in all I believe Cabela's was very fair considering all the years of use I got from the rod and no warranty or proof of purchase.