Cabela's Customer Service is GREAT!

[Black Bass]

In response to my email below Cabela's responded "Send them back and tell us what you want in exchange." No questions asked. WOW! As you can see, I had the parka and bibs for the best part of 2008.

December 15, 2008

Cabela's Inc.

400 E. Avenue A

Oshkosh NE 69190

RE: order #94755774 and #94755284 November 27, 2007

Dear Customer Service:

On November 27, 2007, I ordered Item UG-92-2549 Insulated Gore-Tex Guidewear Bib: LA and UG-92-2545 Insulated Gore-Tex Guidewear Parka: (Copies of Cabela's shipping info enclosed.) At the time I weighed 225 lbs. and ordered then in Large size. The items were backordered and I don't believe I received them until February 2008, or later. As I live in South East Texas, by the time I received them the cold weather was over, but I felt I could use them this season.

However, I was diagnosed in June 2008 with three blocked heart arteries and had a triple bypass done on June 10, 2008. Since the surgery I have lost 75 lbs. (which I needed to do as I'm only 5'8 tall.) and the bib and parka are too big for me.

I know I've had them for the best part of a year, but wondered if it would be possible to exchange them for a set of mediums? I have never worn the ones I received except to try them on.

Thanks for your consideration.

[senile1]

That's nice that they would understand your situation.  Good deal.  8-)

[Muddy]

Cabelas, may cost a few pennies more and may take a few days more to ship, but they are unsurpassed in treating each customer with care and concern

[Marty]

I hope you're doing well healthwise.

This spring I bought a Cabela's tackle bag. I called them after a zipper tab broke off while I was zipping one of the pockets closed. They asked if it could be repaired locally and I told them I got a price from a tailor shop of $12.

They sent a check out immediately, no further questions, no verification required, etc. This was not my only experience with their great customer service, just the most recent.

My only complaint with them is a selection that is too small and a lot of stuff I need I can't get there.

[Muddy]

Hey Marty If you ever need something from them, There is a fully stocked Cabelas about 40 minutes from here and we make frequent( a little to Frequent) trips there all spring and summer It is my experience they have products not on line, so if your looking for something and need it PM me and when we go I will pick it up for you while there.

Dominick

[cart7t]

I once ordered about $25 worth of carpet from them to make some repairs to my boat.  They sent the wrong color.  They instructed me to reship it back to them via UPS and they'd refund me.  When I went to UPS they were going to charge me $25 for shipping due to the 6' length.  I refused and called Cabela's customer service back.  The gal laughed, understood and told me to just keep the carpet while they sent me the correct color for free.

Great folks.

[Tokyo Tony]

Their customer service really is unparalleled. I have many stories about their service. I often wonder how they can make the returns, refunds, etc., without losing money. I guess the benefits of satisfied customers and word of mouth outweigh the short-term losses they eat.

I bought a Carrot Stix casting rod, used it for a week or two, and simply didn't like it that much. I brought it back, said that there was nothing wrong with it, but that I just wasn't a huge fan and would like to exchange it for a different rod. They said, "Go pick out the rod you'd like and come back to the desk. No problem."

I ended up with a Crucial, which I prefer to the Stix, but I broke the tip in my car door a couple months later. Brought it back, explained that it wasn't faulty, that it was my fault, and I heard Shimano had a great warrantee that I could pay $15 and get a new one. They said no problem, and just let me exchange it for a new rod, no charge, no receipt.

That's one of the reasons I've been a Cabela's customer my entire life (since I was about 8), and why I prefer them to Bass Pro.

[simplejoe]

I couldn't get to Cabelas one time so ordered online and they sent me the wrong color lures I called them and they said they would have the new ones out the next day and for your trouble keep the other lures for free. I thought that was the best service I'd seen in awhile

[senile1]

Tokyo Tony stated:

Their customer service really is unparalleled. I have many stories about their service. I often wonder how they can make the returns, refunds, etc., without losing money.

Well, I hate to be negative, because I have also received great customer service from Cabelas, but here goes.

How do they afford it? Everywhere they open a store they receive tax increment financing for 20 years or more. The small stores and, you, the taxpayer, pick up their load. Most of these companies of this size make claims that the economic benefit they provide outweighs the cost of TIF. I've studied a number of cases and it appears to be rare that this is so.

Sorry, I don't want to hijack the thread. Now back to your regular scheduled programming.

[Lucky Craft Man]

Tokyo Tony stated:

Their customer service really is unparalleled. I have many stories about their service. I often wonder how they can make the returns, refunds, etc., without losing money.

Well, I hate to be negative, because I have also received great customer service from Cabelas, but here goes.

How do they afford it? Everywhere they open a store they receive tax increment financing for 20 years or more. The small stores and, you, the taxpayer, pick up their load. Most of these companies of this size make claims that the economic benefit they provide outweighs the cost of TIF. I've studied a number of cases and it appears to be rare that this is so.

Sorry, I don't want to hijack the thread. Now back to your regular scheduled programming.

Well, I am sure other businesses recieve some sort of TIF and I find it hard to imagine a store with better costumer service than Cabelas.  My only gripe is that there seem to be people who take advantage of Cabelas great costumer service.  One guy returned a pair of boot that were beat to hell and said he wasn't satiisifed.  They replaced the boots, but I couldn't help thinking that this guy must have been satisified for the first 500 hours of use.  I would have a hard time doing that.

[fishfordollars]

Glad to hear you are doing well. I have had not had any issues with Cabelas or Bass Pro when dealing with their customer service. They have exchanged several items they had no business doing so, but I asked and they took care of me.

[Muddy]

TO SENILE; The Store in Hamburg PA  brought 179 full and part time jobs to an area of depressed coal mines and deserted factories. Jobs with Bene's and Health Insurance. They improved the roads and several fast food places have opened up, thriving and offering jobs of their own. I will take that in place of a 20 year tax break!

[fathom]

there is more than one reason why the cabelas' club visa is the only credit card i use.

[Marty]

How do they afford it?  Everywhere they open a store they receive tax increment financing for 20 years or more.  The small stores and, you, the taxpayer, pick up their load.  Most of these companies of this size make claims that the economic benefit they provide outweighs the cost of TIF.  I've studied a number of cases and it appears to be rare that this is so.

What's the source of the information about the connection between the tax breaks and their customer service policies?

Hey Marty If you ever need something from them, There is a fully stocked Cabelas about 40 minutes from here and we make frequent( a little to Frequent) trips there all spring and summer It is my experience they have products not on line, so if your looking for something and need it PM me and when we go I will pick it up for you while there.

Thank you very much Dominick, I appreciate the kind offer.

[bladeslinger]

I have had two great experiences with Cabelas's. The first one was I had a fly rod "apparently" delivered to my door by USPS, the mail man swore he left it there but I never got it. I called Cabela's to see if it was insured and they stated no problem, we'll send you a new one.  Was expecting a load of claim forms and denials from post office but never had to deal with it.  Second I got a fly box in which the doors didn't close properly, asked if I could send it back.  Very friendly lady just said don't worry about it, well send you a new one.  I have never dealt with customer service folks so friendly.  Sadly I think some folks might take advantage of their policies though.

[senile1]

TO SENILE; The Store in Hamburg PA brought 179 full and part time jobs to an area of depressed coal mines and deserted factories. Jobs with Bene's and Health Insurance. They improved the roads and several fast food places have opened up, thriving and offering jobs of their own. I will take that in place of a 20 year tax break!

Hamburg is actually one that I studied.  I don't want to hijack the thread.  I'll send you a PM.  

[roadwarrior]

senile 1,

You don't need to go too far to see a perfect example of successful tax exemption policy. That nearly worthless dirt just west of you would never attract a visitor without a Cabela's, Nebraska Furniture and a racetrack...Now there are about fifty business operating out in "no man's land".

Regarding the topic, customer service: 10/10

I have nothing more to add.

8-)

[Muddy]

I will put my response to the pm basically here;

There are a few people I know whose lives were directly impacted by their jobs at that Cabelas.

The alternative would be for Cabelas to A, not be there or B, Pay taxes.

Those taxes would go to the state(commonwealth) and the most those fellas would have seen, as they were laid of their mill jobs was an 8 month stretch of Unemployment and then a welcome to welfare and Section 8 housing. I will take the direct impact of their jobs and the jobs they have brought to this neighboring communities over the other any day. The money goes in a large part to Phila and Pittsburgh anyway

 Also along with RW: Dunkin Doughnuts, Mc D's and several other restaurants/fast food joints and a motel have since opened and are thriving( and supplying more jobs)  None of this would have been possible before Cabela's interest, I say e got a more than fair deal. Sometimes improvement has to be felt on a human level and not by mathematical formulation.

[senile1]

senile 1,

You don't need to go too far to see a perfect example of successful tax exemption policy. That nearly worthless dirt just west of you would never attract a visitor without a Cabela's, Nebraska Furniture and a racetrack...Now there are about fifty business operating out in "no man's land".

Regarding the topic, customer service: 10/10

I have nothing more to add.

8-)

I guess you guys are going to drag me into this.  RW, do you know how many smaller retailers and mom and pop restaurants have gone out of business due to these TIF districts in KC.  I do.  Granted, there are some TIF districts that have been good for the economy and the average citizen, but most hurt the economy in the long run.  The developers of all of these large retail centers you speak of aren't paying taxes for years.  The taxes on the workers pay don't make it up.  I mean, geez, workers making 10 dollars an hour at Cabelas and Nebraska furniture really pay a lot of money into city coffers.  These guys aren't paying property tax nor are they paying sales tax.  They keep it.  This year KC is facing an 84 million dollar shortfall in revenues.  The city doesn't know how they are going to pay for police and firemen.  Drastic cuts are going to have to be made.  Why?  The large TIF districts are paying no taxes for another 20 or 30 years.  The small businesses that used to carry the tax load are going out of business because everyone wants to shop at the big and beautiful centers.  Wonderful.  It translates to more jobs in the short term but an economic calamity when the birds come home to roost in the future.  The cases that you and Muddy mentioned are anecdotal evidence.  So is mine.  But I've read cases from a number of cities and almost all are the same:  Big subsidies based on big promises that never come true.  

[senile1]

BTW, I apologize for bringing this subject up and causing this thread to go on a tangent.  Debating the merits of TIF would take pages and I'm not into posts of that magnitude and the intense emotions that go along with them.  It is best left for each to decide for him or herself.  Again, I'm sorry for bringing the subject up.  Cabelas does provide great customer service.  'Nuf said.

[Muddy]

They are not only anecdotal they are real. There is politics involved with this and an agenda involved with the book Real basic and to the point, I am for any direct help to the poor, real food and real jobs for real people I don't care what side of the aisle, who or where it comes from I am grateful once it gets there.

[senile1]

They are not only anecdotal they are real. There is politics involved with this and an agenda involved with the book Real basic and to the point, I am for any direct help to the poor, real food and real jobs for real people I don't care what side of the aisle, who or where it comes from I am grateful once it gets there.

The book has an agenda as any book does.  The facts I googled did not fit any agenda.  Facts are facts.  And mathematical figures translate into real lives affected.  They may not be people you know but they are people that someone knows and are just as important.

[Btech]

I had a similar situation whre i ordered a tackle bag and the zipper didnt work (Busted apart) and when i called customer service they asked me to send it back , i explained that i wouldnt be able to (Was on vacation at the time) until i returned home .... shocked me when i got home i had the same bag and a 25$ gift card waiting at my doorstep ... I WILL ALWAYS USE THEM AGAIN AND STRONGLY RECOMEND THEM..... especialy when you get a gift card from them

[Muddy]

There in house rod and reel associates are also very knowledgeable and if you are in the store and want to pick up an item that is cheaper on line, they will match the online price 8-)

[Sam]

Agreed.

Just ask my wife.