Monday, October 25, 2010

Planned Obsolescence?

Planned Obsolescence?

Must all waders leak after one year of use?

I took back my waders yesterday to where I bought them . Since they were a little over a year old I was hoping they would tell me to just take another box off the shelf and send me on my way.

I was using my warranty issue as a moment of truth with the company in question. They instead told me they would ship them back for repair for $30 bucks which isn't bad but we are getting into prime time and going without or wearing sub par back ups is frustrating for a period of 2 weeks or longer. I do have back ups but what a pain.

I told the guy that there was faulty taping on both neoprene footies that were leaking. He questioned me "do you use them a lot?" Should that be the issue? Should you have to buy a product and use it less or not at all for it not to fail in one year?

So let me know what you think.

Is the universalism that all waders fail after one year acceptable to consumers?

Are we a civilization that puts men into space and rescues miners below the earth unable to create a wader that lasts for more than one year?

Am I to upgrade from $300 plus dollar waders to $600 dollar plus waders to find satisfaction with a product?

Is this done by the manufacturer on purpose so we come back every year to blow more money?

Is there any pride left in manufacturing a good quality product?

Have a great week and catch some fish......................

7 comments:

  1. Cabela's brother! I gotta say...they will leak but I have managed to get 3 years out of my last two pairs and they have a pretty solid return policy. Pretty much just send them back and they will send you a new pair.
    They all leak. I think it comes down to a question of when will it happen.
    1 year...unacceptable. But then again. You do fish like a machiene.

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  2. You're right - shoddy workmanship across the board is too accepted these days. We once had a builder say our carpeting did not last the 5 years it was warranted because we - and I quote - "vacuumed too much". Well, apparantly, you fish too much... The right response should have been to give you another pair for the $30 spot and let the company "closeout or open box" that pair, not leave you with a bad taste like this.

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  3. well i got a new pair last yr so far so good but then again i dont get out as much as you. i would think the comp assumes that most pairs are only worn 5 or 10 times a yr this making them good for 3 or 4 yrs.. i know it doesnt sound right. mabee we all need to email where they were made and get them to make them stronger along the seams.

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  4. well i got a new pair last yr so far so good but then again i dont get out as much as you. i would think the comp assumes that most pairs are only worn 5 or 10 times a yr this making them good for 3 or 4 yrs.. i know it doesnt sound right. mabee we all need to email where they were made and get them to make them stronger along the seams.

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  5. Either Cabelas or LL Bean.
    Frank got three years out of his Cabelas Guide waders, so for $200 pretty fair value. I can tell you that I sent a pr back to Cabelas after 14 months, and they sent me a new pair. no repair option offered.
    LL Bean has liftime warranty.

    I'm on my 4th year of G3s, had some issues, but Simms bent over backwards to make me happy, to the point that they sent me a loaner pair, while they fixed mine, and paid for the shipping, both ways!

    As witnessed by this blog, you are very good with the written word. get typing, and let Orvis know whats going on. Follow it up by phone.
    Joe;
    go get 'em

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  6. I splurged a couple years ago and got a pair of G4s - so far so good. They are very comfortable and durable so I am certainly hoping for a good long DRY run with these.

    Harv

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  7. I'll second the Cabelas thing.
    It is not a good idea to spend a whole lot of money on waders..unless you have Harvs money!
    ;o)
    They are gonna leak... it is inevitable.
    I bought a pair of Cabelas a while back that leaked after one season....and by one season I mean about 75 heavily hiked trips to the river under harsh conditions.
    I... like you...expected more.
    So I took them back to the store.
    These waders looked like waders that other people had been wearing for 5 years.
    I am really hard on my stuff.
    The cabelas lady gave me a full refund without even batting an eye...and without my receipt!!!
    That is customer service.
    The last pair of waders I bought from them gave me 4 decent years at about $30 / yr.
    Watch for the sales then pounce!!!
    One of the titles of my favourite fishing books is Death,Taxes and Leaky Waders.
    We are all in this together....and none of us get out of here alive!

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