doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Done With Cabels.....

New on this very important topic. I did not read all of it but wish to share a bit of info on the new Ford plant in South America. Hope I am not repeating this. This is the largest line which Ford wanted to build in America, but due to the robotics, The UAW pushed them out of the country. Draw your own conclusions.

I had to go round and round with Cabela's a couple years ago over a broken fly rod. I bought it on close-out, but it still had their "life time replacement" guarantee. It was their top-line rod at the time but when it broke the model was different, so they couldn't replace it with the same model, and they just wanted to give me back what I paid for it, which was considerably less than replacement value. I argued that they should replace it with the current comparable model, but they wouldn't go for it. I wrote a number of letters which I copied to the CEO, et al; never got anywhere. Then I finally wrote one to Jim and Dick. I said, among other things, that I was sure that if they still owned the company I wouldn't have to write such a letter. Not long after that I got a call from some high-up in customer service who said that they had "misunderstood the situation" and that certainly they would be replacing the rod with the most current comparable model. Jim and Dick's names still show up as being on the board, but I figured that was just in name only; I don't know who read that letter, but whoever it was, it worked.

I've read most of the posts and there is one thing I am not hearing.

Many of you have described Cabelas and Walmart etc as "greedy". They are public companies and their reason for being is to make as much money as they can. It's called return on equity. And I don't see them making anywhere near the return that some other companies make, say Apple or Microsoft. So they are not being outrageous in how much they are making. Retailers profit margins are notoriously thin.

If there are complaints about the level of quality vs price, the quick and easy response would be to stop shopping in that store or buying that brand. Over a relatively brief period of time, management would get the message. But given their level of success, I don't think that's what Americans (and elsewhere) are doing. The successful price/quality equation is created by the consumer.

I'm in the wholesale business and supply retailers both large and small with footwear. I have watched over the last 30 years the almost complete destruction of the American and Canadian footwear production industry. But it was driven by consumer demand for lower prices. Take two very similar shoes, price one at $90 and another at $80, we all know which will sell best.

And the cost difference was/is significant. To get a similar quality orthopedic shoe to one I have made in China now, the price from a North American factory (if they still existed) would be close to double. It's true in athletics and fashion footwear as well.

The lower prices spread across a large array of consumer products represent dramatically more money in the pocket of most consumers.

If we don't like the product quality or the politics of production, we have options. Most Americans however, have voted. What matters most is price.

That may be enlightened self interest or it may be an economic disaster that we still haven't seen the worst of yet. I don't know.

But the decision has always been in the hands of consumers.

I bang this drum every once in awhile, but its sound gets dimmer and dimmer. I drive a Ford Escort and keep it running with a good, hard-working mechanic who happens to be "from the neighborhood" - we go WAY back.

It's certainly hard to buy only American these days. It's hard to even buy UK goods, which I will always support. You know things are bad when a Barbour item is made in a Pacific Rim or former USSR country.

I resigned myself to the fact that at times it's impossible to buy US/UK a couple years ago. But I still have a couple rules:there's one place I WILL NEVER buy goods from and that's CHINA. Their goods are shoddy and they are still an enemy, although you wouldn't know it by all the cuddling our governments do.

As far as motor vehicles go I tell everybody I can that if they must buy a Japanese vehicle just make sure to NEVER buy a Mitsubishi. During WWII they used captured Americans as slave labor. This is factual, not internet conspiracy crap. Dig around and research it.

These are horrible times. Governments don't really rule, corporations do. How much longer before our consumer based society cracks down the spine and falls belly up? The number of have-nots increases every day and will soon overwhelm the haves. With no jobs and only social programs and crime to live on, how long do you think we can last?

I could go on and on, but why bother? I come here to talk and read about poetry in wood and steel, to feed my head, heart and soul.

Regarding shopping at Cabelas, I find no other source with the products I seek, other than BassPro, who I see as so close to Cabelas as to be barely distinguishable. On footwear, I can't recall an American mfr of boots with the characteristics I seek.

What type of boot and what characteristics?

LOVE my Filson boots, made in the USA.

Russell Mocassin company - Berlin (pronounced "BER-lin) Wisc.

www.russellmoccasin.com

Custom made - just right for me who has 13A feet (or skis)

The point has to be made that back when Cabela's had mostly American made products, they had one store and most of their business was done via mail order. Today they have dozens of retail locations that employ hundreds, maybe thousands of people. Not to mention the construction and retail business those stores bring to the surrounding area as well.

If by selling high profit, imported items, Cabela's can continue to open stores around the country and create the benefits that are associated with opening those stores, I for one don't think the sky is falling.

www.whitesboots.com Handcrafted in the U.S.A. They also have a warranty and will repair their boots. I've worn their boots every day for over 20 years. My first pair lasted 14 years and were re-soled 6 times before they finally said I have to buy a new set. They may be a little expensive but you get what you pay for.