waders rant

I am so unbelievably depressed and angry at the same time. I feel so
incredibly screwed. I have to get this off my chest.

I do most of my shopping at a local fly shop that will remain
annonymous. The owner is the NICEST guy, who has treated me *INCREDIBLY*
well (just want to make that clear).

He traded some quality waders for work I did for him (again, I praise
him for this). The waders were medium king sized (I am a big guy). The
associate was concerned that they were tight, and said he was worried
they might bust a seem in the stomach. The owner (this is very
important) said special sized waders would be $100 more and RECOMMENDED
that I get the medium kings, which is what I did. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP
RECOMMENDED THAT I GET THE WADERS. These were waders that he had in the
shop for some time that a customer ordered but never came in to buy.

About 3 months later I started to get leaks in them, and the material in
the bottom of the feet started wearing out. All the leaks were knee
level or bellow.

I called the manufacturer and they agreed that I could return the waders
to the store, and that instead of medium kings I needed specially made
waders. They told me to email them all the pertinent info, they would
make the waders and charge me $40.

They called the fly shop owner, who told them I insisted on getting the
waders even tho they told me not to. This was untrue. The associate most
definitely did say that the waders could tear at the stomach, but the
owner said that I should get them.

Thus, the manufacturer VOIDED my warranty, and if I want the specially
made waders I have to pay $270. The fly shop said they will try to
repair the leaks, but I am still without a WARRANTY plus without the
brand new specially sized waders for $40.

The owner IS a really nice guy, but I got screwed so incredibly hard.

Steve Sullivan wrote:

I am so unbelievably depressed and angry at the same time. I feel so
incredibly screwed. I have to get this off my chest.


Print out this post or rewrite it and mail it to the owner. If he really
has treated you incredibly well in the past, he should do right by you.
If not **** him and never go there again.

Willi

There are tons of places to buy fly fishing equipment now so don't ever go
back to a retailer that you don't feel comfortable with.

A good fly shop could fit you better over the phone than it sounds like from
your report.

I am short, fat with short legs and small feet so I have to get custom
waders that are $50 more.

Also, I don't see any waders other than Simms that are worth buying in the
US. Patagonia is still in the R&D catch-up mode with Simms especially for
fit. We got tired of closing out thousands of dollars worth of redesigned
waders every year that did not fit people well.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Willi" wrote in message
...


Steve Sullivan wrote:

I am so unbelievably depressed and angry at the same time. I feel so
incredibly screwed. I have to get this off my chest.


Print out this post or rewrite it and mail it to the owner. If he really
has treated you incredibly well in the past, he should do right by you.
If not **** him and never go there again.

Willi

"Bill Kiene" wrote in
om:


Also, I don't see any waders other than Simms that are worth buying in
the US. Patagonia is still in the R&D catch-up mode with Simms
especially for fit. We got tired of closing out thousands of dollars
worth of redesigned waders every year that did not fit people well.

Apples to Apples, Bill. Sure, you get what you pay for, but not everyone
can get the top of the line Simms. How do the Freestones compare to the
rest of the $150 market?

Scott

"Scott Seidman" wrote in message
.4...
"Bill Kiene" wrote in
om:


Also, I don't see any waders other than Simms that are worth buying in
the US. Patagonia is still in the R&D catch-up mode with Simms
especially for fit. We got tired of closing out thousands of dollars
worth of redesigned waders every year that did not fit people well.

Apples to Apples, Bill. Sure, you get what you pay for, but not everyone
can get the top of the line Simms. How do the Freestones compare to the
rest of the $150 market?

I can't speak for all, but my Freestone waders fit *much* better than the others
(Cabelas, Hodgeman) I've tried.
--
TL,
Tim
------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj

On Mon, 29 Mar 2004, Scott Seidman wrote:

Apples to Apples, Bill. Sure, you get what you pay for, but not everyone
can get the top of the line Simms. How do the Freestones compare to the
rest of the $150 market?

I purchased the Simms lightweights for $180 in 2003. Considering the
quality, I'd say it was actually rather inexpensive compared to my
previous waders ($130 for Orvis Clearwaters in 2000, and $160 for a pair
of Cabela's breathables back in the 1998).

Mu

Mu Young Lee wrote:
On Mon, 29 Mar 2004, Scott Seidman wrote:

Apples to Apples, Bill. Sure, you get what you pay for, but not everyone
can get the top of the line Simms. How do the Freestones compare to the
rest of the $150 market?


I purchased the Simms lightweights for $180 in 2003. Considering the
quality, I'd say it was actually rather inexpensive compared to my
previous waders ($130 for Orvis Clearwaters in 2000, and $160 for a pair
of Cabela's breathables back in the 1998).

A pair of waders is merely a necessary tool. I've never heard gear
whores bragging about how many pairs of waders they have. :-) I suppose
there's always a first time to look forward to. (I have two pair -- both
Simms -- one pair reconditioned at the factory, which acts as my backup
and loaner pair.)

My philosophy about buying tools is that I don't compromise on quality.
I may not buy the tool with all the fancy bells and whistles, but I
won't ever buy second best if I can help it. It's a false economy.

Nowadays, when it might cost $40 in gas, one way, to get to your fishing
destination, a pair of Simms waders seems like a bargain.

Apropos of waders, about a week ago in Jerry's Country Store in Lower
Stanley I saw a young steelhead fisherman wearing a brand new pair of
Simms waders and, over top of them, a pair of cheap rubber hip boots.
He'd forgotten to bring his wading boots. The guy was pretty cool
because he realized how ridiculous he looked. :-)

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004, Steve Sullivan wrote:

I am so unbelievably depressed and angry at the same time. I feel so
incredibly screwed. I have to get this off my chest.

Hey that really sucks. BTW my unscientific intuition about Simms is that
their motto should be something along the lines of:

we make the best stuff, everything else sucks, you'll be lucky if you can
afford this

as opposed to

the customer is always right.

I bought the large because the medium king was unavailable and I needed a
new pair of waders ASAP. The other thing about Simms is that their sizes
seem a little small. I'm 5'8 and 175 lbs. When I tried on the mediums I
thought the seams would burst in the thighs if I did a squat. They must
expect that most people have legs like chickens.

Mu

The waders were not simms.


In article
. umich.edu,
Mu Young Lee wrote:

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004, Steve Sullivan wrote:

I am so unbelievably depressed and angry at the same time. I feel so
incredibly screwed. I have to get this off my chest.

Hey that really sucks. BTW my unscientific intuition about Simms is that
their motto should be something along the lines of:

we make the best stuff, everything else sucks, you'll be lucky if you can
afford this

as opposed to

the customer is always right.

I bought the large because the medium king was unavailable and I needed a
new pair of waders ASAP. The other thing about Simms is that their sizes
seem a little small. I'm 5'8 and 175 lbs. When I tried on the mediums I
thought the seams would burst in the thighs if I did a squat. They must
expect that most people have legs like chickens.

Mu

The waders were not simms.

ADG?

Frank