Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I have been fighting with 2 well known outdoor related companies for a couple months now. Well one has been a couple months of back and forth the other just last week. One is a well know treestand manufacturer that neglected to include part of the treestand purposely without any kind of notice as to why it was left out. And they have promised to send the item and then I keep getting the runaround. I'm finding very poor customer service from them and not sure what else to do about it. Should I let it go and never buy another stand from them or keep writing and or calling them about my issue?

The other was over a rebate offered on a trail camera. I followed their instructions on the rebate from and sent the UPC symbol , a copy of the sales receipt, ect. Now I get a card in the mail and they say I sent the wrong UPC and now I have to mail them another one... OK how do you do that when there was only one to begin with and the packaging is long gone? Granted it was only 10.00, but it's the principle of the whole thing. I'm finding customer service in the outdoor industry to be going downhill. It is a shame because the outdoor industry has always been know for excellent service as compared to other industries. I told them in a letter that I will no longer purchase any of their products and their response was basically "Oh Well" And to think its over a 10.00 rebate that they'd take this stance.

Sorry had to vent

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I would keep trying to get the other part from them. You spent the money with the intent of getting everything that came with the stand. Not just the parts that they felt like packaging that day.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Some companies are real scum when it comes to customer service!

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Who were the companys so we can watch out if we ever deal with them?

Hatchet Jack

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Was the treestand part a ratchet rope type thingy or strap affair????

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I'd keep trying the tree stand company . Who were the companies ?

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I'll tell you who the companies were after I call them tommorrow and if they don't fix the problems. I hate to bash them just yet, especially on Christmas. But tommorrow all bets are off if I don't get answers.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

The mods might not let you do that here especially if they are a sponser.

How do you know it was left out purposely? Is this your gut feeling or did you arrive at that conclussion through correspondence with them.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

When I called customer service the first time they told me that they would ship the part out asap. Well I waited 2 weeks and then called back. The second conversation with customer service I found out that the parts were intentionally left out due to being inferior. It isn't a safety issue though. I asked why I wasn't told this during my first conversation and they said that sometimes the regular office people have to help out on the phones due to customer service being overloaded and that they weren't informed of the issue with the parts. I asked why they didn't change the Box label or atleast enclose a short letter in the treestand box explaining the situation? He had no answer.But said he would now inform all office personnel.I felt that this was sneaky on their part and was no reason to not include a short note to the customers. Well the last time I spoke to customer service I was told the updated parts would be in around December 7 and turn around time to get the stuff out to customers would be quick. Well still nothing. This is a very large and well know manufacturer. The iten in question isn't significant to some people, but to me was part of the reason I chose this particular stand, otherwise I could have purchased another stand from another manufacturer.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

If you purchased these items on a credit card some card companys will let you put the order under despute & they will resolve the problem for you or you won't have to pay. I've done this myself with very good results.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Was the rebate sent directly to the company, Many companies use a third party marketing firm to process the rebates.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

That is a mess for sure, hope you used a credit card and not a debit card in case you want to fight it that way. Let us know how it turns out.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

It was third party, but I called the camera company before coresponding with the rebate company and they brushed me off on the rebate company and said to call back and tell them what I needed. I need a UPC and I told them that at the beginning of the call. How can I give them something I already sent and from a package that was tossed after sending the UPC/ They're idiots. I will call again tommorrow and if nothing is resolved I'll post the names so you guys don't get burned in the future. Jeeesh it's just darn frustrating talking to 3 different people and still no results.

I used cash for both items. The stand was ordered for me by my archery pro shop through Kinsey's and the camera was bought at Gander Mountain. I'll definately let you know what happens tommorrow. Thanks for the input.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Personally, if you're getting the runaround purposely I could care less if you post their names. I call that just telling your story, not bashing. Things do get hectic leading to and during the holidays. Sounds like understaffed or misinformed people manning the phones.

Thankfully I've only once had to call a sporting goods company and they responded in good fashion.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I had the same thing happen to me last year around this time,and yes I bought my cameras from Gander Mountain also." They told me I sent them the wrong UPC as well" I'm guessing it was a Stealth camera,that's what mine was.Needless to say I will never buy another one of their cameras again.Good luck.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Demand what you paid for! I get so tired of these companies giving people the brush off when thier products are defective. I would keep calling till I got the results that I wanted. You are not asking for the world here, just for them to honor what was sold to you and what was on the packaging. I hope you do post the names of the companies on here. I know I would never buy from them. Customer service is a huge part of the sale that is starting to disappear.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

You guessed it. It is a Wildview Extreme 2 made by Stealth Cam. I called another number today and got an all automated response system. It doesn't give you an option to talk to anyone. This was the rebate company, not Stealth. I then called Stealth directly and spoke to a customer service rep. After explaining my problem and being put on hold twice, he asked for my email and said he'd send me a new rebate form. So I gave it to him. I asked him specifically if I need to have UPC and he said no, this rebate form didn't require one. So, I get home from work, check my email and it's the exact same form I filled out the first time and it states on it that I need a copy of sales receipt and UPC. How freakin stupid are people? I'm done, the 10.00 isn't worth the extra stamp I now need and waiting 8 weeks and them sending me another card saying they can't process my rebate. I know that is what will happen. I just will never buy another Stealth Product again..

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

ROFLMAO.:DNot laughing at you. It's just unbelievable what you have to deal with. Thanks for the heads up.

This is the best part. LOL:D:D:DAlmost be worth the laugh just to see.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I just tried to contact the treestand company and they are closed until January 2,2007.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Why can't u state who the manufacterers were? It may be a way to hold them accountable by getting the word out & them knowing it. It may put the fire in them to send out replacement parts. We should know if parts are not included, after allyou expectto get all you are paying for. I dealt w/ Summit tree stands, & have nothing but praise for their product & customer service. They were extremely helpful, & prompt in dealing w/my concerns. Let us know who they are, maybe we can help. I once read on another site of a father who had problems w/ a custom longbow company making good on a faulty item. Due to overwhelming e-mails the company recieved, they accomodated the customer.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

You guys are good! First someone guessed Stealth was who I was having problems with and now you guess Summit. I like their stands and think they are a great product, but their customer service for me has been terrible. The item that wasn't included was the Summit Skin kit. Like I said, I liked the idea of being able to camo my stand and at the same time quiet it down some more. That's what made me choose Summit over Equalizer, but now I wish I had chosen the Equalizer. My biggest problem was the attitudes of the people I spoke with they seemed very disinterested in resolving my problem. If I was selling treestands or any product and didn't include something purposely and the customer complained I would atleast offer them a refund of the missing items. Not make them wait 3 months.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Yes Trykonoisseur, that's one thing nice about these forums.You get knowlegeable people that actually use the same type of equipment and brands we all like or are interested in using,and for the most part you will get some honest advice on a specific item.It's to bad these companys think they can just give the average guy the run around and nothing will be said or done.Hopefully enough people read this subject or for that matter the right person reads it, and it gets back to companies like STEALTH. Maybe then they will see that we are not limited to just their product. We can and will take our business elsewhere. Hope nobody fell asleep reading this.LOL.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

I feel your pain on the rebate. The EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON EVERY MAIL IN REBATE I TRIED. I don't even buy things that are MIR anymore because it pisses me off. Next time make a photocopy of the UPC so you will have a copy to send them. Linksys is very bad about this same thing. I have had good results out the below website in getting things fixed, replaced, or refunds.

http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/

All of you should check it out. It is pretty cool and it has worked everytime I posted.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

That sucks.........I have had nothing but 100% excellent experience with Summit.

It happens unfortunately..........I heard the summit skin was crap that went out with the first batches. I'm glad to see they are unwilling to ship out a inferior product but I agree you should get what you are told you are getting.

Sometimes things just go in the toilet..........I got the runaround from Bowtech and everyone always says their service is top notch.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Yeah, it's all real frustrating, but I will now end my discussion on this. I don't want to beat this horse any longer. I've made the decision to end any further dealings with these companies, so what more could or should be said.? Thanks to everyone for their advice and input.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

What are the companies? Maybe we can help? We'll send you the $10 if we can become your hunting store of choice.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Same here.. The Summit Skins weren't worth a crap anyways. The wouldn't stick in the first place.. and if you were lucky enough to get them to stick.. they'd peel back off as soon as it got cold outside.

Personally I'm happy to see Summit not includeand inferior part with their stands.. which are of the highest quality. Now Summit doesn't make the skins.. just includes them with their stands... whoever they had make them.. dropped the ball and changed the adheasive that Summit had originally approved.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about getting a set of skins.. I'd contact Summit and request some sort of accessory to replace the price that you'd spent on the stand that were supposed to include the skins. If you're given the run around.. request to talkto their superviser.. ect..

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

That is what I would do if I felt like I got jobbed.

I bought new Footjoy golf shoes years ago and they literally fell apart in 2 months. They basically said "too bad". I have NEVER bought a footjoy (or associated) product since that day..........and that is hard to do in the golf world.

Do what you think is right.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Maybe you missed some of the posts the companies were listed toward the end here, Summit and Stealth. And thanks for the offer of 10.00, thats customer service, asking what you can do to win someones business. I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about "your company".

Sorry edited after seeing your link. I'll definately look closer at your website when more time is available.

I'm happy about that too. But it doesn't change the fact that they didn't add a note in the packaging telling why the product wasn't included. They just left it out without an explanation. You know the rest of the story with customer service. I love my Razor SS climber, but I felt like like they were being sneaky about the whole thing. Maybe they didn't want the bad publicity just before their busiest time of the year (bow season), either way it was dishonest.

Thanks Atlas for you contunued support and advice. I've made the decision to stop future business with them both.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

Trykonoisseur, u might be interested in a silencing, adhesive backed fabric that Gander Mountain carries.It actually is advertised as a stand silencer. I bought it to put on my Summit climber. It is about 4" wide & 6' long? Sells for $16 or so. Sticks like mad to everything.It has a neoprene backing & is waterproof. I used alcohol to prep the surface. It conforms easily, but u do need to cut it to fit you needs. I also found that if u run a med. grit sandpaper over it, it makes it just a little bit quieter. Not that its noisy, but puts a little wear into it. I've had it on since the season started, & have noticed it is quieter when the cable bumps against it. Good luck & let me know what u think.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

http://www.bbb.com/

The Better Business Bureau may not get you your $10 or extra parts, but it will get there attention. I had ABC Whearhouse literly scream at me for turning them in!!! LOL

I will not buy anything that requires a rebate. I would rather pay full price for the other brand that is not trying to scam money out of me.

RE: Nothing but trouble with 2 well known compaines
 

OK, I have one final update on the Summit Skin. I received an email today about the.....Well read it for yourself.


Sorry about that. We do have the final version spec'd out and we did
receive our material last month. The new supplier has the cutting dies and
is producing sets as far as I know. I expect we will start shipping within
the next week or so.

Again, I do apologize about the extended delay - Thanks for being patient,


This is the emailI received on November 20,2006.

We are scheduled to receive the new material in on 12/7 and turn around
should only take a few days. Shipments will start soon after that. We hope
to have it to you before Christmas but that will depend on the timing and
how badly UPS gets backed up during the holidays.

I do apologize for the continued delay in getting the product shipped.


Maybe it's just me, but this is BS. It doesn't seem like they know what the heck is going on. I'm just sick of it. Well like I said I won't buy another one of their products no matter how good they are. I hate getting the runaround. Some of you wanted to know how things turned out so this was the latest update.