Looking for Comments on Orvis Tailwaters XT Bootfoot & Others

[Stonefly]

How close is it to Morris County, real close at the time I purchased the Dan Baily waders, Tight Lines In Pine Brook was carrying their wader lines, so it was 20 minutes away, that's pretty close by.

And if you can't get to Pine Brook, their just a click away.

 

[Joe D]

How close is it to Morris County, real close at the time I purchased the Dan Baily waders, Tight Lines In Pine Brook was carrying their wader lines, so it was 20 minutes away, that's pretty close by.

And if you can't get to Pine Brook, their just a click away.

I guess you didn't get your waders from Baily's, but Dan Baily's brand from a local shop. Thanks for clarifying that. :thumb:

How's the LL Bean store down in Marlton? I've only been to the one in ME. Is it like that one?

 

[jm112533]

Ralph purchased his waders at Such & Such Fly Shop, and he brought them back and the shop owner gathered all the information from Ralph and knowing his product and what the warranty calls for, gives Ralph a new pair of waders and sends him on his way with the replacement pair under his arm.

To my way of thinking Ralph would return to Such & Such Fly Shop for all his fishing needs. Even better Ralph would post his problem on NEFF and how Such & Such Fly Shop treated him and took care of the problem. Say Green Highlander was looking to purchase a new pair of waders and read Ralph's report, wouldn't one like believe that GH would go to Such & Such to buy his next pair? Because if there ever should be a problem with the waders, he knows that Such & Such would handle it quickly and professionally.

AK Skim

Exactly. Even a pair of loaners would be welcomed and if he couldn't do that just being the go-between with the manufacturer is a major plus. If a dealer sincerely treats your issues as a priority and makes you feel welcomed and important to him/her you can't ask for much more. A business with good customer service and raport is priceless and I for one would be willing to pay more and frequent a shop like that on a regular basis... even if they are too far away to visit in person. (closest decent fly shops to me are 40-60mi away and the ones where I fish are 60-100mi away).

I think one of you guys hit the nail on the head... many of these smaller shops are very dependent on repeat customers and walk-ins. That can make for major seasonal dry spells unless they have an online website. Fortunately many of them have or are moving in that direction and maybe those are the ones who will survive. I don't really want to jump in my car in January or February and drive 100mi to Roscoe NY just to be faithfull to the shops who support me during prime fishing season... but if they have a website they get my business during those slow months.

 

[Andy]

As most of you probably already heard, a Cabela's store will be coming to the Rutherford area sometime in the future. It remains to be seen how this will effect our favorite local retailers.

 

[Corndog]

As most of you probably already heard, a Cabela's store will be coming to the Rutherford area sometime in the future. It remains to be seen how this will effect our favorite local retailers.

When will the war end! Then Gander Mountain will move in next to them...

Eventually the only place to buy fishing and hunting supplies will be Gandermart.

Cdog

 

[Joe D]

As most of you probably already heard, a Cabela's store will be coming to the Rutherford area sometime in the future. It remains to be seen how this will effect our favorite local retailers.

I'd guess pretty much the same way Home Depot affected your local hardware store.

 

[Andy]

JM112533: Further to my previous post on the Tailwaters XT.

You also mention you are considering the Battenkill zip-on, zip-off brogue. Been there, done that also. I have a 9 1/2 shoe size and couldn't get into either a size 11 or 12 brogue using only the zipper. The tops didn't open wide enough. I close the Simms Freestone for that reason because the top opens wider than the rest of the boot making entry easier.

Just something else to consider besides warranty, etc.

 

[Stonefly]

Joe,

I was in the NJ LL Bean store while on business, nothing like the Maine store at all.

 

[NJstomp]

Can't comment on the Bootfoot but I have the Stocking foot. The only issue I have had with them is that the clip on the gravel gaurd has broken off twice. Both times I brought them to Orvis in NYC and they just gave me a brand new pair. No questions asked, just went in the back and grabbed brand spanking new ones. The second time I even asked for a different size and they had no problems with that. Got the tall size over normal.

 

[Andy]

NJSTOMP: I also had problems with the boot lace hook on the gravel guards. It doesn't look like well thought-out construction to me and with hopes of preventing the problem with the replacement pair, I applied a generous glob of epoxy where the rivet is peened-over. I think it was Ben Franklin who said "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."