My Orvis waders leak:(

[davethetrout]

I bought a set of Orvis waders 7 years ago when the lightweights first came out. I still fish the same green Clearwaters everyday. Recently I sprung a leak in the feet and realized the neoprene has almost worn through on my big toe area of both feet. Are these waders still guarenteed? They were bought in Ohio a long time ago,so where do I send em? Will I be charged? Will I get a new pair? Thanks in advance..Dave

 

[just dave]

It would probably be better to ask Orvis these questions... customerservice@orvis.com

They even have a live chat... http://www.orvis.com/intro.asp?dir_id=2204&subject=259

Good luck.

Dave

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

Welcome to the Orvis trap....you are doomed now. The good thing is they WILL take care of it....just might need a little nudging to get what you want. Be ready to deal with these people often now so don't nudge too much. The "Old" Orvis waders vs "New" is night and day. Good thing is production is up though.....

Go here to get started... http://www.orvis.com/intro.asp?subject=744&dir_id=758 take note of the very bottom of the page..nudgin' material

<center>The Orvis 100% Satisfaction Guarantee:</center> For 150 years, we have offered the strongest return policy in the business. We will refund your money on any purchase that isn't 100% satisfactory. Anytime, for any reason. It's that simple."

GBS

 

[davethetrout]

I bought these waders and bought the best I could afford at the time. They said Lifetime Guarenteed on them. Period! Orvis just said there waders are only guarenteed for 4 yrs. Thats a load of Bull! They asked me if I still had the box with the warrenty papers..Not too happy with Orvis right now!

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

I bought these waders and bought the best I could afford at the time. They said Lifetime Guarenteed on them. Period! Orvis just said there waders are only guarenteed for 4 yrs. Thats a load of Bull! They asked me if I still had the box with the warrenty papers..Not too happy with Orvis right now!

Well then this sounds like a perfect reason to drive up to the ADKS. We can shoot over to Manchester so you can tell them in person how DISSATISFIED you are with their product. They don't really like when people come to their Worldwide HQ with defective products.....especially when you stand across the street with them waving to all the traffic with a sign that says......Im not satisfied and its just that simple!!!

<center>The Orvis 100% Satisfaction Guarantee:</center> For 150 years, we have offered the strongest return policy in the business. We will refund your money on any purchase that isn't 100% satisfactory. Anytime, for any reason. It's that simple."

GBS

 

[theartoflee]

I bought these waders and bought the best I could afford at the time. They said Lifetime Guarenteed on them. Period! Orvis just said there waders are only guarenteed for 4 yrs. Thats a load of Bull! They asked me if I still had the box with the warrenty papers..Not too happy with Orvis right now!

Dave,

I think this is the right place to come to get your answers dont ask Orvis because they will give you that 4 year cr*ap. What you need to explain to orvis is that this isnt a matter of their wader warantee but an issue with their 100% satisfaction garantee which is extended to all products. They WILL have to give you new waders it may cost a little about $25 but you will have new waders in the end.

If they get uopset with you just remind them that they came up with their policy now they have to stand behind it. Also mention something like the you are looking for an excuse to have to buy a new rod and the way they handle this situation could be a deciding factor.

 

[davethetrout]

heres what they said...
Dear David,


Thank you for your patience. I have inquired with Donna Jarman who handles all wader returns and this is what she said. From 2002 model year prior we had a 4 year graduated warranty. The first year they were worth the full 100%, the second year they were worth 75%, the third year they were worth 50%, and the last year they had a value of 25%. This is the model year of your waders. Unfortunately, since your waders are 6-7 years old they have no value. In addition, the feet having holes worn in them is normal wear and tear in the breakdown of the material over time and use. This is not a manufacturer's defect in materials or workmanship. If you like to purchase a new pair of waders we will offer you a 30% discount and free shipping. If you would like to talk to Donna personally, you may contact her at 800-548-9548.

If you have any further questions please feel free to e-mail me.

Sincerely,
"Orvis Representative"
Orvis Customer Service
customerservice@orvis.com

 

[davethetrout]

now what? I want my facts strait when I call...

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

<center>The Orvis 100% Satisfaction Guarantee:</center> For 150 years, we have offered the strongest return policy in the business. We will refund your money on any purchase that isn't 100% satisfactory. Anytime, for any reason. It's that simple."


ANYTIME,FOR ANY REASON......it is their Guarantee. Call Donna..then her Boss...then show up in person with me....they like me over there....I was the guy standing across the street when they gave me that same load of crap...besides the streams here are shaping up very nicely.

GBS

 

[dcabarle]

ANYTIME,FOR ANY REASON......it is their Guarantee. Call Donna..then her Boss...then show up in person with me....they like me over there....I was the guy standing across the street when they gave me that same load of crap...besides the streams here are shaping up very nicely.

GBS

Uhhh... Did you really do that and did they finally comply?!!!

 

[Green Butted Skunk]

Well they didn't give me any alternitive....

Yea..now when I walk in with stuff they don't even look at it...they just exchange no questions. I returned a pair of Henry Fork Wadding boots because I had wore the felt off...4yrs old and I have a new pair.

Got the Tailwaters wadding jacket about 5 or more years ago and when the little black clip to tighten the elastic on the wasteline broke they immediatly replaced the jacket.

I have replaced countless wadders now, I fell for that upgrade thing one time and that was only because I wanted the top model. They offered to replace my Pro Guides at no cost (because of the last time I was there Im sure) but I felt the upgrade was needed. They gave me FULL PRICE on my Pro Guides and I only paid like $100 for the Tailwaters...which leaked after 60 days...which I returned...again...:applaudit

Stick to it Dave!

GBS

 

[theartoflee]

Dave it all boils down to their 100% satisfaction gaurantee...

 

[FiSHON!]

have any of you guys ever thought that 7 years is a long time for a pair of waders. You got your money's worth out of them how about jsut buying a new pair? I mean the gurantee shouldnt be abused. If there was actually a probelm with the waders then I can understand but dont abuse the system.

 

[davethetrout]

When a salesperson sells you a product with a lifetime guarentee, you should be able to beleive them! Sounds to me like you work for them or you have too much money in your pocket. I spent alot on these waders so I could enjoy them for a lifetime. Who are you to decide if my lifetime warrenty is up yet? Abuse the system? you are the cause of people like the reps at Orvis gettin away with this! you would give up and run while I choos to stand and fight,the same morals are country was founded on! Keep leaving negative posts like that and you will just fuel my fire more! I have not yet started this war with Orvis!:judge:

 

[Eagle Claw]

email them this post and ask them if they would like a happy ending or bad advertising.
Bad advertising on sites like this cost them sales and good results sells more waders, sounds like a no brainer to me.

 

[Pete]

have any of you guys ever thought that 7 years is a long time for a pair of waders. You got your money's worth out of them how about jsut buying a new pair? I mean the gurantee shouldnt be abused. If there was actually a probelm with the waders then I can understand but dont abuse the system.

Only 7 years?

I'm in my early 60s. I had a junk pair if hippers as a kid, but I'm on my second pair of waders since I was in my early 20s.

• Hodgeman: Bought in the 1960s. Patched once in the early 1980s (punctured). I don't use them anymore, but as far as I know, they're still servicable.
  
  Red Ball: Bought in the 1980s. Felt soles replaced in 2004. I'm having to reglue the felt more than I'd like, but they've never leaked. Still being used regularly.

When I posted here about replacing the felt, someone suggested that I get a new pair. Considering what some of you are going through with newer high-end stuff, I'm glad I kept them.

I wish I knew what Red Ball used to glue the felt back then, it lasted over 20 years. Now I'm re-glueing every season.

 

[theartoflee]

I have a pair of SIMMS waders that I have used EXTENSIVELY for the past eight maybe nine years. I have had no major leaks with these waders possibly a couple pin hole leaks but nothing worth treating. Dave shouldn’t have to buy new waders after only having the Orvis ones for seven years.

In another life I worked for Orvis and dealt with return for a COUNTLESS amount waders never was their an issue with waders or anything... what it all comes down to is their 100% satisfaction guarantee. Dave should be encountering no problems at all with Orvis what it comes down to is that they do not want to pay to employ a Vietnamese teen to repair his waders because it would cost them too much to pay the juvenile Vietnamese Childs labor. Tell them you are not satisfied because you want them to repair the waders that is all you are looking for... if they cant repair them you will settle for a new pair but would prefer your old pair back repaired. They will always replace the waders rather then pay the labor for the repair which makes me wonder how much does it cost to produce waders in Vietnam or Cambodia.

F_Orvis they suck...

 

[Fly Ty R]

If I'm not mistaken, which I usually am, lifetime warranty means the lifetime of the product, not YOUR lifetime!! 7 years is pretty good anymore for a pair of waders. Some waders only get a year or two of use out of me, but I'm pretty hard on them. They served you well for that long. Orvis was willing to give you 30% off your next wader purchase. I think they are being more than fair. The 100% guarantee in their logo or whatever just means they back their products throughout the standard wear life. Anything over that, and you're SOL.

Food for thought: If you bought a car in 1970 brand new with the 100% lifetime guarantee, and in 2006 go back to the dealer and start complaining that it has fallen apart and demanded a brand new 2007 car for free, does that sound fair for the dealer? Is the useful lifetime of a car 36 years? Not really. The useful life of a car is more like 10 years, if even THAT anymore. You got 36 good years out of the car, be happy, not upset that you didn't get 100 years out of it. :beer:

 

[darthwader]

Orvis Waders

I have to agree with GBS. The Orvis customer service for me has been nothing less than spectacular ! With that being said, do yourself a favor and get two different pairs of waders. I spent the extra money and bought Sims Guide. These are increadible. Five years and NO problems. I also have the Clearwaters. They will last me 4 or 5 outings before they leak. (No, this is not a typo, these waders suck, however, they have given me new waders, no questions asked every time). The only warning I will give you is that you will become very friendly with your local UPS agent if you go this route.

 

[Montauklax]

I know that I would be happy getting 7 tears use of of a pair of waders. I currently wear a pair of Silver Labels and they're just starting to leak from various pinholes and along one seam, after 3 hard years. I called Orvis and they offered to fix it free of charge, I just wouldn't be able to live without my waders for the amount of time they take to repair so I took care of things myself.
As a college student I'm typically strapped for cash but i don't see it being a problem buying waders every 3-4 years. In general I feel that orvis and most fly fishing companies are helpful to their customers needs so for that reason alone I don't have a problem dishing out the money every few years.
If waders leak after a few weeks that one thing, if you've fished them out by hard use it's your problem. At the end of this season I'll be looking into new waders, and I'll be thankful I got a few good years of comfort and durablity for the price of one guided trip. Thumbs up for Orvis here.

 

[theartoflee]

I know that I would be happy getting 7 tears use of of a pair of waders. I currently wear a pair of Silver Labels and they're just starting to leak from various pinholes and along one seam, after 3 hard years. I called Orvis and they offered to fix it free of charge, I just wouldn't be able to live without my waders for the amount of time they take to repair so I took care of things myself.
As a college student I'm typically strapped for cash but i don't see it being a problem buying waders every 3-4 years. In general I feel that orvis and most fly fishing companies are helpful to their customers needs so for that reason alone I don't have a problem dishing out the money every few years.
If waders leak after a few weeks that one thing, if you've fished them out by hard use it's your problem. At the end of this season I'll be looking into new waders, and I'll be thankful I got a few good years of comfort and durablity for the price of one guided trip. Thumbs up for Orvis here.

Montauklax you will learn with age that it becomes more and more difficult to become satisfied or happy... Why should you be happy with getting three years use of your waders when you could get 8 hard years use? It sounds like you have become to complacent... Sure anyone can have good customer service but why doesnt Orvis invest in some research and development rather then pay people to put out fires?

I mentioned before that I have had the same SIMMS waders for about 8 or more years and have never had issues with leaks and have fished all over without gravel guards even fresh and salt. Orvis recently sent me a pair of replacement waders after they couldn’t fix my old waders which were out of warranty... same deal as Dave. To make a long story short I used the orvis waders a month maybe two not heavily fishing and guess what they leak ALREADY. I am not happy because I have had a different experience with my SIMMS waders...

If your last pair of waders lasted 8 years and are still great my question for you is would you still be happy after getting 3 years use? Is Orvis really thumbs up or all thumbs?

 

[Andy B]

Seven years out of a pair of waders is a good deal to me. I went with the new LL Bean West Branch waders last year along with there studded felt boots. I made a very good purchase and enjoy them a ton. Yes I too have a life warrenty with the product as long as I have the receipt for them which I do. If i get 7 to 8 years out of them for the reasonable price I paid I will probably just buy a new pair. This all comes down to the point of your morals. I feel if you paid a ton of money then I might feel obligated to talking with them about a new pair or a good discount on a new pair. In my case if my waders from LL bean leaked in 1 to 3 years then I would let LL Bean replace them. If I truly gotten 7 to 8 years then I would just buy a new pair at LL Beans reasonble price. I also look at the fact of how I treated the product from the get go. I use my waders to the max and play hard in them. So to me a pair of waders that stands up to my abuse and neglect for that amount of time yours did deserves for me to buy another pair from LL Bean. I guess I would like some one on this board define a life time warrenty. I also think about this same topic on my fly rods. It really comes down to circumstances and length of time in my eyes. I am not a big Orvis fan of any of their equipment. I also feel you get what you paid for. I also strongly agree that Orvis is over priced for junk to so so to good products.

Andy B

 

[Shaq]

Look, keep complaining, you'll get new waders. The skunk is right, you want something done at Orvis, you need to walk into the store and tell them they either replace the waders or you have Leon Leonwood Bean's phone number on speed dial and an itchy trigger finger. Call them from the store and talk really loud. NOW YOUR WADERS ARE BACKED BY YOUR LIFETIME GUARENTEE? AND YOU DON"T PLAN ON CHANGING THAT? THANK YOU MR. BEAN I HAVE MY CREDIT CARD RIGHT HERE.

Or, do what I do, " Hello, I'm a NYS Registered Guide and I have sprung a leak in my waders." Oh, sir I will send you a replacement right away:beer:

 

[rford]

Everybody's Orvis Waders Leak, join the club..It's easier this way!

RF

 

[dcabarle]

I have 2 pairs of Simms waders. The first pair are chest waders which I've had now for at least 5 or 6 years, and they leak in one of the feet. I sent them back to Simms once and they fixed them for free but told me that it was a complimentary fix and the next set would cost me. That particular leak was because there was something wrong with the seems. The leak I have now I'm sure is a pin hole in the neoprene booty. WHen I get off the river, my one foot is soaked but it doesn't bother me enough to fix it. I could probably fix it in about 3 minutes with a bicycle tire repair kit.

The second set I use are the Simms guide model. I've had them for at least 4 years and they don't leak at all. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the products.

I've heard that Orvis has the absolute highest return on waders. So high as a matter of fact that they amended their 100% satisfaction guarantee to exclude the waders because they had so many returns that they were losing money on them. Rather than taking that money and investing in better craftsmanship and/or materials, they sell the same crappy waders and when (not if) they break, they offer their customers the 30% off deal. That's just heresay though.

 

[davethetrout]

This situation is looking grim, might just have wet feet for a little while:bawling:
anyway,here is a copy of the email I just received,good or bad? you decide for me because I feel discouraged!


Dear Mr. Johnson,

Thank you for your email.

When you purchased your waders, we published our 4-year wader warranty policy within our printed catalogs, online, and on a hang tag attached to the waders. The warranty information was obtainable and available within the public domain prior to making a decision to purchase. Given that the wader warranty policy was better than some other manufacturers, this became a positive factor for some of our customer's purchase decisions.

Your waders do come with a 100% guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship. Such defects would become apparent in a short manner of time.

Waders are a commodity. They are a product that performs a service over a period of time. Tires are also a commodity as they exist to perform a function over a period of time. Products of this type are used in a dynamic manner in which cumulative wear and tear and possibly damage results. This is why this product was supplied with a pro-rated warranty.

On my way to a meeting earlier today, I was forced to make a panic stop as a driver pulled in front of me and stopped at a green light. 2 tires were damaged as a result of the use of the panic stop to a point where they require replacement. These tires also have 30,000 miles on them and already had visible wear. Whether through normal use, light use, or unusually heavy use, the pro-rated tire warranty remains the same---whether they wear more quickly or less quickly as a function of their use. As a result of having to depend on my tires to do their job today, the overall life and "effective work product" of the tires was diminished from their original state. At some point in their product life, the waders will wear out through use. They cannot be made to last forever.

We feel that our offer that Ms. Jarman and Mr. Hendrick made to extend a 30% discount and free shipping, if you like to purchase a new pair of waders, is a fair offer.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you,
"Orvis Representative"
Orvis Customer Service
customerservice@orvis.com
1-888-235-9763

 

[mtk024]

F that guy. What a bunch of BS! Tires and waders are like apples and oranges. Besides, I would bet that it is a stock reply anyway; there is NO WAY that his tire story actually happened today (if it happened at all). That makes me feel even more like telling you to pull a GBS (great story) and head up to the Orvis store, which is probably what I would do.

But, there is another way to look at this situation. I saw the movie "A Bronx Tale" recently and this remind me of the part where C wants to beat up another kid for owing him $20. Sonny asks him if he even likes the kid and he says no, so Sonny tells him to look at it as getting a kid he doesn't like out of his life forever for $20.

The point is: Do you even want another pair of Orvis waders? Everyone seems to agree that they suck. If they leak every few months, you will have to go through this hassle a few times year AND have to buy new waders anyway for when the Orvis ones are constantly being repaired. So, in the end, you get no benefit out of them at all.

I understand the whole principle argument b/c I can't stand companies that make "guaranties" and reap the benefits of them only to not follow through in the end (and as far as that goes, though their waders may be a little overpriced, which is why I haven't ever bought them, I have found Patagonia to be a company that will take anything back at any time in any condition and extremely easy to deal with for other outdoor products). You could call it even w/ 7 years out of the waders knowing that nobody who reads this site will buy from Orvis again, so that is your way of getting even with them. If you really want replacement waders from Orvis, I would get the store where you bought them involved (if you bought them from a retail shop) b/c they deal w/ Orvis on a larger level so they would have more weight than a single person. Orvis would be much more worried about a whole store that carries there products being ****ed off at them than one guy.

Good luck! And by the way, let me know when you are fishing the D and I'lll meet up w/ you, or we can cast off my dock in Titusville - caught a nice smallie and a couple of tiny stripers (<6 in) the other day and then had a nice swim to cool off. Wylie - I hope that isn't your back in that avitar - Ween Rules! Chris Harford shows coming up soon. Let me know...

 

[Scott]

The Simms wader warranty: (copied from their website)

At Simms, we stand behind everything we make. If your Simms product fails due to workmanship or material defect during the life of the product, please return it to us for repair or replacement. This warranty does not cover damages caused by improper care, accidents or the natural breakdown of materials over extended use and time. All defective or damaged products should be returned to Simms for evaluation and will be repaired or replaced at the discretion of Simms Fishing Products.

What does this mean for waders?

Workmanship & Materials are Guaranteed for the Life of the Product. If a Simms wader fails due to workmanship or material defect during the life of the product, please return it to us for repair or replacement. All defective or damaged waders should be returned to Simms for evaluation and will be repaired, replaced or returned at the sole discretion of Simms Fishing Products. This warranty does not cover damages caused by improper care, accidents or the natural breakdown of materials over extended use and time.

30 Day “Across the Counter” Wader Exchange. If, within 30 days of the purchase date, you are unhappy with a Simms wader, bring it back to the dealer you bought it from. Present your sales receipt, and we will replace it, no questions asked.

The First Repair Is On Us. At Simms, we stand behind everything we make. But, from time to time, we all take a tumble in the pursuit of fish. If you accidentally damage your Simms wader during the first year that you own it, the first repair is on us. Simply ship us the wader, along with a copy of your receipt, and we will repair it and ship it back to you.

Further, we will only charge you our actual cost for any additional repairs that you may need during the life of your wader. Our Repair Department is not a profit center. Simply bring the wader to your dealer or contact Simms’ Customer Service for a Return Authorization. Then, ship the wader to us with a note describing the problem and someone from our Customer Service Team will promptly contact you with a repair estimate. Once we receive your approval we will repair your waders and ship them back to you.

NOTE: bold highlights are mine

Sounds fair to me! I am very happy with my Simms waders, trouble & leak free for years.

 

[davethetrout]

I just sent this email, lets see what the response is..

Broke down and called my ex wife to find out exactly when I bought these waders you wont repair or replace. She and I agreed that I they were purchased in the summer of 2003. I was wrong in saying 7 yrs when in fact its only been 5. The waders are in great shape and were only used a couple times a year and kept in climate controlled area. The only problem with them is that after a few hours on the water my feet are wet. theres not a puddle in them or anything and my pants arent wet. Just my feet. The thread on the east coasts largest fly fishing website is getting alot of attention and the people dont like the emails Ive received and posted copies of. I know there is a solution to this issue and its not the old 30% off gig your trying to push on me. 1000`s of people get satisfaction from your company by returning waders and paying a small fee or free. I have never returned a thing to Orvis ever and spent 1000`s easily between the clothes and fishing gear I own. I suggest you rethink your offer and try again because 1000`s of people want to see me happy at this point. Look for yourself and decide if you really want to lose this many customers over a pair of waders that cost your compant pennies on the dollar to produce! Dave Johnson

http://www.njflyfishing.com/vBullet...erything-else/t4969-my-orvis-waders-leak.html

 

[F this guy]

Waders

You are absolutely ridiculous. People like you are what drives up prices to the rest of us who are not always trying to get something for free. Then on top of that you waste other peoples time by creating drama over your waders. Get a life. In my opinion the only mistake on Orvis's part is that they should just give you your money back and be done with you.

Anonymous user originates from the following:

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