(I was initially) frustrated With Bear Archery, update page 5

[ScottL]

I don't see any problem with this gentleman expressing himself and how he felt at the time this occurred. He even posted updates on how the Bear reps are going to take care of him. If a person is going to look at only the first part of this thread when doing research for a Bear product, then that person would probably be one to complain about some minor detail anyway. When you click on the thread, it says there is an update on page 5, so it is not like you have to look very deep to find the final outcome. As far as Big Jims is concerned, I have never spoken to him or his staff on the phone. I have never needed to. Every time I order arrows, they come in just the way I ordered them and I have zero complaints. Other than the fact that I always have him cut them about 2-3 inches too short. You would think I would learn. My fiancé doesn't mind, because she always gets my short arrows. She also doesn't have any complaints about the quality of the shafts.

[Gator1]

Originally posted by David Mitchell:
Well, I am still waiting for a replacement bow from Bear for one that had the finish go to pot three weeks after buying it new this year. (The customer service rep told me the new one might do the same thing!) The wait is now four months since I returned the bow after receiving return authorization from Bear.

   

[David Mitchell]

Still waiting for the replacement for a defective bow the factory said was being made right when I checked on it the last time which is now over a month ago.            :(

[stujay]

X2 what Roger Norris said!
plus what motherlode opined.

[jeff w]

Seems like a double standard regarding bows and who makes them.   Last week there was a thread about the finish chipping off of a custom bow--no mention of the bowyer.  I ask who made the bow but I believe the thread was deleted (?).  There have been other threads regarding problems with custom bows, but always a reluctance to be too quick to call them by name.
      Maybe its because Bear also makes compounds?  Is considered a large company?  Or maybe there is not a specific face/name with who made the bow.   Regardless, I hate to see disputes aired out over the internet, especially when not enough time has been given for the bowyer to make things right.   As a former small-business owner I can agree with Big Jim concerning trying to please customers-sometimes you do everything you can to please people, all the while knowing you are getting taken.

[David Mitchell]

OK, I'm still waiting for the replacement bow from Bear for a defective model I returned on September 27.  The first week of January I was told that the bow was being made right then and should ship within three weeks.  Nothing yet.  As the original poster started out this post, I am frustrated (still) with Bear Archery.

[Stickbow]

WOW! You are patient

[David Mitchell]

Well, what else is there to do but wait?     :confused:     The customer service guy has been very patient with my inquiries and said he wished he could just make the bow for me but there isn't much he can do either but contact the factory which he does when I contact him about a status report--often the same day or always he gets back to me by the next day--they give him some song and dance about how it's just about ready to ship, yada, yada, and he forwards that report to me.  Needless to say it is very frustrating and will certainly influence my decisions about future purchases.

Jeff, in regards to the double standard issue raised, that is a valid point to an extent, but I believe I have given it more then an enough time, and If I were dealing with a "custom" bowyer, I would expect no more or less in terms of customer service and would feel that others might be interested to know of poor customer response.

[Zradix]

I agree with ya David.
It is more personal with one of our smaller bowyers when all they make for a living is custom bows though.

I do think there is a double standard to some extent between a large company and a one man show.

I'd bet you'd have better service from the smaller guy in this respect.

I truly hope for a quick resolution for you buddy.
...at this point I'd maybe contemplate asking for a refund and spend my money elsewhere....

[David Mitchell]

I don't know but part of the problem may be that customer service is in Indiana (Escalade Sports) and the factory is in Florida. If in the same place I would bet the customer service guy could walk back in the plant and find out more and maybe even get faster results.  If that had been my only bow you can bet I would be more impatient. I would hate to go five months with no bow!   :eek:  Guess I am getting really worn down with cabin fever right now and getting my hands on that bow might mitigate it some.

[Zradix]

I can feel your pain bud.
Can you call Florida and talk with anyone?...tell them your story..maybe get a production manager on the line or something?

What is Escalade Sports? Do they own Bear now?
...just one of their distributers?...I truly don't know.

Not to be devil's advocate but....
Maybe the rep at Escalade Sports isn't really doing anything for you? Wouldn't be the first time a cust. serv. rep totally blew off a call without doing anything....just sayin..

[David Mitchell]

Escalade Sports owns Bear Archery.  It is just one of their multitude of sporting goods lines.  They are not primarily an archery company--in fact, anything but.  Table tennis, bowling, darts, you name it.  I don't even know how much their customer service people know about archery. I'm not sure how to get in touch with anybody at Bear other than customer service.

[Zradix]

try this...


Bear Archery
4600 Southwest 41st Boulevard
Gainesville, FL 32608
(352) 376-2327

[Zradix]

I'll bet the people in that building will care a little more...
..if they're authorized to do anything may be something entirely different..

See if you can get a hold of Grant Neil Byce III Bear Archery’s operations manager (Neil). He seems like a good guy...not positive if he's in Gainesville or not though...most likely though.

[David Mitchell]

Thanks much!  

[David Mitchell]

OK, I can't leave my above posts without final closure.  My replacement bow came today.  It is a beauty--a Super Kodiak in the reddish brown and black dymondwood.  It shoots as well as any custom I have had.  Workmanship is excellent and three days ago I received a call from a guy at Bear telling me the bow had shipped.  The work order had stipulated that Mr. Byce was to inspect the bow before being sent but that due to no fault of his the shipping dept. had boxed and sent it to me.  He gave me his name and number and said to call him when the bow arrived if I had any issue.  No issues!

I will say that Bear did a fine job on this bow--a beauty in looks and performance.  I did become impatient with the five month wait since it is what many call a "production" bow and I figured it should not take that long.  But production or not, it rates with the best I have had.  

So Thank You Bear Archery!            

[Zradix]