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FOLLOW UP TO DAVE’S EMAIL AND A NEW SUBJECT ALSO BASED UPON A NON-FUNCTIONING GORE-TEX PRODUCT

Jerry,

I got one season out of the Gore-Tex and water started to come thru during the second. Hunting the first week in December in MA means cooler weather with snow/rain mix or just heavy rain. When I queried (big box store) I was told that Gore-Tex is not waterproof, but water resistant and it is not breathable if the exterior is wet.

Thanks for Responding to my e-mail. I’ve only recently been receiving your News & Commentary that I enjoy the reading. I will be ordering in the future, Thanks again!

Dave G, NH

Mr W,

I recently had the "waterproof" gore tex lining peel away from my rain pants, after only wearing them a half dozen times over a year. I purchased them at REI, and brought them back for what I anticipated would be an easy warranty replacement. Well, apparently REI no longer has their famous satisfaction warranty, and they told me I am out of luck, sorry! I guess they have so many sales; they just don't care if they lose a few customers along the way.

B P

When I received Dave’s second email I was surprised by what this “big box” store employee told him. So a seller of Gore-Tex garments has knowledge of what works or in the case of Gore-Tex garments what doesn’t work. His comment also supports what I have said about Gore-Tex waders, if there is water on the outside of the waders as in standing in a lake up to your crotch perspiration will not get out of the waders.

I suspect there are numerous employees of these retail outlets big and small that know the Gore-Tex products don not work, sometimes they will tell customers and sometimes not.

Now to address BP’s email. The reason the lining peeled away was because the lamination was less than adequate. So much for the product made with Gore-Tex.

The REI policy change has to do with an abundance of returns and why, in my opinion poor quality product being sold in general. I can speak specifically about sleeping bags in depth.

When I started Wiggy’s I solicited REI and the assistant camping buyer spoke about knowing of Lamilite which surprised me. Prior to joining REI he was employed at a company in Denver no longer in business; Forrest Mountaineering. Bill Forrest was a user of Lamilite for his line of booties. Hence this fellow was knowledgeable of Lamilite insulation and that it was a very good product. As per the conversation he requested a bag to look at and asked if I could laminate his fabric so he could make samples. All sounded good to me. After a week or two of not getting any material I called and called and called because he was not returning them.

I found out who his boss was, Jerry Watt the senior buyer. I explained to Jerry what had transpired and he said he would check into the situation. The next day he called me and was as emphatic as one could be saying REI “would never sell a sleeping bag that looked like mine!” I said send back my sample and let me know the cost. The next day it showed up via Federal Express overnight at their expense.

Years later they chose to carry the Mountain Hardwear Lamina bags a very poor knock off of mine. So much for never selling a bag that looked like mine.

About 4 years ago a customer of many Wiggy products was working part time at an REI in Tennessee I believe and he called me asking about REI carrying Wiggy’s. I told him I did try but was not successful obviously. He told me the sleeping bag return rate was in his observation about 40 percent of what was sold.

At that time I asked a very old friend with years of experience in the outdoor industry, he put Polar Guard on the market, the original continuous filament fiber that I originally used for Lamilite, he also developed Polartec. He sold millions of yards to REI over the early years of the product and knew everybody there. I asked if he would show my bags to REI as a made in America product on a private label basis. One of the camping buyers was interested so he ordered a bag. I told my friend to let the buyer know that I would take back any bags returned to them and replace it in their inventory so REI does not lose any money on a returned bag. Bottom line they turned me down. I asked the buyer to send back the sample but he instead paid for it. The still haven’t figured out how to copy me.

REI in my opinion sells very poor quality products for the most part and the returns were so high that the accounting department probably dictated that the generous return policy had to end. Hence what BP experienced. I am quite sure he was not the first to be told this and will certainly not be the last. REI today is not what they were in the past.

My observation of the industry is let’s look at the bottom line only. Let’s open as many stores as we can,there are cities that will build stores and give tax breaks so Cabela’s, Dicks, Bass Pro, Bean and who knows how many others including REI opening stores and their suppliers also contribute’; I know because when I did sell Cabela’s they wanted me to contribute a percentage of what they bought from me the previous year. The suppliers will not take anything back so the consumer is stuck.

Every big box store is a drug store, selling every product they can get their hands on. When I have been called I ask “why do you need me when you have all the other brands” the say because “we heard you have a good bag.” I obviously agree with them. However, in order for me to sell to you I tell them, you must get rid of the other brands because your floor people will not tell the potential buyer my bag is the best, only here are the bags to choose from.

Once again lack of honesty and integrity is observed. This is what young people are presented as examples to follow.