Broken Waves II

J-sews · **on:** October 05, 2008, 02:17:39 AM

While browsing the Cabelas Bargain Cave in Scarborough, Maine last month with Def and Hawkchucker, we noticed a whole clump of Leathermans in the glass show case. Being it was the world famous Bargain Cave and all, we expected to find some great deals on slightly-used tools.

(The Bargain Cave is where Cabelas sells off their customer returns, or slightly damaged goods, often times at a considerable discount. The buyer must beware however.....)

A clump of Leathermans

The Leathermans turned out to be mostly Waves and New Waves, with a Surge thrown in for good measure. There were about ten tools altogether. Hoping for cut rate pricing, we were a bit disappointed to see the asking prices were not much lower than that of brand new models. $:-\$

$50 for used Waves ain't so bad if they're in good shape, but.....

Even more disappointing was the horrible condition of these tools.

Most were sloppy and loose as a goose, with blades that flopped out at the speed of gravity.

Tip downwards to open blades, tip upwards to close them.

Plier pivot action wasn't much better. These babies had been used HARD in a previous life. But that wasn't the half of it:

note engraving

broken pliers

hmmmm, something isn't quite right here.....

These tools were all pretty much junk! Why would they even be out here in the counter for sale? And where do they get off asking almost-new prices for them?

this one looks okay.....

....ugh, on second thought I'll pass on it

We ended up not buying a single one of course, but we did offer the clerk behind the counter a few words of advice.

Bob

jzmtl · **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2008, 02:32:40 AM

I'm suprised they would even take these back.

Sea Monster · **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2008, 02:58:03 AM

Quote

I'm surprised they would even take these back.

Replacing a Wave for a customer: around $50 (minus any profit you made from to original sale)
Employing someone to inspect returns & argue with the customer: around $25 per hour, plus assorted employment costs.

There's also a good chance that all replacements come out of Leatherman's pocket, not Cabelas, so even more reason to just give the idiot a new tool, and then if Cabelas can flog the old one for a few bucks, all the better.

RenHoek · **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:05:28 AM

Cabela's (and their competitor Bass Pro Shop) seem to have a pretty lenient return policy. We've got both stores here in town (Kansas City). I've seen duck hunting waders in the "Bargain Cave" that appeared to be used for several years, faded, caked with mud, and returned as "not satisfied".

I've NEVER found a bargain in the cave... just junk like this - 90% full price, with 10% of the original value left.

-RenHoek

Sea Monster · **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:08:46 AM

But...It's the Bargain Cave!

It Chock full of Bargains.

Why would they call it that if it wasn't?

I have a love-hate relationship with Second hand stores.
I love to hope that I'll find some nice item at a fair price.
I hate to discover most of it is smurfe, and the price gun guy is incredibly optimistic about any given item's value.

("These are like, 20 bucks more new!"
"Yes, I know that jackass, but this one isn't new is it? It's used, you have not even cleaned it before putting it on the shelf, and if I find out it has hidden damage or faults, you have a no return policy. so either find me a manager who is allowed to negotiate on price, or cram it")

Anthony · **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:09:35 AM

If the prices were rock bottom (like $5-$10) they might sell a few to modders or folks who would spend another few bucks to send them back to Leatherman...but $50+ bucks? No way!

DaveK · **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:11:49 AM

Bizarre. I can't believe that anyone would pay those prices for broken tools

Did you check out what was in the Camo sheath in the first picture Bob?

Leatherman123 · **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:22:58 AM

That's crazy! I still haven't been to Cabelas yet.. I am going to try and go real soon!

Poncho65 · **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2008, 04:35:23 AM

That's ludacris can't believe that they would even have the nerve to put a price like that on it

but that's how the world turns most of the time $:-\$

AndyTiedye · **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2008, 07:40:53 AM

Prices like that for used junk and they won't even negotiate?
Let it RUST in their "bargain" case then!

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2008, 09:23:03 AM

That's just plain stupid

, who it there right mind would pay good money for crap

Freudian Frog · **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2008, 10:27:08 AM

That's one of my largest peeves...

Sale, clearance, used, or abused items with no real visible markdown. >=(

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2008, 03:22:17 PM

Don't forget the busted ALX that they had listed as a TTi, and slightly discounted from the TTi's price, which was higher than a brand new ALX....

And of course the clerk giving us the "not my job" speech when we pointed it out to her.

Def

I'm Still Bison · **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2008, 04:52:12 PM

Was it possible that you got there after the bargain hunters got there and picked over the lot?

duckman1975 · **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2008, 06:43:54 PM

The price is just plain unfair, ya have to buy 2 just so you can take it apart and create one good one. The least they could do is half the price!

AndyTiedye · **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2008, 08:48:40 PM

Quote from: Defender on October 05, 2008, 03:22:17 PM

Don't forget the busted ALX that they had listed as a TTi, and slightly discounted from the TTi's price, which was higher than a brand new ALX....

Yikes! I hope the mailorder side of their house isn't equally sloppy. I was thinking of ordering from them.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2008, 10:00:32 PM

They were fine if you were looking at new items- it was just the Bargain Cave that was somewhat messed up.

Def

DaveK · **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2008, 10:05:55 PM

Andy - I bought my Camo Charge XTi from Cabela's website and I'm sure it was labeled "Bargain Cave", but it was also listed as new (and was).

I'm genuinely shocked at those pics - in what possible sense of the word can those tools be considered bargains?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2008, 10:14:07 PM

It's funny- you could assume that we've painted a horrible picture of Cabela's by picking the worst of them, but the reality is, they only had 6-8 multis in there, total, and one was one of those cheapo LED ones that you usually get free when buying a cheap fishing pole on the special TV offers. The rest were all broken Waves, the mislabeled broken Charge or the busted Surge.

Def

Sea Monster · **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2008, 11:11:26 PM

Quote

It's funny- you could assume that we've painted a horrible picture of Cabela's by picking the worst of them

We love to hate.

Dtrain · **Reply #20 on:** October 06, 2008, 12:39:18 AM

Hmmmmm... Did anyone see any SwissTools there?

Sorry I could not resist a sneak attack at the Leatherman crowd. You know I kind of feel pretty good about myself when many years agao I trashed my Original SuperTool. I knew that it was my fault and disposed of it properly instead of returning it. it had been fixed once before and felt that this time it was me.

Dtrain

J-sews · **Reply #21 on:** October 06, 2008, 12:53:33 AM

Quote from: Defender on October 05, 2008, 10:14:07 PM

It's funny- you could assume that we've painted a horrible picture of Cabela's by picking the worst of them, but the reality is, they only had 6-8 multis in there, total, and one was one of those cheapo LED ones that you usually get free when buying a cheap fishing pole on the special TV offers. The rest were all broken Waves, the mislabeled broken Charge or the busted Surge.

Def

Ooooh, yeah, this thread was by no means a hack at Cabelas. Sorry if that's the impression I gave you folks. I've bought plenty of stuff from them - at their retail stores and through the mail - with nary a bad experience.

In the the Bargain Cave however, I believe it's a case of young inexperienced clerks not recognizing when something should be discounted and put out for sale, and when it should be thrown in the trash bin. Like Bison56 suggested above, this was probably an accumulation of the very worst examples. The better condition tools of course probably get bought up right away, leaving only the junk to accumulate. Who knows how long they let it build up before "cleaning house"?

I'm Still Bison · **Reply #22 on:** October 06, 2008, 02:54:15 AM

I got to thinking since earlier..why couldn't companies like Cabela's ship the junk broken tools back the manufacturer for a rebuild,refurb? Mark the re-builds appropriately,and distribute them to cash strapped agencies like volunteer fire depts.Pro bono work generates a lot of good will.

hawkchucker · **Reply #23 on:** October 06, 2008, 03:02:16 AM

Hey they did have the big old spotlight really cheap, and that went really quick. Unfortunatly you really do have to pick through the bargain cave to find the really good stuff.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #24 on:** October 06, 2008, 03:24:23 AM

The manufacturers usually don't accept warranty repairs from dealers... or at least that's what I understand to be the case.

Def

getpower · **Reply #25 on:** October 06, 2008, 07:34:22 AM

How come it wouldnt have been a good deal for you guys to buy the tools and have some warranty work done by sending them to leatherman?

You know that you are allowed to haggle with retail stores right?

Just offer them something like $100 for the whole lot of Waves or whatever and if they bite, send them to leatherman and then when they return new, sell them on ebay.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #26 on:** October 06, 2008, 12:59:13 PM

Actually, the lady behind the counter said she had no control over pricing, so haggling was out. Plus, it's really kind of dishonest and an abuse of Leatherman's warranty policy to buy broken tools and have them replaced like that.

Victorinox had that problem with lots of eBay dealers doing that and now charge a small fee for warranty work in the US. I'd hate to have that happen with Leatherman too.

Def

american lockpicker · **Reply #27 on:** October 20, 2008, 06:45:21 AM

I went to the Bargin Cave in Wheeling, WV and I didn't see any broken Waves but I did see a Older Leatherman, I think it was a PST but it didn't say on the handle, in a wooden display case and the Leatherman was polished and had gold engraving it was $55. I would have bought it if I had the money.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #28 on:** October 20, 2008, 05:32:56 PM

Sounds like one of the limited edition Cabela's Anniversary PST's... we had a thread about it some time ago. I'm guessing that the phone lines at that Cabela's are backed up now from a few members here calling them to get it for $55!

Def

american lockpicker · **Reply #29 on:** October 20, 2008, 06:47:55 PM

So I take it that was a good price and I should have got it then.

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Broken Waves II

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