My Orvis Silver label waders are so old I'm not sure how old. The first year I had them I thought they leaked (it was just condensation caused by double layer knees). I was in Glens Falls NY so took a drive over to Orvis in Manchester, told them I thought my waders leaked...guy goes into the back room comes out with a new pair tosses them to me and says better luck with these ones...no hassle whatsoever.
Flash forward about 5 years I'm in Jone's in LP looking at Pro Guides. When the guy hears I have SL's he says just pay the difference between PG's and SL's. He'll file the SL's under warranty! Funny I didn't take him up on it. I liked the fit and feel of my "broken" in SL's.
I broke a Orvis SL rod in a car door once. Sent it back to Orvis and within a couple weeks they sent me a brand new Power Matrix with an apology. The PM was a better rod than the SL but they didn't make the SL anymore so they replaced it with the next rod up in there lineup.
Unbelievable customer service! Sorry to hear they've gone downhill.
Waders...
Ganman,
I wonder if US based Orvis dealers are treated better by Head Office than their Canadian counterparts. Maybe they get a better deal due to not having to deal with customs.
Personally, I've never had any problems with Orvis - Green Drake in Ottawa. Any time I've had warranty issues, they were dealt with on the spot. As well, my Silver Label waders have been great. I've got 5 years from each pair with leaks only in the neoprene feet.
I know many of you want to buy upscale waders, but if they always leak, why pay all that money?
I wonder if US based Orvis dealers are treated better by Head Office than their Canadian counterparts. Maybe they get a better deal due to not having to deal with customs.
Personally, I've never had any problems with Orvis - Green Drake in Ottawa. Any time I've had warranty issues, they were dealt with on the spot. As well, my Silver Label waders have been great. I've got 5 years from each pair with leaks only in the neoprene feet.
I know many of you want to buy upscale waders, but if they always leak, why pay all that money?
Time's fun when you're having flies.
Funny you should ask that because I bought both products at Green Drake. I first took both to GD before going/sending them to Orvis. Both times they were kinda unsure about things. Sort of like.....don't know when you'll get them back or how much it'll cost which I understand, they're the middleman so I went to Orvis directly..why not they make the policies. No sense putting a guy who has little control between you and Orvis when you don't have to.
Should have said phoned GD not took them in. I wouldn't have committed to giving away a free pair of waders over the phone either that I wasn't even sure were leaking.
I live 1.5 hrs from Ottawa. Whereas I have a box on the US side 15 minutes away. I rarely go to Ottawa and in season I was in the US 2-3 times a week. In the case of the rod....which they no longer made I didn't want to waste a trip. With the waders I was within 50 miles and was going anyway and happened to be in the area fishing with my waders.......which did I mention turned out not to be leaking.
Sorry did not intend for my post to be a slur on Green Drake who are great guys and I'm sure the outcome would have been the same.
I live 1.5 hrs from Ottawa. Whereas I have a box on the US side 15 minutes away. I rarely go to Ottawa and in season I was in the US 2-3 times a week. In the case of the rod....which they no longer made I didn't want to waste a trip. With the waders I was within 50 miles and was going anyway and happened to be in the area fishing with my waders.......which did I mention turned out not to be leaking.
Sorry did not intend for my post to be a slur on Green Drake who are great guys and I'm sure the outcome would have been the same.