Bass Pro Shops....like or dislike?

[Mark_Chaussee]

Wondering if anyone else has had bad experiences with Bass Pro Shops reels? I purchased a couple of reels (Bassmasters Professional Baitcasters) for about $120/each and both have had identical catastrophic failures rendering them useless. Customer service was also useless which is why I'm posting this message. Yah I know, for $120 I should have bought Curado's. This is my last Bass Pro Shops purchase, thats for sure!

[strpline]

I had an order get lost and customer service was useless.They told me to wait 10 days and call back,it had already been 14 days,I told them to keep the order and have not ordered from them since.

[Mark_Chaussee]

I have had great luck with Cabelas products. I recently had a rod tip fall off one of my Cabelas rods. I called and they shipped a new rod the same day without any questions before I even shipped the broken rod back. Now thats customer service!

[Paul W]

I've always thought the Bassmaster reels were kind of nice. My friend bought the cheaper low profile Bassmaster (the one thats $100) and really likes it. He hasnt used it a whole bunch of times, but so far so good. I tested the spool on one once and it spins for a VERY long time....longer that most other reels infact. The more expensive low pro baitcaster is what sounds like you have. It is basically a rebadged Pflueger President, which are great reels. I'm really suprised to hear about your problems.....what exactly happened to them, and HOW did it occur? Thats what I wanna know.

Paul W

[RogerB]

I've been dealing with Bass Pro Shops successfully for several decades. I've never had anything but complete satisfaction with their products or customer service.
Recently, two of their Extreme series rods broke during casting motions, were returned, and promptly replaced at no cost. The replacements have performed without problems.
Even their lowest-end spinning reels performed very admirably for several years before the bail springs finally gave out. That can happen on much more expensive spinning reels.

Bottom line: I will remain a faithful customer of BPS. Living in Monterey, CA, where there are very few stores selling useful bass fishing tackle, I find the availability of BPS, Cabela's, Barlow's Tackle, Jann's Netcraft, and now sponsors of this board like Tackle Warehouse and AC ProShop, gives me excellent choices for tackle shopping. I have been especially pleased with the service and products offered by Tackle Warehouse and ACProShop, since they offer many products not in the BPS or Cabela's on-line stores or catalogs.

[Chucknbass]

I have had great service from BPS. I have spent thousands of dollars with them over the years.

I bought my son one of their BPS brand reels for Christmas one year. Over a year later he told me the reel had broken the first or second time he used it. I contacted BPS and they gave us a full refund. We then bought the Curado.

Chk

[Multispecies]

I have had issues with Bass Pro Shops, a 100.00 house brand reel that started having problems after the first couple trips. I also in the last couple years have had numerous back orders. Also got in a pissing match with them several years ago when I ordered a trolling motor from them that never came. They sent a second one but by then so much time had gone by that I had purchased one locally. Went I called to return it they pretty much put me through the inquisition and inferred that I recieved the first one. I pretty much go through Cabela's now and I think much of their house brand merchandise is higher quality than BPS. I agree that acproshop is a great source for hard to find items and have great service and follow through. I have had good luck with tackle warehouse also.
Dylan

[Mark Langner]

Hi Mark...long time no see. Just wanted to comment on BPS. I've really had nothing but good experiences with them. They've been helpful when I cancel a back order, or make an order change. And while they really can't answer product questions over the phone very well (let's face it, they are an online order group answering the phone to take orders), they've bent over backwards to help me. I've never had a bad experience ordering from them.

That being said, a couple of years ago I found out about Walton's Pond in San Leandro and started shopping there. The shop owner Jon is nothing but a vault of knowlege that he freely gives. He's helped me select rods, given me the "christmas special" when it's been February, given me the "volume" discount when I bought a dozen (or whatever) packs of senkos, told me how to fish, where to fish, how to clean my reels, and so on and so on. While I may sometimes be able to get a specific lure at BPS a tad cheaper ("maybe" after postage and soon to be california tax), I really think in the long run I've spent no more buying from Walton's, and perhaps the same or less....and.....I've gained all the knowledge and incredible customer service he has to offer (this guy will special order any day, any time, and will ship if need be).

I know you were really asking about a specific reel, just wanted to throw this out there for ya. I basically buy 90 percent of my stuff from Walton's now.

Tight lines...see ya on the water.

Mark

[rmcollins3]

I've had great experiences with ordering from them via the internet.

But I also like landbigfish.com and tacklewearhouse.com as well.

[photon]

I've bought 3 different types of BPS branded reels. The baitcasters both have problems. One has a weak frame that flexes under load, like a hookset, which causes the pinion gear to slip on the spool catch......can't fix it even with replacement parts. They don't sell this one anymore.

The second casts fine, but after about a year the gears feel much rougher than when new. I still use it, but it doesn't feel good anymore. I think it's the anti-reverse bearing that is shot, but haven't really dug into it much. Cleaning/lubing didn't help.

The spinning reel has worked OK, but not as well as a shimano or a diawa.

For everything else I've purchased, I've had no problems, or with returns on broken rods etc, they have been fine to deal with.

[Whoopbass]

I hear alot of complaints about BPS on other forums. I've always had good experiences with them but I don't order that much.
Same with Cabelas. Cabelas tackle selection sucks. I think BPS has the copy cat market cornered.

You think customer service is bad now?
I hear beginning of next year BPS and Cabelas are moving their call centers to INDIA.

[HawgCatcher]

I have dealing with Bass Pro for some time now and I haven't had a problem with them. For example I had ordered 3 rods from them and when they were delivered they came in 3 different rod tubes. One of the tubes was empty. I called Bass Pro and told them what happened, and with no questions asked shipped out another rod 2-day air at no extra charged. I think that's pretty good customer service. Just my 2-cents.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

It is fairly obvious, when you are dealing with a dealer as large as BPS some will have great experiences while others are not so fortunate..I am sure that some shoppers with Cabellas have had the same basic experiences both good and bad..I think it just goes with the territory..From my own experience I have found that when dealing with anyone over the phone or through the mail can often lead to unpleasant events..Your particular experience so often just depends on which service rep you are put in contact with..Keep in mind they too are human and may be having a bad day..I know they aren't supposed to take it out on you or any other customer, but sometimes chip happens..Both stores carry good merchandise and both carry some that is not as high quality as some of the big name brands..You are always going to be taking a chance with any mail order purchase..

mac

[Phil]

MARK, SEND ME YOUR REELS I WILL SEE IF I CAN REPAIR THEM FOR YOU , REASONABLE ???

JIGS

[Hitman]

I wouldn't buy another one. First and only one I bought failed 2nd time out. I had a spinning reel that had internal gears strip-out. Never again.

Hitman