In mid Feb, I recieved by mail a gift certificate from Cabela's, with their catalogue. This gift certificate was purchased by the company I work for because I earned safety points in a safety 'benefit' program with them.
After looking through the Cabela catalogue I settled on purchasing some goose down underwear with my certificate. It's pictured and described on page 325 of the "Spring 2003 catalogue." [The only goose down underwear shown in the entire catalogue]. I then went online to Cabela's, www.cabelas.com to purchase the item.
This is the exact wording of the Spring 2003 Catalogue ad on page 325:
Cabela's
Goose Down Underwear
If you enjoy the natural insulating power of down, but think it's out of your price range, then this limited time offer should change your mind. We made a special buy on a limited supply of this Goose Down Underwear and we're offering it at the lowest price you'll find anywhere. The Cabela's Premier Northern Goose Down is guaranteed to loft to 550-cu.-in-per-oz. More loft translates to more space for warm air to be trapped in.
This trapped air creates a comfortable micro-climate around your body that is impenatrable to outside air. For extra warmth retention we added a knit collar and lycra cuffs to the top. The five-snap placket lets you close up the top for total thermal protection orr open it for ventilation when needed. The drawers also boast long knit cuffs that stay tucked into boots and socks and a zippered fly. The outer shell is constructed of rugged, soft touch nylon that repels moisture and feels comfortable and warm against the skin. Imported. [Top Sizes comment Snipped],
Drawer Sizes S (28-30), M (32-34), L (36-38), etc., Reg. AD-921857 - Reg $49.95.. NOW $29.95
[Please note these are the only Goose Down Underwear to be found in the entire Cabela Spring 2003 Catalogue]
Please also note that, At Cabela's website, and using their "keyword" search engine, there was no goose down underwear of "any kind, " to be found. I wrote to Cabela's via email pointing out that I'd found a product in their catalogue that I wanted to purchase, but could not find it at their website, so that I could do so. I recieved this explanation via email:
Hello,
The reason they do not show on hand is that they are now out of stock, and not available for back order. We do still have the ones shown at this link.
If you have further questions or comments feel free to chat with us live ("Cabela's Live" located at the bottom of our website pages), or e-mail. Thank you for visiting www.cabelas.com.
Sincerely,
Mike
[Please note once more, in a previous keyword search at Cabela's using the words "goose, " "down, " "underwear, " "goosedown, " and/or any other combination of these keywords, produced no link to any item of goose down underwear at Cabela's website, nor including the link supplied by Cabela's personnel's return email above]
I have saved an exact a copy of the link provided me in the Cabela email to file, I only wish I could upload it to the badbusinessburea.com website so I could show you the almost identical wording of the product in question. This product appears to be identical in description, (especially in description of the quality of Goose Down used, and the physical structure of the product), and in opposing photograph's in the
two ads, exept for color shown and the mention of the registered trademark "Thermostat."
While it is impossible to detect the difference unless actually seen, in hand, the first (in catalogue), carry the Cabela label, as pictured, but a different manufacture is inferred by Cabela.
If you cannot connect to the link provided in Cabela's email above, [it is accurately transposed, but may be broken by word wrap], I offer you this copy of the ad's decription:
Cabela's Down Underwear
Down has long been the sportsman's choice for unbeatable warmth. Wear this all-new updated underwear on just one bitter cold day, and you'll quickly see why. The high-loft Cabela's Premier Northern Goose Down is guaranteed to loft to 550 cu.in per oz. More loft means more dead space for warm air to be trapped in. This trapped air creates a comfortable micro-climate around your body that is impenetrable to outside air. For added warmth retention we added a Therma-stat collar and half-glove, thumb-hole cuffs to the top. The five-snap placket allows you to close up the top for total thermal protection or open it for ventilation when needed. The drawers also feature long Thermastat cuffs that stay tucked into boots and socks, and a zippered fly. The outer shell is constructed of rugged, soft-touch nylon that helps repel moisture and feels comfortable and warm against the skin. Imported.
Cabela's Regular Down Insulated Drawers
The drawers feature long Thermastat cuffs that stay tucked into boots and socks. Color: Tan. Sizes: S-3XL. Item: QN-920154
Price: $49.95
I submit that since this catalogue was distributed in winter at an unknown date, [and is not carrying a publishing or distribution date inside the flap], as the Spring 2003 Catalogue that its obvious that Cabela's has employed at least one of several variations of the old tried and true "classic bait and switch, " sales tactics produced over the years in their selling practice.
I have asked that they sell me the underwear at the advertised price, warning that I will report their tactics unless they did so, I was refused, as the following email from Cablela personnel
shows:
Hello [X], Thanks for visiting cabelas.com
I do apologize for your inconvenience and Misunderstanding on the situation on the Down underwear. Unfortunately we are not going to be able to sell you the down underwear that Mike sent you for the price that was on the other set of underwear. The Underwear that you had first wished to purchased was a special offer from the manufacture as stated in the description. As with the special offer we received them from the manufacture at a lesser price. Thus allowing us to Extend the cost savings along to our customers. Only a certain amount of units of each item were available at this price with the purchase from the manufacture. The Underwear that Mike sent you was just a suggestion as to a replacement for the items you were interested in and were sold out. Since they are not the same item we are unable to send the Higher priced items to you at the lesser price of the special purchase item. Unfortunately we were unable to calculate the amount of demand that we would have on the Underwear that was a special purchase from the manufacture, so we unfortunately ran out of stock much earlier than we had expected. Again I do apologize for the inconvenience and misunderstanding in this situation.
If you have any additional questions feel free to e-mail us back. You may also try our Live chat, which can be found at the bottom of any of our web pages. It is headed "Cabelas Live". You can chat with us live. Or you can call 800-237-8888. Thanks
Sincerely,
Lonnie
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