[pct-l] Feathered Friends DISASTER

["Jennifer R. Doebler" <TUBABABE@psu.edu>]

Dear PCT-L friends,

This list serv has been nothing but beneficial to my PCT
planning.  In repsonse, I wanted to warn you about the horrendous
experience I have had with a company that you may look into for your
sleeping bag needs.  I just want to save you all the same
frustration and irritation.  The following is the abridged version
of my problems with Feather Friends, a down-ony company based in
Seattle.  Upon researching sleeping bags, I had eventually decided
on the Swallow produced by Feathered Friends.  It seemed like the
perfect choice.  HOWEVER, I urge you--I implore
you--DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING FROM
FEATHERED FRIENDS.  

After waiting the six weeks originally discussed with the factory, I
discovered no sleeping bag in the mail.  When I called to
inquire--they hadn't even cut the bag yet!  Appalled that I would be
out another weekend to test my gear, I was assured that they would rush
the bag through and deliver it.  To my dismay, I called (long
distance to Seattle, mind you) the day they were supposedly going to ship
the bag and found that they LOST the bag somewhere on the factory
floor!  At that time, I was assured two day shipping as soon as it
got inspected (which they hadn't done yet because the bag was underneath
someone else's bag and they hadn't seen it) which should have happened
last Monday.  Wednesday came and went and NO BAG.  I gave them
the benefit of the doubt and waited to call until the UPS truck left the
commons on Thursday.  "It's being shipped out
tomorrow."  Another weekend would go by and I STILL wouldn't be
able to test out all my gear.  Assuming that it would be delivered
on Saturday (two day, remember?!), I patiently waited.  STILL NO
BAG.  I called yesterday and no one called me back.  Today I
called and they told me it was shipped out on the 28th and would be here
Thursday!  I
leave for the PCT on SUNDAY without ever have tested my new bag.

So, in conclusion, their customer service staff is horrendous, they have
no concept of time, and they are overrated in every aspect. 
FEATHERED FRIENDS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BUY SLEEPING BAGS FROM.  I
just wanted to warn you all in case you thought that the Backpacker
Magazine Gear guide review sounded as appealing to you as it did to
me.

Thank you for your time,
Jen Doebler

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Jennifer Rose Doebler
--RA for the Arts and Architecture Interest House
--Co-founder of Team "ON FIRE!"
--'99 PCT Hopeful
        
FALL 1999 ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER:
600 Toftrees Ave.
Apt 149
State College, PA 16803-1929
(814) 234-8448


"Some people think we're crazy,
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