The short answer: Cabela's s***s!
I bought a pair of Cabela's stocking foot waders about 5 years ago for fly fishing. My prior waders had been a pair of neoprene boot-foot from Cabela's. I got around 20 years out of them, so I expected new ones to last as well. I am busy, so am lucky if I get out once or twice a year. There are years are do not get out at all. The left leg of the new waders started leaking after the 3rd or 4th use. This was completely unacceptable, but I did not feel like dealing with their Customer Service, and didn't try to return them. The next year, the right leg started leaking. The old ones had also leaked in one leg—but not until I had used them many more times—and that leak was intermittent. Sometimes they leaked, sometimes they did not. I was hoping the leaks in this pair would be intermittent—but they are not.
I called their Customer Service recently to see about getting a refund. Apparently, Cabela's used to have a lifetime warranty on waders, but does not any more. The CS rep said that—since I do not have a receipt—I should take them to a local store. She said that if they did not show inappropriate wear, the store would refund my money. That seemed liked good customer service. These waders are immaculate. After each use, I dry them in my living room (and on my balcony, if it is nice) for days. I turn the cuff inside out. After the entire outside is dry, I turn the waders completely inside out and let the inside dry. I store them in a bag, in a closet in my living room.
I have tried to find the leaks by holding them under running water in the tub. Nothing. I suspect the leak is at the seam with the stocking foot. That is about the depth of water they start to leak in. But there is nothing apparent.
The experience at the store today in Sun Prairie was nothing short of horrible. The young gal at the desk—without even looking at them—said there was nothing she would do. I had to beg her to get a manager. A manager was paged. He—Doug, his name tag said—rolled his eyes at my tale of woe. He said the issue was no receipt, then said even with a receipt it had been too long. Though they were likely purchased during the era when the lifetime warranty was still being offered, he would not honor that. He also refused to look at them, and said how I cared for them and the number of uses were irrelevant. The amount of elapsed time was the issue. What a douche bag! I hate being lumped in with people who abuse a store's return policy. I get why time limits exist—though it should not apply to these waders. A return policy should be tailored to the individual, and the item in question. He offered me $50—take it or leave it.
I left it. And will not go back. This company s***s. Bass Pro has ruined what used to be a high quality business. And their CS people need some training.
OH! Doug's comeback was to tell me I was a jerk for not trying to get my money back on the Gander Mountain carry bag I used for my waders. A bag, mind you, that was bought in 1988—and is in perfect shape. Thank you, Gander Mountain.