wtnhunt Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 With hopes of getting my bow situation straight, loaded up the kids and wife and took a trip over to gander mountain yesterday afternoon. Called ahead to make sure a tech would be there and could work on my bow and they said there was. To try to make this as short as possible, my old bow had a cracked limb and pse replaced my old bow that fit me great and that I enjoyed shooting with a brand new bow. This all started back this past fall when I discovered the crack in the limb. Old bow was a 33 ata bow and I shot a 30 inch draw. New bow has a shorter draw and more parallel limbs, don't know if I like it or not yet as I have only shot it about a dozen times and it really just does not feel right. All the swap was handled with the tech at a shop who has done work for me many times before. I took the bow back in to him to have him let out the draw, he said he had to get a different module to get it to 30 inches. Few weeks went by and never heard back from him so I dropped back by while I was in that town and one of the owners told me the tech was no longer working there:(, he had no clue if he had done anything to the bow, but he knew all about it being replaced. So yesterday we get to gander mountain and I ask if I can get the bow let out about 2 inches and the "pro" looks at the bow with me drawing and tells me that the bow is too long for me:eek:. The guy is a bit older than me and seems like he knows what he is talking about, and I did not want to be disrespectful, but I did not think he was right and I asked if we could measure it. He says he shoots a 31 inch draw, and from looking, I did not see where he would have a longer draw than me, I am 6'2" and have a 78 inch wingspan. He says he does not think I should have a 30 inch draw, but then gives me an arrow with measurements on it and hold it to where the grip would go to the corner of my mouth and sure enough it measures out to 30 inches just like I said. He looks at the stop and the scribe marks and says it is at 31 inches:(. He gets and arrow and tells me the arrow should stick out past the riser so far, which is putting it about 3 inches past the rest to the end of the outsert. He had the arrow with measurements on it in one hand and I wanted to draw the bow with it and show him that it was not 31 inches. We step into the indoor range and he has me draw with this regular arrow instead and he says it is set too long for me that he could shorten it:(. I was feeling crunched up and uncomfortable with the bow drawn, just did not feel right, it was not comfortable and I cannot shoot it with proper form the way it is, but he insisted it was not too short for me. So after him kind of embarrassing me in front of my family and a few other people around by his insistence that the bow is at 31 inches and that I should be drawing 30 or less I figured we probably oughta just go on and go, he was not going to let it out for whatever reason, and with his insistence, I began to wonder if maybe the tech from the original shop maybe did let it out and maybe it the uncomfortable feeling was all in my mind. We get home, and I have the wife measure from my grip to the nock point with the bow drawn and guess what, the measurement comes to 28.5 inches:mad:. Tried getting in touch with pse last week, but no luck, Diane Watson has not returned my message, but she has gotten it. Gander Mountain has another tech, but kind of hate to drive back over there and waste more gas and time. Few other shops around, but don't know if they can get the modules. This new bow that first seemed like was a great service from pse is turning into a nightmare. Don't know where to go know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Sheesh, I can't believe you are still messing around with it. Do you have a little proshop in your area that you can take it too? Call PSE and tell them all you have gone through, enoughs enough tell them to get it done!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 WOW.. I thought you have this all fixed and done with William .. If it were me I'd talk to the other tech. and see what he had for suggestions... other than that I'd be looking for some help somewhere else ... :( Definately keep trying to get hold of PSE and talk to someone there ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 why don't you go back to the little shop that helped you with the bow in the first place. I understand that you tech isn't working there anymore; but isn't there anyone there that may could help you. Not insulting the "big box" stores; but most of the time they just hire someone to work in the bowshop because they need a body there. They may not know anything about bows or working on bows; but they sure can stock shelves! I would try that little shop again and let them look at it and see what is going on. They are the ones that apparently helped you in the first place, and they ought to help you with this as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldreloader Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 What Preacherman said is good advise.Some of the Gander Mountain techs are great and some of them thnk the training course they go through makes them experts.I had one in the Texarkana TX store that didn't know what a cock feather was.LOL:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 That's pathetic William. My advice would be to find a small shop and let someone there fix it, or go with a new bow altogether. There's nothing like having a bow that fits and feels right in your hand, and there's nothing like having a good setup guy at your disposal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 The younger guys working at the Gander near me seem more interested in the women wandering around the store than working on bows IMHO. Sad deal William, hope you can find a little pro shop that can help you out and answer all your questions. There are good techs at certain Gander Mountains that is for sure, some stores just lack them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted February 17, 2008 Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 I know it's becoming more and more difficult to find a good shop for bowsmithing anymore. I had a great shop here a few years ago and they just up and shut down. The owner and a few of his employees were Olympic coach certified and one of the customers that took lessons went on to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece. Now I still have to travel 45 mins to the nearest shop that I kinda sorta trust. They screwed me over on a rest by telling me it was the one brand only to find out it was totally different. All of your problems are the reason I want to open my own bow shop. I would love to open an outdoors store where I live and I know it would attract a lot of business. It'd be the only one within a 20 mile radius and Rend Lake is less than 5 mins away literally. I just hate dealing with people that think you're stupid and don't know what's best for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2008 Sheesh, I can't believe you are still messing around with it. Do you have a little proshop in your area that you can take it too? Call PSE and tell them all you have gone through, enoughs enough tell them to get it done!! Think I am going to call pse Tuesday and see if I can just send it to them and let them adjust for me. Dont have a clue what shipping will cost, but am tired of wasting money on gas to drive 35 minutes away one way and ending up not getting anywhere. why don't you go back to the little shop that helped you with the bow in the first place. I understand that you tech isn't working there anymore; but isn't there anyone there that may could help you. I would Scott, but they have NO bow tech anymore. The one guy was it and noone else who works there has a clue. I asked the co owner and he said he had no idea if they would get another tech hired to take his place:(. That's pathetic William. My advice would be to find a small shop and let someone there fix it, or go with a new bow altogether. There's nothing like having a bow that fits and feels right in your hand, and there's nothing like having a good setup guy at your disposal. Yeah, I feel like it is pretty pathetic too Chris. I really miss my fireflight33. Was a pretty cheap bow compared to what most archers shoot, but man it just felt right for me. I might actually like this bow if it fit me, dont know was wanting to give ti a chance and see. Guess I could sell this one, and put the money into something else, but right now I kind of hate to have to spend the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Big box store or not,most shops around would unfortunately be the same way.Seems like a lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulder and unless your spending money there at the time it's tough to get anything done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig mack Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Sorry to hear that William. Finding a good pro shop is like having a good auto mechanic, once you find one you dont want to go anywhere else. I drive like 40 miles one way to get to mine. I wish I had the tools and know how to do it myself. I hope you get it worked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Big box store or not,most shops around would unfortunately be the same way.Seems like a lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulder and unless your spending money there at the time it's tough to get anything done. Customer service should sell, whether the item being worked on was sold there or not, and would think more of these stores would treat their customers to reflect that. We bought some turkey calls that day at the store and I probably could have gotten a better deal at wal mart, but we were there. Gander Mountain is pse authorized, surely if he made an adjustment or had to order a module or whatever and I did not have to pay to have any work done, they could have turned the work in to get paid from pse, but I was willing to pay whatever the rate was to get the bow set right for me. Oh well, I do not think I will go back to Gander Mountain for a long time to come if ever, their prices are over inflated anyway. The more I have thought about it the more irritated I have gotten over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 I'd sell it and buy a bow that feels good to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOYTnMUZZYboy Posted February 18, 2008 Report Share Posted February 18, 2008 Thats the trouble I had when I went to the local Gndr Mtn here. There was a fella that was prolly late 40's early 50's behind the counter, as I waited in line at the archery "pro shop" I was gathering things he was telling the people in front of me. It was then my turn. I started asking my questions and b4 I could even finish them he was either finishing them for me or already started explaing things. He also claimed to be a pro shooter for a bow company, I laughed and he kinda looked at me like I was some 23 year old punk kid. Which to some I might be, but when it comes to my bow I know the ends and outs of it. When I started asking him questions about his own draw length and what his oppin. was on differnt grips he kinda shyed away. Needles to say havn't seen him in there working since. Sorry to go on a rant but its things I read like this that get me going. Us hunters go to places like for help or advice. Im sick of not just me but other people that half to deal with people like this in stores. I found a real pro shop about an hour drive from my house, il drive the hour just so I dont half to deal with idiots that claim and act like they know what there doing. Sorry once again guys and gals! Stay safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Called PSE yesterday afternoon, and they are going to get me out the correct module to make the bow a 30 inch bow. The woman I talked with said there was no way my bow could be set to 31 inches with the module that it is currently setup with. Going to just go on and order a bowmaster press from cabelas and change it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 Man, sorry to hear about your experience William. Sounds like the new modules and your own bow press may be the ticket though. My proshop just burned to the ground a few weeks ago, I have not heard of any plans to rebuild or open another location somewhere else. May have to go with Chris' guy, that is if he will service a Hoyt.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted February 19, 2008 Report Share Posted February 19, 2008 I have had similar problems with large stores (Bass Pro / Cabela's). I love their products, but the sevice can take a lot of time and be hit and miss. I think a good (small-medium) pro shop is the way to go. I think a thread listing good pro shops from our members would provide valuable information. I go to tim-buck-tu outdoors in Glen Carbon Illinois. A first class pro-shop (I highly recommend it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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