Anyone Ordered and Waiting for their Big Sky Tent?

Haven't heard a peep from anyone about any Big Sky tents -- even as they continue to multiply their models.

Just got an email from BS -- about the destruction caused by the recent quake, and the numerous people made homeless. It included the following blip:

"Big Sky's tent production capacity is being dedicated to producing special refugee tents for these homeless... This will delay deliveries to our customers and we apologize to our customers, but we believe this is the right thing to do."

I remember BS promising "4-6 weeks delivery" that turned out to be 2 very long years! For the brave souls still doing business with BS, I am curious what recent actual delivery is like -- and I can only wonder what the future holds... Good luck to China. And good luck to BS buyers too.

Lol, I received the same email from them and given my previous experience with them, I was quite surprised - quite surprised that I had forgotten to add them to my SPAM folder! What a crock.

Apparently the Chinese government ordered the factories to do this. Big Sky did not choose to do this, or so the rumormill says.

Ben, you've posted a few of these in the past. Have you ever ordered or received one?

Yes, I have ordered one.

After exchanging probably 55 emails with Bob Molen (we are both gear heads) -- I placed my order in Sept 2005 -- with an October 31 delivery date promised. Well, October came and went, November came and went, and then December came. But Bob was always extremely responsive and the reasoning put forth were twofold: (1) factory delays and (2) quality problems. Bob did a really good explanation in November about how the tents were finally received but he couldn't/wouldn't ship them because they were short of perfection.

Around December 2005 -- Bob did a huge splash on his website and the forums offering a 20% discount across the board to anyone who prepays -- with "4-6 weeks" delivery. That generated quite a bit of attention, sales, and casf flow -- and I figured that was my one chance to get my money back!

I emailed Bob asking for a refund, and amazingly, I didn't get a quick reply for the first time ever! In fact, I didn't hear from him for days. So I then asked for him on all the forums ("hey, has anyone talked to Bob lately... I seem to have trouble reaching him...") -- and Bob emailed me back within 10 minutes! I got my refund in January 2006.

I ask about Bob and Big Sky on the forums from time to time for two main reasons:

1. Since Bob is still out there selling -- it's good to rehash the history -- for the benefit of new buyers.

2. But if Bob Molen has mended his ways -- it will also be good for new (and satisfied) buyers to let everyone know!

Thus far, I am not seeing much of #2.

That's too bad. It seems like a great tent. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Aye. If it were a POS, then who cares. But yes, the tents are pretty well designed. Which makes it all the more aggravating, actually.

I think referring Big Sky as BS is appropriate. He should just sell his designs and let someone with the know how run the business at this point. At least persons would be able to actually use one of those tents then.

Funny thing is that many other gear companies like Mountain hardware; have kept their ears to the ground on this and started down the trail building this type tent. Amazing how many other tent companies can design and then actually deliver the new tent models year after year. Bob Molen sounds like a ray way kinda guy if you ask me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I agree with Ben2 about rehashing this to save newbies from BS and more lame threads about not getting a tent <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I figure that the Chinese government must be 'ordering' all the factories to make up what they need for the 'disaster relief effort' over there...whether the factory is foreign owned or not <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Got love capitalistic communism <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Whats yours is mine and whats mine is mine <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'll take it when I want it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Odd, I distinctly remember no aid coming from China during Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina and Rita; but hey, they were too busy becoming capitalists to worry about some 'Americans needing disaster relief' <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

The USA was busy trying to do almost nothing while appearing to be trying hard to be doing something.

It was bad enough when WalMart trucks, without a charter to be rescue professionals, went into areas to deliver relief that the FEMA "Professionals" were unable to deliver themselves.

It would have been internationally embarassing to have China deliver rescue supplies under the circumstances.

Anyway, why are you getting on the case of China when the USA itself did such a poor job of assisting its own citizens? To a large extent, WE WEREN'T THERE for ourselves. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

You remembered wrong, Earthling. China gave aid after Katrina -- as did more than a hundred other countries. Face it, we Americans have more than enough resources to take care of ourselves -- the problem was getting them to New Orleans quickly enough. Still, it was heart warming to know that other countries cared. And yes, even Bangladesh pitched in to help.

Does anyone remember what Cuba, those communist ogres (skip quickly past China, Vietnam . . . ), did after Katrina? They sent a ship to New Orleans full of their well-trained doctors and -- because we didn't want to p- - - off that voting block from my town, Miami, that now-waning, lame-duck regime REFUSED to let them help. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

It was all rather disgusting.

Hmmm, I wonder what this has to do with Big Sky, other than it was BS.

Yeah, sorry for the thread jack. It's fresh on my mind...even after 2 years <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hey Eugene, I meant that what we did to the Cuban doctors wanting to help was BS! Not you hijacking the thread. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

b2w:

This was posted on Marketwatch today 6/3.

Hijacking the tent thread (fabric and poles) -- for a cause

I've got six tents AND a roof (at least a deck) to put over my head; they (an estimated 5 million people) one day had none. If my BS tent was delayed for this, at least finally there's a LEGITIMATE reason for the wait.

With the distribution of product all going THIS WAY, with the resulting trade deficit (meaning cash) all going THAT WAY, I guess the best thing we can do is find a reputable charity that is helping over there and write a check in order to help. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Wondering if this will have a short-term disruption in the tent market in the US, while thinking, under these circumstances, so what?

Kevin:

I completely agree. Indeed, I posted a thread on another backpacking forum letting people know about the need for tents in China. Knowing how most all of us have multiple tents just sitting in our gear closets, perhaps some might wish to contact their local Red Cross about donating used, but perfectly serviceable tents.

Amazingly, one poster shot back asking why we should help people who killed our soldiers in Vietnam. Even putting aside the question of what the heck our soldiers were doing there in the first place -- that response was still pretty hard to beat for being small-minded and mean-spirited.

ben:

Your post on what countries helped in Katrina summed it up. Please give that tent to the Red Cross, although I think $ more directed to those in China would be of greater benefit to them. Reason I say the former is that if we get hit by a hurricane in Miami this year, I might be needing that tent from the RC. And if that happens, can you make it a a two-man, free-standing, double-walled mesh, please?

Kev:

Maybe you and I can agree on a "mutual help" deal: You can stay at my place for a few weeks if Miami gets blown or washed away -- and I can stay with you if LA sinks into the ocean! That should be way more comfy than even a two-man tent double wall tent, right? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I never ceased to be amazed at the fascination with this company. Move on and buy something else.

As I mentioned before some other companies are creating similiar designs, and getting them to the marketplce in a timely fashion <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I AGREE WITH alan try another compnay <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

There is nothing proprietary about their designs, just another dome tent. Lighter than some, but still just another dome tent. The crazed obsession about the tents because they won an award or two is just nuts.

Evolution 2P2D ordered 23 Setember 2006; shipped 31 May 2007(rev. F); been using it ever since (for me, it was worth the 8 month wait).

Here's the thing, Brian:

If BS were upfront about delivery -- telling people who prepay to expect a 6-8 months wait time -- then folks can decide for themselves whether it's worth the wait -- or look elsewhere!

But BS posted "6-8 weeks delivery" the entire time of 2006 and most all of 2007 -- all the while raking in prepaid orders!

For me, I don't care how good their tents are -- as a buyer -- I don't like to be lied to or "played around" with. Maybe you don't --- but I value honesty and integrity in a business -- in addition to product quality.

But all that is in the past and my focus is on the here and now. Interesting that I am still not seeing folks saying that they made purchases recently and received their tents timely -- not here and not on other forums either!!!

I can't fathom waiting 8 months for a simple consumer good to arrive when I could click a mouse and have an acceptible substitute shipped to me in a couple of days. I'm glad to hear you like your tent, I'm just not that patient.