Big Agnes' Policy on "replacement" pole segments

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

A pole segment recently broke on my (2019) Copper Spur UL HV-1 tent. It was the segment that goes into the hub at the narrow end of the tent.

That segment is under a lot of tension because that end of the assembly bends a lot to the grommets at the narrow end.

(The segment end split open at the hub.)

Price is only $5 for a replacement segment.

But $7 shipping. (Thanks, mr. president.)

So 1) since shipping costs more than the part and 2) since if one segment failed, its twin can't be far behind, I wanted to order a second segment prophylactically to 1) save shipping costs and 2) replace it now, before it fails.

Big Agnes won't let me. They only sell replacements for failed parts.

(I'm not going to lie to them that two failed.)

On one hand, I can understand that, if they have limited inventory, they don't want to go out of stock, "depriving" other customers of needed replacement parts.

OTOH, it really bugs me that I'll have to waste more money on shipping when the twin fails.

But I post here because Big Agnes doesn't make this policy known. I had ordered two segments. They sent an Invoice for one. I e-mailed back that I wanted two. Nothing heard.

Finally I called and they explained their Policy to me.

Now you know too.

[Jim]

For a second, I thought this was like Large Marge's policy on riders.

[chumley]

I always stop into their hq when I’m in Steamboat. It’s right above the fire station along the Yampa a block off main street. (Note: they don’t open til noon on powder days!) There’s a great little taco shop across the street that I highly recommend. The $7 I save on shipping is good for a delicious lunch (Thanks Mr. President?)

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@Jim_H
I don't know what the reference to Large Marge refers to. But I can buy spare headlamp bulbs, a "fan" belt, etc. for my car without having to wait for them to fail before allowed to purchase.

So this policy was a surprise to me.

[Jim]

[ youtube video ]

[DixieFlyer]

@Jim_H
Large Marge sounds like a takeoff on Phantom 309: [ youtube video ]

[big_load]

@Jim_H
Large Marge sounds like a takeoff on Phantom 309: [ youtube video ]

Yes, she was. PeeWee was (perhaps secretly) a country music fan. Excerpts of an interview with him were included in the recent Minnie Pearl documentary.

[kaszeta]

This reminds me of Osprey. I've broken several of the buckles on my backpack. They'll helpfully send me a replacement for anything I send them a picture of that is broken.

But I'd like a spare or two. I haven't been able to convince them to send me an extra or two.

(And annoyingly, almost all of my Osprey packs have incompatible buckles with the other Osprey packs I've got...)