The wife was shopping next door to Gander MT today so I took a walk over to kill time. On impulse I tossed a set of LW climbing sticks into the cart. Shortly thereafter I noticed they were made in china. I seemed to recall reading on here that there was an issue with some on their Chinese produced products and that to rectify it production was moved back to the US. Can some one tell me if the climbing sticks were part of " problem" inventory? If not I am going to be near by next week and will most likely pick them up. Thanks Jimmy Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
From what I've heard, Lone Wolf rejected the China product because of safety and quality issues and moved all production back to the USA a couple of years ago. But just recently some of the China made stuff has hit the market with their name on it. I'd stay away from it and maybe let Lone Wolf know about it. Here is a release on this issue. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOTICE: Rejected Overseas Product Hits Market Edwards, IL – Lone Wolf Treestands has recently been made aware that rejected Lone Wolf product originally produced overseas sometime in 2010 is currently being made available for sale by XOP, Inc. of Dubuque, IA. All goods being sold by XOP as Lone Wolf product failed to meet Lone Wolf Treestands’s standards and were rejected by Lone Wolf Treestands. Therefore, these rejected products are in no way warrantied or supported by Lone Wolf Treestands. Lone Wolf Treestands will not be held liable for any damages incurred by those choosing to purchase or use the rejected product being sold by XOP, Inc. as Lone Wolf product. The products in question can be identified by their gray stand straps and black stand tubing. The products are being sold unboxed and without fall-arrest systems. The tree stand products do NOT meet TMA standards for sale. Product models within the rejected inventory being sold by XOP may include: Alpha Hang On Stand (LW-AHO), Assault Hang On Stand (LW-ASHO), Elite Hang On Stand (LW-EHO), Mini-Climbing Stick 1-pc (LW-MCS1), Mini-Climbing Sticks 3-pcs (LW-MCS3), Climbing Sticks 1-pc (LW-CS1), Climbing Sticks 3-pcs (LW-CS3), Climbing Sticks 4-pcs (LW-CS4). All warrantied Lone Wolf products are sold complete with Fall-Arrest Systems, instructions and include brown straps and brown stand tubing.
I would almost wonder if they weren't returned to the store by a customer... Maybe in exchange for a USA made set? Seems like Gander would have pulled that product before letting it hit the shelves...
If thats the case the the guy brought back 6 or 8 of them....because that was how many they had on the rack.
I would address this with management. Like on the store manager level. I would also contact Lone Wolf and give them the store number and location. This is not good!
These were in boxes. That said said I am not going to chance it, I will just wait and buy the American made version and save myself the the grief and research. In reference to talking to the store manager and lone wolf ect ect... ..that's not my issue. If a company isn't going o to do its due diligence to protect its brand than I sure wont do it for them, considering I am deriving no profits from the company and am not compensated for my time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As others have said, not all of the LW product made in China was rejected. Some was boxed and sold through places like Gander, Cabela's, etc. If it's new in the box you really don't have anything to worry about safety-wise, but if you're going to spend the cash I'd try to track down the USA-made product. It's much higher quality. If they're on sale or you're getting a deal of some sort, then I'd go for it. I have some of the china-made sticks and they work fine. If you're paying ful retail, go elsewhere.
