My experience with Cabela's AND Pedersoli

[TedH]

I posted on Christmas about the Pedersoli 1874 Sharps Hunter rifle that my lady bought for me. I was pretty pumped as I had been wanting that rifle for a long time. I was immediately let down with the rifle on my first trip to the range. It failed to fire about 30% of the time, but those that didn't fire would usually go boom with a second strike to the primer. The fired cases showed very light firing pin hits. I was bummed, but figured it could be remedied pretty easily. I took it home and cleaned the black powder fouling from the barrel, and noticed some alarming marks in the rifling near the chamber. It was really rough, and looked like it would be prone to lead fouling. I really wasn't happy now. I got the email for Pedersoli customer service and sent them a note describing my concerns. A couple days go by, no reply. I email them again, and also email their warranty service guy here in the States, Lee Shaver. I heard back from Mr. Shaver right away. He said my best course of action would be to return it to Cabela's for a different rifle, because if he needed to replace the barrel it would take several months to get one from Pedersoli.

So I called Cabela's and told them my story. They said all firearms sales are final, and I should contact Pedersoli about warranty service! I again contacted Mr. Shaver and relayed that info. He politely stated that whoever I talked to at Cabela's was full of it. So I called Cabela's back and asked for the firearms manager. We agreed I would bring the rifle in for inspection. So the next day I make the two hour drive. After I showed them the rifle, and explained the situation with the barrel and lengthy wait I would have getting it repaired, they agreed to refund the purchase price and apply it to another rifle. The only other Sharps they had was a better finished Sharps Sporting rifle, and of course more expensive. They sharply discounted the price, and I agreed to pay a modest amount into the deal.

I left a very happy customer of Cabela's, not so much with Pedersoli. I have sent yet another email to their customer service dept, and have yet to hear a word back from them. I understand a lemon can make it into the supply on occasion, but how you deal with it after that is whats important. So far, I'm not impressed with Pedersoli's customer support. Hopefully this new rifle will not have any issues.

[Nath]

Does the barrel look better Ted?

Hope your Lady not to down about it all!

N.

[Bill in Oregon]

Ted, glad you got things sorted out. I'm sure Ernie Shaver was simply stating that in this particular case and under Cabela's agreements with Pedersoli, Cabela's had first responsibility to address your issues with the Sharps. This will not be the first time an employee in a Cabela's gun department gave out bum information. I have heard of some cases of out and out lying on the part of some gun library managers at Cabela's.
I really hope you enjoy your rifle. Pedersoli makes a very, very accurate barrel.
Bill

[TedH]

Does the barrel look better Ted?

Hope your Lady not to down about it all!

N.

This barrel shines like a diamond. If it shoots half as good as it looks it should be a tack driver. The little woman felt bad, but obviously it wasn't her fault.

[86er]

Good to hear Cabela's is living up to their reputation and promise. Sometimes foreign companies have trouble translating English e-mail and have to forward it or wait in order to make sense of it and respond. I have this situation once in a while with Spanish and Italian companies that are receiving my email directly (in their motherland). This may be the case with Pedersoli and also could be reason they have a US rep that was responsive. I'm not defending Pedersoli, but I am recognizing that they have had a good product on the American market for a long time. Therefore, I hope they will be as customer oriented as we Americans expect them to be. Side note: I have a good friend that is married to a Cabela. I relayed this story so that sooner than later Dick and Mary will hear about it and send word downward that they are well aware of what goes on at the retail store level. This tends to keep the managers meetings lively and the customer service top notch. Best of luck with your new- new rifle.

[GregT]

Does the barrel look better Ted?

Hope your Lady not to down about it all!

N.

This barrel shines like a diamond. If it shoots half as good as it looks it should be a tack driver. The little woman felt bad, but obviously it wasn't her fault.

Ted: I have several Pedersoli Sharps. The only problem you will have is loading enough ammo for each shooting session. My God, they shoot! It's like trying to eat a bowl of popcorn and have two spoiled hounds sitting in front of you that also like it! There is never enough popcorn!
GregT
Hayward, Wi

[Birdman]

Sounds like Cabela's did their part.

[jmiller]

I've had the same situation as the OP with Pedersoli/Cabela's TWICE now. To Cabela's credit, they couldn't have done more to make it right. I've also been in contact with Lee Shaver a couple of times about Pedersoli and questions on his sights. He is number one in my book for being a straight arrow in all respects. Pedersoli is lucky to have him representing their products here in the US. I received a new High Wall in 2010 that arrived with a cracked stock from shipping damage. Cabela's sent UPS to my house the next day to pick it up and replaced it with a new gun. Right now, as I write this, I'm sending a brand new Pedersoli 1886/71 back for a problem. It arrived three weeks ago and wouldn't cycle dummy rounds from the magazine onto the carrier. The carrier was binding and not only wouldn't allow the shell out of the magazine tube, but it wouldn't raise when the lever was lowered. You had to "bump" the lever to get it to release the carrier. I called Cabela's retail where it was shipped from and was given the same answer the OP got, take it up with Pedersoli warranty. I called Cabela's headquarters and spoke to someone else. They said that it was Cabela's policy to repair or replace new guns at their option (it's on their website under policys) and said they would replace the gun. It was shipped out today. That being said, I've owned four Pedersoli rifles and all shot superbly and were very well made. I contacted Lee Shaver about sending this one back since I wanted the gun very much. He said that if I wanted it repaired I'd have to send it to a location in Kansas where he goes a couple of times a year to do warranty work on Pedersoli guns. He suggested getting a new one since it would be quicker than getting this one repaired. Pedersoli makes a great gun but they do allow some duds to get out of the factory once in a while. I don't mind that as much as the fact that their warranty repair time is WAY TOO LONG. Don't settle for a repair on a new gun. That's tantamount to buying a refurbished gun and paying for a new one. I really like dealing with Cabela's and Lee Shaver is an excellent gunsmith and business man. As long as Cabela's keeps backing up what they sell I wouldn't worry about buying a Pedersoli. Chances are you'll end up with a really good gun for the money.

[Ysabel Kid]

Ted, sorry to hear about your experience with the Pedersoli rifle. I have a pair of Pedersoli rifles - a Sharps 1874 Heavy Barrel Target model in .45-120 Sharps, and a reproduction Charleville 1766 .69-caliber flintlock musket. Both exhibit superb craftsmanship, and I've never had any problem with the Sharps reproduction (I have not had a chance to fire the Charleville reproduction yet).

Glad Cabela's stepped up after a little prodding. Looking forward to a new range report!

[smokenrust]

Read the comments, and you got a great LADY there.
As for the rifle, "The only other Sharps they had was a better finished Sharps Sporting rifle, and of course more expensive. They sharply discounted the price, and I agreed to pay a modest amount into the deal". just think of it this way, other than the extra 2hours on the road, you got a nicer better Sharps Pedersol and at a lesser cost than what it would have been..
Now go kiss that woman of yours and post a pic of your new rifle.... And have fun with it this new year...

[piller]

Good to hear that a retailer is doing the right thing. I seriously like the Cabela's store in Ft. Worth.

[Blaine]

I'm glad it all worked out for you.....A four hour round trip is a bear to go shopping, though.

[TedH]

I'm glad it all worked out for you.....A four hour round trip is a bear to go shopping, though.

Yeah, and we were in the store for 2 1/2 hours! It took almost an hour to make the deal, and another hour and a half to complete the purchase! Their system for running folks through the paperwork and background check needs some work. The line was long, and SLOW, but it beat sending the rifle off and waiting 6 months to shoot it again.