First, let me make it clear, I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of Cabela's, nor am I a member of any kind of Cabela's affiliate dealer program (they don't have one...darn it! ). What I am is a rare breed of thoroughly satisfied customer who is willing to take the time to sing the praises of a company totally devoted to providing purely delightful customer experiences. Now days it seems that all we hear about are problems, problems, problems with various companies and products. If we have an issue with a company or product that is not resolved to our satisfaction we make no bones about telling the whole world what a terrible experience we had. Conversely, rarely do we, as consumers, ever make more than passing remarks about companies or products that have provided good customer experiences. Well, I 'm going to break that habit with this article.

I have been a customer of Cabela's off and on for over 20 years. In the 1980s I built and sold custom fishing rods and many of the fishing rod blanks and many of the rod building materials I used during that time came directly from the Cabela's catalog. There are quite a number of fishermen in Arizona, USA and other states that are fishing my custom fishing rods built around Cabela's fishing rod blanks. Cabela's has been a major supplier of fly tying materials when my fingers were nimble enough to tie fishing flies. For about 10 years I was a fanatical bowhunter and I can't begin to tell you how much I spent through Cabela's mail order service on archery supplies. I probably should have bought stock in Cabela's as I am sure I singly contributed to great profit earnings during that 10 year period!

Not too long ago, Cabela's opened a new retail store in Glendale, Arizona, USA. As if Internet access and mail order services were not temptation enough, opening the retail store in Glendale was like delivering the candy store to the child! If you have not yet visited a Cabela's retail store you are in for quite a treat during your first visit...and in for quite a shock. Everything...and I mean, literally, everything...you could ever want for as an outdoors enthusiast can be found under one, single, enormous roof. Just shopping at Cabela's becomes an outdoors adventure, indoors. If you aren't immediately dazzled by the incredible choices of outdoors gear...everything for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, even furniture to decorate your dream Hudson Bay style cabin in the woods...then you will be fascinated by the millions of dollars of taxidermy and fish tanks displayed in the store. I still get the shivers thinking of all of the Boone and Crocket and Pope and Young trophy animals displayed on an artificial mountain in the store. You can try to make a quick shopping trip to Cabela's for a few needed items but I'll bet you it won't remain a quick trip. There's just so much to see and experience!

I have always been pleased with the efficient mail order and Internet ordering services supplied by Cabela's. Having been a customer service specialist for many years, I am not too easily impressed with customer service provided by companies. Cabela's customer service, quite simply put, impresses me. The concept of the customer coming first has always been a hallmark of Cabela's customer service. This attitude of the "customer comes first" is carried on in the retail stores, as well. Customer service has always been fast, efficient, and friendly. Returning defective items has never been a hassle and there have been very few times I've ever received a defective item. Cabela's appears to pick and choose only the best items by any given manufacturer. I am especially impressed with Cabela's own in-house branded products. These products work as advertized and never disappoint the buyer due to poor manufacturing or shoddy materials. I wish all in-house brands offered by other retailers were as reliable as are Cabela's in-house branded merchandise.

Although I no longer hunt and fish, I do spend a great deal of time in the outdoors pursuing avian and nature photography. This last year saw me nearly break the bank account buying much needed outdoor clothing. Cabela's was my first choice in outdoors retailers from whom I chose to make my purchases. All of the clothing I bought...from hot weather clothing to cold weather clothing...has been of Cabela's own in-house brand. Not a single bit of the clothing I bought has failed me or disappointed me. I bought ventilated hot weather T-shirts, vented hot weather long-sleeved shirts, cold weather pants and rain-proof jackets, windbreakers, insulated sweat shirts, and hiking boots. Every article of clothing, and the boots, have performed beyond my expectations.

Am I praising Cabela's too highly? I hardly think so. I work hard for my money and what little of it I have to spend beyond necessities has to be spent wisely on quality items able to withstand hard wear. How can I not praise so highly a company, such as Cabela's, whose products are of such good value as to meet and exceed my needs and expectations and whose customer service is second to none? Thanks Cabela's. It is no wonder Cabela's is "The World's Foremost Outfitter"!