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Backcountry.com not playing nice

Cherokee Nunes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2015 · Points: 0

They're a bunch of crooks anyway.

Owen Christian · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2019 · Points: 5

The CEO’s email address is jnielsen@backcountry.com. I sent him a nice email. Anyone else wanna do the same?

Court · · SLAKETAHOE · Joined May 2013 · Points: 125
TaylorP wrote: They are pretty much forced to do this to maintain the trademark on their name. But I'm not a lawyer so...

They are forced to show some history of protecting their trademark. They are going above and beyond, but it is IPLA Trademark Law that is doing the suing. It is IPLA Trademark Law that is fucking the goat.

Max Supertramp · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2008 · Points: 95

it's a fucking word.  

J D · · SC · Joined May 2017 · Points: 25
Backcountry Calm wrote: They're a bunch of crooks anyway.

You're gonna get spanked in court by them next. 

Live Perched · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2016 · Points: 21

Using a natural word like cobra, Uber, backcountry creates a weak trade mark. Any company picking a natural word is advised as much by its trademark attorney.  Companies  like backcountry choose those natural words because people like us and maybe the founders love the backcountry.  That love supports marketing.  

The initial mark is usually narrow like “backcountry.com” bit as the company succeeds and it strengthen the claim by suing companies that didn’t trademark the use.  It’s perfectly legal to use a natural word in your name without trade marking. And if you have the resources you can affirm your rights in court.  But a gear shop in Boise may not have the resources. 

Those companies don’t have too sue others to protect their weak trademarks. They can sue to try to strengthen their marks.  I sure as sh!t don’t have to support backcountry as it claims ownership of backcountry or WeWork claiming ownership of “We.”

What we need are “this is not a backcountry tee shirt” tee shirts. #goatf0cker

Spaggett, Gotcha! · · Western NC · Joined Jun 2018 · Points: 0
Paul L wrote: Don't forget Steep & Cheap is also theirs. 

Looking forward to the sweet sale to get customers back after this fiasco, and just in time for ski season.  Thanks, team!

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610

Ya! But....the prices are great! 

curt86iroc · · Lakewood, CO · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 274

so you sue a woman's education group for using the word "backcountry" in their name, then go and release this on your website...


edit: I'm bringing this info to other forums that i post on, just to get the message out there...
Mtn Ape XL · · Utah · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 131

Just chatted with a Gearhead online and this was their response to my inquiry about the issue

"As a gearhead I'm not
prepared to give any statements on the matter, we're just hear to
assist people with gear questions. If you reach out to
customerexperience@backcountry.com they might be able to further
answer your concerns" Caroline J.

Juan Vargas · · Bakersfield, CA · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 1,150
Mtn Ape XL wrote: Just chatted with a Gearhead online and this was their response to my inquiry about the issue

"As a gearhead I'm not
prepared to give any statements on the matter, we're just hear to
assist people with gear questions. If you reach out to
customerexperience@backcountry.com they might be able to further
answer your concerns" Caroline J.

What did you expect her to tell you?

I’ve had good experiences buying from them in the past, but this whole thing is a real downer. They’ll probably lose me as a costumer.
Creed Archibald · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,026

I'm never buying from backcountry.com again until they have a 40% off any one item sale! 

Mtn Ape XL · · Utah · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 131
Juan Vargas wrote:

What did you expect her to tell you?

I’ve had good experiences buying from them in the past, but this whole thing is a real downer. They’ll probably lose me as a costumer.

As have I...I wanted to know if she was aware of it and find a way to further express my concerns higher up the corporate food-chain....which she provided here...customerexperience@backcountry.com 

Matt N · · CA · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 425

Call me a whore, but I buy from wherever is cheapest.

If I'm not supporting a local business, lowest price wins every time.

*and usually BC is NOT the cheapest. 

Used 2climb · · Far North · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 0

I would be shocked if there was a major company that didn't do this. It isn't malicious its just what company lawyers do... I try to buy local and second hand so have not bought from BC in years but still not shocking or ground breaking.

Jim T · · Colorado · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 469

With so many reasons to not buy from backcountry, it’s interesting that this is what convinces some people to not buy from them.  But hey, anything that weens people from buying online can’t be a bad thing.

lloyd · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 95

Bought an item recently. Wasn't on sale and wasn't particularly cheap. It came with free two-day shipping. I ordered it on Wednesday, expected it by Friday, called them on Tuesday to see WTF was going on, they claimed it had gone out and somehow had been lost during delivery. Finally got the second two-day shipment on Thursday. Have heard other stories about items just not showing up on direct experience from friends.

Blake Bolton · · Boise · Joined Nov 2017 · Points: 0
lloyd wrote: Bought an item recently. Wasn't on sale and wasn't particularly cheap. It came with free two-day shipping. I ordered it on Wednesday, expected it by Friday, called them on Tuesday to see WTF was going on, they claimed it had gone out and somehow had been lost during delivery. Finally got the second two-day shipment on Thursday. Have heard other stories about items just not showing up on direct experience from friends.

If a package is lost, it's generally not the retailers fault but the courier that is doing the shipping. The retailer isn't the one actually delivering your package. 

Timothy Carlson · · NorCal · Joined Jul 2015 · Points: 10
Christian Hesch wrote: Generally not a fan of cancel culture, but this seems a rather clear cut case where it's perfectly acceptable to boycott them. I prefer to engage in "buycotts," rather than boycotts, but I think both might be appropriate in this case. Looked into those jeans but I'm afraid I'll just have to offer them moral support, at $160/pair, haha. I'll certainly be happy to order more often from backcountrygear in the future.

I buycott most places because I have little disposable income. 

lloyd · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 95
Blake Bolton wrote:

If a package is lost, it's generally not the retailers fault but the courier that is doing the shipping. The retailer isn't the one actually delivering your package. 

It's pretty easy for a place to claim that a package was lost as opposed to never being sent. <additional details coming> The fact that the package NEVER showed up on the Tracking site leads me to believe there's a much higher percentage chance that the item was never actually submitted by them to be delivered in the first place. And the reason I cited direct friends telling me they'd had items that never showed up from them was sort of the icing on the cake for me. I'm only offering my own very recent experience. Obviously, everyone is free to choose to do what they want. Certainly my personal sample of one might just be an anomaly.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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