Traditions

[confederatemule]

A friend of mine just bought a 1858 Remington New Model Army that includes the "Redi Pak" starter kit, for $239.88. It is by Traditions.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...d.cmd?fromProductSearch=true&item1=IK-21-7569

My questions are: Is Traditions an importer only? Who made the gun? Who made the Kit? Where does Traditions get their stuff? Do they manufacture anything? What is the quality of their products?

My friend says it is made by Pietta.

I have the same revolver, that I bought just before Christmas, it "is" made by Pietta, imported by EMF.

I'm just curious about Traditions. I can't find anything about them in their website nor who makes the products they sell. EMF has an "About Us" tab, and gives a good description of themselves and how they operate.

Thanks for any help.

Mule

 

[junkman_01]

Your friend is correct.

 

[arcticap]

Traditions is an importer of Pietta revolvers that distributes to wholesale distributors, small retailers and individuals by tier pricing.
They sell many of the same Pietta revolver models as Cabela's does plus more. Although Cabela's does have some exclusive Pietta models of their own and often lower sale pricing.
Traditions warranties their revolvers for one year while Cabela's has a very liberal no questions asked return policy instead.
I've actually seen a Traditions Redi-Pak revolver for sale at a Cabela's store, but I think that's the only Traditions revolver model that Cabela's sells.

 

[BHP FAN]

my .31 pocket Remington revolver came from Cabela's in a Traditions box, but is marked as a Pietta.

 

[mykeal]

Is Traditions an importer only?

Importer, distributor and retailer.

Who made the gun?

Pietta.

Who made the Kit?

Traditions assembled the pieces of the kit and had them packaged for retail sale; in that sense, Traditions made the kit.

Where does Traditions get their stuff?

Traditions, like most sutlers, uses many different suppliers. For example, look at Cabela's, Dixie Gun Works, Track of the Wolf, etc.

Do they manufacture anything?

No.

What is the quality of their products?

Traditions has no 'products', per se, that one can make a quality judgment on. They sell other people's products for a profit, like all retailers. They have a good reputation for customer service, which many people feel is the real product a retailer is responsible for. In general, the products they sell are considered entry level, generally inexpensive, but still good quality. One is reminded of the saying, "You get what you pay for."

 

[BHP FAN]

well, you're certainly right about their customer service. I've dealt with them twice in the past, and both times they made sure I was happy.

 

[Berkley]

My 2010 Pietta New Army from Cabela's came in a Traditions box with warranty from Traditions.

 

[confederatemule]

Thanks to all of you folks for the quick, responses. I am glad that it is all positive. I'll email this thread to him.

Mule

 

[arcticap]

That's interesting that Cabela's has begun selling more revolver models in Traditions boxes instead of being packaged in the Cabela's revolver boxes as we're used to seeing.
I see that their warranty card is also included which is a bonus for the buyer.
The last time that I spoke with someone at Traditions about their revolver prices being so high compared to Cabela's low prices, the senior sales employee said that was because Cabela's imported their own revolvers directly from Pietta.
Apparently Cabela's has been turning to Traditions to supplement their revolver stock.

In addition to muzzle loaders, Traditions sells various modern centerfire shotguns.
They have the owner's manual available for Fausti Italian over/unders.
They sell some semi-auto shotguns too.
And in the past they've sold some Armi San Marco centerfire rifles.
And also many muzzle loading accessories, scopes and Ardesa muzzle loaders.

 

[mykeal]

The last time that I spoke with someone at Traditions about their revolver prices being so high compared to Cabela's low prices, the senior sales employee said that was because Cabela's imported their own revolvers directly from Pietta.

????

And Traditions got theirs from a street vendor?

That makes no sense.

 

[arcticap]

What doesn't make sense is that Cabela's is now buying guns from Traditions instead of importing their own which is just the opposite of what the Traditions salesperson was saying in the first place when I asked....that Cabela's charges less because they import a much higher volume of guns and act as their own importer.
Yet now it seems that Cabela's ability to sell guns has [sometimes] exceeded their ability to import enough on their own from Pietta.
Higher volume = lower prices.
I hope that makes enough [dollars &] cents.

 

[confederatemule]

Shoot, the more I know about how, and why, thangs work, the less I understand, now-a-days.

The "one" thang I know for shore, is; it's all about money. And, it is always goin into someone else's pocket. Not mine.

But, I been told; "that's how it's always been."

Best I can tell, on the subject of Traditions, is that they are good enough stuff for the once a month, Sunday afternoon shooter. But, actually, from what I have read and watched on You-Tube, Pietta is as good as any other brand, today. The Traditions name only effects the price and warranty. The quality is determined by the product manufacturer. So, when someone buys from an importer it is important to find out who made the product.

Is this purty much how it is?

Mule

 

[arcticap]

Yes, that's an important part of it. But since any company can make a lemon, we often tell folks to buy from an outfit that has a liberal return policy just in case they end up getting one that's a little too "yeller".

 

[mykeal]

I bought a Uberti Walker from S&S Firearms a few years ago; it took two weeks before it shipped and the box had a Traditions end label on it. S&S Firearms price was their standard catalog price, but lower than anyone else at the time, including Traditions.

Traditions sells to two markets, one retail and the other wholesale. If a retailer who normally buys directly from a manufacturer runs out of a catalog item, they can replenish stock from a wholesaler/distributor for a small premium thus satisfying their own customer; it's a customer service thing. It's also not unusual for a retailer who has an item that's not moving to sell the overstock on the wholesale market to someone like Cabelas in order to reduce inventory costs. It's a faster way to generate cash than putting the overstock on sale at retail.