Big R

I bought a wood stove from Big R about 15 years ago. It was a «return» supposedly because it was «too hot for the house». The price was right so I bit and bought it.
Had problems with it from day one. It smoked like a freight train every time you’d add wood. Smoke would billow out the door no matter how carefully and long I took to open it. Yes, the pipe was clean and free from obstructions.
I talked to the stove salesman (can’t remember his name… he rode a Kawasaki ZX1100 or something crotch rocket) and he told me that he passed my house on his way to and from work every day and would stop by to check it out. He never did even after multiple requests. He obviously didn’t give a rat’s ass.
The manager, «Mitch» was no help. From what I observed first hand and close up, Mitch had no business managing a lemonade stand, much less a huge store such as Big R.
Smokey’s Stoves just now left our house after hauling off the old one. Let’s see how it works and what kind of service they give me. Couldn’t do any worse than Big R, that’s for sure.
Buy your stoves from a stove store, not Big R.
I noticed a review that included an employee named «Carolyn». I had a nasty experience with her. I bought a jigsaw puzzle and after discovering my wife already had it, took it back. Carolyn, instead of just letting me exchange it, told me in her typical snotty attitude: «You opened it. How do I know there’s no pieces missing? I can’t take it back.» I told her the bagged puzzle inside was still sealed, just the plastic on the box was gone. She got even snottier and insisted pieces were missing, not even taking the time to look at the sealed bag and stomped off. I just put it back on the rack, grabbed an equivalently priced puzzle and walked out. I’ve dealt with her on previous occasions and she always is stuck up and snotty. Never a smile. Maybe since her «operation» she’s changed but most likely not.

I needed a livestock gate. I phoned Big R, & was told that the item I needed was in stock. I arrived & waited approximately 40 minutes while the overly busy receptionist paged repeatedly for someone to help me. The employee sent to help me had to call for backup. They had one gate that would work but it was severely damaged. After waiting for an additional 15 – 20 minutes to obtain the regular price, I was referred to the manager.
I was offered a whopping 10% discount off of the, as yet, unknown regular price. The manager stated he didn’t care about losing a customer. Furthermore, the manager agreed that since «Coastal Farm» had purchased Big R, the staffing has been cut, inventory reduced & the employees are unhappy. I’ll not be going back. Fortunately, the Grange Coop has everything I need.

Love Big R. Everything you need for a life on the ranch and more. Service department is lacking in customer service, but the sales guys know their stuff and remember me by name. Great shoe and clothing selection and reasonably priced. Carolyn in animal Health and tack is knowledgable and experienced. Front staff could be a little more attentive to their customers vs chatting about their weekend plans.

Only buy the clothes if they are on sale! Otherwise it’s $ 30 for a shirt or $ 89 for pants! Tons to choose from and good quality name brand products though! Lots of rifles and handguns to choose from, which is hard to come by these days! Great variety of home décor! I’m not much for cowgirl items but there were plenty of other things to pick from! For example bears and elk, which are my favorite! :D The bonus was blue and red heeler puppies were for sale in the parking lot! ;)

This is a farmer/​rancher supply store but has lots of attraction for town folk too: western style clothes and accessories, Carhartt clothing, camping, fishing, hiking and hunting supplies, boots, pet food, etc., etc. The prices are reasonable and sometimes the store has very good sales.
There are at least two or three branch stores in other ranch areas in southern Oregon and northern California.

What’s not to like about a place that has guns, tools, clothes and horse tack galore?