I have mixed feelings about posting this since I know Mrs. Asbell would probably not want the attention and I would hate for her generosity to be taken advantage of but after Terry's post earlier I felt compelled to share this.
Back in late summer of 2011, I ordered a pullover from Teresa. Because I wanted the fit to be just right I called her up and she asked me several questions and then offered to customize my pullover, XXL in the shoulders, XL in the waist. It fit PERFECTLY and I wore it every chance I got, which wasn't many here in GA.
Flash forward to the last day of the season in North GA and I got my first official trad kill, while wearing my pullover. As some may remember, in my excitement I left my backpack on the side of the road. Along with my Asbell pullover. An hour later when I returned to retrieve my forgotten gear I found that everything was gone.
About a month ago, I again called Teresa to inquire about a Sherpa Vest and a G. Fred's new book. We spoke at length and she asked how I liked the pullover during the season. Embarrased I told her the story of what happened and that I was planning to order a replacement when I placed the order for the vest and book. She told me to wait as she had the Silent Stalker pattern returning and she thought I might like that better than the Evening Stand Green. We discussed the Spring Fling event in AL, my daughter's love of archery and that I needed to join Compton's. I told her I would send her a few pictures of my daughter shooting and said goodbye.
A few days later I get a call from a number I did not recognize. When I answer I hear Mrs. Asbell's voice. She said she was calling to tell me my order was shipping the next day. I told her I appreciated her letting me know but she did not need to call me for this. I wasn't in a big hurry. She then says, "well, I also called because I want to send your daughter a haversack, but wanted to make sure it was ok with you first."
Well, I was speechless. I am sure I stuttered some type of thank you and that she did not have to do that. I seem to remember saying I was at a loss for words. We spoke a few more minutes and said goodbye.
A couple days later I get a suspiciously larger box than I expected from MI. I open it up looking for the haversack that my daughter has been anxiously awaiting and underneath that there is a new pullover in Silent Stalker. Sized XXL in the chest and XL in the waist. I just stood there, again speechless. I picked up the phone right away and made a call and with way more emotion that I care to admit thanked Mrs. Asbell for her kindness and tried futily to get her to let me pay for the pullover.
My daughter sat down immediately and crafted a hand written thank you letter to her which we mailed the next day.
This past weekend myself, wife and daughter head to the Pre-Spring Fling. From the onset my daughter is as much excited to meet her new hero as she is to attend the shoot. She wore her haversack everywhere and made sure she was showing it prominatly in photos. When I pointed Mrs. Asbell out to my daughter she practically ran up and hugged her. She was even more excited when she heard Teresa call her by her name. She even asked her to sign her haversack! We talked a bit and G. Fred walked by, she stopped him and said, this is Bella, the girl who wrote me the thank you letter. He said nice to meet you Bella, turned around and picked up a copy of "Instinctive Shooting", signed it and handed it to her and said thank you for sending the letter. Of course in her excitement my daughter said thank you and then asked Teresa if she would pose for a picture with her. As I said elsewhere, I hope G. Fred was not offended. :biglaugh:
Since she would not allow me to pay her for the pullover, book or haversack, I am working with Teresa to put together some special items that I will be purchasing from her to auction for St. Judes in a few months. Just my way of paying her kindness forward. Sitting here typing this up I am still astounded by her generosity.
This Trad Community is truly a wonderful one!!!!
(http://i.imgur.com/CB1mx.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/gu0O3.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zt66P.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/in3js.jpg)
Thank you again Mrs. Asbell!
Truly awesome! A good reminder how we should be all the time. I hope to get to meet the Asbell's and many of the fine people on this site some day.
Great story. Thank you for sharing it with us.
:clapper: I love hearing stories like this...very good
:thumbsup:
:campfire:
Now that just takes the cake. Thank you for sharing.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
:clapper:
Great stuff !!! :thumbsup:
Bill
That made my day. Thanks for sharing!
Robs
In a world that is increasingly self centered, It's so nice to hear this story. May GOD bless all involved.
Standing O :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Teresa is certainly one of a kind! Can't recall any phone conversation I've had with her that didn't last at least a minimum of 45 minutes. Think the longest was 1 1/2 hours, while I was actually at work!
Your story just goes to prove she is as good hearted as she is easy to talk with.
G. Fred got the cream of the crop when she agreed to marry him!
How cool is this?... Way!!... I'm saying...
I look forward to the day I can give Teresa a big hug.
She and Fred are truly national treasures and not just to the traditional community.
God bless,Mudd
Quality people all the way around! :clapper: :clapper:
An Outstanding Show of Humanity ALL the Way Around!! Now, if the World could ALL be like this Awsome Traditional Community we have, just think what WE could accomplish!! :campfire:
This is just another Terrific Chapter in the "World Book of Traditional Archery Family Values"!! God Bless One and ALL!! :pray: This All Makes me Very Proud, and Quite Humble, to be a Member of this Traditional Archery Family.
Good peopele, the Asbells. That wool suit you, bud.
AWESOME!! :thumbsup:
Awesome Awesome! I agree, it's just a glimpse of how all of us should be all the time! Really cool!
I agree 100%, we need more people like this in the world. I am glad to have met them myself and what great customer service.
Teresa is a very caring lady and she has also went Beyond customer care with me as well....I won't go into details but rest assured if an order gets lost,misplaced or possibly late Mrs. Asbell will do her very best to keep you as a Happy customer...I thank you again Mrs.Asbell for what you did for me as well...God Bless You! :thumbsup:
Great story, she is always very nice to speak with.
Tom
Made my day reading this.... thank you for sharing. My Grandfather taught me that character and integrity is something you have in you. It cannot be bought, borrowed or taken .....you either have it or you never will. Folks such as Mrs Asbell you will never have to wonder which side of the fence they stand.
Froggy
:thumbsup: Why can't the evening news be as good as this?
Amazing!
That's what it's all about!
Teresa and Fred are great folks. The neat thing is, this story s NOT unique.They do kind things for folks all the time....constantly...and they never post it up on any forums for the free attention. They do good things for the right reasons, because they are decent folks. They dont't require nor seek any "attaboys"......
That picture of Teresa is the first I have seen of her on a thread like this. That should tell you something. She and Fred are content to stand in the background, letting others seek out the limelight. They just simply plod along on an honorable trail.
Hi Steve
It's Mike from NGTA (spoke to you in McCalla last weekend)
What a great story !
Hope to see you and Bella at NGTA soon.
Mike
QuoteOriginally posted by MichaelH:
Hi Steve
It's Mike from NGTA (spoke to you in McCalla last weekend)
What a great story !
Hope to see you and Bella at NGTA soon.
Mike
We should be there Sunday. Looking forward to it Mike.
Regards,
That's them, alright!
I met them for the second time last month, at Kalamazoo.
What strikes me about both Fred and Teresa, is how they both make you feel that they have known you for a hundred, no make that just two years. I say that because they are polite, and Lord knows that we are not polite enough to folks we have known for a long time.
When Mr. Fred makes time for you, well, he is making time for YOU. You have his full attention, which is a rare thing in this attention deficited world. It makes me stumble, feeling unworthy, and not wanting to waste it. I think that if he were coaching me, that he would be coaching ME, not just stuffing my shooting into a formula.
And Teresa!
What a wonderful woman. She is a great talker, sharing all of her experiences that might be helpful regarding what she has gleaned as being important to you. I sometimes fall silent, conversation does not come easily to me once I have gone through the preliminaries. Teresa has the knack of engaging you, learning where you are coming from and drawing you into discourse. Be considerate, as she may forget what mission she was on before she got sidetracked with you.
Yes, they are good people, and what surprises me and makes me rethink myself is that they hold themselves to old-school standards of civility in their conduct with all who come their way. Definitely a tough model to live up to, but one that I think my little circle would benefit from by my emulating.
Killdeer
The dreaded double post!
I must have been utterly sincere to get carried away like that.
K~. :biglaugh:
G Fred and Teresa are wonderful folks. The work they do for Comptons, the humility and grace that Killy speaks of, their genuine friendliness - what wonderful ambassadors for traditional archery!
Never tire of these tremendous stories of good faith & exercise of good will! G. Fred & T are top of the mark.., always have been. You & fam are solid straight arrow too! Bella's excitement is contagious! She's a beaut!
Those Asbells great folks in everyway. Bill Ward
Great folks...Great story!