I have a real soft spot for Orvis...
The first time I ever laid eyes on a bamboo rod was at an Orvis dealer in Boston many moons ago which was before I started fly fishing. However, I did buy my first Orvis zinger that day that looked like the one pictured below:
When I finally started fly fishing (WAY before the Internet), Orvis was IT in my neck of the woods in regards to fly tackle and other related gear. There were no company stores at that time, but there were three local Orvis dealers (Eyler's, Cox's & The Sporting Gentleman) that got 100% of my business.
For that reason it was no coincidence my first fly reels were CFO's and my 2nd fly rod was a graphite Orvis Limestone Special that I got for 20% off by trading in an old spinning rod. My first fly tying vise was branded Orvis as were some of my tools and I anxiously awaited the four or so catalogs I got every year.
I later experienced my first Orvis company store in Manhattan that opened in the 1980's on 5th Avenue around 50th Street. That store was an eyeopener in regards to things to come after shopping at dealers who only sold tackle.
The first NYC Orvis had a first floor and a mezzanine with the entire first floor being clothing & dog beds. All tackle was all on the mezzanine with a ceiling so low you couldn't lift a rod to "waggle" test it except by holding it over the mezzanine railing and the first floor.
As time went on, I moved on to other brands and buying options but I still have the Limestone Special, the CFO's, the zingers and other Orvis stuff along with some Orvis bamboo purchased more recently on the used market. Over the years if anything needed service or refurbishment, I always got five star customer service from Orvis.
I realize change is inevitable, but I hope that level of customer service doesn't go away and for potential future bamboo repairs or refurbishment, I hope the bamboo business survives any future downsizing.
For sentimental reasons even though I don't envision myself buying any Orvis stuff going forward, I hope the company survives in a form that resembles what I fondly remember.