Academy vs. Bass Pro
- Thread starter spacecoast
- Start date
I've never seen an academy, bu we have a large Bass Pro around here.
I look at Bass Pro as a tourist destination. It's a place to go just just to go there. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't buy much of anything there these days. I used to buy all my fishing tackle from them, but that was catalog order stuff. I don't fish anymore, so I don't need that stuff.
The guns and such I've seen there seem to good stuff and the prices run about what I'd expect, but I'm not interested in what they sell, so I've never even considered buying a gun there.
I guess this sounds sort of down on Bass Pro, and I really don't mean it to be. It's just not a place I look to anymore. Which is sort of sad really. Back in the catalog order days, Bass Pro was a place I loved. I could spend hours looking through their catalog and wishing. I used to plan a vacation to Springfield, Missouri to visit the store there. I never dd it, but I planned it. Now with a store right up the street, I never go there.
I buy everything from what amounts to a locally owned big box store. Sort of a mom & pops on steroids.
I look at Bass Pro as a tourist destination. It's a place to go just just to go there. Nothing wrong with that, but I don't buy much of anything there these days. I used to buy all my fishing tackle from them, but that was catalog order stuff. I don't fish anymore, so I don't need that stuff.
The guns and such I've seen there seem to good stuff and the prices run about what I'd expect, but I'm not interested in what they sell, so I've never even considered buying a gun there.
I guess this sounds sort of down on Bass Pro, and I really don't mean it to be. It's just not a place I look to anymore. Which is sort of sad really. Back in the catalog order days, Bass Pro was a place I loved. I could spend hours looking through their catalog and wishing. I used to plan a vacation to Springfield, Missouri to visit the store there. I never dd it, but I planned it. Now with a store right up the street, I never go there.
I buy everything from what amounts to a locally owned big box store. Sort of a mom & pops on steroids.
22-rimfire
New member
I was doing a job in Mobile AL and early on I noticed an Academy Sports store (heard so much about their great prices...). I knew there was one in Birmingham AL, it required special effort for me to visit there. So, I had my big chance and spent a few hours there. I wasn't particularly impressed although I had just gotten a kayak and they sold accessories I was interested in. So, I spent some money. Then they built two stores in my area and I have only visited a few times... usually looking for hiking boots, tennis shoes, and stuff like that.
Cabelas was another. I loved their catalog. I recall when they first started out and you had Gander Mountain, Herters, and Cabelas catalogs. Loved those catalogs spending hours pouring through them. Like you I hoped to visit the main store in Sidney NE (vs BP in Springfield MO). As fortune would have it, I was passing nearby, but the guys I was with were in a hurry. Missed my chance. No stores in my area or the South in general at that time. My very first visit to a Cabelas was late last year when passing north of Atlanta. I was thrilled. Planned the whole trip around having time to stop and browse. Now they are building a store in my area and I suspect it will be like Academy with only occasional visits. The effort involved will be about as much as going to Walmart.
Bass Pro visits were an event. Walking through the parking lot toward the store gave me the same thrill as going to a gunshow... expectation. Loved the stores with one in Nashville TN. Then they built one in Sevierville TN. Still a trip. But between the two places, I probably visited 5-6 times a year. Still a bit of an event. Now they are building a store in my area. Will it be like Academy with only occasional visits?
There is only so much fishing and hunting stuff I am willing to buy. But at this point, as I mentioned above, I like BP.
Cabelas was another. I loved their catalog. I recall when they first started out and you had Gander Mountain, Herters, and Cabelas catalogs. Loved those catalogs spending hours pouring through them. Like you I hoped to visit the main store in Sidney NE (vs BP in Springfield MO). As fortune would have it, I was passing nearby, but the guys I was with were in a hurry. Missed my chance. No stores in my area or the South in general at that time. My very first visit to a Cabelas was late last year when passing north of Atlanta. I was thrilled. Planned the whole trip around having time to stop and browse. Now they are building a store in my area and I suspect it will be like Academy with only occasional visits. The effort involved will be about as much as going to Walmart.
Bass Pro visits were an event. Walking through the parking lot toward the store gave me the same thrill as going to a gunshow... expectation. Loved the stores with one in Nashville TN. Then they built one in Sevierville TN. Still a trip. But between the two places, I probably visited 5-6 times a year. Still a bit of an event. Now they are building a store in my area. Will it be like Academy with only occasional visits?
There is only so much fishing and hunting stuff I am willing to buy. But at this point, as I mentioned above, I like BP.
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Machineguntony
New member
Academy competes on price, but selection is limited. They have the best prices, by far.
We have a Gouger Mountain in Round Rock, Texas, which is a suburb of Austin, Texas. Their staff are obnoxious and condescending to inexperienced customers looking to get into the shooting sports. Gouger Mountain also has the worst prices by far. You don't have to believe me, just go online and check their pieces. They are known as Gouger Mountain for a reason. Oh, and their store is empty on the weekends. I hope they go out of business. I mean, people knock on CTD, but at least CTD waits until there is a catastrophe to gouge out your eyeballs. Gouger Mountain takes out your eyeballs everyday. Gouger Mountain ammo prices are just stupid.
End rant. Back to original issue...
We are about to have a Bass Pro Shop in Round Rock. BPS is like Cabelas. You pay for the giant fish tank. Not the best prices, but they have a nice fish tank, nice ambiance, and better prices than Gouger Mountain. Enjoy the fish tank.
We have a Gouger Mountain in Round Rock, Texas, which is a suburb of Austin, Texas. Their staff are obnoxious and condescending to inexperienced customers looking to get into the shooting sports. Gouger Mountain also has the worst prices by far. You don't have to believe me, just go online and check their pieces. They are known as Gouger Mountain for a reason. Oh, and their store is empty on the weekends. I hope they go out of business. I mean, people knock on CTD, but at least CTD waits until there is a catastrophe to gouge out your eyeballs. Gouger Mountain takes out your eyeballs everyday. Gouger Mountain ammo prices are just stupid.
End rant. Back to original issue...
We are about to have a Bass Pro Shop in Round Rock. BPS is like Cabelas. You pay for the giant fish tank. Not the best prices, but they have a nice fish tank, nice ambiance, and better prices than Gouger Mountain. Enjoy the fish tank.
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
Cabela's has a nicer fish tank than Bass Pro. However, Bass Pro has a sea food restaurant - Hmmm?
I don't buy guns from them unless there is a sale AND I have points from other purchases - shoes, pants, etc. That got me a good deal on a couple of guns.
As far as staff in the know - most of them are not. Cabela's - don't make me laugh except for one old guy.
Cabela's also likes a bait and switch. They had a rifle on sale and none in the store. After a lengthy e-mail argument, it turned out they had only 4 of the guns for the whole country but it was in their ad and website sale.
I don't buy guns from them unless there is a sale AND I have points from other purchases - shoes, pants, etc. That got me a good deal on a couple of guns.
As far as staff in the know - most of them are not. Cabela's - don't make me laugh except for one old guy.
Cabela's also likes a bait and switch. They had a rifle on sale and none in the store. After a lengthy e-mail argument, it turned out they had only 4 of the guns for the whole country but it was in their ad and website sale.
SPEMack618
New member
I've always wanted to purchase a rod and reel from Bass Pro, a bag of beef jerky at the checkout counter, and then go fishing in the big fish tank.
The only time I've bought guns at Bass Pro was years ago when they still had the used guns on round racks in front of the counter.
I found a Macon PD marked Remington 870 Police Magnum for $200.
After applying my Bass Pro points from the trolling motor I'd bought earlier in the spring, I walked out the door with the gun for $85
The only time I've bought guns at Bass Pro was years ago when they still had the used guns on round racks in front of the counter.
I found a Macon PD marked Remington 870 Police Magnum for $200.
After applying my Bass Pro points from the trolling motor I'd bought earlier in the spring, I walked out the door with the gun for $85
Don't buy at walmart
I recently bought a Savage MK-II F at wally world. When I got home I saw that it did not have the accutrigger. You would think that I would have noticed this when I inspected the gun ... and you'd be right ... except that they had a trigger lock on the gun when I inspected it so I assumed that the gun they were selling met the manufacturers published specs. The trigger lock was not removed until all the paperwork had been completed and then the gun was boxed by the manager and I was escorted out with the gun. Did some research, turns out that Walmart special orders these models from Savage w/o the accutrigger so that they can sell them cheaper. Here's the disclaimer from Savage's website: NOTE: Some retailers order non-catalog items to their own specifications. In certain cases, those specifications may exclude the AccuTrigger.
Some I'm not a very happy camper. Walmart's policy is that all gun sales are final. However, this is blatant deception on their part in not disclosing that the MK=II F that they're selling DOES NOT meet the manufacturers stated specs. I read on other forums where others have been duped as I have. I will NEVER buy a gun from walmart and am really doubtful that I would entertain buying another Savage Arms due to this deceitful practice. If Walmart wants to do this and Savage wants to support it then they should simply create another model # that reflects the Walmart special order does not have the accutrigger. BTW, I read that Dick's does the same thing.
I recently bought a Savage MK-II F at wally world. When I got home I saw that it did not have the accutrigger. You would think that I would have noticed this when I inspected the gun ... and you'd be right ... except that they had a trigger lock on the gun when I inspected it so I assumed that the gun they were selling met the manufacturers published specs. The trigger lock was not removed until all the paperwork had been completed and then the gun was boxed by the manager and I was escorted out with the gun. Did some research, turns out that Walmart special orders these models from Savage w/o the accutrigger so that they can sell them cheaper. Here's the disclaimer from Savage's website: NOTE: Some retailers order non-catalog items to their own specifications. In certain cases, those specifications may exclude the AccuTrigger.
Some I'm not a very happy camper. Walmart's policy is that all gun sales are final. However, this is blatant deception on their part in not disclosing that the MK=II F that they're selling DOES NOT meet the manufacturers stated specs. I read on other forums where others have been duped as I have. I will NEVER buy a gun from walmart and am really doubtful that I would entertain buying another Savage Arms due to this deceitful practice. If Walmart wants to do this and Savage wants to support it then they should simply create another model # that reflects the Walmart special order does not have the accutrigger. BTW, I read that Dick's does the same thing.
Machineguntony
New member
I find it strange that in the shooting world, a buyer will get lower prices from a small mom and pop gun store than from big box retailers like Cabelas, Gouger Mountain, and Bass Pro Shop. These big stores, with their multiple locations throughout the nation should be able to buy in bulk and obtain larger discounts on firearms, and then pass them on to the consumer.
As to Gouger Mountain, I can not think of a single business that makes it a practice to regularly sell their goods for above MSRP (car dealships sell for above MSRP when there is a high demand limited model, but car dealerships don't make it a practice on all their cars).
It's like going into a mom and pop grocery store or convenience store, and finding out that they have better prices than the big box food stores. It almost never happens. But it's normal in the firearms world.
As to Gouger Mountain, I can not think of a single business that makes it a practice to regularly sell their goods for above MSRP (car dealships sell for above MSRP when there is a high demand limited model, but car dealerships don't make it a practice on all their cars).
It's like going into a mom and pop grocery store or convenience store, and finding out that they have better prices than the big box food stores. It almost never happens. But it's normal in the firearms world.
Those big stores cost a lot to build, a lot to staff, a lot to inventory, and a lot to maintain. All those mounts on the walls, etc. cost, and that cost is in the price of everything they sell. I stopped asking for gifts cards to Gander many years ago. Now and again, you can find something decent on sale or on closeout, but it is getting rarer and rarer, especially with the used guns.