BassPro buying Cabela's?

jimbob86 said:
Seriously, FM?

Though I've not bought a lot of stuff in the bargain cave, I've never seen anything even remotely like what you wrote ...... most of the stuff has missing or torn and repaired packaging..... the merchandise itself is just fine.....
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Yep.
Crappy items, all around.

I have bought stuff from the Bargain Cave, but not much.


One of my uncles LOVES the Bargain Cave. But he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, is very impatient, and has much more cash on tap than the rest of the family. He's the kind of guy that will buy a $1,400 rifle from the used rack, just to get the $400 scope that's on it, because that scope (new) is out of stock. Then he'll sell the rifle for $800 and not care that he just paid $600 for a used scope that he could have bought new for $400 if he had just waited two weeks for someone to have it in stock.
"Gotta have it now! I don't care if I overpay. I want it now!"

Actually, on the subject of my uncle and the Bargain Cave...
This year, he showed up to deer camp with a new 'extra long' cot and tent to try out. When everyone started giving him a hard time about having a cot that was 2 feet too long for his tent, he volunteered that it was the second cot. The first one had a broken leg, and the cinderblock that he normally used to support it, he didn't want to bring along on the deer hunt. ...So he paid full price for the second one, on his way down the day prior (2 hours to my father's house, and then 4.5 hours to camp).

I will admit: The tent was alright, and there was nothing wrong with it. He got it for something like 50% off because it was missing a few useless accessories and easily-replaced anchor lines.
 
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There are half a dozen online shooting vendors that are less expensive by a significant amount, than Cabelas. Midway used to be, but now they are about the same. Midsouth, Powder Valley, Wideners, Butches Reloading, Selway---to name a few. We have a Cabelas about an hour away, and the huge store is jampacked with expensive high priced gear, and every time I go (which is darned seldom) I end up with paralysis analysis---to many things I really want and confusion sets in and I leave with nothing. I have bought reloading stuff when there was no other source, but it is high priced. :D
 
Twenty-five or thirty years ago, I dreamed to taking a trip to Springfield, Missouri to visit THE Bass Pro Shop. I think that was the only one back then. I waited by the mailbox for the catalog. I was big into bass fishing back then and BPS was the ultimate destination.

Fast forward a couple of decades and they built a store just about everywhere, including up the road a bit. Maybe I'm just older now, but I look at the store as a tourist destination, not a place to go buy something. It's big. It's crowded. It's packed with stuff. It has all kinds of "bright shiny things" to look at. The people are always friendly, and helpful.

But I don't buy anything. Now I don't fish or hunt much anymore I admit, if I did, maybe it would be different. My taste in guns runs more toward the used market, so there isn't much in that department that interests me. Take that back. I did buy some 44 Special brass there a few months ago. LGS didn't have any.

It's sort of disappointing really.

I've never seen a Cabela's I don't think.
 
I usually go to Amazon for a starting price. Free shipping too. I'm surprised how much higher the prices can be at Cabelas, GM, BPS.

I have a Cabelas Visa but I find that I rarely ever buy anything from them. It's always cheaper somewhere else. Once or twice a year I will use my points. Get some premium bullets or something. Besides, most of the stuff they carry are for "weekend warriors". I've been shopping around for a MRAD scope with mildot reticle (+ 6-25X) and none of them have them.

I despise WalMart but just for s**ts and giggles I checked them out online for a Timney trigger. Not only did they have them but they had the lowest price! I had them ship it to my local store (free shipping) for pickup.
 
I used to shop at a small chain sporting goods store in Indianapolis. Then Dicks bought them. The guns were reduced to 25% of what they used to have and clothes and other crap took over. I only shop Dicks when they have a very good sale, once every year or two, sales items only.

Marshall Fields used to have Good quality mens clothes. Then Target bought them and the quality went straight down. Kamart clothes were as good, and I haven't bought Kamart clothes since the 70's

If this turns out to be true, then I expect Cabelas to be just another clothes store – with a few guns. Over expansion and trying to please Wall Street is a sure road to HLLLL.
 
I once loved Cabelas, then I realized how high their prices are on guns and ammo. Started to shop Sportsmans Warehouse and haven't looked back. Sportsmans may not have the number of items Cabela carries, but their firearms are very competitively priced as is their ammo. And they generally have a very good selection of guns, although they do not carry used guns like Cabela.
 
New guns, I have my local gunshop order them in. Used guns, local gunshop, pawn shops and online.

I do really like the Cabela's branded hunting clothes and footwear...much better than BP.

Murdocks, Sportsman's Warehouse, who I occasionally use, will likely pick up the slack from Cabelas if they get closed or "budgeted out".
 
I used to shop at both. They are not close, but I live right beween them so I could to either. I was time shared at BP. You know some random employee starts chatting you up and asking you questions. The next thing you know bam out comes the brochure.

I was so cranked off. The next time I went there I would watch for them and walk close enough to have them try to engage me and then walk away before they could reach me. I ran one dude ragged because he wasnt smart enough to remember me after five minutes. I dont shop there any more.
 
I usually go to Amazon for a starting price. Free shipping too. I'm surprised how much higher the prices can be at Cabelas, GM, BPS.
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Before those three went to building big "lodges", they WERE the Amazon of the mail order catalogs of their day. Once they went to brick and mortar, everything went out the window.

BTW another site had a link to a report from MT where the employees were told that as of January1, they were unemployed because BPS was buying them out and closing their store
 
I thought Cabelas gouged reloaders and muzzle loaders, until I went into a Bass Pro shop.
I'll make my own black powder, cast my own bullets, and knap my own flints from rocks next to the river before I buy black powder supplies from them.
 
Cabela's Club Visa card holders get rewards points for charging stuff to the card, plus frequent and often generous coupons in the mail. Charge your utility bills and other daily minutia to the card, pay the entire balance every month, and you will earn several dollars in discounts monthly at essentially no cost.
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I have a Cabela's VISA card. They give cash back, but at dismal rates. 1% anywhere but the store. My Amazon has better rates and my Chase Freedom much better. Almost always 2% anywhere and quite often 5%
When I used it a lot years ago they did send me flyers with some REALLY good deals along with my bill.
The 2% cashback at their stores is nowhere close to enough to make up for their atrocious prices.

Even with the 8% KraigWY mentions, I can usually find better elsewhere, usually amazon with free shipping. Their branded items being the exception. I have made some great purchases that were clearly rebranded big names for a very good price.

My current experience with Cabela's is much like Cajun Bass describes his with BPS. I will add Cabela's has clean bathrooms and a decent cafe with "wild game" sandwiches and such. Stopping at two Cabela's on the way back to peruse the "Gun Library" and grab an elk burger takes the sting out of a long trip to the in-laws.
I've been to BPS once and don't plan to return.
I have a hard time believing anyone who really camps, fishes, hunts, shoots, paddles, backpacks, etc seriously would gpo to either of these stores regularly for equipment.

I don't think it will really hurt the outdoor industry at all. It might help the "Empty Yuppy's pockets" industry a great deal.
 
Was through Clearfield, PA yesterday and stopped at "Bob's Army Navy" & "Grices's". Both stores were packed (Thursday morning, around 10:30 AM).

Both stores offer wide variety of firearms (Grice's advertises as the largest shop in PA, and has more guns on display than any Cabelas I've been in). Both stores hold a large inventory of hunting clothes, boots, reloading supplies, ammo and you name it.

Both stores are like walking into a store from 30 - 40 years ago (that's a good thing). Both stores have a knowledgable work staff, and both have prices better than the big box stores.

Also in this rural area, are located at least another 4 or 5 small stores, and it seems that of all of the stores, one always has a terrific price on a popular firearm . In my case, I'm looking for a .357 lever rifle, for plinking and hard, rough/tumble use. I would like a Henry Golden Boy, but I have a .45 Colt in that gun already and I find myself being careful to not damage it, so I'm looking for a Rossi Model 92, with an octagon barrel. Could not find one, but they are on order at Grices, and they took my name and will call when they arrive. Does a Cabelas do that?
 
As long as the Bargain Cave is still there, I'm happy.

Frankenmauser, you are mostly correct when you write about Cabela's returns; however, Bargain Cave electronics can be returned. Not everything in the Cave is a return. I purchased a box of Berry's reloading .357 bullets because an employee dropped the box and not all the bullets could be found so it wound up in the Cave. Reloading components and ammo cannot be returned. My box was short about twenty bullets. Also, some merchandise in the Cave is discontinued items.
 
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Bass Pro doesn't seem to realize there is a large non-hunting market for firearms.
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The one near me has more handguns that long guns. Maybe they adapt their standard inventory to local sales results? I haven't seen any bargains, but the prices are are not terrible, either - somewhere around the upper range of LGS prices.

Reloading components are way overpriced. Assembled ammo is, too, but I have a couple of times recently picked up .22LR ammo at normal pre-panic prices :D with one-box limits :(. On those occasions, my wife and I have checked out separately ;).
 
Never been to a Bass Pro Shop. Have ordered from Cabellas several times. I have been to three Cabellas stores. Went to the Hamburg PA store on a business trip, the engineer who was coordinating the review of some of our production facilities was a big time hunter. I was impressed by this store. Best "outdoor" type store I have ever been to. Several years back a store opened in East Hartford CT, dragged the wife along and we were both impressed with this location. On the return trip from fishing in Maine about a month ago my buddy and I checked out the Berlin MA store. Smaller than the other two I've been to. More clothing and footwear at this one. Or maybe it just appeared that way because the store is smaller. Overall I found the Cabellas stores to be well maintained and found items at each that were difficult to find at local stores including Dicks Sporting Goods. Probably would not purchase a gun at Cabellas, but they seem to have a huge selection of everything. Was able to buy some Bullseye powder at the Berlin store, its not to be found locally and even Kittery Trading Post was out of stock the same day.
If Cabellas sells I hope the new company does not screw up the retail stores.
 
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Kraigwy mentioned a 5% discount for Veterans. Anybody know how that works? I had no idea Lowes had a 10% discount until about a year ago. I have a Cabela's within reach, but was never really a fan except for the free points stuff. To me they are the WALMART of the outdoor world. People want junk, so they tend to sell a lot of junk.
If they get bought up, so what? That is what Cabela's did for years. I used to get a Van Dykes taxidermy catalog sent to me every year. They were really a big outfit. Then one year down in the corner of the catalog it said "A Cabela's company". I am sure they sucked up a couple other places too. It is the way the world works.
 
Since they are locking up hunting ground right and left, and leasing to the highest bidder, I hope Cabela's rots in h!!! and the CEO goes to jail!

A man can dream.

If a BassPro comes in their place, I would find that much better.

As for Dick's / Field & Stream, I love how their buyers have no clue what hunting and shooting are. I literally see boxes of fmj 9mm marked $16 for for 20 rounds stuck on 50 rnd boxes. Is that $40 a box or $16 a box?
 
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