Very bad experience at a Cabela's today.

lrrifleman · Jan 9, 2017

I attempted to sell a match grade Garand that I will never be able to compete with again at a local to me Cabela's. Forgetting about the insultingly low price that they offered, I was very disturbed by how the Outfitter handled my rifle.

When the outfitter that was going to appraise my rifle was presented with the rifle, he was informed that it was a match accurized Garand, and he was asked 3 times to not handle or lift the rifle by the forward handguard. Needless to say, my requests were ignored.

For those that are unaware, when a Garand is accurized, the forward and rear handguards are unitized, and the forward handguard liner/stiffener is removed, which weakens the forward handguard and it becomes very easy to break.

I am contemplating listing this rifle on the forum.

Old TexMex · Jan 9, 2017

Good idea.

chud333 · Jan 9, 2017

Put it up here for sale and you will do much better.
The big box stores are a joke and don't hire firearm
people. I wouldn't buy a gun from any of them.
Most times they have a "wannabe" working the gun
counters. Someone who could talk enough BS to
convince management they are gun experts.

Good Luck with your sale !!

Chuck

daniel lawecki · Jan 9, 2017

Cabela's near me had a counter person flick his wrist to close a S&W. It was a used gun in mint shape. I just walked away nothing to say to a knuckle dragger.

lrrifleman · Jan 9, 2017

I did contact corporate, but I doubt that I will hear anything. I shared my experience, and specifically asked that if their employee damaged my rifle, would they: pay my asking price, continue with their insulting low-ball price, or pay to bring the rifle back to the condition that it was presented to them. I am afraid that I know the answer, if I get a reply!

StakeOut · Jan 9, 2017

When I exited The Corp in 1965 on of the 1st things I did was buy a type 2 National Match M1 Garand through what was then called the DCM.

Leatherman-Cowboy · Jan 9, 2017

All to often " expert " people man the counters, and they know little of the true value they hold in their hands. Seems to me the guy totally ignored your instructions. I for one is quick to let people know when they are stupid,,,no matter where I am or who they are.

I agree with others on here,,,,list it here and see what happens. On this board people have a great deal more respect and understanding about the value.

Good luck.

Thank you,

Wise_A · Jan 9, 2017

You're selling your gun at the wrong market, mate. Be advised, this is gonna sting.

A big-box or even your standard "gun store" just doesn't have the clientele to treat that as anything other than a Garand. It's not their fault, it's just business. For one thing, 95% of the people who look at it aren't going to appreciate it as anything other than "old semi-auto rifle", or at best, "Garand". Hell, I like me some guns, and I fall into the "Garand" category.

Just cuz it's special to you, don't make it special to everybody. I got a couple guns I love, but most people wouldn't give 'em a second look. Fact of life.

For another, Cabela's has to make a profit. So lob off a big chunk for overhead and some walkin' money. Now lob off a big chunk more because it's gonna sit in the shop for six months or a year if they pay you remotely what it's worth, and during that time, it has to justify tying up the capital (and the shelf space). Call it "interest". Not that they could ever really afford to pay you that.

So the guy flipped open his book to "Garand", picked a condition, and subtracted half. That ain't what he thinks it's worth, it's what he can give you for it.

As for counter expertise, shop and store margins on guns are thin enough already, in the world of outfits like Bud's. Not to mention, there are a lot of idjits who'd work that job for less than it's worth anyway.

And all that notwithstanding, counter people can't be knowledgeable about everything. Me, I wouldn't have handed him that rifle to begin with. He probly doesn't know what a handguard is.

Selling through a forum's not a bad idea. Beauty of the internet, you can reach a lot of people that share your passion and understand the value of what you're sellin'.

I would check out, besides this place, CMP-type forums, and re-enactment forums.

df06 · Jan 9, 2017

Cabelas

I am a big fan of their stores and merchandise.
However that's the last place I would try to sell one. I saw them trying to rip off a 25ish kid who wanted to sell his inherited from his grandfather Grade III Belgium Browning SA-22. The kid said let me go out in the store a moment and think about it. I followed him out of the gun library and told him they were screwing him big time. Told him to go home and research the value of that gun. Saw him leaving the store, with the gun.

rwt1405 · Jan 9, 2017

If it was the one in Delaware, I am not surprised.

Their prices on their used handguns are also very high, IMHO.

bushmaster1313 · Jan 9, 2017

For those that are unaware, when a Garand is accurized, the forward and rear handguards are unitized, and the forward handguard liner/stiffener is removed, which weakens the forward handguard and it becomes very easy to break.

How does one lift or hold such a rifle?

Muss Muggins · Jan 9, 2017

After the first time: "Give it back. Peace out . . . "

lrrifleman said:
I attempted to sell a match grade Garand that I will never be able to compete with again at a local to me Cabela's. Forgetting about the insultingly low price that they offered, I was very disturbed by how the Outfitter handled my rifle.

When the outfitter that was going to appraise my rifle was presented with the rifle, he was informed that it was a match accurized Garand, and he was asked 3 times to not handle or lift the rifle by the forward handguard. Needless to say, my requests were ignored.

For those that are unaware, when a Garand is accurized, the forward and rear handguards are unitized, and the forward handguard liner/stiffener is removed, which weakens the forward handguard and it becomes very easy to break.

I am contemplating listing this rifle on the forum.

TinMon · Jan 9, 2017

lrrifleman said:
I did contact corporate, but I doubt that I will hear anything. I shared my experience, and specifically asked that if their employee damaged my rifle, would they: pay my asking price, continue with their insulting low-ball price, or pay to bring the rifle back to the condition that it was presented to them. I am afraid that I know the answer, if I get a reply!

Just a clarification: Did they damage your rifle? Not being a jerk - just want to know.

Post their answer if you hear!

jessebogan · Jan 9, 2017

Jeeze, I wish I had the cash for an NM Garand. It would be a privilege just to own and shoot one. I have a 1944 mixmaster, and that indeed is the pride and joy of the rifle collection. It has the been there, done that look...Sorry you had a bad experience, hope the forums are kinder.

HOUSTON RICK · Jan 9, 2017

Good luck, but if I were going to sell, I would go to LGS where they are likely to know what a Garand is.

Irn-Bru · Jan 9, 2017

I've stopped selling my guns to any gun stores and would avoid selling to Cabelas like the plaque too. I've tried to sell to a few guns stores and the low ball prices are ridiculous. I understand they have to make a few buck, but not off my back. I'll sell here in the forums or list them on GB.

Ivan the Butcher · Jan 10, 2017

I was in the gun accessories department at the Columbus, Ohio store. Unlike most of the help, a mid twenties young man with a hair-cut anyone that ever knew a Marine, would recognize. He ask if he could Try to help me? Try?, I ask. He said I looked like I knew what I was doing, and usually that meant, One: Cabela's didn't have what I wanted, or Two: I knew more that he did, and there was nothing he had to help me. I said "With a hair cut like that you should be able to help me with an AR question!" He laughed and said not to let the hair cut confuse me, he wasn't a Marine, but a Navy corpsman. And he really didn't know rifles, he always carried a shotgun!

It turned out option "ONE" was in play and Cabela's didn't have the accessory I wanted, but he had some useful recommendations for me. I saw him on my next trip, and stopped to say, Hi, and he told me the Gun Manager didn't like him and it was his last day. That is the 4th good person in the gun department they let go, but have kept a bunch of turds (people that know nothing about gun and do nothing to help)!

Ivan

ky wonder · Jan 10, 2017

made the mistake of offering a rare collector pistol to cabellas one time,

the kid at the counter realized it was a valuable piece since he had one priced at about 75% more for a worse condition gun just like it in the gun library

he called his manager at home and told me that the guy said to offer me less than 25% of what he was asking for the one they had.

I aint been back!

try a gun show if they have them in that part of the country, look for the guy with real precision rifles. And strike up a conversation.

Take it to some matches, where it will be valued by the competitors and there is always someone looking to upgrade to a nicer gun

that way you can get the word out about wanting to sell it, to a crowd that would place the right value on it.

then you could enjoy the match even if you can not shoot, the fellowship would still be fun. I bet there are some younger shooters who could use some transfer of knowledge

rkwood · Jan 10, 2017

I'll second what KY Wonder just said. Good advice.

Tony C. · Jan 10, 2017

How does one lift or hold such a rifle?

I also have an accurized International Harvester Garand, usually I grab the rifle just in front of the magazine.

As for selling guns to gun shops, the rule of thumb is: if a gun retail for $1000, and your gun is in excellent or almost new condition, the shop may offer you $250-$300, and price it at about $800-$900, that is the reality of the gun trade.

If you LGS are willing to take in your gun for consignment, you may give that a try depending how much fee they are going to charge.

You'll have better luck selling it privately or if you don't like the idea answering phone call and email, how about let a auction house sell it for you, the auction house will charge a fee of between 15-25% of the hammer price, but in my experiences after deducting the fee, one still come out far ahead then selling it to a gun store.

Very bad experience at a Cabela's today.

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