Won't be shopping at Cabela's anymore.
- Thread starter lihpster
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My late hubby and I were Cabela's customers for over 30 years. When they built the second big store in Owatonna, MN in 1998, we would go 2 or 3 times a year. Hubby was a big time cold weather waterfowl hunter and purchased all of his clothing and gear there. He would be appalled at the offerings now days. Like the canvas shirts that were mentioned, none of the silk and wool underwear we both liked, no bargain cave, and no elk sandwiches.
Prior to the sale to BP I purchased 2 handguns there with my FFL and had no problem then.
I do still shop there, I like the Natural Reflections women's casual clothing.
Prior to the sale to BP I purchased 2 handguns there with my FFL and had no problem then.
I do still shop there, I like the Natural Reflections women's casual clothing.
Been to the local Cabelas and Bass Pro a few times over the last 15 years or so.
Never found much that impressed me.
Full MSRP on guns and knives. Less than knowledgeable staff. I keep my money at local mom and pop shops.
I do however find the gun library interesting.
Never found much that impressed me.
Full MSRP on guns and knives. Less than knowledgeable staff. I keep my money at local mom and pop shops.
I do however find the gun library interesting.
I wonder a couple of things. First, will Bass Pro keep the Gun Libraries? I have always enjoyed checking them out whenever I visited. I always liked that they would ship guns from other Gun Libraries around the country to my local store. Second, for those of you that have both stores close to each other, will one of them close? I can’t imagine them keeping both open if they are located close together.
Larry
I used to live just outside Reading, PA so when Cabela's opened the Hamburg, PA store it was like a homecoming of sorts. Just set the cruise control on the Batmobile and run up I-78. Every so often they would have fantastic sales on .223 shells and my late uncle and I would share cases of shells I bought up there. I miss those days.
OP
Yeah, I think the closest one to you is the one I am speaking of, in Tualatin. Unless you're closer to Springfield, but I thought you were northern Oregon.
I have a Bass Pro here in Humidity, GA. I go there on occasion. The customer service is great. They got me a resident fishing license when I was transitioning here.
So far my only complaint is that the Uncle Bucks, jerky is nasty. It is ground up and formed into a strip with a mealy texture. Thankfully, I have a meat market nearby that makes jerky.
Cabela had home made fudge. Great stuff!
So far my only complaint is that the Uncle Bucks, jerky is nasty. It is ground up and formed into a strip with a mealy texture. Thankfully, I have a meat market nearby that makes jerky.
Cabela had home made fudge. Great stuff!
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I worked briefly at a Cabelas once, for the holidays. The Cabela employees weren't too fond of the takeover. Bass Pro is more fishing oriented (obviously) and Cabelas was more hunting/shooting oriented. Mine had a huge gun department/gun library. They sold so many guns it was incredible.
There were a lot of reasonably priced used guns. Some not, but mostly fair priced. The new guns you could buy cheaper elsewhere, unless maybe it was on sale. But mostly they were full retail.
I think the way they stay in business is their credit card. A very high percentage of sales were paid for by points at my store. I know I like them. I've got $200 in credit there right now. I'll spend it. There were a lot of guys that came in and bought a gun entirely with points. Not uncommon.
There were a lot of reasonably priced used guns. Some not, but mostly fair priced. The new guns you could buy cheaper elsewhere, unless maybe it was on sale. But mostly they were full retail.
I think the way they stay in business is their credit card. A very high percentage of sales were paid for by points at my store. I know I like them. I've got $200 in credit there right now. I'll spend it. There were a lot of guys that came in and bought a gun entirely with points. Not uncommon.
Alton
Member
We have a Bass Pro here in SA, a Cabela's in Buda right up IH35 North. It's just easier to order on line delivered to the house or pick up at the front door versus searching through out the store.
M1A4ME
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I used to go to Cabela's for primers (usually had a good sale every few months and sold three different brands of primers) and powder (4 lb. and 8 lb. cans of the favorite/heavily used types.) Different brands/styles of kayaks and other fishing gear vs. Bass Pro.
After Bass Pro bought them the primers dried up, the powder is one lb. cans and they sell the same fishing gear as Bass Pro.
I shop there when the kids get me gift cards at Christmas. Don't go up there for months at a time.
After Bass Pro bought them the primers dried up, the powder is one lb. cans and they sell the same fishing gear as Bass Pro.
I shop there when the kids get me gift cards at Christmas. Don't go up there for months at a time.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
The very first thing Bass Pro did: was do away with the Bargain Cave! Once the sell off of the Cabela's merchandise was over, I haven't seen a bargain since!
One of the young men from church was working there right after the take-over, when he saw us he took us in the shoe department and all but begged us to look at a sale item! It was "Irish Setter" boots at about 30% of the old price. He said "Nothing of this quality will ever be sold here again!" They only had a sizes left to fit my wife, No joy for me!
The "Red Head" brand was about equal quality to Cabela's brand at the time. The Pocketed tee shirts I buy are now twice the price and half
the quality and weight! (I buy Carhart's now.)
Ivan
One of the young men from church was working there right after the take-over, when he saw us he took us in the shoe department and all but begged us to look at a sale item! It was "Irish Setter" boots at about 30% of the old price. He said "Nothing of this quality will ever be sold here again!" They only had a sizes left to fit my wife, No joy for me!
The "Red Head" brand was about equal quality to Cabela's brand at the time. The Pocketed tee shirts I buy are now twice the price and half
the quality and weight! (I buy Carhart's now.)
Ivan
While living in McHenry County, IL back in the late 80s I shopped at the "original" Gander Mountain brick & mortar store in Wilmot, WI. Got their catalog for years and remember having to be careful, especially of clothing, as most of it seemed to represent cheap, imported, low quality stuff. I had some knockoff LL Bean Maine Hunting Boots from them once and they were pretty awful.
I did buy a Colt 1911 Series 80 Gold Cup in Wilmot that was shipped across the state line to a local dealer near where I lived in Crystal Lake. Still have it.
Gander expanded exponentially and then seemed to fold up almost suddenly. I recall reading the circumstances of the Bass Pro takeover of Cabelas and it wasn't a pretty story. Lots of folks in Nebraska, and other places, put out of work after promises that wouldn't happen. Been through a few mergers/acquisitions and they are always an adventure.
Bryan
I did buy a Colt 1911 Series 80 Gold Cup in Wilmot that was shipped across the state line to a local dealer near where I lived in Crystal Lake. Still have it.
Gander expanded exponentially and then seemed to fold up almost suddenly. I recall reading the circumstances of the Bass Pro takeover of Cabelas and it wasn't a pretty story. Lots of folks in Nebraska, and other places, put out of work after promises that wouldn't happen. Been through a few mergers/acquisitions and they are always an adventure.
Bryan
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That's exactly what George Leonard Herter would have said.
I used to buy a lot from Cabela's. They sent me those hard back catalogs back then, too. They have a small store in Lubbock that I visited often. Once the Bass Pro merger happened things changed pretty quickly. No more high quality Cabela's branded clothing. New stuff was Red Head of variable quality (mostly low, although there is the occasional outlier) Gander Mountain was practically across the street. Their firearm selection (in contrast to the Cabela's) was MASSIVE, but the prices were too. Now Gander is gone, and I rarely visit the Cabela's. That Cabela's used to be packed all the time. Now there's hardly any customers there when I go.
There is currently a much larger Bass Pro under construction here in Odessa. Of course I'll go check it out when it opens, but my excitement is somewhat limited.
There is currently a much larger Bass Pro under construction here in Odessa. Of course I'll go check it out when it opens, but my excitement is somewhat limited.
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I'm in an undisclosed location, due to security, therefore, insecurity. HA!
My old buddy and I used to make a bi-annual trek to the Cabelas in Sidney, Nebraska. First stop was the gun library, then the bargain cave. Then They built two stores in the Denver area. Not bad. Then Bass Pro took over. The two stores went through a makeover that pretty much turned Them into Bass Pro Jr. stores. No longer could You get the Cabelas hunting clothes. The fishing stuff changed also and not for the better. The gun library changed not so much in quality, but in price and salesman knowledge. The gun counters were stocked with sales people who suddenly were experts in every firearms aspect. LOL. Went to the south store, walked around through the usual places. Nothing was the same. Quality clothing gone, quality footwear gone, quality sales people gone. I walked out and to this day have never been in a Cabelas or BP.
I like our (still) Cabela's in Reno,
since I reload, tie flys, and they have a good supply of stuff on hand, usually.
My last fishing rod that I bought there were two, 6'6" med action, 8-20lb line "WHUPPIN'Stick" that works great from shore or trolling.
I don't know if the Ugly stick, that I also have, is any tuffer at handling big weights or large fish, than these new rods?
So far the Kokanee items are slow showing up and I did notice,
that a LOT of sporting good stores are now asking you to order gear on the net and have it sent to the store, to save on their "Over head" cost.
since I reload, tie flys, and they have a good supply of stuff on hand, usually.
My last fishing rod that I bought there were two, 6'6" med action, 8-20lb line "WHUPPIN'Stick" that works great from shore or trolling.
I don't know if the Ugly stick, that I also have, is any tuffer at handling big weights or large fish, than these new rods?
So far the Kokanee items are slow showing up and I did notice,
that a LOT of sporting good stores are now asking you to order gear on the net and have it sent to the store, to save on their "Over head" cost.
And THAT is the problem! Cabela's went downhill when Bass Pro bought them. They became Bass Pro at that time. Now the sign will match reality.
Ours is still Cabelas, and no sign of any changes.
I don't buy much there, but have a Cabelas credit card, so pay it off each month and accumulate points. Then use the points usually to buy ammo.
I used to buy used guns there as the Gun Library had a great selection. But something changed there and barely any used guns at all now, and what few they have are too new to appeal to me.
I quit buying guns there when the last time I did it took them 3.5 hrs. to process my purchase of 4 antique rifles that didn't even require background checks! First convincing Gun Library employees they were all antiques; then convincing them antiques didn't require an FFL background check or paperwork. Then getting passed along to checkout people and going through the same BS with 3 different people there!
By the time it was completed I was so irritated I swore I'd never make another gun purchase there ever again. Then the Gun library went to heck, and made it easy to keep my self imposed promise.
I don't buy much there, but have a Cabelas credit card, so pay it off each month and accumulate points. Then use the points usually to buy ammo.
I used to buy used guns there as the Gun Library had a great selection. But something changed there and barely any used guns at all now, and what few they have are too new to appeal to me.
I quit buying guns there when the last time I did it took them 3.5 hrs. to process my purchase of 4 antique rifles that didn't even require background checks! First convincing Gun Library employees they were all antiques; then convincing them antiques didn't require an FFL background check or paperwork. Then getting passed along to checkout people and going through the same BS with 3 different people there!
By the time it was completed I was so irritated I swore I'd never make another gun purchase there ever again. Then the Gun library went to heck, and made it easy to keep my self imposed promise.
