Cabelas Moving In, Is this a Good Thing?

[les.b]

H Ruchard, I'm like you, I guess. We have a store here in WV, and I go there frequently, and have been doing since they opened. Usually the prices are too high, but as you point out, sometimes you will find a treasure. I always go to the "Gun Library" first thing. They get many hard to find items there. Usually they are priced on the high end, but sometimes you will find something you have been liking for for ages, and the price is right. I have picked up 7 or 8 Smiths and Colts at least, over the years. They will also sometimes be willing to dicker on "used guns" (just about the only ones I'm interested in) and you may find a deal. Many times I leave without buying anything.

Our store has a great aquarium that you walk through, an African plains diarama, and a whitetail museum, as well as the center of the store being an arctic diarama, with polar bears, etc. interesting experience, and fun for the kids.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Dennis The B]

We have several in Michigan now. The latest is going in out in Macomb County. The first one opened in Dundee, and for a while was the number one tourist attraction in Michigan. The Dioramas and the huge fish tanks were first rate.

They have a lot of outdoor, fishing, hunting, and camping gear, along with a lot of guns. As others have stated, you can get some good prices, but you have to negotiate with them, especially in the "Gun Libraries".

They have some pretty good sandwiches in the cafeterias, and the folks who work there are generally pretty friendly and helpful. I've bought trousers there, and they hemmed them for me on the spot.

The have the "Bargain Cave", which feature returns, etc., and they have some fairly decent prices.

The bloom isn't off the rose, but they are a bit dated.

 

[mj2008]

I think it's a good thing. I wouldn't want to see them put a small local gun shop out of business but I like Cabela's. Big well stocked with guns, and all you need for guns, clothing, fishing, hunting stuff. Nice stores. Some of the people working there I found to be very helpful.

 

[Kanewpadle]

No it's not good. If you feel like waiting up to two hours to do the paper work when you buy a gun, go for it. If you want to pay full price for a gun, go for it.

Nice place to browse and I've been there several times. I never bought anything. I would rather support the local mom and pop gun shops.

 

[Shark Bait]

It'll give Sportsmans Warehouse some competition.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Get a Cabela's credit card and you receive mailers with codes that give 20% discounts. I combine these code with sale items, and combined with cash back on the card, arrive at good prices on some items.
I'm always stocking up on Herters .38SP/.357 on sale for $14/$16.

 

[df06]

I shop at Cabelas often. With their sale flyer or sales, they are competitive.
Their hunting clothes selection is excellent.

 

[Rpg]

They are the ultimate big box sporting goods stores.

Lots of interesting stuff, often staffed by teenagers who have little information or experience.

If you can get over the lack of staff up to speed on the merchandise, they're great.

 

[model70hunter]

I used to go to the STL store a lot when we lived there. Early on there were many bargains in used guns. That changed. I have bought lots of ammo on sale. 5.56
25-06.

Used to buy kids and older grandkids bricks of 22 lr. I went to buy bricks and this was when I learned of the last ammo shortage
Bare shelves.

I know some folks who like the fishing stuff better than Bass Pros.

Maybe 10 years ago I wanted a Python from the Reno store. I ended up getting 2 really really cheap. They will ship a gun to your store from any Cabelas
I've bought quite a few this way.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I like Cabela's better than Gander Mountain or Bass Pro. Their prices seem to be just a bit better than the other two big box operations. The one closest to me is one of their smaller stores called Cabela's Outpost. It's a good sized store, but doesn't have aquariums or a restaurant or the like. There are always quite a few shoppers in Cabela's. Meanwhile just a few blocks away the much larger Gander Mountain looks like a ghost town inside. Gander has a butt load of guns, but they are pricey.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not.
But it's coming and I'm looking forward to it opening.
I have only ever been in one, one time - Ft. Worth.
But I have over the years ordered a fair amount of clothes, boots, underwear, fleeces from them.

 

[brigeton]

I have bought a lot of stuff from Cabela's over the years, mostly online. Their clothing is top quality. A little high in price but in line with the same quality stuff elsewhere. They used to send catalogs constantly like 1 or 2 a week but they've cut back on that.
One thing I do is go on their website and read reviews on products I'm interested in even if I don't buy from them. The last was a Ruger American in .243. There must have been 100 reviews on the Cabelas site. I bought one from a LGS.
There have been rumors of them being in trouble and selling out. If that was true why would they keep building new stores?

 

[Donn]

I prefer Cabela's over Bass Pro, but that's me.

 

[Maddog 521]

I've been to the Ft. Worth store many times. I bought a 3914 there at a reasonable price. I once read that on average there are 1 million shoppers in the Cabela's stores everyday. Have fun

 

[JcMack]

I hate to think what Cabela's overhead must be in any given store. The ones I've been in are huge with millions in inventory and large staffs and my impression was not a lot of customers.. IMO: The reason WalMart is able to keep their prices down and thrive are large numbers of shoppers and great inventory turnover. I don't see that in either Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop and I wonder how they stay in business.
Jim

There's a Cabelas down the street a couple miles. It shares the parking lot with a Walmart so I'm down that way quite a bit. Cabelas opened about 9 years ago and for a few years they were said to have had the best sales per store in the chain. Just keeping the temp in the building comfortable must cost a ton of money. The parking lot rarely is up to 20% capacity. In 9 years I myself have gotten enough free fudge samples there to put them out of bidness.

 

[CBus660R]

No it's not good. If you feel like waiting up to two hours to do the paper work when you buy a gun, go for it. If you want to pay full price for a gun, go for it.

Nice place to browse and I've been there several times. I never bought anything. I would rather support the local mom and pop gun shops.

I don't think anyone is saying they're a great option for your next firearm purchase (but not horrible either). It's all the other stuff they carry for an outdoors-man that makes them a good option. For me personally, it's where I go for hiking and hunting boots. Their selection is top notch and since I wear a 13D, I struggle finding boots that fit well. Smaller stores will often be out of my size, or may not carry the model I want, etc... and I will not order shoes online. Do I pay a bit more at Cabela's vs. shopping elsewhere? Maybe, but I still feel I get good value since I can count on them having what I want in stock for me to try on so I can make my purchase with confidence.

 

[CBus660R]

There have been rumors of them being in trouble and selling out. If that was true why would they keep building new stores?

I think it goes hand in hand. They've taken on lots of debt to expand and they're not getting the return they planned on. Those big stores are not short term projects. The store that's having it's grand opening this weekend where I grew up was announced well over a year ago and you have to assume the scouting for the land, negotiations on the purchase of the land, lining up the financing, etc... started well before the announcement.

 

[Radco]

Well the Bad thing is you will have alot of goodies to look at and buy and your wallet will take a hit I think they are a nice store and always something to look at! The prices can be real good when they have a Sale! Gun prices are on the High side ,and a great selection of fishing gear! Soo just be sure to double check prices before you buy a high ticket item from them!

 

[jack the toad]

In my limited experience, they're similar to Gander Mtn. and Bass Pro in they have lots to look at but I can usually find the stuff cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Squarebutt]

As suggested above, I got their VISA card when they opened in Hartford CT, and I use it for other purchases. You get points for every dollar you spend, and double points when spend at Cabela's. I've got over $100 in points now. The only problem is that CT won't let out-of-state residents buy ammo anymore, but they have a smaller store now here in MA. They have a decent selection of reloading components and some good deals on out-of-season clothes. Anything I can't find at my local Mom & Pop store I'll look for at Cabela's, but my first stop is always my local shops.