Dealing with Cabela's

[otis24]

Has anyone done much gun buying/trading with Cabela's? I hope you have had better luck than I have had. I've never seen any "great" deals. The only thing positive that I can say is that at least you can sometimes come across something rarer or harder to find. I was looking at a well used 642, it was priced just $20 cheaper than a new one.

I have always been into "real steel", but lately, it just seems that a 642 is too plain practical for concealed carry and convenience. I decided to trade my 640-1. The price they offered me for my trade was laughable, especially since I purchased it from them. It seems that they have become too "corporate". I understand the need to make a profit. But really? They don't want to seem to budge on the price of theirs at all and want to offer about 50 percent of retail for your trade. It seems like Cabela's is operating a lot like a gun show. Hoping to find some sucker whose trade they can steal and overpricing their used stuff.

Lesson learned, if they have something I want, it'll be cash. Will not waste time trying to make a trade.

 

[AZretired]

Until I moved to AZ I never lived close enough to Cabelas to worry about gun sales, but I did buy a lot of stuff by mail. I have checked out their guns at their AZ store and their prices are generally competitive with LGS around here.
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[Double-O-Dave]

Otis:

My experience with Cabelas is they function much like a pawnshop if you're trying to sell a firearm to them - they'll offer you approx. half of what the retail price is worth. As far as their prices on their used guns, it depends on how good you are at finding and pointing out flaws on the gun you are interested in, your negotiation skills, and (most importantly) how long the gun has been in their inventory. I've been told by several of their staff that they aren't allowed to budge on their price unless the gun has been in their inventory for at least 3 weeks. Personally, with one exception, I always ask the clerk to walk the piece over to the gun library for me so I can try to haggle with them over the price. (The exception was for a pristine Model 60-7 for $250.00 + tax. In that situation, I think I set a new land speed record for whipping out my wallet to pay up, and an additional land speed record for getting out of the store before they changed their mind!) Sometimes, I can get them to knock $20.00 off their asking price after I point out the cosmetic flaws, and make mention of the fact that only fossils like me are interested in revolvers, 2nd or 3rd generation S&W semiautos, etc., but it's getting harder and harder to do that lately. I recently purchased a Model 6906 in excellent condition along with a factory box (blue plastic S&W factory box, but not the original box for the pistol) and 2 extra factory magazines. Despite a history of buying multiple firearms from them, they refused to come down a penny for the 6906. I have to admit, their asking price was, I felt, quite reasonable, so in the end, I purchased the piece and went on my merry way. By the way, their policy changed - in the past, they made it clear there was no refund on used guns. If your newly purchased, used gun didn't function correctly, you were on your own. Now, for the first 90 days following the purchase, if there is a malfunction, you can bring the piece back for free repair by their gunsmith. Bottom line: 1) don't try to sell your gun to Cabelas if you're trying to get top dollar; 2) don't be afraid to try and negotiate the sale price on a used firearm at Cabelas.

Best of luck,

Dave

 

[thndrchiken]

I've only bought one rifle from Cabelas, it was a used Ruger M77 in 270wsm. It was right after the Hamburg, PA store opened up. Rifle looked new except for a scuff on the barrel and was $150 lower compared to new. Since then I wouldn't buy any gun from them, prices on used guns rival new guns at most lgs' and the mark up is insane. A Saiga 7.62, all stock furniture retails for about $350-400 new, Cabelas had it marked at $479 and wouldn't budge even after I had a conversation with the gun dept manager and he went online and verified that they were indeed going for less than $400 new. Now the only thing that I buy from them gun related is reloading supplies and if I can't find what I'm looking for elsewhere.

 

[geoff40]

I've only looked online. next time I feel like paying $400 for a used 36, it'll be my first stop.

 

[smithnframe]

I bought a Pedersoli Sharps one time and within 6 months returned it for another one. The dovetail for the front sight was too big and the sight would move during recoil. Their used gun prices in the Texas stores are very high. I did get one 1937 Mosin Nagant about two years ago for 99.00. Usually buy reloading supplies there now and oddball ammo like 7.62x38 Nagant revolver ammo. They do have a helluva selection though!

 

[imjin138]

I go thre to look and sometimes I am lucky a few years ago I found a 2 inch M&P .38 with box for 375.00. But mostly I take the daughters there and have lunch look at the aquarium and have some fun. They do have lots of oddball ammo so I buy some of that when I need it.

 

[madmikeb]

Prices are way to high and the salespeople in the gun library have terrible attitudes. No way would I buy another gun there. I had two bad experiences in a row with their sales people, both on expensive Smiths. I was treated like I was a nuisance!

 

[rond]

I drive by Cabelas weekly on my way to my LGS in Plano where the prices are cheaper and the people are a lot more fun to talk to.

 

[scooter123]

I spent about 30 years collecting Nikon cameras and what I learned there applies to firearms in a very direct manner. Basic rule of thumb for these types of commodities is that the wholesale or trade in price is 40% of the retail selling price. If this seems unfair consider the cost of keeping the lights on, people being paid, and paying the rent. The lesson I learned was to NEVER do a trade and instead sell privately. While it's far less convenient and takes more time, it is the only way that you'll realise a price that is anywhere near full retail.

BTW, since I resumed shooting after a 30 year lapse I've learned to avoid the big box sporting goods stores. Friday night I was out scrounging for some 45ACP to shoot and on the way from one Walmart to another there is a Gander Mountain. I knew it would be a waste of time but stopped in just because. Frankly I find it a COMPLETE SHOCK that Gander Mountain sells one single box of ammo. American Eagle 230 gn FMJ was over 29 dollars a box. Fifty round boxes of Speer Gold Dots were 84 DOLLARS A BOX!!!!! Needless to say I didn't purchase any ammunition at Gander Mountain. Good news is the second Walmart had the 100 round WWB in stock so I picked up 5 boxes. Bad news is that I shot 3 of them up Saturday so I should really think about doing another ammo run.

BTW, if there is an ammo shortage this summer you can blame it on Ruger. In just 2 weekends I've put 500 rounds downrange with my new SR1911. It's a good thing I quit smoking 4 months ago, if I hadn't I'd never be able to afford the ammo for the new pistol.

 

[Moonman]

scooter123,

Quitting Smoking is great for your health, but just add up all the cigarette costs of years of smoking anf look at how much ammo and how many S&W'S you will be able to acquire now.

That's INCENTIVE my man!!!!!!!

 

[true_shooter]

I go to cabelas at LEAST twice a week, its less than a mile away from me and it gives me somethin to do. Having spent a lot of time there mostly in the gun library I have run accross many amazing deals and just as many that make you question the smarts of whoever priced the gun. I've seen numerous times heavily used guns priced HIGHER than that same store was selling a new version for. My last real good deal came on a new savage 93 classic in .17 hmr priced at $225 (msrp~$450)

 

[sivtierney]

My experience with the Cabelas gun sales people has been either great or horrible. Most of the sales people can't answer many of my questions, however when checking out after the background checks they seem to be much nicer. The prices are hit and miss and you just have to keep your eye out for the good deals. New firearms are priced within a few dollars of surrounding gun stores, but Ill pay $20 dollars more to avoid traffic.

 

[Wyo]

Cabelas Sydney, Neb. store is the one nearest to me. I've bought a few guns there, usually of the type that you just don't find every day. The last one was a 1903 Springfield. But I won't trade with them or any other retailer any more. I understand they need to make a profit, but I'm just not going to be the guy they make it on. Once in a while I trade with individuals because we're talking retail value vs retail value. With a dealer, you're talking wholesale value vs retail value, and the numbers just don't work. The worst ones are the guys who drag out The Blue Book, lowball the condition of your gun and then offer you 40% of an already-low value. I just don't need that kind of aggravation any more, and I hate being treated like I'm stupid. Better to keep the gun or sell it to someone who really wants it.