Moving Forward (??) Together

[Marine Corps Air]

An old business associate has an expression that he is fond of using, and which I absolutely hate - "Nothing is forever!"

I just received this e-mail notification, which other forum members have probably also received:

To our Customers - Bass Pro and Cabela's Together : Cabela's

I'll keep my comments to myself, but I sure am going to miss Cabela's!!!!!!!!

 

[Marshwheeling]

Nothing cool ever lasts.

 

[Arik]

I don't understand what the actual issue is!?!?

Like GM (worst of the 3), neither Bass Pro or Cabela's have any kind of decent prices. Any firearms/mags they sell I can find locally for at least $50 cheaper. The only thing Cabela's had going was the large selection of hard to find ammo

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[Absalom]

I will never understand people who get emotionally involved in either loving or disdaining some retailer and who they merge with.

When I'm in the vicinity of our Cabela's, I'll continue to stop in to maybe pick up some camo hoodies or t-shirts on sale, look at the great selection of taxidermy, and check out the usually overpriced handguns in the gun library. The rifles are usually decently priced, but I'm just not in that market any more.

So what difference exactly does this all make? They could merge with Whole Foods for all I care. Maybe get some camo-colored craft beer labels

 

[Watchdog]

When I'm in the vicinity of our Cabela's, I'll continue to stop in to maybe pick up some camo hoodies or t-shirts on sale, look at the great selection of taxidermy, and check out the usually overpriced handguns in the gun library.

Me, too. I sort of dislike Cabela's for what I consider to be their high prices on stuff. But: They have the best selection of holsters around.

I remember when LGSs carried all kinds of holsters, all brands...Bianchi, Safariland, Bucheimer, Hunter, Heiser, etc. Now? No. Their racks are full of kydex junk and tacticool-looking stuff like Blackhawk (Yes, I do have one Blackhawk Serpa holster).

Cabela's does have DeSantis and some Bianchi stuff now, along with Hunter (the newer stuff). And gunbelts. I've bought my last two DeSantis leather holsters from Cabela's. Actually priced a few bucks less than on the company's website.

I do get a grin at some of their pricing in their gun room, though. $2400 for a Winchester Model 42? That's at least $600 over market value around here.

It's fun to sorta wander around in there. I still refuse to pay $20 for a North Face t-shirt, though.

 

[STCM(SW)]

Only like Cabela's for the sales on clothing & the 5% mil discount that just about covers the state sales tax in ID.

 

[Drm50]

I use to buy a good bit from Cabellas back when they were mail
order. Decent merchandise at decent price. They built one in
Wheeling, WVa about 40mi from me. Went up there one time
and didn't buy anything, over priced. Never went back until this
past winter to redeem Gift cards I had accumulated before Bass
Pro took over. Guys go in there like a bunch of old women at a
craft show and pay the inflated prices. They could have got a
better deal at their LGS. Their policy on buying your gun a selling
you one is highway robbery.

 

[swsig]

The only thing Cabela's had going was the large selection of hard to find ammo

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While their everyday prices aren't that good, Cabela's does have a good selection of available ammo, and I've actually bought a fair amount of it from them on sale. The trick is to be watchful and act immediately, as they can run out. During the great .22lr shortage, I'd haunt their website during the wee hours, and would pick up CCI Mini Mags at decent prices during the brief time they were available that day. Bargains are at their best when you can use Cabela's coupons on top of their sale prices. A few months ago, I got .357 SIG rounds for half-price that way. I also got a Vortex Venom red dot for the lowest price I'd seen anywhere, using their sale-coupon combination. So while Cabela's prices may not always be great, they're not always terrible either. In contrast, I've never bought anything from Bass Pro. They don''t seem to have much interest in shooters as customers. If Bass Pro's pricing policies win out over Cabela's, it will certainly bring about the end of me buying from them.

 

[Arik]

While their everyday prices aren't that good, Cabela's does have a good selection of available ammo, and I've actually bought a fair amount of it from them on sale. The trick is to be watchful and act immediately, as they can run out. During the great .22lr shortage, I'd haunt their website during the wee hours, and would pick up CCI Mini Mags at decent prices during the brief time they were available that day. Bargains are at their best when you can use Cabela's coupons on top of their sale prices. A few months ago, I got .357 SIG rounds for half-price that way. I also got a Vortex Venom red dot for the lowest price I'd seen anywhere, using their sale-coupon combination. So while Cabela's prices may not always be great, they're not always terrible either. In contrast, I've never bought anything from Bass Pro. They don''t seem to have much interest in shooters as customers. If Bass Pro's pricing policies win out over Cabela's, it will certainly bring about the end of me buying from them.

I rarely go there. Both Bass Pro and Cabela's are a good 1.5 hrs away. They wouldn't really make it in this area. I buy my ammo online 99% of the time. However if I had some obscure caliber I'd definitely be taking half yearly rides to Cabela's

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[Marine Corps Air]

swsig nailed it!

If I look at "The Big Three" retailers, I believe that GM was the most expensive, then Bass Pro, and then Cabela's. I still have my receipt from 3/10/13 in Nashville, TN. I bought two boxes of Remington .41 Mag for $64.99/box. I haven't been to a BP since.

I found Cabela's to have the best selection of ammo brands that I use. Much better than BP. Cabela's every day prices weren't that great, but if I found it on sale with FREE shipping, I moved on it. I've also bought their cargo pants, safari shirts, and other shirts. As swsig pointed out, the goal is to watch for the sales and specials. The good offers begin in September with hunting season and last until the holidays.

I may be wrong on this one, but having watched mergers and acquisitions for more than 40 years, I'm betting that BP institutes their policies throughout all of the acquired Cabela's locations.

Makes me wonder if Dick Cabela would be pleased with this outcome. I don't believe that I will be.

Bill

 

[wingriderz]

I will window shop those places if I am bored because they have alot of stock. But I will never ever buy a firearm from them. .To many small business owners over the years that earned my business and want it and it shows

 

[oneounceload]

Cabela's has always good sales on shotgun ammo, coupled with free shipping and no added sales tax. Coupled with points from their card, I have gotten some great deals. SOME of the guns in their library are also decent enough to warrant a closer look, but it usually isn't on their handguns.

They are a RETAIL store and I guess too many think everyone shouldn't dell retail goods at retail prices, but that is how it works. And when you go public and have stockholders to answer to, you need to make those margins every quarter.

 

[wingriderz]

Cabela's has always good sales on shotgun ammo, coupled with free shipping and no added sales tax. Coupled with points from their card, I have gotten some great deals. SOME of the guns in their library are also decent enough to warrant a closer look, but it usually isn't on their handguns.

They are a RETAIL store and I guess too many think everyone shouldn't dell retail goods at retail prices, but that is how it works. And when you go public and have stockholders to answer to, you need to make those margins every quarter.

Wal-Mart has stockholders and sells retail also. There are deals to be had there too. But I not buying arms there either.All mine so far has came from smaller mom pop and they didn't sell them at retail either. Great folks wordclass knowledge and service. And the biggest point they make it very clear they want you as a customer.

 

[panther]

I used to work at the original Bass Pro Shops, when there was only the one store, in Springfield, Mo. That was back in the mid 80's. I did catalog orders, parts at the boat repair center, and was an inspector for boats and trailers that came in from the factories.
It was a fun place to work, but the pay and benefits kind of sucked. I've been a customer at that store alot over the years. There have been times when they had a great inventory of guns, and times when they were down to just revolvers, rifles and shotguns(sporting guns only, was the advertised reason).
Did they actually merge, or did one store buy the other out? It's hard to imagine Johnny Morris giving control up. When I was there and all he had was the one store and a mail order catalog, he was offered millions to sell out to big buyers(the company that owned Kraft was one offer back then), and he turned them all down.

edit; I just read a Fox Business news report that said Bass Pro aquired Cabela's. Interesting.

 

[pharmer]

Bass Pro is like the grocery, only reason to go is BOGO or the equivalent. In 2004 they had WWB 9mm for $3.88/box 50. I still have a few hundred rounds out of the original 13,500 rds purchased on my last trip in. Joe

 

[SC_Mike]

I went to the Greenville SC Cabela's because I had time to kill. Spent two hours and $25 on an item I could have gotten for $18 elsewhere.

I figured they deserved the $7 for babysitting me.

 

[JcMack]

Bass Pro is 20 miles down the pike. Cabelas is 10 mins. away. Never been to BP. I hit Cabelas 3-4 time week. I'm lookin for used guns at Cabelas. My understanding is BP doesn't buy or sell used guns. Cabelas is not a place to expect a fair price for a used gun should you choose to sell or trade one to them. They'll assess your guns value and give you 2/3rds of that. I don't know if this valuation/compensation system is standard throughout the Cabelas chain. Although it's not a fair compensation rate at least Cabelas is an option. If they quit buying/selling used guns, there's only 2-3 GS's left in the area.

 

[peterGun]

Cabela's offers good clothing in big sizes for a decent price, I've got a barn coat that's got 20 deer seasons on it, blood and mud but no tears. Over priced? You don't shop the bargain cave then. I got a low pressure propane smoker for $50. Off and free shipping, good deals are there if you look.


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[Irn-Bru]

Over the years I've picked up some great deals from Cabelas used gun library. Right now you can use a $20 off coupon and pick up a performance center Shield for $380 and snag a $75 off mail in rebate afterwards.