My Cabela's Experience

[Curiousnewbie]

I have a story that I want to share with the entire forum about my experience with my local Cabela's (Hammond, IN). I think that this is the right forum, but please feel free to move if I have posted in the incorrect one. It's probably a lot longer than it should be, but I wanted to give some background.

The .45 caliber had intrigued me, and I had been thinking about making my first .45 purchase for a while now. I'm not a fan of 1911s, SAs, striker fired, or polymer guns. I knew that I wanted something with a 5" barrel, DA/SA capability, reliable and from a major manufacturer. It didn't have to be pristine or new, because i'm not a collector. I just needed a good, clean, solid gun that met my specifications.

As I mentioned before, I had been thinking about buying my first .45 for a while now. I had decided on either a 4506 or a 645. A while back, I missed out on some 645 police trade-ins that I should have just went ahead and brought one when I had a chance. Looking back on it now, the only reason why I didn't was because they had the Redlands PD/Sheriffs marking on them. Stupid, i know, but you live and learn. I saw a few 4506s that I was more than interested in picking up. Sadly, they always seem to move out of the price range I would be willing to pay.

Last month, I saw a 645 package listing on Gunbroker. Gun, 2 mags and 2 holsters for a reasonable price. The seller was upfront with the condition of the gun and the magazines, and made a slight modification on the firearm that I liked. The math that I did on the entire package he was selling told me that this was a good buy. No one bid on it, so I put it on my watch list to see what would happen in the next days. Days go by, and still no one had bid on it. I checked the sellers feedback and decided that he was legit, and determined that I was going to go ahead and get it if no one bid before the end of the auction listings. So the last hour or so before the end of the auction, I put in my bid and went to bed. I was sure that there was someone waiting at the last moment to pounce on this purchase. To my surprise when I woke up, I won the listing.

Later that day, I contacted the seller and we exchanged information. The next day, I went to the post office to get my certified money order and mail it out. Due to a Federal holiday, there was a slight delay in the arrival of my money order. Before the end of the week, the seller received my payment. The seller got my purchase to his FFL promptly, who then in turn mailed it out to my local Cabela's in Hammond Indiana. So now that we've finally reached the meat of the story, let me give you the timeline of the events as they happened:

On Monday, March 2nd at 11:26am, I received notice that my package had been delivered to Cabela's. Awesome. It was my day off and I could stop by at the end of my day of errands and stuff. Around 4:30p, I stopped by to pick up my transfer. I was basically told that it wasn't in their system yet, so they couldn't do the transfer. "How long does it take to get into your system?" is what I asked. I was told they "have hundreds of guns shipped to them daily" and "that it takes some time to get them logged into their system." I was kind of annoyed, but thought hey, that's one of the reasons why I picked Cabela's for this transfer. I could make it there after work the next day before they close at 9pm.

Tuesday, March 3. I didn't get a call from Cabela's all day, so I called around 6pm, when I got out of work, and asked if my transfer was ready to be picked up. Nope, it wasn't ready yet. By this time, they've had it for over 24 hours. It had been more than enough time for them to log in 1 gun out of the "hundreds of guns shipped to them daily". Why does it take so long to get my transfer logged in? At this point, the seller contacts me again (which is awesome that he took the time) and asks if I got the gun yet. I told him no and the story for this day.

Wednesday, March 4. By noon, I hadn't heard anything from Cabala's, so I called their 1-800 customer service number. After a moderate wait, I was connected with a nice lady who took down my name, number, information and complaint. She was out of the headquarters, but she assured me that she was going to look into my situation and call me back. She also transferred me to the gun manager for my local store. I got the gun manager's voice mail, where I left a message (2nd one I left, i believe) with my name, number, information on the shipment that I was waiting to be transferred to me and a request to contact me ASAP. By 9pm, I had not heard back from the gun manager, nor the CS rep and I was pissed.

Thursday, March 5. I called Thursday morning at 9am to speak with the firearms manager.
"He won't be in until noon."
Ok, I'll call back at noon. At 12:15p, I called back in to speak to the firearms manager.
"He won't be in until 1pm."
Let me speak to the store manager please.
"He's off today."
Then let me speak to whomever is in charge of the store today. I ended up speaking with the operations manager. She was pleasant, but agreed that 4 days was ridiculous. She took my information (yet another person taking my information) and told me that she would get back to me.
10 min later, I get a call from cabelas, another person that I haven't spoke to before, saying that I can come in and pick up my package. She also informed me they were sorry that it took so long and the reason that they couldn't contact me sooner was that they had the last digit of my phone number as a 7, not a 9.

I didn't say anything, but I'm thinking that was a bs story, or incompetence at its' finest. I mean, I didn't see the the contact information that was included in the package, but if the store had the "wrong" number, or a number that could be 7 or 9, then why not try with the different number? (The seller sent me photos of the information that he included in my shipment, which had all of my contact information listed correctly) Also, why wouldn't the store backtrack until you got the correct information? Talk with the person who logs in the information into your system. Contact the FFL who sent the item for number confirmation. Even if the FFL who sent the item was not sure, I'm damn sure that he would have contacted the seller to get confirmation of the correct number to pass back along to Cabela's.

I went to pick up my transfer that night. It took longer than I was used to, but I was glad that I FINALLY had my purchase in my possession. I texted the seller to let him know that I finally had the purchase in my possession and to thank him for checking in on me and the situation when it really was on my end of things. The next day, I found out that he's a member on here, which is pretty cool.

I know this has been a long post, but here's my final thoughts. I chose Cabela's because I work long hours, and I wanted the convenience of a store that was open 7 days a week and didn't close until 9pm. I normally pay $20 for transfers, but I thought that $35 was a good price for the extra availability and "convenience". Boy, was I definitely wrong. This seems to be incompetence at its' finest. The hassle that I had to go through was not worth my horrible experience.

Based upon my experience with them, I don't think that I will be doing another transfer with them or purchasing any high margin items from them every again. But they probably haven't totally lost my business, for some of these reasons: *They are open 7 days a week, and they have later business hours than the other local gun shops in the area.
*Last time I checked, they will price match most competitors prices on printed (not web) sales within a 100mile radius (when I don't want to make that trip to Midwest Gun Exchange...).
*They occasionally undervalue firearms and other items. So, when I see one of my Holy Grail guns at a stupid price, i'm going to buy it.


I know that was a super long post, but I wanted to share my experience with the forum.


Ok, onto the important stuff. To the seller of my 'new' 645, I can see why this was your daily carry piece. It is awesome. I call tell the care that you put into it, and the slight modification that makes it better. I got a chance to finally take this to the range the other day. It shoots like a laser. Makes me a lot better than I think I am. This might be bad to say, but I'm glad that this became your safe queen and you got rid of it, because it was definitely was I was looking for. Thank you for being a great seller and checking in with me.

 

[Calaveras Slim]

I have never used Cabelas for a gun transfer but have bought guns from them. A slow process for sure. It sound like you ran into the normal "not my job" attitude. I see it all the time here. I was at a local HEB grocery store last month and I wanted a soda. Their coolers by the check out stand was empty so I asked a young lady employee about and got the not my job answer.

I got upset and told the store manager and asked for a soda. I got the soda but then the manager asked if I got the young lady's name, I pointed her out. Don't know what happened cuz I paid and left.

All this to show that you encountered was not unusual.

A lot of it is the result of low wages and some folk with little or no sense of responsibility.

Young folks today.

 

[Practical]

You didn't understand the message.

We offer transfers as a courtesy to the public.

These LOSE money for us and expose us to liability.

We do NOT value your time or your willingness to buy a gun and NOT pay us for the service.

You want us to provide you service and pay NO cost.

To be blunt the OVERHEAD cost likely exceeds $35.

In NY the Safe Act mandates ALL gun transfers must be done via a dealer. BUT the cost is $10.

NO gun dealer will make money if they only can charge $10.

Thus in the long run dealers will NOT transfer guns and lose money.

I predict dealers will offer to buy your gun and resell to your buyer at a markup or NOT do the transfers at all.

You are complaining because YOU want Cabella's to let you buy a gun from someone else and bear the costs.

 

[Calaveras Slim]

You didn't understand the message.

We offer transfers as a courtesy to the public.

These LOSE money for us and expose us to liability.

We do NOT value your time or your willingness to buy a gun and NOT pay us for the service.

You want us to provide you service and pay NO cost.

To be blunt the OVERHEAD cost likely exceeds $35.

In NY the Safe Act mandates ALL gun transfers must be done via a dealer. BUT the cost is $10.

NO gun dealer will make money if they only can charge $10.

Thus in the long run dealers will NOT transfer guns and lose money.

I predict dealers will offer to buy your gun and resell to your buyer at a markup or NOT do the transfers at all.

You are complaining because YOU want Cabella's to let you buy a gun from someone else and bear the costs.

sure hope this was said with tongue in cheek.

If not, then the answer is not to offer the service. An attitude like your is not conducive to sales responsibility and good customer service. You need to go to work in construction not sales. I would like to know which Cabelas you work at so I would be able to avoid your store.

A dicho

 

[Arik]

The only thing I can say is that it's hard to keep trying different numbers like your 7 to 9. Now one would know which number is wrong. Any or all of them could be wrong. Just saying

As for Cabela's, I'm kinds glad I don't have one near me. I only like them for hard to find ammo. Otherwise they are overpriced and really lack any knowledge on firearms. ...for the most part.

 

[gregintenn]

Welcome to the big box store experience.

If you want cheap and open most hours, you found your place.

If you want good service, use the local mom and pop store.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I browse Cabelas but never buy. Too expensive. Service isn't all that good.

 

[pawngal]

OP, I think you protest too much. Cabela's is offering you a service which you chose to use. I got the sense from your post that you felt entitled to have your transfer handled ahead of their retail inventory, because "it was only 1 gun"

Myself, I have always had excellent customer service in all departments at the Owatonna, MN store and before at the original in Sidney, NE

 

[carpriver]

I shop Cabalas shore in Green Bay, I have found the service to be pretty good. I did buy a Mini-14 there and the wait in line was short because they provided customers with tablets so they could fill out the 4473. I have found that if I want to buy a gun I can get it cheaper at my local gun shop. She will order any gun I want. I would gladly pay her a extra for a transfer.

 

[Dezfan]

You didn't understand the message.

We offer transfers as a courtesy to the public.

These LOSE money for us and expose us to liability.

We do NOT value your time or your willingness to buy a gun and NOT pay us for the service.

You want us to provide you service and pay NO cost.

To be blunt the OVERHEAD cost likely exceeds $35.

In NY the Safe Act mandates ALL gun transfers must be done via a dealer. BUT the cost is $10.

NO gun dealer will make money if they only can charge $10.

Thus in the long run dealers will NOT transfer guns and lose money.

I predict dealers will offeir to buy your gun and resell to your buyer at a markup or NOT do the transfers at all.

You are complaining because YOU want Cabella's to let you buy a gun from someone else and bear the costs.

Thanks.

Your attitude says everything I need to know.

Just another reason NOT to buy a firearm from Cabella's.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I was at a local HEB grocery store last month and I wanted a soda. Their coolers by the check out stand was empty....

It's very likely that cooler by the check-out is not owned by the the store. It's owned by the soda distributor. It's stocked by a guy that come along in a big panel truck with a hand cart. He is not an employee of the store. He works for the soda distributor, and is paid partially on commission.

Nobody in the store could of put product in that case, even if they wanted too. One, they don't have the proper inventory. Two, it would likely violate their contract with the soda distributor.

The soda business is EXTREMELY competitive. You can't imagine. The guys in those trucks work like dogs. If you called and complained to the distributor you'd be doing him a favor. They want to know if their cases are being emptied, and if they need to increase the frequency of when they are refilled.

 

[doublesharp]

I'm sure thankful for Rick at Falls City Fire Arms. He runs a gun store the right way and smiles cheefully when I pay $20 for a transfer. Great to live in the heart of gun country.

 

[Curiousnewbie]

You didn't understand the message.

We offer transfers as a courtesy to the public.

These LOSE money for us and expose us to liability.

We do NOT value your time or your willingness to buy a gun and NOT pay us for the service.

You want us to provide you service and pay NO cost.

To be blunt the OVERHEAD cost likely exceeds $35.

In NY the Safe Act mandates ALL gun transfers must be done via a dealer. BUT the cost is $10.

NO gun dealer will make money if they only can charge $10.

Thus in the long run dealers will NOT transfer guns and lose money.

I predict dealers will offer to buy your gun and resell to your buyer at a markup or NOT do the transfers at all.

You are complaining because YOU want Cabella's to let you buy a gun from someone else and bear the costs.

No, I am complaining about two main things:

1.The 105 hours it took from the time my gun was delivered to the store to the time they called me to let me know that my transfer was ready to pick up.
2. The customer service, or lack thereof, of the Cabela's staff and management.

If this is the "courtesy" to the public they are going to offer, then they should just simplify the process:

1. Not provide the "courtesy" at all. Period
2. Give the public the middle finger.

In those two easy steps, they don't have to expose themselves to liability or lose money on transfers where they aren't selling their inventory.

If you re-read the end of my long post, you'll see where I state that yes, I willingly agreed to their $35 price because it fell into the price range that I was willing to pay for, for the convenience of time. I also stated that I would still probably shop at Cabela's for ammo, other random items or under priced firearms because i'm a realist. This is a business that can provide me with items that I want, in the price range that I am willing to pay.

 

[LittleCooner]

Cabala's is now a "big box store" that is publicly traded on the NY stock exchange. Almost every piece of hunting clothing I have and have worn in the past 50 years came from this brand. I have even purchased used guns from them. The last thing on earth I would do is use them for a transfer and the above OP just tells why. Use your local gun store, the one owner, just trying to make a living. He will understand if its a used gun of a rarer caliber or make that what he is selling new. At any of these big box stores they (the employees) are there to earn a pay check and most of them really do not care about customer service. If you do not believe that last statement, please re read the OP.

 

[Curiousnewbie]

OP, I think you protest too much. Cabela's is offering you a service which you chose to use. I got the sense from your post that you felt entitled to have your transfer handled ahead of their retail inventory, because "it was only 1 gun"

Myself, I have always had excellent customer service in all departments at the Owatonna, MN store and before at the original in Sidney, NE

No Pawngal, I did not feel entitled to have my transfer handled ahead of their retail inventory, nor did I state that in my story. I do feel entitled to a reasonable, productive and honest business relationship with a store that I have admittedly entered in a business contract with them.

I think it is UNreasonable to wait 105 hrs, 4+ days, for a transfer.

I think it is UNreasonable to have no one contact me and let me know what's going on, why the delay when I have called and inquired several times.

I think it is UNreasonable for people to say they will do something, but it does not get done.

As I have stated before, I willingly chose their business because of the convenience and the price. It turned out in the long run, it wasn't convenient for me. Maybe it wasn't convenient for them as well, I don't know. I'll just chalk this up as a learning experience.

 

[walter o]

I go to the Hammond Cabelas often .The people in the GUN LIBRARY talk to me by first name basis and have always treated me with professional courtesy. Good deals Yes, some high prices Yes .Had trouble with a Colt that i bought from them ,took it back and the offer ed me $ back or have the gun fixed at their cost . I told them that i wanted it fixed by COLT that's they did . Sorry you had a bad experience suggest you go into the store and talk with the manager or corporate offices .

 

[Absalom]

With all due respect, but considering that Cabela's has (acc. to Wiki) 60 stores and 16.400 employees, any kind of generalized conclusions from this one unfortunate incident, which in the overall scheme of things was no more than an annoying inconvenience, seems unjustified. To me this just falls into the "S### happens" category. If the OP decides not to use that particular store anymore, I could understand that, but I suspect they would happily survive without noticing, and in the end he might just inconvenience himself to make a point of principle .... to himself.

I don't use Cabela's for transfers and have never bought a modern gun there, but pretty much all my outdoors equipment and outerwear comes from there whenever they have a sale, and I regularly swing by and check their gun library ever since a few years ago I found a nice Colt Pocket Hammerless 1903 in the back of one of their display cases for a price which the guys on the Colt forum declared to have been theft after I showed it off there, and while a lot of stuff is unrealistically priced, I've had a chance to handle some interesting pieces.

 

[Tom Beavert]

Tracking info said 1 of my guns was delivered to the small GS I use. I drove down, walked in, the owner put my gun and the paperwork on the counter.
TB

Edit to say when I walked in they said "hi Tom".

 

[hoc9sw]

I think it is a given that the LGS wants your business, and hopes you will come back. At mine, they know my name, and welcome me by name. They know I browse a lot.

Three of the local Cabela's folks call me by name, and will go far out of the way to fix any problem. I bought my first new handgun in years from them. I found the preferred LGS later. But I do business with both. I wouldn't use Cabela's as an FFL, but I can see the potential for problems, as I've seen at every big-box store. But soon we'll have to go to the internet for everything, and have the opportunity to clean up constantly after the identity crooks.

Bad service, you got the gun, write it off to whatever. At least in my case, life is very literally too short to waste part of a new day on something that is over without undue economic impact.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Cabelas is big box but in no way cheap. They do occasionally get a used gun which they aren't familiar with and they mis-price it....maybe too high or low.

I'm a really old guy who's seen it all. I'm quite sure that you got the "business" because the individuals don't like doing transfers. Simple as that...nothing personal; probably a good guess those people won't last long at Cabelas.

Glad you like your 645.