So I was at the Cabellas in Richfield, WI and saw a very nice looking SIG 239 that was marked police trade in and was priced at $450.The condition was amazing for the price and being a trade in and I had thought I had found a steal. I talked to a sales person and started filling my paperwork out while he was boxing it up. I had both sheets done when he came out of the back room and opened the SIG Sauer case. What I saw was sure as hell not the gun I picked out. There was rusting along the slide and hammer, grips were gouged and the screws were tore up and rusting. It was one not taken care of gun. I pointed out how this was not the sig I pointed out and wanted the one in the case, not one they fished out of Lake Michigan. The guy at the desk said that they had a few in that came with the box and was the same gun. I said that yes I understand its the same model but sure as heck not the same gun. After going round and round and being told that the gun in the display was for display only I left without a SIG and a whole lot of anger. Not the first time Ive had problems here. I recently bought a Benelli Super Nova tactical and was ignored for 25 minutes before someone would run my paperwork. Ive also seen a definite "Straw Buyer" purchase there and no one raised an eyebrow. (Scenario, 2 big thug looking guys with girl looking at pistols. One guy picks a mossberg Pistol grip 12, the other a Stoeger Cougar .45 Clerk asks if they are buying and Thug 1 says no, I cant, theyre for her, points at Girl who looks like she weighs about 100 lbs. Clerk rings them up and sells them guns.) I spoke to a manager about both instances and got a polite apology but nothing else. Ill be doing all my gun shopping at Gander Mountain and my shooting range from now on.
Police trade in bait and switch?
- Thread starter K-Mart85
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seagill
US Veteran
I'm not to happy with Cabellas myself. I bought a compound bow a while back, a week later it went on sale! That "straw buyer" incident is scary. You'd think they'd be more worried about their reputation than profits.
That straw buyer scenario isn't a whole lot different than a bunch of Middle Eastern guys taking flying lessons with no interest in learning how to land. How the hell does no one think to ask a few questions, turn them away, maybe call the cops and find out why they can't buy a gun? But no, they had cash so let's sell them, I mean the girl with the clean name, whatever they want. If money hungry gun dealers like that are taken out of the picture then us law abiding gun owners would have a much easier time.
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neiljrosen
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Report them to the FFL, straw purchases are illegal.
Bullseye 2620
Member
There will be a record of the straw purchase in the dealer's book, and if it's not, well, then they're in even worse trouble. I'd send a letter to the President of Cabellas, Thomas L. Millner, and the Chairman, Richard N. Cabella, at Cabela's, Inc., One Cabela Drive, Sidney, NE 69160, complaining about both incidents and see what happens. Depending on how ticked I was feeling at the time, I might copy it to BATFE.
Bullseye
Bullseye
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GatorFarmer
Member
Sad day when someone has to go to Gander Mountain and considers it an improvement for customer service and pricing. The best way to buy guns is online and have them shipped to a local dealer, save for taking a certain risk about condition. Certainly works well for NIB models.
There's no proof that what was witnessed was a straw man purchase. The nominal boyfriend or whatever he was denied being the purchaser. The woman said that she was the purchaser when she filled out her form. "I can't" can mean a lot of things, including "I'm poor". Women and smaller individuals make some "interesting" gun choices all the time, the more so when someone else's well intentioned advice goes awry. However there is no particular reason that a petite woman couldn't learn to use a pistol grip shotgun or a .45 auto. Since there's nothing to go on save the anecdote of a disgruntled customer, I doubt that the matter would become a priority investigation for the ATF.
There's no proof that what was witnessed was a straw man purchase. The nominal boyfriend or whatever he was denied being the purchaser. The woman said that she was the purchaser when she filled out her form. "I can't" can mean a lot of things, including "I'm poor". Women and smaller individuals make some "interesting" gun choices all the time, the more so when someone else's well intentioned advice goes awry. However there is no particular reason that a petite woman couldn't learn to use a pistol grip shotgun or a .45 auto. Since there's nothing to go on save the anecdote of a disgruntled customer, I doubt that the matter would become a priority investigation for the ATF.
cmort666
Member
Actually, you're wrong.
- If they go after the woman, the odds are she won't try to shoot them.
- It's an opportunity to show how "corrupt" ALL gun dealers are and push for more restrictive legislation, such as 'one gun a month".
The BATF[E] is all about "low hanging fruit".
I would second an email to Cabela's. Their gun handling tactics have changed recently, and the need to know about how their customer feel.
Babalooie
US Veteran
I've never been impressed with used guns at a chain store. Like my friend in Oklahoma says, they're proud of what they have.
smith revolver cop
Member
+1. Can you imagine going to the butcher, picking out a nice piece of meat in the display case, then having them bring out a different piece from the back- and tell you that the one in the case is for "display" only? They know EXACTLY what they're doing, and they need to be called on it... they're putting the best one on display, hooking cutsomers, then trying to pawn off a lesser quality gun. If that's how I wanted to buy my handguns, I'd just go onto one of the auction sites and buy one with fuzzy pictures.
scooter123
Member
I'm fortunate in the I live in an area with several fine gun dealers. While they won't match some of the internet prices such as Bud's, they are usually within 30-50 dollars. When it's that close, really isn't much point in bothering with having a gun shipped in.
However, there is also a Cabela's and a couple of Gander Mountains in the area and IMO the ONLY time you get a bargain at either is if someone makes a mistake on pricing a used gun. If you purchase a new gun, you'll be paying darned near full list on it. As noted, the Big Box shops are VERY proud of their prices.
As for the OP, you really can't support the accusation of a Straw Purchase, hunches won't stand up in Court. However, the way you were treated was simply terrible and I suspect that one of the clerks was holding that display sample back for his own purchase. I would contact the national management and voice your opnion of that shoddy service. If you have the clerks name, make sure to put that in your letter. Worst case your letter gets tossed in File 13, best case, national orders that store to sell you a brand new P239 for that 450 dollar price and fires that clerk.
However, there is also a Cabela's and a couple of Gander Mountains in the area and IMO the ONLY time you get a bargain at either is if someone makes a mistake on pricing a used gun. If you purchase a new gun, you'll be paying darned near full list on it. As noted, the Big Box shops are VERY proud of their prices.
As for the OP, you really can't support the accusation of a Straw Purchase, hunches won't stand up in Court. However, the way you were treated was simply terrible and I suspect that one of the clerks was holding that display sample back for his own purchase. I would contact the national management and voice your opnion of that shoddy service. If you have the clerks name, make sure to put that in your letter. Worst case your letter gets tossed in File 13, best case, national orders that store to sell you a brand new P239 for that 450 dollar price and fires that clerk.
Frank237
Absent Comrade
We have Scheels and Sportsmans Warehouse as our BIG BOX type stores. I jokingly describe both as " Having everything one could possibly want...except for a good deal".
I buy my guns at three or four shops, two of them quite small. Just today I dropped off a box of candy for a Christmas gift to my FFL holder who allows me free use of his FFL and never allows me to PAY.
I probably ship in or out 4-8 firearms through him each year.
Had I been the OP I would have surely walked on that SIG 239. Or held them to sell me the "display" gun. Absolutely a bait and switch deal.
FN in MT
I buy my guns at three or four shops, two of them quite small. Just today I dropped off a box of candy for a Christmas gift to my FFL holder who allows me free use of his FFL and never allows me to PAY.
I probably ship in or out 4-8 firearms through him each year.
Had I been the OP I would have surely walked on that SIG 239. Or held them to sell me the "display" gun. Absolutely a bait and switch deal.
FN in MT
DeathGrip
US Veteran
I would have had the clerk pull the gun with the price tag attached to it and then raised a ruckus when he tried that stunt.A posted price in a used gun display case is solid if the customer doesn't want to haggle a bit.The shop don't have the luxury of changing the posted price upward or substituting anything else for it.The only way to get out of it is for them to ad to the display "For display purposes only" and maybe "Dealers choice".
Uncool business practices in my book.
Uncool business practices in my book.
imjin138
US Veteran
I have been there a few times, bought an 870 and an older M&P and didn't have any problems with those transactions. I have waited and awful long time to get waited on at the gun counter.
The prices are more expensive than Shooters in Racine so I normally go there. I did stop at the paddock Lake gun shop today and they had good selection if guns.
I usually go there walk around have lunch and go home with a kids toy or magazine. My daughters enjoy the aquarium and stuffed animals. But for guns I will stick with Shooters.
I sometimes look at Gander but they are high in price too, even for ammo.
The prices are more expensive than Shooters in Racine so I normally go there. I did stop at the paddock Lake gun shop today and they had good selection if guns.
I usually go there walk around have lunch and go home with a kids toy or magazine. My daughters enjoy the aquarium and stuffed animals. But for guns I will stick with Shooters.
I sometimes look at Gander but they are high in price too, even for ammo.
sw44spl
Member
the gander mtn near me cant put the right caliber size on any of there old military rifles of older hunting rifles.and they also sell beat up used autos for a new price.
Black_Sheep
Member
The "manager" should have escorted you back to the firearms department and sold you the gun that was on display.
What they're doing is totally unethical and they deserve to be called on it. I would take the time to send hand written letters to the parties Bullseye suggested, nothing gets results like going right to the top. Avoid bringing up the straw buyer incident and just voice your disappointment with their store's sales practices and the manager's indifference. Keep it simple and be civil, it will be interesting to see how everything plays out...
What they're doing is totally unethical and they deserve to be called on it. I would take the time to send hand written letters to the parties Bullseye suggested, nothing gets results like going right to the top. Avoid bringing up the straw buyer incident and just voice your disappointment with their store's sales practices and the manager's indifference. Keep it simple and be civil, it will be interesting to see how everything plays out...
venomballistics
Member
was out gun shopping this weekend .. yup Cabelas made the list of places to check out.
in the market for a good honest full size 1911. of which Cabelas had two. one an extremely over priced "Factory custom" and the other a still over priced and used Taurus PT1911. all else in 1911 flavor was compact.
Suffice to say .. they didnt get my money.
I do hope they remove their heads from their digestive tracts soon .. we need a few good shops like em
in the market for a good honest full size 1911. of which Cabelas had two. one an extremely over priced "Factory custom" and the other a still over priced and used Taurus PT1911. all else in 1911 flavor was compact.
Suffice to say .. they didnt get my money.
I do hope they remove their heads from their digestive tracts soon .. we need a few good shops like em
Im already getting a letter typed up to send to their corporate HQ. As for Gander Mtn, they opened up a new one near brookfield and Ive had pretty good expericences there with the staff so thats my go to one. But Im going to stick with Fletcher Arms, the indoor range/ gun store that I shoot at. The guys there are great, know there stuff and always have a good mix of new and used guns for decent prices. As for the straw buying incident. I admit theres alot of assumption on my part that there was some illegal activity going on and I really have 0 proof. But I do know what gang tats are and the Latin King crown on one guys neck is what made me jump to my conclusion.
A week ago
I went to a hospital in AZ to see my ill wife. came about 10 PM after work. I am heading in the door and I hear a yell and look over and some idiot in a uniform is pulling his side arm. I hit the brakes, told him where I WAS GOING AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS TO CK IN 1ST. And one last thing as he holstered his weapon. You talk 1st and either you are ready to use it when it is cleared or you are going to get killed. When I came out, he was not working there anymore at that post. After work, mine goes in the trunk until I am home.
I went to a hospital in AZ to see my ill wife. came about 10 PM after work. I am heading in the door and I hear a yell and look over and some idiot in a uniform is pulling his side arm. I hit the brakes, told him where I WAS GOING AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS TO CK IN 1ST. And one last thing as he holstered his weapon. You talk 1st and either you are ready to use it when it is cleared or you are going to get killed. When I came out, he was not working there anymore at that post. After work, mine goes in the trunk until I am home.
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