Pulled the trigger at Cabela's today

[bigolddave]

All the talk about Bass Pro buying out Cabela's got me a little nervous, so I took my grandson and my points to the Hoffman Estates store. I knew they had what looked to be a decent HD in the library. Took a good hard look at it, and decided to pass. Grandson is pushing me to buy some form of .45 Auto, so I looked at those too. Finally decided heck with, so I sprung for the HD and an Argentine Sistema Colt. The Argentine is nothing but a shooter, but fills the bill for the kid. The HD had really nice metal, with very slight edge wear at the muzzle. Couple small chips at the bottom of the grips.

The whole experience got to be a little tedious. About forty-five minutes dinking around by the librarian to find out that both guns were C&R okay, then a half hour wait in line to get to one of the two checkouts. The new gun counter was on number 41 when we got there, and 376 when we got done checking out.

This store, which represents a huge investment, is located about two miles into Cook County, has to charge 9.4 % sales tax, plus a $25.00 per gun flat fee. Two miles west they would have been in Kane County, which is gun friendly enough that the have a large gun show at the fairgrounds, and a CADA show at least once a year.

 

[Derosa]

Bass Pro buying out Cabela's? I guess I am in left field on this one. When did this come about, sir?

 

[bigolddave]

This has been going around the internet for a couple of weeks. It may or may not be true, but after hoarding my Cabela's Visa point for a few years, I did not want to take a chance.

 

[MajorD]

I was under the impression it was cabela's buying bass pro not the other way around

 

[jhde69]

Reuter's news agency reported Bass Pro is working with a investment bank on a potential offer to buy Cabela's. Cabela's is exploring options to sell the company. I would hate to see it happen I have a Bass Pro close to me but have found they are priced much higher then Cabela's and Scheels sporting goods. I drive next to Bass Pro once or twice a week and no longer stop in but go to the Scheels that is about 15 miles down the road better prices and better selection of shooting supplies.

 

[Peak53]

If the sale happens, maybe they will keep the brand to take advantage of customer loyalty?

 

[Hondo44]

It won't fool anyone, especially after they observe the price hikes.

 

[younggun22]

That Hoffman estates cabelas can be a giant pain in the *** but it has also produced a few great deals for me. Just gotta keep your eyes open.

 

[H Richard]

That's about the same experience I had at a Cabela's in South Denver area 2 years ago. The half hour dance to get the exact line item in the C&R listing and make a photo copy of the page to attach to the sales receipt, then hand walking you over to the gun cashier and giving specific instructions on how to process a C&R transaction, then walking you out of the store before handing you your gun. Not exactly what I would call customer friendly, but at least they have merchandise and it is mostly priced decently. I shopped at a big Bass Pro when it first opened in Denver a few years ago, and the gun dept. had no reloading supplies, no trade in's, only new guns, and 90% of the store was in clothing and furniture. Last time I was there.

 

[Derosa]

Perhaps we need to ask Academy Sports & Outdoors to toss a hat into the ring? Now, that would be a store of gunpowder delight.

 

[Kinman]

In order to visit the closest Cabela's we have to drive about 36 miles across a state line. It is an interesting store with tons of eye candy and the gun vault is a place to spend a good fifteen minutes on a simple walk through which can then turn into an hour if you ask to inspect something which can then turn into a regular in the office visit where in years gone by the guy behind the desk would probably have pulled a bottle out.
Beyond that I find Cabela's way overpriced on nearly everything in the store, their clothing line is second rate Chinese manufactured at best. Their sales staff seems to have a good knowledge of what they are selling. The advantage they do have is that you can walk into the store and in many cases completely fill your order for a minor expedition, from socks to sleeping bag. Their reloading/ammo section leaves little left to the imagination. Considering the drive I usually plan out my purchases and beat their high prices online and in that way avoid coming home with stuff I don't need like those damned candy coated pecans and cashews. The one thing they do have is instant gratification, you go there to get something you need and odds are they have it, we have a local store that I believe is Canadian owned "Sportsman's Warehouse", they operate on about the same principle. In most cases they have exactly what you need or will order it for you, the prices are high but that is the price you pay for instant gratification...like hookers, you just have to figure out if the screwing your getting is worth the screwing your getting.

 

[Jack Flash]

I bought a gun at Cabella's about a year ago. Just getting to see the gun took a half hour. Then they give you a pager so you're in line to go through filling out all the government forms. All that took another hour and a half. Mind you, this was all done mid-week. I would hate to see what it's like on Saturday.

I haven't been back to buy a gun since. For current production stuff, I would rather pay $20 to $40 more at the local gun shop and figure my time is worth that much. If they have some deal I just can't live without, I will try going first thing in the morning and hope that makes a difference.

 

[deyomatic]

My LGS, the popular one, anyway, has prices on new items that are lower than Cabela's USED prices. The only reason I look in my local Cabela's at guns is to see if they have something old and unique.

 

[TTSH]

I bought a gun at Cabella's about a year ago. Just getting to see the gun took a half hour. Then they give you a pager so you're in line to go through filling out all the government forms. All that took another hour and a half. Mind you, this was all done mid-week. I would hate to see what it's like on Saturday.

I'd say you did really well, relatively speaking. Buying a gun at our new Massachusetts "Mini-Cabela's" is an all afternoon affair... and that's if you are lucky. Then it gets even worse as some clueless clerk tries to put a lock on your gun while you pray to God that they don't damage it too badly. Then you watch them wrap tape all around the box for another 20 minutes until you can't see the box at all anymore.

The worst part is when you get home and find out that stuff is missing out of the box. I guess they think you don't need all that silly paperwork... or packaging... or anti-corrosion paper... or... or...

I can buy a gun in 12 minutes flat from my local dealer soup to nuts. One person does everything. At our Mini-Cabela's it takes 7 or 8 people and hours (literally!). Gee, I wonder why Cabela's profits are down.

 

[bedbugbilly]

Congrats on your new (to you) handguns! As far as the Cook County sales tax goes . . . just remember that someone has to pay for all the corruption that goes on!?

 

[KSDeputy]

We have to drive to Kansas City, KS to Cabelas. It is a 30 minute trip on the turnpike. I have never bought a gun there, my friend buys reloading supplies when they have what he needs. We started getting Scheels ads in the Topeka & Lawrence newspapers. I have no idea where that store is. I bought one handgun at Academy Sports in Topeka. They have a fair selection but they get to charge more sales tax, so I will be very careful when I buy there ever again.

 

[tftech1]

In Defense of Cabela's

That Hoffman Estates Cabela's can be a giant pain in the *** but it has also produced a few great deals for me. Just gotta keep your eyes open.

I support the preceding statement about keeping your eyes open because I have had good experience with the LaVista (suburb of Omaha) Cabela's. They will negotiate on price and trade fairly on exchanges. Maybe this is because the LaVista branch is in Nebraska, where their headquarters (Sidney) is located - for now anyway. We'll see what Bass Pro does in the next few months. My experience with Bass Pro is limited but OK as noted in their Council Bluffs, Iowa, store right across the river from Omaha where they gave me the earlier price on a new S&W I had looked at before a price increase.

Some of the other remarks about Cabela's lengthy transaction times ring true with me. They have a computerized BATFE Form 4473, but it takes at least three clerks to check out with a firearm. At least they don't seem to make mistakes at La Vista. That did happen to me once at a local mom 'n pop shop where they omitted the S&W "S" serial prefix from their 4473 and it caused a sequence of phone calls and a re-visit I did not appreciate. All-in-all I must ask the question: How many Cabela's employees does it take to change a light bulb? (answer unknown)

 

[TTSH]

All-in-all I must ask the question: How many Cabela's employees does it take to change a light bulb? (answer unknown)

It depends if the light bulb changing process happens to go through the changing of the guard (around 3PM here in MA). If it does, it automatically doubles the number of employees necessary. And I am not joking. Ask me how I know this!

Is the reported Bass Pro buyout still happening? I keep hearing that other alternative buyout proposals are in the mix now... including ones that would allow Cabela's to remain Cabela's.

As much as I dread, hate and even fear the utterly asinine firearms buying experience there, I just purchased more discounted gift cards... which means I'm probably going to go though that crazy, Hellish process at least one more time.

My "Love/Hate" relationship with our new MA "Mini-Cabela's" continues...

 

[Hoov]

Perhaps we need to ask Academy Sports & Outdoors to toss a hat into the ring? Now, that would be a store of gunpowder delight.

That would be a disaster, in my opinion. Academy couldn't fix a sandwich.

 

[Art Doc]

When it was announced that Gander Mountain was coming I was excited. Then the store opened and I saw the prices and wilted.

Then I got excited when Bass Pro was coming. Then it opened and I wilted again.

No Cabela's here. Just as well. I'm tired of wilting.