Stupid Cabelas/Bass Pro Rules - Lost My Business

[Athappyhiker]

Stopped in at a Cabelas tonight; they had a decent looking S&W J Frame (637 w/ CT grips) in the used case for an ok price. Asked the sales guy to take it out, which he did but it had a trigger lock on it which covered the trigger completely and prevented checking trigger pull or cylinder lock-up/timing. Asked him to remove it so I could function check the gun and try the trigger and he said that it is Cabelas/Bass Pro's unbreakable rule that they cannot remove the trigger locks from any guns prior to sale, and yet there's a "no returns on firearms" policy. So you have no idea if the used (or new) gun functions fully or has a problem, yet you have no recourse for return/refund if you take a chance and buy it as is. I told the guy, "know it's not your fault - but tell your management it's a stupid policy that treats customers like idiot children, and they just lost a customer who is smart enough not to risk $400+ on a purchase he can't be trusted to function test." Why are the lawyer so afraid that someone is going to magically insert a round into a gun and shoot someone??? it's the clerk's job in gun stores to verify a gun is unloaded before handing it over to the customer to check out. Funny - a little LGS w/ limited funds/insurance is ok with that, but a massive corporation like Bass Pro with tons of cash, insurance and defense lawyers on retainer still won't treat us like responsible adults and take the very very very very small risk that something bad could happen. Jerks.

 

[usm1rifle]

I believe they had someone kill themselves at the gun counter and no longer permit an unlocked trigger - period.

 

[Sistema1927]

Yes, Bass Pro had someone kill themselves at the gun counter. Watch the first 5 minutes of "Sunshine Cleaners" for an example of how this happens.

 

[gman51]

I read somewhere that the reason for that is so that a customer can't load the gun and shoot themselves or someone else or even rob the store.
A guy worked at a pawn shop that sold stun guns. A customer came in and asked to see one. Once in his hand he robbed the store by threatening an employee. The pawn shop was a chain corporation and all stores got memos to remove all stun guns and they were not allowed to sell or take them for pawn ever again.

 

[M29since14]

They want to have their cake and eat it too!

I don’t snap guns in gun stores, was always taught it was bad form, but I don’t deal with sellers who remove all of my remedies by “store policy”, either. Buy guns elsewhere.

 

[Doug627]

Someone else will buy the gun.

 

[Stevens]

About 30-40 years ago a guy killed himself in at a gun counter in our town. He asked the clerk to show him some gun, seemed interested, then he asked clerk to show him how to load it. He then put the loaded gun to his head and shot himself as the clerk, horrified, watched.
Steve W

 

[CH4]

I had the same discussion with a salesman at "a" Cabelas. Told him if I was going to shoot myself or anyone else, I'd rather use the gun I was carrying. He brought me into the office and removed the lock so I could further inspect it. After telling him I'd take it, he reinstalled the lock...

 

[EarlB]

This. It's been that way for a few months now since the incident happened. I don't like it, but I still buy from them as I have gotten some amazing deals. There are a lot worse things that have happened with the Bass Pro takeover. Namely, they won't negotiate prices anymore, don't have $25 off discount coupons out the ying yang (I used to collect them like collector cards for my next purchase), and no lay aways anymore either...it is what it is.

What really kicks my butt....all of this was caused by the same friggin man that took over my former company with an activist investor takeover joining the Board and getting thousands including yours truly laid off. I guess everything has a silver lining. It was during the out of work period with a fat severance that I found my love of S&W revolvers...

I believe they had someone kill themselves at the gun counter and no longer permit an unlocked trigger - period.

 

[CH4]

About 30-40 years ago a guy killed himself in at a gun counter in our town. He asked the clerk to show him some gun, seemed interested, then he asked clerk to show him how to load it. He then put the loaded gun to his head and shot himself as the clerk, horrified, watched.
Steve W

We had a guy do the same exact thing in the late 80s at a local hardware/gun store. Immediately upon completing our simple investigation and the stiff was removed, they opened the doors for business. In fact, I was still near the gun counter talking to the clerk as he was mopping the blood and grey matter off the floor, etc. when a customer strolling by said, "kid had more brains than I thought he did."

 

[HardToHandle]

Bass Pro sucks.

Maybe we cannot blame it all on the takeover, but my Cabelas gift certificates and other goodies were used up as soon as the potential Bass Pro deal was leaked to the media. Bass Pro’s race-to-the-bottom culture lacks the quality and outfitter ethnic that underwrote the Cabelas expansion. The once-proud Cabelas name is circling the drain as we speak.

As for buying guns, my last stop at a Cabelas had a gutted gun library and bizarre pricing on some mediocre used guns. The new gun cases were full but the shelves looked pretty bare in places under the new management.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

We make our choices and take our chances, I would buy from Bass Pro/Cabelas, but as always you have to be careful. I will not specify, but accommodations can usually be made with experienced employees to check all facets of a gun that you want to buy.

 

[kraynky]

Yep, that would do it for me as a customer. I live near Kentucky Gun, where they have a nice sized area of new & used long guns you can pick up and fondle is you're interested. However about 3 yeas or so back they started zip tying the actions, bolts, levers etc.

Just take it to the counter and they'll let you function test it. I figure something similar happened to them, or they have a paranoid manager or insurance requirement. It is a hassle, but I get it. We live in crazy times. Cabelas has taken it waay too far. I no longer buy from them either.

 

[growr]

Similar experience here in Billings....wanted to look at a Smith M64 and asked if it was DA only or traditional DA/SA......they didn't know and cannot remove lock to find out....NO SALE by me.

Randy

 

[silverstateS&W]

AGAIN I say....
Independent retail store......

 

[Mike in Reedley]

Same thing happened in the Terminator.

 

[Departed402]

As a Nebraska resident I found the Cabela's takeover to be particularly disheartening. Now all we have is Hornady. This policy must be pretty new? Can the staff at least demonstrate the working of the action?

 

[Darkenfast]

Recently went to a Coastal Farms store here in Oregon. No problem trying the actions on several revolvers (was encouraged to!). Friendly staff. Stores don't have to be jerks.

 

[fordson]

It’s not the store nor the gun...... it’s the people.

 

[Texas40]

Hmm
Concerned about someone loading and shooting a “for sale” gun yet I can carry my LOADED firearm on my hip and waltz right in to either BPS or Cabela’s and no one will bat an eye.

I frequent BPS and Cabela’s and have bought a gun from them.
It was new and a few yrs back.

I dont recall it having a TL while I fondled the display gun and I know the one in the box did not.




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