What's Happening at Cabelas?

[riversalmon]

Was cruising the Smith & Wesson handguns in their Gun Library today, which I tend to do occasionally. My question is, when did they seemingly adopt a 1000 dollar base pricing point for used revolvers. Been doing business with them for years, and admit that their pricing has at times been optomistic but it seems it has advanced to opportunistic. Oh well, am glad I was able to gather my humble herd when they were within the reach of the working man.

 

[serger]

All that stuff started when Bass Pro bought them. They have to answer to a bigger corporate boss now.

 

[usm1rifle]

It has pretty much been that way at the four Minnesota stores forever.

 

[rwt1405]

It has pretty much been that way at the four Minnesota stores forever.

The one in Delaware is the same, I have walked thru about three times, laughing the entire time!

 

[thadheth]

I attend some reasonably large gun auctions on a regular basis. One of the front row bidders is allegedly with Cabelas. Most of the folks at these auctions wait for the auctioneer to get down to a fairly low price before opening the bid - their hope, of course, is to nail a firearm at a bargain price. I've observed the alleged "Cabelas Buyer" - he immediately starts the bidding at a high level, and he is usually bidding on higher quality items like S&W, Colts, classic Winchesters, etc. Perhaps it's a rumor that this individual is affiliated with Cabelas, but if true, it supports the notion that Cabelas needs to keep their prices high to make a profit.

 

[Eberhart]

That sounds like a rumor. They can get all the sweet deals they want from widows and orphans coming in to sell without competing at an auction.

 

[CH4]

The one in Delaware is the same, I have walked thru about three times, laughing the entire time!

Same at the Reno store. New guns are often above MSRP.

 

[WizardMaster]

I too have noticed the sudden rise in their prices, (not that their prices have ever been reasonable), like they think their stuff is gold or something..... Maybe they are related to gun broker.........

 

[Engineer1911]

Prices at high? Bass Pro and Cabela's are still in business. Gander Mountain is going down the drain. Back in the early 1980's, Herter's took 4 years before the final store closed in Eau Claire, WI.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Cabela's wil open here on Sep 21.
Looking foward to it!
Have only been in one store one time, that was in Ft. Worth.

 

[Buford57]

About the same time Herter's was going under I used to stop in at a family owned sporting goods store in Sidney, NE once a year while traveling between Wyoming and Michigan. It was in an old 2 story brick warehouse and in the basement they sold discounted return items from their mail order business.
During pheasant season you parked down the street and walked back because the lot was full of dog trailers. Dick and Mary were nice folks.

When they built the "new store" in Sidney, and then Grand Island and so on I remained a loyal customer, but all that glitz cost money and Dick and Mary are hunting happier grounds. Some accountant is running things now and the bargain cave ain't.

 

[Texas40]

The one here local (Buda Tx) is not that much out of line with most other retailers on new firearms.
Used gun prices do seem to be on the high end.
I wouldn't buy a used gun from a mega retailer.
That is mote the market of the small shops imo.
Only new gun bought at Cabelas was my 45 Shield early in availability. Pd 425 plus ttl. Yes high but it was scarce at the time.



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[LEO918]

I've noticed the same scenario at the Glendale, AZ Cabela's since the Bass Pro bunch took over. Most of the longtime employees are gone. For years I bought at least a gun a month there. Now I haven't bought a gun there in months.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Every now and then a Gem slips through.I got a complete in the gold box bright blue pre model 23 with TH,TT and red post front sight for $1,200 OTD.....And It Lettered as is to the local PD(Most likely a higher up taking advantage of the LEO discount).The box had everything in it including the NOX Paper and the numbers matching Magna Stocks(Had LH Herrett thumb rest Targets that I sold for around $100 on it)

 

[JayFramer]

Something is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it.

 

[thadheth]

That sounds like a rumor. They can get all the sweet deals they want from widows and orphans coming in to sell without competing at an auction.

Perhaps you are correct. However, the rumor also included that he was buying for multiple Cabelas locations - a "regional buyer," perhaps; and these auctions, which often include several hundred firearms, might be a good place for "picking," especially if the end result is high resale prices.

 

[silversnake]

Must depend on the store. I was just at my local Cabelas, they had used revolvers (several Smiths and a Colt) under $400. Some others were going for much more than that, but the prices were no worse than any other LGS.

 

[03clyde]

Gander Mtn lite??

 

[dswancutt]

All that stuff started when Bass Pro bought them. They have to answer to a bigger corporate boss now.

Actually, the Cabela's board just gave the approval for the sale last month after legality of the sale was oked by the Fed's.

 

[27 Man]

Cabela's work the gun show tables too. At the last Tulsa show, they came by our table with a folder full of FFLs and cash wanting to bundle some of the guns my buddies and I had out. They paid pretty much what we were asking.