I'm sad to say that I am beginning to lose my patience with Cabela's. The novelty has worn off completely.

In the last 5 months or so, I have been to each of the Texas stores upwards of 15 times looking for various items from camo to wool lined slippers, from pistols to fishing shirts, from wool lined shotgun cases to electronic dog collars, and from everyday clothes to fishing gear. I've found that, compared to Bass Pro, Cabela's is more often out-of-stock on their gear or much higher in price than their competitor. And the customer service has gotten to be ridiculous.

From now on, I will support Bass Pro Shops as exclusively as possible. The Cabela brothers will get very little money from me, at least at their brick and mortar stores, until things improve.

oh now calm down.

you cant expect a good experience every year.

That's funny b/c everytime I go to the "new" BassPro in Pearland, I never find what I'm looking for. They're either out of stock or they don't carry it at all. I went to Gander Mtn, and it's there every time.

[This message has been edited by tx4guns (edited 3/31/2008 11:55a).]

I would tend to agree with tx on my experiences. We have a Cabela's & BPS within 5 miles of each other. With the exception of weekly specials on their "Redhead" (BassProShop brand) brand gear, Cabela's always seems to be cheaper.

And I'm usually pretty happy with the service in both places.

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I've found that, compared to Bass Pro, Cabela's is more often out-of-stock on their gear or much higher in price than their competitor.

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This is just impossible.

I worked at Bass Pro for years in high school and college. Supply chain mgmt and buying is a tremendous issue. For example, I sold $300 pairs of sunglasses sometimes more than 10 in day. I could have sold even more, but mid-year we would run out of the popular styles and were told that "the buyer had spent his budget and we just had to sell what we had." What the hell kind of business sense does that make? It happened all over the store on high dollar items from reels to clubs to tents to guns.

To be honest, I'm perplexed how they have managed to open so many new stores. It is a complete disaster there. The inventory count of individual items HAS to be higher at Cabela's they kick Bass Pro's ass on anything I shop for.

As far as prices? There may be some things that are less at Bass Pro, but I just dont think that's a true statement. Also, Cabela's branded merchandise is leaps and bounds ahead of Bass Pro's redhead labels.

You can shop at Bass Pro, but I find them to be poorly stocked, higher priced, and lower quality for branded stuff.

[This message has been edited by TXAGFAN (edited 3/31/2008 12:23p).]

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Also, Cabela's branded merchandise is leaps and bounds ahead of Bass Pro's redhead labels

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+1

Slippers:

I wanted wool lined slippers for Christmas, so I go try on a pair. They don't have the slides, but they have the slip-ons in the style I want, so I try those on for size. Tell the soon-to-be and she orders the slides for me. Christmas morning, I open them up and they're so small she can wear them. We keep those and go back to the store to see if they have more. Guy recommends I try on a slide of a different style and order that size in the style I want. We do that and they're entirely too large. By this time, I've paid shipping charges twice and still don't have any damn slippers.

Pistols:

Dad wants one of the Bersa .380s for a light concealed carry weapon. I'm trying to convince him to go a little bit bigger in caliber in a gun of equal size. We look at several pistols including the Bersa, Kahr PM9, XD9Sub and M&P9c. Salesman tells me that he would never shoot a S&W. Having just purchased one the previous Saturday, I inquire as to why.

"They're not made in the U.S."

Why, sure they are, see here (pointing at the muzzle end of the slide). Made in USA," I reply.

"Oh, they just put that on there so they can sell more over here."

Now then, Dad decides he still wants the Bersa, especially since they're on sale right now. I go to pick one up in Buda and they have one in stock in layaway. No problem. I live in Fort Worth. So the guy (an Ol' Ag) looks up the FW Store and shows they have 6 in stock (5 on hold and 1 on layaway). At this point, I can see the computer screen so I trust him. He shows they have 10 on order and recommends I call the store today.

So, I call today and the salesman informs me they sold the only ones they had on Saturday. I ask if there's another shipment on the way and he replies that he can't look up that information. "I only know about what's in the safe," he tells me. Probing further, I say I was in Buda yesterday and a salesman helped me by looking up the inventory on the computer. He interupts with "He did, huh? That computer is never right. The only thing that is right is what's in the safe." Anyway, he tells me to call back in a couple of days. I ask him if they do rainchecks and they do not. I ask if I can use my $20 coupon that is supposed to expire today later this week. Of course not.


I've been to Bass Pro twice in the last 6 months and bought two pairs of pants, 8 shirts and a pair of shoes all for less than $200. Cabela's just isn't worth the hassle anymore.

(Sorry, this is really long!)

[This message has been edited by AggieBonz02 (edited 4/1/2008 8:23a).]

Also, Cabela's branded merchandise is leaps and bounds ahead of Bass Pro's redhead labels.

Big time agree. The Redhead stuff looks and fits like Chinese rejects. The Cabelas stuff is a lot higher quality.

My biggest complaint with Cabela's is the pop guns. Rather than get what I came for, and mill around, perhaps getting something else, I now go in, get what I need, and get out ASAP just to get away from "pop"ping.

Store staff say they get similar complaints, but the sale of these items is too great to discontinue. They need to at least move them to check-out then.

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My biggest complaint with Cabela's is the pop guns. Rather than get what I came for, and mill around, perhaps getting something else, I now go in, get what I need, and get out ASAP just to get away from "pop"ping.

Store staff say they get similar complaints, but the sale of these items is too great to discontinue. They need to at least move them to check-out then.

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I agree. More short sighted thinking of retail people...forget about all the lost sales from this annoyance just look at all those $10 pop guns you sold!

[This message has been edited by TXAGFAN (edited 3/31/2008 12:53p).]

dp

[This message has been edited by Tree Hugger (edited 3/31/2008 1:11p).]

A friend of mine complained about the pop guns via email once. The response was something along the lines of, "Yes, we get more complaints about the pop guns than anything else in the store. However, that is also our #1 selling item."

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Also, Cabela's branded merchandise is leaps and bounds ahead of Bass Pro's redhead labels

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I agree 100%! I have had nothing but good luck with Cabela's clothing, waders, etc... Only thing BPS clothing wise that I've had good luck with is RedHead tee shirts and Timberlake stuff.

Bonz maybe you need to be more assertive or speak to more managers. I haven't had any problems.

I just wish a Cabela's was closer to me (Houston)

My biggest complaint w/ Cabela's is the peanut brittle is always broken. I like them in that they carry a lot of brands of stuff other than Cabela's. Likewise you can order stuff...like Beard Buster...that is not carried in the store.

Bass Pro carries a lot of fresh water tackle but there is a lot of good tackle that they won't put on the shelf. If you don't like Redhead...and I don't...you are out of luck.

[This message has been edited by sunchaser (edited 3/31/2008 1:40p).]

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My biggest complaint w/ Cabela's is the peanut brittle is always broken.

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haha

Well, maybe I'm just having a bad year like chili says.

I'll give 'em six months off and try again once hunting seasons pick back up.

Thats why I go to Academy.

Not too happy with Cabela's myself right now. They keep telling me the new Ruger will be in stock and hasn't as of yet. So I figure I'll go ahead and pick up the Bersa since it's on sale. Of course, out of stock, no rainchecks, and not getting any more in. Might as well go to Academy, but it's $60 more there. I guess I'll keep waiting on the Ruger.

Slippers! My kingdom for a pair of slippers!

They had the Bersa this Saturday when I went to Buda, but I can imagine they won't have any of those LCPs for very long.

I was in Buda on Sunday and someone had put the last Bersa on layaway.

That whole "no rainchecks' thing upsets me too.

Where are you at aggielax48? The Shooter's Club in Ft Worth has a Bersa for $229 (Cabela's regular price). I don't remember which model it is. I'll probably just buy it there and support the "little man."

I'm in Austin.

Well, shucks. I can't help ya then.

If you make it back to Cabela's, be sure to work with Dick at the gun counter. I didn't get his class year, but he's an Ol' Ag and actually knows what's going on.

pop guns? Enlighten those of us that live nowhere near a Cabelas?

For the record, most of these big chains have CORPORATE supply management, and since they aren't Texas based, they do their ordering based on national figures, or what works for them in their home territories, or lord knows what. Any way they do it, their product mixes and the amounts they stock in Texas stores are ALWAYS FUBAR. They never seem to have enoguh of what is popular or in demand, and have lots of other stuff gathering dust on the shelves because of a poorly managed supply chain..

Mouth....you mean we don't have to listen to another 2nd amendment debate because some of us feel that pop gun's should be eliminated from Cabela's. Some guns are best left out of the public domain.

Pop guns should already be eliminated from the public domain. Selling guns to people under the age of 18 is already illegal!

It's George Bush's fault

+1 on Cabela's branded stuff being better than RedHead.

I mail order stuff from Cabela's frequently. There's not one nearby, but they are often cheaper than Gander Mountain.

When it comes to guns, I don't buy from the big box stores. I just go there to look and feel at the stock. It's always been easier and often cheaper to get the gun I want by ordering online and having it shipped to somebody local. It's always the gun I actually ordered, I always know when its there, and it's always been there when I've gone to pick it up.

Not to mention, many of the people working the gun sections in the big box stores often annoy me with ignorance.

+10 on cabela's branded stuff over Ass Pro..

$20 for the barn jacket?! Best 20 bucks I ever spent. It has lasted as long as my carhart stuff easily.

Their cammo is great as well.

They have better inventory for sure, and if you find something that is out of stock, they will order it at the in store kiosk by # and ship it to you.

I have this happen a lot with Sale items.

BassPro= Tourist Attraction
Gander = Overpriced, minimal selection

Cabelas = not perfect, but my outfitter of choice.

I have had much better experience with Cabelas both in person and online. I feel like their people know more about what they are talking about as well.

I think that Sportsman's Warehouse is better than them all except for nothing ever went on sale and their prices were higher. (also they don't sell used guns that I ever saw)

Other than that I like the layout, selection, and people better. Too bad the one in Lewisville closed down.

I'll have to go with Academy. A Texas company with prices that are tough to beat.

Alright. I'm clueless. WTF is a "pop gun" at Cabelas?

i would assume it is this
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0013788615030a.shtml

but i am only going off guess work and typing "cabelas pop gun" into google and it being the first link.


(dont worry, i didnt know either)