doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bass Pro-Cabela's

This is an example of the Federal government doing what it is suppose to do - protect the people. Mergers like this, that significantly reduce competition between market leaders, results in you and I paying more for products and services and only benefits the shareholders. I also believe prices will rise, layoffs will occur, service will suffer, and product variety will be reduced in an effort to increase shareholder value without any thought of the customer. As a businessman for over 40 years I know how important competition is at controlling product pricing inflation.

I went to visit some old friends at Cabela's, they were all gone. I got a bad feeling there, as did my wife, like they didn't like their customers. My wife thought it like going into Targets. I think Cabela's is going to down size considerably.

A "bad feeling"?? In a spooky or sick kind of way?? It's a blasted sporting goods store Pooch!! The merchandise sold by Cabela's is in my opinion better quality than that sold at BP. I wish the deal would fall through and Cabelas would continue as is without getting BP in the mix.

One thing is certain, the Gun Library at Cabela's is bleeding money. They have hundreds, if not thousands of firearms that they bought poorly and are not selling, nor will sell, for anywhere near the prices they are asking. Money pit, big time.

The Big Auction is coming.
JR

Bad feeling like the sales people didn't like their work or the customers. You could feel it when you walked through the door. Shop where you want to, I just like the atmosphere at Bass Pro better.

Buying guns, particularly these expensive ones requires a higher level of gun knowledge and experience then you find on the floor of a big box store.

Yup- here are a few examples of their "Fubars" from the Gun Library at the Grandville MI store-- an Ideal Grade 16 gauge DT, Ext, at $2650 asking price.. cracks at the lock and both tangs, rust pits on the barrels near the splinter forearm,dents also-- and the barrels were cut from 30" to 26&3/4"-- and here's the "kicker"-- it is a 20 gauge, not a 16- FW series of course-- want another example, just in the double shotgun realm-- OK- a "pre-Flues" Ithaca - a New Ithaca Gun 12 gauge hammerless with Damascus barrels 12 gauge listed as a Ithaca NID - and for only $2750-- it is a Grade 3, apparently. Try to tell their GL "dudes" where they are in error is like shoveling shit against the incoming tides--

Can't say I disagree with what is being said here. However I don't think they can continue doing business as usual. There have been some good examples of areas that need repair. I also heard that one reason Cabelas was hurting was that they weren't catering to the younger/more athletic crowd which BP and Dick's were good at.
Kirk

I go into the Gun Library when I need a good laugh. I hit the sales rack outside it looking for good buys. Problem is that no one can know everything and to buy long guns, pistols, surplus and C&R stuff is beyond anyone's abilities. I do OK buying Shotguns, fair on rifles but loose my butt on handguns. They might do better buying estates where large number of guns might help them if they over pay for some of them.

I bought a Remington Model 12, Remington Special pump gun with a tang sight, in mint condition for 15% of its real value. Heck the sight was worth more than a hundred alone. Reason it was on the sales rack was I was told the ammo was no longer made. I asked for their lowest, final sale price with no right to return it and they cut it in half again. I bought it out of petty cash in my pocket. My Winchester Special ammo is the perfect substitution for the Remington Special ammo.

My son bought a Gallery Special .22 short, Remington pump gun for $200 off the sales rack. Not mint it was worth three or four times the asking price. They told him that no one shoot shorts much any more and you can not hunt with shorts.

I do miss the Gun Library, nuggets show up ever so often. I would imagine if this economy picks up it will be harder for these stores to get good help. I would hate to try to support a family on a retail clerk's salary. So many of the people I worked with had had better jobs but the recession drove them to any job they could find.