Used Guns at Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shop

[Ernest T]

This may not be news to a lot of you, but it was an eye opener for me. The Cabela’s in Buda, TX had a used S&W model 27-2 in 357 in stock so I drove two hours to look at the gun. To be fair, it looked as good in person as it did in pictures. It’s from the early to mid 70s.

The clerk brought it out and presented it with a lock on the trigger. I asked him to remove it and he said he couldn’t do it because of company policy. I asked him how I could check functionality with the trigger locked and he replied they check the guns out, but don’t fire them. Then I asked if I bought the gun, and it proved to have a safety or functional issue, would they refund my purchase? He said no, they were sold with no guarantees.

They wanted $1500 for the gun and I wasn’t prepared to take that gamble on a nearly 50 year old gun. They have the ultimate catch 22 going on with used guns.

 

[DShortt]

If people continue buy them, they'll continue to do things that way. If people stop buying them they'll either change their policy or quit buying and selling used guns.

I'm guessing it'll be the last option.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

People selling gun that don't know anything about guns!

 

[1K6BRA]

I am glad that you listened to your inner “caveat emptor” They know there are enough gullible Gary’s out there that will not!

 

[K22]

Back in the 80's I had three S&W Model 27's in 8 3/8", 6-, and 5"-barrel lengths. These are the heavy "N" frame revolvers designed to take a steady diet of full 357 Magnum loads. The Model 27 was the first 357 magnum model produced by S&W. They were the ultimate in craftsmanship and were sold in a wooded presentation case.

Like an idiot, I traded them off when the new "L" frames were introduced. The newer "L" frames that mimic the Colt Python with the underlug are a better choice for target shooting since the underlug provides better stability of hold and dampens the recoil for follow-up shots.

But for pure hunting as a holstered revolver, the Model 27 is hard to beat. Still, I wouldn't pay $1,500 for one, even if it was unfired.

 

[Ajwilly96]

I just bought an FN 545 from Cabela’s the other day, I was trying to decide between that one and the FNX 45. And people say the major difference is the trigger

The only time I buy used guns from Cabela’s is usually when they miss mark them or have something that they don’t realize the true value of and I’m willing to gamble. My gamble is the problem will either be easily fixed or you can contact corporate and get it refunded. I’ve probably bought 10 used guns and all of them have been fine

According to the clerk the reason they have to have the trigger locks on is actually from my Hometown store a guy walked in with a live round asked to see a gun then proceeded to kill himself with the gun.

 

[c3d4b2]

This may not be news to a lot of you, but it was an eye opener for me. The Cabela’s in Buda, TX had a used S&W model 27-2 in 357 in stock so I drove two hours to look at the gun. To be fair, it looked as good in person as it did in pictures. It’s from the early to mid 70s.

The clerk brought it out and presented it with a lock on the trigger. I asked him to remove it and he said he couldn’t do it because of company policy. I asked him how I could check functionality with the trigger locked and he replied they check the guns out, but don’t fire them. Then I asked if I bought the gun, and it proved to have a safety or functional issue, would they refund my purchase? He said no, they were sold with no guarantees.

They wanted $1500 for the gun and I wasn’t prepared to take that gamble on a nearly 50 year old gun. They have the ultimate catch 22 going on with used guns.

I have never had this issue when dealing with the local Cabelas?

At one time they had a 3 day inspection if it was shipped. That may have changed also......

I personally liked Cabelas better prior to Bass Pro taking over.

 

[Ernest T]

I have never had this issue when dealing with the local Cabelas?

At one time they had a 3 day inspection if it was shipped. That may have changed also......

I personally liked Cabelas better prior to Bass Pro taking over.

You’re right! After reading your post, I went back and saw that if you bought through Guns International, you’d get the three day window. And I can have it shipped to my bass pro shop for pickup. That’s a weird business model.

I liked them a lot better as Cabala’s back in the 80s when they were mostly a catalog dealer.

 

[Ernest T]

Back in the 80's I had three S&W Model 27's in 8 3/8", 6-, and 5"-barrel lengths. These are the heavy "N" frame revolvers designed to take a steady diet of full 357 Magnum loads. The Model 27 was the first 357 magnum model produced by S&W. They were the ultimate in craftsmanship and were sold in a wooded presentation case.

Like an idiot, I traded them off when the new "L" frames were introduced. The newer "L" frames that mimic the Colt Python with the underlug are a better choice for target shooting since the underlug provides better stability of hold and dampens the recoil for follow-up shots.

But for pure hunting as a holstered revolver, the Model 27 is hard to beat. Still, I wouldn't pay $1,500 for one, even if it was unfired.

I hear you on the price. I can get a 686 for $800 new and used, but Model 27s are running $1200 to over $2000!

 

[JSH]

Cabelas/Bass pro pretty much done with both of them since they combined. Never was a BP fan anyway, they sure didn’t do Cabelas any favors.

 

[hogpatrol]

I bought an Anschutz MPR in 17HMR. A good friend and hunting buddy decided he wanted one. He found one in Cabela's gun library in a distant state and had it shipped to the Hamburg store. He purchased it and we went to the range a couple weeks later. Loaded the magazine, chambered a round and click. The hammer falls and nothing. Long story short, the firing pin was missing. Cabela's claimed as is, where is and he had to purchase a firing pin himself. Lesson learned, never buy a used firearm from that merged entity.

 

[spudgun]

I work at the Cabela's used gun department.

You are right about the trigger locks being on the guns. The trigger lock can be removed, but the gun barrel must be placed into a bullet trap and the employee must have 1 hand on the gun when the customer pulls the trigger (it's a pain in the ass).

As for a warranty on used guns. We suggest the manufacture warranty first, we do have a corp gunsmith that we can send the non functional guns for repair. If the gun cannot be repaired we can refund.

I have been in all 3 situations

 

[BlueWater]

The clerk brought it out and presented it with a lock on the trigger. I asked him to remove it and he said he couldn’t do it because of company policy. I asked him how I could check functionality with the trigger locked and he replied they check the guns out, but don’t fire them. Then I asked if I bought the gun, and it proved to have a safety or functional issue, would they refund my purchase? He said no, they were sold with no guarantees.

I refuse to purchase any gun without being capable of making at least a rudimentary evaluation of its basic function, smoothness, presence of noticeable flaws, etc. That includes, at bare minimum, operation of all mechanicals to ensure they do, indeed, work as a salable item is essentially proclaiming.

If a seller wants to basically unload a product sight-unseen (from a functionality standpoint), they're welcome to try. If I were to accommodate them, that'd be on me. That, I won't do. (It's about as silly as, say, attempting to sell a used car without allowing sitting in it, proving the basics function, then cranking the engine and taking it for a ~10mi drive under varying road conditions.)

Good to know Cabela's/BassPro has that policy. Never have considered a pre-owned item from them.

Fortunately, I have a handful of fairly decent shops in my area that don't put such owness on a buyer combined with failure to support their sold products.

 

[Adam 6mm build]

Few years back a friend of mine was at a gander mountain in scranton pa they had a model 71 in the case he asked the associate if he could look the rifle over the associate told him he could not take it out of the case do to the cost of the rifle he said let me talk to your manager was told manager was gonna tell him the same thing but when he gets back from lunch he will be available my buddy waited the manager return from lunch and opened the case and handed him the rifle upon looking rifle over it showed that the other side of rifle was completely pitted from being in a gun case for storage of a gunstock he pointed out to the manager the situation and the manager was shocked to see the condition on the other side of the rifle and said to the associate who would not open the case please get the login book to see who bought the rifle for resale and the associate said I bought it for $250 my buddy was standing right there while the conversion was taken place now mind u the asking price was $1699. The manager said to my buddy I will sell it to for $275 I have to show at least $25 profit to corporate my buddy was more than glad pay $275 long story short they pay pennies for the rifles and they know nothing about what they are buying only what they read in the blubook of guns what they use when purchasing rifles for resale the rifle cleaned up pretty good its definitely worth the $275 he paid

 

[Ernest T]

I work at the Cabela's used gun department.

You are right about the trigger locks being on the guns. The trigger lock can be removed, but the gun barrel must be placed into a bullet trap and the employee must have 1 hand on the gun when the customer pulls the trigger (it's a pain in the ass).

As for a warranty on used guns. We suggest the manufacture warranty first, we do have a corp gunsmith that we can send the non functional guns for repair. If the gun cannot be repaired we can refund.

I have been in all 3 situations

The employee I spoke to gave me none of those options. I don’t know how helpful the first one would have been though. That’s a cumbersome process, even if I only wanted to pull the trigger a few times. Mainly, I wanted to check the cylinder lock up, trigger reset, and if the hammer stayed locked if you pushed it with your thumb.

 

[Ernest T]

I refuse to purchase any gun without being capable of making at least a rudimentary evaluation of its basic function, smoothness, presence of noticeable flaws, etc. That includes, at bare minimum, operation of all mechanicals to ensure they do, indeed, work as a salable item is essentially proclaiming.

If a seller wants to basically unload a product sight-unseen (from a functionality standpoint), they're welcome to try. If I were to accommodate them, that'd be on me. That, I won't do. (It's about as silly as, say, attempting to sell a used car without allowing sitting in it, proving the basics function, then cranking the engine and taking it for a ~10mi drive under varying road conditions.)

Good to know Cabela's/BassPro has that policy. Never have considered a pre-owned item from them.

Fortunately, I have a handful of fairly decent shops in my area that don't put such owness on a buyer combined with failure to support their sold products.

It’s unfortunate, but their in person policy, trigger lock stays on, is worse than their on-line policy which gives you 3 days to examine the gun unfettered by a sales associate.

 

[PaGreg]

Can you get the military discount on used guns?

 

[Rsadams]

Hey Ernest I am out in Bastrop , I have bought a lot of over priced guns from the Buda store.... I bet you can find another if you wait or look around Austin... One thing I have learned about that store is money talks , you should have asked for a manager..... None of the shotguns or rifles in that room have a lock on them... Hell last time I was there there was a fifty cal. sitting on the table right where you walk in with no trigger lock... You are buying a used gun BUT your spending $1500 on it so next time ask for a manager and explain it to him.... That's what I do because alot of those people couldn't even explain to you why it's $1500 and not $500..just a thought....

 

[JayHHI6818]

Few years ago at the Wheeling WV Cabela’s they had a MOA pistol. I asked the gentleman what caliber was it. He said we dont know because its not marked. I told him its marked Rich Mertz (manufacturer) wouldn’t build one and not mark the caliber.
He handed it to me and on the top of the barrel by receiver was stamped 30-20. Told the gentleman its 32-20 but 308 bore.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Kind of like buying a used car.

”sorry sir, we cannot put the key in the ignition and crank the engine, you have to buy the car. Once you pay for it and the title is transferred, you can crank it and drive it.”

”What if it won’t run”?

“We do not give refunds”