Cabelas Labor Day Sale.....Meh..

[Texas10]

Cabelas is advertising a big Labor Day Sale, up to 40% off. So couple of buddies and I drove down to buy a few things, and here's what we found.

Almost no one in the store today, Friday before the holiday.

Nothing visibly marked down, at least not in the gun or fishing departments.

$39.00 for a pound of IMR3031 and $42.00 for Varget, that's not a sale price.

Savage 12FV's going for $419.00, usually $349 on sale and sometimes with a $100 rebate on top of that. Neither of which applied today.

Since bought out by Bass Pro, I've seen very few good sales at either store.

I'll go by Bass Pro tomorrow and check out prices. I don't expect to be impressed.

 

[PatMiles]

I'll go by Bass Pro tomorrow and check out prices. I don't expect to be impressed.

Why waste your time?

 

[dickn52]

My closest bass pro is about 45 minutes out. Bought some powder there once, and wow what a feeling. Asked the cashier for a cigarette when she was done...eyes in the light absolute nothing stare. Haven't been back, and from the looks of the parking lot there might be a problem.

 

[pirate ammo]

don't have much,,but we are always below them people,,IMR 3031 $28.00
just can't ship YET,,

 

[K22]

Have you ever tried to buy a gun at Cabela's?

Two years ago I went to their store in Hamburg, PA with cash ready to buy a rifle they had advertised. I really wanted the rifle but I wanted to inspect it first. I had to take a number to receive any service. I was number 80 something. They were calling number 50 something at that moment for the next man up. I couldn't even examine the rifle while I waited; I had to wait until my number was called. As I watched a salesman nervously fidget showing a rifle to a potential buyer I left the premises. By the way, this was not a weekend either. Haven't bought anything there since.

Worked out well for me however. I got a Tikka T3 Hunter 308 instead at my local shop which was having a sell. I now deal exclusively with a local gun shop, prices are good, service is excellent and there is no pressure. I use the Cabela's sales notices as toilet paper at the cabin. Great for that.

Cabela's is a great place to visit to see the displays and have lunch but buying a gun there is pure agony; at least it was for me. Also their prices on powder, primers, and bullets are about 20% higher than my local gun shop if Cabela's even has what you want in stock. Then there is their absurd checkout system, standing in line about 100 yards long waiting for the next cashier. Pure agony again. At a 25 mile one way drive to the place the agony increases.

I don't get it - you would think a major chain like them would have excellent management - from what I've seen they don't.

 

[Falfan2017]

The only way to get a good deal at cabelas is to buy a 20% off gift card on eBay and do active junky cash back and catch one of their deals.

 

[spife7980]

Oh no, they finally took powder prices to bass pros level. Before the merger they went from 28 to 32. Now after they are up to the 38s and 42s. Cripes. Has it been a year now since I’ve gone in one? Pass it twice a week.

 

[timeout]

I used to like Cabela's. They had some good sale prices on guns. Their prices now are higher than a woodpecker's hole. A recent sale flyer was laughable. They would give you a $100.00 trade in on certain rifle Scopes if your scope originally cost $500.00 or more. Cabela's prices didn't elevate immediatly when Bass Pro bought them. Seems to have happened in the last 6 months or so.

 

[1K6BRA]

Gone are the days for me when a trip to Cabela’s ranked right up there with the first day of deer season or Christmas morning when I was 10. I now go out of my way to support my local family owned gun and sporting good stores.

 

[nmkid]

I only bullets from them when I see they are priced where I like them. I don't even bother with Bass Pro Shop. I remember 15-20 years ago I bought nearly everything outdoors from Cabela's. They have always treated me right. I don't think they are the only suppliers that have raised their prices lately!

 

[Mark W]

I worked at the Bass Pro in Orlando, FL for six months when it first opened. I can honestly say that I’ve not stepped foot inside or bought anything from them since the day that I quit.

I knew that it would end up being bad news for Cabela’s when the sale was announced. I stopped in the Wheeling, WV store a few days ago and the space for powder had been reduced by half and was almost empty. The bullet section was also very poorly stocked while the shelves overflowed with overpriced ammo and useless Knick knacks. I probably won’t be back.

 

[muleman69]

Seems like Cabela's sales are close to everyone else's normal price. Been a long time since I saw a real sale at Cabela's,so long I can't remember. Need to shop more of MOM and POP's or Bass pro will own the country.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The last time I was in Cabela’s, there was so much “Cabela’s” rebranded Chi-com crap it gave me the same warm fuzzy feeling as walking in the local Dollar General here at home. Bass Pro does have good over-priced beef jerky and orange slices candy though!

 

[284winner]

That seems to be the case in the big city locations where cabelas are located. Here where I live there is a Cabela's outpost which is a smaller Cabela's store. Never a wait for anything. Of course as the OP first posted, not really any deals either.

 

[rogn]

Had never been in a Cabelas until April of this year. Had been in a few Bass Pros and outsideof library it was a Ho-Hum except the gun counter which was a CF. Finaly got into one in Deleware and some stuff was OK, some was silly priced, like sales overpriced compared to MSRP. Bought some powder and primers which were OK. S$B primers wrer cheap. But now hearing this and remembering the traffic issues in N Deleware, wont waste my time again. LGS easy in easy out, opinions are based in experience and prices arent ridiculous.

 

[Albany Mountain]

Modern day Cabelas idea of a sale is only raising prices 15% instead of 20%

 

[CharlieNC]

Bass Pro went far downhill ten years ago, selling mainly store brand items and more family vs sportsman oriented. I rarely go there anymore. Unfortunately they seem to be dragging Cabelas in the same direction. And they wonder why more internet shopping!

 

[muleman69]

Modern day Cabelas idea of a sale is only raising prices 15% instead of 20%

I hear you, I really think they raise there prices by 20% then knock 10% off if you buy $500 worth of there Cabela's brand stuff

 

[nmkid]

Not overly defending Cabela's as we all know their prices have risen but, a few weeks ago I purchased a new shotgun and it was on sale. I had been watching the shotgun at the local Bass Pro Shop. Cabela's didn't have it in stock and one of the LGS had it at full list. Went to Cabela's to buy a kitchen knife sharpener for my daughter and they had "the" shotgun I was looking for at a touch over $100 off. $100 off and $103 of long held points, I went home happy.

 

[bobinpa]

I have the same feelings about Cabelas as most of you guys....Last time I was there it was to buy a used gun that I had transferred from another Cabelas. The place has changed! It seems they are trying to appeal to the masses. It seems like they want to make it a destination more than a sporting goods store. When I used to go there I went for quality goods and service. Not for candy or lunch..... The way I see it, as shooting and hunting dwindle, they have to spread their nets a little wider. I haven't shot a factory round in over ten years. When I buy a gun, I make sure I can reload for it or I buy dies etc.... I take hunting seriously. I go to the mountains to hunt, not to drink....On the other hand, a lot of guys go to the mountains to get away from the Mrs for a while, they hunt a little and drink a lot. So Cabelas has to make it a place that the whole family can go to, so the Mrs has something to do instead of just complaining about him going to Cabelas again. They have to appeal to the kids in the family that may not be interested in hunting like daddy is. Since daddy only hunts a little, he doesn't reload, he doesn't need the best gear or boots either. He just needs what will do for a couple of days. So the quality goes down... the margins go down and with less margin, they have less service. It will soon be the Wal-Mart version of sporting goods stores. Compared to what it used to be, it's very sad.