OMAHA, Neb. — Outdoor gear giant Bass Pro is snapping up rival Cabela's in a $4.5 billion deal announced Monday.

Bass Pro is paying Cabela's shareholders $65.50 cash per share, a 19 percent premium to Friday's closing price. The companies valued the deal at $5.5 billion, which includes debt. The deal combines two companies known for their giant destination superstores.

Yep,
This has been in the works for months.
Essentially a hostile takeover
Cabelas is sort of a TArget vs Bass Pro a Walmart...
Meaning most everyone perceives them to be of higher quality than Bass Pro.
Them spinning off Outdoor Adventures was a clear signal recently.
I think this is ultimately not good for us as outdoor enthusiasts

quote:

Originally posted by Poyntman:
Yep,
This has been in the works for months.
Essentially a hostile takeover
Cabelas is sort of a Target vs Bass Pro a Walmart...
Meaning most everyone perceives them to be of higher quality than Bass Pro.
Them spinning off Outdoor Adventures was a clear signal recently.
I think this is ultimately not good for us as outdoor enthusiasts

I wonder if Bass Pro intends to capitalize on that perception by continuing to operate Cabela's under the Cabela's brand and marketing them as something of a premium outlet of sorts?

quote:

Originally posted by Tex21:

quote:

Originally posted by Poyntman:
Yep,
This has been in the works for months.
Essentially a hostile takeover
Cabelas is sort of a Target vs Bass Pro a Walmart...
Meaning most everyone perceives them to be of higher quality than Bass Pro.
Them spinning off Outdoor Adventures was a clear signal recently.
I think this is ultimately not good for us as outdoor enthusiasts

I wonder if Bass Pro intends to capitalize on that perception by continuing to operate Cabela's under the Cabela's brand and marketing them as something of a premium outlet of sorts?

I sure hope so. Cabelas is big leagues, Bass Pro rookie ball.

I was looking for an excuse to drive just a little further and shop at Scheels...Cabelas is doomed. You might not see any changes in the near future but little by little Bass Pro will cheapen the product lines and the gear will be worthless for serious hunting trips.

Bummer.

I've been of the mindset of late, that Cabelas has cheapened EVERYTHING they sell. You used to be able to go in and buy Boyt Harness quality duffles and such. Now its some cheap look alike trash that makes one or two trip before it wear through. They fell into the trap of convincing themselves that as long as "we supervise the quality" it's the same quality as the name brands we used to sell.

I've since switched over to Duluth Pack. Their stuff is what BH at Cabelas used to be.

Its the same in Tackle. I never go to Cabelas and they are 6 miles from me. BPS is 30 or so.

BPS may have cheap offshore trash as well but they have the quality name brand right beside it. Fishing pliers, Fishing Knives, Hook sharpeners, Braid scissors. the list goes on and on.

And in Phoenix particularly, the staff at Cabelas are a bunch of halfwit, lazy, stiffs with bad attitudes. BPS, folks are noticeably higher quality.

That may just be a function of the store manager in Phoenix.

I think this opens up opportunity for someone like maybe a Midway or others to position themselves as a boutique high quality/high expertise store
Bass Pro appeals to the "Lowest Common Denominator"
Cabelas appealed to a more expertise oriented customer IMO

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
Bummer.

I say Hooray!!

Going public and having hedge fund shareholders doomed Cabela's.

Bass Pro is a fishing store that dabbles in hunting equipment. Cabala's was a hunting store that sold fishing equipment.

In Edmonton, we have Cabela's and I pretty much hated going there. DUMB employees, not that great product selection. Way better places to shop.

The main use I had for Cabela's, was when I knew what I wanted, at least I could check their prices, and sometimes find a bargain there. Not often, but sometimes. Online shopping I'm talking, since most of the sales people on the floor are dolts.

There are no Bass Pro Shops anywhere near me, so I've never been there, and can't comment on them.

Anyway, no matter what you think of either store, anytime competition is reduced, we just pay more, and end up with less selection.

So this deal stinks...

Sportsman's Warehouse anyone? The one in Lexington always had a better selection on ammo than Cabela's or BPS.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
I've been of the mindset of late, that Cabelas has cheapened EVERYTHING they sell. You used to be able to go in and buy Boyt Harness quality duffles and such. Now its some cheap look alike trash that makes one or two trip before it wear through. They fell into the trap of convincing themselves that as long as "we supervise the quality" it's the same quality as the name brands we used to sell.

I've since switched over to Duluth Pack. Their stuff is what BH at Cabelas used to be.

Its the same in Tackle. I never go to Cabelas and they are 6 miles from me. BPS is 30 or so.

BPS may have cheap offshore trash as well but they have the quality name brand right beside it. Fishing pliers, Fishing Knives, Hook sharpeners, Braid scissors. the list goes on and on.

And in Phoenix particularly, the staff at Cabelas are a bunch of halfwit, lazy, stiffs with bad attitudes. BPS, folks are noticeably higher quality.

That may just be a function of the store manager in Phoenix.

If Cabela's removed all of the stuff they sell that is made in China and removed all the mindless dolts who work there, they could sell their wares on a table at local gun shows with 1 employee.
Cal

Folks, it is 2016, people in general are not as picky as those of us born prior to, oh say 1970 maybe 1975.

Look at our entire economy from vehicles to sporting goods to you name it.

Most of the public is no longer worried about durability, we have become a throwaway society.

Use something a couple of times, toss it and go buy the latest/greatest.

It is just another concept that has passed some of us by.

It would possibly be interesting to run a poll to find out how many folks buy a new rifle scope outfit every 3 to 5 years to have the Latest/Greatest "In" gadget?

Those of us that grew up during the 50's, 60's & 70's looked for dependability/durability, cause in some or many cases we had to make things last for one reason or another, that is why I buy used El Paso K6 Fixed Power Steel Tube scopes if they are in decent shape.

All we are seeing with this transaction is simply an indication as to how much hunters/fishermen have changed in the newer generations coming on. Just an opinion on my part.

I will miss the Cabela's "bargain cave" immensely if it ultimately goes away. What I will not miss the the idiocy that I regularly experienced at their gun counter.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Ahrenberg:
I've been of the mindset of late, that Cabelas has cheapened EVERYTHING they sell. You used to be able to go in and buy Boyt Harness quality duffles and such. Now its some cheap look alike trash that makes one or two trip before it wear through. They fell into the trap of convincing themselves that as long as "we supervise the quality" it's the same quality as the name brands we used to sell.

I've since switched over to Duluth Pack. Their stuff is what BH at Cabelas used to be.

Its the same in Tackle. I never go to Cabelas and they are 6 miles from me. BPS is 30 or so.

BPS may have cheap offshore trash as well but they have the quality name brand right beside it. Fishing pliers, Fishing Knives, Hook sharpeners, Braid scissors. the list goes on and on.

And in Phoenix particularly, the staff at Cabelas are a bunch of halfwit, lazy, stiffs with bad attitudes. BPS, folks are noticeably higher quality.

That may just be a function of the store manager in Phoenix.

If Cabela's removed all of the stuff they sell that is made in China and removed all the mindless dolts who work there, they could sell their wares on a table at local gun shows with 1 employee.
Cal

Couldn't agree more with Cal about Cabela's.

I have zero experience with Bass Pro as I don't live within 1000 miles of one, but a friend of mine in Calgary says the same thing about Bass Pro.

Online hunting gear before Cabelas
That store drives me to drink

It's called "mass marketing." I imagine Dick's started out selling good stuff too, but a few hundred stores later....

Dunn's Supply was great, but Cabela's bought them out and it went away. Hell, Abercrombie and Fitch was once cool and the outfitter to the finest.

BPS said they would "celebrate and grow" the Cabela's brand", what ever that means. I use their credit card and have quite a few points built up, wonder if this will continue? Reducing the competition is bad for the consumer.

with the combination of the 2 giants gun sales will now be second to only biebs

Right on Cal.

Been in the world of outdoor gear development and manufacturing since whelped and Cabela's has done more to crush innovation than you can imagine.

Reason: someone designs great gear that's not really patentable. They finance the first few production orders from Cabela's. If it sells well, the same thing with a Cabela's tag on it shows up the next year and orders go to zero. R&D for Cabela's = Ripoff and Duplicate and this was long before they went public. Yes, product developers have risk but jeeeeze, no honor from the buy it cheap and stack it deep outfits.

To be fair I have heard people who really like their outfitter tents and some of their clothing. However, Scheel's and others get my dollars whenever possible.

quote:

And in Phoenix particularly, the staff at Cabelas are a bunch of halfwit, lazy, stiffs with bad attitudes.

Man if that isn't true I don't know what is. I was happy when Cabelas opened its store here. Now I couldn't care less. I will go in there if I happen to be on the west side and know what I want. But seeing how I live on the east side of town, I rarely go there. There was a time I would've happily made the hour drive, but not anymore.

I did have a very positive experience a few years back with one lady who really did know here stuff and was happy to help. I called the manager the next day to give credit to her, but I also told him that I was disappointed that this wasn't more common at the shop. Told him I go to the store now expecting the exact opposite.

Very few factory reps are celebrating the merger. A throat hold will now be applied to factories when they sit down with buyers for BPS. The R&D phrase "Rip Off and Duplicate" was as accurate as stated. And both outfits play that game.

Hard to see how hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen come out ahead with fewer retail options.

I stop by a Cabelas in Hoffman Estates, IL from time to time on the way to my gun club. The people in the gun department are complete twits. I asked one associate if they stocked Eley .22 ammo and he immediately said "NO". Not three feet from where we stood was a display of Eley .22 ammo. I just pointed at it, and said... "well what's that?"

First people bitch and cry about Cabelas being too expensive, then another group will whine and moan that Cabelas has cheapened their stuff too much and that it's foreign made crap. The American consumer is a spoiled bunch, wanting USA made products at Chinese prices.

I usually know what I want before I go in there, so I don't have to ask many questions to all the "nitwits" they employ. For my interests there's not a better retail store under one roof in existence that I'm aware of.

Scheels is better....much better

quote:

Originally posted by Heym 450/400:
Scheels is better....much better

Or Barney's Sports Chalet in Anchorage and at DSC!!

Wish Schnees would load up a semi and come to Dallas.

quote:

Originally posted by Heym 450/400:
Scheels is better....much better

To each his own, but the one I went into in Reno definitely was not. Poor optics selection, many of those a private label knock-off of some sort. Sportsmans Warehouse tried to play here in TX and couldn't, and I suspect that's why Scheels isn't here either.

Used to be Cabela's sold good stuff and you could count on good quality no matter what was in the catalog. Sadly that seemed to go away in the 90's. Bought a pair of boots a while back that were Goretex lined and said to be waterproof. They were about as waterproof as a pair of Converse high tops. They gave me my money back and I bought a name brand pair. I steer clear of Cabela's brand now.

I will miss Cabela's. My experiences in stores and mail order have always been positive. Any problems I have had with their products, service or shipping, they have always corrected and made it right. When I encounter the occasional idiot in Cabela's (or anywhere else for that matter) I just avoid and forget them. Makes life's journey much more enjoyable.

Safe travels...........Larry

There is a bass pro in Orlando and I have been to a few around the country. Their fishing is much better than their guns/firearms. Their archery is good and clothing gear is good.

I have always found cabelas much better in the firearms section.

But for firearms I like supporting small gunsmiths/gun shops. The service and intelligence I get from a good gunsmith is worth paying a little more.

I really think this merger was driven by Amazon. Amazon will dominate most skus these two companies sell and their catalog business are at serious risk.

I like going to cabelas more than bass pro. But if you want to buy gear dsc is where you get to see much more stuff geared for African and other hunting.

Mike

This has been going on for almost a year. I know the first order of business is to eliminate the Farm Equipment. I just hope that they keep the Gun Library. It is one of the only places in this area were you can go and see inventory on big caliber rifles. I have been shopping for a 375 and their prices have been competitive compared to Gun Broker.

Cabelas has done a good job marketing their private label gear. Their Instinct line is a much better quality than Bass Pro's Red Head. Do not know what Johnny Morris has in mind. The reason why he has made millions is because he has positioned himself around some talented people. He may of bit off more than he could chew. The firearm business may boom for the next two years but when Hillary starts her gun grab it will decrease.

I just hope they keep the more affordable private label gear that is currently offered by Cabelas and not turn it into a glorified Wall Mart. Bass Pro wants to be considered a tourist destination. They put the museums in the stores for tax benefits. Cabelas does a good job concentrating on the hunter and shooting enthusiast. Cabelas also has its on bank and their visa card has much better benefits than the bass pro master card.

I am very unhappy to see this. I bought some things at Cabela's that were non hunting gear like Saucony running shoes, Cabela's brand khaki's and shorts. I sometimes bought brass or reloading supplies.... never bought a gun there.
Bass Pro was at least 20% higher on everything across the board last time I was in one. Really sorry because Cabela's just became local with a store in town the last few years.

A big box store is a big box store. They've all been junk for quite awhile. I do like the fish and wildlife displays. Other than that, I feel like I just stepped on the set of a commercial for a high fivin whitetail show soon as I walk in. America loves consumers

quote:

Originally posted by Capt. Purvis:
Cabelas also has its on bank and their visa card ...

Nope, not anymore.
Cabela's card business was sold to CapitalOne as part of this merger.


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Yep,
A big part of the value were the CC users sold to Chase