Probably wrong venue but I felt like venting and wanted to see if it was just me.....

Anyone else frustrated with Cabelas ?

I am a Black card holder, primarily for the 5% Cabelas purchases reward as the 1% reward for outside purchases is not competitive. Lately if I call to speak with customer service, whether it's a catalog order or credit card question, the wait times are terrible.

This morning, after a lengthy delay, I tried to order brant decoys they advertise on the website, only to be told they are discontinued and not backorder-able. But yet, still advertised as available and on sale on the website.

Oh yea, ever notice their regular prices are higher than everyone else, unless on sale or a promo is on ?

Guess I'll have to wait for Bass Pro Shop to come along and shake things up.

My problem(?) is that I live 1/2 mile from Cabela's and thirty miles from Bass Pro Shop. Personally if they were the same distance, I would still prefer Cabela's. I do agree with you that Cabela's need someone fresh to come in and shake things up. Customer service is not that great. The help(?) seem to like standing around talking to each other, or telling long-winded stories to customers. They need some training I suspect.

My other beef with Cabela's, and I'm probably being selfish here, but they always ask me if I want to round-up my purchase price to help some charitable conservation organization. I get tired of being made to feel like a cheapskate by saying "no".

Including Cabela's hunts, I know I've spent six figures in Cabela's over the years. I never noticed any particular appreciation for my loyalty.

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Bass Pro has made an offer to buy Cabelas and that the process is going forward. That may be part of the problem.

There is a Bass Pro and a Cabelas in the Phoenix area. The side-by-side contrast, especially in recent times, is very apparent. Bass Pro is heads and shoulders above Cabelas in every respect. At least at these two stores.

I'm not sure Bass Pro buying Cabelas is a good thing in the long run. Bass Pro has always been a little higher in their pricing. If they buy Cabelas, they'll be little competition and their pricing will continue to be high.

I'm with Kensco on the not-so-subtle extortion that goes on at the cash register. Sometimes the clerk can't even tell you which "conservation org" is the current recipient.

A number of other big-box stores are doing the "round up for charity" thing at the register. Petco and Best Buy come to mind. Petco simply says the money goes to "animal rescue" centers, but cannot always say which ones. I just refuse to give.

Well I'm a sucker for little girls selling girl scout cookies as well even though I'll never eat them.As to Cabelas,in their favor I must say that everything that I bought from them has been top quality,especcialy their clothes.There has been a rumor going around (unfounded it seems) that Bass Pro Shops were buying out Cabelas. I have a friend in Nebraska that told me this was not true. My concern was that I do have the Cabela card that I have worked up points for something that I would not spend the money on.It would be one helluva note to have $1000.00 worth of credit built up to lose because of change of ownership.

I have three cabelas less than an hour from my house. I frequent one of them, the closest often. Their prices for most part are high and can be beat "on line"
I rarely buy there unless I have a coupon or credit card points.

I have recently purchased two different sets of cabelas brand breathable waders and two different models of cabelas brand duck hunting jackets and all four have been junk.

Although a loyal and very satisfied customer for a couple decades or more, I'm moving on.

I used to get a certificate yearly 'world's foremost shopper' from cabela's. Good products, good customer service and good people. My last couple of orders have been screwed up. When I tried to get the screw up fixed, I got an obama supporter on The phone---in FL. If I remember, their home is NE, correct ?
Sadly, Their life as the 'world's foremost outfitter' is over.

Gander Mountain just opened a new store today in Frisco, Texas (north of Dallas).

I agree that Cabelas has been on the slide downwards for quite some time and getting poorer by the minute. When I started dealing with them some twenty or so years ago they were great. Now I wonder why I do business with them. Company has been accelerating downward at a greater speed since the founder passed away.

Cabela's hunting clothing used to be generously sized and good quality. Now you get Chinese junk that has lousy zippers and doesn't fit. I ordered a pair of boat shoes recently and one was an inch shorter than the other yet identically marked. I would gladly pay a premium for the old quality but I just don't see that happening. I gladly will pay more for quality but it just doesn't seem like the large retailers agree.

That is sad to hear but predictable I suppose. Well they did have great clothing once upon a time.Might be time to cash in my points. Pity is that what they are selling their guns for are so far overpriced.But they won't give you jack when you sell to them. I understand profit margin in corps. but when I HAD to sell IMMEDIATELY to do the divorce,I don't think I got a dime on a dollar.They opened up a Gander Mountain right here on I35 + 620,used to be Sportsmans Warehouse. I bought a lot from Gander Mountain by mail in the 60's.

The last two times I was in the Scarborough, Maine Cabelas I was disappointed . The shelves weren't full , lots of product missing . The clothes were poor quality and poor looking.
I think they are in trouble. Probably now owned by a bunch of rich liberal progressives that give big donations to the anti gun/hunting
politicians, not even realizing they are castrating themselves.

I was in Cabelas today with my son in law, he was looking for fishing equipment. They were so out of stock on many reels that it seemed they were asleep at the wheel. This was also true of fishing rods, and a lot of archery equipment. This has been going on for a while but continues downward as stated in my earlier post. Sad to see what was a one time a very customer oriented corporation go down to what is is today.

I predicted a fall in Cabelas when they had to start charging sales tax. Previously the shipping charges were offset by not having to pay sales tax. Now we have to pay both.

They are for sale:

http://www.omaha.com/money/rep...fe-3b4fa13f6f40.html

Hard to beat Cabela's for sale prices on Pedersol, Uberti and Pietta black powder firearms.

Sold to Bass Pro for $5.5B it was announced today. I would imagine that the 2000 people in Sydney who work for Cabelas are very nervous. That deal could wipe out the town. Capitol One is going to take over the credit card operations.

quote:

Originally posted by RCG:
Sold to Bass Pro for $5.5B it was announced today. I would imagine that the 2000 people in Sydney who work for Cabelas are very nervous. That deal could wipe out the town. Capitol One is going to take over the credit card operations.

Yep, they are all basically history.

You should live in Canada. All their merchandise is priced in US dollars, about 25% more in Canuck bucks and a lot of it is special order or unavailable.

Grizz

I am in Freeport Maine now and just finished walking thru parts of LL bean. Staff is first class. Very helpful. Cabelas and Pro bass should visit

The Cabelas store near here is a compliment to our sport and a pleasure to see.

In the past I have found a really fine custom rifle there.

They were not that busy today.