Comments on: Cabela’s Sends Competence and Selection Out the Door http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/ Firearms Policy and Politics in Pennsylvania Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:07:47 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tam http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35432 Tam Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:18:55 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35432 Actually, stuff like shooting jackets and such is pretty esoteric, and I've never seen them outside of Champion's Choice and catalog outfits catering specifically to the target shooting market. God knows I never stocked them; we only had about one customer per year ask. Actually, stuff like shooting jackets and such is pretty esoteric, and I’ve never seen them outside of Champion’s Choice and catalog outfits catering specifically to the target shooting market.

God knows I never stocked them; we only had about one customer per year ask.

]]> By: vssapresident http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35358 vssapresident Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:06:51 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35358 Yep, no doubt Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops cater to the hunting crowd all right but some of the mom and pop shops in the Richmond area are the same - meaning you have a hard time finding competitive shooter supplies. DeGoff's Guns is the only true "gun shop" as the other stores Greentop and Dance's are "sporting goods" stores that also sell hunting and fishing supplies. I go to Bass Pro and Cabela's for my hunting supplies simply because they have a larger selection and have good experiences with them (though I have to shop Cabela's online as there is not a store close to VA - Richmond has a new Bass Pro store). I buy my guns from the mom and pop stores because I trust their employee product knowledge. Yep, no doubt Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops cater to the hunting crowd all right but some of the mom and pop shops in the Richmond area are the same – meaning you have a hard time finding competitive shooter supplies. DeGoff’s Guns is the only true “gun shop” as the other stores Greentop and Dance’s are “sporting goods” stores that also sell hunting and fishing supplies.

I go to Bass Pro and Cabela’s for my hunting supplies simply because they have a larger selection and have good experiences with them (though I have to shop Cabela’s online as there is not a store close to VA – Richmond has a new Bass Pro store). I buy my guns from the mom and pop stores because I trust their employee product knowledge.

]]> By: J. Dock http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35356 J. Dock Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:20:17 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35356 I also go to the Cabela's in Buda. (That's "Byoo-duh" in case you're dying to say "boo-duh." Don't ask me about "Manor"...) I didn't notice about the SureFires but I didn't look. Last one I bought there was like maybe 1.5 years ago, and it was in the gun section. Cabela's Buda has EBRs, no prob. Staff is basically whoever they can get to show up. I'm not crazy about having a Cabelan run a NICS check for me - that's not something I care to have screwed up. Plenty of non shotgun items in store, last I noticed. OTOH, they have been uniformly nice to me at customer service. and they have a decent breakfast selection upstairs. The talky deer head creeped me out though. I'm glad he shut up/went away. I also go to the Cabela’s in Buda. (That’s “Byoo-duh” in case you’re dying to say “boo-duh.” Don’t ask me about “Manor”…)

I didn’t notice about the SureFires but I didn’t look. Last one I bought there was like maybe 1.5 years ago, and it was in the gun section.

Cabela’s Buda has EBRs, no prob. Staff is basically whoever they can get to show up. I’m not crazy about having a Cabelan run a NICS check for me – that’s not something I care to have screwed up.

Plenty of non shotgun items in store, last I noticed.

OTOH, they have been uniformly nice to me at customer service. and they have a decent breakfast selection upstairs.

The talky deer head creeped me out though. I’m glad he shut up/went away.

]]> By: Rustmeister http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35355 Rustmeister Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:05:12 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35355 I think I would have lost my composure at the end of #3. Camping lights? grrrr. I think I would have lost my composure at the end of #3.

Camping lights? grrrr.

]]> By: NMM1AFan http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35353 NMM1AFan Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:57:52 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35353 Cabelas doesn't stock competitive shooting equipment in the catalog, either. Try Creedmoor Sports online. Best regards, Cabelas doesn’t stock competitive shooting equipment in the catalog, either.

Try Creedmoor Sports online.

Best regards,

]]> By: hsoi http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35352 hsoi Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:54:46 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35352 I live about a 10-15 minute drive from the Cabela's in Buda, Texas so I go there all the time. Normally my experiences there are fine... I usually find what I want and then some (budget be damned!). I will say that sometimes if I need a salesperson it can be a chore to find one, but that doesn't happen all that often. Still tho, some of what you said rings the same: the SureFires are now up in camping (tho they weren't in a case last time I was there), can't always find baskets in non-front-of-the-store locations. But overall my experiences have been pretty good. Maybe I'm lucky to be in Texas. I live about a 10-15 minute drive from the Cabela’s in Buda, Texas so I go there all the time. Normally my experiences there are fine… I usually find what I want and then some (budget be damned!). I will say that sometimes if I need a salesperson it can be a chore to find one, but that doesn’t happen all that often. Still tho, some of what you said rings the same: the SureFires are now up in camping (tho they weren’t in a case last time I was there), can’t always find baskets in non-front-of-the-store locations. But overall my experiences have been pretty good. Maybe I’m lucky to be in Texas.

]]> By: Mopar http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35351 Mopar Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:02:20 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35351 OrangeNeck, EBRs arent totally banned here in CT. Just like they didnt go away under the federal AWB. Cabela's just chooses not to carry them. I've been inside exactly once, to see what all the hype is about. I actually tried to visit the PA one a few years ago when it opened. It was the weekend before Christmas and I got there like at 4:30-5:30pm and they were closing up. What major retailer closes that early right before Christmas? When they finally opened the Hartford store, we went and checked it out. Not really impressed. Just like the catalog, everything is overpriced. Some stuff seemed priced even higher then the catalog. It also seemed like a lot of people were using the store as a giant day-care center. There were dozens of seemingly parentless kids running around the store, and most of them had those pop guns. Now, it warms my heart to see kids playing with toy guns here in CT, but the constant Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! all over the store was really getting annoying. We didn't shop as long as we might have because of it. Nope, don't see myself doing that again any time soon. I'd rather do my shopping sitting on my sofa with my laptop. OrangeNeck, EBRs arent totally banned here in CT. Just like they didnt go away under the federal AWB. Cabela’s just chooses not to carry them.

I’ve been inside exactly once, to see what all the hype is about. I actually tried to visit the PA one a few years ago when it opened. It was the weekend before Christmas and I got there like at 4:30-5:30pm and they were closing up. What major retailer closes that early right before Christmas?

When they finally opened the Hartford store, we went and checked it out. Not really impressed. Just like the catalog, everything is overpriced. Some stuff seemed priced even higher then the catalog. It also seemed like a lot of people were using the store as a giant day-care center. There were dozens of seemingly parentless kids running around the store, and most of them had those pop guns. Now, it warms my heart to see kids playing with toy guns here in CT, but the constant Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! all over the store was really getting annoying. We didn’t shop as long as we might have because of it. Nope, don’t see myself doing that again any time soon. I’d rather do my shopping sitting on my sofa with my laptop.

]]> By: dagamore http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35350 dagamore Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:50:23 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35350 I for one have loved all 3 trips to Cabela's i have been on. Since i live in germany, it is often hard to find a good outdoors/hunting store. On my last 2 trips to the US, Kanasa and Washington, i went to both local stores, Olympia and Kansas City respectivly. I have had a great visit to both of them. And the best thing is that the Olympia(Lacey) store gave me the military discount even though i am just a DOD contractor. Bonus :D I for one have loved all 3 trips to Cabela’s i have been on.

Since i live in germany, it is often hard to find a good outdoors/hunting store. On my last 2 trips to the US, Kanasa and Washington, i went to both local stores, Olympia and Kansas City respectivly. I have had a great visit to both of them.

And the best thing is that the Olympia(Lacey) store gave me the military discount even though i am just a DOD contractor. Bonus :D

]]> By: OrangeNeckInNY http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35347 OrangeNeckInNY Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:07:04 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35347 Cabela's is good for some things...when you order online and you know what you want. Lord knows I've chatted live with someone about this or that or what they need to do. One time, I wrote an email to their customer service regarding how one of their bow technicians set up a bow for a friend of mine, that took ME two hours to unfuck and set up correctly. They really aren't hiring pros to man their shops; they're hiring kids and retirees at minimum wage. The only other Cabela's near me is the one in East Hartford, CT, and their gun selection leaves a lot to be desired. And since EBRs are banned in CT, you won't find any on their gun racks. I just ordered 5000 rounds of CCI .22LR Subsonic bullets from MidwayUSA, even though they're still advertising H-S Precision parts. I'm not going to boycott them just because they don't know what H-S Precision did. And even if they did, if we systematically boycott every gun/ammo dealer around the country, that doesn't do any good for us. There's going to be a gun show at King Of Prussia on the 19th, 20th and 21st. I already told Sebastian that I was going to be there. Perhaps I'll see you guys there. Maybe they'll have the shooting jackets you want. Cabela’s is good for some things…when you order online and you know what you want. Lord knows I’ve chatted live with someone about this or that or what they need to do.

One time, I wrote an email to their customer service regarding how one of their bow technicians set up a bow for a friend of mine, that took ME two hours to unfuck and set up correctly.

They really aren’t hiring pros to man their shops; they’re hiring kids and retirees at minimum wage. The only other Cabela’s near me is the one in East Hartford, CT, and their gun selection leaves a lot to be desired. And since EBRs are banned in CT, you won’t find any on their gun racks.

I just ordered 5000 rounds of CCI .22LR Subsonic bullets from MidwayUSA, even though they’re still advertising H-S Precision parts. I’m not going to boycott them just because they don’t know what H-S Precision did. And even if they did, if we systematically boycott every gun/ammo dealer around the country, that doesn’t do any good for us.

There’s going to be a gun show at King Of Prussia on the 19th, 20th and 21st. I already told Sebastian that I was going to be there. Perhaps I’ll see you guys there. Maybe they’ll have the shooting jackets you want.

]]> By: mulligan http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35346 mulligan Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:31:59 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35346 Mixed results at the local cabela's I've attempted to attend a couple of their 'in store seminars' and they both failed to impress. The gun counter usually has lots of employees, but its hit or miss on their knowledge. Other areas are spotty for counter help but when I can find a name tag they usually know where things are located. Anyone I find with a good working knowledge seems to have picked it up outside of work. Last 2 trips I ended up with referrals to alternate retailers. Mixed results at the local cabela’s
I’ve attempted to attend a couple of their ‘in store seminars’ and they both failed to impress. The gun counter usually has lots of employees, but its hit or miss on their knowledge. Other areas are spotty for counter help but when I can find a name tag they usually know where things are located. Anyone I find with a good working knowledge seems to have picked it up outside of work. Last 2 trips I ended up with referrals to alternate retailers.

]]> By: Eric R. Shelton http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2008/12/14/cabelas-sends-competence-and-selection-out-the-door/#comment-35345 Eric R. Shelton Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:33:44 +0000 http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=7165#comment-35345 Dittos on the competence complaint. I had just finished listening to the NRA annual meeting on Cam & Company maybe a month or two before my trip to this fabled land of Cabela's. I found nothing I wanted to buy, or couldn't get cheaper at my local place. Still, they had announced at the meeting that Cabela's was going to offer a donation program to NRA where you could round up your change to the nearest dollar or "add a buck" or something. 3 bags of crappy beef jerky later, and 15 minutes of the cashier fumbling and asking for managers to help, and I decided I'll just stick with my local Mom n' Pop shops here in town, and send my money to the NRA directly. Dittos on the competence complaint. I had just finished listening to the NRA annual meeting on Cam & Company maybe a month or two before my trip to this fabled land of Cabela’s. I found nothing I wanted to buy, or couldn’t get cheaper at my local place. Still, they had announced at the meeting that Cabela’s was going to offer a donation program to NRA where you could round up your change to the nearest dollar or “add a buck” or something.

3 bags of crappy beef jerky later, and 15 minutes of the cashier fumbling and asking for managers to help, and I decided I’ll just stick with my local Mom n’ Pop shops here in town, and send my money to the NRA directly.

]]>