Latest on Bass Pro Buying Cabelas...

[avidone1]

I have a negative knee jerk reaction to any merger of this sort.   It's not a 'thought out' position, just a innate dislike for mega chains dominating any sector of the market.

In the case of cabellas it's almost personal.  I was buying from cabellas in the early days, before the internet and when their "catalogue" was black and white print copies mailed by request.

I know I'm a relic of the past, but I sorta miss the ole days. 

[Gundog]

To add another element to this discussion I found out that a mall in NEPA is going to be replacing a Sears store with a combination of Dick's Sporting Goods and Field and Stream stores. I looked it up and they are the same company selling much of the same stuff under different names. So you have two stores next to each other, owned by the same company, competing with each other. Really??????? Do we need that? 

[Darren.]

2 minutes ago, Gundog said:

To add another element to this discussion I found out that a mall in NEPA is going to be replacing a Sears store with a combination of Dick's Sporting Goods and Field and Stream stores. I looked it up and they are the same company selling much of the same stuff under different names. So you have two stores next to each other, owned by the same company, competing with each other. Really??????? Do we need that? 

If I'm not mistaken (and I could be), I thought DSG
was channeling more of their camping/fishing/hunting
over to the Field & Stream stores? In that case, it would
make more sense to have one sports store, and the
"sister" store being more of an outdoorsy store.

Maybe. I dunno.

[Cgrinder]

Time to put on my Ugh boots.

[tomustang]

17 hours ago, Gundog said:

To add another element to this discussion I found out that a mall in NEPA is going to be replacing a Sears store with a combination of Dick's Sporting Goods and Field and Stream stores. I looked it up and they are the same company selling much of the same stuff under different names. So you have two stores next to each other, owned by the same company, competing with each other. Really??????? Do we need that? 

F&S, DSG, and Golf Galaxy are the same. what they try to do is appease their customers by stocking more of their products to the local crowd. Down here golf is bigger so we have a golf galaxy and a DSG next town over. If it was more woodsy there's be a F&S with a DSG near buy with the DSG having less fishing gear to make more room for active sports and golf. it's a better idea to use a big retail space and combine the two so it saves them on distribution.

[Gundog]

18 hours ago, Darren. said:

If I'm not mistaken (and I could be), I thought DSG
was channeling more of their camping/fishing/hunting
over to the Field & Stream stores? In that case, it would
make more sense to have one sports store, and the
"sister" store being more of an outdoorsy store.

Maybe. I dunno.

I'm just going by what I've heard about F&S. I have never been to one but have been to Dick's. But there is also clothing and other apparel that seems like it would be a duplicate. Kind of like BPS and Cabela's band clothing. If F&S is only selling outdoor equipment then that would make more sense. 

[Last_Cast]

I'd rather shop online.

[j bab]

It's going down.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/04/business/dealbook/bass-pro-shops-cabelas.html

[jr231]

They can't raise the prices tooooo High..people will just buy elsewhere.. online or straight from the manufacturer. In this type of market they will still have to compete with ANY other place that sells fishing items..

Then again people pay 8 dollars for a pack of senkos... so. It'll only go as high as you all are willing to pay. 

Reminds me of the sports world.. where many people complain about how much money the athletes make.. but the fact is..  if the CONSUMER wouldn't pay outrageous prices for tickets, jerseys and cable channels then the athletes wouldn't have all that money. 

[Columbia Craw]

I have a little different perspective I guess.  Both companies are strongly branded and have a pretty loyal customer base. I doubt either entity, regardless of ownership group will drop it's name.  It's kind of like Shimano acquiring G. Loomis and then calling the rods all Shimano.  The branding was more valuable than the production facility/employee base.

The owner group will increase their purchasing power, garnering discount leverage, much like Walmart has developed.  I would guess some of the exclusive label merchandise will be consolidated. The corporate level positions will be reduced and much of the overhead also consolidated.  I honestly don't think any savings will trickle down to the floor level consumer. Reduced operating costs will slide to the profit line.  I have never bought one item from a BPS store and other than some Guide Wear rain gear, I haven't spent much at a Cabelas.  The on line options are too appealing.  Besides, I have so much crap as it stands now, I can't justify buying any more.  I remember my first BPS catalog.  I think it was about 28 pages and it was wore out from looking at it.  Is the recession over ?