BPS's Johnny Morris on future of Cabela's Employees

[Darren.]

Latest developments, not unexpected (i.e., no promises employees keep jobs) in the BPS buys Cabela's saga.

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/bass-pro-ceo-talks-to-cabelas-workers-about-future/

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Bass Pro Shops’ CEO has told Cabela’s employees that he won’t plant false hopes about their jobs after his company completes its purchase of the company. But he repeated earlier statements that some operations will stay in the Nebraska town where Cabela’s was founded.

[BassnChris]

I feel for the workers.

There is NEVER enough information for the little guy these acquisitions affect.

i speak from experience.....and pray the best for each of them.

[Yakalong]

I've been there, not a lot you can do if your number is called other than move on..

[flyfisher]

time to update their resumes and get some applications out.  The one advantage of staying on is many times there is at least a little severance package to help out.

[Gundog]

Like many others I've been on the wrong side of one of these mergers. It isn't easy when you spend a long time working for a company only to be "downsized" or have your job relocated. I hope the people affected by this find other jobs. In this new economy that isn't easy.

[Bankbeater]

At least he is being honest about it. 

[Molay1292]

I certainly feel for those that will be facing career changes.  I do also hope that if the positions are replaced that the hiring managers do a better job of finding people who at least know a bit about the department that they are assigned to.   It seems to be more and more that finding a knowledgeable sales team member is like finding a needle in the haystack.

[Gundog]

9 minutes ago, Molay1292 said:

I certainly feel for those that will be facing career changes.  I do also hope that if the positions are replaced that the hiring managers do a better job of finding people who at least know a bit about the department that they are assigned to.   It seems to be more and more that finding a knowledgeable sales team member is like finding a needle in the haystack.

The days of knowledgeable sales people is pretty much over. Stagnant pay and corporate mentality have driven qualified workers out of places like this. These stores are like a Walmart for outdoor stuff. If you know what you are doing, do you want to work for some big company where you are nothing but a number or a small shop where your knowledge is appreciated?Even the guys behind the gun counter don't hold a candle to the people I find working at my local gun shop.  I've questioned the gun counter guys at the Cabela's I go to about different guns and most just look at the tag and if it ain't on there they don't know. All the small gun shops I go to, the counter sales people can break these guns down and reassemble them easy. 

[bigbill]

Remember good help is hard to find. Well people that actually want to work. Thru my decades of working I seen more people do more to get out of work than what the job required. You have trained people there already use them.

I lost my job in '83, '84, '85 I worked only 9 months in three years. That's three months per year. The recession killed the machine tool industry. I wanted to work but couldn't find a job. I took my chainsaws and sold firewood. I had my own job to fill the gaps.

I pray for the ones who are out of work I know the feeling.

[Molay1292]

5 hours ago, bigbill said:

Remember good help is hard to find. Well people that actually want to work. Thru my decades of working I seen more people do more to get out of work than what the job required. You have trained people there already use them.

I lost my job in '83, '84, '85 I worked only 9 months in three years. That's three months per year. The recession killed the machine tool industry. I wanted to work but couldn't find a job. I took my chainsaws and sold firewood. I had my own job to fill the gaps.

I pray for the ones who are out of work I know the feeling.

No doubt about it, good help is hard to find, but then again so are good loyal customers.

[Columbia Craw]

I worked 18 years of retail management and upper management before a significant career change, this after a leverage buyout.  The folks most expendable are in the corporate offices and not at the sales floor level. The closer you are to the CEO, the greater  the probability you will be expendable.  A company like these can go a year or two without the actual CEO.  He/she isn't unlocking the doors stocking shelves and standing at the register.  Loose a quality floor person and neglect a shopper?  That hurts immediately and that won't last long.  There will be some "restructuring" going on.  That's a given.  Getting sacked is no fun.  Been there done that.  I feel bad for those at risk of having a stranger ask them for their keys to the office.   

[Sam]

Sorry to say, Darren, but most of the Cabela's people are gonners.

Even at their home office many will have to leave once the operations are merged together.

As for the in-store sales staff, they are more protected until BPS realizes that most of them know nothing of the departments they are working, such as guns, fishing, hunting, etc.

Another sad day in America when we lose more jobs after working so long and hard for one company.

On ‎10‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 11:25 AM, Gundog said:

The days of knowledgeable sales people is pretty much over. Stagnant pay and corporate mentality have driven qualified workers out of places like this. These stores are like a Walmart for outdoor stuff. If you know what you are doing, do you want to work for some big company where you are nothing but a number or a small shop where your knowledge is appreciated?Even the guys behind the gun counter don't hold a candle to the people I find working at my local gun shop.  I've questioned the gun counter guys at the Cabela's I go to about different guns and most just look at the tag and if it ain't on there they don't know. All the small gun shops I go to, the counter sales people can break these guns down and reassemble them easy. 

Gundog, when I saw the S&W .38 special with the laser advertised in a Richmond, Virginia Cabela's flyer that I was interested in purchasing I went to the Cabela's newest store in the West End and not only did the guy behind the counter not know of the gun but he had no idea they had it stock. I had to show it to him in the display case and then he went in the "back" to make sure it was the same weapon.

Same with the fishing guys in Richmond's newest Cabela's. They had not heard of GMCO maps of the area's lakes and rivers nor did they have any idea about bass fishing in general. GMCO maps are the "bible" of maps in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina and everyone who fishes knows about them and keeps them on board as backup incase your electronics go out and at home with waypoints and other data written on them for future reference.

On the other hand, other than for one or two turkeys at the Richmond BPS on I-95 everyone in the fishing department fishes bass tournaments and it is fun to shop there to meet other bass guys and gals plus talk about baits, tournaments, people we know, bodies of water, who did what to whom, etc.

Hopefully the Cabela's will remain in Richmond and the staff will be improved.

[jr231]

Yea none of the cabelas I've been to sales associates really impress me... I'm not saying people deserve to lose their job.. but it won't affect my shopping because they don't help me anyway. Last cabelas I went in to I asked for some screw in bullet weights , the guy (in the fishing department) said he's never seen those... they didn't have them. Ok. I let that slide. Next I was looking for a shallow xrap shad. He took me to the rapalas and said its in there somewhere. Well. I found the xraps. But no shallow shad ... this model has been out for awhile and may not be a great seller so I understand if its not in stock.. still bummed me out.  Next I asked him if he could show me where the strike king rage tail baits are.. literally all they had was the anaconda and cut'r worm. For the worlds foremost outfitter I left pretty disappointed. This was at the west Chester , ohio cabelas FWIW.  Maybe bass pro will get someone in there who is more interested in fishing and not just a yay or nay type of employee . 

[Scott F]

The corporation has little to no input on the hiring of store employees. The quality of the floor personnel depends on who the local manager can get to work for near minimum wage. 

[Gundog]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

The corporation has little to no input on the hiring of store employees. The quality of the floor personnel depends on who the local manager can get to work for near minimum wage. 

Sad but true.

On 10/13/2016 at 9:07 PM, Columbia Craw said:

  The folks most expendable are in the corporate offices and not at the sales floor level. The closer you are to the CEO, the greater  the probability you will be expendable. 

This is what happened to the upper management at the company I currently work for. After the buyout the purge started. The higher-ups got to retire (early for most) but below them, those people got the boot. Many big homes went up for sale.

[bigbill]

I told my new boss once a good worker can make it anywhere. Then I said I could eat my lunch anywhere too. Of course on a new job my chainsaws weren't cold yet. I was arrogant. Job wise I went from sinking ship to sinking ship in the 80's. I put job applications in and go back a week later the place closed up. Sad.

get nervious when the new CEO gives a speech, after the buyout that no one is going anywhere. This speech means fire up the chainsaws.