Anyone seeing changes in Cabelas stores that they've been to?

[tcbass]

Now that Bass Pro has bought Cabelas, I worry about the quality of their brand products going down. Cabelas makes hands down some of the best hunting and fishing clothes out there. Their clothes have always been top of the line and when it's on sale it's even a greater value. Large well-known manufacturers like Dawia make their in-house reels, Kershaw makes their knives, and Danner makes many of their boots, these are all well-known, large, established companies. I hope Cabelas also sticks with them for their product because I've found Bass Pro's products to be of far lesser quality, especially their Redhead gear clothing. I hope that Cabelas sticks with their current vendors and manufacturers and that the quality of their products doesn't go down hill as often is the case when one company buys another. I hope that Bass Pro doesn't stop using their vendors and starts using Bass Pro's for their name brand products.

 

One poster has stated that their local Cabelas fishing section is cleared out, awaiting new stock from whatever Bass Pro wants to change it to and this is a bad sign. I've always like Cabelas over Bass Pro.

 

Anyone seeing changes in Cabelas stores that they've been to?

[Gundog]

I've seen a lot less products/more open shelve space at my Cabela's in Hamburg, PA. But I've also seen the same thing at the Bass Pro Shop at Harrisburg in PA. Not sure why or if its because of the buyout. 

[iabass8]

Shelves at my local cabelas are always a little barren due to the fact that the store near me has one of their distribution warehouses behind it so product shortage is never an issue. I don't really care either way in regards to fishing tackle. Don't care for any of Cabelas/BPS house brand reels, rods, or baits. BPS stick baits are great as well as their tubes. Prices aren't too different between the stores and I shop at 4 online stores before looking at either one of these anyway. I will be on the look out for close out sales on the Guidewear Goretex Jackets/Bibs. Absolutely love my Goretex Rainbibs. 

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, iabass8 said:

Shelves at my local cabelas are always a little barren due to the fact that the store near me has one of their distribution warehouses behind it so product shortage is never an issue. I don't really care either way in regards to fishing tackle. Don't care for any of Cabelas/BPS house brand reels, rods, or baits. BPS stick baits are great as well as their tubes. Prices aren't too different between the stores and I shop at 4 online stores before looking at either one of these anyway. I will be on the look out for close out sales on the Guidewear Goretex Jackets/Bibs. Absolutely love my Goretex Rainbibs. 

 

 

There line of Tournament ZX rods are incredible, especially when they are on sale for $69. I have a bunch of them, bought a Dobyns Fury spinning rod and just ordered 3 new ZX spinning rods, if that tells you what I think of them. The Dobyns will be my backup rod in case one breaks now.

[Chance_Taker4]

I don't know if its the case for ever location but I have a Cabelas and Bass Pro both 30 minutes away from me and was told that BPS is converting Cabelas into a hunting specific store and Bass Pro in a Fish specific store. Both will have camping, hiking, clothing, but the fish selection at Cabelas will be extremely minute that same for Bass Pro with hunting.

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, Chance_Taker4 said:

I don't know if its the case for ever location but I have a Cabelas and Bass Pro both 30 minutes away from me and was told that BPS is converting Cabelas into a hunting specific store and Bass Pro in a Fish specific store. Both will have camping, hiking, clothing, but the fish selection at Cabelas will be extremely minute that same for Bass Pro with hunting.

 

 

I'd assume that is only locations that have a Bass Pro nearby? That'd be horrible for any state that doesn't have a Cabelas and Bass Pro close to each other. 

[TOXIC]

I'll report back as I am doing shows in both Cabela's and Bass Pro the next 2 weekends for a rep group.  Just for the record, I was pro staff at Bass Pro for 15 years and I do not think the buyout will even be noticeable to the customers of either retailer.  You don't buy a company then change what made it successful.  JLM is a very smart man.  

[Scott F]

As far as I heard, I thought the Bass Pro purchase has not gone through yet. 

[TOXIC]

3 minutes ago, Scott F said:

As far as I heard, I thought the Bass Pro purchase has not gone through yet. 

It has been approved by the FTC.  As a matter of fact, JLM just bought Legend Boats as well!!  I'll save you some clicks.......

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/07/05/bass-pro-cabelas-merger-approved-by-ftc.html

[Tim Kelly]

I went to the Ottawa store in July and was amazed how poor the stock was. Never been to that store before, but won't bother again. Empty shelves and a really limited range. I used to really enjoy trips to Cabela's, much more that Bass Pro trips, but it looks like those little pleasures are history now, which is a shame.

[Chance_Taker4]

52 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

I'd assume that is only locations rjwr have a Bass Pro nearby? That'd be horrible for any state that doesn't have a Cabelas and Bass Pro close to each other. 

That's kind of what I assumed as well.

[Mjmj]

Okay, I hope l can help everyone out. Cabela's is not being taken over till October. This is a FACT! The complete take over will happen some time in the beginning of next year. JLM bought Cabela's for his son to run. No one at Cabela's seems to think that anything will be any different than before. Hope this helps

[tcbass]

2 minutes ago, Mjmj said:

Okay, I hope l can help everyone out. Cabela's is not being taken over till October. This is a FACT! The complete take over will happen some time in the beginning of next year. JLM bought Cabela's for his son to run. No one at Cabela's seems to think that anything will be any different than before. Hope this helps

 

 

Cool. Good to know. I love Cabelas and not a huge fan of BPS. Nothing against BPS. 

[Fishin Dad]

I hope nothing changes since the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" doesn't have a Bass Pro Shops (which is just weird), we need at least a well stocked Cabelas.  I do shop Fleet Farm as well.   I also agree that some of the Cabelas brand stuff is very good equipment at reasonable prices.   Hope this doesn't screw things up.  

[OkobojiEagle]

Stopped at the Owatonna, MN Cabelas this past Sunday... didn't have anything I was looking to replenish in bait/tackle.  I left empty handed.  This was the same outcome as my last couple trips to that store.  My wife suggested I change my credit card to something other than a Cabelas card... maybe she has a point.

 

oe

[Cgolf]

I haven't been to our Cabela's since this happened, but I can only hope the fishing section gets gutted and redone. My Father in law likes the store for their hunting gear which is really good quality so I am told. Their fishing section left a lot to be desired considering the number of quality fishing oppurtunities within a 30 minute drive of the store. A local bait shop had a much better selection. The only reason I stopped was for sales or if we were driving by. If there fishing section was improved we would make the trip there to buy some tackle. 

 

So I guess I fall into the crowd that is glad they got bought out, I do feel for folks who like my Father in law liked the store for reasons other than fishing tackle.

 

 

[tcbass]

59 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Stopped at the Owatonna, MN Cabelas this past Sunday... didn't have anything I was looking to replenish in bait/tackle.  I left empty handed.  This was the same outcome as my last couple trips to that store.  My wife suggested I change my credit card to something other than a Cabelas card... maybe she has a point.

 

oe

 

 

I just buy stuff I'm specifically looking for and when it's on sale. But I've never been one to walk into a store and randomly by stuff, even if it's on sale. I have one thing in mind, go in, buy it, walk out. I've never been a browser, although my dad was. 

[Outdoor Zack]

Last week I was in there, they had a lot of higher end plastics on sale for decent prices (I got 2 packs of Keitevh crazy flappers for $6, not too bad).  But the only things I really like about Cabelas is their clothes/outerwear and they have a big selection of hunting/outdoor gear in store.  

 

A lot of clothes were on sale when I was in there, but I think that was part of a "fall classic sale".  One of the guys working in the boating/kayak area was telling me that the BPS merger meant that the store was gonna have to stop ordering a lot of the stuff they carry and just stick to top-selling/popular offerings until the entire deal was stable.  Don't know where he got his info from though 

[RPreeb]

I was at the Cabela's headquarters store in Sidney Nebraska yesterday.  Didn't see any obvious changes from previous visits.

[Jeff H]

When possible, the best way to shop Cabela's is order online and use "ship to store" and just go pick it up. No shipping charges and you get what you want.  I am continually piling stuff into my wish list and when it goes on sale I buy with my Cabela's Club card and earn points.

[Russ E]

Took My boat to Kansas City Kansas Cabelas today for electric work.

From What the employees there were saying, the buyout is still not a done deal.

seems to be some issues with the Worlds foremost bank deal.

even if it goes through they don't feel there will be major changes. time will tell.

Somehow Kansas City metro can support 1 Cabelas, 2 Bass Pro, 1 Scheels,  1 Rogers sporting goods, 1 Academy sports, and multiple Dicks sporting goods.

 

 

 

 

[IndianaOutdoors]

I was just in the Indianapolis store.  Looked like all Cabela's brand fishing products were 20% off.  Line, lures, rods, reels, tackle trays.  Shelves seemed pretty well stocked.

[Russ E]

might be because of the time of year ,but the fishing aisles are looking a little bare at the Kansas City Cabelas.

[Dhoff024]

Was just in the wheeling store over the weekend and in my opinion it was the most bare I have seen it since I started going there. Fishing section was pretty bare and my wife likes a certain shoe that is cabelas brand and we usually go once a year she gets her shoes and I get what I need. Those shoes were nowhere to be found and everything else was pretty picked over.

[tcbass]

3 hours ago, Dhoff024 said:

Was just in the wheeling store over the weekend and in my opinion it was the most bare I have seen it since I started going there. Fishing section was pretty bare and my wife likes a certain shoe that is cabelas brand and we usually go once a year she gets her shoes and I get what I need. Those shoes were nowhere to be found and everything else was pretty picked over.

 

 

Is this a Cabelas that has a Bass Pro nearby?