Bass Pro vs. Cabelas

[fishingtx]

Back when Cabelas was an independent company, which company sold better quality products?

[Deleted account]

Yes.

[dodgeguy]

Neither. It was different stuff but all decent.

[jimmyjoe]

   Cabela's, by far.             jj

[Jig Man]

Baits...bps most choices

[gim]

The nice thing about old school independent Cabelas was that they stood by their own brand name products unconditionally. I had 5 year old neoprene waders that simply started to have stitching come apart from wear and tear, and they still exchanged them.

 

Since BPS acquired them, they no longer apply this policy to their own brand name products.

[Fishin Dad]

Strictly fishing market, I think BPS had more product.  Overall products, I think Cabelas was awesome.  I saved receipts from my hunting and fishing purchases for like 15 years in my man room.  I was doing some cleaning and purged most of those receipts.  I decided to add up some of the Cabelas purchases.  I was going strong adding, then started getting sick to my stomach.  I stopped adding.  Every time they used to offer $150 off of $500, I bit.  Guns, archery, clothes, fishing, home stuff.  It was crazy.  The number I was seeing.  
I really liked the quality, selection, and prices you could get with those discounts and online in the “bargain cave”.  I was very sad to see it go.  Cabela’s is not the same.  Rarely hit the store or even browse online.  Really not sure how that conglomerate is making it anymore.  

[Deephaven]

BPS sucks in comparison.  Not even close.  They ruined Cabela's 4 times worse than Dicks ruined Galyans.

[QED]

When I was in high school, I used to order from BPS.  At the time, they carried a much broader range of stuff (from most of the major brands) than any local store.  Fast forward to the present day - they carry mid-range or lower end stuff from third-party vendors and mostly push their own branded products.  I liked the old BPS much better.

[Boomstick]

BPS had their ups but overall I'd say Cabela's takes the cake.

[jtharris3]

I don’t think it really matters at this point.

[the reel ess]

BPS store was so far away from me. But a Cabela's opened a lot closer. But there was an Academy even closer. That's my go-to now. And the have free shipping over $25.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Cabelas products were usually of higher quality then BPS, but there were some good Redhead products.  In the early to mid 2ks both companies began to prioritize lower production cost over quality of products.  Cabelas most popular products, like the Waterfowl Sweater and neoprene waders didn't suffer nearly as much in quality as other less popular products.  Both companies used that business model until that shady deal with BPS occurred.  It didn't take long for BPS to discontinue or dramatically change any Cabelas product that superior to their own.  Cabelas did the same thing when they absorbed the once great Herters, I suppose its karma.      

[Deleted account]

The enthusiast focused retailers with the ridiculous return policies, the gazillion skus, and the satisfy the customer at any cost mentality keep getting in financial difficulties and get absorbed by the evil corporate grownups running businesses? I wonder why that keeps happening...

I throw at least one guy out of the shop weekly, keeps me in the zone...

[greentrout]

On 5/22/2021 at 9:25 PM, Deephaven said:

BPS sucks in comparison.  Not even close.  They ruined Cabela's 4 times worse than Dicks ruined Galyans.

Cabela's got the big head and attempted to become more than a regional player and aggressively expanded their stores with expensive lease arrangements with added debt and lack of adequate cash flow to run their operations. Bit off more than they could chew ...

 

BPS stepped in and bought them at a very favorable price point ... Cabela's was desperately looking for a buyer ...

 

good fishing ...

[bulldog1935]

it's an apples and apples comparison. 

 

At one time, Cabelas was the choice for fly fishing, and BPS for bass fishing.  

Way back, Cabelas with one store, and their mail-order catalog, sold only rod-building, lure-making supplies, and Quick spinning reels.  

Can think of a couple of outlet malls with one of each side-by-side built before the merger.  

Now both of them carry more outdoor lifestyle gear, women's clothing, home decor, and the same 20% fishing gear.  

Though the same formula has kept Orvis in business, along with any local fishing pro shop.