I went into a BassProShop yesterday.

[KP Duty]

I was in there today getting the 4/$12 boxes.  Scored 12 3500's and 12 3600's.  I hadn't been to a Spring Classic in a few years, and was expecting I'd end up succombing to a few good deals besides the boxes.  Nope.  Didn't see any pond prowlers filled with cheap baits like in years past.  Went to the isle with BPS tender tubes, and didn't see any sale signage, so I asked "Isn't the BPS brand soft baits on sale for the classic?".  No....but we have some discontinued colors for $2.97 in a bin.  Fffft.  Didn't want to pay $6.79 for 10 xps small glass worm rattles either.  Left with the boxes only.

 

[Gera]

On 3/26/2023 at 11:31 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

I think there is too much chingaderos around.

LOL

It should be "chingaderas" but the use is flawless. 

 

I just visit the BPS so my kid see the fish thank ... as a payment I get a jackhammer or two paid by his college fund. 

 

 

 

 

[Deleted account]

28 minutes ago, Gera said:

LOL

It should be "chingaderas" but the use is flawless. 

 

No mames guey.

[Randy Price]

Twenty-five years ago I used to get excited about going to Cabela's.  I really liked their name branded items for the money.  Now the Cabela's near me should just really change the name on the store to BPS.  To me Cabela's was like shopping at Target and BPS is like Walmart.

[Munkin]

6 hours ago, Bolar said:

 

I actually went to BPS yesterday.  Saw these guys there and could only think of this post.  I don't think I could get through that with a straight face .

 

 

Going to buy a fake ankle monitor next.

 

Allen

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Munkin said:

Going to buy a fake ankle monitor next.

 

Allen

You mean you weren't issued a real one?

 

Someone is slacking, man.

[Vilas15]

On 3/27/2023 at 3:01 PM, Jaderose said:

I have developed what seems to be an almost fool-proof method of shopping in a big box store of any kind.  If I NEED help, I find an employee (man or woman...makes no difference to me) that has AT LEAST as much gray hair as I do.  They are preferably at least 50.  I don't bother talking with young people anymore.  I was in a Home Depot a while back and I asked a young person where something was and was told I could use the app.  I told her, yes, it was true I could use the app but then why does the store need her?  She didn't have much to say to that...lol

 

Probably not a bad strategy but I had the exact opposite experience when looking at boat electronics at Cabelas. The old man had literally no idea what any of it was and the young guy was knowledgeable and helpful. Either the old guy was lost in the wrong department or just there for the employee discount.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 3/26/2023 at 2:39 PM, Zcoker said:

Online nowadays is like shopping in China lol Bass Pro is hands on brick and mortar made in the USA

All the junk that BPS/Cabelas is pumping out cheap Chinese crap and it wasn't always like that.  Johnny new bussiness model is skewed towards in store foot traffic instead of the mail order hunters/anglers and outdoor enthusiasts that helped make BPS and Cabelas into household names.

[Jaderose]

On 3/28/2023 at 9:34 PM, Vilas15 said:

Probably not a bad strategy but I had the exact opposite experience when looking at boat electronics at Cabelas. The old man had literally no idea what any of it was and the young guy was knowledgeable and helpful. Either the old guy was lost in the wrong department or just there for the employee discount.

Well....you do need to use some common sense...lol.  The old guy ain't your best choice in this scenario

[nocluefisher]

I miss the bargain cave at Cabelas.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I see BPS as a circus. More of a curiosity than a store. I like it. 

[gim]

5 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I see BPS as a circus

 

[Basseditor]

Cabelas is closer to me than BPS. I've had some good experiences lately regarding customer service.

 

First to make a long story short I was on vacation in Green Bay last summer when they had their occasional 10% off sale. I decided to get a Livescope but they did not have any in stock (the store said they had some when I checked before I drove to the store). I ordered one to be delivered to the store. They said 5-8 days. I was going to be there for two more weeks so that should have worked.

 

It didn't come of course. On my way back to Texas I swung by the store to see what could be done. The customer service dept. said it would arrive the next day. They said they could cancel the order, but with how scarce they were at that time, I didn't want that option. I couldn't stay another day so I went to the parking lot and called the corporate office. A nice lady went through the options and then decided to call the store manager while I was on hold. She comes back on and says to go back into the store and talk to the manager. He looked up my account and said he would personally get my Livescope when it arrived and send it to my house at no charge. Plus he gave me extra club points for the hassle. The unit arrived the day after I got home via FedEx.

 

Some other time I'll tell about the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal I got on Garmin 126s.

[volzfan59]

2 hours ago, basseditor said:

Cabelas is closer to me than BPS. I've had some good experiences lately regarding customer service.

 

First to make a long story short I was on vacation in Green Bay last summer when they had their occasional 10% off sale. I decided to get a Livescope but they did not have any in stock (the store said they had some when I checked before I drove to the store). I ordered one to be delivered to the store. They said 5-8 days. I was going to be there for two more weeks so that should have worked.

 

It didn't come of course. On my way back to Texas I swung by the store to see what could be done. The customer service dept. said it would arrive the next day. They said they could cancel the order, but with how scarce they were at that time, I didn't want that option. I couldn't stay another day so I went to the parking lot and called the corporate office. A nice lady went through the options and then decided to call the store manager while I was on hold. She comes back on and says to go back into the store and talk to the manager. He looked up my account and said he would personally get my Livescope when it arrived and send it to my house at no charge. Plus he gave me extra club points for the hassle. The unit arrived the day after I got home via FedEx.

 

Some other time I'll tell about the Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal I got on Garmin 126s.

That is excellent customer service!

 

4 hours ago, nocluefisher said:

I miss the bargain cave at Cabelas.

If you're ever in Springfield, go to the outlet store next to the BPS mothership. It's an whole bargain cave store.

[Drawdown]

2 minutes ago, volzfan59 said:

If you're ever in Springfield, go to the outlet store next to the BPS mothership. It's an whole bargain cave store.

I didn’t need to know this existed, lol. Fat chance I ever am out that way though.

[Eric 26]

I went the last day of the sale this week. I will say the staff in the fishing department were friendly and helpful for what I was inquiring about. As far as stock they were well stocked in pretty much every aisle which I’m not sure if it’s due to the fact not as many products were on sale in my opinion as others have said or if it’s due to the strange way of stocking the shelves as pointed out. The thing that didn’t shock me was seeing the house branded rod racks empty specifically the Carbonlite 2.0’s the Crankin Sticks and the Panfish Elites. I have all 3 and find them more than worth the prices I’ve paid for them. One area of disappointment for me is the footwear department Cabelas always had the best selection and their house brands were top quality for the price. 

[Tatulatard]

My store has a bin in the middle of the isle with $2.75 bags of bass pro soft baits.  It looks like old stock that has been on the racks for a while.  I like their plastics and have been using them for years to great affect.  I got 9 and 16 packs of baits for $2.75.  Best scores were 6" 16 pack of stick-os in a baby bass color with flake and some dark colored 9 pack crack craws I like as versatile creature baits.  Also got come craw tubes to try as well as a drop shot bait.  My favorite cold water jig trailer was also snagged.  The elite chunk.  It has a super subtle flapping action at moderate speed and none when crawled. 

[Bdnoble84]

On 3/26/2023 at 12:48 PM, Eric 26 said:

I may be in the minority here but my local Bass Pro (Bolingbrook Il) has been good to me over the years. I rarely go there except this time of year for the trade in sale which has changed due to supply chain issues, in the past I was able to order what I wanted even if they didn’t stock it as long as their vendor carried the rod/reel I was after. As far as the lures I actually like many of their house branded lures including their crank baits and especially their chatterbaits, I’ve also found their plastics last me a good while also. The sales staff can be hit or miss but heck I find that the norm these days in every big chain store from automotive parts to the butcher department in my local grocery stores. As @NavyToad commented the internet is a wonderful resource to find a great price with some patience. Lastly I will say I choose to when possible support my local tackle shops of which I’ve mentioned in the past I have 2 relatively close by that are extremely helpful. 

The bollingbrook bass pro is decent. I think they keep their selection up alittle better than the cabelas in Hoffman Estates or Madison (its been years since I was at the Gurney Location). Ever since BPS bought out cabelas, its been downhill. They kinda have a monopoly in alot of ways. Selection sucks and I feel like they inflate their prices. You rarely come across good deals anymore because of the lack of competition.

 

i like going and picking things out over ordering online if i can. If nothing else it keeps the bait monkey at bay.

[Eric 26]

3 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

My store has a bin in the middle of the isle with $2.75 bags of bass pro soft baits.  It looks like old stock that has been on the racks for a while.  I like their plastics and have been using them for years to great affect.  I got 9 and 16 packs of baits for $2.75.  Best scores were 6" 16 pack of stick-os in a baby bass color with flake and some dark colored 9 pack crack craws I like as versatile creature baits.  Also got come craw tubes to try as well as a drop shot bait.  My favorite cold water jig trailer was also snagged.  The elite chunk.  It has a super subtle flapping action at moderate speed and none when crawled. 

I looked at those exact plastics and didn’t pull the trigger. Now I’m kind of kicking myself in the rear for not pulling the trigger.

51 minutes ago, Bdnoble84 said:

The bollingbrook bass pro is decent. I think they keep their selection up alittle better than the cabelas in Hoffman Estates or Madison (its been years since I was at the Gurney Location). Ever since BPS bought out cabelas, its been downhill. They kinda have a monopoly in alot of ways. Selection sucks and I feel like they inflate their prices. You rarely come across good deals anymore because of the lack of competition.

 

i like going and picking things out over ordering online if i can. If nothing else it keeps the bait monkey at bay.

It’s been many years since I was in the Gurnee location also. I think I’ve mentioned I had the pleasure of being a part of the construction at the Gurnee location with my biggest contribution being the guy to give the column wraps “character” by beating the boards with chains and various other objects to make them more rustic in appearance. Also when they brought the fish to stock the aquarium I didn’t realize they sedate them and when they put them in much like you would in a aquarium they’re in bag’s until they acclimate to the temperature and when released they were floating like they were dead for a few hours. I had to ask the gentleman who was stocking the tank and he laughed and told me what was going on.