Why not Cabelas?

[Swamp Girl]

When I was a kid, I bought my tackle from Cabela's. Their catalog was thin and newsprint. Through most of my adulthood, I continued to buy from them and their catalog was hardback and so thick. When I arrived at Bass Resource, I became aware of other companies, like Tackle Warehouse. Why do you guys not prefer Cabela's?

[NorthernBasser]

I just think their sales are usually far inferior to all these other places. I shopped at Cabela's/Bass Pro Shops way more back in the day. Now we have so many more options. I do like physically going through the store from time to time though. I'll still buy from them, just not as much as I used to.

[FryDog62]

Cabelas was the pinnacle of fishing stores in our area (Minnesota) until about 5-10 years ago when the online retailers made their presence known. It used to be you would go into Cabelas to see the rods, bend them, etc. to make decision.

 

But between the online retailers selection becoming very broad over time, while Cabelas/BPS narrowed to just their brands and a few others - it just became easier to order online elsewhere.

 

Now I order 3 rods online, fondle them, keep one and send two back. Free shipping and I can get most any brand I want. As long as you're at it, throw in a reel and some tackle with the package along with the free shipping. Never have to leave my house... (And that was a bigger deal back when I lived there then because it was freezing cold half the year)!

[Rockhopper]

I still shop there frequently. Not online, though.

[DogBone_384]

1 minute ago, FryDog62 said:

online retailers selection became very broad, while Cabelas/BPS narrowed to just their brands and a few others - it just became easier to order online.

 

This ^^^^. 

 

Secondly, I live in Massachusetts and the nearest mom & pop tackle store with a decent selection is an hour and a half from me.

[Jig Man]

I live about 10 miles from the main BPS store.  I used to buy most of my stuff from there.  However, the inventory has changed and I can rarely find what I want and they sre often overpriced so I have just about quit going there.

[FryDog62]

4 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I live about 10 miles from the main BPS store.  I used to buy most of my stuff from there.  However, the inventory has changed and I can rarely find what I want and they sre often overpriced so I have just about quit going there.

A lot of times now if I go there or Cabelas - they don't have a lot of stuff they used to and they just tell you to order it online anyway.  Just as easy to order at TW, Omnia, etc. with a lot of time better selection...

[A-Jay]

52 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

When I was a kid, I bought my tackle from Cabela's. Their catalog was thin and newsprint. Through most of my adulthood, I continued to buy from them and their catalog was hardback and so thick. When I arrived at Bass Resource, I became aware of other companies, like Tackle Warehouse. Why do you guys not prefer Cabela's?

I order from Cabelas off & on.

Really Love Their RedHead Branded Clothing.

Guidewear's not to shabby either.

And they do offer a military discount.

Which I appreciate.

A-Jay

 

 

[Munkin]

 

Prices are higher and I just like TW better. Now I do stop in one store once a year when we visit relatives and pick up some things. Honestly besides line and some bullet weights I have everything I need to fish for several years. 

 

Allen 

[MediumMouthBass]

(Personally i still love going to Cabelas, especially with the family).

 

Cabelas isnt what it used to be. Neither is BPS for that matter.

 

Still a nice store, where you can see some really great stuff (local Cabelas has a huge animal display, and a bunch of fish tanks, loaded with all kinds of species). Tons of boat and kayak accessories, you can see rods and reels, and feel if they fit you and your style of fishing. Get your reels respooled as well. Most have food courts too. Camping/hunting stuff, tons of clothing lines as well.

 

But today everyone (even the richest) are shopping for deals. Most online stores can and will beat the price of anything Cabelas or BPS are offering. And lets be honest, Cabelas/BPS sales the past few years barely cover sales tax....

And like i said, they arent the same. One way or another you are supporting a giant private equity/corporation based business. So you might as well save some money. Its not like Cabelas is your local mom and pop shop.

Which will sadly also be a thing of the past....

 

And ill add 2 things too, #1 it seems like alot of the guys who have been fishing longer than me are upset their favorite house brand baits got discontinued by their merger. And the new baits are poorly made for the most part, while up charging the customer through the roof. (Some of their baits are nice, but not much). And not as affordable as they once were.

#2 the employees although nice, dont know much about what they are selling. Most of the online places are beyond helpful and know what they are talking about.

[PBBrandon]

Where I live just north of DFW, I used to go to the Cabelas in Allen all the time. Pretty much a smaller BPS now. Since Scheels opened up down here however, I’ve been going there instead. It’s just so much better. Cabelas is nice, but their selection, especially compared to Scheels, is kind of lacking.

I still go there when I’m in town though and the service is usually great

[Dan N]

I use a lot of BPS  rods and reels, (same as cabelas) I have zero issues with them and think they are at a great price point. 
I have a Cabelas about 30 minutes away, but find they don’t have nearly everything available as on-line, so I usually just order. Good customer service, in my opinion.

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks for responding, guys. 

[Craig P]

I still shop Cabelas frequently for things they do sell.  I like their free shipping if spending over $50 so I always wait until I know my order will exceed that price.  On days I’m feeling like going for a ride, I hit up the one about 40ish minutes away and browse….of course always buy something.

[wdp]

This topic is bringing back fond memories for me. Living in a small town, we didn’t have big box hunting & fishing stores. Basically Wal Mart was it. In the 80s my Dad and I would look forward to the Christmas catalogues from Bass Pro & Cabelas, usually Bass Pro more than Cabelas. It seemed to have more stuff & all those glossy, colored pages. 
 

My Dad & I would sit for hours leading up to Christmas going over all the cool new lures, tackle, fishing reels etc. We’d make our wish lists then sometimes place orders to get our stuff for Christmas. Loved it. It was so much fun going thru those catalogues. Kinda like being a kid and looking at the toys in the old Sears & Robuck Christmas catalogues. 🤣

 

Nowadays, I rarely shop at Bass Pro. And that’s saying a lot considering I live only 30 mins from one of their premier stores, The Pyramid! I still buy a few items there from time to time, but not like I used to. Their prices have just gotten too high. I can find everyday prices at Academy or Sportsman’s Warehouse that are better than sale prices at Bass Pro.

 

 But thanks for bringing up those old memories. I miss times like those with my old man. 

[Tennessee Boy]

I don't think they even have their own separate catalog since Bass Pro Shops bought them and cabalas.com and basspro.com appear to have identical content.  

 

Before the buyout I did order stuff from Cabelas and I bought my Ranger boat from them.

[Mobasser]

I order occasionally. One of the best winter jackets I ever bought came from Cabela's. Similar to a Carhartt, duck, hooded and super warm. Im still using it after seven years.

[GreenPig]

  I pass within a mile of the BPS/Cabelas once or twice a week on the way to the lake. I never stop with my boat and gear, to prevent involuntary donation. I do visit the store 3 or 4 times a year. My Bait Monkey is nocturnal, so TW, Digitaka, HookUp Tackle, etc. usually get my money.

[papajoe222]

I frequently shop at BassPro/Cabela's, both in store and online. When you figure in the cost of shipping from some online places, their prices are competitive, even if their selection of name brands isn't. I can check to see if my nearest store has what I'm looking for in stock. If not, I order online and have it shipped to the store for pick-up.

[WRB]

When BPS bought out Cabelas and shutdown the Sidney headquarters, the largest company in that town, it devastated  the community.

I understand business and corporate take overs however that was a brutal take over.

As a result I cut up my BPS gift cards and will never do any business with them.

Tom

[Catt]

The closest Cabelas/BPS is 2 1/2 hrs away in Baton Rogue. I'll get 2-4 couples together & make a day of it. The guys go to sporting good stores, they ladies go to the malls, we all meet for lunch.

 

I ain't comfortable buying anything sight unseen. Don't order much online, I gotta have hands on.

[Smirak]

I go to Cabela’s nearly daily. At least a couple times a week. I don’t buy from them often, but I do take advantage of some of their stuff. For the price point, the BPS XPS stuff isn’t bad. Also, if I need something, they’re close. If I don’t want to order, I will run out to Waterfront Tackle at Lake Guntersville. If I lm really wanting something, I can run over to TW brick and Mortar in Alpharetta, GA. Only about it 4 hrs from me. 

[Scott F]

I was more of a Cabela’s fan than Bass Pro way back in the day before the internet. Catalog orders over the phone. And if you could find one, a Cabala’s retail store. Once they were taken over by BP, they are the same as a Bass Pro now. 

[thediscochef]

I have a bass pro and a cabelas that are about the same drive from me. They have a different vibe, the cabelas is newer and it feels that way. They have a little bit different stock from each other. Bass pro tends to carry more of the expensive tackle, cabelas tends to have a better selection of rods. Both carry bps brand everything. 

 

I decide which one I'm going to based on what the internet says the traffic is like, because 99% of what I'm there to buy is present at both places. So it comes down to what the drive is gonna be like. 

[DaubsNU1]

I have a long history with Cabela's, having grown up in Nebraska, it was THE place for hunting and fishing gear.

 

My lottery-pick, just-give-me-any-roommate in college the fall of 1987 turned out be my very best friend in the world. He just happened to work for Cabela's in Sidney Nebraska, when there was only one store. He worked the phones at that time...and gradually worked his way up the corporate ladder...product specialist, ran the bargain cave, sidewalk sale, helped design and roll out their web site, was a buyer traveling the world. His wife worked for Cabela's as well, eventually becoming a vice-president. I got to know quite a few Cabela's employees through the years, and actually met Dick Cabela once. Nice fellow.

 

Cabela's positioned themselves to focus on all types of hunting and the "northern" fishing market. When they started building brick-and-mortar stores, they wanted them located in midwest to northern states, on prime routes to Canada. They did stock some bass stuff, but largely let BP do their thing in southern states. 

 

When Cabela's went public things started to change, bringing in outsiders to help diversify, grow the brand, increase profit margins. In my humble opinion, that was the beginning of the end. Quality, customer service, and innovation gave way to profits and market share as they tried to compete with BP. 

 

My buddy and his wife no longer work for Cabela's, and last spring they finally moved away from Sidney, Nebraska. They have fond memories, developed great friendships, and learned a lot about life and business during their many years working for Cabela's. 

 

We have a Cabela's and BP in the Omaha metro area. They carry many of the same products. I do shop at both. I spend more time at Scheels and order often from Tackle Warehouse, mainly because I'm looking for a specific lure, color, brand, etc., that BP/Cabela's doesn't carry.

 

For clothing and equipment, I prefer Kuiu and Sitka...but I still have a TON of Cabela's branded clothing and gear. I simply cannot wear it out...great, quality stuff that has lasted many, many years(!)

 

Actually spent last weekend waterfowl hunting with my buddy...we had many laughs, some somber moments, ate like kings, and shot a few ducks. Great times!