Bass Pro Shops hooks Cabela's in $5.5 billion deal

[Ray B]

Guess I should go spend my points. There's a Cabelas and a Bass Pro a bit over 10 miles apart along Washington State's I-5; I wonder if they'll close one to consolidate the market.

 

[BWH]

What I don't understand is how the DOJ/Supreme Court won't allow certain companies like insurance companies, aviation, communication giants, pharmaceuticals, etc.... to merge to protect the public from monopolies/anti-trust. However, they are ok with this? Either way, it's no skin of my sack..... I'm just curious.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Either way, it's no skin of my sack.....

Glad to hear that!

 

[Ryan]

I saw this in the making when Cabela's went public and they leaned heavily on their credit card for making profit.

Both companies have their fans. At this point Cabela's was just big retail, just like Bass Pro amd Sportsmans Warehouse. If you have to ask an employee at any big retail establishment anything in depth you're in trouble but if you know what you're after Cabela's beats BPS in the hunting department. Up here in Anchorage Alaska I still rank Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse above Bass Pro for anything hunting. They both have a far better selection and better prices for ammo and reloading supplies, so if Cabela's goes we still have Sportsman's plus the smaller local places. Cabela's has their gun libraries for fine guns, but honestly if it isn't their catalog stock I learned a long time ago go to local shops or online for what I needed. That's just the way it is....

 

[sierraone]

I saw this in the making when Cabela's went public and they leaned heavily on their credit card for making profit.

Both companies have their fans. At this point Cabela's was just big retail, just like Bass Pro amd Sportsmans Warehouse. If you have to ask an employee at any big retail establishment anything in depth you're in trouble but if you know what you're after Cabela's beats BPS in the hunting department. Up here in Anchorage Alaska I still rank Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse above Bass Pro for anything hunting. They both have a far better selection and better prices for ammo and reloading supplies, so if Cabela's goes we still have Sportsman's plus the smaller local places. Cabela's has their gun libraries for fine guns, but honestly if it isn't their catalog stock I learned a long time ago go to local shops or online for what I needed. That's just the way it is....

Since the nearest Cabelas is some 200 miles from where I live, I only go to them when traveling. (BPs are 40 miles on either side of me) Nearly all my ammo, scopes etc., have come from on line for at least the last three years of so. Firearms for me can come from anywhere, although I only buy from an FFL holder. My big gun ammo has come from Midway, Cheaper Than Dirt, Natchez and the Nosler factory, depending on the current sale going on.

 

[mdwest]

I spend a lot of time in Cabelas.. but mostly due to convenience/location.. Ive got one less than 5 miles away.. and its right in the middle of a large shopping complex that my family frequents for everything from clothing to restaurants to household goods and groceries.. so.... whenever I am in the area (seems like its weekly sometimes) I drop in, see whats new in the bargain cave, check out whats on sale, etc.. .

REALLY hoping this doesn't have a negative impact on the store.. I much prefer it over Bass Pro (closest store is about 25 miles away) and Gander Mountain (closest store is about 15-20 miles away)..

 

[Philip Glass]

Cabelas like many big retailers used to be great and have a great selection in their retail stores. Now they have one or two lines and everything else is "Cabelas" brand. This way of retailing is what has given rise to business models like Kuiu where they just skip all the nonsense of having to pay for placement and make Cabelas brand products for them to be in the store. They just direct market everything. To me Cabelas as a brand is generic. Maybe I just want high end stuff at this point in my life but that is where I am on this subject.
I do like Bass Pro stores especially the one in Springfield, MO. It's a real destination.
This merger is all about the online marketplace and has less to do with their fantastic retail locations. It is good that it will remain a private company with a real person heading it. A bigger company will keep the activists at bay, hopefully. I hope for hunters it will be a plus somehow.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Ridgewalker]

Here in Colorado I use to shop Gart Brothers and Dave Cooks a long long time ago. When pheasant hunting in Nebraska I'd stop by Cabelas in Kearny and shop. Today I mainly Internet shop even from Cabelas. I hate the busy hour drive through major traffic to Cabelas and hour and a half to Bass Pro. Gander Mountain used to be a discount catalog order business.
I don't believe you can find a chain store with the knowledge base the mom and pop stores have. You guys have too high of expectations for over grown businesses.
Even bank presidents or VPs use to greet you and call you by name after a few trips to the bank.
To many people? To fast paced lives? To little humanity left? Just glad I'm on the short side of life. I'd hate being one of my grand kids or great grand kids and know what life was like 50 - 60 years ago. Sad they cannot have the wonderful experience of no interstates, 55 mph roads, fresh wild meat on the table, clear skies, clean smelling rains...sad

 

[Clayton]

Days gone by Ridgewalker. We can look back and be thankful that we do know there was once a better way.

 

[sierraone]

Johnny Morris just published an article on Sporting Classics Daily as to what to expect with him now owning both businesses!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Johnny Morris just published an article on Sporting Classics Daily as to what to expect with him now owning both businesses!

Got a link?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Got a link?

Never mind, here it is: http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/johnny-morris-open-letter-to-bass-pro-employees/

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Never mind, here it is: http://sportingclassicsdaily.com/johnny-morris-open-letter-to-bass-pro-employees/

Not a lot of info there, though that's not surprising as it's early yet in the process.

 

[Ragman]

I wonder what will happen to our Cabela's stores in Regina and Saskatoon? I admit that I do like to go there to shop for certain things. I'm very happy with the meat processing equipment I've bought from them....grinder, sausage stuffer, etc, and will buy more yet. I buy quite a bit of ammo, hunting and ice-fishing equipment there too. Guns, however are a different story. I buy from a small local store owned and operated by one guy with one staff. Couple of years ago, my Dad bought a new rifle and scope at Cabela's and when he got it home we discovered that they mounted the scope a quarter turn to the left...windage knob was on top and the elevation knob was on the left side! Not a big deal, but goes to show that some of their staff aren't real gun people.
Just went to the Bass Pro Shop in Calgary for the first time this past summer. Was a little overwhelming with the size of the place. Unfortunately I had limited time to look around, and my significant other kept us in the clothing section most of the time. Did notice that the hunting section was smaller than clothing/fishing.

 

[Jay Kelley]

The Lubbock, TX store has been a godsend - We have not (yet) experienced what many here have related, but we certainly had that problem at Gander Mountain. From the other reactions, I'm afraid that the Lubbock Cabelas may go the same way.

 

[JGRaider]

First people bitch and cry about Cabelas being too expensive, then another group will whine and moan that Cabelas has cheapened their stuff too much and that it's foreign made crap. The American consumer is a spoiled bunch, wanting USA made products at Chinese prices. ITo say that Cabelas and Bass Pro are even close to the same level as far as hunting stuff goes is a pretty good stretch IMO. Take a stroll through the optics sections and see who has leica, Zeiss, Swaro, Meopta, Leupold, and Nikon riflescopes and binoculars to try out, then see who has almost zero Leica, Zeiss, Swaro, and numerous cheapasss Bushnell and this Oculus crap. Same goes for powder, bullet, and ammo selection, not to mention BPS is usally 10% higher priced.

I usually know what I want before I go in there, so I don't have to ask many questions to all the "nitwits" they employ. For my interests there's not a better retail store under one roof in existence that I'm aware of.

Amen on the Lubbock store Jay Kelley. I go there several times per month when visiting the folks. Fantastic customer service there.

 

[curtism1234]

I have $300 in gift cards to Cabelas I've been saving for a rainy day. I don't have anything in particular I want to buy right now, but I am thinking I better use them or sell them just in case. I suspect the cards will not be affected but not sure I want to gamble...

 

[thriller]

I have $300 in gift cards to Cabelas I've been saving for a rainy day. I don't have anything in particular I want to buy right now, but I am thinking I better use them or sell them just in case. I suspect the cards will not be affected but not sure I want to gamble...

just buy ammo its never a bad chioice.

 

[JimP]

Cabela's has made a number of bad business decisions over the years and from what I have read elsewhere Bass Pro bassicly did to Cabela's what Cabela's did to Gander Mountain back in 96 except they say that it will be business as usual.

My personal opinion on Cabela's is that they have gone downhill ever since the started building mega retail stores which they needed to stock with merchandise. If you look at all the stores that they have there is a lot of money just sitting on their shelves.

The one thing that I still can't figure out is the two stores that they built in the Denver area at the same time just 30 miles apart. One in Lonetree which is south Denver and the other one in Thorton or North Denver, both stores right off of I-25 and then there is the Bass Pro store in old Stapleton not to mention the 2 or 3 Sportsman's Warehouses in the area.

 

[Buckdog]

I live dead inbetween basspro and cabelas stores 3 miles to each. In my opinion Basspro is cheap chineese junk with poor customer serive. Cabelas has been going down hill since public I totaly agree there is nothing in stock ever in the cabelas store they walk around with computer ipads and say oh we will be happy to order for you and they will not match their own online prices in the store! sad days ahead