Cabelas Gun Library

[cash_tx]

I went by my local Cabelas around lunch time today, and saw several new additions to their Gun Library inventory; mostly Mauser-type bolt action sporting rifles from a variety of commercial and custom makers, but all priced at about double the real-world value of each. I suspect they just recently purchased someone's collection and put it all out on the rack; and darn, I would have loved to have gotten first crack at it before the vultures swept in. ;-)

 

[mdwest]

youre killing me @cash_tx !

First you have me drooling over a rifle at Scheels... and now you have me wanting to go over to Cabelas to see what you're talking about (Im guessing you're referencing the Cabelas in Allen? that's less than a 3 minute drive from my house lol...)...

 

[cash_tx]

youre killing me @cash_tx !

First you have me drooling over a rifle at Scheels... and now you have me wanting to go over to Cabelas to see what you're talking about (Im guessing you're referencing the Cabelas in Allen? that's less than a 3 minute drive from my house lol...)...

LOL; yes, that is precisely the store! . There is probably a half dozen or more rifles that they just put on that center rack in their gun library sometime within the last week or so. Drop by there and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Doug3006]

No such luck at my local Cabela’s in Hazelwood MO. First off, it’s another one in a defunct Mills Plaza. Mills Malls went belly up almost everywhere they’re located. Cabela’s and Basspro had an exclusive with Mills and so there are a lot of them located in rundown malls. But the one in Hazelwood is the worst I’ve seen. It’s the only going proposition in a massive mall. The mall is like something from an apocalypse movie.

Now to the inside of the Cabela’s. There are racks upon racks of discounted Red Head junk. Otherwise the store would be half empty. The Gun Library is the most disappointing part of the store. Once upon a time you could browse over really nice pieces. There were always a few big rifles suitable for safari, some high end shotguns, and a lot of vintage Colts and Winchesters. Now, the guns out on the regular retail rack put the Library guns to shame.

I know that Cabela’s got caught in a perfect storm. The went public and got into brick and mortar retail business at the absolute worst time. Overextended, they were forced to sell to Bass Pro. Johnny Morris has done great things in Missouri. The Springfield Bass Pro is awesome. The Outdoor World next to it is the best museum and aquarium I’ve ever seen. Big Cedar Lodge and the Top of the Rock golf complex are stunning. But, Johnny should just close Cabela’s if this is as good as it can get.

 

[mdwest]

I wrote in another thread that Cabelas has lost a significant amount of my business over the last few years, even though I can literally take a nice, leisurely walk to their local store (the city built a very nice, wooded walking trail that runs through the city with entry points at the base of my subdivision and another one at the back area of Cabelas).. its probably just a little more than a mile on foot.. and takes just a couple of minutes by car/truck...

What I do continue to go back in there for is convenience (they're close.. so if I need a reloading component, or a minor item "today"... I'll run in there real quick.. and the gun library at the Allen store is still reasonably nice.. and usually has a few things in there that are worth looking at..

Prices are almost always too high... The last time I bought a firearm in there, it was a Webley and Scott O/U 20 gauge that they had significantly discounted because the leather presentation case that it was in had a problem (one of the set pins in the handle was missing and had been replaced by a wood screw lol).. it was a very easy fix).. With the "its broke!" discount the WS was priced fairly..

But its still always nice to check out whats on the rack and see what they have.. its just a short walk to get there after all

I definitely don't buy any outdoors clothing, gear, etc there with any frequency any more.. I agree on most of the quality lines being missing now and being replaced by Red Head, etc.. Although they do keep a limited amount of Sitka, Under Armor, etc (its just priced too high).. I much prefer the Scheels that's about 15 minutes away for that sort of thing.. or will buy online (sitka, leupold, and others have exceptional discount programs for veterans that bring the price point WAY below what any retailer sells their merchandise for)..

 

[mdsalern]

I went to the one in Hazelwood about 6 years ago. About the saddest mall I’ve ever seen.

 

[cash_tx]

I wrote in another thread that Cabelas has lost a significant amount of my business over the last few years, even though I can literally take a nice, leisurely walk to their local store (the city built a very nice, wooded walking trail that runs through the city with entry points at the base of my subdivision and another one at the back area of Cabelas).. its probably just a little more than a mile on foot.. and takes just a couple of minutes by car/truck...

What I do continue to go back in there for is convenience (they're close.. so if I need a reloading component, or a minor item "today"... I'll run in there real quick.. and the gun library at the Allen store is still reasonably nice.. and usually has a few things in there that are worth looking at..

Prices are almost always too high... The last time I bought a firearm in there, it was a Webley and Scott O/U 20 gauge that they had significantly discounted because the leather presentation case that it was in had a problem (one of the set pins in the handle was missing and had been replaced by a wood screw lol).. it was a very easy fix).. With the "its broke!" discount the WS was priced fairly..

But its still always nice to check out whats on the rack and see what they have.. its just a short walk to get there after all

I definitely don't buy any outdoors clothing, gear, etc there with any frequency any more.. I agree on most of the quality lines being missing now and being replaced by Red Head, etc.. Although they do keep a limited amount of Sitka, Under Armor, etc (its just priced too high).. I much prefer the Scheels that's about 15 minutes away for that sort of thing.. or will buy online (sitka, leupold, and others have exceptional discount programs for veterans that bring the price point WAY below what any retailer sells their merchandise for)..

I'll have to drop you a DM next time I plan to go there, and perhaps we can meet up and chuckle at their Gun Library prices together.

 

[mdwest]

I'll have to drop you a DM next time I plan to go there, and perhaps we can meet up and chuckle at their Gun Library prices together.

Do that! After we cry about the continued unavailability of Barnes bullets, powders, and primers there, we can go next door and quell our sorrow with brisket and beers at Rudy’s!

 

[Berettaco]

Cabelas used to have gun library managers at each location that were allowed to use their judgement on buying and selling so you could work out better pricing or a fair deal on a trade. The Bass Pro (and now Cabelas) structure seems that the local library managers have little authority and have to run it up to the regional managers for approval, no one wants to get stuck with paying too much so they end up paying someone about 30% of the actual value.
I don’t do much business with either now, only if they throw something online that’s a great deal

 

[steve white]

Snagged a drilling at Cabela's Allen when it first opened for what I think was a steal. Could have bought another gold inlaid one, but Jim Shockey was in for a convention and had paid for it, and then I later learned that he was never able to legally get it into Canada!

 

[275r7x57]

If it makes you guys feel any better. I was in the Kansas City, KS Cabelas a few weeks ago and witnessed a guy buy a High Point for $150.00 in the gun library. The store was very nice, well keep and mostly stocked, but the library was a disappointment and looked like a pawn shop. There was a Ruger RSM in the library, I as to look at it and the guy said “a Ruger What!?”.

I also went into the Scheels as well. My first and last time. Very nice, well keep and fully stocked. Even on ammo. But it was a glorified mall and very poor selection of guns. Well stocked on guns just a poor selection. Only black rifles and pistols for the most part. Not impressed.

Springfield, MO Bass Pro is great! It is also the original. They have a really nice Fine Gun Room! Great to deal with.

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