Cabela’s?

Not helpful if you don’t live in the cities, but I MUCH prefer to shop at Joe’s Sporting Goods or Thorne Bros.

Joe’s has fantastic sales where you can normally beat Cabela’s prices by 20-30%, a decent selection of baits, and a better apparel section IMO. They don’t have a bargain cave, but their rep sample rods are often great deals, I’ve bought fantastic rods for 50% off, as well as top of line G Loomis/St. Croix rods for 30% off.

Plus their staff is pretty knowledgeable and very friendly. They will never have the selection that Cabela’s did in their prime just because of the store’s footprint, but I actually think their selection of rods is just as good if not better, as you don’t have 50% house brand crap being pushed.

It’s easy to shop local when the experience, price and selection are better!

I ‘ve only been to Cabelas a couple times since BP bought them. It’s been years since they had any kind of inventory. The last time I was there I was looking for a Shimano Clarus casting rod and they had a grand total of 10 rods by Shimano. I asked the guy in the fishing department if that was all they had as it was around fishing opener. He said “well we just got our shipment in yesterday so we should have a bunch.” He showed me the same ten rods, looking impressed, and I said is this all you’ll be getting? Yep. I said wow, and left.

Unless you want a St Croix, G Loomis, or Cabelas brand, don’t bother looking at Cabelas. I don’t know why everyone is complaining. BP didn’t change anything. They just didn’t improve it. It’s been embarrassing for years.

philtickelson wrote:

Not helpful if you don’t live in the cities, but I MUCH prefer to shop at Joe’s Sporting Goods or Thorne Bros.

Joe’s has fantastic sales where you can normally beat Cabela’s prices by 20-30%, a decent selection of baits, and a better apparel section IMO. They don’t have a bargain cave, but their rep sample rods are often great deals, I’ve bought fantastic rods for 50% off, as well as top of line G Loomis/St. Croix rods for 30% off.

Plus their staff is pretty knowledgeable and very friendly. They will never have the selection that Cabela’s did in their prime just because of the store’s footprint, but I actually think their selection of rods is just as good if not better, as you don’t have 50% house brand crap being pushed.

It’s easy to shop local when the experience, price and selection are better!

Completely agree.

Man, someone at Cabelas/BPS needs to see this thread. PR, merch buyers, CEO, customer service… heck, I think everybody in the company would benefit from reading this.

It is a shame that Cabela’s is sliding down the drain.The bargain cave alone was worth the visit.

Terry Heese wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>pete the catfisherman wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bob Carlson wrote:</div>
I’m close to cutting up my Cabelas Club card, which was once our primary CC# to use. We now use Amazon/Chase CC# and earn our bonus $$$ that way!
Much better in my opinion

X2

X3

X4 How would you guys spend $1400 in Cabela’s points before you cut the card up? I’m thinking a gun I don’t need… thoughts?

It doesn’t bother me much. I have more fishing and camping gear than I’m ever going to use. For the few things I may need going forward, I’ll just go to Fleet Farm as I always have. I do think that Bass Pro has always had a much larger fishing and boating selection than Cabela’s ever did, at least in-store. So I am looking forward to seeing how that changes further in the Cabela’s stores.

I personally am just glad that Gander and Overton’s are here. I like their prices and are a great competitor for most of the things I buy.

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Terry Heese wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>pete the catfisherman wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bob Carlson wrote:</div>
I’m close to cutting up my Cabelas Club card, which was once our primary CC# to use. We now use Amazon/Chase CC# and earn our bonus $$$ that way!
Much better in my opinion

X2

X3

X4 How would you guys spend $1400 in Cabela’s points before you cut the card up? I’m thinking a gun I don’t need… thoughts?

Aren’t those Tracker Anniversary boats around $1400???

Joe Scegura wrote:

X4 How would you guys spend $1400 in Cabela’s points before you cut the card up? I’m thinking a gun I don’t need… thoughts

Jigs. Heavy ones. And 6oz no roll sinkers. Lots of em. Individually packaged if possible.

Free shipping. Make them feel it

(I know, there’s probably fine print)

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Terry Heese wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>pete the catfisherman wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bob Carlson wrote:</div>
I’m close to cutting up my Cabelas Club card, which was once our primary CC# to use. We now use Amazon/Chase CC# and earn our bonus $$$ that way!
Much better in my opinion

X2

X3

X4 How would you guys spend $1400 in Cabela’s points before you cut the card up? I’m thinking a gun I don’t need… thoughts?

Im thinking the same thing, although both my wife and I have CC permits, but no carry weapons. ( I do have a 6 inch Nickel Coly Python just to look at) I think our last purchase will be a couple handguns for the wife and I..

????

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I really only shop there for fishing tackle and I think the fishing selection has improved this year. I did buy my alumacraft boat there, was sad to see them not sell alumacraft anymore.

I never understood the fascination with the cabelas credit card. 1% rewards and $30 sign up bonus or something like that and the points can only be used at Cabelas. There are at least 20 other credit cards out there that blow that out of the water, and you aren’t limited to using the rewards at just one retailer. Even your standard chase freedom card, which is about as basic as it gets, is much better.

Same with me. Very disappointed after the BPS merging. Chopped up cc and also went with Amazon Chase card.

One advantage of the cabelas cc was when a box arrived full of new fishing/hunting gear the wife was way more accepting of it when I told her it was all “free” with points.

Great Laker wrote:

I never understood the fascination with the cabelas credit card. 1% rewards and $30 sign up bonus or something like that and the points can only be used at Cabelas. There are at least 20 other credit cards out there that blow that out of the water, and you aren’t limited to using the rewards at just one retailer. Even your standard chase freedom card, which is about as basic as it gets, is much better.

Maybe, but your wife can’t use your cabelas points at the hair salon

Copied my post, and a description of how they are getting tore to pieces on this forum, to their corporate customer service, their response was they are having a software problem with their unsubscribe link, unbelievable.

On the flipside, Mills has improved since their ownership change a few years ago.

I really really like reeds. Although they don’t have any stores close by, their website usually has some tremendous deals. Otherwise it’s off to fleet or scheels.

Musky Ed wrote:

Copied my post, and a description of how they are getting tore to pieces on this forum, to their corporate customer service, their response was they are having a software problem with their unsubscribe link, unbelievable.

Can’t make it up…

tangler wrote:

Jigs. Heavy ones. And 6oz no roll sinkers. Lots of em. Individually packaged if possible.
Free shipping. Make them feel it

Charlie W wrote:

I really really like reeds. Although they don’t have any stores close by, their website usually has some tremendous deals. Otherwise it’s off to fleet or scheels.

My exact thoughts.

sticker wrote:

Maybe, but your wife can’t use your cabelas points at the hair salon

Yeah, but I can’t use Cabela’s points at the salon either.

Cmon guys, I can’t be the only one who likes a decent mani/pedi every now and then? Who else is with me here?

Grouse

Cabela’s has been going down hill for many years. I cut up the CC years ago when the sales were no longer “sales.” For years I ordered almost everything at Cabela’s as I lived in the SE metro with limited options outside Gander in Woodbury. Speaking of Woodbury, the Cabela’s in Woodbury is an absolute joke! I was extremely excited when they announced the Cabela’s in Woodbury, what a HUGE dissapointment! Every time I went into the store I’d hear, “we can order that for you.” Da**it, I didn’t come into the store to order it online!

These days I live down near Rochester, it’s about 30 mins to hit Scheels/Fleet Farm or 45mins to hit Cabelas in Owatonna, unfortunately Cabela’s doesn’t even cross my mind. Scheels and Fleet Farm have yet to disappoint.

Last time I was there in Rogers was in late-December, and the ice fishing gear was completely picked over. Shelves bare, except for TUCRS. There were hundreds of those hanging from their tip guides. No need to go back.

I’ve made multiple purchases since from their websites. Be prepared to get bombarded with packages containing numerous small portions of the order, like a single pack of Authentix Ringworms in a yellow padded envelope, for example. That doesn’t bother me though. They’;re just cleaning up inventory from multiple stores.

I miss the old days when Cabelas was THE one-stop-shop for fishing and outdoor clothing. I used to fill carts there. Now other businesses like Scheels, Mills, FishUSA, Tackle Warehouse, and Bass Tackle Depot get that money.

Johnny sent me this!

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Just a general observation, there has been a lot of consolidation in the manufacturing sector and products are very often made overseas. This has resulted in fewer quality products on the shelves.

As far as Cabelas goes, I hope they can get their act together. I always thought of them as the retail leader for sportsmen.

First take a look at the Cabela’s internet site and bring up ‘Locating a Store near you’- looks as if the country has a case of the measles. My guess is that in a couple of years there might be some consolidation of store locations. Try looking/guessing the amount of inventory that is necessary for each store to have and then the purchasing department allocating each specific line item of inventory to each store based on either past sales or in the case of the Hot Smokin’ new stuff – educated guessing. That is if the container ship makes port in time, and the manufacturer is able to meet his sales commitments.
Gotta go it’s Taco Tuesday and a bit more diatribe from me isn’t going to solve the problem. Please not that at the bottom of the Cabela’s internet site is a notice that they are hiring. Here’s your chance to fixum.
bestfishes – jim

Glad to hear my dad and I aren’t the only ones who think Cabela’s has gone to crap. Really miss the bargain cave. I can’t think of one positive development there in the last 5 years, only negative ones. Jeez. They deserve to be flung on the scrap heap of retail failures; I have no doubt that’s their future.

I’m still depressed over Herters going out of business. Plenty of places to buy stuff beside bps or cabelas