No Seriously, I’m Done With Cabela’s

This is the plastics isle at the Woodbury Cabela’s. You might say, well yeah there’s a sale going on. Which I would agree with except this is what the isle looked like BEFORE THE SALE. Not to mention the crankbait isle, and the rod and reel selection were just as bare. Unless you needed 40 President spinning reels in the ice fishing size.

I get that this is a “small” Cabela’s, but why the hell cant this place figure out how to restock? It’s empty like this two days after their big restock in the spring and two days after their big ice fishing inventory comes in in the Winter. I’m done with em.

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These Big Box retailers just don’t get it. I hear them say all the time that online sales are killing the retail stores. The reason for that is that the big box retailers NEVER have what you want or need in stock. To many of these stores are having the purchasing done for them out of a Corp. office in NEW YORK or other out of state Corp. office. The purchasing is being done by 22 or 23 year old college Grads who have never used a fishing rod or help a firearm in their life. I would gladly support and buy from a local store if they had any product available and employed anyone who knew anything about what they are selling. In stead I just received a 200.00 tackle order today from Tackle Warehouse. Every item I wanted that showed as IN-Stock was shipped – Not 1 single backordered item. Almost every item I purchased was not available at any of our local retailers here in the St. Cloud area.

I’m with you and it sucks. It’s not just Cabela’s. The only reason I go into any big box store is to check out a bait or color or something that I wanted to check out in person. Other than that I order everything online and 95% of the time I get it much cheaper.

fishthumper wrote:

These Big Box retailers just don’t get it. I hear them say all the time that online sales are killing the retail stores. The reason for that is that the big box retailers NEVER have what you want or need in stock. To many of these stores are having the purchasing done for them out of a Corp. office in NEW YORK or other out of state Corp. office. The purchasing is being done by 22 or 23 year old college Grads who have never used a fishing rod or help a firearm in their life. I would gladly support and buy from a local store if they had any product available and employed anyone who knew anything about what they are selling. In stead I just received a 200.00 tackle order today from Tackle Warehouse. Every item I wanted that showed as IN-Stock was shipped – Not 1 single backordered item. Almost every item I purchased was not available at any of our local retailers here in the St. Cloud area.

And that’s where I have been getting all of my stuff lately. I went today to pick up a Mojo Bass spinning rod because my FIL accidentally snapped my over the weekend. Did they have one? Nope! I can’t say I was shocked but I need it for a tournament this Sunday. Not sure how fast I can get one from TW but I’m going to have to try now. Joe’s might have one also.

Not that it helps you now, but shop at Joe’s Sporting Goods! They have a really good selection of rods/reels and normally have a good amount of tackle in stock. They have a much smaller footprint, but their staff is generally fairly knowledgeable and they run great sales throughout the year.

They won’t have nearly the same quantity of unique SKUs, but the SKUs they do carry will be in stock more often I think.

Very often they have 20% off all fishing tackle, reels, rods as well, which is nice!

Saw the overtons in Eden prairie is open.

Was going to go there last week,stop at fleet farm first,got every thing I needed, glad I didn’t waste my time. And being retired my time is most valuable!

philtickelson wrote:

Not that it helps you now, but shop at Joe’s Sporting Goods! They have a really good selection of rods/reels and normally have a good amount of tackle in stock. They have a much smaller footprint, but their staff is generally fairly knowledgeable and they run great sales throughout the year.

They won’t have nearly the same quantity of unique SKUs, but the SKUs they do carry will be in stock more often I think.

Very often they have 20% off all fishing tackle, reels, rods as well, which is nice!

Phil I agree. I’ve been going to Joe’s more and more lately and have been impressed with what they have.

Woodbury Cabelas is a tough place to shop. Much of the time it is a frustrating experience. One thing I’ve learned is to use their website and ALWAYS check to see if they have the item in stock before I make a trip up there – ALWAYS.

Unfortunately this isn’t new for Cabelas but it has gotten worse since the buy out. I hate brick and mortar unless it’s truly and speciality service I’m after…like advice on a product or service. There’s no expertise at Cabela’s anymore so just buy it online. It cost me 3-4 galllons of gas to go and get Bach home so that covers shipping fees…

They can’t complain about online killing their business when they offer free shipping and other sale gimmicks on their site from time to time.

I’ve gotten to know a couple of the employees at the Woodbury location fairly well. Last time I was in there I was looking at the fly tying supplies and swearing a blue streak because of all the empty slots on the wall. I did check beforehand to see if things were in stock; however that only works if somebody bothers to update the website. Anyway the guy apologized and said he was hoping the Bass Pro computer systems and people would take over soon, because the Cabela’s system is just awful.

The folks in charge either don’t understand how frustrating it is to shop there, or their profits are high enough that they don’t care about it. I’d do 99% of my shopping at Thornes (The Fly Angler) if it wasn’t such a major expedition to get there.

S.R.

I was at the Rogers location over the weekend for something very quick so I didn’t have much time to poke around, but I noticed a lack of nets, particularly telescoping nets. And one guy was there asking about them while I was there. I don’t quite understand how in MN at the peak of the fishing season, why your store isn’t overflowing with fishing merchandise. It’s not like ice fishing when you have to order conservatively since you don’t know how the ice season will play out. With summer fishing, the gear is used into October and beyond. So retailers should be ordering heavily.

Especially at a location like Rogers, which is a destination location where people from all states in the region stop on their way up north. And you don’t have a plethora of landing nets waiting for them?

Who knows, maybe they are about to switch over inventory to what BPS carries so they need to clear out much of the existing stock.

I ordered a generator from them because they had free shipping and the best price I found. After two weeks and hrs on the phone I finally got my generator only to find out it was damaged. So my time saver of having it shipped actually cost me lots of time and still ended up driving 40 minutes each way to swap my damaged one for another. Customer service did help keep my business but the lack of having anything stating signature required until it had already shipped would of saved alot of headaches on both ends.

Jeff Schomaker wrote:

Other than that I order everything online and 95% of the time I get it much cheaper.

This is kind of sad that this is what it has become today. Not that I blame you at all…just sad that for some of us that remember years ago when there was no internet option. Anything and everything that you wanted and needed, you had to go to the store and buy in person. There was that feeling at times like a kid in a candy store walking into a well stocked fishing tackle store and perusing all the items. It seemed back in those times, places would have everything you could need or want and then some. Finding lures/tackle you never knew existed and being able to touch and feel. Other shoppers mingling around that you might strike a conversation with about fishing.

Now the shopping experience is clicking on a picture from your computer and then “add to cart”

I know this is the way it is now and not likely ever going back either. Just feeling nostalgic remembering those days when shopping for gear was a fun day outing.

Cabelas in Woodbury is honestly a joke. Has been since day 1. I asked the reel specialist guy about a power handle for my abu ambassador and he didn’t know what it was. I felt like I was at the forest lake gander again. I’ll take my business online or to Thorne bros

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Jeff Schomaker wrote:</div>
Other than that I order everything online and 95% of the time I get it much cheaper.

This is kind of sad that this is what it has become today. Not that I blame you at all…just sad that for some of us that remember years ago when there was no internet option. Anything and everything that you wanted and needed, you had to go to the store and buy in person. There was that feeling at times like a kid in a candy store walking into a well stocked fishing tackle store and perusing all the items. It seemed back in those times, places would have everything you could need or want and then some. Finding lures/tackle you never knew existed and being able to touch and feel. Other shoppers mingling around that you might strike a conversation with about fishing.

Now the shopping experience is clicking on a picture from your computer and then “add to cart”

I know this is the way it is now and not likely ever going back either. Just feeling nostalgic remembering those days when shopping for gear was a fun day outing.

Andy, that kid in a candy store feeling is why I was still going to Cabelas. Only problem was the second I got past the first ten feet into the fishing section and realized 0 out of the 5 things I was looking for were out of stock. EVERY TIME! They either have the worlds worst management or have obsolutely ZERO clue about ordering inventory. The reason people shop online is because it’s much more reliable than most B&Ms. You know they will have it 97% of the time and you will have it in a few days.

Not to sound narcissistic, but as long as I get the tackle needed, don’t really care anymore where it comes from. Retail stores have to adapt or die, just business 101. Horses, whores baths and outhouses are cool, but never want to go back to them as the only option.

dirk-w. wrote:

Woodbury Cabelas is a tough place to shop. Much of the time it is a frustrating experience. One thing I’ve learned is to use their website and ALWAYS check to see if they have the item in stock before I make a trip up there – ALWAYS.

Oh yeah. That cute little message that tells you “in stock” at whatever location is a nice hook to get you in. I always call ahead, and wait on hold for awhile. If whatever I need happens to be in stock, I will request them to hold it up front.

Trout um beat me to it. I don’t trust the in-stock online features of any website.

Agreed, Woodbury Cabelas has been a joke since it opened!! There “in stock” on the internet is also a joke, been burned more than once. It is right on my way home from work so I stop in once in a while, but I am never surprised anymore when they are out of stock. I was in the plastic isle 2 weeks ago and it was bare then too . I usually just go to Fleet, way more inventory. If I have to I’ll order on line at Cabelas and have it shipped to the store for free, then I know it’s there.

catmando wrote:

Was going to go there last week,stop at fleet farm first,got every thing I needed, glad I didn’t waste my time. And being retired my time is most valuable!

Glad your FF is working… recently in Waite Park, I went in twice in a week to buy a spare tire for my Trailer… the standard 5 bolt SledBed trailer and the shelf is empty. Ask the guy at the tire counter…”when you expecting more rim/tire combos in 5 bolt ?” he says “no idea…” I say, “you can’t tell me when the shipment is expected ?” he says “no, we have no way to tell”… I say “you don’t have like a trigger point where an order is placed for this item in your system ?” he looks at me like I am from Mars…. “I say, how do they know when you need more tires…?” he says, “they just send them when they want”… I say, “you mean they say… let’s send a rim/tire in 5 bolt to Waite Park today, they might need it…” he say’s and I quote…. “yup”. Thank god for Northern Tool that day so I could continue my day.

Glad your FF is working… recently in Waite Park, I went in twice in a week to buy a spare tire for my Trailer… the standard 5 bolt SledBed trailer and the shelf is empty. Ask the guy at the tire counter…”when you expecting more rim/tire combos in 5 bolt ?” he says “no idea…” I say, “you can’t tell me when the shipment is expected ?” he says “no, we have no way to tell”… I say “you don’t have like a trigger point where an order is placed for this item in your system ?” he looks at me like I am from Mars…. “I say, how do they know when you need more tires…?” he says, “they just send them when they want”… I say, “you mean they say… let’s send a rim/tire in 5 bolt to Waite Park today, they might need it…” he say’s and I quote…. “yup”. Thank god for Northern Tool that day so I could continue my day.
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Just more Proof that… Stupid can’t be fixed

big_g wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>catmando wrote:</div>
Was going to go there last week,stop at fleet farm first,got every thing I needed, glad I didn’t waste my time. And being retired my time is most valuable!

Glad your FF is working… recently in Waite Park, I went in twice in a week to buy a spare tire for my Trailer… the standard 5 bolt SledBed trailer and the shelf is empty. Ask the guy at the tire counter…”when you expecting more rim/tire combos in 5 bolt ?” he says “no idea…” I say, “you can’t tell me when the shipment is expected ?” he says “no, we have no way to tell”… I say “you don’t have like a trigger point where an order is placed for this item in your system ?” he looks at me like I am from Mars…. “I say, how do they know when you need more tires…?” he says, “they just send them when they want”… I say, “you mean they say… let’s send a rim/tire in 5 bolt to Waite Park today, they might need it…” he say’s and I quote…. “yup”. Thank god for Northern Tool that day so I could continue my day.

yea when i go to that FF i usually know what i want cause the help dont help much. i did learn once if you want good help look for employees with black in there shirt, there full time employees.

as far as Cabelas, i havent been in one in like 4 years. hold your breath but i really dont need any more fishing or hunting stuff right now and FF usually has what i need.

The lack of help at a store can be aggrevating, but good help costs money, which would end up reflecting in the overall cost at a store. Then the complaint would be I can by it for 30 cents cheaper over there will you match the price where the stores response would be “no we needed to inflate the price to cover the cost of employees that actually know what they are talking about”. Just my thoughts on that. Everyone wants good service but and knowledgeable staff but fails to realize that anyone worth a s is going to want more than a $13 an hr job or whatever the pay is in that market.

At least at the Rogers locations, ever since word of the BP buyout a few years ago, the fishing stock has really gone down. They seemed to quit carry alot of items and when they do carry it, they usually are out of half the sizes and options for things. At the check out, my answer is usually no when they ask me if I found everything I’m look for.

I also tell them to get rid of the section of mint green and blue shirts and replace it with more tackle. Too much clothes I tell them and we don’t where those anyways!

I like the new Overtons next door. Less fluff and a decent selection of Fishing gear. Prices on some things seem cheaper too than Cabelas. Check it out if you haven’t already.

The problem with most retailers empty shelves are usually blamed on the planners and buyers. The planners prioritize items by analyzing market trends to the best of their ability. We all know market trends change overnight, but items can’t be ordered and delivered overnight. The buyers are limited with a strict budget for the most part, which causes the issues we have all seen. Min/Max order levels can only be kept up if the buyers budget can be adjusted accordingly. Retail shelf stocking is a game of cat and mouse. They can only hope their projections are spot on a month or two in advance. The larger the retailer, the more hands things need to pass through before something can be done.

At the end of the day, it comes down to the retailers bottom line. Retailers are usually better off ordering less and running out versus ordering a surplus and clearancing it out for new product. They try to keep just enough on the shelf to keep you coming back, which it looks like they failed this time around.

The Richfield, WI store is the same way. Has been since a couple of years after it opened. Inflated prices and empty shelves. Some of the pegs have tags on, read one sometime. The last time I was there looking for an item as a last resort, the backorder tags were more than 6 months old.

Scheels, throne bros, reeds(Walker), there is alot of other places to shop. The woodbury store is a joke and has been.

Cabela’s has been a joke for tackle for the last 5-10 years. I lost a tackle box (long story) and went to the Roger’s Cabela’s thinking I’d be able to replace most everything I needed in one stop. Ended up leaving there with just a new tackle box, that I spent a few hundred dollars filling at Fleet Farm and my favorite local shops. Now I try and do all my tackle shopping at the Thorne Bro’s, Capra’s, Prince’s Bait, Smoky Hills etc. and somehow those little shops don’t have trouble keeping their shelves stocked and usually have associates with fisherman tans so you know you’re getting decent advice/discussion.