New Cabela's Store...

[smoke-eater]

...in Christiana, Delaware. Paid it a visit yesterday. Very nicely stocked store, but probably half the size of the one in Hamburg, PA. A sales associate explained that the Hamburg store is their largest, and that this one is a "class 3" store - smaller and less expensive to operate, and that more stores of this size will be built across the Country.

Has my favorite feature, the Gun Library, where I go when I feel the need to kick myself in the keister when I see the prices of guns just like the ones I've sold/traded off through the years.

Also has a freshwater aquarium. Again, not nearly as large as the one in the PA. store, but still very nice.

No restaurant or cafeteria, which was a disappointment - the Mrs. and I were salivating for a bison burger!

I'm sure we'll be back. As soon as my second mortgage is approved, I'll be able to buy myself a pair of size 14W hunting boots! :lol:

Jeff

 

[Pat-inCO]

They opened two in the Denver area late last year. One North and the
other South. The problem that I see is their prices. Most are above
what you would see in almost any sporting goods store and some WAY
above that. One that got me was a "used" 1911 style .22lr for $450.
The EXACT SAME GUN was in the "new" case for the same price. I
called that to the attention of the counter guy and asked why. He didn't
have an answer. I also mentioned it to their greeter and asked why a
used gun cost the exact same amount as a new one. She said it must
have been mis marked. I said "Really?" and walked out without purchasing
ANYTHING.

To me they are pricing themselves out of business.
OR we have a lot of gullible people buying. :roll:

 

[smoke-eater]

You're right about the prices. They even seemed a little high in the Bargain Cave! I'm in the market for a new trolling motor for my boat. There was one, in a damaged box, for about $40 less than I can buy the same model for locally. But I passed on it because of their "no return" policy on Bargain Cave items. Just seemed like a gamble.

 

[m657]

Not so long ago, another chain of sporting goods stores had a decent outlet in Salem Oregon. Extensive stock lines for generally good to excellent cost.

Wildly popular and usually busy. "Sportsmans Warehouse" IIRC.

So successful it started building stores around the country.

Tragic reality overtook lofty business goals.

Bankruptcy followed in a few years.

I tend to at least visit every new Cabelas I encounter. Sometimes there is a good deal.
Too often not the case.

I haven't found a Bargain in the Bargain Cave for several years.

As observation on the 'creeping cost' increases, I just made one of my annual visits to the Danner Boot factory. As an Oregon family business springing from the depression era, they've satisfied my own boot needs for decades, and I understand selling premium elk hunter style lace ups for $78 is not profitable lately. As a benchmark I have followed that particular model over the years just to stay aware of the effects of current economic models on my own pocket book.

This visit I was astounded to find $300 is no longer a theory in the work boot world. And I saw examples in the $500 range. These are not custom fitted boots here.

Sadly the price of the 'bargain buy' selections were also way over the over $100 range.

Spoiled by my find (maybe FIVE years ago) was a pair of safety toe zipper sided 10" high top 'fire fighter' boots for $25!!! and a pair of Romeos for $15 that now can not be replaced for under $200, signals the reality of our economic hard times.

 

[BlkHawk73]

¢abela'$...the place to go when you have more money than brains. Always super overpriced.

 

[protoolman]

I see a lot of people with Cabela's credit cards where they spend their accumulated points on Cabelas overpriced items. From what I see people don't really care about price and just buy what they want. Not me.

 

[m657]

I recently bought a 1/2 horse pro-quality meat grinder for a most excellent price.
Cash, no points.

With judicious comparison shopping, I can find great deals there often enough to stop by now & then. They're a good addition to my vendor-circuit.

 

[6gun]

We have two stores in my state also one south about 70 miles, the other north about 20 miles from me, they did the large and small store thing, of coarse the small store is the closet one :roll:
I agree prices are way to high, we usually only buy when they have good deals in their adds, their ammo prices have always been to high also but any more other stores have turned into such gougers they make Cabela's ammo prices ok.

 

[ndcowboy]

Went to the Cabelas in Rogers, MN, this past weekend on a trip to Minneapolis. Awesome store and I found a couple of good deals on some outdoor furniture for my deck.
I don't think I have more "money than brains" as somebody put it earlier in this thread, but I do keep my eyes open for a good sale or deal and walk past what I think is overpriced.

 

[PAShooter]

" A very nicely stocked store" How was it stocked with reloading components? I have been frustrated with the Hamburg store for over three years, no bullets or powder selection to speak of. I have wondered about the opening of new stores, they seemed to be stocked well at the cost of the existing stores. I experienced this problem several years ago when at the grand opening of a Cabela's store in Montana. They had a full compliment of ammo and reloading components, yet the Hamburg store near me was very scarce. Seems like they try to impress the locals then are lax as time goes by.

 

[wwb]

I've found that their used gun prices are REALLY high, their new gun prices are on the high side of reasonable, and the rest of the stuff they carry can run anywhere from a pretty good bargain to pretty stiff pricing.

If their stores weren't so extravagant, I'm pretty sure they'd be able to offer lower prices, but their overhead has to be staggering; HUGE parking lots that are seldom even half full, fancy interior and exterior architecture, and aquariums and wildlife displays that cost a bundle and require a lot of extra square footage. Favorite local gun shops have much lower prices, and are in plain-jane buildings with no fancy displays..... I think there's a connection.

 

[bobski]

cabelas has a 600.00 gun in their library overpriced 1000.00. i brought it to their attention and they wouldnt budge.
seems the managers who hold the keys to the city control the market.

cabelas...not me, never.

 

[6gun]

I've noticed quite a few used guns in the library are priced higher the same exact new ones at their gun counter, makes me wonder who does the pricing. :roll:

 

[smoke-eater]

" A very nicely stocked store" How was it stocked with reloading components? I have been frustrated with the Hamburg store for over three years, no bullets or powder selection to speak of. I have wondered about the opening of new stores, they seemed to be stocked well at the cost of the existing stores. I experienced this problem several years ago when at the grand opening of a Cabela's store in Montana. They had a full compliment of ammo and reloading components, yet the Hamburg store near me was very scarce. Seems like they try to impress the locals then are lax as time goes by.

Ammo section was packed, rifle, shotgun and handgun. Not being a reloader (one of these days...), I didn't pay notice to those aisles. The main item I was after, bulk packages of #11 percussion caps was empty - not one cap to be found :roll: . They seem to be getting pretty scarce in my local shops as well.

 

[wapiti13]

Visited the gun library in the Minneapolis store. What a treat!

 

[m657]

re: "I do keep my eyes open for a good sale or deal and walk past what I think is overpriced."

This is the secret to all my own shopping.

Re: gun library prices

I've shopped online or at a store and have yet to purchase a firearm from Cabelas. Often because what I want is simply overpriced....yet now & then something does show up yet I'm short on $ at the time.

A couple times I took in something used and got an 'almost fair' offer on the item.

The store I seem to visit more often, has an astonishing variety of reloading stuff, although obvious low inventory at times in specifics.

About a month ago I was surprised to see a considerable shelf load of bricks of 22 LR ammo.
It was $55/brick target stuff. Been back twice, empty 22 shelf. Somebody got what they wanted.

Some of the common rifle brass isn't often on the shelf.

 

[sourdough44]

I think it was the Cabelas store in Hoffman Estates(Chicago area) IL that closed the upper level because of taxes. They were paying based on square footage, they consolidated some to save a little $$.

I like Cabelas, like looking & do buy a few things. It's no secret often stuff is cheaper elsewhere. Some of the sales can be pretty good. I like the bargain cave too.