What's the Deal with Cabela's Gun Library Prices?

Because used/collector guns sometime can go for more than a new gun. Look here on Gubrokers for prices.

Maybe just waiting for a fish to swim by . . .

I've seen things like service-grade mixmaster CMP Garands going for $1500 at Cabela's, and ordinary Bushmaster rifles - just a common model - priced higher that the same exact model at the regular counter.

Local Cabela's has had a nice DWM .30 Luger priced at ~$3k for over a year now . . . Lugers are up, but not that much, for that gun in that condition.

Which is why it hasn't sold.

The few guns in there for which I am reasonably knowledgable about current prices are at least 50% too high. And those guns are always still there every time I go in - they haven't found a sucker for any of them.

As far as I'm concerned the Cabela's gun library is like a museum except you get to touch them if you want.

Haven't checked prices on line at the Cabelas gun library lately. But in the past, most of the guns were priced a little high; not 50%. Occasionally you could find a "bargain" if you looked.

Once a gun moves into the regime of collector guns, the price generally does not refect its shootability but rather its desireablity to collectors.

HA, you can look at the GL on line, and HA, they make the perennial $1 difference GB bids (499 open, 500 buy now) look down right reasonalbe.

Some of the ones I've seen have been close to 50% too high. I've seen things that go for around $550 in the local classifieds around here for about $1000 on there. Others are $750 on there for things that normally would bring $500-550. It just depends on what you are looking at, but they are all high and some are 50% too high.

Yeah, cabelas GL is nearly as bad as big 5 for gun prices.

I dropped by Cabela's last week, since I was going past it anyway.
A beat-up Raven MP25 with a $150.00 price tag? $150.00 for a Raven?
Looking over the .22 rifles; I saw a used Henry pump action .22LR (not .22 Magnum) for $499.00 .
Yes, Cabela's is a little on the high side....same for their new guns really.

MisterMike said:

Not a complaint . . . just a matter of curiosity: I don't know a lot about the value of used/collector guns, but anytime I've ventured into a Cabela's Gun Library, the prices are crazy out of line. They all seem high, but it seems especially goofy when the price of used guns in the "Library" is higher than the price of the same gun, new, just a few feet away.

So, what's the deal? Do people really pay these prices?

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Yepper, they sure are proud of those used guns. Capitalism is a wonderful thing. Although it ain't so wonderful to price a 12GA pump shotgun higher than a new one.

...hmm...I wonder if they will give me $400 for my "antique" Winchester 1400 Mk II?

They are in business to make money..........

Suckers are born every minute........

I always check the Gun Library for a Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Carbine, anytime I'm in Cabela's. One these days they're gonna get me.

Cabela's is a large company. They probably know what they are doing when they price their guns. Either someone will pay the inflated price, or if they leave the gun sitting there with the high price for a while. As it sits there, it will impart a reference value on people looking at it. Eventually they will mark it down slightly and still sell it for more than what a similar gun might be going for elsewhere.

Also, a lot of the guns in the gun library are collectible and the price of collectibles often makes no sense.

There are certain models that I would gladly pay a bit extra for a well cared for used model. (Think 870 Wingmaster)

If you check their prices against the Blue Book, you'll see them close enough...there IS room for haggling as well.typically about 10%. You need to know what you are looking at, AND what the value is - (which may or may not be what you are willing to pay, but someone is)

Maybe just waiting for a fish to swim by . . .

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My dad saw a Browning 525 listed and had it sent to the store by us. The gun was used, no box or accessories, and really nothing special, and they wanted $2600 for it. While he was looking at it, I went outside to the sales counter to look around. They had brand new 525's on the rack, for $1800. The boy showing the gun just looked at me when I brought it up. Needless to say, it didnt get bought.

I've seen them list Walther P1's in the library for over $500. They were P1's and not P38's. Same time, at the regular counter not 50' away, they had a couple of P1's, in the same shape or better for $279.


Between their deceptive practices and their crappy service/lack of knowledge at the counters, I dont bother with them. Even the rest of the stuff in the store doesnt seem like its much of a deal anymore, especially now that I have to pay sales tax too.

Glendale, AZ store

A lot of the prices in the Library are pretty high, but it was fun to go in and look at guns that I might not see anywhere else anyway. Once I saw a never fired - not even a cylinder "turn line" - nickel Colt Diamondback that they were asking $2800 for. But someone must have bought it, because it was gone the next time I visited some three days later. Not all of their prices were outrageous, however. I picked up a S&W 3913LS, in like new condition with box and papers, for $449 - not out of line - with an additional $80 off due to a Visa promotion they were running at the time.

Some of the guns in the Library are there on consignment so that may have something to do with the closeness of the prices to guns on the retail rack. Still, I've seen some outrageously priced used guns on their 'clearance' racks out front of the Library at their Post Falls, ID location (eg. $500+ for a 'sporterized' SMLE).

Compared to local gunshops where I live Cabellas is atleast $100 dollars more. I have yet to see a deal on guns anyway to purchase one at my local Cabellas.For example a used Ruger LCPs was going for $350 and in the new section they were $299. What the heck I thought until I noticed it was the same issue with about 90% of the used section. Even their sale prices made me puke. Their sale prices were the regular gun prices at the other local gun shops. I just don't understand why some places are so much more expensive than others especially with these internet times in which in about 10 minutes I can look the prices of a couple of gun shops and know where I'm going to be buying my next hand gun.Even on GunBroker I'm not really impressed with the prices on there. Very rarely do I see a good enough deal,especially with shipping and tranfer fees.

I'm intrigued by the number of responses from "tire kickers" who have never bought anything from them or all the talk about $500 guns.....not too many "collectibles" in that price range.

I've bought half a dozen guns from various Cabela's Gun Libraries around the country.....some were a little under, some a little over, and some about right where they should be. One thing I appreciate is the return policy on on-line purchases if it isn't as advertised. The other thing I've found is the quality and condition of "Library Guns" is some of the best found anywhere. Collectibles are simply quality guns that had limited production runs and are in the best condition of what's available for that particular model. To my knowledge only two of the big box chains even offer anything like this....Scheels and Cabelas.

their gun librabry has mostly collectible, and also odd ball guns that no one buys (like 50 bmg rifles and wildey automags lol)

I find it very hit and miss, usually some nice stuff but high prices on it. OTOH I pulled my 1911 Swiss rifle out of a Cabela's, much to my surprise.

So I guess the moral is to always look because you don't know when you are going to hit them right and find what your looking for at a decent price.

They are in business to make money..........

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Yeah, but generally large chain stores make money by selling more products at lower prices than the local competition. If their products are more expensive, there is no advantage to shopping at a chain store.

While to my knowledge Bass Pro shops doesn't sell used guns.... haven't really looked. I know their reloading and cleaning supplies are MUCH higher than I can buy the exact same items for from any of the local gun shops... bullets are 3-7bucks per box higher, powder is 3-5 bucks a pound higher etc.

I do get their mail flyers and the Sale price on new guns is usually the regular price at the local academy sports or even some of the local gun shops. (most of the local gun shops are sky high on gun prices.... new or used.)

I buy almost all my guns from individuals.... sometimes from "customers" walking the floor at gun shows with something they're looking to trade or sell. Mostly from guys on the local sports forums.

Gun Broker is a joke most of the time. It's mostly dealers and mostly not really a legitimate "auction" the starting price is usually what you can buy the thing for locally or even higher.... and the transfer and shipping and you're well in the hole.