Cabelas-SMH

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If you want to run a business, you want insurance. If your insurance company says that you have to have gun locks on all guns that customers have access to or we aren't issuing a policy, you buy a bunch of cheesy locks.
I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree.

I was thirty years a general contractor, one of the most litigious, insurance (and bond) laden businesses out there.

I urge you not to take any of this post personally, rather, take it as a series of suggestions from one business owner to another.

The insurance companies did not run my business nor that of any of my subs. In fact, we frequently discussed the phenomenon of allowing insurance companies to dictate company policy, and it was generally agreed that when one defaults to what an insurance company recommends, it is because that business owner does not know how to operate that point of his business, and, furthermore, he knows he doesn't know how to operate that point of his business.

Subs who told me it was for insurance reasons stopped being my subs-- they were demonstrating that they did not understand their business well enough to get mine, and they were admitting that they knew that this was so.

You may be required to have insurance, but that's where it stops. You are supposed to be the expert at whatever your business is, not them.

And finally, it may be so that you can't get insurance without cheesy locks. This year. But the issue is not the cheesy locks. Year by year, the requirements one must meet to be insured change, just as insurance rates for driving go down as time passes with no issues. There are many, many gun stores that will hand me an unlocked weapon. If all insurance companies "required" that all weapons be locked, that wouldn't be true.

Find a different insurance company. Find a different insurance agent. Speak to your agent every year, asking, then suggesting, and finally demanding that any restrictions you find onerous be eliminated. Don't spend your time waiting on customers. Go back into your office, shut the door, get on the phone and work hard, all day, managing those portions of your business that your counter monkeys can't do. Like finding good, reasonable insurance.

And best of luck.
 
I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree.

I was thirty years a general contractor, one of the most litigious, insurance (and bond) laden businesses out there.


The insurance companies did not run my business nor that of any of my subs. In fact, we frequently discussed the phenomenon of allowing insurance companies to dictate company policy, and it was generally agreed that when one defaults to what an insurance company recommends, it is because that business owner does not know how to operate that point of his business, and, furthermore, he knows he doesn't know how to operate that point of his business.

Subs who told me it was for insurance reasons stopped being my subs-- they were demonstrating that they did not understand their business well enough to get mine, and they were admitting that they knew that this was so.

You may be required to have insurance, but that's where it stops. You are supposed to be the expert at whatever your business is, not them.

I was a contractor for about the same length of time. My insurance agent for most of those years was a friend of mine. He did not tell me how to run my business, nor did I tell him how to run his. He did recommend some things tho and gave me advice. Most of which was sound. Many of my policies were instituted by OSHA, had nuttin' to do with me not knowing my business. It had to do with me wanting to stay in business. Some of the advice and recommendations I took from my friend/agent were to keep premiums lower and to keep the policy. Again, had nuttin' to do with my knowledge of the building trades. He knew his business and I knew mine. Kinda why I stuck with him. Similar to my accountant. Like many store policies, not everyone agreed with my job site policies. Many of them came from things I learned over the years and were in place to avoid/prevent the use of insurance. Many times it was easier to tell customers, sidewalk inspectors and subs that the policies were set by my insurance.......that way they didn't get upset at me directly, if and when they didn't agree. As for subs using insurance companies for setting policy, I can't say it bothered me. My concern was not about who dictated their policies, but that they did their work how I wanted and finished in a timely manner. Not doing those things and not abiding by my policies is why they stopped being my subs.

That tho, has nuttin' to do with the OP's rant about the lack of guns and ammo to his liking, at his local Cabelas. Again, simple demand and profit margins. I'd assume company lawyers dictate more store policy than insurance.
 
I'm rearranging your paragraphs to more coherently respond to it.

I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree.
I urge you not to take any of this post personally, rather, take it as a series of suggestions from one business owner to another.

I'm not the owner, I'm the manager of this store, the owners have several in the county.

Don't spend your time waiting on customers. Go back into your office, shut the door, get on the phone and work hard, all day, managing those portions of your business that your counter monkeys can't do.

I guess since I'm here in this store to see that customers are properly taken care of, to include waiting on them, I'm a counter monkey like the people who work for me are. Is that the respectful part?

The insurance companies did not run my business nor that of any of my subs. In fact, we frequently discussed the phenomenon of allowing insurance companies to dictate company policy, and it was generally agreed that when one defaults to what an insurance company recommends, it is because that business owner does not know how to operate that point of his business, and, furthermore, he knows he doesn't know how to operate that point of his business.

Subs who told me it was for insurance reasons stopped being my subs-- they were demonstrating that they did not understand their business well enough to get mine, and they were admitting that they knew that this was so.

You may be required to have insurance, but that's where it stops. You are supposed to be the expert at whatever your business is, not them.

And finally, it may be so that you can't get insurance without cheesy locks. This year. But the issue is not the cheesy locks. Year by year, the requirements one must meet to be insured change, just as insurance rates for driving go down as time passes with no issues. There are many, many gun stores that will hand me an unlocked weapon. If all insurance companies "required" that all weapons be locked, that wouldn't be true.

Have you checked in Fla? Insurance is crazy here. Most homeowner insurance companies pulled out of the state. Perhaps the owners found the policies they wanted and are willing to live with cheesey locks on the guns to keep them happy for other reasons. I still don't understand what the big issue is with a plastic lock on a gun that is so horrible that it would make someone not wish to shop here, but that is their prerogative. The only thing a lock is preventing a customer from doing is pulling the trigger, so that says to me the customer wants to dry fire my guns. If he is unwilling to ask to have the lock removed, he's probably also unwilling to ask if we have snap caps. But then, what do I know, I'm just a counter monkey.

Find a different insurance company. Find a different insurance agent. Speak to your agent every year, asking, then suggesting, and finally demanding that any restrictions you find onerous be eliminated. Don't spend your time waiting on customers. Go back into your office, shut the door, get on the phone and work hard, all day, managing those portions of your business that your counter monkeys can't do. Like finding good, reasonable insurance.

Not being able to read the owners' minds, just being a counter monkey and all, I guess they don't think that spending hours to find an insurance company whose product is in all other ways comparable to what we have now that is willing to not require cheesey gun locks is really worth it.

And best of luck.

Cheers!
 
There's a big gun section at our local Cabela's. They're overpriced, and the service is lackluster, but they have a decent amount of stuff. Nothing real specialty, but a lot of various handguns and run of the mill hunting guns.
 
I feel sorry for all you guys that have to shop at one of the big chains.....I shop at a Dunham’s. That has a good inventory of guns,, will let me dry fire, and will beat any price,,,not just match but will beat...also have a hardware store that sells guns,, and always has a sale on ammo....another hardware store 7 miles in the other direction, only sell ammo, no guns, and they will get any obscure ammo you can think of, and at a good price,,,,because they don’t have to fool with gun sales, they are pretty good on ammo prices,,,,,So , all in all, I have three good places to shop, and a local guy that will do transfers for a dime.
 
Cabela’s has many issues w firearms. The rampant trigger locks, will not take off a lock for a serious customer, elimination of layaway, elimination of 10 day used gun return policy. No bargaining leeway allowed anymore, used to be they had 10% price control if the gun had been there awhile. Used guns more than new ones.

The last time I took a used gun in there they put a chamber safety flag in the muzzle. When I pointed this out the manager pointed out “it had to go somewhere”. Also offered $100 for a $300 gun as memory serves, I was trying to bargain up to $200 they do have to make money. Told me the gun was not in demand. It sold on GunBroker within 30 mins for $300.

There way a time I would buy several used guns a year from them, now I rarely darken their door.
 
They've always taken trigger locks off for me. Watching down the counter it's not because I'm anything special, they were taking them off for anyone who asked.

The biggest thing I don't like about them is their sales folks don't have any real firearms knowledge-- I was looking for a bolt .223, and they told me that since you can't hunt deer in Washington state with a .22, they didn't carry bolt actions in .22.
 
They've always taken trigger locks off for me. Watching down the counter it's not because I'm anything special, they were taking them off for anyone who asked.

The biggest thing I don't like about them is their sales folks don't have any real firearms knowledge-- I was looking for a bolt .223, and they told me that since you can't hunt deer in Washington state with a .22, they didn't carry bolt actions in .22.

Pay minimum wage, get minimum knowledge.
 
In West Chester, Ohio you have to find your way to the gun section with all the clothing in the way.
It’s clothing, sun glasses, dog items, and candy before you can get to it.
I have also seen guns in the gun room at or about the same as a new one.
 
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