Attention Veterans - Cabela's Cuts Vets Discounts

[Pat Riot]

Today when I was picking up my new Henry Single Shot and some ammo I asked the lady checking me out if she gave me my Veterans Discount.

She informed me that Cabela's was no longer giving Veterans Discounts on firearms or ammunition. I asked when this happened and she said it was pretty recent. I asked if it was due to the Bass Pro / Cabela's merger and she said maybe or it might be corporate's way of showing they are doing something regarding the recent mass shootings. Regardless, they no longer give the discount. She also said that Veterans should call Customer Service and complain. I thought it interesting that staff behind the counter just happened to have a piece of paper on a clipboard with the Customer Information contact info handy for Veterans to write down or photograph for future reference.

Anyway, I will be contacting them about this. I have bought quite a few guns from them and one of the reasons has been the Veterans discount and the added points on my Club card. I do appreciate that they offered this is the past and I would like to see them keep the benefit.

If you click this link and then click on; "Are there any exclusions to what I can purchase using my military discount?" You will see they are removing Veterans Discounts on quite a few things:
https://www.cabelas.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=MilitaryDiscountProgram


Here is the link for Customer Service: https://www.cabelas.com/custserv/custserv.jsp

Here is the phone number: 1 (800) 237-4444

I am posting this so that Veterans can try to continue get all the benefits they can from companies that appreciate their service.


Regards,
Pat Riot

 

[Trey Veston]

It's amazing how corporations are constantly merging with each other and getting bigger and more powerful and then turn against conservatives and conservative causes. We blindly continue to support them in the name of capitalism and they continue to stab us in the back and actively seek to destroy freedom of choice.

 

[Pat Riot]

This is the email I sent them through their website:

CABELA'S VETERANS DISCOUNT POLICY
Why did Cabela's discontinue Veterans DIscounts on firearms, ammunition and other items? I would like to voice my displeasure with this new policy. I am a Cabela's Club member. One of the reasons I became a Club member was the wonderful Veterans Discount policy that Cabela's offered and the appreciation Cabela's had for our veterans. I really do not want to see that benefit go away. I have posted this new policy information on a few shooting forums that I frequent to let others know about it.
Please reconsider this policy change. We veterans appreciate the benefit but what message are you sending when you say one thing but do another?
From your website:
"While we can never thank our military and veterans enough for their sacrifices, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's proudly honor and celebrate them every day."
With this new policy perhaps you should reconsider the wording of this sentence on your website.
Please reconsider this policy.
Thank you,
Tom ********
Veteran - US Navy

 

[Steve S.]

I was active duty Army the last three years of Vietnam; I get “uneasy” when people want to thank me for my service - it always seems choreographed and disingenuous. In turn, I do not feel that anyone owes me anything (including appreciation) for my service - very frankly, I did not serve for them. I did it for selfish reasons - the GI bill funded college education. If Cabelas or any company does not want to discount my purchases, then I understand - they and everyone else owe me nothing. However, if the offer is there, I will use it - it is not an emotional thing for me one way or the other. I did my time and the Army kept it’s promise - the rest of the fluffy stuff for my service is artificial at best. I salute all active duty and veterans with quiet respect - they understand that camaraderie. Good shooting.

 

[CoalTrain49]

No big deal. I didn't even know the program existed until about a month ago. I got the discount after they asked if I was a vet, which I am. I bought a used revolver from them.

I try to spend my dollars locally and not at these corporately owned big box stores. Cabela's is like a Home Depot for duck and deer hunters. They don't have anything I can't find at a local family owned business.

 

[Wisco]

I was active duty Army the last three years of Vietnam; I get “uneasy” when people want to thank me for my service - it always seems choreographed and disingenuous. In turn, I do not feel that anyone owes me anything (including appreciation) for my service - very frankly, I did not serve for them. I did it for selfish reasons - the GI bill funded college education. If Cabelas or any company does not want to discount my purchases, then I understand - they and everyone else owe me nothing. However, if the offer is there, I will use it - it is not an emotional thing for me one way or the other. I did my time and the Army kept it’s promise - the rest of the fluffy stuff for my service is artificial at best. I salute all active duty and veterans with quiet respect - they understand that camaraderie. Good shooting.

Well said. I’m an OEF and OIF veteran and I’m beyond weirded out by all the disengenous “thank you for your service” stuff. Never has their been a bigger disconnect between the general population and those who serve, so the odds are the person saying thank you has not a clue for what they’re thanking you. Don’t get me wrong, the Vietnam homecoming was atrocious from what your generation has told me, but it’s swung too far the other way now.

...

Speaking of all the fake out there - Cabela’s reduced their discount because they saw an opportunity to make more money and still say they thank veterans. When I asked about the change at a Cabela’s yesterday, I was responded to rudely and, in not these exact words, asked why I think I’m special enough to merit a discount.

Finally, add to the list Scheels. They run commercials thanking veterans for their service, but offer not one discount, even during Veterans Day when they run the commercial constantly. You’re welcome Scheels; now we’re even.

Really, finally, I’m okay with no discounts. Just don’t do it if it’s not going to be meaningful or you’re going to place umpteen restrictions on it. Once you have it, think about the optics of changing it. Cabela’s isn’t getting good things said about them over this.

 

[DavidABQ]

I guess that gives me a good reason to drive past the Cabelas to our local Sportmans Warehouse.

 

[entropy]

They've never even asked me, never knew they had it. I rarely shop there anyway, so no major loss.

 

[mljdeckard]

Didn't know or care they ever had one.

I frankly get embarrassed when it is offered or applied, if the cashier sees my ID in my wallet and offers it. When I am on active duty orders, I make more money than most of their customers.

And yes, I also regard big houses like Cabelas and Scheels as places to ogle and grope new guns, before I go to a local shop to buy them.

 

[Moparnut]

So, according to the website the policy was changed effective 2/26. I opened up a chat with BPS and the response was that BPS never did offer a discount on firearms to veterans (did not ask about active duty). The person did say that Cabela's may have offered one, but not BPS. Don't know that this clarifies anything. My guess is that BPS did not and Cabela's did, so when they merged BPS decided to cut out the discount program to be in line with both stores.

 

[AR-Bossman]

https://www.funker530.com/cabelas-c...unt-immediately-running-competition-business/

 

[RETG]

I was active duty Army the last three years of Vietnam; I get “uneasy” when people want to thank me for my service - it always seems choreographed and disingenuous. In turn, I do not feel that anyone owes me anything (including appreciation) for my service - very frankly, I did not serve for them. I did it for selfish reasons - the GI bill funded college education. If Cabelas or any company does not want to discount my purchases, then I understand - they and everyone else owe me nothing. However, if the offer is there, I will use it - it is not an emotional thing for me one way or the other. I did my time and the Army kept it’s promise - the rest of the fluffy stuff for my service is artificial at best. I salute all active duty and veterans with quiet respect - they understand that camaraderie. Good shooting.

I went to 'Nam in '67, and I agree, that term, "thank you for your service" is not only disingenuous it downright pees me off. Especially since when I did come home, I basically was called every name imaginable by complete strangers just cause I was in the service at that time.
As for the discount. Like those NRA discounts that went away in the past few weeks, I didn't even know Cabelas had a Vet discount; only store I deal with that gives me a vet discount is Lowes.

 

[Theohazard]

Me, I don’t feel any sense of entitlement when it comes to veterans’ discounts. Cabela’s is perfectly within their rights to not offer me a discount just because I spent four years in the Marine Corps. I joined the Marine Corps for several reasons, but none involved expecting discounts from private companies for my service.

 

[.308 Norma]

I was active duty Army the last three years of Vietnam; I get “uneasy” when people want to thank me for my service - it always seems choreographed and disingenuous. In turn, I do not feel that anyone owes me anything (including appreciation) for my service - very frankly, I did not serve for them. I did it for selfish reasons - the GI bill funded college education. If Cabelas or any company does not want to discount my purchases, then I understand - they and everyone else owe me nothing. However, if the offer is there, I will use it - it is not an emotional thing for me one way or the other. I did my time and the Army kept it’s promise - the rest of the fluffy stuff for my service is artificial at best. I salute all active duty and veterans with quiet respect - they understand that camaraderie. Good shooting.

Well said, Steve S.
I feel the same way about it. I served for selfish reasons, and my time there paid off. The GI Bill covered the cost of my college education, which resulted in my making a decent living for my family and me over the years. I also had a VA insured loan on this house, and when I'm ready, the VA is going to cover the cost of my hearing aid(s).
Besides all that, I met and married my soul mate while I was in the service. We've been together since 1971. She's the best thing I got out of my time there.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Last time I was at the KCK store the nice lady at the checkout told me about the changes... and then gave me the Vet discount on the bullets that I bought anyway because she didn't agree with the change. "Corporate" might make the policy but the people still make the store.

 

[Steve S.]

On an ironic note, I get more commercial economic “recognition” for aging than I ever get for military service; being 63 years young, I can walk into many more retail establishments as an “old person” and declare more special status discounts than I ever can for carrying an M16 for a living. “Hey everybody, I am here to tell you that I have aged - you may thank me for my aging service and give me a discount on my purchases - I am entitled to this recognition for watching so many sun ups and sun downs”. I know that senior citizen discounts are a head count marketing ploy, but it seems counterintuitive to be rewarded more for the passing of time than for honorable military service. Strange stuff in a strange society. Good shooting.

 

[Old Dog]

I feel I'm owed nothing for my quarter-century of service to my country -- I got more out of my time on active duty than I ever expected; the people I served with, the experiences I had, and my homecomings from OIF and OEF are all so memorable, it's more than I could ever need ...

I will gladly take my senior discount for my sandwiches at Subway, though ...

 

[BigBore44]

Never has their been a bigger disconnect between the general population and those who serve

That may be true of some. But not all. When I thank a Veteran for their service, I do it with the utmost honesty, respect, and sincerity.

I’m going to tell on myself and want NO accolades for this. Two weeks ago I walked into one of my local convenient stores chains to pay for gas. While I was there I noticed a Sgt in BDU’s with his two kids. He had an arm full of stuff and his daughter needed to go to the restroom. While I was standing there chatting with the clerk, he walked up and sat all the stuff on the counter and went to take his young daughter to the restroom. I thanked him for his service he turned and kindly thanked me for thanking him and continued to the back towards the restroom. I paid for my gas and everything he had sat on the counter and left before he returned to pay for it. No idea who he was. Had never seen him before but know he wasn’t from around here.

So don’t be so pessimistic. There are some of us that aren’t disconnected.

 

[Waveski]

I wrote off Cabella's a while ago , for a number of reasons.

That said , I occasionally thank a veteran in public. Many of my predecessors served in the Armed Forces ; I did not. I have a keen sense of the debt I owe those who shouldered that load on my behalf , and I sometimes choose to express that to them. Disingenuous? No. From the bottom of my heart.

 

[Axis II]

That may be true of some. But not all. When I thank a Veteran for their service, I do it with the utmost honesty, respect, and sincerity.

I’m going to tell on myself and want NO accolades for this. Two weeks ago I walked into one of my local convenient stores chains to pay for gas. While I was there I noticed a Sgt in BDU’s with his two kids. He had an arm full of stuff and his daughter needed to go to the restroom. While I was standing there chatting with the clerk, he walked up and sat all the stuff on the counter and went to take his young daughter to the restroom. I thanked him for his service he turned and kindly thanked me for thanking him and continued to the back towards the restroom. I paid for my gas and everything he had sat on the counter and left before he returned to pay for it. No idea who he was. Had never seen him before but know he wasn’t from around here.

So don’t be so pessimistic. There are some of us that aren’t disconnected.

I do it every time i see the old timers wearing their hats or jackets because my father was one of those Sgt with a chest and arms full of patches and medals and even though i didn't serve like i should have i'm still passionate about it. When i worked retail i had a ww2 USMC Sgt major who would shop with his wife and sit by the door waiting on her and he always had his jacket or leather vest on with his patches and one day my high school teacher who spent a career in the Marine corps walked up to him and introduced himself. Mr. Glenn had to walk with 2 canes cause if his legs but put them down, stood up and shook that mans hand and Mr. Glenn got a salute out of the deal too as he left the store. Every time someone would thank him be it a soldier in uniform,retired or civilian he would smile from ear to ear. We had a recruiting office across the street and any time one of those guys came to the store and Mr Glenn was there it was the utmost respect. For someone who didn't have that much time left on this earth i'm sure it helped him just for that few seconds. I was supposed to go paint his bathroom for him at no charge even though he argued with me for 20min about it and one day i seen him and he didn't remember me! Not sure what happened to him after i quit.

I also worked as a landscaper for a private community and there were two WW2 Vets one navy and one Marine and they would flip each other off as they drove by or the Marine drove by the Navy guys porch. Community management asked about getting residents involved and i suggested a cookout on veterans day! I went by and talked with all the Vets i knew there and invited them and a few declined stating they didn't like such things but one offered a POW flag to be raised with our new flag pole and flag. We had 2 Marines out on their VFW/honor guard hats and come to the flag raising as well as the crazy old Navy guy who said he wouldn't come if the Marine was there cause he would kick his a... lol. The Navy guy enjoyed showing me his pictures, talking, etc. He fell ill too and his kids moved him away since he was putting his clothes in the oven thinking it was the dryer. He soon passed away after that! That man also had a smile when i first met him and thanked him.

 

[.308 Norma]

I guess that gives me a good reason to drive past the Cabelas to our local Sportmans Warehouse.

Does Sportsman's Warehouse offer Veterans discounts? Just curious. We shop at Sportsman's quite often (usually not for guns) and they've never asked me if I was a Veteran.
Edited to add: Our Cocker/Springer cross (Ruger) loves Sportsman's Warehouse. The salespeople have his favorite treats in their aprons.

 

[Hypnogator]

I was active duty Army the last three years of Vietnam; I get “uneasy” when people want to thank me for my service - it always seems choreographed and disingenuous. In turn, I do not feel that anyone owes me anything (including appreciation) for my service - very frankly, I did not serve for them.

Yeah, being in the Army back in those days didn't earn you a whole lot of accolades. However, a couple of decades later as my career was winding down, when returning from TDY I saw people with banners and flags lining a bridge over a highway where troops were heading out for deployment in the first gulf war. Brought a lump to my throat.

Today, whenever I'm thanked for my service, I reply, "Thank YOU for paying your taxes!" Between my retirement pay and social security, we live in a nice home, have full health care benefits, and never have to worry where our next meal is coming from.

 

[jrdolall]

That may be true of some. But not all. When I thank a Veteran for their service, I do it with the utmost honesty, respect, and sincerity.

I’m going to tell on myself and want NO accolades for this. Two weeks ago I walked into one of my local convenient stores chains to pay for gas. While I was there I noticed a Sgt in BDU’s with his two kids. He had an arm full of stuff and his daughter needed to go to the restroom. While I was standing there chatting with the clerk, he walked up and sat all the stuff on the counter and went to take his young daughter to the restroom. I thanked him for his service he turned and kindly thanked me for thanking him and continued to the back towards the restroom. I paid for my gas and everything he had sat on the counter and left before he returned to pay for it. No idea who he was. Had never seen him before but know he wasn’t from around here.

So don’t be so pessimistic. There are some of us that aren’t disconnected.

I live near Fort Benning GA. I never served in the military. I try, at least once a month, to pick up the tab of a soldier if they are with their family in a restaurant when I enter. I don't do it for groups of soldiers...only families. If i did it for groups I would be broke in a couple of months.

 

[jradisch]

Funny, I went to a Cabellas for the first time last month. It was a 4 hour drive round trip but they had a Savage 12FV on sale AND a $100 rebate. I also got an unexpected 5% Veterans discount as a bonus. Semper Fi

 

[DavidABQ]

Does Sportsman's Warehouse offer Veterans discounts? Just curious. We shop at Sportsman's quite often (usually not for guns) and they've never asked me if I was a Veteran.
Edited to add: Our Cocker/Springer cross (Ruger) loves Sportsman's Warehouse. The salespeople have his favorite treats in their aprons.

Not that I am aware of but all things considered if Cabela's feels that they do not want to continue a veteran's discount as a veteran I elect to take my business elsewhere. If they do not feel that it is worth keeping the discount that is their business; but it is my money to spend how I see fit and where I choose to spend it. Cabela's is not likely to see much from me in the foreseeable future.