Hamburg, PA Cabelas visit (with pics)

[buck00]

I went to the Cabela's in Hamburg, PA last weekend. Pretty amazing if you have never been there- the place is more like the Epcot Center. I was looking around for where the rollar coaster began.

The gun library area had some interesting firearms. There was a $3,800 M1 Garand with a scope. Some pretty nice Ed Brown 1911 pistols.

Over at the main area where they sold guns it was pretty crowded. It had a "meat market" feel, as you took a number, then shouted (over the din) which gun you wanted to look at. The sales guys seemed pretty impatient too. The prices seemed a bit high on top of this.

* Has anyone bought from them before? Just curious.

 

[takhtakaal]

Uh, you really need to resize those. Can you?

And yes, Cabela's can be crowded, loud, and unfriendly. God help you if you go into a store that sells guns actually wanting to buy them. It's mostly soccer families taking day trips or stopping on their way for entertainment on long trips from point A to point B in Middle America.

 

[Mastiff4570]

I have a friend who bought a rifle there and got a great price but it really depends on the gun i guess i have priced guns there that are a few hundred over a decent price but he got his rifle for a little below wha ti had seen them around for so its jsut a bit of luck i guess

 

[CountGlockula]

Yup, I had the same reaction. My first Cabels trip was in Lehi, UT early this month.

 

[Mr White]

I used to travel around the state a lot with my old job and always tried to grab the Allentown, Pottsville or Reading trips so that I could stop at the Cabelas on the way home. That's a nice store.

 

[Bear2000]

I was in a Cabela's in Hartford, CT. Fun to look at things, but I found everything to be overpriced - everything. There is nothing there that I can't find on any number of online retailers for 10-20% less at least AND no tax. After you spend $200, the tax and the shipping are a wash.

 

[ctdonath]

Dropped into the PA one last year on a lark while driving from NY to GA. Wow! The place is a grand cathedral devoted to outdoor gear.

There are HUNDREDS of stuffed critters, big ones, scattered about in geography-reflecting settings. There's even a whole wing devoted to deer, including some seriously big-point ones. Fish fare better in their own surprisingly extensive aquarium section. The mountain in the center, covered with goats etc., looks small - not because it is small, but because the building is huge.

The gear just went on and on and on. Thousands of guns, endless other stuff. The Gun Library was impressive as noted above, including a 45/70 revolver and a $13,000 shotgun. The Bargain Cave alone was as big as many outdoor stores.

Just plain ginormous.

 

[FourTeeFive]

Price changes on guns?

I visited the Cabela's in Lacey, WA a few weeks after they opened. They had some very good prices on handguns. Then went about two months after they were open and the prices had changed radically. Any idea what went on? There is a Sportsman's Warehouse not far from them and their prices tend to be quite a bit lower than Cabela's now.

 

[caltek1911]

I bought some fishing gear there a few years ago when I was on leave from the military. I didn't know they sold guns until I came across this forum when I got into guns last year.

 

[buck00]

It's mostly soccer families taking day trips or stopping on their way for entertainment on long trips from point A to point B in Middle America.

Yeah I got that feeling when I saw a group of teenagers painting each other with rifles among the racks. Also, a lot of small town bubba types who seemed to be gawking at the guns like they never saw them before (or were aware of market prices).

Also there were a ton of menonites there (psuedo-Amish).

 

[Soap]

The Cabela's in Wheeling, WV near my parents home seems to have a bunch of dedicated hunters and shooters combing the aisles. But there aren't exactly a lot of soccer mom type families in WV in the first place...

 

[schloe]

Anybody ever been to Bass Pro Shop in Denver, CO? It's HUGE, bigger than any Cabela's I've ever been to. Really cool gamefish aquarium inside it though, along with a climbing wall, starbucks, restaurant, etc. etc. etc.

 

[MartinBrody]

I live an hour away from the Hamburg store, and stop by whenever I can. I have found their staff very helpful. I credit them with starting me on reloading, they helped me pick out everything I needed. I have also bought a Remington 700 there, the sales guy also got me hooked up with a scope for it (they mount it too) and all the accessories. On another occasion I was checking out scopes (they have a lot in stock) for a rifle I already had and they helped with the mounts and scope accessories too. I like shopping there because they have a large inventory so you can check out a lot of stuff. I was looking for a Remington 700 in 7mm-08 and guess what, they had one, just what I was looking for. I have called asking about other hard to find items and if they don't have it, they offer to order it for you. Some stuff is priced high, some is priced right. I am a big fan though.

 

[davepool]

I bought a Dan Wesson RZ 10 at the cabelas here in town,the guys at the counter aren't the most knowledgable gun people i've ever talked to, but i didn't go in to learn about guns, i went went in to buy a gun i was already fully informed about. It was funny to listen to some of the misinformation they were dishing out to the naive people who were just looking, this store has a really cool indoor aquarium with most of the fish species you will find in our lakes in arizona, and sometimes they have good prices on guns, if you go to buy a gun, get informed before you go there.

 

[lonegunman]

Cabela's opened a store about 20 miles from me. They went through the local area buying up everything not nailed down, marking it up between 40%-150% and reselling it.

The gun counter has a similar selection of fat men with short paitence and the prices are 10-30% higher than most places in the region.

I do know two guy who work at two different Cabela's, they only work there to get the employee discount, which is substantial. From listening to them they seem to resell the stuff they buy or trade it to other dealers for stuff they want.

I'm thinking they will crumble under their weight in a few years and we will have a bunch of woodsy looking bingo halls or casinos all over the country.

 

[SJG26]

I can see the Cabelas across the hill from my home...................they WILL price match firearms........ask for the Gun Dept manager--------not the counter flunkies!

 

[jrfoxx]

This topic has come up a few times before, and I have always wondered (never been to a Cabela's), what's the deal with the "gun library"? Is it just a large display room of current models for referance and a chance to handle them a little without having to deal with/burden sales people? That seems to be the impression I get, but dont think Ive ever heard for sure. also, does every Cabela's have a Gun Library, or only the "main" one, or certain "big" ones? Not even sure if we have one anywhere around here, but still kinda curious....

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I live three miles from one. It opened in Oct. 2006. They are pretty "proud" of some of their guns, but at least they have lots of guns, and a very friendly staff that lets you handle as many as you want. (I usually don't unless I have money and am ready to buy.) Get a Cabela's Visa card and wait for a promotion. I got $100 and $85 off a couple of very nice guns (a new S&W M&P9C and a lightly used 3913LS, respectively). Sure, I'm still paying for them, but look how much money I saved.

 

[takhtakaal]

I'm thinking they will crumble under their weight in a few years and we will have a bunch of woodsy looking bingo halls or casinos all over the country.

Maybe they'll electrify some of their taxidermy on the hill ...

"B-17, B-17 ..."

[the balls clatter as they tumble against each other]

"O-69, O-69 ..."

Others will have to emigrate to find work:

 

[chris in va]

Here's something funny. I stopped in to that Cabelas on the way back from a NJ trip. Can't remember why, but I needed duct tape.

They didn't have any. Anywhere.

But darned if they didn't have everything else!

 

[rono]

Looks pretty much the same as the one in Wheeling. The gun counter guys are pretty good around here, neighbor works at the counter. Big Gun Show sale this weekend, might have to check it out. Best time to go is Mondays. I usually try to go on my lunch hour from work. (Yep, trying to rub it in )

Ron

 

[2nd 41]

I did buy 2 guns from them. The prices were a touch high but I have seen worse. Their guns are bumper to bumper in the display case. They do kiss each other and could have light scratch on them. All of their guns have Trigger Guard Locks on them. I think my Gold Cup has a light scratch from that. But they have good discount specials once in a while. Check your item and compare prices before buying. They had 2 Rigby Shootings in their Library. $25,000 & $23,000.
I do like the Hamburg store. I get my cars serviced at Schenker Ford & Outten Jeep on Rt 61. I have the courtesy service drop me off at Cabelas. I have lunch, browse, buy clothes, ammo or Guns. It's a fun store. I recommend visiting there. However, do your shopping/price comparing before you buy any firearms from them.

The gun counter is like being at the meat/deli dept. at a food store. Take a # and wait in line.
GUN LIBRARY.... http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...hyId=10468&cm_re=home032508*right*gun_library

 

[GEM]

The Cabelas in Buda had a much better fish aquarium and stuffed animals than the San Antonio Bass Pro.

Also, better selection of handguns - but both are too expensive.

And - the elk sandwich at Cabelas tasted like HEB deli - oh, well.

 

[CBS220]

You have a really good camera!

 

[TX1911fan]

The store in Buda, TX looks the same. I think the people there are pretty helpful. Gun prices are high unless you get a deal. My buddy bought an XD for $50 off. I got a great deal on a Benelli R1 rifle. New in box for $750! But you have to be in the right place at the right time.