Last purchase at Cabela's

[TAG2501]

I bought a rifle today at Cabela's in Fort Worth. They have had a pretty good recovery in their inventory and some of the pricing is getting much better. The firearm counter folks try to be helpful and deal with the highly mixed levels of knowledge they encounter in buyers (or at least shoppers).

To my dismay, after completing the purchase, with a few $00 of other goods, I was walked to the door and then handed my new firearm once outside the building. I've bought a few guns there over the years and this is the first time I've had the "Academy" buyers bum's rush. To drop hundreds of $ and then be walked out like a potential security risk strikes me as paranoid, disrespectful and hypocritical.

They'll take your money for a gun, but then don't trust you as a gun owner and customer to get out of the building without shooting someone.

I don't do business with someone who treats me with total disrespect. I won't be buying from them again, anytime, anything, for any reason after this.

It's a shame. Used to be a good retailer, for outdoors folks, with pretty good products. Clearly being run by the Omabatrons now.

 

[Mags]

Let Cabela's corporate know how you feel. Shoot them an email or a nice letter.

 

[hillbillydelux]

Uhh Well every large retail store that has sold guns as long as I can remember has done the same thing. Dont hate on cabelas and blow it all out of proportion. If not for places like cabelas we wouldnt have squat right now.

 

[jordan1948]

I don't do business with someone who treats me with total disrespect.

You gotta realize, whoever the sales person is that walked you out is only doing their job and following company policy. I work retail and have to do some things that I think are wrong/stupid but it's either that or find a new job and those aren't really easy to come by right now.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I respect Cabela's right as a business to operate as the deem fit.

But what exactly do they think they are accomplishing with this procedure? How is letting a customer walk out with the boxed gun themselves any different or more dangerous than an employee doing it?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

To drop hundreds of $ and then be walked out like a potential security risk strikes me as paranoid, disrespectful and hypocritical.

That's because you don't understand why they are doing it.

It's for loss prevention. It's really simple. Guns going out the front door accompanied by an employee have been paid for. Guns going out the front door without an employee are a red flag for the door guys and loss prevention agents. They aren't worried about you shooting someone, they are worried about people stealing guns and all the headaches that go with it.

The Cabela's store here has over a hundred guns between the used racks and the library that anyone can just walk up to and pick up. They have tons of gun cases too. What's to stop someone from putting a gun in one of those cases and walking out, flashing the receipt for candied almonds and fudge or reaching behind the counter and grabbing a box at the gun checkout with a receipt already taped to it when the employees look the other way? That's right. A simple policy of having an employee carry the gun to the door so every knows it has been paid for.

It's the store protecting their interest. It's the same reason that small high dollar items are in cases instead of just out on the shelves. Plenty of stores escort high dollar items out. Go to WalMart and buy a big screen TV and listen to the overhead speakers. They will mention a big ticket item is leaving. Do you think they are afraid someone is going to watch TV on their way out or do you think maybe they'd rather not have people walking out with free TVs?

 

[Ruggles]

"But what exactly do they think they are accomplishing with this procedure? How is letting a customer walk out with the boxed gun themselves any different or more dangerous than an employee doing it?"

Because as sure as the sun will rise some bumkin will just have to pull the new gun out of the box so he can show his wife, girlfriend, kids or buddies. Now you have some Wally walking around around a crowded retail store swinging around a firearms that no one knows if it is loaded or not, as I am sure he could purchase ammo with the gun.

I know if I was were in a retail store and some guy was swinging around his new shotgun showing his kids while the wife shopped for new boots I would not feel all warm and comfy not knowing the guns status or the gun swinger's gun handling skill.

 

[John Parker]

Because as sure as the sun will rise some bumkin will just have to pull the new gun out of the box so he can show his wife, girlfriend, kids or buddies. Now you have some Wally walking around around a crowded retail store swinging around a firearms that no one knows if it is loaded or not, as I am sure he could purchase ammo with the gun.

I remember being outside of a gun show once and watching this very, um, interesting looking fellow trying to stick a 20rd duckbill magazine on an SKS he had just purchased. It made me decidedly uncomfortable, particularly as the muzzle swept myself and other people several times. Fortunately, a guy went up and roughly thrust his barrel in the air and told him to watch where the hell he was pointing that thing.

 

[TheFallGuy]

I have always been treated the same way at all "big box" out door stores. Gander, Cabela's, Dick's... Never at a regular gun shop but they are usually much smaller and therefore easier to watch. Last week a friend of mine purchased a SW M&P340 for CCW use at Gander. He has his permit and also bought a holster. Even though he had a permit he was still escorted out and the firearm had to be cased.

I don't think that it is a respect issue, just more of an asset protection issue. Especially with a long arm. Think how many duck calls you can fit into a Remington 870 box. The guy who escorted me has always been the guy who sold me the gun. It's usually been pretty casual with lots of hunting/shooting BS being exchanged.

If I can save $50 on a gun by being "escorted" out of the store versus paying full retail or more at a small gun shop, I will. Small gun shops have their place for specialty guns/ammo that can't be found anywhere else.

 

[sophijo]

Cabela's

Part of the the problem for them is lawyers etc and the fact that some buy/rent a firearm load it up and suicide. I guess they'd rather clean-up in the parking lot.

 

[Jim K]

It also prevents a nutcase cop, BATFE agent, or TV reporter from saying they were allowed to take a gun out of the store without some "proper procedure" they just made up. ("Nothing prevented this reporter from loading that semi-automatic machinegun assault shotgun and killing everyone in the store. Clearly we need new laws....")

Jim

 

[jfdavis58]

Aaaawwwhhh, Grow up!

Buy any compact-sized high dollar item at most any sporting goods store (perhaps most any retail) these days and you get an escort to the check-out/door.

It has nothing to do with your character or your manhood/manliness.

It's simple security. What stops you from holstering a pistol, swapping a repair tag on a long gun or bow or pocketing any other item and breezing out the door?

And they're supposed to know you're the honest one just by looking at you?

 

[oneounceload]

If I can save $50 on a gun by being "escorted" out of the store versus paying full retail or more at a small gun shop, I will

And if you can do that at a GM, Cabela's or similar...THAT is something else....most of these folks are $50 or more OVER MSRP

 

[jordan1948]

Even the dvds from the $5 bin back in electro have to be either carried up to customer service or escorted to the front. Like most have said it's all about security.

 

[PA Freedom]

I agree that it's probally a loss prevention issue. Cabela's official policy on carrying of firearms in their stores goes off of state law, I believe. Here in PA, both OC and CC (with a valid PA LTCF) are legal most places. I have OCed in the Cabela's here, and still was escorted out of the store with my firearms purchase.

 

[shameless]

If they have what I want, at a price I think is fair, and they need to
carry my case of ammo, rifle, pistol, to the front, (cashier), who cares. It's not
because they don't trust or respect you. It's policy.

And NOT shopping there.......the only one losing out on that is you.

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

OP: Cry more.

Jorg (and a few others) have it right. There are many reasons to walk you out of the store.

 

[TexasRifleman]

OP says:

I've bought a few guns there over the years and this is the first time I've had the "Academy" buyers bum's rush

You sure you want to stick to that story? Walking gun customers to the door has been Cabelas policy since the Ft Worth store opened.

I doubt very seriously if you've bought a gun there and not seen this before.

As other say, it's pretty standard stuff. If I was running a large business like that I'd probably do the same thing, for the same reasons.

I'd do the same with camcorders and expensive electronics too, which many stores do.

 

[Ethereal]

Last purchase I made at a Cabela's was.....a mountain dew from the pop machine out front. Unless I update my DL and CPL with my current address they won't sell me a firearm. So on the bright side at least you got to walk out with a new toy as opposed to me driving an hour and a half to get there to pick up the pistol they had but being turned away on account of another CYA policy they have. Oh well....

 

[christcorp]

Did you THINK TO ASK THEM WHY? Is it possible that there's a state law that says that personal firearms aren't allowed? (I don't know, just an idea). Maybe their insurance company has some rules set down??? Again, a possibility. When I had an employee complain to me about another employee; or I had one of my kids complain about their brother or sister; the first thing out of my mouth was always: "What did they say when you talked to them about it?" Of course, most of the time they said they DIDN'T talk to them. So I tell them to get away from me and come back after you've talked to them and given them a chance to explain themselves. Well, I suppose you didn't ask the employee WHY he was walking you out, did you? Personally, I think you're blowing it our or proportion.

 

[2nd 41]

Same with me. I bought a Colt GCT from Cabelas. Was escorted to the door.
I had this experience once before at Sports Authority. Bought a Moss 500 Cruiser with Ammo. Had to take each one separately to my car after being walked to the door. I asked for a large trash bag to put the Shotgun in. I told the escort I am more worried about the jokers in the parking lot than you are worried about me.
Anyway the escort deal does not bother me. No offense taken. It's their business. It's their house. They are covering their own butts.

 

[redneck2]

They have ammo on the shelves available to anyone. What's to stop you from loading up and popping someone?

I was talking with a clerk at Home Depot about theft and shop lifting. She said it's absolutely amazing. Guys will take large items (power saws, etc.) and just carry them out. They know the store can't or won't try to stop them once they get to the door.

Don't blame Cabelas. Blame our society and degraded moral values.

I've worked in a gun shop and seen some of the gun handling "skills". I'd just as soon be safe.

Oh...you'd better not try to get any electronics at Wal-Mart either. I bought a $12 flash stick at Christmas and got escorted to the check-out.

 

[Tommygunn]

Wal Mart does this too; I purchased a Savage MKII a couple weeks ago and the sports goods manager walked me out.


Ooooops ... maybe I shouldn't have mentioned Wal Mart in a cabela's thread?????

 

[ok2h8uofm]

Thank the damn lawyers and LIBS

They do this "sometimes" @ Gander Mountain. To make it better a friend and me went and bought guns at the same time. They did not walk mine out. Oh yeah I am white and my friend is 6'3" 275 and black. Gandermountain walked his out?!?:banghead:this is not the first time!

 

[Boba Fett]

Aaaawwwhhh, Grow up!

OP: Cry more.

Have to agree.

I was just in the Cabela's Fort Worth store over the weekend and got a great new rifle. Sure enough, they escorted me out. I guess I was too happy with my purchase to feel upset. Or maybe I just have the common sense to understand there are a number of excellent reasons for their policy, none of which are a slight against me.


Bottom line: Grow up ya narcissists.