My problems with Cabelas

[John#2]

Hi. New member here. Just getting back in to guns. Gonna even start reloading soon. In fact, popped out primers and cleaned brass just the other night. Waiting for the brown truck to bring gun powder.

Here's my problem with Cabela's. Started the purchase of a 44 magnum Henry lever Model X on Thursday June 25, 2020. My background check gets hung up. No delay, no rejection, no nothing. Just a system hangup with no response whatsoever. After three hours (and an hour after closing) they send me on my way saying they'll call me. They didn't of course. I called Saturday. Nothing happening. I called Monday and they said they got an approval, come in and pick up the gun. So I did. Fine.

I shoot the gun that night. Liked it a lot. Decide to get one for my son.

So, the next day, Tuesday June 30, I purchase another Henry Model X 44 magnum from same Cabela's store. Background check comes up delayed. Fine.

I call and check a few times. Still delayed.

Today son finds the gun elsewhere and decides to get that one because obviously it's going to be faster.

So today, July 15, more than two weeks after I paid for the gun, I walked into Cabela's to say I want to cancel the transaction. Cabela's response: No problem. We can cancel but not until the background check finishes.

What? How does this make any sense?

Can somebody explain to me what my options are to getting my money back besides waiting for who knows how long? I would appreciate the advice.

I am never buying another gun from Cabela's and I can't recommend that you do either. This is nuts. I know the delay from the background check is not their fault, but to admit they will cancel the transaction only after the background check has finished seems unreasonable to me. The background check serves no purpose at this point. And it's not like I have a criminal background. I don't. I passed the prior test. I also had a background check for the health care field recently. I doubt state or federal law requires this treatment and instead it's just "corporate policy" to abuse its hapless customers.

 

[daniel craig]

I don’t know for sure so this is mere speculation:

Perhaps their computer system doesn’t let them intake or manipulate the status of a firearm until the 4473 goes through so they don’t want to return your money until they can actually log the gun back in to their books or something?

 

[SharpDog]

I stopped dealing with Cabelas, BPS or Gander Mountain years ago.

Support your local LGS or you might not have one.

 

[Ks5shooter]

YUP this^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[daniel craig]

I stopped dealing with Cabelas, BPS or Gander Mountain years ago.

Support your local LGS or you might not have one.

I’ve found .....that depends on the area. I’m much more likely to find what I need and at a better price at a big box store than at any of the LGS around me. I also seem to get a lot less politics at the big places and considering that my views tend to minoritiy views in the gun realm Most
most LGS aren’t super welcoming.

 

[Pat Riot]

I gave up on Cabela’s after Bass Pro bought and ruined them.
I am not positive of this but I am pretty sure that once the approval is finalized they would consider it your gun but would be more than happy to buy it back at a loss to you to sell in their now feeble “Gun Library” system.

I will pay a hundred dollars or even more at an LGS before giving BPS or Cabela’s another dime of my money. Funny thing is the local gun stores almost always beat Cabela’s / BPS pricing.

 

[jdh]

Did you pay with a credit card? If yes disputed the card for goods not delivered.

 

[LNK]

Welcome to the high road. Please don't make this your only post, otherwise people will think new posters only sign up to make a rant. Good luck with your situation.

 

[MCFLYFYTER]

I've never been asked to pay for an in stock gun before I was approved. Seems like they would be in a pickle if you were denied, yet they already sold you the gun.

 

[Reloadron]

So today, July 15, more than two weeks after I paid for the gun, I walked into Cabela's to say I want to cancel the transaction. Cabela's response: No problem. We can cancel but not until the background check finishes.

What? How does this make any sense?

Can somebody explain to me what my options are to getting my money back besides waiting for who knows how long? I would appreciate the advice.

Does it make any sense? No, not to my way of thinking. They have your money along with a gun which should be yours. The delay on a background check is not unusual but is worded as follows:

"A "Delayed" response to the FFL indicates that the firearm transfer should not proceed pending receipt of a follow-up "Proceed" response from the NICS or the expiration of three business days (exclusive of the day on which the query is made), whichever occurs first".

Read into that after three business days unless told differently they should proceed. I would have a manager explain why after all this time they have your gun and money. The law regarding a background check is pretty straight forward. You can read all about it here. Every gun buyer should be familiar with how this works in addition to the FFL seller.

Ron

 

[MCFLYFYTER]

Does it make any sense? No, not to my way of thinking. They have your money along with a gun which should be yours. The delay on a background check is not unusual but is worded as follows:

"A "Delayed" response to the FFL indicates that the firearm transfer should not proceed pending receipt of a follow-up "Proceed" response from the NICS or the expiration of three business days (exclusive of the day on which the query is made), whichever occurs first".

Read into that after three business days unless told differently they should proceed. I would have a manager explain why after all this time they have your gun and money. The law regarding a background check is pretty straight forward. You can read all about it here. Every gun buyer should be familiar with how this works in addition to the FFL seller.

Ron

From your link

"If the FFL has not received from the NICS a final determination after three business days have elapsed since the delay response, it is within the FFL’s discretion whether or not to transfer the firearm (if state law permits the transfer). "

 

[captain awesome]

Yeah I wasn't terribly happy after my last gun purchase trip to Cabelas...tried to buy a 22 bolt action and was denied...why? Because my ID has a small crack on the corner. They claimed it was "altered". No other gun shop/store or even police officer ever said a word. After waiting in line for over an hour after the hour long drive to get there, needless to say I was upset. To their credit they made it up to me when I told them I was rather irritated about losing 4 hours of my life they gave me a 50$ gift card (but still didn't aprove the sale). So I still patronize their establishment when I am in the area, the 50$ card earned them that much, how ever I will never attempt another gun purchase from them. Not worth the hassle of their "virtual stream lined system" on tablets anyhow. Make a stink about it. Maybe you'll get a gift card.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I only buy ammo from Cabelas. That's it.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I’ve found .....that depends on the area. I’m much more likely to find what I need and at a better price at a big box store than at any of the LGS around me. I also seem to get a lot less politics at the big places and considering that my views tend to minoritiy views in the gun realm Most
most LGS aren’t super welcoming.

Then don't share a lot of your views and it will be fine. Sort of like Thankgiving dinner in many places, I avoid politics and religion.

Really stick with the local guys, pays off in the long run.

You could spend $10k at a box store and they will treat you like crap the next time you come in. If you're a good, regular customer spending money with the local guys they will remember you.

 

[Obturation]

Cabelas is horrible here, prices are way higher than any of the local shops and the gun counter commandos are brutally uninformed. Oh, our local cabelas is in cook County (same county as Chicago ) so there is a tax per cartridge purchased - 5 cents per centerfire, 1 cent per rimfire plus a $25 tax per gun. I'll go through there if I'm hard up for loading components but strike out usually. I'll also stop in if I'm driving by when I have my kids with me, they love the big fish tank & taxidermy animals.

I've seen used glocks for over $500 at cabelas at a time when new cost was the same or less. I will say I've found some used guns that were incorrectly identified and priced low by accident, nothing I wanted but their ignorance does have some benefit.

One of the biggest gun stores in northern Illinois is only a couple of miles away from cabelas and its in a different county, their prices aren't great but the selection is usually very good and so I've bought more there than I care to admit.

Best advice I have is everyone should shop elsewhere for their guns. Cabelas is for newbies that don't know better, now you know what most of the rest of us already knew.

 

[daniel craig]

Then don't share a lot of your views and it will be fine. Sort of like Thankgiving dinner in many places, I avoid politics and religion.

Really stick with the local guys, pays off in the long run.

You could spend $10k at a box store and they will treat you like crap the next time you come in. If you're a good, regular customer spending money with the local guys they will remember you.

I don’t have to say anything to feel unwelcome. Also big box stores seem much more amicable to letting you just look around, my LGS seems to not care unless it’s absolutely apparent you’re buying.

Idk, overall my experiences at big stores are usually better than those at the LGS. Prices generally are too.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Yes, but when the box store goes out like Dick's and decides to not sell X then what? Or, when they go under by corporate buy out like Gander then were are we as gun buyers?

I have done much better at the small shops over the years so that is where I will stay. Box stores don't negotiate at all and their staff are usually not very competent.

I appreciate your position but I also hope it doesn't come at other costs to you.

 

[John#2]

Does it make any sense? No, not to my way of thinking. They have your money along with a gun which should be yours. The delay on a background check is not unusual but is worded as follows:

"A "Delayed" response to the FFL indicates that the firearm transfer should not proceed pending receipt of a follow-up "Proceed" response from the NICS or the expiration of three business days (exclusive of the day on which the query is made), whichever occurs first".

Read into that after three business days unless told differently they should proceed. I would have a manager explain why after all this time they have your gun and money. The law regarding a background check is pretty straight forward. You can read all about it here. Every gun buyer should be familiar with how this works in addition to the FFL seller.

Ron

The FFL has the option of proceeding to proceed three business days after a delay but they are not required to do so. Cabela's has a company policy of not exercising this option.

 

[John#2]

Welcome to the high road. Please don't make this your only post, otherwise people will think new posters only sign up to make a rant. Good luck with your situation.

Of course.

 

[John#2]

I stopped dealing with Cabelas, BPS or Gander Mountain years ago.

Support your local LGS or you might not have one.

Nobody has this gun right now. I challenge anybody to find another one for sale anywhere in the country.

 

[John#2]

Did you pay with a credit card? If yes disputed the card for goods not delivered.

No.

 

[Reloadron]

From your link

"If the FFL has not received from the NICS a final determination after three business days have elapsed since the delay response, it is within the FFL’s discretion whether or not to transfer the firearm (if state law permits the transfer). "

No clue as to what state the thread starter is in? No clue why the thread starter hasn't been back with or without a resolution but two weeks? That leads me to believe something is wrong, especially following a delay just days prior. Since the customer just received a gun I would think the seller would do the transfer after the 3 business days following the date of sale. I also question why the buyer waited so long? Most of this makes no sense. If Cabela's policy is not to do the transfer then that should be a deal done and the customer money returned. The guy should get either his gun or his money. Those are the only two options.

Ron

 

[John#2]

I don’t know for sure so this is mere speculation:

Perhaps their computer system doesn’t let them intake or manipulate the status of a firearm until the 4473 goes through so they don’t want to return your money until they can actually log the gun back in to their books or something?

I hate to admit it, that actually makes sense. Doesn't help me, but an inflexible computer system is a good explanation. Not justifiable in my view, but a reality.

 

[John#2]

That leads me to believe something is wrong, especially following a delay just days prior.

. Did not get a delay on the first gun purchase. Got no response whatsoever.

 

[John#2]

No clue as to what state the thread starter is in? No clue why the thread starter hasn't been back with or without a resolution but two weeks? T

Ron

Washington, and I've been bugging them pretty continuously with no effect.