Problems With Cabela's Gun Library

[Swifty Morgan]

I have been looking for a particular used firearm. I saw a promising example on the Cabela's site, but I thought the price was above the market. I emailed them (Texas store) and asked if they would take less.

Several days later, they got back to me, apologized, and said they could only bargain if I had the gun shipped to a different FFL. If I were to pick it up at a nearby Cabela's (nonexistent), the discount would affect that store's profit, so the store that offered the gun for sale didn't have the authority to give a discount.

I emailed them back and told them there was no Cabela's near me.

I never heard from them again. I emailed them to find out what the problem was, and they ignored that email, too.

Has anyone else had problems with them? I wonder how they sell guns if they refuse to communicate.

I'm saving money by not buying a gun, so there's that.

 

[edwardware]

I emailed them back and told them there was no Cabela's near me.

I never heard from them again.

Obviously I don't know what you said in your second and third emails, but based on your description here, it sounds like they've answered every question you've asked. What sort of response are you expecting when you inform a distant store that there isn't a branch nearby? Did you ask a question, or simply state a fact?

Perhaps if you send an offer, they'll know what sort of response you expect.

 

[jmr40]

What a particular gun sells for in Dallas TX may well be much different that the same gun in FL. In my experience bigger stores don't haggle over prices. If it sits for too long it may be discounted, but they do that when they are ready.

 

[Wisco]

Wait, they said they’d bargain if you have had it shipped anywhere but another Cabela’s? Why not do that, especially if you don’t have a local Cabela’s?

Seems like they tried to help and give you a better deal than a local Cabela’s might have, which you can’t do anyway because there is no local Cabela’s.

What do you want from them? ...is a good question for me to ask.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

They need to start answering emails. That's the complaint.

They didn't offer me a better deal. They merely said they couldn't do it unless I had the gun shipped to a non-Cabela's FFL.

 

[reddog81]

Email them back with an offer and an FFL to send it to and see what they say.

I imagine they get all sort of random questions about their guns everyday.

 

[Alte Schule]

Phone call. Ask for the manager.

 

[aladdin]

You say no Cabela's near you. So where would you pickup the gun and do the paperwork? I would guess a non Cabela's FFL.
I don't see the problem.

 

[Wisco]

They need to start answering emails. That's the complaint.

They didn't offer me a better deal. They merely said they couldn't do it unless I had the gun shipped to a non-Cabela's FFL.

Which means they could do it if you use another FFL.

I’d call them and try to strike a deal and also let them know they ignored your emails.

They said they could do what you wanted if you didn’t use a local Cabela’s. You emailed back and said there isn’t a local Cabela’s. I would’ve ignored that email, too.

There’s lots of emails I don’t respond to, even as a government employee. If someone doesn’t ask an actual question or ask me to acknowledge their message, I often treat it like an FYI to me requiring nothing.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

You're dealing with my communications about as well as Cabela did. You didn't read.

 

[Wisco]

You're dealing with my communications about as well as Cabela did. You didn't read.

I read. It’s either a comprehension error on my part or a clarity error on yours. I’ll call it a draw.

 

[Skgreen]

I emailed them back and told them there was no Cabela's near me

And right about then you followed through with: "I can pick it up at an FFL. Would you take $ XXX.xx for it?"

Correct?

 

[danez71]

I read. It’s either a comprehension error on my part or a clarity error on yours. I’ll call it a draw.

I wouldnt call it a draw just yet.

Seems to me it's either a comprehension error by Cabelas AND everyone in this thread or a clarity issue by him.

 

[jmorris]

It’s a person, not “Cabela’s”. Send a new email vs a reply and see if that gets you to a different place.

 

[Robert]

Emails are easy to ignore. I do it all the time. Pick up the phone and call them.

 

[GBExpat]

I always shy away from phone calls in favor of documentation & allowing the other folks to manage their own time ... but ... this sounds like a perfect situation for picking up the phone.

 

[Swifty Morgan]

And right about then you followed through with: "I can pick it up at an FFL. Would you take $ XXX.xx for it?"

Correct?

No. They already had my offer, so all I told them was that I would have it shipped to a local FFL. Then I could not get them to respond.

 

[jmorris]

They could have sold it and quit responding to inquiries about it, like everyone on Craigslist...

 

[Riomouse911]

Try once more with your ffl info and your last-best.

If they respond, great! Even if it’s with a no at least you got a response.

If they don’t respond, call the store mgr at that store and let him/her know your issue with their lack of response. Who knows, if it’s still there the mgr may knock some bucks off and make the sale to you for the hassle.

Stay safe!

 

[drk1]

Sorry to hear about your problems with that C place's so-called "gun library." That C place is so bad that I refuse to write or say the name. First, you have to understand that the people who work there are not selected because of their knowledge, ability, intelligence or skills. They are chosen based largely on their willingness to adhear to the rules and regulations as laid down from on high and their willingness to grovel. For example, before a person is even granted an interview to work at that C place, he/she is required to sign a form binding him/her to accept at least two pages of rules, including one of which, in simplied form, covers "anything else we can think of."

Second, you also have to understand that the so-called "Gun Library" is largely operated as 1) a play-toy for upper level management and 2) bait to lure people into the store. Making money isn't the top priority here.

Third, that C place is structured so that all of the low level employees can be replaced at a moments notice. All postions are compartmentalized -- there are employees who sell, employees who check the firearms, employees who put photos on the internet, etc. The result is that no one really knows what anyone else is doing and even if someone there knows something about a particular firearm in the so-called "Gun Library," he/she generally isn't the one to take the picture and post it on the internet.

With all this in mind, it's amazing that you managed to get someone to respond to your email. That in itself is a huge success. Congratulations!

 

[Pat Riot]

I know that if you have a gun shipped from one Cabela’s to another they charge you $25.00 and you are under no obligation to buy it if you don't Like it. I have never heard of them shipping to another FFL, but I had never asked.

They do have a warranty policy for each gun they sell, perhaps they aren’t responding because if they ship outside Cabela’s they may still be obligated for the warranty? I don’t know.

I would pick up a phone and call or write it off. No one here is going to fix this.

 

[alsaqr]

i've bought and sold guns at Cabela's gun library for years with no difficulty. Walked out of a store with a library gun without the case. Called Cabela's and the case was shipped to my address at no expense.