UHHHHGG Bass Pro Problems

[SBjanderson]

Alright so I just need to rant for a bit as a forewarning

I am in sales and have a company that we go through that gives us points for every sale we make through them, we can use them to buy things such as gift cards, tvs, trips ect. I always use mine to buy gift cards to get firearms and such, they have both basspro and cabelas cards. I made the mistake of getting basspro cards this time...

I have been working with bass pro for a little over two months now to purchase a new rifle. I originally wanted to pick up a 6.5x55 or a .260 rem, I spent days calling all the stores and talking to managers and finally found out that there is no way they can get me a rifle in that caliber

So then I decided to change my caliber to something more "common" which in itself was aggravating, I decided the only caliber close to what i wanted was the 25-06. So after looking at all my options decided to go with a X Bolt medallion in that caliber, went back to basspro and lo and behold turns out they do not have any of these available either

They did say that I can pay for one up front and they will make a PO and I will be first in line if they ever do get one in stock but that their suppliers cannot say when they might have it for me or even guarantee that they will ever have one.

What a freaking nightmare, how does basspro not have the resources to order a rifle, especially from one of their biggest suppliers. They have browning everything except for what I want.

Anyone else ever had an experience like this?

 

[ilbob]

They did say that I can pay for one up front and they will make a PO and I will be first in line if they ever do get one in stock but that their suppliers cannot say when they might have it for me or even guarantee that they will ever have one.

If their suppliers do not have something, how do you expect Bass Pro to conjure one up?

 

[SBjanderson]

how does basspro not have the resources to order a rifle, especially from one of their biggest suppliers. They have browning everything except for what I want.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

Thats crazy, because when I was going to order something from them they didnt have on the shelf I was going to pay them on a Wed and he said he would have it the following monday. Sounds like you got really bad customer service. Could be that you were wanting something they didn't even have on their website.

I dont care much for big box places for this reason. Bad customer service.

 

[243winxb]

If there is no rifle in the supply chain, you have to wait till the manufacture has a production run of that model.

 

[buck460XVR]

Have you called or tried another shop or only the one? Have you considered using someone like Cardpool that buys your gift cards for cash? Even when discounted, you may be able to go to an online seller or another gun shop that sell guns for less than Bass Pro and get the gun you want with the cash you get.

 

[SBjanderson]

Cabelas told me they can special order any rifle I wanted if i was willing to purchase up front. They said the same thing about their suppliers BUT that outside of what their suppliers have they can literally order me ANYTHING. I should have gone with them to begin with but I have a local bass pro and the nearest cabelas is 2.5 hours away. So the whole supplier thing I do not buy

 

[SBjanderson]

I will say this though about my local store and their manager, they did an amazing job handling my case, every other store and manager I talked to sucked beyond belief. They were very responsive and helpful, they deserve some praise for the help they gave me. So my issue specifically is with the corporation as a whole

 

[buck460XVR]

I will say this though about my local store and their manager, they did an amazing job handling my case, every other store and manager I talked to sucked beyond belief. They were very responsive and helpful, they deserve some praise for the help they gave me. So my issue specifically is with the corporation as a whole

Then again, I suggest selling the cards to a broker for cash, and move on. Lesson learned. Spending, even free gift cards on something you don't want is foolish. Getting 85% or better of the face value of the cards and getting exactly what you want, makes much more sense to me.

 

[SBjanderson]

I have never used any of the card places, I have started looking into them. Has anyone used them personally? or can recommend the best one?

 

[243winxb]

http://www.consumerreports.org/holiday-shopping/how-to-exchange-gift-cards I have No experence, just FYI.

 

[savage24]

Bass Pro is a fishing and clothing store, but sounds like you have figured that out now...

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

As a SC resident that works in VA, BassPro lost me over a year ago when I tried to buy a S&W M&P-15 from their store in Hampton, VA and they told me they couldn't sell me the rifle because it was "illegal" for them to do so unless I was either a VA or NC resident.

I left, taking all my Christmas shopping money I had planned on spending there and went elsewhere to spend it. Bought the rifle I was looking for less than a hour later.

Some phone calls later and I pretty much figured it's the policy of the BassPro stores in VA. I called the store manager himself and explained what happened and how he lost about $2,000 of business that day. We were both civil about it, but I told him the real reason his store lost my business was the fact that his sporting goods people told me it was ILLEGAL for them to sell me the rifle and that this was patently false. The employees follow their department manager's training and THAT is the perview of the store manager. And, since I found out it's not just his store in VA like this, then it's definately an issue above the sporting goods section...which again makes it a store manager issue to bring up any higher.

If it's a store policy, fine...just tell me. I won't be any happier, but I'll at least have an honest answer, which I can respect. Telling me like they did comes across as them both not knowing the law AND telling me I'm essentially trying to commit a criminal act by even trying to buy the rifle.

 

[Jackal]

Simply take your business elsewhere. I wont even bother with a big box store, if they dont have what I want on the shelf.

 

[Shaq]

I wouldn't pay up front for something that may take a long time to get, or not get at all, then you'll end up arguing with them for a refund & they'd probably keep the fees.

 

[TruthTellers]

Bass Pro is a pretty horrible store to buy anything related to firearms, ammunition, reloading, etc.

Cabela's beats Bass Pro when it comes to guns and ammo and often has much better prices and service. Stick with Cabela's.

 

[thump_rrr]

Large chain stores sometimes deal directly with manufacturers instead of distributors bypassing the middleman.
The problem is that somebody at that retail chain decides what will sell quickly and what will sit for a long time therefore they will not order some calibers or they will order very little.
The company may not manufacture all calibers at all times therefore they may not be able to get what you want in a reasonable amount of time.
A good distributor is better able to forecast what will be in demand and stock accordingly.

The real problem is that you chose to buy the Bass Pro gift cards before you asked if they could get what you wanted.

 

[rodder]

cabela's has a nice selection but their firearms are top $$$$$$. fine if your in a hurry or got plenty of $$$$, on cheaper firearms they are not bad but you can save a hundred or two on the better stuff, not exactly pocket change in my book

 

[Stony]

Larger sporting good stores buy into a Browning program at the first of the year and basically order their stuff then, which will come in as Browning gets it.....at least that is the way it was when I was in the business some years back. If you actually wanted something, you had to order it from a wholesaler...and search them to find one that had what you wanted....and pay more than you would from Browning through their dealer program.
I always thought their program sucked as you had to order a bunch of other Browning labeled products as part of the program or they wouldn't sell you the firearms in the first place...and even then sometimes you couldn't get them directly. I never wanted to stock their Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese or other third world clothing they were pushing with their name on them.
Browning has some fine firearms...but getting them can be a pain..

 

[jmr40]

I'd hold out for one of the 6.5's over a 25-06 anyway. With modern bullets a 243 leaves 25-06 in it's dust. The 6.5's are even better.

 

[Hardtarget]

Have you ever asked your company for a "paid Visa card" ? That way you could spend it in a shop that has what you want. Gives you lots of options!

Mark

 

[Tirod]

Buying a specific rifle at the end of the year is problematic.

First, the hunting and holiday season creates high demand, and the shelves go empty.
Second, the makers, wholesalers, and retailers don't want high inventory at the end of the accounting year when they have to take inventory. They get taxed on it. No inventory - lower taxes. Lower taxes - more profit, and room to have competitive pricing.

SHOT show just ended, most of the major retailers and wholesalers were there. It's the industry buying show, where the makers have products on display, and even the Bass Pro and Cabelas gun buyers were there. I have no doubt they placed large orders for firearms - but they did it because they had money in hand, so to speak, not dead inventory on the shelf tying up the money.

Basically, anyone shopping for a niche rifle this time of year, who is told that it's not on the shelf, nor do their suppliers have it, is being told a fact. It's the worst possible time to shop for something special when even the commodity guns are in low supply, and the public isn't planning on going further in debt than the holiday season already put them.

It's the dead season for guns, just like Tuesdays aren't the hottest sales day of the week. Even bars recognize it with their Ladies Nights and no cover events.

The best time to get selection is in late August when the shelves are full just before hunting season. Now? Expect lengthy lead times as makers input the orders and crank up production for NEXT fall.

Econ 101, something the American consumer is part of, but completely clueless about.

 

[LoneGoose]

Any truth to the rumor that Bass Pro is buying Cabela's?

 

[salpal48]

I can understand why store Like Bass Pro, Cabellas, can not Get a specfic Item You want. All major store are On what is called OPEN RECEIPT.. They deal with No suppliers. They are tied in Directly with the manufacturer. . They ship Huge amounts of Item. and are on there inventory computer. . They sell Under contract everything the factories send Them. . They also only Pay when it's sold . , similar to consignment.
Most Individual stores have no clue what is coming in or when.. That is why when you ask a sales person. you cannot get an answer.
If you order it and pay in advance the store will order but there is no obligation for the factory to ship in a timely manner.
This is the same as Macy's, Target, home depot, Lows and all other.
Factories are Interested in Volumn Not Individual sales

 

[burk]

A couple of issues here, and I say this as someone who is no fan of Bass Pro.

1) Sorry, almost none of the big boxes get their guns directly from the Manufacturers. The reason why is they maintain very little warehouse space (partly because it's very cost prohibitive for Retailers to maintain warehouses stocked with firearms). While they may have distribution centers they are just that. For the most part Firearms come in and get "distributed" almost immediately, and a vast majority of those firearms come from distributors.

2) And for the most part the big brands ship all guns to wholesalers first. There Wholesalers usually maintain a certain amount of warehouse space for the box stores they deal with and "warehouse" certain key items. Ususally the orders are programed within a few weeks of the SHOT show along with the distributors and the promotional plans. The adds you see in November are usually completely planned almost a year out (the big hitters have seen most of the new stuff a couple of months before SHOT).

3) Even with all of this, right now the firearms manufacturers are at capacity with many key items. They tend to make small runs of odd-ball calibers and lower profit items. When they're in the pipeline that's it for the season.

4) Some one brought up this, and there is a lot of truth to it. Buyers at ANY retail level operation buy for turnover. They will come in and write monthly, bi-monthly ship date orders of high volume items to keep them in stock. If you're running a store right you never have more than about 6 weeks supply at normal volume of any item in the store. The big thing most people forget is that stores borrow money to purchase their inventory, the quicker you can pay off the faster you profit.

5) The other issue in the firearms business is like any other business you want your lowest inventory levels right before you buy for next season. This use to be simple, when the gun buyers just had to worry about hunting season. But now news of pending legislation or a terrorist attack had as more effect on the business than the deer opener. And just how does a buyer predict that at the SHOT show in Jan?

It's an interesting business right now in that the old model of stocking firearms for hunters with a few models for SD is no longer the norm. I'm not sure the industry has adjusted yet.