What the heck has gotten into Cabella's?

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RonJon

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What the heck has gotten into Cabella's?

I went there today for my 2 - 3 times per year drive over there - And I couldn't believe their firearms pricing!

Did they fire the old pricer and hire some tightwad with his head in la-la land??

The prices had gone up on all the pieces that I know the real values of by at least 50% and most often 100%!

Examples:
Russian captured dip-blued P38s were going for $800-$1000 and these were NOT rare ones, but ordinary CYQs (Spreewerks, etc.); $2899 for a refinished K98 Mauser (not rare code); $999 for a Remington O3A3; $500 for a used, 90% S&W M34 .22; $489 for a used Ruger 50th Ann. .357 flat-top. And (get this): $360 for a Charter Arms .38 special 4"!

I could go on, but you get the idea.

I always liked to top off a visit to Cabella's with a nice firearm for my collection after getting loaded up on reloading supplies (which are also getting too pricey BTW), but not this time - and maybe not again!

We over heard several others around the gun counters complaining to each other about their prices too.

Anyone know why this is? Wha' hoppin??? :cuss:

Ron
 
Gander Mt. is the same way. They had/have a nice Mosin M38 that I was looking at. It was just a little high so I waited 30 days and went back. They RAISED the price $25.00. 30 Days later they raised it again.:confused: :confused:

Kevin
 
If you see something you like, make an offer. In the past I have been pleasantly surprised by some store managers. If you can't do any better, vote with your feet. No biggie, that's the market...
Josh
 
I believe stores have the right to set their own prices. With that being said, the Cabelas store in Rogers MN has the distinction of being the only store in which I've laughed out loud while looking at prices. In fact, I've been in that store three times and will now drive across town to avoid going there.

Ryan
 
What the heck has gotten into Cabella's?
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I know what you mean - I assume your talking the one in Owattona as I have been there a few times myself and the last time noticed significant increases. Maybe like the animal mounts they are turning the guns into store decoration ? LOL

I haven't been to the new Scheel's store in Mankato yet but it is greatly expanded - prices ??

Bought a used Taurus in the Gander Mountain in Mankato and got a heck of a good deal but haven't seen anything there reasonably priced again. (in used guns)

I have a local small dealer that is fair and I try to give him the business anyway. If your near the Springfield area try the Hunters Den - you can look him up on the web.
 
sorry, must get this off my chest....

Hate to tell you guys but Cabelas started a shift over a decade a go, back before they bought out Dunn's, from being the place that many of you remember that had quality stuff at good prices and catered to the true average american outdoorsman type. to a slow move toward the likes of LL Bean and Abercrombie and Fitch!

yeah they've still got the camping, fishing, etc stuff and probably always will but they're NOT the "clearinghouse of good outdoors stuff and reasonable prices" that many of us grew to manhood (or womanhood in some cases) knowing them as.

to be blunt they can make a larger profit catering to ignorant yuppies who want to put up a front that they spend large amounts of time outdoors, or simply don't know better. than they can selling to folks who have personal experience of "why you don't touch the little bush with three leaves" or even know that REAL doves are greyish brown.

this is also why new Gander Mtn stores tend get put in the part of the suburbs with the highest concentration of $300K homes. these places want and care for one thing and one thing only, Mo' Money Mo' Money Mo' Money!!

sickeningly sad, but true.

the days we wish we were in are long gone guys morn them and then find a local FFL to make friends with you're more likely to get a better over all deal, and help keep a small part of america's identity alive, that way than relying on ANYTHING that has a national or global "presence".

ok ok i'll get of this tear and go lie down somewhere and try and not get a headache over this, it truly does tick me off that empty headed comercialism is killing off affordable quality outdoors shops, much less what it's done to firearms in specific.
 
With the cost of reloading supplies - thats something thats been going on for a few months now. Between increased costs of energy, skyrocketing natural gas prices, and a huge run up in essential minerals and metals pricing (copper and lead) some related to war and some related to energy and some related to China costs of ammo and reloading supplies have jumped everywhere.

As for the price of guns - simple supply and demand usually covers it. If there is no demand at those prices, the price will come down. It there is demand, well then . . .
 
I wonder if they consider a possible side-effect?

I was looking for a way to spend a fairly good chunk of my annual bonus and had in mind a couple hundred dollars worth of "stuff" (gun cases, fishing gear, etc). However, some of their prices (an overpriced CETME) turned me off so much I walked out without spending a nickel.

I don't know how they do it.
 
Maybe Cabella's now has an anti running the gun inventory.... Just think about this.... If they raise the prices to make money and they don't sell much of anything, so profits go down... The anti would say "Look the demand for guns is going down, let's sell of the current stock and then discontinue selling guns...."

Just another twisted way to look at the possible changes....
 
I was looking for a way to spend a fairly good chunk of my annual bonus and had in mind a couple hundred dollars worth of "stuff" (gun cases, fishing gear, etc). However, some of their prices (an overpriced CETME) turned me off so much I walked out without spending a nickel.
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:D

Had the same thing happen to me at the Buda store a few weeks ago when they had their big "shooting sports weekend". Went in early Friday ready to spend some $$ on reloading supplies & "stuff", looked at the prices on some of the guns, & walked out with a bag of candy. Then I came home & found a Delta Elite on the web & bought it.

:evil:
 
Maybe Cabella's now has an anti running the gun inventory.... Just think about this.... If they raise the prices to make money and they don't sell much of anything, so profits go down... The anti would say "Look the demand for guns is going down, let's sell of the current stock and then discontinue selling guns...."
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Neither Cabellas nor the antis are all that clever. It's just more profitable selling Lycra pants to Yuppies then selling rifles to us.
 
corporate squeeze

Support the local, independent sporting good store, firearms shop, ect.

When the biggies are able to drive them out of business, then we will be at their pricing mercy. They are forced to compete with each other -now, but with the small business out of the way, it will be as it is with the banks.
The "going rate," which is no difference at all. No competition.

The few bucks here and there that you loose now by shopping the little man may make the difference to him but the big chains will try to wait it out until he starves or that they see that they are not going to succeed in their strategy.
 
At the end of the day, there are some people who will pay those kinds of prices for guns. Add that to the fact that gun sales for Cabelas probably makes up about 2% of their overall profit and you have your reason.

Selling guns wont make or break them so why not charge alot and sell fewer.
 
It's the same all over...

I went to the Cabellas' in Hamburg, Pa. recently. Same experience. Not only didn't i see any 'bargains', but in some instances the prices were more than my local 'mom & pop' store.

A gunsmith i know fairly well that's been in the business for decades is the best source i have for price, and though he's not cheap, he's the best all around. Get to know someone with an FFL that knows what he's doing, and has a small gunshop, not just doing transfers. That's the only way to do it.

Additionally, my gunsmith pal has been telling me to watch out in terms of pricing in general. The insurance companies that are willing to handle policies that are gun-related are getting to be fewer and fewer, and the liability premiums are going out of sight. This is one reason why reloading equipment, the guns themselves and the ammo too, are continually going up, and are going to continue to do so for the forseeable future.
 
They have stores and sell guns? Do tell. ;) I guess I've heard rumors, but I've never seen a store.

I've bought so much out of the catalog that at one time I got THREE of every catalog they printed.

I think their liberal return policy is to blame for the high prices. I bought a Gore-tex zip-out insulated camo duck hunting parka four or five years ago for about $270. This past Thanksgiving a shoulder seam leaked and they sent me ALL the money back. Meanwhile I'd bought the new updated model from them, but it was only $220, so I made money on the deal and got a new coat. And I'd told them to just send me the $220 I had in the new coat and I'd be happy.

John
 
I've always found Cabela's to be over priced. I do have thier credit card, but I run points up and wait for the $30 off $100 etc deals. I very rarely spend any real money there but have made out really well redeeming points.

As far as thier firearms, the experiences I have had with the guys behind the gun counter in PdC, have been less than favourable. I would wait at the counter and they would go to the guy next to me first. When I would speak up, they would say: "Oh sorry. Thought you two were together." When I was looking for a handgun, the guy said: "That's all we have and I really don't know anything about them..." and walked off.

I don't count on thier associates for any information. I know what I want, I go in, get it, and leave...
 
I'm proud to say, that I've never even been to one of these type stores, and never will .... be it a Cabella's, Bass Pro, or whoever else.

Judging from what I hear anyway, you're paying all that extra $, just for the "experience" of being in one of their stores .... with their idiotic "razzle-dazzle" mega-buck, displays and decorations which wouldn't impress me, in the least.

Actually, I'd consider it somewhat of an insult .... that they would think me to be so gullible, as to be persuaded to pay outrageous prices .... just because they put out some meaningless "frills". I couldn't care less about what any store (or catalog) 'looks' like .... but as long as there continues to be countless numbers of people that consider Bass Pro, Cabella's (or whoever), to be some sort of "Mecca", for the so-called sportsman, that's the way it is. I've actually known people to 'brag' about where they bought their latest overpriced toy .... not that they got a good deal - just where they bought it. So don't be surprised if you get more of the same.

As Detritus mentioned earlier, I tend to believe this phenomenon runs parallel with the "Rugged Yuppie" thing. I'd bet Cabella's has a parking lot full of high dollar SUV's, and assorted 4x4's that have never been off the pavement .... owned by people; many of whom, have never even been 'in the woods'. In other words .... it's become just another expensive 'status symbol'.

Anyway, as was also mentioned .... vote, or "speak" with your feet and your wallet, and let it be known to these stores, in no uncertain terms, why you choose to not patronize their business. Not that it'll make a bit of difference .... and so it goes.
 
Imagine how well Cabela's IS doing because of the Internet. :) It's so much easier to order online than to dictate a $1000+ order to a live operator.

I'm a repeat customer because I like the quality of most of their goods and their customer service. Sort of like Brownell's, easy to deal with.

With their site up and running I'm not even certain they need to be mailing 80 MILLION catalogs every year. And they could probably make even more money if they closed the stores, although I'd really like to have one of their high-dollar gun rooms nearby - just to browse.

John
 
Support the local, independent sporting good store, firearms shop, ect.
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I am so tired of hearing that line. Show me a store in my area that treats me decent, has fair prices right off the bat (I do not enjoy haggling and I am not good at it), and does not keep banker's hours and I will show you my money. If I lived in Draper, UT I would go to that one mod's store. If I lived in Anchorage, it would be Wild West Guns for me. I don't, however, and I will not throw my money away at a local place that thinks a used and abused Glock should go for $ 600.00+.

As for the big stores like Cabella's and Gander Mountain, usually they are pretty bad, but you can find a gem sometimes if you look hard enough.
 
Stores have changed a lot . . . back in the early 70's, Gander Mountain was the place to buy things like riflescopes and reloading equipment. When GM started carrying reloading components as well (OTC sales only) my Dad and I drove up to the Wilmot, WI store from Chicago a couple of times, just to take advantage of the bargain prices. And when we got there and saw "unadvertised specials" of an extra 5% or 10% off, it was nirvana. I remember a bulk pack of 500 Speer or Hornady swaged .38 HBWC bullets for under $7 . . .

But GM's catalogs expanded and went from recycled newsprint to glossy stock, they opened up retail stores, they bought out smaller chains (like Burger Brothers in Minnesota) and prices climbed. Haven't bought anything there for a long, LONG time.

Cabela's bought Dunn's and, IIRC, the mail-order part of Gander Mountain. I've noticed disproportionate price increases in guns at Cabela's Buda, TX store, just since it opened about a year or so back. Nice place to visit, but I don't think I'll be buying much there; guns are cheaper elsewhere, and "non-gun" items are available for less (sometimes much less) via mail order.
 
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