I started ordering from Tackle Warehouse a few months ago. Definitely a satisfied customer so far.This is disappointing news. I'd already pretty much transitioned over to Sportsman's Warehouse after a really bad experience (with employees) at the local BassPro store. I'll still buy from BassPro, but I avoid going in the store if at all possible (usually order online and pick up locally). I haven't tried Tackle Warehouse yet, but I'm about to give it a whirl. I don't like the shipping charges, but it doesn't take much to get over $50 . Companies going public is a lot like bigger government; it never makes things better.
They had me a while back as well.Tackle warehouse is my first choice when buying fishing equipment.
Well said. Cabela’s brand clothing was my favorite (high quality, good price, guaranteed). They will still have a good/wide variety of whatever you need, are stocked well, but I totally agree that the feel and approach to customer service, employees and pricing has changed.I was a LONG time Cabelas fan. Going back to when my great aunt and uncle introduced me to Dick and Mary Cabela at church in Kimball, NE.
I remember they gave my dad and I some sort of one-time discount card for a huge % off everything in their new Sidney store. We went wild in the old Bargain Cave.......
From that day forward, Cabelas was my store. They had high quality store brands, great selection, competitive pricing, and, best of all, the best, most knowledge employees who cared about your experience. Sadly, all that has changed.
The days of their lifetime warranty on their clothes is over. And they won't honor that for anything purchased prior to their acquisition.
All of the Cabelas brands have been replaced by Redhead. There is absolutely no comparison in the quality between the two. I've even had employees at the stores advise me against buying the Redhead branded items.
The local stores have no inventory. The last time I went in to look at some Muck type boots, they didn't have any in my size (9). Employee told me "just order the ones you think you are interested in, choose in-store delivery, come in and try them on, and return them if they don't work". Well, if I want to do that, why do you need a store?
Their knowledgable employees are long gone. When I went in to rig my new-to-me boat last year, I asked to speak with their "product specialist" (if you are an old Cabelas shopper, you remember them), and was told by the employee I met "I know about as much as anyone". I proceeded to ask several questions, he knew the answers to none of them. But he did assure me that if I bought a Lowrance finder, I could network it with a Minnkota trolling motor. After that, he said "most people just do their research on the internet and then order from us online". Again, why have a store if that is your attitude? Not to mention that if one does go online to do research, they will quickly find that the Cabelas (or BPS prices) are not competitive on stuff like that.
Which is a very long way of saying that I have very low expectations that BPS purchasing Sportsmans is good for the industry, or the consumer.
I do question in the day of online shopping, if a brick and mortar store like Cabelas/BPS/Sportsman can thrive. But I hope they can. Right now, the only thing that ties me to Cabelas/BPS is the Signature Black MasterCard that I have. I can still use my points to buy things like Sitka gear or Yeti that seem price controlled from the manufacturer. Otherwise, I'm moving on.
As a complete aside, if anyone has a Scheels near them, they still seem to have a similar atmosphere as the old Cabelas......
I interacted with Dick and Mary a few times in a non-business setting and I would agree, dick was one of the nicest guys on the planet. I can’t go into it here, but it catch me on the lake one day and I will tell you a very funny story. I never had a bad interaction in Cabelas with the associates. I can’t say the same about BassPro but that might just be the employees I was dealing with. It does seem to me in my experience that BassPro can have pushy under informed employees who are pretty proud of their knowledge. I also think competition is good for the consumer and monopolies are bad. I used to shop the sales with each and since the merger the sales are the same across the board. Gun shopping I usually found that Gander and sportsman’s had better sales. My guess is that sportsman’s will just be another BassPro now, won’t be same prices. Bad for the consumer. I guess time will tell, but as of now I think this is unfortunate.I was a LONG time Cabelas fan. Going back to when my great aunt and uncle introduced me to Dick and Mary Cabela at church in Kimball, NE.
I remember they gave my dad and I some sort of one-time discount card for a huge % off everything in their new Sidney store. We went wild in the old Bargain Cave.......
From that day forward, Cabelas was my store. They had high quality store brands, great selection, competitive pricing, and, best of all, the best, most knowledge employees who cared about your experience. Sadly, all that has changed.
The days of their lifetime warranty on their clothes is over. And they won't honor that for anything purchased prior to their acquisition.
All of the Cabelas brands have been replaced by Redhead. There is absolutely no comparison in the quality between the two. I've even had employees at the stores advise me against buying the Redhead branded items.
The local stores have no inventory. The last time I went in to look at some Muck type boots, they didn't have any in my size (9). Employee told me "just order the ones you think you are interested in, choose in-store delivery, come in and try them on, and return them if they don't work". Well, if I want to do that, why do you need a store?
Their knowledgable employees are long gone. When I went in to rig my new-to-me boat last year, I asked to speak with their "product specialist" (if you are an old Cabelas shopper, you remember them), and was told by the employee I met "I know about as much as anyone". I proceeded to ask several questions, he knew the answers to none of them. But he did assure me that if I bought a Lowrance finder, I could network it with a Minnkota trolling motor. After that, he said "most people just do their research on the internet and then order from us online". Again, why have a store if that is your attitude? Not to mention that if one does go online to do research, they will quickly find that the Cabelas (or BPS prices) are not competitive on stuff like that.
Which is a very long way of saying that I have very low expectations that BPS purchasing Sportsmans is good for the industry, or the consumer.
I do question in the day of online shopping, if a brick and mortar store like Cabelas/BPS/Sportsman can thrive. But I hope they can. Right now, the only thing that ties me to Cabelas/BPS is the Signature Black MasterCard that I have. I can still use my points to buy things like Sitka gear or Yeti that seem price controlled from the manufacturer. Otherwise, I'm moving on.
As a complete aside, if anyone has a Scheels near them, they still seem to have a similar atmosphere as the old Cabelas......
Plus Sportsman’s is cheaperIn terms on fishing equipment what does Bass pro shops locally provide that a local Sportsmans warehouse doesnt? I know here in Grand junction Sportsmans warehouse has double, if not more, the lure selection that Cabelas has in store. Cabelas does have more rod selection but the extra is all branded as bass pro shops or cabelas which doesnt interest me. If we are talking about an online selection then yes Sportsmans is a joke especially with online usability factored in.
Just went to Sportsmans Tuesday - in GJ - have the best stock of tackle I have seen in a couple years. Especially Yamamotos - a whole wall full - and the other soft baits. The only brand not very full was Rapalas. Not a lot of rod/reel combos - a little short on leads, bottom bouncers and wally rigs. I did notice a price increase - more like Cabelas!!Order 99% of my stuff from tacklewarehouse...but if I did need something stat, it was nice to run into Sportsman's here and grab it. Lately though, it's not worth the trip with all the bare shelves. This merger should at least help with that.
Plenty of bare shelves at the local Cabelas and Bass Pro as well.Order 99% of my stuff from tacklewarehouse...but if I did need something stat, it was nice to run into Sportsman's here and grab it. Lately though, it's not worth the trip with all the bare shelves. This merger should at least help with that.