Sportsmans Warehouse

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The Dick's in our area totally removed their fishing department about 6 months ago. Guns look to be down to inventory in hand level (all hunting rifles and shotguns) so that's next to go away. Glad we have a Sportsman's. Chuck
 
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 :confused:. Companies going public is a lot like bigger government; it never makes things better.
 
I agree with just about everything you all have said. I wish they would stay just the way they were. Each store had their own personality. I live in AZ. and have all three stores. When I need something before a trip I go to sportsman warehouse for hunting or fishing. I will use BP in the spring to stock up on new lures, but 90% of the time I will go to SW. I love that store and I believe that BP will ruin it!
 
Keith Stockman said:
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 :confused:. Companies going public is a lot like bigger government; it never makes things better.
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I started ordering from Tackle Warehouse a few months ago. Definitely a satisfied customer so far.
 
Ryan said:
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......
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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 made a good friend with one of the cashiers at our local store. I always made it a point to go when i knew he’d be there or to wait in a longer line to get to catch up with him. A few months after BP purchased them, I was chatting with him while checking out. It was obvious that he was upset, and after asking, he said that place had become his home and the people there his family, but that was all changing and it bothered him. Half of the folks I knew were gone within 6 months, and now they’re all gone.

I know it’s a business, and the bottom line is exactly that, but it’s hard to see things change, especially when some of the streamlining and efficiencies come have a perceived negative impact.

Bass Pros, cabela’s and sportsman’s will still get tons of foot traffic, I still shop there occasionally, but I’m for sure bummed.
 
I used to buy my boat covers from Cabela's, because they had a lifetime guarantee . living up here in Co, at 6000ft the UV's really take a toll on any material in the sun everyday. I have replaced my boat covers at least three times over the years. My last cover was rotting out from the sun, so I called Cabela's. I was unaware of the Bass Pro buy out and was told they no longer honored those lifetime warranties? I told the gal, helping me that I had purchased this cover long before the merger and felt they should still honor and replace the cover? After looking up my Cabela'sClub card she found the purchase date was indeed two years before the merger. She went ahead and replaced the cover and let me know the warranties are now only one year, no more lifetimes on any products.
 
I had a similar experience - bought a boat cover and the rope to tighten the skirt of the cover went
bad - went to the old Cabelas in Grand Junction and was refused - no warranty - which was BS
 
Ryan said:
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......
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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.



TR
 
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For me it has a lot to do with what I call living in the country. There is nothing even close to Huntington Utah, that has any kind of fishing gear. So it is much easier for me to shop on line, and Most of the time it is free shipping if you buy so much. And I have found I can get far better Quality jig's, which I mainly use, by buying them from individual's that will custom make just what I want. And when I order, I order a bunch so I'm not ordering but every 2 or 3 year's. And a lot of place's the more you buy the cheaper it is + the free shipping. I watch for the sale's at Bass pro, and that is about the only time I buy from them any more. Sportsman ware house was good, but most of those guy's knew way more about fishing then I did and they were just way to willing to educate me on how to fish Lake Powell. And there price's were not that cheap. So now I pretty well just buy on line. If I had a local store that carried a good line of fishing gear, I would support them for sure. But that's not happened here in the 40 year's I've lived here.
The last Shimmano baitcast reel's I bought were used, but like brand new for $100 dollar's less then they were brand new. Not because I'm that cheap, but they quit making the reel I used and you can find them on E-bay that people bought and they bird nest it up a few time's and it set's a few year's and end's up on E-bay 👍.
 
every summer i drive from austin, thru farmington, past salt lake, beyond boise, and into bend, oregon. the way back i drive to ventura, and 2 summers ago i stopped at TW! just a little place, really, but kinda neat cuz of all the stuff i have purchased online, and getting to meet everyone. that's where i first purchased the greatest topwater lure i have ever encountered; evergreen sb 105 (in clear finish).

then i race thru vegas on my way to page!

TW is great, and so is discount tackle. they really put gear on sale...at a discount, lol. get on DT's email list, cuz they blow stuff out like you won't believe.
 
svivian said:
In 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.
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Plus Sportsman’s is cheaper
 
delta, co has a great golf course...devil's thumb. just south of grand junction. sort of on the way to powell, lol.
dual hardcore is being blown out at discount tackle. i mean BLOW OUT!
 
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.
 
richyd4u said:
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.
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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!!:cry:
 
richyd4u said:
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.
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Plenty of bare shelves at the local Cabelas and Bass Pro as well.
 
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