Bass Pro Shops — Attraction in East Peoria

I am an active-duty Army Soldier and I bought a pistol here over a month ago. It has been the worst experience I've ever had when purchasing a firearm, and it's not my first time. I've purchased many guns before.

Knowing that Illinois requires a Firearms Owner Identification (FOID) card, I called Cabelas near Chicago ahead of time to see if I needed to have one, since Soldiers typically just need their ID and the orders taking them to the state. I was told I did not need one, so I ordered the gun online from Cabelas and selected to pick it up at Bass Pro Shops in East Peoria since it was closer (Cabelas owns Bass Pro Shops). I waited several days for it to arrive, then traveled 90 minutes to get the pistol. I did all the paperwork and was told to come back in three days to get it (Illinois-only waiting period). After I left the store, they called me to say that I did in fact need a FOID after all.

I applied for the FOID that night and fast-tracked it as much as I could. I tried calling the store half a dozen times over the next two weeks but could never get anybody at the gun counter to answer, so I took another 90-minute trip there to make sure they were still holding the gun I had already paid for. They confirmed they were still holding it, but they hadn't completed the background check yet. I asked them to get that done so I could pick up the gun once I had the FOID.

Fast-forward two more weeks, my FOID arrived in the mail and I drove that very night the 90 minutes back to Bass Pro Shops to finally pick up my pistol. They then informed me that the original form I filled out was too old, the background check was never done, and we have to start over with the form, then wait another three days and return to get the pistol.

At that point I decided to have them just transfer the pistol to a more responsive FFL holder closer to me so I could avoid coming back over and over and avoid dealing with Bass Pro Shops. I made sure Bass Pro Shops had a copy of the FFL holder's license and put them in touch with each other. It took Bass Pro Shops another seven days just to ship the gun out. I'll never buy another gun from Bass Pro Shops in East Peoria, worst...

Hey there outdoor sporting fan and/or average american family, Do you love mediocre food, horrible service and inappropriately placed bowling alleys? Then come on down to Uncle Bucks, located conveniently inside the Bass Pro Outdoor world in Peoria ...provided Of course you can actually getting to the Bass Pro Outdoor world store, which is quite inconvenient to reach!

As soon as you walk through the door of Uncle Bucks, you'll be greated with an under-water motif and...well... nothing else. In fact you'll probably walk around aimlessly for several minutes before finally locating a member of the staff, of course they won't help you, but they'll find someone who will, and several minutes later your journey will begin!

After paying twice as much as you should for a bowling lane you can finally start to unwind and have fun...unless of course you enjoy food and alcohol, because it will be about 10 minutes before you see a waitress that will actually stop to take your order, and another 15 minutes on top of that before you actually see your order, provided it's a drink. If you ordered food, then you'll probably be receiving it about 10 minutes before you're time is up. Hopefully you've already ordered another beer at this point and asked for your check, because you'll need something to wash down the "food" they serve, and it will take about another 15 minutes to get the check.

I wish I could have reviewed the actual Bass Pro Outdoor World shop, especially since I wanted to purchase some ammunition, unfortunately I was so blinded by rage and vomit induced tears that I probably wouldn't have been able to read the ammo calibers properly, so I ended up going home.

In conclusion, this isn't the delightful Uncle Buck film staring John Candy that you remember from your childhood, instead, this is the Uncle Buck you remember from your childhood that you used to spend alot of time with... until he went to prison for reasons you can't remember, and that your family never talks about.

If you want to entertain kids, and you have fun throwing away money like a Saudi prince at a strip club, then Uncle Bucks is the...

If I could leave a review with no stars ⭐️ I would. I’ll try never to patronize this BPS if I don’t have to. I’ll drive clear across town to Pressley in Bartonville for my outdoor needs. What a joke...walked in there...at least 4 team members walked by me - didn’t say a thing to me. I was looking for 2-4c Marine Grease. Found it on my own...there’s a guy fronting and facing (yeah...I’ve worked in Retail almost 20 years) the very section I found the grease in. Didn’t say a damn thing to me...

Grabbed a bunch of baits and fishing line...walked over to the camping section - grabbed a tent and a sleeping bag...finally someone said hi to me.

Went and stood in line with one register open. One...in the whole store...with three people ahead of me. Looking at your “service” desk...there’s a gentleman in a white shirt - looks important maybe a manager...4 other team members huddled around him. I put every single item back except for the 2-4c grease I needed. If this is how you’re going to value my time and money then you earn no extra sales from me. Further more I’ll go out of my way to avoid coming here. Your whole page has now hiring all over it...maybe because you need to clean house with the slugs working there now. The guy would said hi to me and that poor cashier should get raises and promotions. You want to know why Retail is dying...because you don’t care...you don’t actually care.

I need no response, overnight shipping from online vendors who have everything I need at a competitive price and independent - family owned Pressley Outdoors in Bartonville gets my business from here on out.

You can look at my Facebook profile...it’s public...I’m about as stereotypical a customer you’d want...but who am I...I’m not...