The Good: An Immersive Outdoor Experience Stuffed Animals and Fish Displays (Your Favorite!): This is undeniably where Cabela's shines for many visitors. The expansive and elaborate taxidermy displays are a major draw. You'll find dioramas showcasing a wide variety of North American and even African wildlife, from towering bears and elk to intricate scenes of fish in their natural habitats. These displays are often beautifully designed, educational, and provide a fantastic opportunity to observe wildlife up close (albeit preserved) in a way that's rarely possible elsewhere. It's truly a walk-through museum for nature enthusiasts. Many visitors, like yourself, enjoy simply Browse these impressive exhibits. Atmosphere and Ambiance: Beyond the taxidermy, Cabela's stores are designed to evoke an outdoor lodge or wilderness setting. Expect rustic architecture, large fireplaces, aquariums stocked with local fish, and sometimes even indoor archery ranges or shooting galleries. This creates a highly engaging and family-friendly environment, making it more than just a place to shop. Wide Product Selection (Beyond Guns): While you noted gun pricing, Cabela's offers a vast array of products for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, shooting sports, and general outdoor recreation. This includes clothing, footwear, gear, optics, and much more. For those passionate about the outdoors, the sheer variety can be impressive. Sales and Promotions: As you mentioned, finding items on sale is key. Cabela's, especially since its acquisition by Bass Pro Shops, frequently runs promotions, loyalty program discounts (Cabela's CLUB), and seasonal sales. Keeping an eye out for these can lead to significant savings. Their price match policy also states they will match competitors' prices and even beat them by 5% for Club members. The Not-So-Good: Areas for Improvement Gun Pricing: Your observation about overpriced guns is a common sentiment among customers. Many reviews indicate that firearms and related accessories can often be found cheaper at local gun shops or other online retailers. This could be due to their pricing strategy, which aims for perceived value and convenience within their expansive retail environment, rather than always being the lowest price leader in the firearms market. There are also frequent complaints about slow and cumbersome processes at the gun counter, including long wait times and bureaucratic paperwork. Customer Service Inconsistencies: While some customers report positive experiences, a recurring theme in reviews points to inconsistent customer service, particularly at the gun counter. Issues include long wait times, unhelpful staff, and a general feeling of being ignored. This can be frustrating for customers seeking assistance or looking to make a purchase. Inventory and Quality Concerns (Post-Bass Pro Shops Acquisition): Some long-time Cabela's patrons feel that the inventory selection has changed, with a perceived decrease in the quality of some gear and an increase in "impulse buy" type items since Bass Pro Shops acquired them. There are also mentions of empty shelves and a shift towards more Bass Pro branded products. Reliance on Sales: Your tendency to only buy on sale highlights a broader pricing strategy. While sales are great, it suggests that everyday prices might be perceived as high enough that customers wait for discounts. Overall Impression: Cabela's remains a unique destination. For someone who enjoys the immersive experience of Browse the elaborate wildlife displays and soaking in the outdoor ambiance, it's a great place to visit, even if you don't plan on buying anything specific. It's like a free mini-museum that caters to an appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors. However, if your primary goal is to find the absolute best deal on specific outdoor gear, especially firearms, it pays to do your research and compare prices with other retailers. Being patient and waiting for sales or leveraging their price match policy is a smart approach for...
Read moreTook almost 2 hours to get a gun last week, seemed busy, but I guess they didn't like the way I looked because when I originally got there and went up to tell someone I wanted to purchase a gun, I was told it would be 30 minutes to an hour before I even get helped. I said that was fine cause I saw they were busy.
so I walked down a bit and started looking at the guns in the case, not even 2 minutes later I have a nice gentleman named Gary started helping me out, asks what gun I want so I go and show him, he starts the paperwork within 5 minutes, but because the manager that was back there (the original guy who told me it would be at least half an hour) seemingly had a problem with me, about 3 people who came in after me were able to get their nics check filled out, get it back, and purchase the gun.
It took me 2 hours to purchase the gun, and I have a CCW, I have never had it take more than 30 minutes anywhere, but the manager back there just kept skipping me and helping the next guy. Very frustrating experience and if not for Gary I would have only put one star.
I drive all the way from Sioux falls so having to drive an hour there and back and wait 2 hours for a gun, that was pretty much my whole night gone. I expected it to take a little bit of time but that was ridiculous. I really wish I got the managers name but sadly I did not. Seemed like they were all frustrated. But Gary was a peach! Kept cool and calm and just shared in my frustration of being skipped over and wondering why his manager was doing nothing. That man deserves a promotion for the amount of care and thought he put towards helping me make my decision and helping me stay calm while being ignored by his boss.
Still only 2 stars but if you ever go in stop by the gun counter and see if Gary is there, friendliest guy that...
Read moreDrove an hour and a half for there fishing sale that goes through march 3rd and didnt have half of the selection that was advertised. Wanted to buy a couple of boat seats and they didnt have any of the ones that were in the ad. Was not impressed by one of the managers. A customer was asking about an atv and he was telling them that these were the best and that honda is at the bottom and looking to go out of business which is 100 percent inaccurate. The other customer beside him stated they just bought a new honda and couldn't be happier with it. When i was looking at guns....instead of asking me what i was intersted in they were trying to get me to sign up for a credit card and when i said not interested they moved onto the next guy. Not impressed at all.when i payed for my purchase the check out gal was not real enthusiastic. I said good morning and she said nothing back and when i said have a nice day she ignored me. Aren't these the gestures the company should say to you and not the customer having to say it. Ive spent lots of money at this store over the years and may be looking at buying through amazon or another outfitter. I know last year when looking at buying some optics i asked about a combo pack that was advertised and the sales man told me that they didnt carry it because it was junk and thats why it was in a combo pack even though the product had great reviews. Luckily enough the customer service gal was very nice and honored the price buying them separately. Sad to see this but unfortunately its how things are ran today. More about the dollar and not the repeat custmer who pays...
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