Cabela's...is this the beginning of the end?
- Thread starter Daubs
- Start date
Prerylyon
Veteran member
Yeah, I mean, its not the same exact downward spiral, but I see it like Sears or any of the other 'retail institutions' that have reached a peak, then, for many reasons, fail to adapt and go into decline.
I think they peaked 10-15 yrs ago-but that is open to debate and opinion. Seems like they just got too big too fast in effort to be everything to every sportsman, and may have gotten over leveraged and lost market share to all the online speciality stores and, believe it or not, a lot of smaller speciality stores that have been popping up that cater locally and have an online presence.
I haven't bought anything from Cabelas in probably 6 yrs. I have gotten stuff from Midway, Danner, Natchez much more recently.
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I think they peaked 10-15 yrs ago-but that is open to debate and opinion. Seems like they just got too big too fast in effort to be everything to every sportsman, and may have gotten over leveraged and lost market share to all the online speciality stores and, believe it or not, a lot of smaller speciality stores that have been popping up that cater locally and have an online presence.
I haven't bought anything from Cabelas in probably 6 yrs. I have gotten stuff from Midway, Danner, Natchez much more recently.
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Slugz
Veteran member
I wouldn't go that far. My sportsman in COS has gone down hill the past 9 months so bad I only use it for emergency. Everything I need is online.Bye,Bye Cabelas ..Sportsmans is the "IN"Thing.
Now on the opposite end the one is Casper WYO seems to have a ton of helpful people.
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
Sears/Jc Penney.Can't compete with Amazon.Mom and Pop Stores?
Is Sportsmans a Mom and Pop store?
I think so.GO SPORTSMANS!!
Is Sportsmans a Mom and Pop store?
I think so.GO SPORTSMANS!!
Prerylyon
Veteran member
Some of those smaller 'mom and pop' shops-and some do online sales-seem to be doing well and have the gear a guy wants-that cuts into Cabelas pie. For example, we have a local archery store in east central Iowa that is well liked by most of the locals for their service, community support, and school archery team support; and they have a broad line of high end gear at competitive prices. It seems the smaller stores may be finding a niche and making a small comeback.
Ace Hw is an interesting case study: Ace HW is real big, but they pride themselves on running their stores like a small store with helpful customer service; these also do online sales.
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Ace Hw is an interesting case study: Ace HW is real big, but they pride themselves on running their stores like a small store with helpful customer service; these also do online sales.
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JimP
Administrator
One problem with Sportsman's is that when they come into a area the strong arm other retailers and wholesalers into their idea of what the market should be. When they went into Grand Junction, Co years ago they came close to forcing a great sporting goods retailer out of business by their tactics of telling them what they will sell products for and then going to the wholesalers and telling them that if they wanted to do business with Sportsman's then they better get the stores that are selling their products in line.
But then Cabela's show up in GJ and that small mom and pop store was on it's way out, they just could not compete with both Sportsman's and Cabela's in that small market place.
But then Cabela's show up in GJ and that small mom and pop store was on it's way out, they just could not compete with both Sportsman's and Cabela's in that small market place.
manitou1
Member
JimP
Administrator
Well, they really are not Cabela's products anymore they are carrying the Red Head brand of Bass Pro which in my opinion is a cheaper brand.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
It's getting to the point where a guy is going to have to learn to speak Chinese. All the big outdoor retailers stock Chinese made crap. I think that all of "RedHead" stuff is imported. I cancelled my Cabelas Visa card recently, I've been buying Cabelas products for decades but not anymore. They lost me and BassPro never got a nickle from me and never will. I shop Brownells, Natches and Academy online.
highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
For many years, I drove from Cheyenne to Sidney to shop at Cabelas. In the beginning (30+ years ago), my visits were to the old downtown Sidney store. You could get some real bargains there. They remained pretty good for many years after they opened the new store near the highway in Sidney. But in the last 10 years or so, the bargains have disappeared. Often times I can find a better price online...and that online competition has probably been a part of the demise of Cabelas' retail stores.
Yes, things change and in this case that's too bad. I have fond memories of making the 110 mile trip to Sidney to browse through the store, look at the trophies on the wall and eat a sandwich at the lunch counter.
Yes, things change and in this case that's too bad. I have fond memories of making the 110 mile trip to Sidney to browse through the store, look at the trophies on the wall and eat a sandwich at the lunch counter.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I personally think the fate of Cabelas was sealed when the family basically sold the business when it went public. Shareholders want dividends and stock prices to rise....how do you do that? Profits, profits, profits. Even tho Bass Pro is a private corporation, Johnny Morris saw an opportunity to basically eliminate his largest competitor by buying it. The Cabelas name and logo will slowly be marginalized and finally disappear.
highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
I agree...I noticed a downturn after they went public. But the advent of the Internet and online shopping didn't help their situation.
From what my friends have told me through the years, internet sales where what drove the company and kept them profitable. I believe the credit card part of Cabela's was very profitable as well.
I personally believe two things contributed to their downfall:
1. Building all the retail stores to compete with BassPro (spent lots of $$$ on land and stores)
2. Going public (emphasized profits over quality and customer service)
The Bargain Cave used to be the absolute best place find deals! Back in the day, with only the Sidney store, and later the Kearney store, the Cave was still excellent. Sidewalk sales were also fantastic. But with all the stores nation wide, the return items where spread out to all the bargain caves...
JimP
Administrator
To tell you the truth I found very little in any of the bargain caves that was even worth buying. And this was in 3 stores that I had gone into.
They were filled mostly with merchandise that couldn't be sold in the store itself along with a wall full of footwear that people had returned. The only thing that I ever found in them that I should of bought was a 160 quart cooler that someone had bought for just a weekend trip before returning it to the store.
Even looking at the bargain cave online it never carried much worth buying, at least for me.
They were filled mostly with merchandise that couldn't be sold in the store itself along with a wall full of footwear that people had returned. The only thing that I ever found in them that I should of bought was a 160 quart cooler that someone had bought for just a weekend trip before returning it to the store.
Even looking at the bargain cave online it never carried much worth buying, at least for me.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
JimP
Administrator
Prerylyon
Veteran member
I know I am about to state the obvious, but this business is just plain competetive and while quality is important, so is pricing and convenience.
I just got home from my Sat afternoon honey-do store runs and was able to sneak into our new Gander Outdoors store and one of our local Farm and Fleet/Ranch type stores to do some 'man shopping'.
I was looking for an item none of these stores ended up having-that is probably going to end up as an online purchase for it or at the Scheels 25 miles away when I'm down near Iowa City for other reasons.
The staff at the new Gander Outdoors was very helpful-they do get points for that in my eye.
Before I left, I looked to see if they had a flavor of forum sponsor, 'Hi Mtn Seasonings' jerky mix I wanted to try. They did. I noted the price and left - knowing I could come back next week and get some. So, I headed to the ranch store to see if they had the original item (fine alder wood smoking chips).
At the ranch store, in their little sporting goods section, they had a nice selection of the same 'Hi Mtn Seasonings', including the flavor I wanted, for $2 less than Gander outdoors. From the look of the shelf, those products were moving well. Where do you think I'm gonna buy them?
I know this is a little off the current bargain cave discussion of the original thread, but it made me think how competitive this business is seeing such drastic changes in price at stores just blocks away from each other.
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I just got home from my Sat afternoon honey-do store runs and was able to sneak into our new Gander Outdoors store and one of our local Farm and Fleet/Ranch type stores to do some 'man shopping'.
I was looking for an item none of these stores ended up having-that is probably going to end up as an online purchase for it or at the Scheels 25 miles away when I'm down near Iowa City for other reasons.
The staff at the new Gander Outdoors was very helpful-they do get points for that in my eye.
Before I left, I looked to see if they had a flavor of forum sponsor, 'Hi Mtn Seasonings' jerky mix I wanted to try. They did. I noted the price and left - knowing I could come back next week and get some. So, I headed to the ranch store to see if they had the original item (fine alder wood smoking chips).
At the ranch store, in their little sporting goods section, they had a nice selection of the same 'Hi Mtn Seasonings', including the flavor I wanted, for $2 less than Gander outdoors. From the look of the shelf, those products were moving well. Where do you think I'm gonna buy them?
I know this is a little off the current bargain cave discussion of the original thread, but it made me think how competitive this business is seeing such drastic changes in price at stores just blocks away from each other.
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I was at the Sidney store a couple weeks ago. It was about 10:30 in the morning an there was hardly anyone there. My friend tried to use his Cabela's credit card since he had some points and it wouldn't work. The customer service call the card company and they stated it good he tried it and it still didn't work. He just walked out and closed his account.
Like stated the bargain basement in Sidney use to a great place to go. Sad to see it dying and eventually properly closing.
Like stated the bargain basement in Sidney use to a great place to go. Sad to see it dying and eventually properly closing.