Why do people still shop at cabelas?

[laxwyo]

I enjoy their store and have spent thousands over the years but their prices are terrible. Cabelas has never beaten a price and they usually have everything at MSRP. I always search cabelas to see what price not to pay for item and then hop on Amazon. Their shipping prices are a joke. They'd charge you $25 to ship a $100 bill.

That being said, a ton of people I know still go there and still order from them online. A lot of you received gifts from cabelas or have gift cards. What makes you shop there?

I don't have a grudge against cabelas or anything. I've always had good buying experiences. I don't understand how they can still be selling stuff when you can get everything 10% cheaper and with free shipping. Also, their markup is crazy if you know anyone who has sold a product in their store

 

[woodtick]

Yeah I've wondered the exact same thing!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I just bought a 4k generator from them. It was on sale and I got free shipping. It is their nameplate, made by Champion. I searched everywhere on the internet (including Amazon) and could not beat their price. I got it shipped to me for around $425.00. It is a remote start model.

My point is, I do shop there, but only buy items that I cannot beat their price elsewhere.. Usually stuff on sale. I also accumulate points and 2 years ago had enough to get a T/C Pro Hunter BP rifle for Free, picked it up at the Grand Junction store, so no shipping.

Also they take stuff back, no questions asked.

 

[WapitiBob]

A $30 100 fill Primaloft puffy jacket for starters.
Then there was the $115 Salomon Quest 4d's.

 

[NDHunter]

I agree that their regular prices aren't that great but if you're patient, pretty much every item in their store is on sale every couple of months at the most. They also have either free shipping or $20 coupons all the time. Plus they will literally take back anything on a return. Buying something off Amazon and having an issue with it is way more of a hassle versus getting it from Cabelas.

 

[bdan68]

Their prices can be high but they often have great sales. Also I don't ever pay for shipping since there is a Cabelas store 5 miles from where I work, so when I order online I have it shipped to the store, and I stop in there after work and pick up my order.

A few years ago I bought one of their meat grinders which was on sale for $399 and I had a $20 off coupon so I paid $380 for a grinder that is normally priced at $580. I like knowing that if anything goes wrong with it I can easily get parts for it and possibly even have it replaced under warranty.

They also have a great selection of clothing and boots, and matter of fact right now they have a sale going on some leather Cabelas brand boots, and I plan on ordering a pair later today. I already have a pair of the same boots, and have been wearing them for five years. I noticed in one spot the seam is just starting to come apart, so I'll get these new ones while they're on sale for $107. The old ones will probably still last for at least another year but for the price I can't pass them up. They have been one of the best, and most comfortable boots I've ever worn. I'm sure there are better boots such as the Kenetreks I'm always hearing about, but those are way out of my budget.

I also go to the Cabelas store for reloading supplies. It's not really much more expensive than anywhere else.

 

[Retterath]

I agree, I use to shop there now I don't buy cabelas gear I only buy high quality gear such as kryptek,kuiu,first lite etc but I will occasionally pick up some things that are great deals but usually never clothing just other things.

 

[Timberstalker]

I have received many gift cards on the last few years. I I usually use them in the bargain bin where items are 25-50% off. This year for some unknown reason my in laws spoiled me with an unusually high value of cards. $400 worth. I'm thinking about applying them toward a gun. I will be going to the nearest store tomorrow to look around. I haven't. Bought myself a gun in nearly 20 years!

 

[Timberstalker]

I also agree that their prices are not all that great, as far as hunting clothes go I've never tried Cabela's brands. I have. Bought casual clothing however and have been happy.

 

[hoshour]

If I get out West and forget something I know I can swing by there to pick it up.

In November, I bought a pair of the Cabela's Windshear fleece pants because the forecast changed before my MT deer hunt to below 0 temps and I figured I better get warmer pants than what I brought.

The weatherman turned to be wrong and temps were around 20. I wore these with a merino base layer and got way too hot until I took off the base layer. I wore them all week with no base layer and was never cold. I have been wearing them the last couple weeks to sit in a December deer stand and still don't wear a base layer. And, they're completely silent and are not very heavy.

 

[2rocky]

Shopping decisions aren't always about price. When I forget something on an out of state trip, I'll hit the Reno store to fill in. There is some value to not having to go 3 or 4 different places and do all the shopping at once.

Not many other places you can look at 4 different brands of optics side by side and feel and touch them. Granted I think they get used as a showroom for the internet bargain hunters, so they have to get more margin per sale.

Mid range quality across a wide variety of items. I think their store brand products are top 25% in terms of Quality. Plenty good enough for 75% of hunting situations. The top 10% stuff is in specialty shops. Wal Mart is bottom 25% for comparison. If you had to replace your whole hunting kit, you could do it at Cabela's and it might weigh a little more, but you would be hunting.

 

[RSHusker]

I can remember visiting the original store in downtown Sidney before the first big one was built out by the interstate. I can't afford the Sitka, First Lite etc stuff. 300-400$ for a pair of pants or a coat! You got to be kidding me. That being said I understand that Cabela's can be a little high on stuff but like others I go on their web page for customer reviews and will buy it else where if I can find it cheaper. I have never had any problem with customer service at a store or over the phone and I have had staff put me on to some great products or bend over backward to help me out. (Sidney NE store and the Lehi UT store). My favorite time to shop is after the new year when I have gift cards from Christmas and things are on clearance or if you are close to a store go in after the new year when the bargin cave is full of returns from Christmas!

 

[Don K]

Can get some great deals there if you know what you want and are patient. Add some discount cards they mail out and some deals cant be beat.

 

[NE69]

I buy quite a bit of stuff from them. Last rifle scope I got was a swarovski 3 years ago. I searched the internet for best price. Checked with my uncle who I had order the savage rifle it was going on and he said that Cabelas had the best price for the scope. $1500 scope and they had it for $1000 but only that model was on sale. Used my Cabelas $'s and didn't actually have to dig up any cash out of pocket. Awesome scope.

 

[Winchester]

They have sales all the time, combined with the coupons they send out their prices can be just fine. They also have a great selection to choose from all in one place and great quality as well.

 

[CrimsonArrow]

The Cabelas brand hunting clothes are comparable to other big buck clothing brands, but at a fraction of the cost. Customer service is unbeatable, and returns are hassle-free. You can usually get free or reduced cost shipping vouchers or promotions. You'll never deal with better people than those that take phone orders at Cabelas. Sometimes it's worth paying a couple bucks more.

 

[Musket Man]

They are pretty high on some things and it seems like their prices have gone up quite a bit the last few years. I bought some 7 gallon water containers at Walmart this year and the exact same containers were about 2X the price at Cabelas. Some of their sale prices are pretty good though. I got a scope on sale this fall that was alot cheaper then I could find it anywhere else. I dont buy much there anymore unless its on sale. They stopped giving Veterans employee pricing on Veterans day this year like they used to. Went to the club members only sale and totaled the SUV on the way home. I think it would have been cheaper to pay full price. lol

 

[laxwyo]

The "sale" on end of the year models of trail cam is pretty much the price I could get them on Amazon all year. Amazon has good return policy from what I've dealt with. I do see deals but usually end of the model style when revamped products are coming out. Also, high demand sizes and colors are never in stock for the sales. I don't doubt that people still get some deals.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I don't usually shop at Cabelas. I like Sportsmans or Scheels. Prices are much less

 

[OregonJim]

1. Bargain Cave
2. Return policy
With that said I pretty much stick to the days when they give military discounts.