New Cabela’s megastore in Gainesville, Va., is a monument to gun rights

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How can Cabelas afford to open a new store? Especially a destination store? I thought they were being bought by Bass Pro which was currently on hold and that with Gander Mountain declaring bankruptcy that the sale may be in limbo. I know that this was years in the making but strange opening. We had a Sports Authority open they then declared bankruptcy and closed the store after less than 9 months I think. They had to have known the bankruptcy was coming.

I know with President Trump being elected it's a slump for gun manufacturers. A friend who used to work at Gander said that in his opinion if Hilary would have won Gander would have sold enough guns to stay out of bankruptcy. That's only his opinion but interesting none the less. Strange that Cabelas is opening then.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/busi...d727b644a0b_story.html?utm_term=.59544a8bda34





New Cabela’s megastore in Gainesville, Va., is a monument to gun rights

By Abha Bhattarai March 24 at 8:46 AM

And with that, the doors of the region’s first Cabela’s — the chain of hunting, fishing and camping gear stores — swung open and 2,000 people streamed in, clapping and cheering.

This opening, many shoppers said, was proof that Donald Trump’s America is thriving, even near the nation’s capital. The megastore — about 35 miles up the road from the White House — is the company’s 86th location and its closest to Washington. Among its offerings: an indoor archery range, a gun library with antiques that cost as much as $6,500, and a display of special firearms donated by the National Rifle Association. Opening weekend festivities included an all-ages BB gun shooting range in the parking lot.
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I went last weekend. It was crowded and the check out lines were very slow. Big selection but the prices were high for most items. I wasn't very impressed with the displays either. There was one area in the back of the store with taxidermy animals but that was it. People always talk about the displays being a big attraction by themselves but I wasn't awed.
 
Well, it's a monument to MSRP, no doubt. But to me monuments to 2a are more renowned by what they lack: regulation, commercialism, fictional imagery for gear's ability to transform one into a sportsman.

A monument to 2a would be closer to a quiet Sunday morning at the range, alone with a hot cup of coffee, a brick of 22, and a rifle with wearmarks on the controls known like an old friend.
 
People always talk about the displays being a big attraction by themselves but I wasn't awed.
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That really depends on the store you go into. Most of the stores are smallish with only a handful of mounts. They built 2 here in GA within 80 miles and both along I-75. I've been into the bigger stores such as Kansas City and Dallas. They have a separate trophy room with mounts that is roughly 1/2 as big as the entire stores here in GA.
 
The big question for me is this: What does Cabela's have that I might want, at the prices they're asking? Between gun shows and the Internet, all my collecting needs are pretty much taken care of. I've basically stopped going to brick-and-mortar stores. The business model of stores like Cabela's is doomed.
 
AlexanderA said:
The big question for me is this: What does Cabela's have that I might want, at the prices they're asking? Between gun shows and the Internet, all my collecting needs are pretty much taken care of. I've basically stopped going to brick-and-mortar stores. The business model of stores like Cabela's is doomed.
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When it comes to a lot of stuff I like to see it before I buy it. Especially fishing lures when I want to look at exact weights and colors. Also, I can get stuff shipped to the store for free.

However, I'm the kind of guy that goes in, goes and gets what I came for and walks out. I don't browse. But I know that a lot of people like browsing.
 
My wife and I went to Cabela's last week. Picked up powder and primers.

Winchester SPP: Powder valley $28. Cabela's was $26.39
IMR Target: Powder Valley $19.10. Cabela's $19.99
IMR Blue was the same.

I also scored a couple of great deals in the Bargain cave.

One just has to know what and when to buy.
 
I enjoy looking at the used stuff and occasionally buy something. They have an interesting pricing model for used: it is based rigidly on the price they paid, so you might see (just a fictional example) two 10mm EAA Match Elites next to each other--one $499 with three mags, one $620 with one. Might be exactly the same condition, but they stole the first one (figuratively).

The relative bargains are rare, but if you wait for a "used Guns 10% off" sale, they can be a reasonable deal. One store in the Minneapolis area does have a lot of animals and live fish, too. The other, not so much.
 
We have a Cabela's Outpost close by.
They seem to be overpriced on most things.
I never buy anything there unless it's on sale and even then I price check the item.
A new Dick's opened last year.
I went in there the first week and haven't returned.
Way overpriced on everything.
 
Thunderchicken said:
I enjoy looking at the used stuff and occasionally buy something. They have an interesting pricing model for used: it is based rigidly on the price they paid, so you might see (just a fictional example) two 10mm EAA Match Elites next to each other--one $499 with three mags, one $620 with one. Might be exactly the same condition, but they stole the first one (figuratively).

The relative bargains are rare, but if you wait for a "used Guns 10% off" sale, they can be a reasonable deal. One store in the Minneapolis area does have a lot of animals and live fish, too. The other, not so much.
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Can you negotiate prices on used guns?
 
Cabela's will give you a lower price on a used gun if they've had it for a while, it seems to be a fixed percentage, and not a LARGE fixed percentage. I've never seen them "dicker," as I understand the term, though. I don't think the local staff have much flexibility.
 
I went to the new store a week after it opened. (The grand opening and that first weekend were insanely crowded.) There were few bargains but the prices weren't bad for this area. The store has the biggest selection of reloading tools and components in the area and, of course, for powder and primers there's no hazmat fee. There are times I want to handle an item before buying something like a used firearm or fly tying vise or to check the fletching on arrows. Brick and mortar stores still have a place in business. The sales people were friendly and, from what I observed, well informed about the products and how to use them.

I was surprised at the number of young families there even in the middle of the week. (Maybe they home school.) The kids loved the taxidermy displays and aquarium. And they were excited about handling and helping to pick out their first 'real' fishing rod or bow or sleeping bag. These kids didn't have their noses stuck in a smart phone or computer. They were eager to get outdoors and use the gear with their friends and parents. I found that encouraging.

Just my impression about the new Cabelas. I've ordered from the company for years but this is the first store I've been to so I don't know how it compares to their other stores.

Jeff
 
Why I like Cabelas...

The laser shooting range in the back has been the source of several fun times with the kids, and the greeters are usually generous about giving fee tokens to the kiddies.

On several occasions, they have had primers and powder when other stores haven't. Their inventory of reloading equipment and components is quite good.

When they're not super busy, the staff are happy to show me any gun in the case...and there're are a lot of them.

They host CCW classes right in the store.

They have an indoor archery range for trying out bows.

Their fleeces are super soft and comfy and can be had on sale for very good prices.

The men's shoes they stock are often of a style that I like and are a good deal when on sale, especially if you can find your size in the bargain cave.

The mountain display in the middle of the store is the closest my kids will ever get to many wild animals. Aside from the Fred Bear museum, our Cabelas has the best taxidermy display I've ever seen.

It's a LOT better to go shopping with my wife at Cabelas, than the mall :^o
 
I went by the new Gainesville Cabela's this past Monday morning at 9am and spent the better part of an hour slowly wandering around the entire facility.

Very nice!

I was especially comfortable in the right-rear quadrant where all of the firearms, ammunition & related reside.

What a refreshing amble that was.

Most of the pricing that I noticed was what I consider to be brick&mortar Retail ... nothing grossly out of line and quite a few good deals salted thru-out the store.

Heck, if they had added a small F&B operation in that back corner, I would periodically stop by for lunch "among the guns". :D
 
I'm a fan of the Cabela's by me. We've had a Bass Pro since 2001 or so, but the Cabela's just opened in 2015. While Bass Pro is always overpriced on everything, and has a relatively crappy selection, Cabela's prices on things like ammo, powder and primers and extra magazines has always been close to what I could find online. And, they pretty much always had .22 lr in stock at non-gouging prices when it was still hard to find elsewhere.
 
I think the Gainesville VA store will be a success. Cabelas is a destination rather than a place you stop if you are driving by. I tend to prefer Bass Pro stores over Cabelas, but we have one locally that I visit on occasion. I have been to both of the GA Cabelas stores. Cabelas is generally something new to the South which has been a Bass Pro domain for years.
 
MAKster said:
I went last weekend. It was crowded and the check out lines were very slow. Big selection but the prices were high for most items. I wasn't very impressed with the displays either. There was one area in the back of the store with taxidermy animals but that was it. People always talk about the displays being a big attraction by themselves but I wasn't awed.
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Note: They do price match on any gun actually in stock at a local gun store.
 
Sure do wish I could get the Herter's Deluxe Shooting Bench some place other than Cabela's they want !79.99 plus tax, plus 19.99 shipping and handling, sounds to me like a rip off.
 
loose noose said:
Sure do wish I could get the Herter's Deluxe Shooting Bench some place other than Cabela's they want !79.99 plus tax, plus 19.99 shipping and handling, sounds to me like a rip off.
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That always goes on sale. I've been wanting one too but at the moment can't justify buying it.
 
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