Did a rifle pick up at Cabala's - Is it usually this bad?

[bn12gg]

I've purchased a half dozen firearms from Cabelas. I've been treated fine with a couple exceptions. They have problem Gun Libraries yet others that are well run. I continue to see their glass as half full.

.02. David.

[CLYA]

I too, have purchased at least a half dozen guns from Cabela's over the years. Archery equipment too. There will always be the days, where it takes more time than I want. But that's the exception. All in all, the service is usually quite efficient.

Being a business owner for almost 35 years, I can certainly say, that the problem with threads like this, is that it's usually the dissatisfied who will respond. Then to some, it becomes fact.

[reynolds357]

I bought a rifle from them s few years ago. Took about an hour. My normal dealer takes about 5 minutes. About 4 minutes of that is me filling out the form.

[Koolmoose]

In September my son and I bought 2 police department surplus Mossie 500's 2 weeks apart for fairly short $'s. His was a 590 and mine is a 500 ATP. Both were in like new condition. Each purchase took about 1 3/4 hours. I thought the length of time for the purchase was because it was Massachusetts, but apparently not. I wouldn't have bought them there but I hadn't seen anything close at the LGS. Unless I come across another super deal that is not available at the LGS, I won't buy another gun there!

[Wildernesshunter]

I despise purchasing from Cabella's. Worst experience I have ever had. I walked in the store, chose my pistol, filled out the background check on their tablet.....and was sent to the area where one picks up a purchased firearm. I was to wait for my name to be called.

After 2 hours..... yeah.... 120 minutes. I finally walked up to the desk and asked about my status. Guy says....let me check. He says... oh yeah, you were cleared 90 minutes ago...let's get you checked out. I was so pissed, I asked why no one called me, as I was waiting on the bench the whole time. He just shrugged his shoulders...no apology. I was tempted to walk out of the store and not purchase.....but since a background check had already been completed, I decided I better complete the sale.

The Manager had to come from the front to "approve" the forms. He turned to me and thanked me for my purchase. I asked him why I had to wait two hours to get the gun and he said.... "That's just our process. We don't want to sell to someone in a hasty manner."

I'll never buy there again. I don't care how good the price is. Not worth dealing with their stupidity.

[m&p45acp10+1]

Tbe only times I have had long waits it was bursting at the seams busy and crowded. Those times took over an hour as the people there were going as fast as you can witbout messing tbings up.

[Sergeant Bob]

I don't have a lot of experience with Cabelas, (have only purchased on weapon, an AR15) but was pretty happy with the service and had minimal wait times. Could have to do with the semi-rural location though, Dundee, Mi., South of Detroit.

[Scoits]

Sad decline in customer policies with no help in sight. No longer a customer and have ceased using their credit card.

[C7AR15]

I'm surprised that US citizens are having such a headache buying a rifle. 2 days ago in Vancouver B.C. l bought a 12guage (used) and a case . Less than 10 minutes.

Our local gun stores are all about service, and only hire experienced shooters.

Could just be the Christmas season??

Or. The merger of Bass Pro and Cabellas has them all spun around.

[thallub]

Purchased a rifle from the OK City Cabela's a couple months ago. Did the 4473 online. Within 25 minutes i was going out the door.

[CLYA]

Seeing how this has cropped up again............

I just bought a revolver from Cabela's last week. Fantastic sale price, that beat any internet price by $70, and most by $90. Was a Black Friday sale that lasted about a week. I was probably out the door in less than 10 minutes after picking it out, and having them grab a new in-boxed model. Might have stopped to look at the wild life exhibits on the way out, don't remember.

To be fair, the transaction was fast, and required no online paperwork. But then..........is was a black powder revolver....

In the meantime, after all of these years of going to Cabela's, and the fact it's now owned by Bass Pro, it hasn't seemed to make a lot of difference yet. I still like the place, and sometimes, those sales just beat everyone else. Picked up some reloading equipment last year during Black Friday, that just couldn't be beat.

[Ibmikey]

I normally do my purchases through a friend’s shop and never at a box store. However, the local Bimart advertised Henry .22 lever for $249. I needed one for a grandson gift and gritted my teeth as the young man produced a sheet with all the steps he was to take. The 4473 was whipped out by me and the clerk called a female asst mgr to check every line of the 4473. Then the call was made and info recorded...back came Miss asst mgr and went over all the lines again. I wrapped the rifle and put it back in the box. Asst mgr tried to sell me ammo then we walked to the check out counter with her in possession of the rifle ( there is a register in sporting goods) and I paid the tab. Miss asst mgr again took control of the rifle although I informed her it was now my property, we walked out of the door and she told me I could take possession. I informed her we had gone this far perhaps she would walk it to my truck and save me the physical exertion...she refused. All this precaution was taken so the customer who just happened to have a Sig P 938 holstered under his sweat shirt would not becom a threat inside their store with the unloaded rifle.
In their favor this involved process took less than a half hour.

[langenc]

Up N a ways there WAS a LGS that had been in business for 25+ yrs. He knew most customers and did not make the accuracy of 4473s a priority and the ATF nailed him. He is no longer in business. Had a BIG auction to get rid of hundreds of used guns. I cant imagine how that days sales were handled..

[kraigwy]

I've bought several firearms from Cabela's.

Sometimes it takes forever so it seems and sometimes its in and out with no delay.

Just depends on how busy they are.

The delays are costly as I browse around and end up getting stuff I dont need. I've even commented the reason for the delay was to get me to browse, which isnt a bad idea if you are the store owner.

My favorite LGS always forces coffee on you, even encouraging you to stop in just for coffee. Another good business practice. You have to do something while drinking coffee. If youre like me its finding stuff to buy you dont need.

[zukiphile]

My favorite LGS always forces coffee on you, even encouraging you to stop in just for coffee. Another good business practice.

I attended a shop and range like that for about a decade. It wasn't just that the shop owner and staff were happy to see you (or simulated being happy) there was a cadre who seemed always to be there.

The effect was that of a club, with a sort of loyalty flowing from the relationship. I know I spent more on a gun there than I could have at Walmart, but they had my business. When the city tried to shut the range down, I represented them for a pittance and kept it open.

It sold to someone with different ideas, who didn't like "regulars", and who was transparent about seeing every customer as a sheep to be shorn. He hasn't done very well.

[Wishoot]

If you want to experience waiting around forever to purchase a firearm, give Dunham's Sporting Goods a try.

Found a smoking good deal on a 10/22 with a tiny scratch on the stock. From the time I handed them my credit card to the time I walked out the door was almost 2.5 hours. It took 2 sales associates and one manager to figure out the process.

I was the only customer in the store at the time too.

Haven't been back since.

[dvdcrr]

bought one there, they had one guy take it to the computer, I work on the computer, then my guy leaves and says someone else will come finish. I stand for 20 minutes and see two other guys standing around like me while three Cabelas employees come and go mysteriously, like none of them can just get me out the door. No more of that for me.

[hdwhit]

Spur0701 wrote:
Is this particular Cabela's atypical or are they all like this?

My experience is limited to stores in Allen, TX; Waco, TX and Buda, TX. They have all been about like that; little counter help and what there is seems to have better things to do than help customers. I think Bartholomew Roberts summed it up well when he wrote, "...if you can’t grab it off the shelf and walk to the register with it, don’t buy it at a Cabela’s".

[GLK]

Cabala's will be no more within five years.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Well hdwhit is better travelled than me; but my comments were also based on the Cabela’s in Allen, TX.

[Dranrab]

My Cabelas in Gonzales LA is pretty efficient. I'd say on average it takes 20-30 minutes. I can live with that.

[reynolds357]

My favorite LGS always forces coffee on you, even encouraging you to stop in just for coffee. Another good business practice. You have to do something while drinking coffee. If youre like me its finding stuff to buy you dont need.

I quit trading with a dealer because of that. He always had a group of nosey know it all in there drinking coffee.

[Itsa Bughunt]

I bought a rifle from Walmart. There was one guy ahead of me, and they had me fill out the background check "paperwork" on a computer terminal after he was done. All total the buying process took about 45 minutes. I had to wait an additional 15 minutes for a manager to escort me out of the store and to my vehicle. It was explained to me that's store policy when a person buys a firearm and the ammunition for it. I didn't mind with 33% off the retail price.

[johnslick]

I`ve frequently been the first buyer at Cabelas at opening bell and it still took 45 mins

[bn12gg]

Purchased a Colt Trooper 357 this week from Cabelas in West Virginia. Surprised when I picked up my gun at my Orlando FFL. -- sales tax was included in the bill. Chatted with Cabelas customer service. Since Florida has a Bass Pro the purchase was a "taxable event."
Simply new to me -- I guess tax needs to be worked into my negotiating price next time. Pristine flawless Colt so what the heck !!

.02 David.