Why I like Cabela's
 

Well for scopes anyway. I went to a local gun show today with the kid and decided to stop by cabela's on the way home. I had the camera with me so I spent the afternoon taking pictures inside the store.

Here are some pics of the scope displays at my local Cabela's








And this isn't even all the models they carry! They have different versions of the models shown and some models that are not on display. And this doesn't include the bargain cave. Not to mention they have gun stocks with rubber rings the scope snaps into so you can try them out.

They may not have the best prices, but Lord you just can't beat this kind of selection. Scopes from $30 up to $3,000 + and they will let you handle any of them. Doesn't hurt that their are 100's of stuffed animals all around you to aim at either;). And the store is big enough you can over 100 yards with different lighting.

And if for some reason you don't like it, just put it back in the box bring it back and either trade it or get your money back.

If someone wants to see more pics of the store let me know, I can upload them to my flickr account or something. I only have around a hundred of them:D.

Paul

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

Not much of a selection Eh!!! :D They have excellent customer service to boot...;)

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I wish Sportsmans Warehouse had that many in stock! I was going to go tomorrow to buy a Monarch 4-16x42 from them, but called and they don't have any!! Looks like I'll be buying online from Cabelas!;)

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

That's the rub, I don't like getting a scope unless I can look at it first. If you are going to buy online there are better places as far as price goes. It's just nice to be able to have so many to choose from and actually be able to look at them.

The down side is you never know what they will have until you get there. They do not stock what is on the website, been there done that. The catalog and website are two different entities from what they have told me.

They do have good customer service though.

By the way, I have looked at the monarch you are thinking of getting before. You won't regret it, very nice scope. I think it ran about four hundred something when I looked at it.

Paul

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I got bored and counted them, over 270 scopes on display, and that doesn't count the empty spaces where they sold out of a model and were waiting for a shipment. My local Gander mountain has maybe 15 scopes on display.

Oh, and that doesn't count the cheap scopes like simmons eight points and stuff that are in the bubble packs hanging on a rack somewhere.

Paul

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I know, I would like to see them in person first too. But, no around has the Monarch in stock. I have a few other things to order from Cabelas anyway, and their price is actually pretty close to everyone else...surprisingly. Or I might just get a Zeiss instead...:D

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

i went to a cabelas the first time Thursday...

all i could say was WOW!!!

even a restaraunt inside....with dang good food to boot!

awesome game animal displays...

the staff was AWESOME...super friendly...super helpful...1 lady walked around most of the store with me looking for eye protection(some odd reason noone knew where it was moved to, but they couldnt find them anywhere...one guy said they did away with the section!?!?) then another lady in footwear went in the GIANT back room like 8 times getting me other rubber boots to try on...i couldnt believe it...she never missed a beat or got somewhat frustrated in the least...

the bargain cave is awesome...

funny thing was everything i was looking for, they didnt have particularly WHAT i wanted lol....cant please everyone...and i wont lie, i was being VERY difficult and picky...but selection is AWESOME for a store...

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

Joy. :eek: I might be odd but I know which scope I want without having to look over 270 different models. that's simply big store marketing. Lot's of overhead there. Then I guess there's those that'll be convinved that the $25 Simmons they got at Cabelas will be better than the exact same one they buy at Wlamrt for $24.95. ;) Most will go in knowing about Simmons, Bushnell and Leupold. They won't even adknowledge the others. That's the general mentality of ppl at such a place - at least from my observations.

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

Well I guess if you know exactly what you want then you don't need to shop there. But if your not sure it sure is nice to be able to compare them. Lets say you are a die hard leupold fan but your not sure what model you want. Well guess what, they have every model and you compare them side by side. And if you want you can compare them to other brands that are similar. If you don't think that is a good thing don't bother with it. I think it's awesome. When I bought my varmint scope I looked at several scopes some of the being leupold, and to tell you truth I wasn't that impressed when I compared them to other scopes. I am really glad I had the chance to do that instead of just taking everyones advice that they are the king of optics.

Order your stuff from the internet and hope you like it when you get it. I prefer to go look at it and have the option to try it out and take it back if I'm not happy with it.

As far as someone getting a cheap simmons from there and thinking it is better, then they are ignorant. However they would have the chance to take that cheap simmons and compare it with something better while there and make an educated decision on what they wanted to buy. I just don't see how that can be bad for the customer.

Paul

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

There is nothing like handling an item before you buy it to see initial impressions of it. That is one benefit of it. Looks like a Cablelas has more optics then Basspro based on the pictures. I shop for optics by going to the dealers that are around me and luckily a few handle, Zeiss,Swaro,Leupold,Bushnell,nikon and a few others. Depending on the optics I buy from 3 different places www.eurooptics.com www.cameralandny.com and www.theopticzone.comall 3 have tremendous customer services and the best prices and usually throw in shipping. All 3 will let you sample the item and let you return it. One even allows an item to be shipped without payment and then bills you. That is unheard of in these times.


BTW Cabelas is importing way too much junk these days. I liked it better when they had more USA content.

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

Teddy bears are "stuffed", animils are "mounted"... lol

Everytime i've been to Dundee, they didn't have what i wanted, and to be honest i've left disapointed. (last time it was 9.3 286NP's)

There prices are high, and many times they don't even know what thehigher grade "used guns" are REALLY worth. I think many times they are just looking for a sucker to come along and buy them... I saw a drilling there that was so worn out, when open, it wobbled side to side... Someone had taken a hammer to the side clips and beat the "slop" out of it so it would "feel" tight when closed!!! It had a bastardjob of drilling and tapping the rib, with a Leupold scope mounted on it. Allfor $3,500!!! That's insane! That's one of many F-up's i see when i go there...

Why do i go there? Because i have a Cabela's card, and once a year when i'm in the area, i go to use up my points on "something" for FREE. It's nice that YOU are buying things there, so they can give me that deal... lol lol Oooh, i've never paid even one penny for the card, or paid even one penny of interest on it either, so it truely is for FREE... ;)

DM

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I'm like a kid in that store thats why I usually go by myself on a weekday and spend most of the day. I've been to the PA location 3 times and always walked out with a firearm in addition to the items I originally went there to buy. What makes it even worse is,I then start to get all of these incentives in the mail to go back and spend more money, "save 20% here, 10% there, spend $500 and get $150 coupon for next time". This is what makes me laugh. All these liberal democrats want to put an end to gun ownership and hunting in some states. They don'trealize the kind of money thats actually spent on these sports to keep the local economies strong?

The comment about the crap from overseas, especially China is so true. This has to stop!!

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I won't buy a gun at cabela's, especially a used one. They want way too much money and it takes forever. The only thing I really look at actually buying when I go there is fishing gear, they have TONS of it, knives, they have a pretty good selection of those as well, and optics. Everything else I can normally get closer to home.

If you are looking for used stuff and live in the area check out Johnson's in Adrian. They have a decent selection with good prices. That is who I deal with most of the time.

I'm not saying Cabela's is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I am just amazed at the optics selection they have is all.

The archery department is worthless now, wasn't bad when they first opened but it steadily went down hill since then. Luckily we have a lot of really good archery shops in the area, Which oddly enough cabela's hasn't run out like most would believe.

Paul

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I never buy used guns and I agree, the used selection is over priced. The new guns are cheaper at Cabelasthan the local shops in NJ and they always have a lot to look at, add in points, coupons etc. it's actually alot cheaper for me at least. Buying guns online I never do either but you can get better prices going that route. To me, its just not worth the few dollars i savings.

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

Yeah they have a alot of selection..
But do they allow you to take a few demo models home to try out for a an evening or maybe a weekend if your willing to put down a damage deposit .
Selections mean squat if you can't field test them in ealry dawn and dusk bright sun heavy cloud rain etc.
I can't believe the amount of people that will go into a store at noon and start testingoptics, purchasing one,and thinking its a great field scope or other type of optic..
And all its really proven is its great for indoor use.:D
As much as I like to browse huge hunting chains store like
Wholesale Sports,(don't have a Cabelas)or other big outdoor retail chain,I always always, purchase from the local retailers cause theytend to be more personable that way.

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

I don't know of one store in my area, or any state I have lived in for that matter that would let you take a scope home and try it out without paying full price for it. And then most will not take it back unless something was wrong with it. Cabela's on the other hand will let you try it out. You of course have to pay for it first, but if you don't like it simply put it back in the box and bring it back to the store with a receipt and they will give you your money back, CASH. Or if you plan on buying something else they will put the money on a store credit card for you. They don't care why you brought it back, maybe you didn't like the color. Doesn't matter to them.

I tried three different scopes in a matter of a few weeks before. I got one, didn't like it, took it back and tried a different one, then did it again. It was actually their idea.

When I got my range finder I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend that kind of money on something like that. The guy behind the counter said to buy it, use it for the season and if I didn't like it just bring it back. As long as I kept the box and paper work I would get a full refund. I ended up keeping it. But while I was there I saw a guy return one and I asked him why. He told me he got one and used it for a guided hunt and it didn't range far enough. So he brought it back to get a better one.

And like I said, cabela's is a HUGE store with plenty of distance and different lighting conditions to check a scopes performance out. And they will even put it on a rifle stock so you can check eye relief and fit. And there are a number of animals at various distances to aim at just like you were hunting. It just doesn't get any better than that in my opinion when scope shopping.

So to an extent, yes they do exactly what you said. You could use a scope for a hunting trip if you wanted and then return it for a full refund as long as you kept all the packaging. My local gun shop would laugh at you if you tried that.

Paul

RE: Why I like Cabela's
 

My favorite story about Cabelas. In 1996 my wife bought me a spotting scope with Cabelas brand name on it. I used it for 11 years, it bounced around in the truck for months, weathered every kind of condition, sat in the hot sun for hours at a time and finally the eye piece had a screw come out inside rendering it inoperable. I almost pitched it but thought I might as well call and find out if Cabelas would do anything for me on it. I got a return authorization and sent it off to them. Two days later I get a call from a CSR at Cabelas telling me they no longer sell that scope but they would do something for me. At the time she wasn't sure what but would call back. The next day the same person called me back and had determined that I was due a "full refund" in store credit......remember this is an eleven year old scope. They even credited ths shipping one way. They had me hooked at that point.