WOW ! Is Bass Pro Crazy ?

[Rangr44]

A local Bass Pro store was having a "sale" today, so my shooting buddy & I went by to see what was on the stove there.

We pretty much walked out, after an hour of trying to peep at stuff in dim/dark aisles that were poorly lit for professional retail space IMHO - BUT - at least the ceiling speakers worked well (and loud), since the wildlife calls were non-stop !

I asked, but was told the smallest smokepole they carried in stock was a .50 cal - and I only saw one sidehammer on the rack with about 30 inlines.

UNTIL I spotted a pristine/new(?) T/C .50 Hawken reposing inside a glass counter display case.

THAT shoulda told the story, but foolish me, I looked at the price - It was tagged @ $720.00  !  !

This was a common/everyday Hawken, and not a high-polish-blue, XXX wood, Custom Shop number, either.

Have I been waaaaay out of touch with retail prices, like Rip Van Winkle, or are they seriously ill ?

.

[Semisane]

A Bass Pro opened about two years ago in our area.  Went once - could not believe the prices.  Never went back.  Don't know how they stay in business.

[dukkillr]

The Bass Pro here in Kansas City is pathetically unmanaged.  I took a friend in last year the day before the Missouri rifle opener and they didn't have a single orange vest for sale!  I couldn't believe it.  I left angry and went to Cabelas.  Two or three times since then I've left frustrated and gone to Cabelas.  I would guess the store here in KC is losing a large amount of money each year.

[30gman]

I went to Bass Pro in ST. Louis recently and it was so dark you allmost needed a flashlite to see the prices. This was a sunny day. I asked a clerk why they didn't turn on more lights. He said they complain about it all the time but that is the way managment wants it

[1marty]

no better than the Gander Mountain by me. I was looking for a CZ Bob White. I pointed out to the manager they were asking over $100 more than the MSRP. He said that's their price. People think they are getting bargains in these box stores. I rather deal with the local store by me which gives fair prices and courteous service.

[Forestclimber]

I went to the Cabelas in Nebraska and was very disappointed.  A LONG trip for nothing.  Last week I was in the Michigan Cabelas.  They had a lot of inventory, but the prices were more than I wanted to pay.  Even the closeout and returned items were hardly reduced.   I left with nothing. In their defense though, they have a huge operating cost. They are not in  business to break even.

[necchi]

This was a common/everyday Hawken, and not a high-polish-blue, XXX wood, Custom Shop number, either.

Have I been waaaaay out of touch with retail prices, like Rip Van Winkle, or are they seriously ill ?

Nope,,their going 600+ nowadays! I keep myself happy getting them at garage sales for 100 and using the warrenty.
I just recently sold a top condition Renegade for 200,,thinning the herd, Now I have only 2 renegades

[flintlock]

Yep, that's crazy...For just a few hundred more you can order a Jim Chambers rifle kit and have a more authentic muzzleloader...

[simonkenton]

I have been to the Atlanta Bass Pro 5 or 6 times, the place was great!
They had a real good selection of bp guns, especially cap and ball pistols. In fact I bought a Traditions 1860 Army, made by Pietta. Nice gun.
Also, I was amazed at the wide variety of caps, balls, holsters etc. I even bought a pound of black powder.
There were no problems with the lighting.

I'm sure the clerks weren't too sharp, but, I am used to knowing more than a clerk in a gun store.

That was 4 and 5 years ago, haven't been back since.

[His lordship.]

I have never been to a Bass Pro Shop as they never seem to be in the towns where I live.  I have walked out of Cabelas on several occasions, I don't shop there very much and I am sure this has cost them some money.  I see several of the same problems at the Rogers, MN and Buda, TX stores, so I think it might be a corporate attitude, I told them to stop sending me catalogs and coupons.

I worked retail part-time for many years and stores can go through changes depending on the quality of management, etc.  I remember reading 3 years ago that Bass Pro Shops wanted to build a store that would attach itself to the Minnesota Mall of America.  The Mall has signs at all the entrances saying that guns are not allowed, a contradiction for having a client like Bass Pro doing business with them.  The Bass Pro website does not show a Minnesota store, they must have changed their mind.

[Ron T.]

Seems like more and more places have prices that are going outta sight... not just outdoor and gun stores.

Had a little furnace problem a few weeks ago... the repairman charged $95 to show up (my home is about 8 miles from their shop) and $90 an hour for his time thereafter.

Guess these folks haven't heard we've got a full scale RECESSION that is trying to become a DEPRESSION going on just outside the doors of their stores, eh?!?

Go figger...  


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[hunt-m-up]

I went to the Cabelas in Nebraska and was very disappointed.  A LONG trip for nothing.  Last week I was in the Michigan Cabelas.  They had a lot of inventory, but the prices were more than I wanted to pay.  Even the closeout and returned items were hardly reduced.   I left with nothing. In their defense though, they have a huge operating cost. They are not in  business to break even.

Which one? There are three in NE. My brother used to be a die hard Bass Pro fan. He won't even set foot in there anymore. They seem to have lost touch with their core customer.