The Great Cabelas vs. BPS debate / Some venting

Well, I must report on my long awaited visit to the new Cabelas in Barrie and look forward to everyone voicing their opinions. I went twice actually, first on the 9th cause my dad got one of the pre-invites and then on the 10th for the grand opening. What a zoo both days, but nothing I didn't expect. The store didn't disappoint with a great selection of equipment and even some good buys in the bargain cave. Meeting some of the outdoor celebs like Taylor Wright was very cool too. The wife even found a new deer rifle. It was an expensive two days to say the least.

Here is my list of pros and cons of the two big stores and the couple others I've been to in the area.

Cabela's: Pros- fair prices, website prices and store prices are the same, good selection, staff seemed very knowledgeable, good layout, fudge shop makes everyone happy on the way home lol. Cons- they don't seem to have as good of sales and sale prices, almost no promotions for discounted shipping like BPS, no deli in the store like the website said there would be.

Bass Pro Shops: Pros- constant new sales and discounts for shipping when ordering online, good selection, store is a little more fun for the whole family (arcade, tracks on the floor amuse the kids and teach them as well). Cons- No Canadian website or prices so you never know what the price will be in the store (went to buy a knife once and it was $55US on the site and $90 in the store! needless to say I made them price match the $60 cabelas site price). Have had experiences with some less than knowledgeable staff

Ellwood Epps: Pros- Most knowledgeable people I have ever met when it comes to guns, very competitive prices on all of its products when compared to the big box stores. Cons - gets crowded quick, they don't haggle on the used gun prices, slow getting stock replenished (waited a long time for a trigger stick, ended up having to spend $35 more and get it at Cabelas)

Tremblays: Pros- exists so it draws some of the crowd away from Epps so I can spend my money there. Cons: horrible service! Twice I have went there to look at guns and was treated horribly. The first time he wouldn't listen to what I wanted and just wanted me to buy something else. The second time I went in to try to get a swivel set for a Mossberg I just bought at Epps and Epps didn't have one in stock. I asked Tremblays and they didn't have one and said he wouldn't sell me one anyways because I bought the gun at Epps! I asked him if he had one of the guns I just bought at his store to price compare and he didn't even have one in stock there to sell me anyways so even if I had gone there first I still would have ended up at Epps to buy what I wanted. What a jerk! I will never set foot in that store ever again. I prefer to support the little guys over the big boxes but not in this case.

Anyones thoughts?

Sail, basspro and cabelas are all big box stores and you need to realize more options for hunters and outdoors people is better. Sail is 5 minutes from my house and I spend most of my disposal income for hunting with them. More options is better. Sail was having a 15 percent sale on everything hunting related just because cabelas new store was opening up. More competition means better pricing and customer service. Price matching would not happen if basspro, sail and other stores did not have competition.

The key to Cabela's will be, will they actually get stuff in stock, and keep it in stock? BPS over the last year and a half, has just been in a steady decline, when it comes to having stuff in stock, and re-stocking.

Have spoken with the store manager twice on the issue, I drive a great distance to get there, to see "out of stock" stickers on every thing I'm looking for.

He said it boiled down to one supply chain for all BPS stores, and with the higher demand in the US over the recent years, Vaughn gets whats left.

The new Cabela's is the exact same as the new one in Winnipeg The samller stores make for more crampt shopping and vying for staff attention to get assistance.

The smaller stores also mean, that they don't have nearly as much stuff in store as they carry on the website, with BPS, if it's on the website, good chance it's in the store (unless it's out of stock) a good example these smaller cabela's don't carry the super mag waders in store.

Also when it comes to clothing, they have their Cabela's logo and name written on almost everything, if it's not UA gear, or Sitka, it's Cabelas and ruined with a huge name and logo, wanted just a plain waterfowl long sleep, but it had "Cabela's plastered across it"

The one major difference you overlooked in mentioning shipping and deals, is that you cannot ship, to BPS in Vaughn, "free" anytime, only when there's the promotion, or the promotion to ship to your place, you can however, ship to cabelas anytime, for free and just pick it up.

While BPS does have the free shipping to your door promotions once in awhile, you still run the risk of getting dinged with duty, which you don't ordering off the cabelas.ca website

I think having Sail, BPS, and Cabelas all lining the 401 will be better for the customer in the end, its a quick zip to any or all 3 to get the best prices.

IMO, both places are too expensive in general. I order most things online from US stores and save a bundle, even after shipping and exchange. I know that it's fun to visit these stores but they must compete with online ordering and US retailers if they are to do well in the long run.

I haven't been to Cabelas yet I am hoping they compare to the Cabelas stores in the US. I was in the Cabelas in Saskatoon and was very impressed lots of stock and good staff.

Iam am pretty much done with basspro. Their selection and stock is terrible and prices are too high in my opinion. Worst of all their staff seem to know nothing about hunting of shooting sports.

I like Sail for pricing and selection seems decent

IMOA the best place to buy a firearm in Southren Ontario is Lake Huron Rod and Gun. Their selection is good prices are competitive but best of all their staff know what their talking about and treat you like you matter. Brad will always treat you fair and he gets a ton of repeat business because of it.

I also like shooters choice as their staff are very knowledgable but the store can get crazy busy and their prices are a little high

As TR pointed out the key difference is free ship to store with Cabelas:

http://www.cabelas.ca/pages/pickup

Can't wait to test it out with an internet sale item...

Went to Cabelas-nice store,generally their brand is somewhat more appealing (to me at least )then BPS. Nice people too.
Pros-competition with BPS-Sail ,Le Baron etc
Pros-more selection, variety.
Cons-lot smaller then Dundee , thus lot less stuff.
Cons-they do not order from US catalog,if Winnipeg does not have it-you need to go an order from the web for yourself.
Nice store, I was excited about them coming ,kind of disappointed though due of the above cons.
BPS
Pros-more selection then Cabelas+Cabelas Winnipeg Catalog combined
Pros-willing to order from the Web catalog, you need to go to pick it up,which is OK
Cons- I personally like Cabelas brand better then Red Head(but this is just me)
Some ppl say BPS has less knowledgable staff-maybe,hovewer if you know what you want ahead of time......no need for much knowledge form the sales person anyhow(this may not work all the times though)
SAIL-I could not make my head around them ever,so no opinion
Just my 2 cents

I think its great to have all the options available. I really enjoyed Cabelas, even though its not as big as a US Cabelas. Great to have that option here, and something I have waited a long time for! I like SAIL, and prefer it to Bass Pro, but BPS is always a fun visit with the kids, and they have some decent sales! With respect to Tromblys Tackle Box, I am sorry to hear you had such a crap experience. I don't work there, or have any personal interest in the store, but I know Remi Trombly, and he is a stand up guy! I'm sure if it had been brought to his attention he would've been glad to assist you, and make it right. I wouldn't judge the whole outfit on the basis of the actions of one employee.

He was pretty much dead on with his assessment of trombleys. The other thing about them is that every time there is one of their big sales, there maybe 1000 things in the flyer but only 500 in store. Classic response is sorry, sold out, but I have been in a couple of times just ahead of the sales and there is nothing in stock even then.
I am hoping the bargain cave at cabelas will mirror the one in Dundee where it seemed all the returned items, open boxes, missing parts etc were marked down considerably and then put in there to resell. Of course something like that wouldn't be good right away. I often wonder what happens to the returns at bps or are they claiming 100 percent customer satisfaction? Lol

Just curious, are the shotgun shells and bullets behind the counter at the new Cabellas?