Bass Pro sucks

The biggest deterrent for me to even enter Bass Pro is that bloody parking lot. I get within 2kms of that Vaughan Mills complex and I begin to perspire. It's a nightmare no matter what time of day. The level of customer service at BP hasn't changed since day one. It was sub-par then and it remains that way today. As some have mentioned, you can get the occasional good deal so long as you know what you are after and as long as you don't have to ask anyone working behind a counter for assistance. I do my best to avoid that entire Wonderland/Vaughan mills block. Gong show.

i have learned with the big box stores its best to go after you have done your homework got your list and price match list
i like gagnons i shop there as much as i can i like putting money into local business that being said the stock in the little stores is not as extensive as BPS or cabelas or sail if you want to talk to people who know their stuff and really care about what your needs are go to the little store but the box stores almost always have more variety as long as you know what you want
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In this digital era, I find you are best to research the heck out of the product you are looking for and treat any of the big box stores as just a means to buy the product.

I don't live close to any BPS unless I travel home(Southern Ontario), Usually at christmas time and find that even at the local SAIL in burlington, they don't take you seriously at the gun counter unless you're buying a Tikka/Sako or something in the $1500 range..Next time I'm going to ask them.. "Why is my business not important as a customer willing to give you $500 of my hard earned money as opposed to buddy who drops $2200 on a complete setup.."

Was at Cabela's in Barrie on boxing day and was treated great, the service was prompt and professional (Dan at the gun counter.. if you're reading this, Thanks!) and I was in and out in 30 minutes which was amazing considering how busy they were.

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Originally Posted by Karl Marques

I wandered the aisles looking for xmas gifts for my dad and realized that the shelves are filled with almost all gimmicky crap.

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So true. There are no shortage of companies trying to sell us hopes and dreams in order to separate us from our money.

However, I much prefer our current hunting/fishing retail environment (gimmicky crap aside) to the one that existed when I started hunting in the mid-1980s. Back then I had two options: CT or a couple of local mom & pop stores with their small, dusty, never-changing inventories.

Since writing this post I went back again. The wife was shopping so I went in to kill time. There are things that I like about bass pro. If nothing else it's a great place to window shop. I suppose my biggest beef is with the staff in the gun department. ZERO customer service skills and very little knowledge. I went with my dad to help him pick up his first shotgun. The guy behind the counter seemed like he was just spitting out slogans from the Beretta and Browning ads. I'm fairly new to guns and hunting but I really felt like I knew a lot more than him. The last time I was there I asked if they had any 7.62x39 non-corrosive. The guy asked me what that was. He had no idea. I could get that if I asked the guy in the shoe department but to get that reply from the gun dept is amazing. Most of the time thy don't even look at you when you're talking to them. Brutal.


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This is why I loved my experience at Al Simmons Gun Shop in Hamilton. I didn't get the name of the guy behind the counter but he showed me a lot of stuff. I'm now waiting for my PAL to come through so I can actually purchase a few guns at that store.

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Originally Posted by Karl Marques

Since writing this post I went back again. The wife was shopping so I went in to kill time. There are things that I like about bass pro. If nothing else it's a great place to window shop. I suppose my biggest beef is with the staff in the gun department. ZERO customer service skills and very little knowledge. I went with my dad to help him pick up his first shotgun. The guy behind the counter seemed like he was just spitting out slogans from the Beretta and Browning ads. I'm fairly new to guns and hunting but I really felt like I knew a lot more than him. The last time I was there I asked if they had any 7.62x39 non-corrosive. The guy asked me what that was. He had no idea. I could get that if I asked the guy in the shoe department but to get that reply from the gun dept is amazing. Most of the time thy don't even look at you when you're talking to them. Brutal.


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Voicing such impressions in a forum is fine - doesn't achieve much though. It would be more effective to take the time and communicate directly to the store manager and/or corporate office citing one's experience (mentioning specifics i.e. employee name/date/time/other directly relevant details etc without any exaggeration or malice).

A brief, properly composed email is all that would be necessary to get one's message across where it may actually have an impact.....

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Originally Posted by hunteronwheels

i have learned with the big box stores its best to go after you have done your homework got your list and price match list
i like gagnons i shop there as much as i can i like putting money into local business that being said the stock in the little stores is not as extensive as BPS or cabelas or sail if you want to talk to people who know their stuff and really care about what your needs are go to the little store but the box stores almost always have more variety as long as you know what you want
i

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Exactly...Good annalist

Dick

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Originally Posted by sharps4570

Voicing such impressions in a forum is fine - doesn't achieve much though. It would be more effective to take the time and communicate directly to the store manager and/or corporate office citing one's experience (mentioning specifics i.e. employee name/date/time/other directly relevant details etc without any exaggeration or malice).

A brief, properly composed email is all that would be necessary to get one's message across where it may actually have an impact.....

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Very good point. I was venting frustration but you're right. It doesn't accomplish much.


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