Lebaron Ottawa mass restructuring (i.e.closing)

I had a couple of hours to spare at lunch today, so I decided to scoot down to Le B's in Markham. Yup, big sign on the front of the building "Business Closing - everything must be sold". Sale is being run by an Auction House, typically this would be arranged by a receiver not the normal operator of the store.

I didn't intend to buy anything, I just thought I'd go see a couple of the guys in the gun section that I know, as well the line ups were about an hour long to cash out (another indicator of why they may have been having trouble, they don't scan to check out, instead they have to fumble for a price tag, manually make the entry on the register, and if there is/was a discount figure that out on a calculator, probably twice the labour dollars to process a sale than their competitors).....BUT, they did have one left of a stainless Ruger 10/22. I hummed and hawed and ended up taking it, the savings were enough to at least partially pay for the long cashier lines, about $375 taxes included.

I said goodbye to the one acquaintance that was there (the auction management, in their wisdom, only had one man behind the counter, not the 4 or 5 that they could have used) and bade him farewell and good luck. I've never had a bad word to say about the people in the firearms section, they've always treated me well.

O.N.G.

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Originally Posted by OldNewGuy

... another indicator of why they may have been having trouble, they don't scan to check out, instead they have to fumble for a price tag, manually make the entry on the register, and if there is/was a discount figure that out on a calculator, probably twice the labour dollars to process a sale than their competitors ...

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Likely not a factor in their bankruptcy: you need to have a certain number of people in the store regardless, so the labour savings at point of sale don't always give you reduced labour costs. But another great indicator of how they failed to invest in technology and keep up with the times. That's what killed them, I think.

POS check out systems track sales history and inventory. Valuable information that would have helped their in stock positions. There may have been a couple good guys in the gun section but the guy who ran it was arrogant as hell and didn't really know much about guns. Just because a vendor comped you a couple nice African Safaris doesn't mean you know guns.

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Originally Posted by terrym

POS check out systems track sales history and inventory. Valuable information that would have helped their in stock positions.

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Yup, and a modern purchasing system would have helped them order enough inventory in the first place. I'm just assuming they never had one.



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Originally Posted by standup

W/O Cabelas even having perceived competition I want to hear you say that in a few years. I'm no fan of lebarons, but way less a fan of monopolys

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What monopoly? I rarely even enter hunting stores and I can name you a dozen in eastern ON that aren't Cabelas, bass pro or Sail.

Tons of options. Nothing to worry about here. LeBarons shot off their own feet. They aren't victims.

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Originally Posted by OldNewGuy

I had a couple of hours to spare at lunch today, so I decided to scoot down to Le B's in Markham. Yup, big sign on the front of the building "Business Closing - everything must be sold". Sale is being run by an Auction House, typically this would be arranged by a receiver not the normal operator of the store.

I didn't intend to buy anything, I just thought I'd go see a couple of the guys in the gun section that I know, as well the line ups were about an hour long to cash out (another indicator of why they may have been having trouble, they don't scan to check out, instead they have to fumble for a price tag, manually make the entry on the register, and if there is/was a discount figure that out on a calculator, probably twice the labour dollars to process a sale than their competitors).....BUT, they did have one left of a stainless Ruger 10/22. I hummed and hawed and ended up taking it, the savings were enough to at least partially pay for the long cashier lines, about $375 taxes included.

I said goodbye to the one acquaintance that was there (the auction management, in their wisdom, only had one man behind the counter, not the 4 or 5 that they could have used) and bade him farewell and good luck. I've never had a bad word to say about the people in the firearms section, they've always treated me well.

O.N.G.

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Guys in hunting have always treated me well. Sorry to see them go. They also always put powder aside when it came in.

I don't care how they were treating me. I don't care about knowledge of their stuff. Are you kidding me? Where are you getting good treatment and knowledge these days?

But I do care that they DID have better prices for many items. I'm VERY sorry to see them go :(

If all you care about is low cost, and don't care about the level of service you get, then shop online, get everything shipped from China, expect poor quality and don't complain when Walmart pushes all the little guys out.

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Originally Posted by Big Jack

Guys in hunting have always treated me well. Sorry to see them go. They also always put powder aside when it came in.

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Now go to Cabelas and Amanda can sell you a gun by showing you leg or the ditz that didn't know squat when at sail and is now at cabelas can. No I'd take the guys at Lebarons

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Originally Posted by standup

Now go to Cabelas and Amanda can sell you a gun by showing you leg or the ditz that didn't know squat when at sail and is now at cabelas can. No I'd take the guys at Lebarons

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Go into Cabelas Ottawa and see a guy named Dave, white hair and a beard, who used to be on these boards quite often. He'll sell you a gun, give you the ballistics for the various ammo types, and even talk to you about reloading recipes.

They don't staff their store with idiots. But seems like you've got your mind made up regardless of what folks are going to point out. Your posts now are starting to look like you've never even been in a Cabelas......

You don't like Cabelas, we get it. Now 5 posts saying the same thing.