Bass Pro sucks

Just wanted to vent this cuz I'm feeling a little vain pulsing in my temple. If I don't get this out I might not make it. Is it just me, or does Bass Pro focus too heavily on taxidermy and waterfalls and too little on actual products and good customer service? The last few times I've been to BP I've been incredibly disappointed. The customer service is terrible. Especially in the gun section. They don't even look at you when you're talking to them. Not everyone, but I've had that experience twice already at the gun shop. Another thing, I wandered the aisles looking for xmas gifts for my dad and realized that the shelves are filled with almost all gimmicky crap. I think if you took out all the taxidermy animals, and removed the gimmicks and left only things that people might use, you'd be left with a store about the size of your average Tim Hortons. Phew.... I feel better now.

This topic come up almost as often as 'What is the best caliber ?"...Haha

However agree, I went with some buddies once some 8 yrs ago...never spent a dime and haven't been back.

I've been to BassPro,once. Sales people behind the gun counter hadn't a clue what they were talking about. It was like they'd memorized
their dealers PR talking points. I didn't see anything that remotely resembled a "good deal". Their taxidermy work seemed to be quite good,though. I like Sail much better. I've yet to go to Cabella's. It's easier for me to order their stuff on-line because they ship from Winnepeg or Regina,not like BassPro which ships from their warehouse in Missouri. You pay GST,duty and extra shipping. Honestly,I like to shop at local dealers like Gagnon's,Williams Arms,Saugeen Shafts and Accuracy Plus.

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Originally Posted by Karl Marques

Is it just me, or does Bass Pro focus too heavily on taxidermy and waterfalls and too little on actual products and good customer service?

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It's not just you, and it's not just your local store.

In all my travels for work, I always drop in Bass Pro, Cabela's etc. It helps pass the time when you're stuck someplace for a week or more. I make the tour without buying anything and leave. ;)

Bass Pros are (naturally) all the same, and they all suck. They're the worst of all the big box outdoor retailers.

Some people I know spend more time there than in the field & wonder why they don't fill their tag. I also think it's become more of a fashion show on how much camo you can possibly own & wear. Many don't hunt or fish just want matching outfits to parade at the local Timmies!:silly:

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

... Honestly,I like to shop at local dealers like Gagnon's,Williams Arms,Saugeen Shafts and Accuracy Plus.

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Amen brother! I've been converted.

They have their up sides and down sides. They've been great to me this year. In June I broke a BPS rod that I'd had for years and really liked (I tried to put it down across my gunnels to pickup another one and didn't realize that I had managed to perfectly thread the tip into the cleat, snapped the tip clean off about 8" down). Went to bass pro, showed it to the fishing counter, they said hmm haaa we don't even make this model anymore...let me ask the manager... Manager said we'll give you 60% (or something like that) towards another BPS rod. Super happy! A rod way past warranty that I broke by being stupid and they'er going to give me $$$?? Then in November the zipper stop on the Frogg toggs rain jacket I bought there last Dec or Jan fell off, thought I'd kept the receipt but couldn't find it, stopped in and took it to the customer service and asked if they could see the purchase on my membership points card and he said they don't go back that far but.... let me ask the manager. Manager asked: Does he have a membership? Do we have one in stock? The answer was yes to both of those questions and I walked out with a brand new jacket, no hassle.

In some ways I think we are spoiled. Wasn't that far back we had to put up with atrocious service and inventory levels at LeBarons. These are box stores who operate like boxstores which means minimal salary costs ( so you get what you pay for ).They live off volume and marketing. The customer count at BP is probably 100 times what it is in LeBarons now. Add in Sail and Cabelas and you need to be cut throat on expenses to enable the thinning margins.

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Originally Posted by terrym

Wasn't that far back we had to put up with atrocious service and inventory levels at LeBarons.

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Don't remind me, I used to have to buy ammo at LaBaron's (Ottawa) and it was all I could do to suck it up and skulk across their threshold. Haha. Nasty experiences.

I'm lucky in this area we have a plethora of small family businesses within about a 45 minutes drive and I'm happy to drop my money on their counters. It costs more, but it's worth it to me to have a good repore with the owner.

I know their customer service isn't very good at times but I like the store. It's a great store to walk around while the wife goes shopping in the mall. I would much rather spend an hour in there then in the mall. You just need to know what to expect and you won't be disappointed.
You can sit in a boat, ATV or get your picture taken with Santa for free.... I for one, am grateful they took up shop here in Ontario.