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Cabelas, Cheektowaga NY

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7.1K views 32 replies 24 participants last post by  Duffer1565  
#1 ·
Did a bit of post Xmas shopping online on 12/26. Had a slew of gift cards and found a gun I wanted but it wasn't in stock so I ordered it and had it shipped to this particular store. I received a notice that said "Will be received at this store BY 1/8/20. An email will confirm availability for pickup." I had the order number for the gun and called Cabelas on 12/29 and the rep said the gun was in route to the store. I am figuring should be there shortly after New Years. No email.....waiting.....no email....I call on 1/4 and was told to "wait til the process is complete and you receive the email." Thinking this SUCKS.

I called on Monday the 6th on 3 separate occasions during the day, could not get a live voice to answer the phone. I called again yesterday evening 1/7 and after the call bounced to at least 5 different areas in the store before someone answered. I explained that I wanted to see if my order was there at the store. I was again given the BS about the "process" and the "email". I said can't you just run my order number and tell me either yes or no that my gun is there. Rep says I will take your order number back to the "Gun Counter" and someone will call you back ASAP. No call rest of evening...……..

Today, 1/8, I call Cabelas Corporate, Rep runs my order number and tells me my gun was delivered to the store on 1/4. Of course I'm pissed and I tell her why. She offers to call the store for me and get a verbal confirmation and an explanation why I haven't received the email. I am on hold a good 7-8 minutes and she comes back to tell me she cannot get thru to the Gun Desk. She asks me to hold again while she calls the store manager...……. I am on hold all of 10 minutes, about to blow a cork, and hang up...……...

I call the store myself tonight again, and again the phone bounces to location after location around the store until after 47 rings a voice answers and I ask to be connected to Customer Service. To my surprise on the second ring I have another voice...….I briefly explain what I want and she cks and says yes the gun is there and I can come in to pu. About an hour later......I am looking through my email....still nothing about the gun BUT...….an email asking to take a survey about my shopping experience at Cabelas………….BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR YOU IDIOTS!

Rant over...……….thinking of canceling my Cabelas account too...……...
 
#2 ·
Wizard don't feel alone,, Happen to my brother, He order a new Beretta 686 sporting took 2 weeks to come in and they sent a field model instead. Had to reorder the gun and got it in a couple of days. Went to pick it up and the Gun counter lady felt so bad about the mix up she loaded him up with perks,, $50 off plus 10% military discount, Beretta $60 range bag, Beretta gun socks and a few hats. he was happy.
 
L
#8 · (Edited)
I just went through an almost identical experience with Sportsman's Warehouse, on a shotgun I ordered for my 15 yo granddaughter, two weeks before Christmas. After going through all of the same frustrations as wizard77, I was informed this last Monday morning that my order has been cancelled by Sportsman's Warehouse due to lack of availability. REALLY?? It took three weeks and hours of phone calls and hassles to let me know that?!!

I feel your pain brutha.
 
#12 ·
ib_jigged said:
Sadly Cabela's is not what it used to be after BPS took them over. They are a glorified clothing store and even the quality of that has gone down the tubes!
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Sadly you are right. I visit the store in Hamburg, PA and Wilmington, DE. Both are disappointing compared to what they once were. You would think that Bass Pro Shops would keep a good business model and improve on it but it looks like they are trying to destroy the Cabela's stores. So sad!!
 
#17 · (Edited)
WadHopper said:
Stories like that don't come from places like this...
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Oh yeah! I personally know one of that group, and if you wanna argue with the wall by all means go in there!

And by the way, I went in and got my gun today, stood in line for over an hour (on crutches) btw, and was told to call their 800 number to file a complaint. The Rep did tell me that since BP took over 40% of the staff has been cut.

I was offered a couple of trinkets for my trouble, which I (politely) declined. Sure is different than it was.
 
#18 ·
I have only purchase used guns through the Cabela's Gun Library and my experiences have run from excellent to horrible over the years. I have found a few nice guns in the library. Most of the people shopping in my local Cabela's look like they have never spent a day outside hunting, fishing or shooting, and unfortunately that is the crowd that Cabela's caters to now. It's an "outdoors" clothing store where you can buy home "cabin" decor and specialty popcorn. Real outdoor and shooting gear has been pushed to the side. It seems like most gun activity is with handguns and tactical AR type long guns, not shotguns and really not with any vintage shotguns. The home decor area is bigger than the gun library now..... It's really sad, but so many things are these days......
 
#19 ·
Bob Hamilton said:
Most of the people shopping in my local Cabela's look like they have never spent a day outside hunting, fishing or shooting, and unfortunately that is the crowd that Cabela's caters to now.
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Same thing that happened to LL Bean, Filson, Woolrich, Orvis, ect.

Bought by those who want to seem outdoorsy, but would shit themselves if a squirrel charged them.

The problem is that shooters/hunters will buy an article of clothing and use it until it wears out, they are not fashion chasers that will buy entire new wardrobes on a yearly basis.

I always get a chuckle when I see something wearing a piece of apparel whose design is clearly hunting-inspired (jacket with leather shoulder patches, ect) who have never even seen a gun in real life. Also the .000001 percent of the population who know that Abercrombie and Fitch started as a gun importer and hunting outfitter.
 
#21 ·
You guys mentioned something earlier the infamous Cabelas Credit card. I have one with a zero balance and it is going to stay that way. That card regardless of the number on it gets hacked all the time. I have it locked from further use, and it still gets hacked. This is about my third Cabelas Credit card because Capital One sends a new one each time it gets hacked. I have other credit cards, but the Cabelas card is "what have you got in your wallet, but I say who is in your wallet." It is locked and locked away. Cabelas is just like Eddie Bauer used to be, and is headed in the same direction. Yuppie outdoor clothing. And the beat goes on..................
 
#22 ·
Took an old pistol in to Cabelas Lexington for them to look over and to make me an offer.
Really just killing time as I knew any offer would probably be way low.
This was on Thanksgiving day. Young man working gun room that day looked it over but could not make an offer as he was not well versed in this particular item, Colt 1902 semi-auto made in 1906. Took my information, filled out card and said he or someone else would get back with me in 2-3 days. Haven’t heard a word yet. Didn’t know days were that long.
 
F
#23 ·
I had a similar experience with Cabela's in Kansas City. I was buying a used Remington Nylon 66 and the transaction got delayed. They said they would call me or email me when it went through. I waited a few days, no call, no email, and I called and they could never tell me anything. Finally a few days later I went to the store and they said it had been approved the same day that it got delayed which was over a week earlier.
 
#24 ·
Canceled my credit card. It was not used at Cabela's since 1/18. With the high interest rate it wasn't worth having. Cabela's was sold because a corporate raider forced them to sell. His group got a seat on the Cabela's board of directors and forced the sale. His group walked away with $$$$. Cabela's has suffered under BPS. The gun library is no longer a place to find a treasure. Reloading supplies are not always in stock. Archery area is not what it used to be. Herters case ammo has disappeared. Pretty sad. Cabela's used to be a destination store. Not any more.
 
S
#26 ·
While the title of this thread focuses on Cabela's in NY - I have found the Cabela's in CO to be pretty good. I had a FABARM shipped into the gun library and the transaction went well. Someone I shoot with had a Beretta shipped in - it was advertised as used but unfired but when the gun arrived it was obvious it had been fired so the gun library manager gave him a good discount.
 
#27 · (Edited)
Not long after this post I saw an L.C. Smith, Featherweight 12 Gauge, Field Grade for sale, at of all places, the Cabela's at Cheektowaga, NY. I was not seriously looking but this L.C. Smith caught my eye because of the asking price of $675.00. I figured ok, I'll click on it and it will be some beat-up, worn-out piece of junk...it will only take a couple of seconds and a few clicks and I'll be on my way. Well it was far from that, it looked to be in almost pristine collector condition with beautiful and strong case colors, the barrel bluing on the 30 inch tubes was about perfect along with the trigger guard nitre blue. The wood also looked great with strong checkering and original varnish. Just when I thought it could not get any better I noticed it had a seldom seen Field Grade option, automatic ejectors (not many Field Grades had auto ejectors)!

Now I have to call and see what's going on. Well I got right through to an extremely helpful and nice Gun Library employee! What's up with this Elsie I asked....I got the reply...Oh too bad, it's missing a firing pin, also this gun has been sitting on the rack since last summer (sad commentary) so we just put it up online today to try and move it. Well, a firing pin I said, could you take a little off? Sure how about $625 and free shipping directly to your FFL? Ok!

My gunsmith made and installed a firing pin for $135. I doubt this gun has had more than 2 boxes of shells through her since 1946. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, probably the best gun deal I'll ever have. Here she is, one sweet little Elsie and a deal of a lifetime:

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#28 ·
I never buy from those stores mentioned.

I will seek out a gun shop, owned and operated by respectable people.

Once, and only once did I buy from a big box store and good God, what a hassle.

There are still a number of "Little" guys in business, and although they may not be able to buy and sell quite as cheap as the Big Box guys, I like doing business with them a whole lot better.
 
H
#29 ·
I had several hundred points on my Cabelas card, saw a Beretta A400 Black sporting clays gun so I used points to buy it. Went in to get the gun at 11:30 am and walked out at 2:30 pm. I told the salesman that I was amazed that anyone comes in there to buy a gun. He just looked at me like, “where else would someone go to buy a gun?” I bought a gun at Indiana Club(15 minutes from Cabelas) and went through the FFL check and was out in fifteen minutes. It amazes me that Cabelas stays in business.
 
D
#30 ·
The Cheektowaga Cabela’s is the one near me. It’s one of their smaller stores compared to most of the others they have. Shopping for most stuff isn’t too bad but buying a gun there is a nightmare in most cases. My son bought a gun online from them and was already paid for, just needed to pick it up, still took around 3 hrs. They don’t have enough people working the gun counter. If you are just picking up you still need to take a number and wait in line. They need to find a better system in my opinion.
 
#31 ·
Duffer - this store is close to me as well.. It opened as a Cabelas, but in my opinion since the BP deal it has become more and more like a Walmart or Dicks that still sells guns..

The casual clothing, fishing and junk (toys, gadgets etc) sections have grown, hunting clothing section has shrunk. Then the bargain cave became the junk cave, and now it is no more.

Granted the Cheektowaga location is a small store, but it has, to me at least, become a real disappointment.

FYI - I used to be a BIG fan of the BP stores as well. When I traveled for work I always made it a point to go to the nearest BP store. Some of them were really spectacular.
Now I feel like I am walking into a Walmart rather than a sporting goods store.
 
#32 ·
I have also had the 3+ hour never ending Cabela's gun buying experience. If you can have a gun shipped directly to your FFL like I did on the L.C. Smith, you totally avoid all the in store hassles. If you have to go to the store, you have to plan it out, go late on a Monday night, first thing on a Sunday morning, or go when there is a big football game.

There are still finds in the Gun Library, if you put the time in. Good deals on used shotguns go very fast, the rest of it sits forever.
 
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