http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/31/news/local/17-nocabelas.txt
Too bad, I was really looking forward to them opening the store in East Rutheford, NJ…only a 45 minute ride for me. Guess I’ll have to force myself 
to make the trip to Pennsylvania.
It sounds like Cabela’s made plans to expand too fast. That seems to happen a lot these days.
The slower the better as far as I’m concerned… they have bought land a few years ago a bit to our south in NH, and I believe the original goal was spring of '09. Hard to say exactly what the impact will be on our shop and others in the area, but I do know it ain’t gonna help.
I know the Jersey store didn’t open due to construction problems for the new mall (Forgot what they are calling this one. It’s right across from the old Giants Stadium.). The construction has restarted but who knows when it will be completed. This thing has an indoor ski slope in it. I too can’t wait for this store to open as I work at the Lincoln Tunnel and will be 5 min. from it.
Tom
I prefer to support small. locally owned fly shops, where the staff actually have some say in what they stock and a good knowledge of fly fishing.
My two visits to the cabela’s at Buda, TX have been disappointing on all counts.
I’m bummed to see on the list the one that was planned for a spot about an hour and a half from here. I’m all for supporting the local shop, but when you’re in a town with one locally-owned fly shop that’s all of about 1000 square feet, getting access to someplace like Cabela’s is a big deal. We had a Bass Pro open across the river a year or so ago, but there’s no comparison as far as their fly shops go, at least from what I’ve seen.
I don’t think this is a function of Cabela’s trying to expand too fast. The dynamics have just changed dramatically from when these were planned. Slowing economy, consumer confidence in the tank, and retail sales slumping across all spectrums, none of which was the case a year or more ago when the plans were made. This is no different than Starbucks and other recent announcements dramatically scaling back new store openings. Bad news in the general sense too I guess.
I suppose it may have something to do with the Hit the market took the last couple of weeks. Its a bummer if you have been waiting for ages for a Store to open up near you. Luckily the Post falls one is up and running. 
My random thoughts about this.
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Cabelas is the Walmart of outdoors equipment and are absolutely no different in how they do things than BassPro (or Walmart), just some different name brands.
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I read recently somewhere else that they are getting a lot of flack about their “trophy properties” venture that has angered a lot of customers because it was somehow taking lands that were open to public use and selling them to folks who were making them non-public use. This may be why they are “slowing” down.
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I have been in 2 Cabelas and 3 BassPro stores(numerous times in each), but I don’t think I will ever go back. Each time I have been in any of these stores, the shelves have less and less on them (by selection) and more and more people in them which equals a poor shopping experience for me.
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The staff at each of the stores I have been in are about as knowledgabe as the teenagers working at Walmart are about the sporting equipment I am shopping for. Twice now I have had these idiots try to sell me things that are the exact opposite of what I told them I am looking for. They don’t have a clue.
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Stores like these are hurting the small shops that are full of products being sold by someone who actually knows what the products are for, which is worth the few pennies on a dollar I might have to spend in their shops. I would much rather have the small shop than a dozen of these big box stores.
Slate Drake 9,
You are a new Member here, so you better tread lightly on the BB! That means we don’t like people who Troll on the BB! Cabela’s has a good reputation around here and I would also suggest you fill out your Profile!
Thanks,
Doug
I’m new so I better tread lightly on the BB???
Are you serious? Is this one of those places where differing opinions are not welcomed?
Golly, gosh, jeeze! I’m really sorry I didn’t follow the “pecking order” of being an established poster on this board before I shared an opinion about something.
I also missed in the forum rules where all opinions must be the same as everyone else’s.
How does my posting on this board equal “Troll?”
Doesn’t this board originate from America, where people have the RIGHT to FREE SPEECH?
Doug,
Is it difficult to live with such thin skin?
(edited for a typo in my post)
Slate Drake 9,
QUOTE; I’m new so I better tread lightly on the BB??? End Quote.
YES!
Try thinking about somebody besides yourself! If you come off as someone who has an ax to grind, then that isn’t a good way to start out on the BB, is it?
Thanks,
Doug
I guess I just don’t understand you. How is my post about my opinions about Cabelas (which I don’t own a Cabelas store or any other store) thinking about only myself?
But I do understand the ax to grind comment, as you have made me feel like I need to have a very sharp ax when dealing with the people on here the way you have welcomed me.
Maybe this isn’t a good community of fly fishers as advertised. Maybe this is the place that gives us fly fishers a bad rep. as being snobish and such.
But anyways, thanks for the warm welcome.
Stores on hold makes perfect business sense to me. Why tie up cash in a time of economic uncertainty? Besides you can always go online which for many is the only Cabelas experience we have known.
If you don’t understand, then reread your original post! If you then don’t understand, I can’t help you. If you want a warm welcome, then be a good guest.
Thanks,
Doug
Slate_Drake_9,
Welcome aboard! Please don’t take Doug the wrong way. He actually means well.
You will find the folks on this bb to be a great bunch. The information is first rate and the friendship genuine.
Slate_Drake_9
Welcome to the Board. As you get settled in, you’ll find some super people here! Lots of questions, lots of answers (sometimes even the right answers to the questions you ask!!).
I have to admit, there are days I feel the same way about ANY and ALL of the stores I frequent … or the Doctors I see … or even the newspapers! Ach! Guess it’s not a perfect world after all!!
Betty
Slate Drake 9;
Welcome, to FAOL. I hope you enjoy it here. FAOL is a great place to learn AND to teach, (by offering your own experiences and thoughts).
Betty? YOU…told ME…"That if I bought an FAOL hat, “life will always be perfect, sunny and just ducky!”
NOW you change your mind? Geesh!! Here, I sit, wearing my hat and it’s SNOWING AT THE BEACH!?!
Slate Drake,
I didn’t agree with what you said on your original post, but I’m upset about a FS Reply, and I’m not upset with you! Please accept my apology and welcome to the BB!
Also I deleted my responses to you and if you could delete your responses to me, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Doug
Amen. It’s not just Cabelas and Bass Pro though, most of the majors are being sold in other large, well established, more respected retail sporting goods stores, which in many cases don’t offer any more value. You never hear anyone bust on LL Bean… and they don’t have to adhere to the same geographic boundaries (at least X miles between dealers) as the small shops do… small shops are at a huge disadvantage. Last time I went into a Bass Pro, the ‘fishing specialist’ was only a few days older than the socks I had on, knew nothing… his last job before bass pro was slinging cream cheese on the breakfast shift at Bubba’s Bagels… ‘fishing specialist’… OK! That is what it’s coming to, and I think it’s a real drag.