I hope they follow the same pattern they did with Offshore Angler. With that store, they kept it separate, used the expertise from there to beef up their saltwater fishing lines in their other stores. They even kept sending out Offshore Angler catalogs even though I'm sure the operations were combined behind the scenes. When they wanted to add boats to the store, they bought Mako Marine, to have an appropriate line.

Guess I'll be stocking up on some stuff when the clearance sale starts up.

I would be surprised if it goes through... Seems like an anti-trust (monopoly) kind of thing. Gander Mountain can't compete as it is... Bass Pro is good for a few things and absolutely useless for others, the stores themselves are always fun. Cabela's website is much more comprehensive.

I like both stores for different things (FW and Grapevine). Where the merchandise is the same so are the prices. Academy is usually a little less. Cabela's bargain cave used to have some great deals but that is pretty much a thing of the past. I live very close to the mid-point between the two and I still usually go to Academy because when you are looking for the basics they all carry the same things albeit both big stores have a larger selection. As for online I'm probably a bit long in the tooth because I like to put my hands on things before I buy them.
I only feel bad for the people that will lose their jobs due to consolidation and I doubt they are on the radar for anti-trust violations.

From what I've read, it sounds like REI as an in-store concept. I've read a few quotes about how Cabelas needs to "move away from gun sales" (seriously?!) and "blood sports" (again, seriously?!) and start appealing to a general audience of people who enjoy being in the outdoors.

That's what I was refering to. Thinking about it they're talking about move towards a Dick's type sales model.

The money is with the non hunters, they out number the hunters and gun owners. That is just good business sense, appeal to the masses instead of a few.

This is not a done deal. Bass Pro has yet to secure financing and is still doing due diligence.
It is a huge deal and about the only subject being discussed in our industry.
If it does you probably will not know the difference when it does in their stores. Bass Pro isn't trying to buy them to eliminate them. I don't even think they will totally consolidate the buying and general management offices.

I hope you are right. I drive by Bass Pro to and from work every day but rarely ever stop. I make regular trips to Cabela's and it's out of my way.

I hate to see it. I do a fair amount of business with Cabelas. The 5% back using their CC and the 15% off coupons you get about once a quarter, more than offsets the slightly higher price tags on some items.

I've been to Bass Pro a couple of dozen times, but rarely buy from them. They just do not have the stock of hunting and reloading stuff that Cabelas does.

I like both stores

I always went to the Ft Worth store when I was in the metro area but I usually only spent what cash back I built up on my credit card. It is fun to look but dang they are so high and GM is even higher.

I went into GM once and they had the small propane tanks for only $4.99 EACH. I saw a few more "deals" and walked out.

The store I miss closing in Abilene is Big 5, no more $99 Mosins

I was at Cabelas Friday and had to stop by customer service etc... While the gentlemen was helping me out I asked him about the buy out and his reply was that it was a rumor. I hope he is right !

Oshmans tried the jog bra/jackstrap bidnizz plan after being the largest shooting/foshiong outlet in Texas once upon a time...then Academy wanted that market and now is neck deep in the same thing, and the last thing we need is more teenyshoeboppers and tennis/golf players wearing new clothes everytime they sweat a little taking over another big box retailer.

Time to move to the Pacific Northwest and be able to shop at Sportsmans Warehouse again...
Ron

I hope it's a rumor , like cabelas much better

Kinda odd....about 20 years ago, it was Cabela's that saved Gander Mountain through buying out Gander's catalogue division!

The Gander Mountain that was saved by having it's catalog division bought by Cabela's isn't the present day Gander Mountain. That Gander Mountain, was bought by an outfit named Holiday Plus, which then assumed the name of Gander Mountain. a few years later the owners cashed out through an IPO. A couple of years ago The owners of Cabela's also cashed out through an IPO. The problem with public ownership is that investors want ever increasing results and have little patience with niche stores.

This sucks, hunting gear hands down better at cabelas than bps. Better knowledge staff usually too regarding hunting.

Any news on whats going to happen with gift cards and cabelas club visa points? I have some of each I don't want to throw away!

This is not a bankruptcy situation, any gift cards or points, should be good. When Bass Pro took over Offshore Angler the only real change was that catalog operations got consolidated behind the scenes. There was still a separate catalog and store. This will have a long implementation period. Cabela's overbuilt their big destination stores so there is some chance of closures there. There will be some private label lines that get dropped but short term things shouldn't change a lot. The biggest question is will Bass Pro run two brands? If they want to consolidate we are looking at a 3 to 5 year process.

Incorrect. The REI's and non hunting outdoors type stores don't even add up to the size of Cabela's dollar wise. REI is an interesting store being they are a vendor co-op.

Your average camping outdoor family will buy discount camping gear from Walmart before REI, etc.
True outdoor high end gear or even middle the road gear is a very niche market. It's a speciality market. In fact most of your better tents and camping equipment comes from direct to retail MFG companies.

Cabela's or basspro would fail as a stand alone non hunting store. Academy and Dicks can't do it then Cabela's and Basspro cant

I doubt if Cabelas or a buyer would attempt to covert it to a non hunting store, but I wouldn't be surprised if it changed directions and attempted to lure a lot more of the campers and backpackers. There are about 44 million campers in the USA, approximately 34 million hikers/backpackers and only about 14 million hunters. Cabelas already has customers in all 3 categories, good business planning would be to attract more from all 3 of those demographics. Then add in the fact that some of those hunters are also campers and or backpackers/hikers. They have them "hooked" to eliminate any of the lines would be cutting their own throat.

Both Cabelas and Bass Pro already have quite a following from the campers, backpackers, and even sell some fishing gear, as does Bass Pro selling some camping and hunting gear. From the article I posted above, it seems Cabelas megastores have gotten into their catalog sales. Which seems to make sense, when that happened, they cut their own profit throat. It costs a lot more to operate out of store than it does to sell Online from a catalog.

X2 I loved that store better quality on everything.

I've always thought that Cabela's was better than Bass Pro for hunting clothing and gear, particularly Cabela's branded items. Bass Pro is better for fishing gear.

That's surprising - I would have thought it would have been the other way around. Guess BP is stouter than I thought (I buy almost nothing from them).

Can't imagine they would change much externally about Cabela's if the deal does go through. Both in-store and internet sales have to be good unless I am totally missing something.

Here's a good analysis of the situation http://www.omaha.com/money/cabela-s-made...c93675ed97.html