I have to disagree. You get 3 old farts anywhere and one of 'em is gonna try to tell someone else what they "ought to do." I'm getting up there, but I promise, I try very hard to keep my mouth shut in public.

I consider them a shoe store that also sells entry level firearms for folks who want to buy that type of firearm.

It's still a decent place to find ammo

Heck, there is some for sale in the classifieds that came from the days of stand in line before open

After more than 2 years, that guy is certainly persistent.

Yep.

I shake my head every time one pops up

BPS can't offer prices low enough to make it worth driving to and around Grapevine. You don't even have to wait at one red light to hit up the Academy in Weatherford if coming from the West.

Cant wait for the Bass Pro to open in Grand Prairie.

The Bass Pro by me is getting pretty tattered and worn, although it is fairly convenient to the house. Nothing I really need except the occasional box of ammo. They've never figured out what to put back in the restaurant area. 'Neat venue, with what was a very nice bar, just sitting locked up.

Jess could put a helluva 2nd location in there. Attention panKo.

The wife and I used to like to take the dog to bass pro and walk around as something fun to do. Lots of friendly good moral employees with similar interests. There was the indoor pond and bridge with the trout, the hot dog/nacho vending area, the rattlesnake tank, stocked shelves. The atmosphere was nice and we always found a good impulse buy. But the last time, it was like you said. Tattered and worn. All that stuff was gone, less merchandise, and it was like a ghost town lacking both employees and customers. It was the first time I ever walked through Bass Pro and did not buy anything. I was hoping it was a single store thing and not a sign of recession.

Academy, I too have always thought of them as a shoe, sports, and clothing store. Not so much for hunting, gun stuff other than entry level. Like a big Oshmans.

One of our daughters worked at an Oshmans in high school. She now admits she thought I was a bit of a racist...until she worked Holy Week, with the (upper class - not a judgement, just a fact; it's a caste system, whether they admit it or not) Mexico Mexicans just throwing clothes on the floor, demanding instantaneous service, spoiled little brats running around screaming, etc.

Same. Never considered Academy as a "hunting" store even though they sell hunting stuff.

Agree that Academy has lost ground (and likely will continue to lose)

Scheel’s gets 95% of my sporting goods dollars.

They understand the value of customer service, plus they price match anyone.

Academy offers employees with bad attitude, no product knowledge, and long lines at the checkout.

Same could be said for Bass Pro and Cabela’s to a lesser degree

If in DFW area, Scheels is much better than all the other options.

Agreed.

Academy is closest to my house so I wind up there mostly. Bass Pro and Cabelas now mean traffic problems. I knew a Cabelas sales guy and went there looking for a fly rod. After looking, he told me than, until BP bought them, the quality was higher.

Hell, all three are now clothing stores that sell guns and fishing stuff.

I hit Academy for most of my stuff. like mentioned above locations are close and good prices. I shop around as well and most of the times Academy wins. If looking for more higher end I hit Scheels. Been years since I've been to Cabela's or BP due to their prices and 30 minute drive.

Academy here in Odessa has lost my business. Went in to look at some guns and they acted like they didn't care. 3 guys standing around. One talking to a customer who was waiting on his background check to come back. The other two acting like they were busy but kept looking my way. Finally after 10 minutes the guy asks if I need help. The really didn't want to help me. Told a manager and he acted like it wasn't any big deal.

While we're on the subject of gun stores...

Ha! You reminded me. I need to pester the city to put up stoplights at both of those four ways....

'Had to dig this up. I had to buy a couple of flats of shotgun shells for a charity clay shoot coming up. Holy crap, every time I'm checking out at Bass Pro, it's the longest wait of any retail store anywhere, of any type. It's not just the employees. It's the customers too. I think I'd rather go to the dentist. I think Academy, with the children at the registers, is actually faster.

Academy will at least price match on most things.

So will Scheels.

I had a similar experience in katy. Never that bad before. Never going back to look at guns and never walk to one of their counters again. Wont miss the traffic driving in.
I will go to the one in Victoria though for tennis shoes