Cabela's reels.....extinct?

[Randy Moore]

While I currently own a Nitro (my second) I've heard a lot of bad complaints about how cheaply these boats are made.  I also heard that once BP bought Cabela's that 80 engineers and such that built Ranger boats quit as they want nothing to do with Mr. Morris and BP.  It will be interesting to see how this all plays out especially for us the consumers.  Thanks for the comments and feedback.  I completely agree about the stock in the Cabela's store in Rogers.  I've been twice and have been disappointed both times.  

[rps]

Think of this situation in economic terms. Clothing makes real money. Expect it to expand. BP will keep Cabela' contacts and contracts in that area.

Guns and knives bring people into the store. They will keep that going.

Lures are a low margin item, but needed to appeal to the masses of fishermen. To keep that profitable, they will sell their own and the popular, middle of the road stuff like strike king, berkley, rapala/storm, and zoom. The same with rods and reels.

Boats will become only White River Group brands - they killed stratos, bought ranger, and several others like Mako. Quality is good for the money, but we are talking cheap and you mostly get what you pay for.

I loved early Cabelas, but their model was too elitist and did not generate the profit to justify that. Johnny, ever since he bought Don Butler's goods at Okie Bug and sold them in his daddy's liquor stores, has always had his eye on the bottom line. By his own terms and measures, he has succeeded wildly.

I will visit the new BP's. Most of my money will be spent elsewhere.

 

[jeb]

11 hours ago, Blll said:

Went to the Cabela's in Rogers today. Clearance cave is 75% off and just about bare. I don't see it coming back...ever. I don't mind BP but Cabela's had enough different products to make it noticeable. I've ranted before about Cabela's in Rogers lack of stock. No different today. Plenty of empty hooks. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. 

We found the same thing the other day. Talked to an associate about it, and it looks like they are taking another run at closing the Bargain Cave, at least here in Rogers. He said JM "did not like the Bargain Cave". Seems kind of odd, given he has a big outlet store next to the BP in Springfield. You'd think he'd understand the allure of the treasure hunt to bringing in shoppers. If it closes, it will certainly cut back dramatically on our visits to the store.

It's unfortunate that we have the closest Cabela's to Springfield. They are messing with this store a lot to see how stuff flies. There are often BP staff from Springfield in the store, watching the lab rats.

[Bill Babler]

9 hours ago, rps said:

Think of this situation in economic terms. Clothing makes real money. Expect it to expand. BP will keep Cabela' contacts and contracts in that area.

Guns and knives bring people into the store. They will keep that going.

Lures are a low margin item, but needed to appeal to the masses of fishermen. To keep that profitable, they will sell their own and the popular, middle of the road stuff like strike king, berkley, rapala/storm, and zoom. The same with rods and reels.

Boats will become only White River Group brands - they killed stratos, bought ranger, and several others like Mako. Quality is good for the money, but we are talking cheap and you mostly get what you pay for.

I loved early Cabelas, but their model was too elitist and did not generate the profit to justify that. Johnny, ever since he bought Don Butler's goods at Okie Bug and sold them in his daddy's liquor stores, has always had his eye on the bottom line. By his own terms and measures, he has succeeded wildly.

I will visit the new BP's. Most of my money will be spent elsewhere.

 

Not going to find a better post than that anywhere on how the "Cookie Crumbles."  Randy you forgot Legend Boats, bought and scrapped.

[snagged in outlet 3]

17 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

Johnny, ever since he bought Don Butler's goods at Okie Bug and sold them in his daddy's liquor stores, has always had his eye on the bottom line. By his own terms and measures, he has succeeded wildly.

If you work for somebody that doesn't look closely at the bottom you better look for another job.  We look at it here every 3 days with all principals involved.

[vernon]

Reluctantly (as always) I followed Kathy into the Bass Pro on The Landing last week and the first thing I saw was a huge stack of Cabela's brand coolers - the big fancy Yetti wannabe's that were on sale.

The last time I was in the Cabela's in Kansas City the boat sales area and outdoor displays seemed to be dominated by Nitro and Tracker products.

Both times, Twilight Zone music began rolling through my head.

I'm sure it will all shake out for the best.  Or not.

Either way, Johnny will be just fine.

Might want to consider buying some stock in Tackle Warehouse though!

[tjm]

Last time I was in the Rogers store  an executive looking person in a group of store clerks (that I had to nearly accost to ask a question ) said she thought the signs over both would read "Outdoor World", I don't really care; I haven't spent much over a hundred bucks with either in the last twenty years. Either or both are nice outings just to see and touch stuff. Local types in Cassville get most of my fishing money.

[Bill Babler]

The Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rodgers, Springdale metroplex is a monster for trade, due to the presence of WalMart.  A huge percentage of companies both foreign and domestic do business there and the majority of products they sell have to go thru there.

Our Watch Dog is the Federal Trade Commission/Consumer Product Protection Division.  Long title for saying this is a division of the government that makes companies tow the line on what they say about a product is true.

In the Metroplex there is a private testing lab that tests for the Commission and tests everything from dog food to drones making sure the claims are all with a tolerance what they say they are and this varies from product to product and plus or minus if you will.  Nothing is exact, and all companies get a tolerance in their claims of similar products.

We have hosted their upper management here at the Lodge on business retreats several times and what I'm saying here is strictly hearsay or second party.  They really have no dog in the fight and could care less about any company or manufacture.

Some of the most honest products they test are WalMart brands, they come in very close to tolerance.  (These may not be the best products on the market), but they don't lie about them.  They  cost what they cost and are what is stated on the label.  Truth in advertising.

And again I state completely hearsay on my part.  Most often the worst is BP and their brands, right at the lowest end of the Tolerance   Time after time right on the bottom line as you can make it on a tolerance level and still claim it to be what you say.

Is this wrong?  No, its not it is what the CPPD says it has to be and falls within the guidelines.  Is the advertising embellished are we led to believe a BP split rig tested for 20# is a good as a Spro split ring tested for 20#?  According to the CPPD it falls within the guidelines and is marketed as such and can claim to be every bit as good.  On the 10% tolerance line the Spro holds 22# and the BP 18#  The Spro is 20% stronger but can only claim to be equal.  Marketing.

There was a not flattering article a few years ago in the Wall Street Journal on JM being one if not the best Master Marketer of our time and also having the ability to take advantage of any and all government programs to work them in his favor.

This is business marketing.  BP makes it not quite as good as national brands and sells it for less, and can claim the same degree of effectiveness as the tolerances allow this.

As RPS said Cabelas went the other way.  Make it at the top of the tolerance and as good or better than the National brands and sell it at the same price.  They were competing with the National Brands and BP is not.  Strictly a Marketing Strategy and we see who won out.

This is not a condemnation of BP in anyway, it is business.  JM has done and created some of the most wonderful things we have here in the Midwest.  You look at this guy with an extremely quiet demeanor and an "Oh Shucks Attitude" and think how did he do all this from where he started?  How?  He is probably one of the top 1/2 dozen business minds of our generation, a true marketing genius.

 

 

[Blll]

On 5/29/2018 at 5:10 PM, tjm said:

Way back a year or two, it was prophesied by quite a few that BP would take the boat company and scrap the stores of Cabela's, what ever the boats are or were. In my estimation both BP and Cabela's are clothing stores first and foremost with guns as a draw factor, like milk in a super market and tackle is just a side line.

Pretty much agree that clothing is the money maker at either store. I do say that BP has the largest inventory of both rods and reels anywhere that I've seen. Sure they have often been out of the exact one I've gone there for, but they also have more brands, sizes and styles than anyone else, at least as far as being on the floor. I have had good luck with either clothing brand with several items 10-15 years old and going strong. There actually seems to be more help at Cabela's lately. 

[Quillback]

I will miss the online Bargain Cave, I have picked up some stuff at great prices there over the years.