Fish-or-man? wrote:I was at the Cabelas in Reno a couple months ago and selection-wise the two stores were more or less identical with what they carried. You'd think a company as big as Cabela's could afford to hire a consultant or two for each area they're opening a store at to see what the locals buy. As it is right now I will always go to Sportsman's Warehouse over Cabelas. I wonder if anglers will open up to the salestaff at Cabelas when fall salmon season rolls around, like they do at Sportsman's, about what colors are working, what the river flows have been like, etc.
When Cabelas came into Post Falls Idaho, a few minutes from Spokane, I was impressed, and surprised, by a lot of things. I still find that Cabelas has more of what I need, but I'd be in trouble if Sportsman's was not also in the area. I find that Joe's is pretty lame in Spokane.
What I was told when I asked the General Manager of our Cabelas, about just this issue of not having what we need, was that the store buying profile was based on the Boise Idaho store. I believe that the Reno store, and all of the other western states stores, is also based on the oldest of the west stores, which is think is the Boise store. He told me it would take two to three years before a new profile was developed; a profile based on local request and buying.
For you guys on the "Left Coast", I expect Cabelas to be a disaster. Cabelas has never carried much in the way of Steelhead of Salmon, and what they do carry is mostly the Great Lakes version of those items. Their Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout selections are improving, but it is not going to happen overnight.
Before Cabelas came to town, the Sportsman's and Joe's prices were higher. I agree, they are lower now, but only because they lowered them to keep their doors open. There are days when Joe's has no one in the parking lot other than employees. I have seen Sportsman's with a similar, but not as extreme, problem. Cabelas will always tie their prices into their catalog, so Sportsman's an Joe's do have opportunities to sell lower, and I for one look forward to the competition.
Too much water, so many fish, too little time.