Bass Pro Shops

[igs]

With another Bass Pro opening in CA, for a total of 5, what are people's thoughts about them and are they worth supporting? I don't know much about them other than they are overpriced. Are they pro 2A or are they FUD?

[dougd1015]

Overpriced and not the best employees there but it’s your decision.

[freonr22]

I keep getting gift cards to there, and cant justify the price

[Croweman08]

the one in San Jose sucks balls! There are only maybe 1 or 2 guys in the gun department that actually know anything.....**** show to buy a gun and a **** show to pick up your gun.....

[12pewpew]

The stores themselves are great to walk around in and browse but I never seem to find anything at a reasonable price to buy. Everything always seems to be full hit msrp.

[TAS]

Where's the new one located or going to be?

I have yet to purchase a firearm from them but I do frequent them for various items related to shooting, fishing, camping, boating, 4x4ing, etc., though you're often likely to find better pricing elsewhere or online for many things. I'm also a Cabela's Club Member so my club points are redeemable there.

[PoorRichRichard]

I sold guns at the Rancho Cucamonga store from 2012 until 2015. I saw the slow decline of the gun counter/hunting department back then, and it has continued to get worse. Has a lot to do with their poor management.

As far as an all around outdoor store goes, I find my dollar goes further, and that I get MUCH better/faster customer service at Sportsman’s in Corona. I have found this to be consistent with Sportsman’s Warehouse at their stores in Utah and Montana as well.

[sanjoseskater]

The bass pro is San Jose is much cheaper than local gun stores 530$ for a glock 19 vs 650 at other local stores. I’ve bought stuff the same price as Amazon there a few times. It’s nice to have a store close to buy cleaning supplies locally. If I were to buy ammo again I would to do targetsportsusa.com and pay the transfer fee at another place

[Garbcollector]

If you're looking for hunting or outdoor clothing they have a huge selection. If you're buying a firearm or ammo look elsewhere wait times are way to long

[Mayor McRifle]

Great for fishing gear. Okay for a lot of shooting-related gear. Not good at all for buying guns.

[Wicked K5]

Originally Posted by Croweman08

the one in San Jose sucks balls! There are only maybe 1 or 2 guys in the gun department that actually know anything.....**** show to buy a gun and a **** show to pick up your gun.....

^This. About 4 years ago my last firearm purchase at that store took several hours. Even though I got a great deal on a Bodyguard 38, I don't think I'd want to endure that process again.

[echo1]

My daughter in law worked there in Manteca years ago, and we took advantage of her employee discount often for many items. The clearance racks can be hit or miss deals. After she left, the only firearm I bought from them was in 2021, a 7.62X39 Ruger American Ranch, and 2 Vortex scopes (1X4, 2X7, & rings), with incentives, discounts, DROS, and a new store card was less than $650 OTD, a very good buy for new equipment. I'd been looking for a RAR for over a year and they just put this one on the shelf while I was there (I have SKSs & a pallet of ammo). Generally, they're kinda $pendy, along the lines of Sportsmans Warehouse, or Cabela's (which is Bass Pro). PAX

[flhxxx]

I purchased a shotgun from the Manteca Bass Pro several years back, when I picked it up an associate had to escort me out of the store and hand me the shotgun to leave with.

That was my last purchase of anything at Bass Pro. I did not like the way they handled that transaction at all. Not sure if I am being irrational about it, but it rubbed me wrong and now I don't shop there.

[nedro]

It's the Macy's of the hunting/fishing world.
I wouldn't expect anyone to buy at the regular price.
I buy when on sale. And when other stores were charging 125 a brick for primers. I was buying them for 87 bucks.
I bought my latest hummingbird from them cheaper than anyone else had them for.
I wait for sales.

[duckman1]

I would say they are the Walmart of Sporting Goods Stores. While they do carry name brands much of their merch is private label goods of dubious quality. Not my last choice to patronize but next to last.

[oddball]

The Bass Pro near my house is OK, one has to cherry pick stuff for good prices. I have purchased two guns there because they had the best price. The last one awhile back I bought for my wife, a Glock G42 and it was on sale, $50 off, $419 before tax, a little over $450 OTD. I have purchased 12 and 20 gauge ammo there when on sale, cheaper than everywhere else. A few years back, I bought a steel target/stand setup with a 10" gong thick enough for rifle rounds at 70% off. Got it for about 30 bucks.

The guys working the counter are old guys, my age, retirement age. Friendly, and fairly knowledgeable.

They have an indoor range, not many people shoot there (I don't).

[Djantlive]

i love basspro bc of the decor and free AC in the summer. it reminds me of disneyland or old town sacramento.

never made a purchase. sometimes i really try but nada.

[sigstroker]

They will have guns nobody else has. Wanna fondle a Steyr Scout Rifle? They have 'em. Wanna gaze upon a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade with metal that looks like it was just dipped in oil and wood finished like glass? They have 'em.

The stupid part is they won't let you put the bolt in and run it. Obviously you can't dry fire it either. Running a bolt and trying the trigger has sold me a lot of guns I couldn't afford.

[sigstroker]

Originally Posted by Djantlive

i love basspro bc of the decor and free AC in the summer. it reminds me of disneyland or old town sacramento.

never made a purchase. sometimes i really try but nada.

And the aquarium? I've only been to the one in Vegas, but a couple different Cabela's.

[golfish]

Originally Posted by sigstroker

And the aquarium? I've only been to the one in Vegas, but a couple different Cabela's.

The connected restaurant at the RC store has a really nice saltwater aquarium too. It's worth seeing if your at the BPS nextdoor.

[cz74]

Late 2021 at the Manteca location I saw they had an HK USP 40 for $989, I didn't have time to wait the lines and buy it, now I regret it falling off roster

[Carcassonne]

The one in Manteca is good for Clothing, boots, and fishing gear. Guns stuff is non-existent.
I usually make my big purchases around blackfriday. I can get around 40% off.

[echo1]

Originally Posted by duckman1

I would say they are the Walmart of Sporting Goods Stores. While they do carry name brands much of their merch is private label goods of dubious quality. Not my last choice to patronize but next to last.

That would be Big 5. Bass Pro can have good gear & deals. PAX

[Bullets&Whitewalls]

I can’t figure out how they stay in business. I love going in there the atmosphere is great the layout is great, the selection of goods is pretty good. But the prices are horrible. I sometimes stop at the one in Rocklin thinking today I’ll buy something, but sadly I leave empty handed every time. But I’m glad I can see the items I’m interested in before I buy them online way cheaper somewhere else. The gun counter is a joke I couldn’t even get a salespersons attention the one time I actually wanted to possibly pick up a shotgun they had on sale. They do have good candy selection though. Didn’t buy any of it either. I’ve probably been to that store 30 times.

[Chewy65]

I bought an impossible to find Browning Citori XS Skeet from the Rancho Cucamonga Bass Pro around 10 years ago. It was so hard to find even that stores employees wondered how I got it, which was through a call to Browning that I was able to get placed to someone that was hooked into importing and they told me that they had one of the models I wanted at sea. They told me to choose a premium Browning dealer and they would arrange for me to buy it through that dealer. I selected that Bass Pro and even ended up with a discounted price due to applying for a Bass Pro credit card.

As for the counter monkeys, they didn't have a clue how I got that gun, but we started DROS before the gun was even in the country and it just so happened to arrive at the BP on day 10.

[Darto]

Ever since BP bought out Cabelas, there's fewer Cabelas threads in the deals forum.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Darto

Ever since BP bought out Cabelas, there's fewer Cabelas threads in the deals forum.

'Deals' aside... Ever since Bass Pro took control of Cabela's, there are fewer reasons to shop at Cabela's, at least for me. (I regularly wear Cabela's brand clothing that no longer exists and was 'replaced' by cheap stuff under the Bass Pro brand.)

They can still come up with some fishing and reloading stuff that is 'out of stock' elsewhere, but that's becoming increasingly infrequent.

Then again, they've gotta pay off the merger somehow... Bass Pro Shops completes $5B Cabela’s acquisition.

Not to mention that they're attempted buyout of Sportsman's Warehouse fell through... Bass Pro and Utah retailer Sportsman's Warehouse cancel $785 million merger.

It was something that was, kind of, 'celebrated' here on Calguns... Sportsman's Warehouse will not be assimilated.

[Aerodude]

I’ve actually had good experiences at BPS in San Jose and Manteca. It is true that their gun counters don’t usually have more than one to three staff working at a time on the customer interface side. Ammo counter is usually one or two. They seem to be very meticulous with the paperwork so it does take some time. The counter people are going back into the storeroom to get the paperwork checked multiple times during the transaction. A little bit of a car dealership vibe. The bottom line for me is to go during off hours if at all possible. Either weekdays or early on weekends. If there’s more than 4 people in the electronic queue, I don’t bother since the wait could be hours.

[Imageview]

Good to have places to go, staff there doesn’t seem to be better or worse informed about firearm laws than any other gun store (which generally means poorly). Lines can get long, but they usually have a good amount of stock. And no where else around me to actually try on waders, or pick something up for a trip last minute.

[Teachu2]

I was shopping for a particular Browning 725 Sporting, and Bass Pro in Rancho Cucamonga had two when NOBODY else had one. Had to drive 140 miles each way, twice, and wait hours in line, twice, but the people who waited on me were polite, courteous, and professional. They also matched the lowest online price I could find.
OTOH, I ordered ammo at the same time, and it sat on a FedEx trailer in their loading dock receiving section for ten days. I ended up cancelling the order and buying what was on the shelf.
It was worth the time and drive to get the gun I wanted - even got to examine both and choose the one I wanted. I wouldn't do it for a G19, but this Browning was exactly what I wanted and their price was the second best in the country before they matched the best in the country. It was my first time in a Bass Pro or Cabela's, and the pickup trip was probably my last. Hard to justify most of a day and a tank of gas to save $20 on a flat of shotgun shells.....

[Russian Bot]

Bought some binoculars from them that were Canelas exclusives, they arrived at the store and when I went to pick them up it took over an hour.

[Mark49]

You have to love the Bass Pro experience. Eat, rock climb, etc. Spring i like the boat display. I prefer to buy from Turners, "Thursdays sale ad"

[Von13]

I find the Ammo is usually cheaper there than Turners and other Gun Shops.

[madland]

Originally Posted by Von13

I find the Ammo is usually cheaper there than Turners and other Gun Shops.

Saw this a few weeks ago while in Vegas on MLK Weekend. Went in there to kill some time. Kids always love the fish tank. Lots of off-roster in CA for sale in the used guns section.

Checked out a few small shops if they were near where we might be eating. Nice to see what real guns stores/freedom looks like. Ammo prices were always higher than BPS.

[Bull Elk]

For those of you who have had less than positive experiences at BP, try lowering your expectations. Look around you, local gun shops are closing all the time. Gun shows are great for cheap jewelry and jerky, but not guns. Prices are close too or at top of the market, but what are your options? Me? When I find a firearm that I want and if the price is somewhat fair, I’ll likely buy it. Because if you don’t someone else will. Our options today are fewer than they’ve ever been and they will likely be worse tomorrow. BP is far from perfect, but for many it’s all that’s available.