Cabela's Customer Service Issues

I purchased Cabela's 10x28 compact binoculars at the Green Bay, Wisc. store about 3-5 years ago. Recently, the right lens started fogging up during turkey season this spring. I went back to the Green Bay store where I bought them, but the customer service clerk (a small girl in a wheelchair) informed me that the lifetime warranty was only valid for 2 years on binoculars. Unfortunately, without a receipt or exact purchase date, she couldn't assist me further. While I may have overlooked the warranty terms at the time of purchase, based on my previous positive experiences with Cabela's, I expected better support. I am disappointed and dissatisfied with how this was handled. As a result, I will be closing my Cabela's credit account and exploring alternatives. Thank you for hearing me out. Tom B.

I have attempted multiple times to contact the gun counter at the Cabelas store in Acworth, Georgia, but have been met with unhelpful responses claiming all staff are busy when my wife was present and not being helped. Each interaction has been rude, and when requesting to speak with a manager, I was hung up on repeatedly. I believe someone from corporate should investigate the poor customer service firsthand. The staff seem more interested in their cell phones than assisting customers. As a business owner myself, I do not condone such behavior from my employees. I will not recommend shopping at the Acworth, GA Cabelas to anyone based on my experiences. I trust that this feedback will be taken seriously. Sincerely, Randy.

I recently bought a new set of Cabela’s Supermag [redacted] waders to replace my old pair that was a decade old and of the same brand. After using the new waders for the first time, I discovered leaks in the boot to neoprene seam on both boots. When I tried to exchange them, I was informed that the waders were out of stock and on backorder. The store mentioned that I was the third person that day who had encountered the same issue. I was given the option to return the waders for less than the current price, indicating I would have to pay more to get a working pair. I am requesting a leak-free replacement pair to be sent to the store for an exchange. If not possible, I would like a refund of the current value in cash, as my original payment method.

I recently purchased the Cabela's pellet grill Pro Series 24, model cb24esc1, about a week ago. Unfortunately, I've been experiencing issues with the grill randomly shutting off, especially in the middle of smoking a trip tip. When I turn it back on, it has to preheat all the way up to [redacted] degrees and then cool down, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The grill doesn't display any error codes, just briefly lights up before shutting off. I've tried to contact support but only found an automated system with no relevant options. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with a customer service representative regarding this matter. Thank you. - K. Poindexter

Dear Cabela's Customer Service, I purchased a Columbia jacket (UPC# [redacted]83) for $[redacted].99 on 11/25/18 from Cabela's in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. After trying the jacket on at home, the zipper broke. I reside two hours away from Prairie du Chien. The Cabela's store suggested I complete a return form on your website, which also requires my credit card details, a step that concerns me. Columbia Sportswear informed me that they could not assist as the purchase was made through Cabela's. I am frustrated by this ordeal as the expensive jacket became unusable upon my second wear. The lack of satisfactory responses from both companies disappointed me, leading me to forgo future purchases from Columbia and Cabela's. Best regards, C. Albertson

I visited Cabelas in Richfield, WI on Saturday, November 24th to buy a handgun. The federal background check was quick, but it's been a week with no update on the Wisconsin state check. I reached out to the store recently, and the employee in the gun department wasn't very helpful, making me feel like a bother. He mentioned they had until Thursday to respond. I'm frustrated as my record is clean, and there shouldn't be any holdup. I'm hesitant to call again but need clarification. If there's a mix-up, I want to know who to contact. Please provide an update. Thank you, Dave S. [redacted].

To whom it may concern, On May 31, [redacted], my wife and I attempted to purchase matching 9mm Springfield handguns from Cabela's in Thornton. Unfortunately, I was denied the purchase while my wife was approved. Due to my denial, Cabela's could not complete either transaction. After emailing the appeals paperwork, I received a response from CBI on June 5, [redacted], with an explanation and a case number. Despite facing challenges with Jefferson County's systems, I was eventually able to file for an expungement in July, which was approved on August 21, [redacted]. Subsequently, on September 26, [redacted], I applied for my CCW in Adams County, which was approved and received on November 27, [redacted]. However, on December 1, [redacted], when my mother, Theresa A. C., attempted to purchase a Taurus G2S 9mm at the same Cabela's store, she was denied due to my previous denial in May. Even after showing employees Robert, Zach, and David all the necessary legal documents, they were unable to sell her the firearm. I would appreciate a call from corporate to clarify your policy and address why, despite presenting legal documentation, we were still refused service. Thank you, Mike C. [redacted]

I purchased a Spencer antique ([redacted]) Model shotgun manufactured by Bannerman. Despite Bannerman producing these after [redacted], the Pennsylvania store informed me they would not ship it as an antique. They also refused to send it directly to me with my C&R license or to my local gun dealer. They insisted I had to pick it up at the nearest Cabellas in Gainesville, VA, which is a 3-hour round trip. This would be the third store it's been shipped to. This policy is not in line with US law. As long as I have an FFL holder or a C&R license for you to send it to, shipping should not be an issue. Your staff appear to be fixated on the [redacted] date, pre or post, making it impossible. Their understanding is incorrect, and I am quite upset. All your stores appear to believe that [redacted] is a decisive factor. Once again, this belief is incorrect. I am seriously considering not doing business with you in the future. If you are in the industry, it's crucial to understand the regulations. Dr. G.S. Wheeler

I recently went Christmas shopping at your Avon Store in Ohio and spent $[redacted]. I enjoyed shopping there, but encountered an issue as I didn't have a cart and ended up losing my eyeglass case with 4 shoe boxes, a pair of pants, and a winter coat. I tried calling the store today but couldn't reach anyone. When I contacted firearms, David helped despite it not being his department. He tried to assist but the girl upfront refused to cooperate. I overheard their conversation while they thought I was on hold. David checked but couldn't find the glasses. I have extensive retail experience and have never seen such behavior towards a customer. As I approach retirement, this experience is disappointing. Wishing you Happy Holidays. Thank you, Mr. George Miller.

I purchased an MSR Hubba Hubba 2 person tent from Cabelas back in [redacted]. I've used it successfully in the Sierra for climbing Mt. Whitney, but recently experienced significant leaking during a rainstorm while camping in Great Basin National Park and Passaloutre Wildlife Management Area. Despite setting it up correctly with guy lines, the tent leaked everywhere, leaving me and my gear cold and wet. I even had to resort to using an emergency boat tarp over the tent to stay dry. As a long-time customer, I am disappointed with the performance of the tent. I am considering seeking assistance from Cabelas or contacting MSR directly to address this issue and hopefully find a solution for a dry camping experience in the future.

I visited your Green Bay store before Christmas to purchase several Cabela's heavy sweatshirts but did not find any in stock. I asked one of your employees, who checked but couldn't locate any either. He mentioned he had just returned from vacation and was surprised by the absence of the sweatshirts. Upon checking online, it seems the product is no longer available. If Cabela's has decided to discontinue this item, it may be a significant marketing mistake. I'm not only expressing my disappointment, but also that of my hunting and fishing companions and many other outdoor enthusiasts I come across regularly. Your Cabela's sweatshirts are my favorite, and I hope this is just a temporary issue rather than a consequence of the merger. Perhaps there's something to learn from the approach of stores like Dicks and Gander Mountain.

I recently selected a Sage fly reel from the shelf at Cabela's in Oklahoma City for my son's fly fishing lessons. Despite the $49.99 price tag displayed, the reel rang up as $[redacted]. When I brought this to the attention of the checkout staff, they called over a manager who explained that the price on the shelf was below cost and could not be honored. Despite their explanation, the small discount offered was not satisfactory. As an attorney, I was surprised by Cabela's refusal to honor the displayed price on the reels. I had already bought waders and a rod. Having been a loyal customer at both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, spending thousands on fishing, hunting, and boating gear, I now contemplate taking my business elsewhere if such issues are not resolved properly. A wise business person once told me that satisfying customers leads to positive word-of-mouth, while mistreatment generates negative feedback. This experience has certainly made me reconsider where I spend my money in the future.

I bought a Cabela's Deluxe 8.7" Slicer on Sept 08, [redacted]. Since the first time I used it, I noticed that the blade seems to be crooked, slicing thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom. This defect has prevented me from using it. Recently, I was unable to help slice bread for sandwiches for a senior club's donation to the homeless due to this issue. Despite it being some time since my purchase, I am wondering if there is a possibility of having it replaced because it has been a problem since day one. I stored it away, only using it a few times, as each time I go to use it, I am reminded of the slicing problem.

I previously had a card with approximately $[redacted] worth of points on it. When I closed the card, I confirmed with the company whether we could still redeem the points, and they assured me we could. However, when my husband tried to use the points recently, he was told he was not in their system and was denied access. Strangely, we then received a statement showing we still have $[redacted].05 in points. We are confused as to why we were prevented from using them as promised.

Your products are excellent, but I am frustrated with the prevalence of Chinese-made hunting clothing. I prefer to support American-made companies and products, even if it means paying more. Recently, I spent $[redacted] on clothes, only to discover they were all manufactured in China. This will be my last purchase from your company. I will now exclusively seek out American-made items. I plan to promptly pay off my Cabela's credit card and discontinue my business with you. My loyalty lies with American-made goods.

Hello, I am writing to express my disappointment with the Cabela's hunting boots I purchased a little over a year ago. Within a short period, three of the steel lace holders on the boots broke, and now another one has snapped during my hunting season, leaving me unable to lace the boots. I did not expect this level of quality issue from Cabela's. I suspect there may have been other complaints regarding the same problem with this boot model. I tried to attach some images to show the issue, but unfortunately, I cannot do so through this email. I am kindly requesting a replacement for my defective boots with the Cabela's Men's Predator Extreme Pac Boots, as they seem to be the closest match to the ones I have. They are also 12" high and [redacted] grams thinsulate, just like the original pair. Could you please assist me with this replacement? I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you, Mike A.

I recently tried to purchase a handgun just after turning 21 on January 3rd. However, the issue arose because my ID had expired a few days prior on the 30th. The store had me fill out the [redacted] form before realizing the oversight. I called them today about using my new temporary paper ID, which meets all legal requirements, including Brady act guidelines. They refused, stating it needed my signature and address. Despite this setback, I'm willing to provide additional documentation like a piece of mail with my name and current address. This whole situation has been frustrating, especially since I work a lot and this purchase was supposed to be a birthday gift. I'm just looking for clarification on their refusal to accept the temporary ID. Thank you for any insights. -Travis

On Sunday, 2/16/20, I traveled from Osage, IA to your Prairie du Chien, WI location to check out items from your sale flyer with the triple crown bonus offer. I was interested in the Lowrance 9ti, Tracker 800SX SXS, 4-stroke oil, Seaguar fluorocarbon line, and Zoom Super Chunks. Unfortunately, I couldn't purchase the Tracker due to Sunday regulations in WI. Despite the Lowrance coming with free installation, the actual process wasn't completely free as I had hoped. Rather than a simple installation, a more complex mount was required, which felt misleading. Although the technician was professional, there were some issues with the service overall. This experience has left me feeling disappointed, especially after investing both time and money in traveling to your store. I have been a loyal customer, but this encounter has made me consider exploring other options for my future purchases. Thank you for listening. Sincerely, D. S. Ahlhelm.

I believed I was purchasing a 9mm, but I mistakenly bought a .22 LR Beretta M9 instead. They informed me the item was ready for pickup, but it was not available yesterday. After researching, I discovered that the Beretta APX would be a better and more affordable choice for me. Additionally, I bought a magazine for the M9, which I would like to cancel since I only intend to have one firearm for personal protection. The order number for the gun is [redacted]20, and for the magazine is [redacted]13. If canceling the gun is not possible, please provide options for returning the gun and receiving a refund.

To whom it may concern, I am extremely disappointed in the credit card services I have received. Over the past three weeks, my card has been repeatedly flagged for fraud, causing significant inconvenience while trying to make legitimate large purchases for construction materials. Despite notifying the credit card services team about my situation, my card was still suspended twice in a single day yesterday. The requested documentation to prove my identity will take 7 to 10 business days to clear, which is unacceptable given my urgency for these materials. Despite being verified by a fraud department team member and assured I could make a purchase, my card was declined once again. This pattern of five incidents in three weeks is frustrating and unprecedented in my experience as a long-time credit card holder. The time and effort spent resolving these issues have been substantial, compounded by receiving misinformation from your staff. I request that Cabelas' CEO be made aware of the challenges faced with the current credit card provider.