Bass Pro buys Sportsman's Warehouse

[theGinsue]

I've always been a fan of the SW in Colo Spr. Good customer service, I like the selection of items available - which differs on some counts (that interest me) from the items found at either BPS or Cabela's, location, etc.

Colo Spr. has a BPS on the very North end of town. Frankly, it's not in the most convenient location for me. SW has a store pretty much in the middle of town; I live just a touch closer to SW than to BPS. Even though I have to go through more traffic/lights to get to SW, I'll make the trip to SW more often than BPS. I find it worthwhile.

One thing about SW I've always enjoyed is the huge board at the front of the store with fishing reports for many of the fishing spots around the state. They do a great job keeping that info updated. Will this continue under BPS? We'll see.

When I'm in a BPS store, all of the things I want to look at seem to be in crowded little spaces. This is rarely, if ever, an issue at SW - they space things out nicely for the customer.

So, what happens if (when) BPS decides that they don't need so many retail locations and decides to close the SW stores? They take over the stock and extra supply contracts and move it all into their BPS stores.

Last I heard, Cabela's was being sued over something to do with ammunition. Under BPS, SW will feel the fallout from whatever occurs from that suit.

Prior to this buy out, if BPS caved to the pressure of the anti-gunners and decided to quit carrying handguns or evil black rifles or anything associated (like so many of the larger branded stores have done), we'd still have the option to find them at SW. Under this buyout, I'd expect SW would have to follow suit and that would leave just the Mom & Pop stores. I wouldn't mind this so much if I lived much closer to Bower's, but I don't. I often tell anyone in the Springs looking to buy a handgun, but not sure what they want, to go to Specialty Sports because of their large inventory. I tell them to handle as many as they can to get a feel for what fits them best - BUT DON'T BUY FROM THEM because their employees are rude/hateful and their prices are higher. I've always told these folks that once they've decided on the gun they want to head over to SW to make the purchase. Even if they don't have the particular firearm in stock, they'll order it for you. I can't imagine that will be the case under BPS.

Now, if after all of this you are left believing that I just don't like BPS you'd be wrong. What Johnny Morris has built up serves a particular niche and I shop at BPS often enough. But, there is something about SW that I enjoy that I believe will be lost once BPS owns them.

ETA: Stu mentioned the stairs. After the Colo Spr. BPS opened I noticed they didn't have an upstairs. I asked the manager about this and he told me that the store in Denver was one of the last that would be built with a second floor. I've come to call the new footprint of BPS "2/3 stores". Sure, they try to include all of the same stock even without a second story, but that just goes back to the crowded feeling within the stores I mentioned earlier.

[funkymonkey1111]

Prior to this buy out, if BPS caved to the pressure of the anti-gunners and decided to quit carrying handguns or evil black rifles or anything associated (like so many of the larger branded stores have done), we'd still have the option to find them at SW. .

Prior to this acquisition, if SW caved to the pressure of the anti-gunners and decided to quit carrying handguns or evil black rifles or anything associated (like so many of the larger branded stores have done), we'd still have the option to find them at Cabela's or BPS.

[Martinjmpr]

Prior to this acquisition, if SW caved to the pressure of the anti-gunners and decided to quit carrying handguns or evil black rifles or anything associated (like so many of the larger branded stores have done), we'd still have the option to find them at Cabela's or BPS.

If there's demand for handguns or EBRs and BPS stops carrying them, someone else will step up and fill that market niche.

I mean, people bought handguns and EBRs BEFORE there was a BPS or a SW, right?

If anything, BPS dropping EBRs or handguns would be a boost to the LGS's.

But honestly, that's unlikely to happen because if BPS, Cabelas and SW decide to cut handguns and EBRs, then they basically become Sports Authority or Dicks.

[CS1983]

If there's demand for handguns or EBRs and BPS stops carrying them, someone else will step up and fill that market niche.

I mean, people bought handguns and EBRs BEFORE there was a BPS or a SW, right?

If anything, BPS dropping EBRs or handguns would be a boost to the LGS's.

But honestly, that's unlikely to happen because if BPS, Cabelas and SW decide to cut handguns and EBRs, then they basically become Sports Authority or Dicks.

Well if they pull guns, they'd definitely be Dicks.