Use caution at cabelas

[james_bond_007]

I could not agree more. The people I spoke to working there did not know where things where [sic] and could not help.

Most likely you encountered some of the seasonal help. Yes, they SHOULD be trained, but are often part-time and only on the payroll from Black Friday-ish through the end of the year.
My experience was very positive when I spoke to several very knowledgeable staff at the gun counter and in the ammo section.

It was also crowded ...

Any chance that this has to do with the fact that you went there less than a week before Christmas?

... and expensive

Online prices are typically always better, as there is a lot less overhead to support.
But when looking for something you need to "touch" or "test for fit", it is hard to do via Firefox.

Among the big outdoor stores (Dick's, Bass P, SW, Cabela's), I've always felt Gander and Dick's tend to generally have higher prices.
However, I still shop at all of them, as I've come across unexpected bargains at each.

I hope things will improve with time.

I'd wager that if you go back to Cabela's in mid-Feb (viz. say on a Tuesday at 11:30 AM), the store won't be nearly as crowded as it is today (3-4 days before Christmas).
I'd also avoid going there on 26DEC13, if you are averse to crowds.

In summary, I'm glad Cabela's opened up a store or two in Colorado (and one of them so close to where I live).
It is nice having more shopping choices.
It also validates that Colorado continues to be viewed as, in general, a very gun friendly state; otherwise, when doing market research, Cabela's would have realized there was not enough business in Colorado to permit them to invest in brick and mortar retail outlets.