Cabelas is lame for being out of ice fishing gear alrady.

[leech~~]

That's the problem. Times have changed. The "universal business model" that these stores employ is keep inventory levels as low as possible. They are run by accountants.

Hey, I remember when Tar-get use to have sporting goods. Now you can't hardly get a good snoopy rod from them!

[OnAFly]

We touched on supply chain stuff when I was in school for Mechanical Engineering but we never went very deeply into it.

It seemed more like an area of study found in the business management field.

[TruthWalleyes]

It’s a very simple concept...but is applied to each niche differently...and many will take it to the extremes - like Cabelas.

No distributor wants to buy something that cannot be sold (ie, keep inventory at a level at which it will be completely consumed)

To avoid buying something which cannot be sold...some companies will buy less product than is expected to sell, therefore limiting their profits, but eliminating risk...

I'd say its more of a common sense thing (than a discussion as to which degree it fits best with), and understanding market demand coinciding with manufacturing availability and product lead times.

[GotALunker]

52 replies in one day...hot topic indeed!

[LipRipper!!]

It’s a very simple concept...but is applied to each niche differently...and many will take it to the extremes - like Cabelas.

No distributor wants to buy something that cannot be sold (ie, keep inventory at a level at which it will be completely consumed)

To avoid buying something which cannot be sold...some companies will buy less product than is expected to sell, therefore limiting their profits, but eliminating risk...

I'd say its more of a common sense thing (than a discussion as to which degree it fits best with), and understanding market demand coinciding with manufacturing availability and product lead times.

+2

[CoorsCaptain]

Look at it this way now is the time to buy. Cabelas is closing out all of there ice fishing stuff. 25% to 30% off.

[Slabasaurus]

Looking back it is pretty simple. The challenge becomes anticipating demand based not only on historical usage, but on market intelligence, lead times, MFG constraints, and your power of negotiations.

[amateurfishing]

I was just at C's HSOforum, some deals in bargain cave.

[Crm7290]

Just cashed in on those sales. Got a one man shelter for 89.00 at Fleet Farm. It said there would only be one, but there was three left.

It their end of the season sale. Girl at the cash register remarked how there is still three more months of winter.

[quijibo]

I feel the pain with Cabela's, ever since they went public I have found less and less that appeals to me. They went from having premium and innovative products to carrying whatever maximized their profit margins. Now they don't seem to have anything that reinforces their "brand", the only difference between them and their competitors is location and price.

I too have some GC's that I can't find a way to spend. I even asked them to special order a couple of items for me. They ask that you give them 24-48 hrs to get a price and availability, it's been over a week on each request.

Maybe that was the Cabela's bros true talent, they understood their customers better than Wall Street does.

[Slabasaurus]

Yeah... oftentimes focusing on the bottom line limits you in areas. Spending an extra dollar or two to ship stock in overnight for you customers isn't always justified. If only we could get shareholders to care about other things.

I saw some of those sales out there. There are some good deals out there. Specially if you are like me and have only the basics, and one or two of the "Man this makes things easier" items.

[GotALunker]

one of the things that irks me about cabelas (and maybe its like this other places too and I just dont know) but when I order something that is "backordered" on their HSOforum, they force me to order two! [PoorWordUsage]! e.g. I only need 1 Dave Genz Lady Ice buster rod...not two. So then I'm left to return one right there at the register. I think that's dumb.

[Crm7290]

Lunker- That happened to me the other day with a pair of wool rag glomitts! They are on sale but come up as backorderable. Fine by me ill wait. Then I find that I have to buy two pairs to receive them. I ended up using my giftcard on some guidewear glomitts instead.

[fishersofmen]

I love FF....$499 for a Frabill Predator, you can't beat that!! Thanks FF.

I live 15 minutes frome Cabelas and usually only go there to look at what I want from somewhere else or to let the kids look at all the fish and animals. Kind of like the zoo in the winter time except most of the animals aren't moving.

[Loon]

I work in the warehouse of a fairly large hand tool manufacturing business and we take back any stock that doesn't move...collect...

We make sure that our retailers have no reason to dial back their ordering patterns due to fear of being caught "holding the bag".

That being said: we are not seasonal and we run a very lean manufacturing process that ships same day 99.99%.

I still don't see why St.Croix or Northland wouldn't take back what ever didn't sell at FF or Big C at the end of March.

The manufacturer should accept the risk, not the retailer.

[Crm7290]

Have you guys ever heard of woot? Its a HSOforum that is really a wholesaler that takes the leftover unsold stock and fire sells it one day at a time until its gone. Its a great concept, and wish there was an outdoor version of it. This would be the greatest thing ever for guys like us, who use the internet and are outdoorsmen (women too). Steepandcheap is a similar concept but I have never seen any fishing equipment or the like on it.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

IMO Cabella's is lame from the begining on thier ice fishing equipment. Never seem to have a good selection of the stuff that works or focus on what the serious ice fishermen are looking for. Most importantly I have found that (at least in the egf store) that the staff in the fishing dept. have been less than knowlegable when it comes to the products they are selling....(thats if you can actually find someone who cares to help you). My advice to serious fishermen, find a local place that knows whats going on in your specific area. The places that do a great job are not hard to find.

[Crm7290]

Have you guys been to Bass Pro Shop? They have all the fishing gear you could want. Really good store. They are priced pretty high but have what you need

[katophil]

two words Fleet Farm

[GotALunker]

+1 on FF

[Sportland_Bait]

Just give the small stores a chance first. More than likely you'll get what you want at a good price. Plus you get the satisfaction of helping families survive in tough economic times.

Jason

[fisherman-andy]

About the only places I frequent in the Metro is Fleet Farm and Joes Sporting as they seem to have stuff stocked nearest me.

I cant find what I want at any Gander and Cabelas is too far. But I would agree if you dont go early with Cabela you wont get anything.

As far as sporting goods store goes, on rare occasions I couldnt even buy live bait from Gander because it wasnt available?

Im am no way trying bashing any store, however I am least likely to visit Gander and will visit other stores first. Sure do wish the Sportsman Warehouse was still here in MN.

However i've been down to the Gander in Rothschild, WI which is near Wausau WI and that store is fantastic and loaded with inventory each time i've been there.

[riverview]

The older I get the less I buy at gander or Cabelas. Im more than happy paying a little more at my Locals like Marine General, Chalstroms, Fishermans Corner or the Bait Box. If they dont have what I need they will get it for me.

I agree with this statement,

[traveler]

I'd buy more at Cabelas if they'd just send me a catalog once in a while. I mean, I haven't gotten one in like THREE days!!!

[Ed Carlson]

Another aspect of this supply issue your not taking into full consideration is the vendors are in low supply earlier than ever. The retailer can't resuppy what is not available.

Inventory is tight in the pipeline from the manufacturer on down the line. Most of these company's take 3 months to get product from the factory to the warehouse to distribute to the stores.

So even if retailer A, B, or C decide they needed to order a whole new shipment of the new hot lure X, it would land here about the time your on your 3rd trip out in the boat this spring..a bit too late.

The retail inventory is relient on supply. And if the vendors plan to run down early, the retailer has little choice in the matter but also wind down once the supply is depleted. Despite what may many think retailers can't just order and it appears, if it's not there to order for replenishment, it's simple not an option past a certain date dictated by the manufacturer.