Bass Pro Shops

[Chris K]

I was in Bass Pro Shops in Vaughn Mills today, just outside of Toronto. It will be absolutely awesome when they open up just outside of Calgary this summer. Having been to their store in the US and to other large US Outdoors retailers, the selection of merchandise and the canadian prices were pretty impressive. Count on having an expensive first trip or two though, as you will find so much stuff you want and have not been able to get up here at the traditional local retailers and didn't want to order my mail. Chris K

[Quantum]

it will be like x-mas every time i step through the door

[Waxy]

I've already started a savings fund for that first trip.

Waxy

[JohninAB]

I am giddy in anticipation!

[jinx]

Where are they opening? cant wait!

[Chris K]

I have heard it will be later in the summer, but nothing in stone as far as I know. Chris K

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Chris K

I have heard it will be later in the summer, but nothing in stone as far as I know. Chris K

You would think they would be charging hard to open in advance of hunting season.

[Chevy 454]

Is it supposed to open this summer? That would be great. I thought I had heard it would be next summer before it opened. I hope you are right,sounds much better.

[bruteforce1]

Just wondering guys, judging from the past comments on wholesale sports. So what will make the service better than Wholesale sports? Are they bringing in knowledgeable aliens or am i wrong in my thinking.
or
Will a price break and different named products make it O.K.

[Cowtown guy]

All a store like this needs for better service is a better attitude. Right now WSS knows they are the biggest name in town so everyone can just take a number (which isn't needed for any of the gun counter's buddies) and we'll get served when they are good and ready. I am sick of that attitude. I realize that I am not the most important guy in the world. I simply don't want to be treated like the least.
When I was in the Bass Pro in Vegas it seemed that the staff cared that I found what I was after. I was looking at binos and the girl at the counter was busy. She asked the person she was helping to hold on a minute and paged someone from a different department to come and show me things. Did the guy know what he was showing me? Nope. I didn't care because I wasn't standing there with my thumb up my butt. I got to see the product, pick out a few that I wanted to ask about and asked my questions soon after the other fella was finished. Customer service!
Even some of the WSS staff is fed up with the attitude of the owners. There is at least two now that are at Can-tire off of Southland and Macleod. What do you know, their attitudes are way different with a new employer.

[riffer]

I cant wait for the bps to open, I was at one in Calfifornia last summer, and it's going to put wholesale to shame, you guys think it will be ready in time for hunting season?

[TheClash]

i have heard that bass pro has an extensive training program for it's new employees...which i know for a FACT wss doesn't have.....yes a FACT...

I can assure you that if the building isnt under construction right now that it will be atleast a year and a half until the open date.

If youve been to a BPS you know what Im talking about.

Torontos BPS has extremely helpful people, the few guys I know that work in there are semi pro tournement fisherman.

I need to get my hands on a couple of Pete Maina muskie combos........had to sell them all before I moved out because of the 1 piece rods.

[Chris K]

I drove by their location yesturday (just north of the city limits on # 2 by Balzac) on my way into Calgary. The buildings shape looks like a Bass Pro already, it's just huge. It's supposed to be 130 000 square feet in size. Chris K

I wonder what they will have in the fish tank.....

The largemouth in the Toronto tank has got to be around 10 lbs.

[Donny Bear]

Originally Posted by Chris K

I drove by their location yesturday (just north of the city limits on # 2 by Balzac) on my way into Calgary. The buildings shape looks like a Bass Pro already, it's just huge. It's supposed to be 130 000 square feet in size. Chris K

Yes It has the Bass Pro look and it is coming along as far as push is concerned it is well ahead of the rest of the mall.

Originally Posted by Chris K

I drove by their location yesturday (just north of the city limits on # 2 by Balzac) on my way into Calgary. The buildings shape looks like a Bass Pro already, it's just huge. It's supposed to be 130 000 square feet in size. Chris K

Wow, that's considerably bigger than the Toronto store and that place is freaking huge!

[davem]

I live about an hour away from the vaughan mills store, it does have a lot of stuff but knowledgeable staff is not one of them, or let me rephrase, available knowledgeable staff is not one of them, the store gets very busy and it is next to impossible to get someone to help you on a saturday afternoon. Also I find the RedHead gear, the bass pro house brand, to be hit and miss as far as quality. Gun prices are not too great, I found better prices at just about any other store, they have a good selection of ammo but are sold out of just about everything by the first week of October, flyer specials can be very good and they have an amazing selection of calls and clothing.

I find it hard to drive past when I am out there but it is not the be all and end all, I would love to have a Cabelas, although I have never been there, the catalogue stuff is incredible.

Dave

[Chris K]

Sheephunter, as big as the store is in Vaughn Mills, would you believe it's 140 000 square feet? The one in Calgary will actually be smaller than the Toronto store at 130 000. They are just so big in size, it's hard to put into perspective how big that number really is. Chris K

[Donny Bear]

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...locationID=718

This short cut will get you to any of the 14 management positions that are up for grabs for the Calgary Bass Pro shop

[Booyah]

are they gonna have those big fish aquariums? wonder if boat and motor prices will be a good buy like i see in thier catalogs?

Originally Posted by Chris K

Sheephunter, as big as the store is in Vaughn Mills, would you believe it's 140 000 square feet? The one in Calgary will actually be smaller than the Toronto store at 130 000. They are just so big in size, it's hard to put into perspective how big that number really is. Chris K

Right you are...thought it was smaller for some reason. I guess there's reason that Beaver Floatplane they have hanging from the ceiling looks so small in there.

[NS Beagler]

I only saw about 1/4 of the store out side of Toronto. I spent more than my budget in the first 15minutes....had to leave + I had a truck full of hounds , on a hot day, with me. Amazing selection but similar to wholesale for pricing, no great deals. I hear that some Wal-marts in the states have great sporting good sections. That is what I would like to see come. Prices are said to be excellent.

[Lethalconnection]

Here's an idea, how about we rent a cheese-mobile and we can all get on and go there together it will be a like a bus full of giddy children goin on the best field trip ever only problem is i think that in one day the store would be bought out

[jednastka]

I first heard of BPS in 1983. At the time, I was looking for a high quality Ambassadeur level wind reel, and felt I could not second mortgage the house on one for what a "well known" Edmonton fishing store wanted for one. I was on a start-up with a good old boy from Arkansas. During a quiet time on one nightshift, talk turned to fishing, and I shared my challenge. He was incredulous, and told me these reels were on $19.95 in his neck of the woods, and promised to bring me one on his next trip out. A few weeks later, I had my first AB 5000 reel! Along with it, he brought me a Bass Pro Shops catalog. I was really amazed at the difference then between Canadian and US pricing. I took that catalog to the "well known" Edmonton fishing store to find out how they could justift charging more than 10 times the US price for many items. I was escorted from that store and told never to return.

I continued to buy stuff by mail, but in 1988, my company sent me on business to Springfield, Missouri, the home of the original BPS store. I spent almost a full day in that store and spend $400 US in fishing stuff. I have been back there on a couple of occasions now.

From my experience, do not expect Bass Pro Shops to compete with Wal-Mart. Where their value is to me, is in high quality, high end stuff at affordable prices. Aslo, their boat package deals will blow most Western Canadian current suppliers out of the water!

Vic

[Walleyes]

I think all competion is good boys.. Maybe it will cause Wholesale to pick up their socks a little.. Personelly I can't wait to see what they have.. But again its just to bad that a Canadian company can't supply us properly...

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Walleyes

I think all competion is good boys.. Maybe it will cause Wholesale to pick up their socks a little.. Personelly I can't wait to see what they have.. But again its just to bad that a Canadian company can't supply us properly...

And what makes you think a Canadian branch of a US outfit will be better able to keep stock and get stock? Canada is still the end of a very long supply chain, and we only get stuff once everyone in the US has gotten what they need. Canada is a mighty small fish in a very large ocean. (Rhode Island consumes more sporting goods per annum, than Canada as a whole)
Customer service will be about the same, cause afterall you get what you pay for. And chump change wages get you the bottom of the heap for employees.

Hate to put water on the fire gang, but thats the grim reality of the subject.

[CNP]

I've been to that store quite a few times. Bought a couple 3D deer targets last year at that store. The kind with the replaceable vitals. They were on sale for $80. Can't remember what kind it was but it was an excellent deal at that price. So I was checking out of the store and the cashier said she wanted $12. I was caught off guard and I said pardon? She repeated that the bill was $12. I told her to scan it again because the sale sign I saw was $80......it came out as $12 again. I did my part. I paid the $12 and took it to my rental and put it in the trunk.............I ran back into the store lol to get another one. I got another one...which happened to be the last one (they were leaving the store at a quick rate you understand). Now I had two of these huge boxes to bring back to AB. I was flying Scair Canada and they like to charge for outsize boxes............I bought some duct tape and taped them together into one mighty big box. At the check-in counter I placed this box on the scale sheepishly and the kind lady said that the box looked rather large....she asked me to put it on the outsize baggage belt and never said another thing......no extra charge. $24 for two 3D targets..........beat that lol.

[Walleyes]

Originally Posted by Dick284

And what makes you think a Canadian branch of a US outfit will be better able to keep stock and get stock? Canada is still the end of a very long supply chain, and we only get stuff once everyone in the US has gotten what they need. Canada is a mighty small fish in a very large ocean. (Rhode Island consumes more sporting goods per annum, than Canada as a whole)
Customer service will be about the same, cause afterall you get what you pay for. And chump change wages get you the bottom of the heap for employees.

Hate to put water on the fire gang, but thats the grim reality of the subject.

Well you are probably rite dick... Only time will tell if they live up to their reputation and or if they can supply us with anything better..

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Walleyes

Well you are probably rite dick... Only time will tell if they live up to their reputation and or if they can supply us with anything better..

I dont mean to be too much of a glass half empty guy, but I would hope for the most part something has got to be better than where we are right now.

Here's hoping.