Sobering Trip to Bass Pro Shops

BPS lost me when they didn't re-order their 'special' CPM154 110. They seemed to slowly drop other common Bucks - their 'cherry' Dymondwood gripped 102, for example. As for a basic 110 or 119, such biggies as WallyWorld, Academy, & Dick's did still carry them. I will admit to some shock when I first noted BPS selling, in their reloading supplies, trays of a hundred primers for ~$5 (Primers come in boxes of ten trays - 1,000 primers!). No matter, it's still a neat place to take the nieces/nephew/grandkids when they want to go to the 'Aquarium' - and, Leeds, AL is a lot closer than TN or Atlanta. It's free, too... and the sandwich shop there had a great roast beef on rye, some yuppie chips, and a refillable cup-o-pop - for ~$7. If I had $7, I might go there for lunch...

I am fortunate. A locally owned outdoors emporium, just south of Birmingham, carries all sorts of outdoors goodies; guns, bows, tackle, etc... and KNIVES! He has Wm Henry and CR knives. He also has a fantastic Buck collection - including the Hoodlum and Punk. Don't expect great prices - they are a teeny bit off of list - usually. But, he has a significant overhead - and sells mainly to yuppies and we knife-nuts. Still, it's great to have a fantastic selection of knives within 25 mi of home... for however long it lasts! Sadly, BPS did go downhill since they opened a few years ago... unless you want a bass boat - they seem to have that market covered - some old local boat dealers were ushered out by them and, more likely, the economy.

I may just drive across town... fondle the 'Punk' again... they take plastic...

Stainz
 
If you're located anywhere near Birmingham, you're nowhere near as fortunate as you think. You know Jefferson County is setting new records for bankruptcy, right?
 
Then again, some people are getting, or staying rich.

I think the big outdoors stores messed themselves up by pricing the special Bucks (Alaskan Guides and special model Bowie types, etc.) WAY, WAY too high in the first place.

No wonder the didn't sell well and no wonder they have been dropped from production.

Noted that the early 110 AGs may have been reasonably priced, but things got out of hand as time passed and more models were introduced.
 
Sameal- Yes, Jeff Cty is bankrupt. So are most of Europe, several States here in this country (Indiana, etc), and several other major gov't institutions. At least they admit it. Those that don't are using you future earnings to cover up the debt owed (for now).

Stainz is right about the outdoor stores around here though. I brought this up in it's own thread a short time back. It's damn nice to be able to walk into a shop that's not a chain, meet guys like Mel Pardue (was there last Thursday), the Busse clan, Rick Hinderer, etc. And even better to have guys who like and know knives behind the counter.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/925503-My-Local-Knife-Shop
 
Yeah, I wasn't being hostile; just stating a fact. Relax. That's a good part of the world. I've always been made to feel right at home there.

Even if y'all do talk funny.:D
 
Nothing wrong with being a proud American who likes to buy American products. This has nothing to do with racism, and if such a comment can get a thread shut down, well what a shame.
 
For the majority of people with moral scruples about dealing with Chinese-made goods, most seem to be concerned with these kinds of this (a) trade fairness (proper valuation of the yuan to the dollar), (b) economic underhandedness, (c) lack of personal liberties among Chinese citizens, (d) anti-religion tactics of the government, and (e) economic exploitation or workers, by both western companies and by Chinese owners.

In other words, like most embargoes or boycotts of goods, there is a motivating moral concern. I really haven't read much personal hatred of Chinese people or culture ("xenophobia"). It's a fairness thing.
 
I was in a Bass Pro Shop yesterday...they had an American made Buck 301 in the display case. I asked to see it, and said yep, I want to buy it.

The sales rep said "It's our last one, do you want the display model?" I said sure.

Then another rep came up to the counter and took the knife...the first rep smiled and said "He's the knife expert."

The knife expert carefully examines each blade, testing the edge...then he takes about five minutes and sharpens the blades. No charge...as he rings up the purchase, he reminds me about the Buck lifetime warranty, and how good the folks are at Buck.

Sure, there were also a bunch of Bucks from China in blister packs...as a guy who has been using Buck since the '70s, this still seems odd to me. But there are still US made Bucks and I was in the right place at the right time yesterday.
 
You let a minimum wage guy sharpen your brand new knife???

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Wow! That IS sobering!
 
My biggest complaint about Bass Pro Shops is the way they display their knives. A huge glass display case that goes higher than your head and it's behind the counter so you can't get within 6-8 feet of it. Looking is an intimate part of buying and it's too much trouble to ask to see the wares.
 
Just ask for a USA Buck in every store you go that sells knives....It's a shame Tractor Supply does NOT stock them...But I always ask.....
 
BG42EDGE said:
You let a minimum wage guy sharpen your brand new knife???

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Wow! That IS sobering!
Click to expand...

Mabey im just a A-Hole but i normaly know 10 times more than the "Knife Expert" in the majority of stores.
i would never let any employe of those chain stores touch my edge. :o
 
I hate it when folks pick on JefCo just because it's bankruptsy makes the national news. We have the best government money can buy here in Alabama. We have county commisioners, Birmingham's previous mayor, and even a former governor enjoying the facilities at Club Fed to prove it. And what's this, '...y'all talk funny!' stuff... I was born in Brooklyn!! Talk about easy to live with knife laws, just stay out of Birmingham - certainly away from schools. You can even buy auto knives, too... carrying them may be problematic.

I did make the trek to BPS in Leeds last week. Not much in the way of decent Bucks to see. The roast beef on rye was good. WallyWorld near my home may have more US-made knives!

Stainz
 
I wasn't picking on anybody, Stainz — that post had a very generous amount of "tongue-in-cheek." Maybe it didn't come across the interwebz very well, but it was definitely there.
 
Our local Sportsmans Warehouse has a good selection of Bucks. They have a glass case rotisserre (?) on the counter.
Granted, the prices aren't anywhere near as good as online, but they are still carrying them.

One final note for those who may not have spent enough time in the Buck S/f. Last year Buck decided to make a bold move (imho) and bring back most of the knife production to Idaho.
That tells me, that the company is more concerned about making products here, keeping local people employed, and keeping their customers happy, than they are about making a few more dollars.

But then again, we already knew they care about their customers a lot.
 
Sounds like your Bass Pro needs an overhaul. I work at one of the newer Bass Pro's in Alberta, Canada, and the knife selection here is not bad at all. Nearly half of the knives at the counter are all Buck knives, and at least half of those are made in the USA. Write a letter to them and put it in the suggestion box and maybe they will update their knife center to accommodate a better selection.
 
Samael,

I took it t-i-c - as was intended by my replies. Sadly, the whole gun counter at my BPS - which includes the knives - is staffed by less-than-friendly folks. One guy even said all Buck made was actually made overseas. Service is infinitely better at my favorite local Buck source - Mark's Outdoors. BPS now has their boxes of primers behind the gun counter - guess they really are high there now. I'll have to really need that roast beef on rye a bunch to go back... it certainly won't be for their Buck collection.

Stainz
 
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