So was in Cabala's today in Anchorage and the gun department is practically empty. Only one rack behind the counter with a mixture of various rifles and shotguns, multiple empty racks. Pistol cases were almost empty except for every variation of Kimber 1911 imaginable. The Gun Library is empty and doors are locked.

I asked one of the clerks at the counter what the deal was and could not get a straight answer. He said multiple times, "Low inventory". Then made a comment about how all of the gun department staff was gone except for him and one other employee.

That said, multiple help wanted signs on the gun counters asking for those with experience with firearms. Seems very strange, low inventory, skeleton staff like they're closing out the department, but yet all kinds of help wanted signs.

Ammo and guns are hard to come by these days.

Here’s what the pistol ammo section looked like at my local Cabela’s the other day.



It’s ridiculous out there. Absolutely ridiculous. I can’t find 300BLK anywhere (at a reasonable price, at least).

Let’s just say I’m glad I was able to visit Cabela’s before Bass Pro took over.

At least your Cabela's is open. But if there is a Bass Pro anywhere near, its days may be numbered. This is what probably happened to the Bristol, VA store, which has a BP counterpart in Bristol, TN.

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Low inventory

Well, duh.

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Pistol cases were almost empty except for every variation of Kimber 1911 imaginable.

Wild. Are Kimbers unpopular there?

Was in the Bass Pro Pyramid in Memphis,TN store earlier this week and it looked the same.

The Ammo shelves were totally empty.

Let me help....

This is an A+B=X problem

Significant political strife + all ammo vanishes = X

Figure out X

Nothing new... virus panic, riots, looting, murdering and all on an election year.

our local one is the same here in sprigfieldd Oregon, I was in the portland store and most of the fishing tackle was gone

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Originally posted by Excam_Man:
Nothing new... virus panic, riots, looting, murdering and all on an election year.

^^ this. It’s not just cabelas. Every gun shop is having problems getting inventory.

Some people found a backdoor into the bass pro/cabelas system and were able to order ammo inventory that was bound for stores.

I believe that have removed online ammo sales essentially to stop it.

It was a big drama over on Reddit.

It's simply a supply and demand problem and it's not localized, it's everywhere. In the last four months I have not found any ammo or firearms in stock at my firearm distributors. It's all allocated and divvied out to the highest volume buyers. I've never had this much trouble finding items at my distributors.

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Originally posted by Il Cattivo:

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Pistol cases were almost empty except for every variation of Kimber 1911 imaginable.

Wild. Are Kimbers unpopular there?

last resort firearms, apparently as far as customers are concerned,

they were the last to sell down, as in we (company I work for) sold out of everything, including ammo, but still had a pile of Kimbers,

then they sold,,

Same scenario in the Hamburg,PA Cabelas....looks like Chritmas morning after the Grinch rolled thru. But my LGS is chock full of firearms at regular cost. One needs an appointment to purchase to eliminate the looky-loos. Ammo is limited to one box per customer at higher but not obscene cost.

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2000Z71
That said, multiple help wanted signs on the gun counters asking for those with experience with firearms. Seems very strange, low inventory, skeleton staff like they're closing out the department, but yet all kinds of help wanted signs.

That is a puzzle. I gave it some thought and do not have a good answer. Anyone else?

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Originally posted by Eponym:

quote:

2000Z71
That said, multiple help wanted signs on the gun counters asking for those with experience with firearms. Seems very strange, low inventory, skeleton staff like they're closing out the department, but yet all kinds of help wanted signs.

That is a puzzle. I gave it some thought and do not have a good answer. Anyone else?

when the stores dropped to limited hours or closed, the help was put on furlough,

meaning they got the unemployment bonus to set home and wait out the Rona,

here in VA, staff in most places was cut to about 1/3rd of normal, meanwhile we were considered essential and allowed to be open, limited hours, and limited number of customers at a time,

once all that was lifted, a lot of the staff opted to stay home, (some for the $$, some out of fear, and some we were grateful for (as in , they should not have been hired)

so, 2/3rd furloughed, maybe 1/3rd comes back, and you are short staffed,

supplies are tight, the big box stores have a corporate office that is buying what they can and sending it out peicemeal to the many stores they have,

some shops have contracts, connections etc that allow them to get stuff that is allocated by the distributors (FYI, some big box chains get direct shipments from the Fireamrms manufacturers for some brands, others go thru a distributor)


ditto for ammo,


I did speak to a friend at the last show that works in a small shop in the Fredricksburg area, he says they can get ammo, but not large quantities, and the cost has jumped up significantly ,

likely due to Rona, (reduced factory workers, hours, and supply cost and availability)


the used market tanked,
when we used to buy dozens of handguns a week, and rifles, then suddenly no one was trading, or selling (to dealers),

not sure if folks were keeping them, selling them off to friends and family, or just scared to leave the house,


then add in the new gun buyer,
those that needed a 9mm or a shotgun, now, to protect the toilet paper stash, or keep the peaceful rioting protester in line,,,



and the old man brigade, coming in at opening, trying to buy every box of ammo so you sell out in about 15 minutes,


2020 has been a very odd year for the gun business,

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Originally posted by lyman:
When the stores dropped to limited hours or closed, the help was put on furlough.

Once all that was lifted, a lot of the staff opted to stay home. (Some for the $$, some out of fear, and some we were grateful for (as in, they should not have been hired)

So, 2/3rds furloughed, maybe 1/3rd come back, and you are short staffed

Thanks. That was pretty close to one of my thoughts, although I'm not sure why a department needs staff if it doesn't have anything to sell.

quote:

Originally posted by Eponym:

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:
When the stores dropped to limited hours or closed, the help was put on furlough.

Once all that was lifted, a lot of the staff opted to stay home. (Some for the $$, some out of fear, and some we were grateful for (as in, they should not have been hired)

So, 2/3rds furloughed, maybe 1/3rd come back, and you are short staffed

Thanks. That was pretty close to one of my thoughts, although I'm not sure why a department needs staff if it doesn't have anything to sell.

cause you got 28 people a minute asking for 9mm or a Glock,

and they all want to touch what you do have to sell,

No Cabelas in my area.
I went to a local Dunhams, looking for a magazine pouch, nada, they had Speer Gold Dot 155 gr 40 SW per 50 rounds @ $45.

Lot of pistols, all priced at the upper end of MSRP.