Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

[Expidia]

I was on my way to Richmond last week from the North and figured I'd stop into the Bass Pro Shop in Baltimore MD since I needed a few items for my boat.

What a disappointment. The first Bass Pro I ever saw was in Fort Lauderdale FL several years ago and it was amazing. Saw row after row of Mercury outboards and others. Many shows like fly fishing techniques etc going on. Many booths manned by experts . . . Had something like 2 or 3 restaurants (one was a Sushi bar). Had a full size ship floating on a pond in the rear of the store. So this was a first class operation and one could easily spend a day there.

Well this Baltimore store was a shocker. Nothing special here to see and worse yet no help around. Finally found a few people and each knew less than the first. Stock was poor. Most of the items were off brand names.

I get better customer service in Walmart.

To think I drove out of my way just to go there!!!

If you look on their site they show all these "future" store locations to be built, that never seem to be built"

If I were them, I wouldn't bother with any new stores until they learn how to serve the customers with the stores they have

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

They are building a new one in Richmond. Don't know if its open yet or not.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

I just checked out the brand new one in Ontario California and was pretty impressed with it. Lots of boats inside and outside. Lots of Merc outboards. The fishing tackle area was huge.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

The one in Concord, NC near Lowes Motor Speedway has always been well stocked with employees as well as product. Probably depends on what kind of location as well as the normal customer flow.

Another place worth checking out is Gander Mountain. It's a lot like bass pro but it seems more selection in the individual sections, full time gunsmith available and plenty of sales reps that know the products.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

I live 25 minutes from BPS store in Hanover (Baltimore) and it?s never been a local favorite.

From the fishing and boating stand point they have not been able to get it together. I don?t know if the local needs don?t fit the marketing model or the management is that incompetent but something is obviously wrong.

I went to the new one down in Ft. Meyers this spring and was equally unimpressed so it might just be the marketing model doesn?t hold up to well to specialization.

Even though the place is 15minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, when it first opened they had probably 80% freshwater tackle and boats when the area is probably 90% saltwater. Rows and rows of bass fishing rods and tackle when the locals where looking for stand up rods, flounder rigs and tuna lures.

They then tried to stock some things for the local needs but came empty. You can go to just about any Mom and Pop store in the area and buy better quality at equal or less cost. Heck, they even stock lures that are illegel to use in local waters for some reason.

The one thing I can say in their defense is you also have to look at the demographics of the area. The Baltimore / Washington area isn?t exactly a hot bed of ?Sportsmen?. You?d probably get better attendance at the local Mensa meeting than at the Outdoors show.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

I frequent the BPS store in Harrisburg, PA. I have never been impressed with their selection/stock level in the marine department. I went one year at the very beginning of the boating season and a lot of their stuff was out of stock or very low. I find it strange that Gander Mountain typically has a better stock.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a disappointment

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a disappointment

I've never been in a Cabelas store. Although I buy stuff off their website and they seem knowledgeable. I've found them courteous also when I had to return items.

They seem to be coming on strong as they tout 14 more stores to open.

Anyone been in a Cabelas store?

I'll check out Gander Mountain next time I travel.
I've bought from them too online.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

Yes i have,I can't remember where it was but it was a new store.
I think it was in the midwest.
Nice store! Blew BPS away..
I order online from them a lot also..

 

[rndn]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

The fairly new BPS in Auburn NY is great. It must vary by location and store manager.

 

[MWBROWN]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

I have been to the BPS in Detroit Mi, and it was awsome.

Been to Cabla's in Dundee Mi, and it too was awsome.

BPS in Destin FL was nothing to speak of.

I have been to Gander Mountain in Toledo Ohio, not fancy, but LOTs of fishing gear in the season.

Here in the Mobile Al, area, Achademy Sports is the best place.

Online, it is a toss up between BPS and Cabelas.

Mike

 

[bigmacfan]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

There are both Cabelas and BPS stores in the greater St. Louis area, so I have been to both. I, personally, like BPS better than Cabelas. I thought Cabelas was over-hyped and over priced. The BPS here is NOTHING like the one described in Ft. Lauderdale. WOW, that sounds awesome!! The one here is just a store.....not an "experience." Nothing to write home about, but I do like it better than Cabelas.

I also liked Gander Mountain. I've only been to the one in Paducah, Ky, but I did like it.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

It's not a big surprise that you weren't impressed with the BPS in Baltimore. BPS caters to a lot of Bass Fishermen with their secondary market in other types of fishing. Here in the South you always find well equipped and operated BPS outlets. I recently went to the one in Nashville at the Opry Mills Mall, and spent almost 4 hours in there just drooling over everything they had. I suspect they opened the Baltimore store just to compete with Wal-Mart or another chain there. I personally wouldn't expect too much from a BPS in the far north. The Bass Fishing enthusiasts just aren't there as much as Walleye and Muskie fishermen.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

Our BPS is hit or miss in the marine dept, both on stock and customer service - some guys really know their stuff, but come at the wrong time of day, you'll be disappointed. Fishing equipment, if you're either on the pro bass tour or a fishing guide you'll get great service, but ask about a reel under $150 and its pretty much self-service "we'll be with ya in a minute, don't let the door hit ya in the *** on your way out" sort of thing.

Cabelas was outstanding, but it was their grand opening - we'll see if they can keep it up.

 

[Jerico]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

Our Bass Pro is always well stocked, and the staff has always been outstanding at answering questions and helping. Of course, I also live in Springfield, MO which is were BP started so the local store is the national headquarters. Their catalog warehouse is also about a mile from where I work. We've even had both President Bush's stop by to shop there.

 

[6228SH]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

I'm in Springfield too and was in Bass Pro this morning-I remember seeing the original bass pro when it was an isle of lures in the brown derby beer stores,and watched it grow into the monster it is now-quite impressive.

 

[Margarita Man]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

The BPS in Orlando, Florida used to be a favorite place for my sons to go but my son bought a 14' john boat and the rivets started to leak during the warranty period of a year. When he brought it back for repair they gave him a song and dance about fixing the problem and after many calls to the headquarters the manager decides to order the rivets and the riveting tool to fix the problem. The local manager had just wanted to swap boats because it was going to cost him more for the tool, rivets, and labor than a new boat. After waiting a few months for them to get the materials, my son takes it back and the old manager has been fired and the new manager refuses to fix the boat because by then it was over a year old. Calls to their headquarters were to no avail. So BPS is no longer on our list of stores to shop and Gander Mountain has gotten our business.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

some of these stores are franchises, owner trying to make a buck and keep overhead down. company on stores are much better. we had one in Jacksonville that was great, the guy sold the franchise, now not worth going into. there is a new Gander Mountain, on I 95 in St. Augustine,FL big as a Home Depot or Lowes.

 

[G-Daddy]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

Regardless of the store, I usually know what I want and how much I am willing to pay for it. I went to BPS Balto this spring to look for a GPS. I wanted to check out the Garmin 478. Decided that was the one and picked it up for $720 - a great bargain.

 

[mandopickr]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

Regrettably I have driven 2 hrs to Bass Pro, and found their inventory and pricing to be severely lacking at times. Now I just order from the catalog. The pricing also tends to be better from the catalog.

Also tried to buy a boat from them. They couldn't tell me their inventory, but were sure that they had the boat that I was looking for, just come on up. And they would make me a deal on sales tax, only $500. (However the maximum I should have payed should have been $300.) Decided to go elsewhere.

Between Greenville and Spartanburg, SC, BPS has announced their interest in building a BPS. However they want some 300,000 from the state to do so. Of course, the politcians are falling over themselves to try to give them the money.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Bass Pro Shop Baltimore, a dissapointment

I'm amazed by margaritaman's story - that is just bizarre, you'd never expect to encounter that kinda treatment at a major retailer.

had no idea BPS was franchised.........one nuther thing to dislike about 'em is, their gift cards expire. To me that's just stealing - take somebody's money & give 'em nothing in return.