It isn't for personal information gathering it is for marketing. They use the info for a lot of things. One is compile geographic information from where there customer base is coming from. They use this info to determine where they should put new stores, and also for advertising.

Cabala's is not performing financially. They collect the zip code to tell them where the customers are coming from. What they have determined, every new store is taking customers from another Cabala's store, dropping sales basically company wide.

Academy uses the zip code to model each store. The Bastrop Store was set up to serve what the people of that zip code were buying in Austin. Academy refers to those type of stores as concept store. They do not carry all the items as in another store, and actually have a smaller inventory even though it looks just like any other store.

Just this week I bought a pair of outdoor convertible mitten gloves at Walmart for 19.99 when I got home I found I really liked them and wanted 6 more pairs for Xmas presents. So went back to Walmart and they only had 1 more pair in the XLG size. So I went on line and guess what Walmart had them on line for 13.99. Now I will look on line for anything that I want from Walmart before I pay their stores prices again. So if Walmart ever goes under they are doing it to themselves.

Did you check Amazon.com?

Yes I checked all major web sites and no one had these particular type gloves. There were many that were close but not quite the same, nor did they look as good. I am very happy with the 13.99 price, I bought 5 for that amount with ship to store. So I can pick them up next week and have no excuse to go to the stores on Black Friday.

Buying online does two things. It helps keep the postal service, FedX and UPS in business and it saves me money. I also look online for electronic free shipping coupons and if from out of state I pay no tax--for now.
As for the merger, I see where Ranger boats' top 3 executives have now been fired. One of these guys has been with the company since he was 16 yrs old. I am really having a problem with this. A man's life long service means nothing to these greedy bastiges.

how do they keep those giant stores open?

When I look back at all of the trolling motors, fishfinders, and boat parts I have bought over the last few years, I would wager that with the reduced prices, no sales tax, and mostly free shipping, I have saved thousands of dollars. If someone wants to come up with a better deal I'll certainly entertain it. I have bought a couple of rods from Cabelas, but nothing that I would call heavy duty purchases. I also bought a pedestal base from Bass Pro(store brand) and when I opened it, it was the poorest made piece of equipment I have ever see, So much for BP.

Clothing, camping gear, and entry level boats.

No one got fired. They resigned.

They were offered the option of resigning. Same as being fired.

when a company gets bought out the management generally has no guarantee of a lifelong job. ranger built great boats before the 3 that resigned got there an I would bet that they will going forward most of the folks that are wondering outloud have no horse in the race. ranger was a great choice for a bassboat a year ago an they are still being chased by all the other bass boat builders.

Depending on the age, interest and if there is a no compete clauses of the three resigned guys, perhaps a new company could evolve from this? I don't know about the boat business, but it happens all the time in other fields.

Muzzlebrake, you have a link to the article that says that.

Do you know those were the only 2 options they had as a fact?