Many people are impulse buyers, if they see something they want they will spend the money to get it even though they didn't have any notion of buying it a few minutes earlier. It's actually much easier to be an impulse buyer online than in a store. In a store, you pick an item up and walk around with it for 20 minutes before setting it down somewhere else. On the internet, you put it in your basket and checkout. You don't pull any money from your wallet, your wife isn't there telling you how much you don't need it. True, the price is about the same if you figure shipping, but the selection from my desktop PC is unparalleled. No store carries what I can buy sitting right here.

Regardless, I still make most of my purchases at retail stores, and I shy away from ordering anything electronic or any clothing articles online for obvious reasons.

I have been to Cabelas maybe 6 times in the past 3 years. I use Academy about twice a week. Just yesterday I bought a new grill (500.00) and some clothing items. The fellow helping me with the grill had no idea that the grill he sold me was built wrong, I had to tear it down and reroute the gas line/regulator. He didn't know anything about grills. He was just put in the camping section because that spot was open. He was friendly, very young though but I thanked him and didn't give him any grief.

I have purchased several reels off of Ebay though. That's a good place to find a great deal but the seller better have a good rep. For example, a Curado 200DHSV at Cabelas is near or over 200.00. I bought a NIB from Ebay for 152.00 including shipping.

Zach
Not to their own stores. You missed what I was saying I think. BPS and Cabellas has internet for the customer to use for convience. How is that hurting themselves. Bottom line is their are getting their money one way or the other. I see how it may effect small tackle places but not themselves.

the retailers i don't think are hurting that much, if anyone drives from n san antonio to south austin you see nothing but retail development. here in new braunfels they broke ground on an outlet mall that is supposed to rival the san marcos outlet.

wow another target but still no academy. as long a folks drive 10 mpg hummers to go shopping it will not really matter how much things cost.

besides cabelas is not just the shopping, my three year old daughter will be well behaved the whole trip to buda because she loves the aquarium and mounts

It's not that everyone lives the life of excess, but enough do to make the prospect of high volume, big name stores a profitable endeavor. The result is that mom and pop stores go under, and so the more frugal buyer loses options and is forced to either do without or succumb to the vacuum of the giants.

I shop online at BPS, and Cabelas. I shop in person at Gander Mountain, and Academy. I will now and then go to BPS in Bossier City. No amount of savings will make me drive to Cabelas again. The traffic there is horrendous. (Ft. Worth) I do not see all the cheaper stuff at Academy y'all are mentioning, but then again I don't have a boat. They do carry some things cheaper. I hear the store in Longview isn't nearly as good as the one in Texarkana. I haven't been to that one, so I cannot say personally on that one. I prefer to shop in person. But if I have to have something they don't carry, or bulk lures...which are usually cheaper by the way on the net, that is what I will get. Academy in Longview's fishing dept rarely if ever have asked me if I need help. (I have spent a fortune in that store) Gander Mt. now and then asks me if I would like help. (usually I don't but sometimes I do...and it is NICE to be asked if I want help) BPS in Bossier City does have a few people that work in fishing that do fish, and know about what they are talking about. Usually the specialty fly depts have people on staff who do fly fish... Nobody in Cabelas asked me if I needed help. I did get some good help in the fly dept after I asked, and the lady was really nice, and went out of her way to help me. As far as online shopping at BPS and Cabelas...they both are awesome. I usually have TOP NOTCH service from both. If I am buying a rod or reel though, I want to see that baby in person. Thus I like to go to a place that has a variety of decent reels, and rods, at a good price. Now if I have seen that reel at one store, and like it, that is another story of course. But to buy a reel sight unseen...nah, I'd rather not.

Academy and Wal-Mart is where I pick up most of my fishing essentials, but it's hard to beat just walking around a Bass Pro or a Cabela's...

But if you have questions... they can answer them at BPS or Cabelas , NOT at ACADEMY! They are trained to read the writing on the package to you. Try it?