Is Bass Pro Shops Legit?

Published : November 13, 2025 35 view(s)

Bass Pro Shops is one of the most recognizable names in outdoor gear retail, with huge destination stores across the country.

It also owns Cabela’s, another iconic outfitter. If you’re wondering “Is Bass Pro Shops legit?” or “Is Cabela’s a reputable company?”, the answer is a definitive yes. These are large, established companies.

However, their online services have received some mixed customer feedback that’s worth examining.

Let’s break it down:

Company Overview: A Household Name in Outdoors

Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 by Johnny Morris in Missouri and has grown into a retail powerhouse in the hunting, fishing, and shooting sports world.

In 2017, Bass Pro acquired Cabela’s (founded 1961) in a multibillion-dollar merger. Now, Bass Pro and Cabela’s operate as a combined entity, sharing resources and inventory. They have over 150 physical store locations combined and an extensive online storefront.

Given this history, Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s is as real and legitimate as it gets, we’re talking about brick-and-mortar megastores that you can walk into in dozens of states. The companies employ thousands of people.

This is not a scam or fly-by-night website by any stretch. When you order from BassPro.com or Cabelas.com, you’re dealing with a major retailer that’s been around for decades.

Customer Reviews: Online Shopping Experience

While Bass Pro and Cabela’s are unquestionably legitimate, how do customers rate their online shopping experience? Here’s what the data shows:

Trustpilot Ratings

Bass Pro Shops’ online store has a relatively low Trustpilot rating (around 1.7 out of 5), and Cabela’s is similar (around 1.4 out of 5).
These ratings reflect some common pain points: customers have complained about slow shipping, backordered items, or customer service difficulties, especially during peak seasons. For example, some reviews mention orders taking longer than expected or issues with inventory status.
It’s important to note that many large retail brands often get low Trustpilot scores because people usually go there to report problems rather than successes. So, yes, the Trustpilot scores indicate Bass Pro/Cabela’s have had some customer service struggles online.
However, low Trustpilot ratings do not mean the company is fraudulent, they indicate areas Bass Pro can improve in service. The vast majority of customers do eventually get their orders; the complaints are about speed or communication, not that Bass Pro took money and disappeared.

BBB Rating

Despite the mixed reviews, Bass Pro Shops holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB profile for Bass Pro (which likely includes Cabela’s since they are one company now) shows 273 complaints in the last 3 years. That is a significant number, but keep in mind Bass Pro/Cabela’s handles millions of transactions in that time.
Crucially, the A+ BBB rating means the company responds to and resolves these complaints. In fact, Bass Pro has addressed all complaints brought to it, and 93 complaints were closed in the last 12 months.
The BBB also advises considering the company’s massive size when looking at complaint counts, a few hundred issues among millions of orders is not alarming. The accreditation and A+ status confirm that Bass Pro Shops is committed to customer satisfaction and is a trustworthy business.

Additionally, many Bass Pro/Cabela’s customers have positive experiences that aren’t always reflected in online reviews. People continue to shop with them because of convenience and trust, you can buy online and return or exchange in-store, for example.

They offer things like free ship-to-store and have real customer service desks in every store. These are hallmarks of a legitimate, customer-focused retailer (even if wait times can be long during holiday rush).

Why You Can Trust Bass Pro Shops (and Cabela’s)

A few points to underline Bass Pro’s legitimacy:

Physical Presence

Bass Pro and Cabela’s have physical locations nationwide. You can resolve many issues face-to-face.
Scam websites do not have giant retail stores where you can walk in and speak to staff.
The in-store experience also means product warranties and returns are honored in person.

Secure and Established E-commerce

Their websites (basspro.com and cabelas.com) are professionally run, secure (HTTPS), and have customer service chat and phone lines. These sites handle massive traffic.
The checkout process is secure, and they’ve been processing online orders since the early days of e-commerce (Cabela’s catalog/online business was pioneering).
There’s never been a hint that either company mishandles payments or personal data, on the contrary, they are trusted by millions.

Brand Reputation

Both Bass Pro and Cabela’s built reputations over decades for being the go-to places for outdoorsmen. They would not jeopardize that with unethical practices.
The very fact that customers still flock to their stores and site is because of an underlying trust in the brand.
Indeed, if something goes truly wrong, these companies have the resources to make it right (refunds, replacements, etc.). A scam site would never offer that.

Conclusion: Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Are Legit (With Some Service Quirks)

To directly answer the question: Yes, Bass Pro Shops is legit, and so is Cabela’s. They are fully real, reputable companies that have been around for ages.

When you order from them, you will get genuine products or get your money back if not. There is zero risk of “scam” in the sense of fraud. However, be aware that Bass Pro/Cabela’s online ordering can sometimes entail slower shipping or customer service delays, especially during busy periods.

Their own BBB page acknowledges issues like delivery delays or warranty frustrations but notes that the company addresses them. So, while they are reliable overall, patience might be required on some orders. In summary, Bass Pro Shops (and its subsidiary Cabela’s) is a completely legitimate and trusted retailer.

Any suggestions otherwise likely stem from individual customer frustrations. If you’re considering an online purchase and asking “Is Cabela’s/Bass Pro a reputable company?”, you can proceed with confidence that you’re dealing with one of the most established names in the industry.

Just keep expectations realistic on shipping speed during peak times, and you’ll likely have a smooth experience, backed by the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction.