Gander Mountain Disappointment

LibShooter · Jul 25, 2011

One great thing about the Gander Mountain store in Knoxville, TN was how most of the long guns were displayed. They were on big racks, accessible to browsers. You could pick up a shotgun or rifle, and try it on without help from an overworked staff member. I haven't yet bought one of the guns I picked up, but it prompted me to go into the store every time I was within five miles. I bought a pistol and probably $3,000 worth of ammunition and accessories over a couple of years... just because I like to play with the shootin' irons.

Now they've rearranged the gun department. It's like every other one in the world, with the long guns in racks behind a counter. You have to ask to see them, and they have way to few people behind the counter.

I don't think I'll be dropping in nearly as often. I'll be buying my Mini-Mags at Walmart and saving a buck from now on.

Has anyone else seen their GM store remodel the Gun Section?

Keb · Jul 25, 2011

I have heard that the ATF is requiring the behind the counter thing. Anybody checked Kesselrings?

wrs840 · Jul 25, 2011

The GM in Mooresville NC just did the same thing.

Being able to pick up the long guns was the main attraction of Gander for me. The only gun I ever bought there was a Stoeger Coachgun, though... Maybe they figured out people were using them as a reference resource more than a purchasing resource.

kimbershot · Jul 25, 2011

i share your pain. i think it's more of a liability issue considering that there may be some ah's out there that may put a live one in one of the display firearms. the volume shops in ct are half and half for long arms--some hands on, some not. also, i have seen individuals handling long arms kinda sloppy. an extra ding or 2 can have an impact on final sales price. :what:

ps--i am really picky--if i buy new or used--i don't want abused!! :cuss:

pps--i always check that the action is clear.

steveno · Jul 25, 2011

Cabela's in Kearney has the used guns available to look at but they all have locks. the new guns are in cases or behind the counter. Scheel's in Lincoln all guns that are out in the open have locks.

wlewisiii · Jul 25, 2011

The one here recently remodeled and all the new long guns are behind the counter. Used are still out on carrels for looking over.

In compensation, however, is the construction of an indoor range (rifle & shotgun ok) as well as a 4 VR ranges. Looks to be a good training setup.

dogtown tom · Jul 25, 2011

Keb I have heard that the ATF is requiring the behind the counter thing.

No such requirement.

You could spread them out on the floor for all ATF cares.

Hanzo581 · Jul 25, 2011

As long as they had real trigger locks on them, it's most unfortunate they went away from that setup. The only place I've ever been where you can pick up guns without direct supervision is gun shows.

Canazes9 · Jul 25, 2011

Don't know about any ATF requirements - the Gander Mountain by me had everything listed at suggested retail and wouldn't deal even though all the inventory was beat to death by everyone and their brother mishandling them. The local GM has put everything behind a counter also, kept the prices the same and the same arrogant kids working the counter.

David

Hunterdad · Jul 25, 2011

I was just in the GM in Cicero NY last Friday and asked why they put the guns behind the counter. I was told its because parts of guns (bolts, choke tubes, etc) came up missing. He also mentioned that some of the guns were being dropped while people were handling them including a $2800 Browning shotgun. After hearing that and some other stories, I really can't blame them for making the change. Again, a few sour apples ruin it for all of is.

Hanzo581 · Jul 25, 2011

Pretty much anything that is left out for the public to handle should be written off as a "display" to be sold later at a discount. No chance they should ever have $2800 guns out...just like in other stores the high end stuff is out of reach.

MedWheeler · Jul 25, 2011

Been a month or so since I've been in the closest GM to me, which is in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, about an hour from me. When I was there, it had not been set up that way yet. I wonder if it is now...

CraigC · Jul 25, 2011

They changed the one in Jackson, TN back before Christmas. I really liked the way it was but I understand why they changed it. Lots of folks are not as respectable of others' property as they should be. Nobody cares if store merchandise gets scratched and dinged. If I was running a gunshop there's no way in hell I'd want them out on the floor like that. Some folks learn their gun handling skills from movies so it's scary enough when you're standing right there with them.

Badlander · Jul 25, 2011

I was in the Palm Beach Gardens G.M. today. They were in the process of converting their store to have all guns behind the counter.
If you look at all the scratched up guns they have It's easy to understand why.
They have A table full of marked down guns. Most of them are all marked up from poor handeling.
Too bad tho. I liked being able to handel the guns without asking someone.

mp510 · Jul 25, 2011

i share your pain. i think it's more of a liability issue considering that there may be some ah's out there that may put a live one in one of the display firearms. the volume shops in ct are half and half for long arms--some hands on, some not. also, i have seen individuals handling long arms kinda sloppy. an extra ding or 2 can have an impact on final sales price

One of the CT shops was forced to move them behind the counter by their insurer (as a condition of keeping their policies).

MachIVshooter · Jul 26, 2011

I suspect they were seeing damage on brand new merchandise, which meant they'd have to mark them down at least as low as everyone else in town.........

Arkansas Paul · Jul 26, 2011

The one here recently remodeled and all the new long guns are behind the counter. Used are still out on carrels for looking over.

That's how it is in Little Rock too. The guy behind the counter told me it was because the guns got abused and damaged. Don't know how accurate that is.

usmarine0352_2005 · Jul 26, 2011

.

The Gander Mountain's that I've gone to in Woodbury and Lakeville, MN have the guns out. I recently went to the GM in Blaine and they were behind the counter.

I was like, "What?"

I hate rifles behind the counter, you have to wait for an employee to become free or find one before you can look at a rifle.

I hope they don't change anymore to that.

.

coloradokevin · Jul 26, 2011

Don't know about any ATF requirements - the Gander Mountain by me had everything listed at suggested retail and wouldn't deal even though all the inventory was beat to death by everyone and their brother mishandling them. The local GM has put everything behind a counter also, kept the prices the same and the same arrogant kids working the counter.

David

Sounds a lot like my neck-o-the-woods. I have a Gander Mtn store within a 15 minute drive from my house, and I really never go in there unless I'm desperate for something I'm trying to find, and couldn't find at other local stores. Gander is significantly overpriced when compared with the local competition, and I've had mixed opinions on their employees (some were nice, some were very arrogant).

feedthehogs · Jul 26, 2011

If anyone is serious about buying a rifle, then asking a clerk to hand one to you is no big deal.

If that puts you off chances are your a tire kicker anyways and only end up damaging perfectly good firearms by fondling them.

If that prevents you from going into the store to buy ammo or what have you, then thats just a sign of being immature that some retailer doesn't do things just as you like.

Sav .250 · Jul 26, 2011

My local GM was just re-modeled. Indoor pistol range. very nice.
Store looks muck better but still has the look/feel of a bog box store.
Gun Dept was changed from guns out front, where you could handle them, to behind the counter. All except "used" ones.
One thing that hasn`t changed........... The service people (clerks) sure do get scarce when you need help!

steelbird · Jul 26, 2011

Sav. 250 -

Are you talking about the Lake Mary store? Pretty nice layout, better than the one in St. Augustine. The St Augustine store is the one near me - the majority of the long guns are out on display, not behind cases. Most of the pricey ones, and the AR style -models are behind glass. One thing I like about GM, though, is that they've moved their handgun ammo out from behind the glass on to a store shelf. No waiting for a clerk to get the ammo I need. Saw this at the Lake Mary store too. No other gun shops in my area do that.

acmax95 · Jul 26, 2011

I haven't been in GM since Christmas but my buddy told me the local one has switched to having all new guns behind the counter, used long guns are still on open racks.

I am surprised the local store kept theirs out this long. It wasn't long ago a guy walked out with two very expensive semi-auto shotguns (a Benelli and Beretta, I think) that he removed from the rack and put in a gun case. Also, a young kid recently got a finger stuck in a shotgun barrel

at out local GM.

Sav .250 · Jul 26, 2011

steelbird said:
Sav. 250 -

Are you talking about the Lake Mary store? Pretty nice layout, better than the one in St. Augustine. The St Augustine store is the one near me - the majority of the long guns are out on display, not behind cases. Most of the pricey ones, and the AR style -models are behind glass. One thing I like about GM, though, is that they've moved their handgun ammo out from behind the glass on to a store shelf. No waiting for a clerk to get the ammo I need. Saw this at the Lake Mary store too. No other gun shops in my area do that.

Yes. Lake mary store. Ammo has been On shelves for some time. That part is nice. Makes for a quick in and out.

Silent Bob · Jul 26, 2011

The one in Sherman, Texas has also moved almost all of theirs behind the counter, with the exception of a few rifles and shotguns that they are trying to clearance out (but considering this is GM, still pretty overpriced)

Gander Mountain Disappointment

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