Academy, Good store or not?

[Zendude]

Academy has prices that are usually below other retailers. I bought a pistol from them last year. If warranty work is needed, Academy will ship it to the factory at no cost to the customer.
Several of the Academy stores near me now carry a limited amount of reloading supplies- powder, primers, bullets, tumblers, and presses.

 

[wally]

if you don`t shop for your item then you just throwing away money. Remember, shopping is FREE.

OTOH, "time is money", driving to stores burns money in the form of fuel, there are always trade-offs.

I used to go to Academy all the time circa 2005 when 9mm aluminum cased 115gr Blazer FMJ was "everyday low price" $3.86/50 and various bulk pack .22lr was always available for $9-10/500.

They stayed reasonable in price during the ammo shortage with quantity limits. The $150 gun show 1400 round buckets of Remington .22lr, Academy sold them for $75, limit one -- but it was basically luck finding them in stock.

 

[GEM]

Good prices on fairly standard items. If you don't want to screw around for something like a Glock and don't mind spending $30 extra than if you do, it's a good place.

 

[Alte Schule]

I also remember the Academy in Austin and use to also frequent their other stores in Killeen and College Station. They carried a lot of military surplus and other department stores excess back then. They morphed into what they are now around 1995 or so.
If you go to their web site and enter your zip code the weekly specials in your area will pop up. Their selection of sports, camping equipment, clothes and shoes are pretty good. Their off season clothing sales are also good. Their firearms prices are better than most but I can usually get a better deal at my LGS.

 

[Hokie_PhD]

OTOH, "time is money", driving to stores burns money in the form of fuel, there are always trade-offs.

Funny I was thinking the same exact thing

For large dollar items I spent the time and shop around

For cheaper things I keep mental notes of prices and who has what then plan my trips to be efficient

Of course sometimes it's just fun to window shop so that could be considered an entertainment expense lol

 

[Speedo66]

I had a bad experience with them a few months ago buying online. Their shipping schedule was ridiculously slow, zero communication, and their customer service by phone was horrible, with 45 minute waits for someone who knew nothing and probably couldn't find their ass in the dark. I bought 5 of one item and they sent it in dribbs and drabs.

Online, never.

 

[WestKentucky]

All prices are fair, but they shine on clearance and "house brand" stuff. Clearance stuff is priced to move quick. It's not your typical 15% off, but more like 40% and it moves up quickly until they stockout. House brand stuff is decent stuff made in decent places by well known brands. Monarch ammo for example is great target ammo for a very very reasonable price. Not sure who makes it for them but I prefer it over whitebox winchester and other budget target stuff. It is reliable, consistent, and CHEAP.

 

[doubleh]

There are only two in my general area and both amount to a day trip. I certainly can't save any money by doing that. My wife goes to a doctor in one town for a semi-annual checkup and we usually go by the store as it's right on the way to the doctors office. She goes for an annual check up to a doctor in the other town once a year and it's more complicated with a lot more traffic to get to that Academy so we seldom go to it. Both are out of state so no handguns but I have purchased a few rifles and a shotgun over the years at considerable saving over what I would have had to pay locally. They are also a good store for clothing and shoes.

Walley mentioned the aluminum cased Blaser ammo that used to be a bargain at Academy and I would buy 9mm by the case there when I was in town. It was cheaper than reloading and you didn't need to pick up cases The checker once charged me for only one box when she rang up my case. I caught the error and pointed it out to her. She seemed really thankful that I did. I wonder If Academy makes their checkers pay for any errors on their part.

 

[herrwalther]

Academy is junk. I browse their firearms and ammo, but have rarely seen a price I would pay. The clerks at the gun counter at my local Academy barely know what they are selling let alone the laws they are required to obey on the federal and state levels. I had a clerk light into me because I talked firearms with a woman who didn't know what she was looking for. My responses to him were less than high road.

 

[Fiv3r]

I'm a fan. I don't need to step foot inside Gouger Mountain again since they opened up. If I am looking for a specialty gun, I call my gun guy. However, if I find a clearance gun at Academy that I want, I'll take it home. I bought a clearanced LCR 9mm from them about $75 cheaper than the normal price. They had a clearanced 3" LCR that was only about $9 more than the snub version that I kick myself for not grabbing when I could.

Their ammo prices are pretty good. I like going there because they don't wall it off behind the glass. I can actually pick up 2 boxes and compare them. Their Monarch stuff is pretty good. Their brass .38 .357 and 9mm are NOT steel core, so my local range allows me to use it. I think I bought 4 boxes of 158gr semi jacketed hollow point for $15 a month or two back. I like that I can get plinking ammo that will still do defense duty at a reasonable price. They also seem to carry a few more oddball cartridges there. They generally always stock .25, .32acp, .32S&W, 5.7x28, etc. Nothing too niche but certainly more selection than WalMart.

Other than just gun stuff, I find they are pretty reasonable on other items. I bought my family's bikes there. They aren't anything special, but we just use them to ride around the neighborhood. You can also find some good close out deals on their knives. I found a SOG Voodoo Tomahawk for $19 when Amazon was still selling them for $40. Didn't need it, but at that price I couldn't pass it up.

In short, great place to get mid-level common stuff at a reasonable price.

 

[Damon555]

Here in TN Academy has the best deals going on guns and ammo. The selection isn't huge for guns but what they have is priced fairly. I sure wish I lived somewhere that has cheaper prices.....these guys complaining about their prices on guns must be getting incredible deals from their LGS....nobody is even close here.......Bass Pro, Cabela's and Gander?.....forget about it

 

[chicharrones]

OTOH, "time is money", driving to stores burns money in the form of fuel, there are always trade-offs.

Yep. Unless I'm driving by a store on my way to another place, I really don't make shopping trips. Too much traffic, too many people, too much distance (time) between stores.

 

[chicharrones]

Their off season clothing sales are also good.

Matter of fact, I just picked up a North Face sweater looking thing for my dad for 50% off this last weekend.

 

[22-rimfire]

I go there for general sporting goods stuff. I glance at their firearms, but seldom really look much. Prices are okay. We have two stores in our area. There are a number of the "big box" sporting goods stores in my area including Gander Mountain. My loyalties tend to go with Sportsman Warehouse if they sell what I am looking for.

 

[TroyR]

Yes there fine. My store has a huge selection of rifles and shotguns. A lot in the tactical area. Also there starting to get into reloading , carrying rcbs,Lee and Hornady. Best local place to buy ammo in my 100k populated city

 

[Cannibul]

I picked up three new shirts there today, along with a couple of shell holders I needed.

 

[CapnMac]

Cool place to get Lodge cast Iron. Also good for pots and burners to set up a crab/shrimp/mudbug boil (they even have the jumbo sizes for seasoning same).
Clothing lines are pretty good, their knock-offs are a bit better than true Columbia stuff.
Lots of fishing stuff, sometimes wither really good sales.
As to gun stuff, never seen any prices (in Texas) that lured me away from the LGS, Staff around the gun stuff also not much to write home about.
Side note, the old Texas Avenue location in College Station was notorious for hiring people who would scam the store. As in they'd put the single box price on their favorite variety's Brick. They would also put over-priced labels on ammo, sell it, reing up an overcharge, and pocket the change.

 

[Alte Schule]

CapnMac- Don't doubt that about the CS Academy back then. It always seemed to be poorly managed. Used to go in there for hunting gear as it was the only game in town then. Scored a couple of military
surplus "mummy" sleeping bags when they were closing. Built a Target store there but you
probably know that.

 

[Walkalong]

Ours here is OK. No complaints.

I asked a kid behind the counter one day about a Yildiz O/U (Never seen them before). "Is this the selector?" "No, that's the safety". "Well, yes, but it also moves back and forth, so I figure it's a selector too." "Yea, I guess so, they don't pay me enough to know about all of this stuff." Me, chuckling, "Ok, thanks."

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Been buying from them online for the last 6-8 months. Ammo prices the best I have found, their free shipping brings the total cost per round down to less than other places with slightly lower prices. Sure someplace else might have a box for $5.00 but with $15.00 shipping. I do comparison shop because I am one of the biggest tightwads on the planet. Bought winter boots for the grandkids at prices that were practically give away. My daughter bought some locally for a lot more money and they didn't last a month. The ones I bought from Academy are still going strong 4 months later with active 5 & 10 year olds. Belts and wallets for me and Xmas presents this year. About the only thing I have come across that has shipping is gun safes, but the nearest store is 900-1,000 miles from me. Been happy buying from them. But I still cross shop when buying.

 

[JTHunter]

Academy is junk. I browse their firearms and ammo, but have rarely seen a price I would pay.

While you are entitled to your opinion, I don't agree - at least, not completely. For the most part, their prices aren't too different than the Gander Mtn. that opened about a year ago in this area. What Academy DID have last fall that GM didn't was a sale on lasers. Ever since I got a Keltec PMR-30 a couple of years ago, I had been looking for a green laser at an "acceptable" price. Last November, Academy had a small iProtec laser for half price AND they were selling the reds and greens for the same $50 price. I find the greens to be brighter and easier to see in daylight and have gone to various stores and gunshows for over a year looking for one. Academy is the store that came through for me.

 

[Double_J]

I buy clothing, fishing gear, some shooting gear, and most of my camping gear from them. I have a Gander Mountain and a Bass Pro within a 20 minute drive but I still like Academy for most things. The Magellan brand clothing is as good as or better than the name brand items, and if you shop sales it is darn near give away pricing. One thing to remember is Academy is owned by the same corporate conglomerate as Family Dollar so they will have turn over in staff and stock.

 

[herrwalther]

While you are entitled to your opinion, I don't agree - at least, not completely. For the most part, their prices aren't too different than the Gander Mtn. that opened about a year ago in this area. What Academy DID have last fall that GM didn't was a sale on lasers. Ever since I got a Keltec PMR-30 a couple of years ago, I had been looking for a green laser at an "acceptable" price. Last November, Academy had a small iProtec laser for half price AND they were selling the reds and greens for the same $50 price. I find the greens to be brighter and easier to see in daylight and have gone to various stores and gunshows for over a year looking for one. Academy is the store that came through for me.

I would say it depends on where the Academy is. Most of the handguns sold at my local Academy are $100 over priced compared to the local gun store down the road.

 

[herkyguy]

I picked up an Eotech 512 for $379 on sale a few years back while passing through an Academy in MS. I'm down there for work every few months and I'll stop in to grab a box of Hornady lead .38 bullets to take in my checked baggage back home sans shipping fees.

 

[Sniper66]

I've had good experiences with Academy. On one occasion I was looking for 17Mach2 ammo, which very hard to find. The sales guy looked on his computer and found some in an Academy store in Texas. I ordered 2 bricks and they shipped it to my house at no charge. Plus, the price was reasonable. I also bought a small fishing boat with good price and service. I've bought a few fishing items at better prices than Bass Pro. Their guns are generally priced about 10% lower than Bass Pro and Cabela's, but selection is sparse. They have decent selection of ammo, but nothing exotic.