Dick's Sporting Goods is anti?

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CAUTION WHAT FOLLOWS IS SHEER SPECULATION!

But, I know that many large national chain retailers from grocery stores to WW vary their in store inventory by region. So there may very well be Dick's in some part of the country that carry inventory that isn't carried in other parts of the country. When it comes to guns of course some of that would be driven by local legalities, and some of it would be driven by their marketing department's assessment of the local tastes etc. Of course those assessments are likely completely subjective, but that's the way it goes.

Just thought.
 
Kingofthehill

You were posting as I posted my last, but I think that variation in locality may actually make my point. We all know the Peeple's Repbulik of Kaliforniastan is as anti as any place in the country. So Dick's may have decided not to sell anything gun related in CA while TX of course is hugely gun friendly, and they get a full line up.

Here again speculation on my part, but it certainly seems to me to be possible.
 
So now you're saying it as a matter if fact that I have a beef with a gun store, just that you don't care. Incredible. I guess my original question bears repeating. I'm not sure where I said I have a beef with anyone, can you point it out? Oh wait, it wasn't directed at me and wasn't a veiled slight, of course not.
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Wow. Uh. Look, I don't care one way or another about your feelings for the management of the store. If you like their policies, fine. If you don't, fine. Deal with them or don't deal with them as you see fit. I was merely pointing out that regional differences in what appears on store shelves would indicate that the corporate head office doesn't have a universal "anti-gun" stance.

I've re-read everything you've written. You don't seem to have expressed animosity toward them. Where's the beef? as Ms. Clara Peller would have said. :) While I don't understand how anything I said could have been taken as a "slight" against you, I sincerely apologize for anything I may have said to give you that impression.

Let's not further side-track this discussion with our small miscommunication, ok.?
 
I don't shop Dick's for guns ever since they built one in an anti-gun suburb, and agreed to have the store located there not sell guns or many types of ammo.

I see it this way-Dick's obviously ISN'T going to kick and scream at the abridgment of our rights, just as Wal-Mart won't. Guns and ammo are not their core business, and they readily jettison it to put up a store in an otherwise good location.

It also means that if it comes to a fight with a village or state about my rights to buy guns, they're going to bail without a burble. If I've already let them put the dedicated, 'firearms only/firearms first' shops under, we're screwed.

Larry
 
I never knew or thought of Dick's as Anti-- heck, in fact- they are the only store in the mall in Frisco Texas that carries any guns or ammo..Prices aren't the best, but not too bad compared to other places. They don't carry pistols, or "evil":rolleyes: rifles, but they do carry ammo for them. Every so often also, you can get a good deal on rifles..I bought my son's Crickett there on a whim a year ago for under $100 when Wally World at the time had them for around $110. The guy I dealt with at the counter was very pro gun, and I did feel bad for him- he was resigned to where he was-- sort f like Hank Hill having to work at the Mega-Lo-Mart instead of Strickland Propane... He and I chatted awhile-- Not the best gun place, but truthfully, the prices are better than Gander Mtn, and the selection is better than Wal-Mart...

The one at the mall usually had 9mm and .45acp during the "panic"-- mainly because the House Fraus of Frisco are usually not gun buyers...The prices then were only about $1 more than Wal Mart, and Wal Mart was usually empty stock wise..

YMMV..
 
In my experience, they're anti-good customer service. I once stood around for the better part of 1/2 hour in one waiting for somebody to come to the ammo counter, AFTER trying to get help twice. And the guy that should have been there was playing with a fishing reel with a customer. He never even bothered to ask me if I needed help or to get somebody else to help me.

In addition, they bought out the Galyan's chain. Galyan's had a decent selection of handguns and associated items. Dick's doesn't even sell holsters.

I avoid them when I can.
 
It also means that if it comes to a fight with a village or state about my rights to buy guns, they're going to bail without a burble. If I've already let them put the dedicated, 'firearms only/firearms first' shops under, we're screwed.
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Something that bears consideration. I hadn't thought of it that way. Not sure it'll sway my free market thinking, but it certainly has me reconsidering what it's worth to support locals.
 
I never knew these places did not sell certain guns. I had never really been to one except in NY which sells nothing. When I moved into PA all these chain stores sold all sorts of AK/AR rifles and a large handgun selection. Figured this is how it was outside NYC.
 
On price gouging, I have always thought local gun shops have price gouged (supply and demand/it is a business) a lot more than Dicks/wal mart have. My wal mart has 9mm winchester for 9.99 per 50. My local shop has wolf and aluminum blazer for 19.99!! Its crazy.

I worked at Dicks in northern IL for about a year. We were just on the outside of Cook County so we sold guns and ammunition. I worked in the gun/lodge department. My managers wanted to sell as many guns as possible, money is the bottom line in big business, not morals.
 
On price gouging, I have always thought local gun shops have price gouged (supply and demand/it is a business) a lot more than Dicks/wal mart have. My wal mart has 9mm winchester for 9.99 per 50. My local shop has wolf and aluminum blazer for 19.99!! Its crazy.

I worked at Dicks in northern IL for about a year. We were just on the outside of Cook County so we sold guns and ammunition. I worked in the gun/lodge department. My managers wanted to sell as many guns as possible, money is the bottom line in big business, not morals.
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Dicks had 7.62*39 Wolf for 12.99! I got into a big argument with the manager there, and told them I would never be back.

I even returned my Christmas gifts bought at Dicks I feel so strongly about it.

And everyone knows there are no guns or ammo in IL! :neener:
 
The dick's by my house has very good prices compared to Cabelas and G.A.T. guns (local)

Yo Mama: Managers don't make prices...they have no say in prices in the store.


I have enough here in IL but would have more in other states!!!
 
I picked some .45 up from the local one the other day, since there was no other .45 available (it's been pretty spotty here lately.)

The guy asked to see a driver's license, but as soon as he saw the NH logo on it, he said "you're all set." I asked him why they would check licenses, and he said it is to prevent MA people from buying if they don't have a MA FID. He said since they have stores in MA, they are worried about liability.
 
Kingofthehill

You were posting as I posted my last, but I think that variation in locality may actually make my point. We all know the Peeple's Repbulik of Kaliforniastan is as anti as any place in the country. So Dick's may have decided not to sell anything gun related in CA while TX of course is hugely gun friendly, and they get a full line up.

Here again speculation on my part, but it certainly seems to me to be possible.
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i agree. I just don't care for double standards. CA resident's were excited to see "Dicks" come into the community. then they failed to support CA shooters unlike other states they occupy. As if CA money isn't as good as TX money.

Although i am a TX resident, i still fight for my fellow brothers in arms behind "Enemy" lines in CA.

Just how i operate i guess :)

JOe
 
i agree. I just don't care for double standards. CA resident's were excited to see "Dicks" come into the community. then they failed to support CA shooters unlike other states they occupy. As if CA money isn't as good as TX money.

Although i am a TX resident, i still fight for my fellow brothers in arms behind "Enemy" lines in CA.

Just how i operate i guess
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Not complaining, just commenting. And, if it is/was a legal issue well the only choice they had was to not go in to CA. If that's the case they as a company have to serve the highest calling for them which is to make money.
 
Never had a problem buying from Dick's. They very their inventory by region, and in my area its all hunting. They have a bunch of cheap bolt action rifles, and hardly any commen calibers of ammunition. They do have good deals on shotgun shells and clays, thats about all I buy from them.

Cabala's OTOH has a fantastic ammunition selection, but again its all hunting rifles. I don't think I have ever seen an EBR at the one in CT.

I find most box stores to be about the same. The prices are so so, the employees are usualy morons, and frankly I just don't go in unless I am forced to.
 
besides, how can a place that sells guns and/or ammo be "anti-gun"?
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Same way that Sarah Brady is anti-gun. She is OK with the ownership of most guns designed before 1900 (and derivatives, as long as they are traditionally styled), as long as you are of a certain social class and are sufficiently obeisant toward your betters. She bought her son a bolt-action .30-06 at one point, but would rather see you in prison than owning an AR-15.
 
The Dicks by me (in Skokie Ill.) sells a variety of .22's some centerfire bolt actions and lever guns, and a big selection of shotguns of all varieties, they also have a good selection of ammo from rifle to pistol. The guys in the gun/fishing section are all pro gun. Not bad considering it's Cook County. Still no pistols :mad: Prices are 't too bad, sales can be pretty good. The other local chain, Sports Authority doesn't sell any firearms. Slim pickings around here, just a handful of small gun stores left in our part of the county. Have to ride out to Cabelas or gats, for a really good selection.
 
Dick's is most definitely anti.

They won't sell to out of state residents even if the purchase is legal.

They also arbitrarily define what's "sporting" and only sell those guns. I have never seen them sell anything in .223, .308, 7.62x39/54, etc. as they are "military calibers" not even "politically correct" bolt action rifles in those calibers. They also won't sell handguns.

I take extreme offense to their policy on no "military" or "non-sporting" weapons because not twenty feet away from their politically correct gun counter, they sell airsoft AKs, AR's, MP5's, etc. so they don't seem to have any problems selling fake scary guns.

They also take on unnecessary gun control measures. Here in NJ all purchases of handgun ammo not being shot on a range attached to the store must be logged with name, address, phone number and driver's license. Dick's goes the extra mile and logs all rifle and shotgun ammo as well.

They also have, around here at least, employees who have no clue. I inquired if they had a Mossberg 500 in 18.5" barrel to which I was told "that's a home defense gun and needs a different type of license" a statement so full of bull I could smell fecal matter on the guy's breath.

There's also the "walk of shame" through the store after a purchase.

Oh, and one last funny thing. Last time I bought a gun there, the expert behind the counter looked at me and genuinely asked "do you fill this thing out?" pointing to an ATF form 4473.
 
Anti? I don't really know their politics. I would call Dick's hypocritical, however, because though they do not sell handguns, they do sell ammunition for handguns.

Their "specials" are really not that special. Example: A so-called special on Remington 12 gauge target loads is advertised in the paper. The price looks good, but when I get to the store, I find that the "special price" is for boxes containing 20 shells - not the usual 25. What clays game is played with 20 shots instead of 25? Not any that I shoot. That, to me, is deceptive. They don't say anywhere in the advertising about the 20 round boxes. Dick's is the only store where I've seen shotgun shells packaged this way.

Also, at age 62, I do not like making the "walk of shame" to the front desk with a goober from the hunting department carrying my ammo (store policy).

There.... I guess that about says it. I do still buy athletic shoes at Dick's - nothing for shooting.
 
:scrutiny:

Too bad this little icon above does not come with his own tinfoil hat.....some folks are a wee bit paranoid it seems.
 
Dick's is most definitely anti.

They won't sell to out of state residents even if the purchase is legal.
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Not sure if that's an "anti" position or just a CYA/laziness issue. Remember that in every sale they have to know and completely conform to the laws in the jurisdictions of both their state and the home state of the purchaser.

Now the ATF supplies FFLs with a big book of those laws, but consider that a big company like Dick's has to train their thousands of gun counter managers -- spread across 41 states (I checked) -- in the legal details of not only federal firearms law but also their individual state laws. Now then imagine those thousands of gun counter managers responsible for making sure every transaction is exactly legal, and tell them that they may be called upon any afternoon to sort out the details of a sale to a citizen from a "restrictive" state a thousand miles away -- including 9 states they don't even have stores in! Get it wrong and they've broken the law and there could be serious legal ramifications for the employee, the store, and even the chain.

When it's a small shop with a few trusted employees and a manager or owner who will take the time to sit down and make sure that the laws of both states are fully complied with -- yeah, a good shop will make that sale. But a chain store with tens of thousands of employees of who-knows-what level of competence? Well, I applaud any who are brave enough to do it, but it is a legal minefield that would make me quite nervous.

Dick's is most definitely anti. ...

They also arbitrarily define what's "sporting" and only sell those guns. I have never seen them sell anything in .223, .308, 7.62x39/54, etc. as they are "military calibers" not even "politically correct" bolt action rifles in those calibers. They also won't sell handguns.

I take extreme offense to their policy on no "military" or "non-sporting" weapons
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First of all, you're going to have to do better than "I have never seen" to convince me that they don't sell .308 Win. bolt action rifles. Or .223s. There are two of the most popular hunting calibers in the country. Might be beside the point, but I think you're overstating the case with that one. By that argument, they wouldn't sell .30-'06, 7mm Mauser, .45-70, or a great many other things, either.

But to the bigger discussion: Is this corporate policy or local store policy or an attempt to take the easy way out in conforming to local laws in a particular state, or truly an "anti-non-sporting firearms" policy?

They are a "sports" store that has a hunting and fishing department. They don't seem to cater to sports like IDPA/USPSA or SASS. But I didn't see any curling equipment last time I was in one either.

The only reason I offer these counter positions is that I kind of like going in "sports" stores and seeing shooting gear. I think the decision to include firearms at all -- and go through the legal and social ramifications of holding their FFL -- is a LOT more meaningful than their "bowing" to the pressure not to carry Kalashnikovs which, as much as I love them, really aren't a first-choice hunting gun.

If they aren't catering to the 3-gun or militaria collecting crowd, it seems that's because those aren't "sports" they exist to serve. They sell hunting guns because hunting is a sport they serve. You seem to be reading a strong value judgment into that where I don't see that one exists.

There are organizations that are "ANTI!" There are organizations that HURT us. Dicks sells GUNS for pete's sake. They might not sell guns I really want very often, but I can't consider them an "ANTI" organization until I see some kind of effort to substantively HURT us.

I don't disagree with your decision not to buy anything from them, by the way. Except for some shotgun shells (great prices, usually) and a deer stand on sale once, I've never bought anything either. But it's because they don't carry much that interests me, not because I think they're AGAINST us.

Make sense?
 
We sure have a mish mash of comments over Dick's over nothing. I go there for my golf stuff! As others have said, they stock according to location. No guns, no big deal, buy yourself some socks!
 
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