Gander Mountain and their "Sales"

[AK103K]

About two weeks ago I was in the Gander Mountain in Harrisburg, PA looking around. They had a bunch of the German Polizei P6/P225 trade ins, for $399. They werent in the best shape and the finish on most all of them was pretty bad, and if they rated "fair" they would have been lucky. I passed.

I was just back in Gander Mountain again yesterday. I had heard they were having a " big sale" and figured I would stop by as I was down that way anyway. Those same P225's were still there, in the same crappy condition, and now on sale. Two weeks ago they were selling for $399. Yesterday, they were reduced "save $150"! Cool, I look a little closer at the tag.... "originally, $469 on sale for....$399.99"! Jeez, what a racket! I still passed

This is only the third time I've been in a Gander, the first was about 10 years ago in Wisconsin. That store was a nice one too, a lot like a small Cabelas. The ones here are kind of junky and basically just store fronts in a strip mall. I didnt see an deals on firearms,(or anything else for that matter) sale or otherwise, and now after seeing how they set up their sales, I dont think I'll bother to stop by anymore.

 

[dfaugh]

Even though they're just down the road, I haven't been in there for a while. But, my buddy was a coupla weeks ago (they had a "sale"!)...And he said that they have only a fraction of the long guns they used to have. When they opened the had a large selling area devoted to long guns (and quite a bit more space for ammo and reloading, and other accesories.

Even if you get past their prices (which weren't TOO awful on new guns, but were INSANE on used guns), the problem was that they had racks of guns---all the same make/model/caliber. It LOOKED really impressive, but if you walked down a rack of guns, you'd see 6 of these and 10 of those. AND, while I spent lots of time there, I never, ever saw anyone actually BUY a gun.

The only thing I've ever bought there were cleaning supplies, and small amounts of ammo. I'd normally prefer to patronize my local gunshop, even for small stuff, but the nearest is about 20 miles away, whereas GM is less than 2.

 

[Crimp]

I went in the Gander's in Washington, PA looking for some Lee dies, bullets for reloading, cheap ammo and a possible good deal on a new pistol. I left with nothing and haven't been back.

 

[ZeSpectre]

The only gander mountain near me is a fair drive away so I go there very infrequently. Every now and then they have excellent sales on ammo and camping gear but in terms of firearms...BLECH!

Firstly they pull the same pricing tricks that everyone else has mentioned and secondly trying to get a sales associate to help you is a royal pain in the backside!


If I happen to be down that way I'll stop in 'cause you never know what you might find but I sure don't make any special trips.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Ah yes... Another "What's with GM?" thread!

Yes, GM's firearms prices are usually a bit high. BUT, you CAN find deals there if you look for them.

Their corporate policy is that if they buy a used firearm from a customer for X-dollars, then they will tag it and sell it for X-dollars + 30%. (In other words, they will buy it for 70% of what they will try and sell it for)

So, if it happens that a not-quite-so-experienced-buyer takes something in for the wrong (too high) price, then that too-high price will follow that particular firearm until it's either sold by someone not knowing their prices, moved to another store, or price is lowered to move it.

I've been on both ends of the GM spectrum, so to speak. My first firearm that I ever bought, a used CZ 40-P, I overpaid about $75 at GM. It was my fault...I hadn't done my homework.

A few months ago, I found a LNIB 100% German Walther P-99 9mm for $450. This one, I DID do my homework; which involved perusing 2-3 online auction sites as well as visiting several other gun shops to check their prices. I couldn't find anything lower than $450 anywhere.

And lastly, my most recent firearms purchase from GM was an FM Hi-Power that had been sitting in their case, overpriced by about $100, for about 3 months. It was during their recent "sale" that I looked at it again. One of the counter guys (very knowledgeable and personable) told me that he "could work with me" on the price. I asked him how much they could work with me, and when it was all said and told, he knocked $100 off the price, bringing it down to where it should've been in the first place. (this situation was one where the GM employee who bought the firearm bought it as an "FN" and not an "FM"; thereby giving a higher price).

Accessories and ammunition, I've not bought! Too high for my blood.

 

[Rokman]

I have visited four Gander Mountain stores and the only thing that I have bought were clothes for my wife and kid. They seem to have a great selection and it's nice to look at the rifles and shotguns with the little cables attatched to them, but the prices on the firearms that I wanted seemed way too much for me. The store does have a broad selection of merchandise for a smller type store, but I don't go out of my way to shop there anymore.

 

[bogie]

If you don't like the price, don't pay it.

Then again, I haven't seen anyone selling "free" toys lately...

 

[AK103K]

I wont pay it. I dont like being played the fool either, and I'm sure you dont either. I'm not asking for free, but I would prefer fair and honest.

Their prices are high to start with, then to inflate the price just to reduce it on sale back to what it was, is at worst bordering on fraud, and at best, bad business. I'm just glad I was in two weeks ago to see how they operate.

As for their SIG's, I've seen CPO's for sale cheaper, and have bought very nice used SIG's myself, for less than their high dollar "fair's".

 

[The Rifleman]

That sales associate is not there to help you.. They are there to make sure that you do not steal anything..

My brother shops in the store in Washington Pa - Not far from Greensburg, because it is close to his home. My brother is the best dressed hunter at our camp.

But since he worked for a large company, (ABB) that gave him a company credit card and told him that when he was working outside, they didn't want him to catch a cold. He could buy anything he wanted and charge it to the company and wear it to work one time and keep it..
I guess I'm a little bit jelous here...

Most big gun shops have their guns chained to the wall so you cannot walk off with them.. Just that after a couple hundred people handle them and scratch them up with the chain / cable that they are worth less than when they were brought in.. Your best bet is if you found something that was of value to you to purchase it as soon as possible..

You would think that any gun shop that buys and sells used guns would hire someone to clean and oil a firearm before they put it on the rack.. I know of one - "The Feed Mill", that sells farm supplies in the same building as their guns are kept in.. After you take it home, it seems to rust right before your eyes.. Must be a high concentration of salt or something in the air from all the fertilizers.

 

[CajunBass]

I've bought several guns from the local GM. I thought the ones I've bought were fairly priced. I've seen some that I didn't think were fairly priced though. I didn't buy those.

 

[tinygnat219]

The one by me and Zespectre is notoriously busy. Other items are alright, but the only things I tend to buy there are shotgun ammo.

 

[defjon]

I've seen some good deals. I haven't picked up all of them or even most of them due to my poor little budget, but they were there nonetheless. Off the top of my head, I can recall:

Beretta 9000 9mm with case and two mags- 299.00
Bersa Thunder duo-tone -199.00
Glock 22 -350.00
Taurus mod 85 blued -205.00
SW 586- 350.00

The last time I was there they had a Colt Anaconda in great shape for 450.00 Can you believe that?? I don't know, I always see then for 700 upwards...so I figured it must be too good to be true, and I really have no need for a 44 magnum.


....at least that is what I keep telling myself. The real reason I didn't go for it is that I'd just bought an XD-45. You would think by now I'd know myself. I am a revolver man through and through. It is a nice bit of tactical plastic, and I'm sure I can be quite a badass with it...but it doesn't do anything for me like a smith or a colt does.

 

[rick newland]

I went to the new GM in Huntsville on Friday. I bought a new Marlin 1895 CB for $570. The sales guy, former range master at Larrys, went to to back and got one for me that hadnt been handled. Not a bad price for that rifle.

 

[rcupka]

This not my experience in S.E. Michigan. I have bought a used Ruger Mark II Target for a very good price (209) at the G.M. in Taylor MI and got a lot of good advice from the sales person in the NOVI store on trap shooting. My buddy bought a S&W 22A in Joliet IL for $109. If you find a gun in another store in a different state they will in-store stransfer it to a store near you in your state for free. I think that is pretty good service.

rcupka

 

[NavahoJoe]

Gander Mountain

I was in the Huntsville, Alabama, Gander Mountain store yesterday looking for insulated socks, excuse for the wife, and checked out their reloading supplies. Not much on hand. Most of the racks for RCBS, Lyman, ect, were empty or very sparsely stocked. Not much brass in stock either. Looked for socks for thirty minutes and didn't find any. Checked price on insulated underwear, came home and ordered what I needed, wanted, socks and longjohns from Bass Pro Shops. Better price, in stock, and shipping would about cover sales tax. Highly disappointed in my Gander Mountain store. I did buy a knife sharpener while I was there. Everything seemed to be pretty dog-gone high, although signs in store said they would beat anyone's price.
regards,
NavahoJoe

 

[nelson133]

My experience with Gander Mountain used guns is that sometimes they don't know what they have and you can get bargains. I got a like new S&W Model 14-4 for $250.

 

[ilbob]

Their corporate policy is that if they buy a used firearm from a customer for X-dollars, then they will tag it and sell it for X-dollars + 30%. (In other words, they will buy it for 70% of what they will try and sell it for)

Your math is off.

If they buy it for $100, and try to sell it for $130, than they bought it for 77% of what they will try to sell it for.

I kind of like the local GM, although the last few times I was in there their stock of ammo was kind of low.

It is like any other store. They have some good, some bad, and some mediocre employees, and the same can probably be said for their prices and merchandise.

My suggestion is that if you don't like the store for some reason, than shop elsewhere.

 

[lance22]

I no longer purchase firearms at Gander Mountain

Very poor gun counter service here in MN at Gander Mountain.

Here in MN, one never knows if you will be allowed to handle their pistols. On a couple occasions, I've had the clerk refuse to remove the trigger lock. One of those trips I had a grand of $$ in my pocket and left the store angry and bought a Kimber Tac Pro at Sportsmen's Warehouse (for $ 150.00 less than it was going for at Gander, btw).

Also, on several occasions I've had the people at Gander remove the trigger lock (have to press the issue if you want the lock removed), then only to tell me that I'm not allowed to pull the trigger because "dry fire" hurts the gun. I'm looking at semi-auto handguns so I think that's a myth. I told the guy behind the counter that buying a gun withoug pulling the trigger is like buying a car without starting the engine ... would he do it? But my protest fell on deaf ears and it was obvious that my days of buying guns at Gander Mountain were over.

One day, after visiting a Gander where they refused to let me test fire a semi-auto handgun, I filed a complaint through their website. To my surprise a manager called me within hours, apologizing profusely and telling me over and over and over that Gander Mountain does not have a "No Dry Fire" policy. Well, that's all dandy that they don't have a "No Dry Fire" policy, it's just that alot of the guys behind the counter thinks there is a policy, and quote the practice as a policy.

But, it's not just that they refuse to let you pull the trigger ...

Gander Mountain Woodbury, a guy behind the counter tells a person with a new carry permit not to buy anything more powerful than a .380 because (1) "You don't want to blow the sh|t out of anyone" and (2) "Cops can use 9mm or .40 because they have bullets that don't go through walls.".

WHAT ???? ROFL !!!

Gander Mountain, Lakeville - a guy asks to see the Beretta Storm and the guy behind the counter says "You mean the one that looks like a machine gun?"



Disclaimer: Not all the service is bad at Gander Mountains, and some claim they have never had a clerk refuse to remove the trigger locks ... but I have many times so I can only speak from my own experience. BTW, I'm 42 years old and dress in suit and tie every day because of my job so it's not like i look like a gang-banger or anything. But, I no longer purchase guns or ammo at Gander Mountain.

 

[Buzzardo]

Since I work nearby, I often swing through the Harrisburg GM on my lunch hour. Here's the deal.

On guns, more often than not the prices on new guns is on the high side. However, by shopping at the right times, or depending on what you're looking for, other times you can get a very good deal on a new pistol or rifle.

Prices on used guns are also on both ends of the spectrum. Some excellent deals, some not so great. Depends on what you're looking for. Over the last few years, I've bought a fair number of guns there, mostly used.

Also have had some excellent deals on sale clothing, boots/shoes, camping equipment, and other paraphrenalia. Since virtually everything goes on sale or closeout eventually, I don't think I've ever bought anything for full retail there.

By the way, the guys in the firearms section of the Harrisburg GM are good, knowledgeable folks. I've been quite pleased with the service there, and they know their stuff. They always take off the locks, and they fully understand that a serious buyer needs to be able to check the action, timing, etc.

 

[atomchaser]

I had a fairly good experience with the GM in Orlando that I had detailed in a thread last month. I did my research before I went in and called them on the phone ahead of time to make sure they had what I wanted and ended up with a good deal and good service. It's a bit of a trip for me to visit them, so unless they have something I'm looking for a the best price and I know it ahead of time, it wouldn't be worth it.