TheGrimReaper
Member
I worked at Gander for quite awhile while I was going to school. Even with our employee discount the employees don't shop there. We would go the the LGS and buy our goods.
Gander Mountain going out of business?
- Thread starter DC Plumber
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I live in upstate NY. The business climate has been so bad our small shops are going down slowly but surely. We're left with the Gander Mountains and such. I like the guys and ladies that work there, but its impossible to remain loyal to them when the company puts the prices they do on things. I always blame the current administration. But when you lose choices the big boys always try to take advantage. You guys are lucky you are not NYers.
They have some nice deals going on around here right now. They just opened a new store complete with a virtual shooting range (and a real one too). This store is huge. They aren't the cheapest but they are one of the only places I have found that will let someone from Illinois buy a gun.
I'm heading over there tomorrow to purchase a marlin 22 for 100 dollars. Seems like a deal to me. Hopefully they are still in stock.
I'm heading over there tomorrow to purchase a marlin 22 for 100 dollars. Seems like a deal to me. Hopefully they are still in stock.
killchain
Member
I love this thread!
"I buy all of my reloading supplies online... but Gander Mountain isn't stocking any realongin supplies! What gives?"
Course not, guys... you're too buys ordering it from the internet.
"I buy all of my reloading supplies online... but Gander Mountain isn't stocking any realongin supplies! What gives?"
Course not, guys... you're too buys ordering it from the internet.
wlewisiii
Member
I like the local Gander Mountain. It's expanding rather than "going out of business". I prefer to go there rather than most of the other places around because 1) the older folks that work there are knowledgeable about the products 2) they'll order anything I want 3) they have a lay-away program (20% down, 90 days rest) & 4) don't have talk radio blaring so loud you can't hardly talk across the counter.
I just picked up a used Ruger P97 there last week & wil go looking again soon.
I just picked up a used Ruger P97 there last week & wil go looking again soon.
TheCracker
Member
The closest GM (tyler tx) parking lot usually looks like a ghost town. Compared to the academy down the road. It usually looks to be at 10% capacity. It's amazed me that they are still in business.
Prices are so outrageous that I usually go in once a year ay most. As far as reloading goes the selection is bad and the prices are worse. A $24 box of Sierra game king bullets is $41 at GM!
If you think cabelas is high just walk through Gander.
I would guess I have spent less than $100 in the last 10 or so that I have been going to. Each time I go in I say to myself that I'll never go back. But sometimes I just need a laugh.
I'm not always expecting bargain prices but I'm sure not expecting to get screwed over.
Prices are so outrageous that I usually go in once a year ay most. As far as reloading goes the selection is bad and the prices are worse. A $24 box of Sierra game king bullets is $41 at GM!
If you think cabelas is high just walk through Gander.
I would guess I have spent less than $100 in the last 10 or so that I have been going to. Each time I go in I say to myself that I'll never go back. But sometimes I just need a laugh.
I'm not always expecting bargain prices but I'm sure not expecting to get screwed over.
oneounceload
member
They recently closed most of their "gunsmithing" (I use the term VERY loosely) operations in their stores. Their prices are higher than MSRP for new guns and used ones sell at MSRP for new ones. They seem to be focusing more on hunting as opposed to just shooting sports, along with a lot more camping. Although, the GM here is installing an indoor range next to the store in an old motel, so that tells me they are most likely realigning their business model. The employees also complain about distributors not having guns for them to bring into inventory...........whether that is true or not, remains to be seen
CajunBass
Member
Yea. This is a good idea. Let's root for a place that sells guns and amm ot go out of business, so we'll have one less place to buy guns and ammo.
Having said that, it's been a long time since I bought a gun from Gander, and I never have from Bass Pro. Actually I don't buy much of anything from either of them. As long as Greentops is in business, I'm not likely to.
I am tempted to buy a Bass Tracker boat I admit.
Having said that, it's been a long time since I bought a gun from Gander, and I never have from Bass Pro. Actually I don't buy much of anything from either of them. As long as Greentops is in business, I'm not likely to.
I am tempted to buy a Bass Tracker boat I admit.
ForumSurfer
Member
I got into a mildly heated conversation about this on another forum. A gander mountain employee was defending his company's prices...sort of. Basically giving me a hard time for putting gander down since corporate sets the prices, not the local stores. The people that work there are always ridiculously helpful and usually quite knowledgeable, but that is no excuse for price gouging.
From the way I understand it, they are dropping most of their reloading stuff.
They do decent business here, although I have no idea why. I give them the benefit of the doubt and check their prices when I buy, but I almost always walk out empty handed. I did pick up a 5.11 tactical wilderness style belt, it was only $10 more than I could have gotten it elsewhere (shipping included) and I wanted it right now. They are also slightly cheaper than walmart on the shoot-n-c style targets.
I'm willing to bet that the proliferation of recent UPC price checking apps for iPhones and Droids will start affecting their business.
From the way I understand it, they are dropping most of their reloading stuff.
They do decent business here, although I have no idea why. I give them the benefit of the doubt and check their prices when I buy, but I almost always walk out empty handed. I did pick up a 5.11 tactical wilderness style belt, it was only $10 more than I could have gotten it elsewhere (shipping included) and I wanted it right now. They are also slightly cheaper than walmart on the shoot-n-c style targets.
I'm willing to bet that the proliferation of recent UPC price checking apps for iPhones and Droids will start affecting their business.
oneounceload
member
No such thing as price gouging at GM - not when people are WILLINGLY spending their money at the prices stated. The consumers set the prices - when inventory doesn't move, it is reduced to a price that will get someone to buy it
Tim the student
Member
At the closest Gander to me, that is certainly not true. We have lazy kids who will tell you that 45/70 is good for varmints because the stupid little sign says so.
While there are helpful knowledgeable folks there, the majority are neither helpful nor are they knowledgeable. Their crappy staff and high prices have prevented me from going back in a couple years. I doubt I'll be back in that store. Maybe for a going out of business sale I guess - but even then, the prices will still probably be high.
soloban
Member
Their bullets are outrageous. Powder is decent, but I figured out I would only need to order 4 lbs from Midway to break even with what Gander charges.
oldbear
Member
By Old Fluff,
With the tight (?) economy many retailers are only stocking items that have a quick turnaround. No matter what the government is saying the economy is still very shaky and many people are only buying the basic must have items.
With the tight (?) economy many retailers are only stocking items that have a quick turnaround. No matter what the government is saying the economy is still very shaky and many people are only buying the basic must have items.
I buy quite a bit from GM. But of the things I do buy, its never reloading supplies. They are way out of line with those products.
You can get some great deals if you keep an eye on their sales and clearance items which means making frequent visits as they don't always advertise.
I have purchased guns there in the past but they normally are on the high end price wise there also. They will price match though.
You can get some great deals if you keep an eye on their sales and clearance items which means making frequent visits as they don't always advertise.
I have purchased guns there in the past but they normally are on the high end price wise there also. They will price match though.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Exactly! Folks just don't realize how liberal, anti-capitalist all this "price gouging" nonsense is.
oneounceload
member
Back when Cabela's, Gander et al were only catalog stores, their prices were decent. Let's remember, they are a RETAIL store just like JC Penney or Target. Once all of these folks opened those fancy expensive "Lodges", profits had to be bigger to pay for all of that. With a lot of discounters on line, gun folks seem to have a better handle on pricing than teens buying designer clothes at the regular stores, but retail is retail, and MSRP is what it is - suggested - to allow the store a decent profit margin to cover the costs
SpeedAKL
Member
From a current NoVA resident, that was good for a laughOr, if it were in Northern Virginia, 10 minutes by car, 2-3 minutes if you are walking!
Been there, done that. Never again!
SpeedAKL
Member
A GM opened up a few years ago in my old hometown. The place started out nice, with an absolutely massive selection of firearms that were reasonably priced - pretty much in line with the local shops. Ammo was outrageous, but I buy online and at gun shows for the most part so that wasn't a concern to me. However, the place seemed to go downhill quickly. Inventory stayed at about half capacity compared to opening day, and the number of long guns outside the typical Rem/Savage/Beretta/Win/Mossberg/Benelli mid-priced sporting market decreased dramatically. Military-pattern rifles in particular dried up, and unlike the other guns they were kept under total lock and key.
We had a Sportsmans Warehouse that had great prices, but it went out of business.
Here in the DC area we have no GM, Academy, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, etc. - you have to go to Richmond or Baltimore or further. Dick's Sporting Goods and Wally World are all over the place but not all of them keep a good outdoor section going and they restrict themselves to "sporting" long guns. There are some very good independent dealers in Northern VA which helps alleviate the problem.
We had a Sportsmans Warehouse that had great prices, but it went out of business.
Here in the DC area we have no GM, Academy, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, etc. - you have to go to Richmond or Baltimore or further. Dick's Sporting Goods and Wally World are all over the place but not all of them keep a good outdoor section going and they restrict themselves to "sporting" long guns. There are some very good independent dealers in Northern VA which helps alleviate the problem.
There is a Gander Mountain in Fredericksburg and possibly closer to you in Winchester
Agreed.Gander Mtn opened a store in the Richmond VA area a couple of years ago,....their prices were
Then Bass Pro Shops built a store about 10 minutes away.
I'm in the Richmond area and I'll visit Gander Mtn every once in a while. I don't buy much unless they have a sale. I will say that their customer service is outstanding. This is probably due to there being more staff than customers in the store on most days.
I think that the Bass Pro Shops a mile or two up the road hurt them even more badly than their high prices.
I hope that they stay in business but I always wonder how they stay open when I see a dozen cars in the parking lot on the average weekday.
Jim Watson
Member
Once upon a time, Gander Mountain was mostly a mailorder operation with one or a few storefronts in Minnesota. I bought a lot of stuff from them in those days, there being one good locally owned store about 70 miles away. They folded up a good many years ago and the present outfit is a redo. Now there are Bass Pro, Cabelas, and mailorder houses like Midway to hold them down. Frankly, I don't see much of anything I need in a store, no matter the name on the sign.
In Columbus OH, as far as I'm concerned the 2 GM stores closed years ago.....but the doors are still open I'm told.
You'd look a long time to find a bigger bunch of limp noodle know nothing sales people with not a clue about retailing in a store that somehow finds a way to still exist.
You'd look a long time to find a bigger bunch of limp noodle know nothing sales people with not a clue about retailing in a store that somehow finds a way to still exist.
TheCracker
Member
I don't wish any business to fail but if they do it's the fault of whatever marketing geniuses they have setting the prices.
I haven't checked prices of all the merchandise they carry but 95% of what I have actually looked at is OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH! That's just on regular non firearms. As far as guns go it is silly. When I bought my Marlin 1894 three years ago I got it from Cabelas for $549. My LGS would have been about $525 but none of their distributors could get them any time soon. Gander has some in stock for $629!!!!! That's just silly. They must think people don't shop around.
It's funny to read that some have had the same sentiment that others do when I've entered and left.
Frankly I'm amazed that the store in Tyler tx is still open. It looks like the KMart started looking when Wal mart started beating them down.
I haven't checked prices of all the merchandise they carry but 95% of what I have actually looked at is OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH! That's just on regular non firearms. As far as guns go it is silly. When I bought my Marlin 1894 three years ago I got it from Cabelas for $549. My LGS would have been about $525 but none of their distributors could get them any time soon. Gander has some in stock for $629!!!!! That's just silly. They must think people don't shop around.
It's funny to read that some have had the same sentiment that others do when I've entered and left.
Frankly I'm amazed that the store in Tyler tx is still open. It looks like the KMart started looking when Wal mart started beating them down.
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