Gander Mountain to file for bankruptcy

[Alte Schule]

http://www.twincities.com/2017/02/10/report-gander-mountain-preparing-bankruptcy-filing/

I drive by one every work day. Usually the parking lot is deserted. I rarely go in but when I do the employees usually outnumber the customers. Hate to see people losing their jobs or a business go under but unfortunately it's been long time in coming.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I'm not surprised. They are expensive on everything. With Cabela's, they usually have cheap primers so I go there for that, and may come out with more stuff.

Gander Mountain is expensive on powder, primers, ammo, guns, clothes, fishing...no reason to go there at all. Their sale prices are higher than PSA's regular prices.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I guess the number of consumers who consider it a satus symbol to pay more for the same thing than the rest of us has dwindled to an uneconomic minority.

Some companies use bankruptcy to reorganize and come back with a better business plan.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Not surprised nor do I care. Local dealers always beat the prices of Gander or Cabelas.

 

[X-Rap]

Those big stores put a lot of small ones under over the last couple decades and now they are feeding on each other.
So far it looks like BPS is gonna come out on top.

 

[red rick]

I agree , I am not surprised . There use to be a Gander Mountain in my area . They built it within a 1/2 mile of our most popular LGS , right off 95 . Then Bass Pro came in a few years latter and built a store about a mile from them right off 95 . The Gander Mountain parking lot was always empty and they final closed that store and the LGS moved into that larger building and the parking lot is now full , but I do think that the LGS went downhill some and there prices went up after moving into that larger new building . The prices are still better than Bass Pro unless BP is running a sale .

 

[maxxhavoc]

I agree , I am not surprised . There use to be a Gander Mountain in my area . They built it within a 1/2 mile of our most popular LGS , right off 95 . Then Bass Pro came in a few years latter and built a store about a mile from them right off 95 . The Gander Mountain parking lot was always empty and they final closed that store and the LGS moved into that larger building and the parking lot is now full , but I do think that the LGS went downhill some and there prices went up after moving into that larger new building . The prices are still better than Bass Pro unless BP is running a sale .

Whenever I drive north, I stop by Green Top. Awesome store, I assume this is the one you speak of. It was nice of Gander to build them a store!

 

[bradepb]

Guess I better use my gift card I got for Christmas.

 

[Glock Doctor]

Not surprised! I've always found Gander Mountain's equipment selections to be good; but their prices on guns and ammo to be noncompetitive and very easy to beat by (almost) any other gun shop in the area. Any sporting equipment merchandiser that can't sell ammo for the exact same price as (or even a lower price than) Walmart is already in trouble; and Gander Mountain with their overpriced ammo and ridiculously high priced guns has been in trouble, now, for a very long time.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

It's too bad. They are often overpriced, but from a sociological/cultural perspective they put guns into many suburban shopping centers where they might not have been otherwise welcome. At a time when guns, especially AR's, needed a mainstream 'corporate' chain store to stock them Gander Mountain continued to do so rather matter-of-factly as normal every-day firearms.

 

[rule303]

I have never understood Ganders business model. Their prices are on the very high end of retail- much like Cabelas or Bass Pro. The difference is that Cabelas and Bass Pro can justify the higher prices with their stores being a "destination" and reputation for selection and customer service. Gander stores on the other hand are akin to a mid 80's K-Mart, drab, dingy, and overall cheap feeling. The one closest to me seldom has more than one checkout open, nobody that knows a thing about what they are selling, and lots and lots of the same items, not really much to choose from.

 

[tarosean]

http://www.twincities.com/2017/02/10/report-gander-mountain-preparing-bankruptcy-filing/

I drive by one every work day. Usually the parking lot is deserted. I rarely go in but when I do the employees usually outnumber the customers. Hate to see people losing their jobs or a business go under but unfortunately it's been long time in coming.

On weekends I park and Gander and walk across the street to Academy since its easier to find parking.

 

[Dog Soldier]

We are coming off a cycle of high demand for firearms, ammo and related items. Many retailers and manufactures were simply surviving because of increased sales.
Many of these suppliers and manufactures will be forced to close down. The demand for the AR 15 and .22 rimfire ammo are falling rapidly.

 

[Stony]

I've been surprised that the Ganders that's closest to me has survived as long as it has. The parking lot is generally close to empty and I can easily see why. I don't think they stock a single thing that you can't buy cheaper somewhere else. I quit even going in there to shop...it's just ridiculous. Until they learn the value of being competitive with other similar stores, they don't have a chance.

 

[Axis II]

years ago they used to be a decent place and then they fired the gunsmiths, archery techs, took down all the mounts and became more of a clothing store with some guns and hunting supplies. prices are about 5-10% higher than most places, they hire people with no clue about anything is why i quit going there. When the 2 bear archery trained pro staff members left and were let go they brought in a part time guy to "work" on bows. I asked for a new string and he said he would order it then 3 weeks goes by and says he cant get it so i called the manufacture and they said he could have and it would be sent to me in 3 days. would have been nice for a call after 3 weeks saying he couldn't get it. found something on gander mountain.com for a certain price and it was more in store so i asked the cashier who said yes i could have it for that price cause it was a gander mountain item and the manager treated us like we were criminals trying to steal from them. denied the sale and said now is there anything else i can do for you in a condescending way.

My store is closing due to cabelas being down the road now and they marked everything up 5-10% and put a sales sign on it but its still the same price before clearance, items miss marked or packaged and wont let us return them. i got a recoil pad that was in the Mossberg box and its 2 inches too long and couldn't return it or exchange it. purchased work boots from them that the threads broke in 6 months danner said they aren't allowed to warranty anything from gandermountain. found out they might be seconds they are selling as normal.

I hate to see people lose a job but never been a fan of that company for more reasons then stated above. I prefer shopping at mom and pop stores.

 

[Ed Ames]

I have never understood Ganders business model.

You mean combining the highest prices in town with mediocre selection and dreary stores isn't a winning model?

Their prices are on the very high end of retail- much like Cabelas or Bass Pro.

My experience is that their prices are significantly higher than Cabelas. I once priced the same gun at three local chains... Gander, Cabelas, and Academy. Academy had it for $869. Cabelas had it for $899. Gander wanted $1099.

The funny part: that Gander store is about half a mile from an Academy. They don't quite share a parking lot but I would think that anyone getting ready to shell out $1100 for a revolver would stop by more than one store.

We are coming off a cycle of high demand for firearms, ammo and related items.

Honestly, I don't think this is a huge factor in this case.

 

[MedWheeler]

The GM 45 miles south of me was like Graceland to me when it opened. However, in the last couple of years, it has been reduced to the likes of, as someone above put it, an "80's-era Kmart." Their used-gun prices have become a little easier to digest, but it's probably too little, too late.

Bass Pro opening in my town a few years ago didn't help them much.

 

[ny32182]

I have a feeling it is going to be generally tough sledding in the retail firearms business the next few years.

The artificial demand bubble is popping hard.

 

[bnolsen]

Wow, they just closed one north of me and moved the location next to a costco just south of me. Just opened last september. I did like the looks of some of the used pistols they had in stock. The rest of the store? meh. We had a sportsman's warehouse a few miles further away but they closed that location...probably 15 years ago now. I think they still have one in the area but on the other side of town. So with 2 cabelas, one bass pro shop, gander mountain and sportsman's warehouse probably don't have much left to fight over. The big normal sports stores of course gave up on selling firearms during the hottest selling time (probably something to do with pressure from that administration but who knows).

What everyone really needs is a dramatically cheaper source of ammunition. Costs are extremely prohibitive for most to keep up a shooting hobby which would help drive more sales and keep these places going.

 

[akarguy]

Article does not say whether they are filing for Reorganization or Liquidation- huge difference. Look how many times Sears has gone bankrupt, those were all reorgs or mergers. I hope its just a reorg, not that I shop at Gander, I just have concerns with Bass Pro buying Cabelas and then having Gander go under. There will basically be only one player in the outdoor store superspace.

 

[hdwhit]

rule303 wrote:
The difference is that Cabelas and Bass Pro can justify the higher prices with their stores being a "destination" and reputation for selection and customer service.

I found it to be the exact opposite near where I live:

• The Gander Mountain about two miles from me always has at least one person at the gun counter who knows what they were talking about. Sometimes I didn't agree with them, but they are knowledgeable.
• On the other hand, if the Cabelas twenty miles from where I live had anyone knowledgeable, I wouldn't know it because every time I've been in, they have been more interested in talking to each other. The last time I was there (11:00 a.m. on a weekday) the associates were more interested in talking about the Dallas Cowboys than selling me a rifle. Wouldn't have been any selling involved, I already knew what I wanted, but they weren't interested. I went to Academy instead and paid $20 more, but at least I got it.
• And the less said about the Bass Pro thirty miles away, the better. Small selection for the shooting sports, chaotic arrangement and nobody in the aisles to help. I only go there when I need Remington 1&1/2 size primers for my 25 ACP. It's totally different at the original store in Springfield, Missouri, but I only get there once a year if I'm lucky.

So, I'll be very sorry to see Gander Mountain go away. But, as others have posted, since Hillary didn't win the election, the panic buying is over and any merchant not sitting on a pile of cash with lean inventories is in trouble.

 

[Squire Western]

Not surprised nor do I care. Local dealers always beat the prices of Gander or Cabelas.

I agree. My LGS' are always lower than Bass Pro, Cabelas or Gander.

As an aside, you have the coolest handle on the gunwebz!

 

[Panzerschwein]

Sorry to see it go, even if it's not my favorite store.

 

[375supermag]

Hi...
FWIW, the Gander Mtn here in the York, PA area has a very limited selection of firearms and reloading equipment.
Prices are much higher than Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops.
Some LGS have higher prices but there are several which are considerably cheaper, particularly on used firearms and reloading supplies.

 

[hdwhit]

Alte Schule wrote:
Usually the parking lot is deserted.

I actually went by one this morning before I read about the pending bankruptcy filing. And, as you said, the parking lot was more-or-less deserted; maybe ten to fifteen cars and other than myself and some guy buying a boatload of deer corn, everyone else was pretty much all looking at handguns or shotguns.