Cannibul
Member
When the big GM in Corsicana closed I got 14 lbs of Winchester WST for $18.99 a pound, also picked up some Hornady LnL shell plates for $20 each. I managed to cherry pick the store and got some decent deals. Nothing outstanding.
Gander Mountain to file for bankruptcy
- Thread starter Alte Schule
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When the big GM in Corsicana closed I got 14 lbs of Winchester WST for $18.99 a pound, also picked up some Hornady LnL shell plates for $20 each. I managed to cherry pick the store and got some decent deals. Nothing outstanding.
Ha thats the store I went too when it was shutting down.
Nature Boy
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Heck, maybe we'll all finally get some good deals from Gander as they liquidate their assets
Sergei Mosin
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I suppose I'll pile on too...I visited the GM in Ashland, VA a couple of times but never saw a reason to buy anything there, not with Green Top or that other LGS in Mechanicsville (the name of which escapes me, it's been a long time) right there.
redneck2
Member
A few years ago the one in Merrillville, IN was getting out of reloading supplies. I bought 6# of various powders for $10 a pound when normal price was about twice that. Unfortunately I only got 1# of AA 2230, which I really like for 223
Rayzer007
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They had a S&W 442 for $549 (with tax it would have been $597). I told the counterman I could get for almost half that at an FFL dealer. He said, "Then buy it there!"
So I did - walked out of the FFL's basement with the gun - $360!
Even the good salesmen quit GM to go elsewhere. The little girl who ran the store pushed them to force people into opening a credit card account to even buy the overpriced guns!
Then they put a in a 2 million dollar renovation to the firearms area.
They deserve to be bankrupt. Stupid does that to companies.
So I did - walked out of the FFL's basement with the gun - $360!
Even the good salesmen quit GM to go elsewhere. The little girl who ran the store pushed them to force people into opening a credit card account to even buy the overpriced guns!
Then they put a in a 2 million dollar renovation to the firearms area.
They deserve to be bankrupt. Stupid does that to companies.
mgmorden
Member
Kinda ironic - the local Gander Mountain built 3-4 years ago just drove the Sports Authority next door out of business.
Having gone in there though I can't imagine buying much of anything. The only thing I saw that was even remotely reasonably priced and interesting to me were some kayaks (they were more expensive than Walmart but had some better quality ones available).
Having gone in there though I can't imagine buying much of anything. The only thing I saw that was even remotely reasonably priced and interesting to me were some kayaks (they were more expensive than Walmart but had some better quality ones available).
ScrapMetalSlug
Member
After reading this thread, I was inspired to go to Gander Mountain and see all of the closeout prices and pick up a few deals. There was nothing on sale, no acknowledging the bankruptcy. I asked the guy at the gun counter if they had any deals, and he said "No, their sale just ended". I bet this amounts to corporate restructuring, and not any deals for customers.
I'm from Y-town too and my experience matches your's almost exactly, both for Gander and Fin Feather Fur. They just spent big money doubling the size of the Y-town/Niles Gander within the last year or so and I stopped in to check out the new place, mostly clothes with some outdoor and tactical gear, everything priced at the high end. Quite a few clerks, not many customers, but I had to hunt down someone to look at the Zeiss rangefinder I was interested in. Gent didn't seem to have a clue and I just didn't care for the whole vibe of the place. The Fin has friendly, knowledgeable shooting enthusiasts and a great selection of guns & accessories at good prices. For me the choice is easy.
huntsman
Member
^ I was there yesterday and it was devoid of customers, a lot of clothing was marked 50% off but wife said $29.00 for a Tee-shirt was outrageous. The on-line add says 20% off shooting stuff so I bought a box of ammo and a bottle of gun oil but at checkout girl informs me ammo excluded. 
Nature Boy
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The on-line add says 20% off shooting stuff so I bought a box of ammo and a bottle of gun oil but at checkout girl informs me ammo excluded.
Typical gander mountain. Always a loophole.
Cannibul
Member
Half of $597 is $298.50. $360 X 2 is $720. There's a $61.50 difference there. If you're going to lie to the salesman is there any wonder he told you to go away?
Hokkmike
Member
In fairness he did say "almost" half....
Cannibul
Member
I guess 20% is almost.
I remember Gander from years ago, catalog store. They may have had a physical presence but nothing near me. This was 35 to 40 years ago. They had good prices on fishing and shooting stuff then. It is a shame to see what they have turned into.
Ed Ames
Member
$360 is 60% of $600. Are you really calling someone a liar for describing 60% as "almost half"? That bothers you more than a retailer trying to charge people an extra $240 for a product that another shop sells for $360? Really?
Hokkmike
Member
I guess it is "almost" almost!
The Kershaw
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They don't call it Gouger Mountain for nothing.
That's assuming GM tells the public when they are going to be shutting their doors. When Wal-Mart closed many of their Neighborhood Market stores, they announced it only days ahead of time and by that time most of the inventory had already been marked down. If GM follows the Wal-Mart model, you will need to start living at GM to find the deals before they reach the point of liquidating what nobody elsw would buy.
Good luck.
I'm very familiar with that LGS, I had no idea that building used to be a Gander Mountain though. I was in the Gander in Winchester once, long enough to figure out they were way overpriced, musta been 6-7 years ago.
Rayzer007
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- Dec 25, 2016
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I am impressed with your math skills; right down to the to the penny!
You must have been a straight A student in third grade arithmetic!
I was just at my local GM. Many of the items they claimed were on 50% off clearance were actually marked up 50% more than their regular price. Making the "clearance" price the normal price. Most of their reloading equipment is regularly 30% - 40% higher than what you can buy it on line for. Even with the cost of shipping you're still 10% - 20% ahead of the GM price.
As someone who use to work there part time, and has been in the business at both the wholesale and retail levels, a few comments.
It cost a fortune to maintain, rent, and supply a store in prime suburban market areas. I'm not sure any large Hunting Fishing story could survive on normal retail margins with the net and well run local stores to compete with. And the costs of regulations, etc, REALLY effect a business in their size range. I doubt your LGS is providing Health care for full time employees except maybe managers (if the owner isn't doing it himself), I doubt your local LGS has to deal with ATF inspections every 6 months (the ATF at least under Obama loved to pick on big boxes), and this doesn't include dealing with OSHA, the ADA, etc.
The quality of employee rally varies from store to store, state to state. When I was there the store I was at has good management and some good employees. When the manager was replaced the quality of employee seemed to decline. And as much as they talk about customer service, its lip service, from an upper management that is out of touch with the realities of retail. Like most big box retailers, the people making the decisions at the top have no idea what life is like in a busy retailer. And the store I was in was busy. I stopped by their today and could hardly find a parking place.
I do believe they have two strong points. 1. They are serious about firearms retail and have taken a strong stand for the Second Amendment. Unlike Dicks or Bass Pro (for a time) they have always supported black guns at retail and have always offered a warm place for the NRA to sign up members and they as a company promote memberships. 2. They offer a safe place for a suburbanite who might be turned off by Mr tacticool Gun sales boy at the local LGS with a Glock and six mags strapped to his belt to buy a firearm while the wife is shopping North Face, etc. We had a LOT of first time buyers. I think getting citizens into their first firearm is a good thing.
As far as we're they are going with this chapter 11? I have no idea. They are privately held now, by a guy who I believe bought the company to increase its value and sell it. They borrowed a bunch of money for remodels and expansion and I suspect they are not getting the return. I think they are a bit too big too fail for their suppliers (I've seen much smaller local shops in the same situation). And their suppliers will probably agree to a reorganization. I suspect most of them couldn't afford to lose that big a player with the uncertainty from Bass Pro. They'll probably close a few underperforming stores and consolidate, but I doubt they are going anywhere.
It cost a fortune to maintain, rent, and supply a store in prime suburban market areas. I'm not sure any large Hunting Fishing story could survive on normal retail margins with the net and well run local stores to compete with. And the costs of regulations, etc, REALLY effect a business in their size range. I doubt your LGS is providing Health care for full time employees except maybe managers (if the owner isn't doing it himself), I doubt your local LGS has to deal with ATF inspections every 6 months (the ATF at least under Obama loved to pick on big boxes), and this doesn't include dealing with OSHA, the ADA, etc.
The quality of employee rally varies from store to store, state to state. When I was there the store I was at has good management and some good employees. When the manager was replaced the quality of employee seemed to decline. And as much as they talk about customer service, its lip service, from an upper management that is out of touch with the realities of retail. Like most big box retailers, the people making the decisions at the top have no idea what life is like in a busy retailer. And the store I was in was busy. I stopped by their today and could hardly find a parking place.
I do believe they have two strong points. 1. They are serious about firearms retail and have taken a strong stand for the Second Amendment. Unlike Dicks or Bass Pro (for a time) they have always supported black guns at retail and have always offered a warm place for the NRA to sign up members and they as a company promote memberships. 2. They offer a safe place for a suburbanite who might be turned off by Mr tacticool Gun sales boy at the local LGS with a Glock and six mags strapped to his belt to buy a firearm while the wife is shopping North Face, etc. We had a LOT of first time buyers. I think getting citizens into their first firearm is a good thing.
As far as we're they are going with this chapter 11? I have no idea. They are privately held now, by a guy who I believe bought the company to increase its value and sell it. They borrowed a bunch of money for remodels and expansion and I suspect they are not getting the return. I think they are a bit too big too fail for their suppliers (I've seen much smaller local shops in the same situation). And their suppliers will probably agree to a reorganization. I suspect most of them couldn't afford to lose that big a player with the uncertainty from Bass Pro. They'll probably close a few underperforming stores and consolidate, but I doubt they are going anywhere.
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