Jan,
You were treated wrong and it ticks me off when anyone is, and especially when a friend of mine, such as yourself is.
Gander is not the only store that pulls this marketing strategy.
Gander came in near me, and they bent over backwards with item in stock, inventory, customer service, and everything else.
Not only did customers flock, so did those wanting to work for Gander.
Folks that worked for other stores, whether it was a mom and pop firearm store, or another store such as Academy and they worked in the fishing, or camping dept.
GM got the business, got the employees, and hurt other businesses, especially Mom&Pop.
I and mine needed 10 cases of Brennke Slugs when they first showed up.
They had these in stock.
We needed 20 more cases, and GM got these in so fast, it would surprise folks.
The last time I was in, they had zero boxes of Brennke.
They did not have time to speak to me, except to share they did not have, would not special order and basically I "would have to" buy what their buyers bought.
No Brenneke.
They talked a gun smith fella into coming to work for them, he is gone.
They talked some other firearms folks to come work for them and they are gone.
Archery, same deal.
Everyone that went to greener pastures, went back to where they come from.
This is how business is done.
Steal the business and employees from others, then later be a rude, don't care about customers, repeat business and service type of place.
We call it "Con-Angry".
Con everyone to get sales at first, then make them angry when the true self comes out.
Applies to employees as well.