Is Gander Mountain lowering prices?

[Sergeant Sabre]

By my observation, the Gander Mountain store in my area (Lansing, MI) has generally had rather high prices for hunting items. Usually by a measure of a few dollars over MidwayUSA.com, who I consider rather reasonably priced when you don't include shipping.

I went to Gander Mountain today because I had a $30 gift card and needed some sabot shotgun shells. I planned on finding the Remington Core-Lokt slugs, which are $19.99 per box at that store, and forcing them to price-match the Meijer's store right down the road at an even $12 per box.

I did some shopping around in the shotgun ammunition aisle, though, so see if I could find a better deal. Here's what I found:

1. Federal Barnes Expander, 12ga. 2.75" 1oz, $14.99. Compare to $16.29 at Midway. I remember these used to be $19.99 at Gander, and on some of the boxes you could still see the old price tag.

2. Federal tipped Barnes Expander, 12ga. 2.75", 3/4 oz, $12.99. Compare to $17.99 at Midway. These boxes had a price tag for $14.99 which had been covered up.

3. Lightfield Hybred (and Hybred Lite) 12ga. 2.75" 1.25oz, $12.99. Even with Midway (except the "Lites" are priced at about $9.50 because of an inventory reduction).


These appeared to all be new regular prices. They are not sale prices. I know that's not a real comprehensive set of observations. I didn't have time to shop around all over the place and see if the price drop was effective over a broader range than the shotgun ammunition. Hopefully this indicates a new direction for pricing at Gander Mountain, bringing them back in line with reality.

Anybody have any broader observations?

 

[Fat Boy]

Haven't been in the local GM for a while, maybe 2 months...on my last several visits it seemed like prices were going the other direction...

 

[donato]

GM in Huntsville, AL has dropped their ammo prices. Hornady 9mm XTP used to be $22.xx per box of 25 and now are $19. xx per box. They are now competitive with other shops in the area.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Just got the new ad paper from them in the mail--not seeing any 'good' prices.

I understand they will price match if you bring an ad in (or print out from an e-store) at least sometimes.

 

[rantingredneck]

I was in the one in Greensboro today and noticed some of the same things. Federal XM193 for 8.99 per 20 (not great but comparable with gunshow prices around here). Federal Premium Truball rifled slugs 3.49 per box of 5 with 10.00 rebate off five boxes. Not too bad. Better than they have been in the past.

 

[rantingredneck]

They also had a rack full of Mosin M44's for 99.00 each. As opposed to the 149.00 they wanted just a few months ago.

I was tempted........

 

[hksw]

When GMs started populating my my area about 5 or so years ago, their pricing wasn't too bad, about $10-$50 over some of the shops I frequent. Since then, prices started climbing to the point I no longer shop their except to eat up time while I'm in those areas on other business and rarely buy anything (with the exception of their seasonal stuff they sell off at the end of the season). I'll have to check up on them to see how they are doing now.

 

[cornman]

I send GM an email ever few months asking how do they expect to improve there stock price when they have prices that everyone laughs at. Prices on ammo at the local GM are almost double the WMT prices. Hopefully they are realizing that you need to move product to make a profit.

 

[Deanimator]

Not in NE Ohio. I went to the one in Avon Lake(?) last week. They were charging at least $100 more for a CZ75B than I could get one for at this month's Berea gunshow.

 

[TehK1w1]

I've pretty much quit going to my local GM. The prices are so much higher than everywhere else that there's no reason for me to shop there. Last time I went, Ruger GP100s were over $700, and Kahr CW9s were over $500...not to mention that poor bubba'd 91/30 Mosin "on sale" for $150 (you houstonians know the one I am talking about)

 

[siglite]

I went in two weeks ago, and they had every longarm marked down on some "super duper ultra awesome blowout sale." That brought them down to competitive pricing. I walked out with a rifle.

 

[RangerM9]

they tacked on about $50 to every gun for their "gun club membership" that you get when you buy a gun.....basically you get a sticker for the safe, a trip to the range, and a free gun cleaning/inspection.....whopdefriggindoo!

i bought a bersa 380 from them, put it on layaway, then found it on sale cheaper from Cabelas of all places (talk about some bad gun prices)....so i asked for a price match and they did match, but said i would not get all the other gun club goodies.....i let them know how little i appreciated their crap offer anyway..... and took my gun home for $200

i have found a few used guns at good prices in the past, but lately, no....bad prices only

 

[Nate C.]

No GM bargains in my little corner of paradise. Not as of last weekend anyway. They are as high as ever.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

No GM bargains in my little corner of paradise.

Nor mine. GM just quoted me a price on a Glock 29 at 620 bucks. Last time I talked to my local gun dealer, they told me 499.

 

[ScotZ]

I don't ever plan on going there again. I felt like I drove quite a distance only to feel like a fool for even considering buying from them. On top of the very high prices,I found their "help" to be less than educated about the products they were selling.

 

[donato]

Clarification on my earlier post. GM ammo prices dropped at our Huntsville store but gun prices are still unreasonably high. They were asking right at the MSRP for a P-01 (2004 production run), then add tax on top of that.

 

[Gunz]

You have to dig, and be ready to snap up deals at GM.

They probably saw within a year of increasing prices 30-40% on guns and ammo, that their volume flow shut down. Plus, in THIS economy, they cannot AFFORD to be the high-priced vendor.

Being back to reasonable competitiveness will enable them to recapture their cash, and also keep their Earnings Per Share not as negative as it could be by being greedy.

Being a retailer in this economy is dangerous enough as it is.

I did find some great used gun deals, on some items not too easy to find. Gander prices and selections became stupid in late 06 to early 08. They were my prime resources for great buy in 03-05.

I have found no huge steals at GM, but fair competitive prices on some Colts, Smiths, and SIGs. Sometimes, i also came across exotic trade-ins, and they were priced slightly under going rate, since it depends on teh guy doing the valuation at the store. Coroporate Gander really got greedy when they jacked all those police-trade-ins to the point that I saw the same gun, same serial number, in the same store, for 2 years. They had shelves stagnant with beat-up Berettas, Glocks, Smiths, SIGs, and Colts that looked like 3rd World combat weapons ranging from $450 to $950.

 

[DBabsJr]

As opposed to Cabela's and Bass Pro, Gander Mountain refuses to accept and actively fights against the types of subsidies that Cabela's and Bass Pro seek when they build their stores. May be why prices tend to be higher...

ETA: Has anyone tried out their low price guarantee? From the website:
Gander Mountain's LOW PRICE GUARANTEE

You won’t pay less anywhere else. We guarantee it! If you should find a lower price on an identical in-stock item within 14 days at a local competitor, let us know about it and we will match that price! Visit www.gandermountain.com or stop by Customer Service for complete details, restrictions apply.

 

[subierex]

As many have said, my local GM's gun prices are just silly. You could find a much better deal going just about anywhere else.

 

[larry starling]

Not in Fayetteville! There trying to sell a Colt Nrm blue Commander for $999....., Buds has them for less that $700 last time I looked....

Ammo prices are crazy! I don't even look anymore!

 

[onebigelf]

Not that I can see at the new Gander in Ocala, FL. Their pricing still stinks.

John

 

[CBS220]

Prices are terrible at the one in Greensboro, NC, from last I saw.

I go in there when I have to stop by that mall next door. Primer prices weren't too terrible, last time, but that's just considering that my "local" guy started gouging me for them...

 

[lookn4varmints]

Maybe the recent and rare price decreases at GM are designed to coincide with their upcoming, revised website launch? I'm guessing they'll soon enter the internet shopping realm.

Prices here in Winchester, VA are through the roof. I go to look only and then purchase elsewhere.

If they open up to online shopping, they'll NEED to reduce prices just because of the ease of online comparison shopping. Once they have a consumer in the store, it's a bit more difficult to comparison shop.

 

[coloradokevin]

I only go to Gander when I'm desperate these days. I have easy access to a Bass Pro Shops store, a Sportsmans Warehouse, and many other outdoor related stores (an advantage to living near the Rockies).

Anyway, Gander is always the most expensive, by far. I gave up on them a while ago. Seems like an item that would cost, say, $60 at Bass Pro or Sportsmans would run around $80-90 at Gander. Way too much of a difference for my tastes.

Why bother with the low price guarantee? It is easier to just go to the store that you already know has the lowest prices!

 

[SpeedAKL]

They're still pretty expensive here in VA. I have Sportsmans Warehouse and some great local shops nearby, and all are cheaper.