They opened a Sportsman's Warehouse' in Phoenix back, oh, guessing, six months ago or so.
The first couple of times I went to the store I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge selection of reloading supplies and I was thrilled thinking I could find nearly everything I needed in one stop.
But, as the weeks rolled on I started realizing the store wasn't re-stocking such things as 30.06 brass, 6.5 X 55 brass, certain bullets (particularly lead cast for handguns), common rifle dies, etc. That was becoming discouraging since it meant I was wasting gas and time for a one way trip of nearly 50 miles.
I spoke with the gentleman in charge of that area and he said the Corporate Office orders stock and it's not necessarily based on consumer popularity in any one store but what they have in stock at the main warehouse they divy up to all stores.
So, now, I'm back to having to drive to several small 'mom and pop' stores to get what I need.
In doing that it reminded me that even the smaller shops are cheaper than Sportsman's Warehouse. For example, Hornady and Speer bullets run about $2.00 per hundred more at SW. Powder is general a couple of dollars cheaper at the smaller stores, etc. and, now, the selection at the smaller stores is acually better.
I asked about the possibility if they would ever sell curio and relic guns and the answer was simply, 'No.' and the idea was that the company doesn't want to deal in used weapons of any kind.
I'm also a fisherman and I noticed that they didn't tailor their stock for the fishing in Arizona. They have a TON of Muskie lures and I'm willing to bet there isn't one muskie within 500 miles of Phoenix. And, they had very, very few in terms of trout and bass lures and that comprises the majority of Arizona fishing (catfish excluded).
I suspect the store in Phoenix won't survive the commercial market long if they don't take on a philosophy to stock according to what the local market wants.
Otherwise, it's a great store.
I sent my thoughts off to Sportsman's Warehouse via the internet and never received nary a response. They either don't respond to individual e-mails or they could care less what the buyers want.
I realize this has nothing to do with a sign about weapons in the store but I thought I'd share my other thoughts.