Gander Mt. Experience
 

We have a GM store in Amarillo TX. Have been in there several times. How they keep that place open is beyond me!

In the last 4 or 5 visits, I have been greeted once. One time I stood at the gun counter for about 4 minutes, 2 employees were behind the counter not helping customers (fiddling with boxes and knew I was there), and never got acknowledged or asked if I needed help.

Maybe I am being too picky, but I like to go into stores and be asked if I need help. I am done with that store.

Anyone have similar experiences?


Paul

One Gander Mountain I was in was about as you described. A different Gander Mountain in a different town was like night and day. They asked me if they could help, and even showed me where the things I was after were located. So I am guessing it has a lot to do with store attitude, and that normally boils down to management.

There's a Gander Mountain in Erie PA, about 50 miles from my home. I've been there a few times and I hate the store. I went there to buy some Rubber Huntong Boots in size 15, they looked at me like I was crazy, heck they did'nt even have a size 14 or a 13, just a 12.
I also needed a few other things, but there was'nt a thing in the store to fit me in XL-Tall. I do all my shopping at Cabela's
(BP)

also I do like help when I need it, but if I DONT need any help I hate when they follow you all around and keep asking if they can show you something. I usually know exactly what I want so If I need help I'll ask, but quit bothering me and let me shop and look on my own,
(BP)

I like to go in there and ask them for black powder, after they point to where the subs are I point out that they don't have any... :)

It's fun being an old fart...

if you want black powder from Gander, you better be looking for pellets..

Huh???????

I've had similar experiences at the Cabela's store close to where I live. I do not like the bigger stores, but sometimes that is the only option.

The Gander close to me is pretty good for service but just is not competitive price wise.

I was in their store in Wichita KS a few years back and had a good experience.

I try to business with independent business people as much as I can and stay out of the big box stores. Midsouth, Precision Reloading (when I was reloading metallics), Powder Valley (good price on subs and primers) to name a few. I will also be doing future business with Third Generation and Graf's.

I do buy many of my clothes from Cabela's because I am 6'4". Have for a long time. They have a good selection of tall man's clothes in XL.

I agree with cayugad, it depends on the store management and their attitude. I'm like Breechplug in that I don't like them following me around, but at least ask if they can help.

Everyone has a price. To me it is the service that separates them out. If they have price and service, that is about as good as it gets IMHO.


Paul

If you just stood there and did nothing then part of the blame is on you also. After not being helped at the counter, and after a reasonable amount of time, you should have asked someone if they could help you. People are the same everywhere. You have very few good workers and a bunch of lazy people. If you didn't feel that should be necessary you should have asked another employee, or one of the ones behind the counter, if you could speak to the store manager. Then explain to the manager the situation and ask if there is anyone that can assist you. If that doesn't work to your satisfaction then you need to take it to the next level. Call the corporate office. The corporate office hates to get customer complaints and should respond accordingly. Poop runs down hill you know. You may think that none of this should be necessary, but, if you do nothing, nothing will get done. If there is a good manager at that store I guarantee it will go no farther then him and he will resolve the problem. You must like something about the store or you would not have been there in the first place, unless it was your first visit, so it must be worth your effort to make it a better experience for you when you shop there. I had the same experience at a Bass Pro Shop recently. The difference was there was only one person behind the counter and he was putting a scope on a rifle. There were 2 more employees on my side of the counter who looked to me to be doing very little and never asked if I needed help so I asked them if I could speak to THE store manager. When he arrived I explained the situation to him. He seemed very disinterested to me but I got the help I needed without any further waiting. Take control, you are the customer and if they, Cabella's, wants your business they will take care of you if you let them know there is a problem.

Hit the nail on the head. Prices are rediculous. RCBS 2 die set, $50+. As far as I'm concerned, Gander is good for looking, not for buying.

Most often, the folks they have working a sporting goods counter is someone that has worked for the store in some capacity a while, but there's no guarantee that person has any experience with guns or hunting, or archery, or camping, or fishing, etc.

Makes no difference to me, I don't go to these stores looking for opinions. With the occasional exception, these folks have no idea. I go to buy something and then leave. I actually don't want the "sporting goods" guy asking me if I need help, though I understand why they do it. There's no excuse for poor service, and if I go up to a counter and they don't acknowledge me within a few seconds I politely make it known that I need something.

The closest Gander to me was (I say was because they got flooded in Sept. and didn't re-open) in Johnson City N.Y. about an hour east, so I didn't make regular trips there. I would stop by when passing through and that was about it. I would usually just go to the fishing dept., get what I wanted and get out. I did walk back to the firearms counter one time to check on a gun price and no one was even present for over fifteen min. so I said p*** on them and walked away. My Business and Management Prof. from last semester said that he quit going to the Gander near him (Scranton Pa.) for the same reason.

BPS

The GM on M-59 in Mich. is the same as Paul54 writes about. they could care less. The Bass Pro Shop in Auburn Hills, Mi. isn't much better, and Cabela's in Dundee, Mi. only slightly better. When these stores first opened, they were great, but soon got that "self serve" attitude.

Cabela's is not who I am referring to. It's Gander Mt. I have been dealing with Cabela's for a very long time and have had nothing but excellent cs.

I make my living in the customer service business and you always should acknowledge a customer whether you think they want help or not. If I treated my customers that way, I would be out of business real soon.

I do not spend my money with people that don't provide at least a little customer service. As for going to the store manager, it is his responsibility to see that his employees are trained in cs. There are times when businesses are short handed and/or very busy. I understand that and do not have a problem with it either. This store is never very busy.

But, when employees are not helping other customers, it is inexcusable for them not to acknowledge you. I have trained sales and cs people for over 25 years. Therefore, I know at times I have fairly high expectations. I don't expect them to treat me any different than anyone else, just show they are interested in helping. That is not asking for too much regardless where anyone lives.

Like I said, I try to spend my money with small businesses (brick and mortar or internet) and I don't do business with those that don't appreciate it.

BTW, I don't have to accept it as this is the way it is everywhere, because it is not. Maybe it is where you live. I just go someplace else.

Gander is the only choice for my wants/needs in Amarillo, but that will be changing soon as we are moving to a place where I will have more choices.

Paul

Never seen real black powder pellets...I've seen Pyrodex and 777...

Yes Cabela's has Excellant Customer Service! they have some of the nicest people you'd ever want to talk to, on the phone anyway as I've never been to a store in person. Plus they have people that know what there talking about and if you ever have any problem with anything just send it back no questions asked for a full refund or exchange.
Now our local wal-mart has some of the dumbest people I've ever seen, I dont know where they find these people. For instance in the sporting good department they ordered Buck Shot and Elk Urine one hunting season and No Hand Warmers! Buck shot is illegal here and we dont have any elk execpt on our elk farms and we hunters need hand warmers as it usually gets so cold that you'd freeze to death on stand without them, I personally like the big long lasting Body Warmers. Anyway when they finally did order some after all the hunters demanded it, what comes in, toe and foot warmers! finally by the end of the hunting season they got a shipment of hand and body warmers in and by then they did'nt sell many as the hunters had to go elsewhere to buy them. So the following year they did'nt order near enough, they sold out fast. I was lucky to buy some when I did, I asked if they were going to order more and they said no because they did'nt sell last season.....well DUH! you did'nt get any in untill the end of the hunting season, who needs them after hunting season has ended.
I can go on and on about wal-mart, but the best one happened recently. I went to the 20 items or less express check out lane and there was a girl in fron of me with 100 items in her cart. The cashier was her friend and all they did was talk about the girl in lines new apartment and all the stuff in her cart for it. The cashier swiped the items so SLOW over the scanner at a rate of 1 item per minute that I was on fire.
Finally I could'nt take it anymore and said can you please hurry it up. The cashier and her friend looked at me like I was the biggest jerk in the world and went back to the scanning of 1 item per minute. I was really getting mad and said to the girl with 100 items in her cart, you know this is a 20 item or less express lane and your way over the limit. The girl with her full cart said well al the other lines are full and I dont get to see my friend much.When I finall got to checkout I told the cashier if I was as slow as you where I worked I'd be fired! she cashed me out in record time!
Why dont I go elsewhere to shop, because I live in a small country town and all we have is a wal-mart.
(BP)

We have both Gander Mountains and Cabelas nearby.

World's apart in service, supply and prices.

It's closer to go to GM for me than Cabelas, but I go to Cabelas.

GM just stinks.

90%+ of the time, they don't have what I want, and I'm not talking odd or exotic items. Their "floor people" see you and run the other way.

If I go there for a specific item on sale, most of the time the items are already sold out even if I go the same day the ad comes out.

Cabelas has the item's I'm looking for, their floor people generally walk up to me and ask if I need help and their prices, price match policy and return policy are very good.

Additionally most of the Cabelas people are technically knowledgable, especially their catalog/phone people.

No contest.

got a gander mountain north of me (roanoke) and south of me (greensboro). Both have pretty good customer service, i rarely need any help i usually just go in with what i want in mind. Their prices arent great unless you catch them at closeout time (which is what im usually doing). Some of their used guns arent bad deals either.

I had just the opposite situation in the gander mtn in Middletown N.Y. I went in to look at a gun and had two sales people at the counter and about 15-20 people waiting for help. Now don't you think the store manager would have seen this and put more people behind the counter. I really would like Cabelas to open a store in the Binghamton N.Y. area and see the amount of business they are missing. Gander Mtn say they are still looking to re-open in Binghamton at another location after the flood but that was 5 months ago. I would think corporate would have decided by now.

I wanted some ammo boxes by MTD to put my reloads in. I was in Flint Michigan so stopped at Gander Mountian, a place I don't visit often. I found two of the boxes I wanted on a shelf but I wanted a couple more. Only person at the counter in the area was talking to a big boobed blond bimbo at the time so I strolled around the store looking at all the stuff they had for the city person and fisher persons, about 20 miniutes. I got back to the sales counter in that area and the guy was still in thralled with the BBBB, but I said excuse me and asked if they had any more of the ammo boxes in stock. He looked right at me ands said can't you see I am busy right now.

I went to the check out counter and paid for the two I found. They asked if I had found every thing I wanted. So I told them no and wouldn't darken their door again. OH!! we can get more for you we'll call back there and have them brought right up. I told them I had wasted enough time in the place and besides the guy back there was to busy with the big boobed blond bimbo.

I stopped at Williams Gun Sight on the way home and bought 3 more for 30 cents more for the three than I would have at GM. But the miles from Williams gun Sight to GM would have taken more than 30 cents worth of fuel. Williams Gun Sight gives me a 10% vetrans discount any time I spend $50.00 or more. They also have a web site and have many used and new guns in stock.

:D Al

I'd have told him he has spent 20 minutes with that customer, time to move on...

Should have told the lady she could do a lot better than him.... :)

My gander mt experience was so bad....... i will never go back or to another one......
greensboro nc fyi

the Gander here considers bulk black powder & Pyrodex 'reloading supplies' and doesn't carry it any more. No FFg, no RS, no Triple Seven, nothing.

But, you can buy the power packs (or whatever they're called) that have the three pellets, and a saboted bullet in them.

Yeah, Gander kinda sucks here too. The problem here where I live, is that Gander has no competition. So, they can suck all they want to. No one else local to keep 'em in line. I have two Gander stores within 30 min of my house.

Every once in a while I have a good experience with them. But, usually my experience with them is kinda crap.

Williams Gun Sight is a great place. They devolped and manufacture a lot of sights that otherwise might not be available for many guns. Customer service is excellent, well stocked, and knowledgable staff. On 2 occasions their gunsmith did a great job for me, on a Baretta shotgun and a Browning A-bolt. They always had the BP stuff I need, and the shooting range very adequate. One of the places I miss since moving out of Michigan. I was a 100 mile round trip for me then, but worth the drive. Cabela's was 160 round trip and not as beneficial as going to Williams.

cabelas bargain cave online .......all the way........maybe even a little wing supply too..