Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I keep hearing rumors that Gander Mt stores aren't doing so well. I hope this is false info as I enjoy the store here in my hometown.

Does anyone have any details?

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I've heard the same rumors. I think it's because their stock hasn't done very well.The store in Tonawanda, NY looks great becasuethey are just finishing up remodeling. My store locally has a bettter selection than Dick's Sproting Goods and their personnel are better trained. I like it a lot more...plus they have a range to practice up to 30 yards for about $5.00.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I have often wondered how long retailers like Cabela's will remain profitable also. They seem to be getting richer since they are opening more and more stores throughout the country, but I think the novelty of these stores may start wearing off soon and then reality might start setting in. With fewer and fewer participating in sports like hunting and fishing, I just can't see their success lasting forever. It was one thing when they were mail-order only, not as much overhead goes into that, but running the retail stores can be costly. At the same time their prices are getting quite high. I do like Cabela's a great deal and they surely have the greatest customer service in the world, but I hope they aren't biting off more than they could chew with all these new stores and the tremendous volume of glossy catalogs they keep sending people that has got to cost them a fortune also!

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

Steve, I agree with you for the most part but the western part of the US doesn't have to many Cabelas or Bass Pro so lot of people rely on their local Sporting goods stores or they use the internet to purchase items from the big three, I also agree the prices are high on some items but others you can get good deals in store. I've been to the Gander mtn in Fredricksburg VA and it was nice smaller that the Bass Pro in Baltimore but the prices were better than bass Pro.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

Do you guys think the fact that Gander Mountain does not have a web site that sells their products like Cabela's and Bass Pro that is hurting them? Does anyone know what the deal is with the reason that Gander doesn't have a web site with all their merchandise. Someone had told me that Cabela's purchased their catalog and web site??? I don't know if I should believe that or not.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I hear the Gander Mt in Plattsburg NY is going to close. Too bad if it does because all that is left is D i c k s which sucks.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

As I heard it, originally Cabela's bought the rights to GM's mail order business. That deal is about to expire so we shall see what happens.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

Well I went to both Dick's Sporting goods and Gander Mountain today to look at 2 specific items. They were both in stock at Gander Mountain.
I then headed to Dick's to look at the same 2 items. They too had the items, but one was 1.00 cheaper and the other was 3.60 cheaper. Where do you think I spent my money? I have noticed Gander Mountain doesn't have nearly the traffic (cars in their lot) as they once did. They lost alot of my business when last year I wanted a Scent Blocker Coat. I went in and grabbed one they had in a large ( the only one) I noticed the coat was without factory tags so I grabbed another one in x large for the cashier to ring out. I then noticed that the buttons and zippers on the large were rubbed off a bit. I asked them to call the manager
to see if I could get a discount due to the coat clearly being usedand restocked. He wouldn't budge on the price. Finally I said forget it I'm not paying full price for a used coat and he then offered 5% off. I laughed at him and said that that coat shouldn't have even been put back on the shelf. So I'm sure it was again restocked and some poor guy who wasn't as observant bought it probably at full price. That kind of businees practice for me is enough to send me shopping elsewhere.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

Was just at the Gander Mountain in Tonawanda, NY today actually, stopped there after checking D I C K's Sporting Goods. Got myself a popup hunting blind for $40, (much cheaper then the cheapest $70 one at D I C K's.) The selection and prices I find are a lot of the time better at gander mountain, I sure hope they stay around for awhile, at least until Bass Pro comes into Buffalo (if that every happens).

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

my guess for that blind being cheaper is prolly because gander mtn gets a discount because theyll buy more in bulk i believe. i look at my local side stores round here. the things they sell there are way higher then say a cabelas or bass pro. i believe its because they dont recive a discount as big as the bigger retail stores do.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

And I wonder to those guys that forgot the Mom and Pop archery shops/ gun shops etc will wonder where they went if Gander ever closes.:eek:

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I still buy 95% of all my gear from my local pro shop. I'd buy it all there if he had every brand of item I was looking for. Unfortunately he can't stock it all.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I was at Gander Mountain in Kingston NY recently. I noticed that they really jacked up the prices on all firearms. I'll be shopping somewhere else for sure.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

beleive it or not i got my bow from d i c k s and it was 89 dollars cheaper than gandar. so for now on ill be at dicks i mean most of gandar staff is more educated. but there pricing seems high to me on what i need compared to dicks.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

If and when I buy something for hunting I shop around. I've yet to find anything at Gander that was cheaper then D I C K'S sporting goods. I'd go to Bass Pro in Auburn but really never have the time it takes to drive out there.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

the economy is not good right now,all stores are hurting..
first,all are to expensive..
gm is more expensive than D I C K S,D I C K S is more expensive than wal-mart..

bass pro shop prices are awful,so is cabelas..


all are losers..
then throw in shipping costs,all are in deep trouble..

go into wal-mart and you will find everyone in 1 area..FOOD..

soooooooooooooooooooooooo, a big crash should happen next year in economy,if not sooner............

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

OK now I'm done with Gander Mountain. I went to get one of those Steel Skull Plate thingys for and old set of antlers I had. I forget the proper name for them. Anyway they had either white painted or polished steel. I opted for the steel one. They were both hanging side by side with 19.95 tags haning under each one. There was also a large box over head with the same picture, name ect on it but was for some reason 35.00. So I grabbed one from the rack where it said 19.95 and proceeded to the checkout. 2 lines open one was the return desk and the other was cashing people out. After waiting 10 minutes I get rung up and she says %$.00 and some odd cents. I got a couple ohter things. I asked how much it was for the mount kit and she said 35.00. I told her that the tags both said 19.95. She replied ... No not this one. I said forget it I don't want it for that 35.00. She gave me an attitude and litterally threw the item across the counted ( this thing is steel now) and hit some other stuf that people obviusly didn't want and knocked over about 3 or 4 items on the floor. By this tme there was about 6 people behind me all wondering what the heck just happened. I won't spend another dime atGander Mountain.

RE: Gander Mt in Trouble?
 

I start price shopping at the 2 locally owned shops and then campare prices with DSG and Gander. If the price is close (within a few bucks) and they have what I want, then the local guy wins.If there is a major price difference or the locals do not stock the item....may the best man win! Last year I felt really bad because Ibought my Diamond Triumph bow from Bass Pro. The reason was a no brainerbecause I had won $400.00 in gift cards. ButI had my local guy set it up and tune it for me. He is a Bass Pro dealer that offers a 10% discount on anything in their catalog. I work for a locally owned company and truly appreciate what it means to keepour purchaseslocal. I would say the majority of my purchases are local.I have 2 excellent shops within 3 miles of my house but neither one has a bow range.