Good riddance Gander Mountain

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beamernc

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I was in Mooresville this afternoon so I decided to check out the Gander Mountain. Naturally went to the gun counter first. Whooping 5% off their already over priced guns. Still plenty to chose from. Wonder why?

Looked around the rest of the store and went into the fishing section. Picked up a rod and reel combo and could tell that it was relabeled with a price sticker. Peeled it back and the $79.99 sticker was covering up the $49.99 sticker. But it was 10% off, should have bought it, lol. I asked a worker and he said it must have been missed priced, yeah right.

As we went to leave 2 guys at the door, looked like management, asked if we found everything ok. I told them yeah, a bunch of over priced stuff. I asked about marking things up and he said that it must have been in the liquidation area and when they announced the closing, everything went back to original price. Makes sense, if it won't sell at liquidation prices, mark it back to original price and take 10% off. I also asked him about the sign as you walk in "Entire Store 30% off, some exclusions apply, he said the winter clothing was 30% off. Told him most places were selling winter stuff at that or more discount. Told them it was no wonder Gander was closing and wished them luck finding a job.

I went by the store off of Steele Creek earlier this week as it has been closing for several weeks and saw the same thing, marking the prices up. Saw cans of Deep Woods Off marked $7.99 only partially covering a $4.99 sticker.

So good riddance Gander Mountain, you sealed your own fate.
 
Saw the new owner, on the news this week, said they have a new aggressive sales plan ,said they will keep stores open now that were originally slated to close, pearing the total amount to 75 or 80 stores, but unless the plan includes making them price competitive, they're just wasting their time,and delaying the inevitable
 
I went to the W-S store and it appeared everything had magically gone to full MSRP. There may have been some deals on clothing. Nothing else.

I thought ammo was 10% off, by my receipt I was wrong. I probably woulda grabbed some slugs or buck anyway.

Was surprised at empty spots on shelves and racks so its working on someone.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk
 
I know Gander Mtn was their own worst enemy as well as many other big stores. However, and I have no intention of hijacking the thread by saying this, there is only one thing that had come out of Hussein Obama's mouth that I agreed with, and this was before he was elected the first time: The internet is partially to blame for store closures and a weakening economy.

That said, if the stores would carry what people want and have a demand for, at a price that competes with online stores, then maybe they wouldn't be closing down all over the country. I purchase all of my clothes and shoes online. Some of my pants and casual dress shoes I can't even find anywhere local. The polo shirts I have that I wear to work, I have to order them direct from the manufacturer because no local stores carry them in inventory.

I am starting to believe that this is all by design and companies are purposely driving consumers to the online market in order to facilitate closing their physical stores. Seems that way to me anyway.
 
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Sad to see them go.

Whoops, I mixed up my rhymes again. I meant "glad."
 
IMO this is a little bitter sweet. Never good to see a gun store close. If nothing else, you can drop by and test the function of a new gun before buying somewhere else. But I can't say that I bought much of anything at their two stores. I found their ammo to be really marked up every visit.
 
Read this week in the local news that the WS and GSO stores would be remaining open.
 
"That said, if the stores would carry what people want and have a demand for, at a price that competes with online stores........."

Is it possible for a brick & mortar location to do that and remain profitable?

( hijack )

.
 
I went there tonight to see what they had. Took photos of stuff I was interested in and then came back and started researching online. For the most part, you could buy everything they had listed as "liquidation" sale for less somewhere else. Even Cabelas had some items cheaper. There was one scope that was about $10 cheaper than I could find online. I will probably go back and pick it up tomorrow.

However, I found stickers on items like someone said that were priced much higher than the stores normal price. That is BS. Do you homework, let them keep the overpriced stuff.

Back in the day, like Cabelas, if you went in there to buy something specific behind the counter you would have to wait between 30 and 45 minutes or more just to buy it. That is why the big boxes will fail, poor customer service. I for one prefer to support local physical stores where possible. I'm willing to pay a little more to be able to walk in and physically see and touch some items I want to purchase. Scopes are a good example. But I'll be dang if I'm going to walk in and wait 45 minutes while 2 or 3 buys try to serve 50 people waiting.
 
Gator said:
"That said, if the stores would carry what people want and have a demand for, at a price that competes with online stores........."

Is it possible for a brick & mortar location to do that and remain profitable?

( hijack )

.
Click to expand...

If the company is managed correctly........Yes.
 
Gator said:
"That said, if the stores would carry what people want and have a demand for, at a price that competes with online stores........."

Is it possible for a brick & mortar location to do that and remain profitable?

( hijack )

.
Click to expand...

Walmart does it
 
HMP said:
Walmart does it
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Their ammo prices in the store closest to me have been kind of Gander Mountain-ish, the last time I even looked.
 
What I was told at the Fayetteville store that about 70 stores will remain open, but they had not officially been told which ones...the belief is that the stores co-located in towns with a Camping World would stay.
I know Camping World purchased the stores, but a different company bought the inventory and is conducting the liquidation...it will be mid-June before they really start to drop prices.
Overtons's came out great...new owners didn't touch the existing stores and have already announced new stores are coming.
 
Wally World has a new app that compares prices from your receipt to area promotions and advertisements. If a cheaper price is found, you get the difference back. You scan your receipt barcode and the rest happens in a couple of days. I've just started using it and haven't had time to to figure out how to maximize it, because you can choose not to submit it immediately. This has potential.
 
I bought ammo once at GM. The idiot at the checkout demanded my birthdate because it was pistol ammo. I said, look, I'm clearly over 21 put sonething in there. He refused so, I told him 7-4-76, bough my ammo and walked out.

On the note if stores being overpriced to their detriment, I wanted a gas can once and stopped at the local hardware store. Saw them listed for $35. Walked out went to HD. Saw the exact same thing for $15. I will pay more to support the little store over big box retail, but that was absurd.
 
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For obvious reasons b&m companies cannot, and never will be able to compete. Physical presence, employees, local expenses imposed by the cities, state expenses, etc. etc. Can't have the cake and eat it too. There's a price for being able to "see it in person" and then go buy it on line... Get real...

As for GM in general, I was familiar with them from having served a short sentence in IL. They weren't impressive back then (except for their liquidation area) and by the time they opened here in the "south" they were even worse. Poor customer service by people that didn't know squat about what they were selling and really didn't care if you bought anything or not.
I once went into the store in WI and couldn't find anyone at the gun counter, odd I thought. I walked around the end of the counter and into the back area and there stood 6 employees having a smoke and drinking cokes. They immediately told me I wasn't allowed "back here" to which I replied, "are any of you allowed out front or are you being punished and made to stay in the back"?? With that shot I left the store and never returned but on the way out I spotted the manager and related my experience to which he had no response except, "I'm sorry" to which I said, "that's obvious"......
 
I agree that Gander was poorly managed at a corporate level and that their prices most often were not competitive. There are conflicting reports as to whether or not the Winston-Salem store is staying open. The signage at the store clearly indicates it is closing but the media is saying it and the Greensboro location are staying open. As far as the prices go, most likely a liquidation company is running the show. They are the ones setting the prices. This happens with virtually all going out of business sales. The HH Gregg nearby is a good example. They draw you in by saying "up to 30% off" and most prices have been adjusted higher with a 10% "discount." This draws in the bargain hunters that don't do their homework. I saw people buying ammunition that wasn't even discounted and is still above Walmart pricing. All of the guns were priced higher and several days later they started a whopping 5% discount. The already expensive 5.11 gear is selling at ridiculous prices. I don't know my fishing gear but there seems to be a lot of interest from customers.
 
backwoodsshooter said:
As far as stickered prices being higher than the original sticker price, pull them off.

If they ring up differently call them out or walk out
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That is called theft. Call who out? You're the one that pulled the sticker off. Should I go into your business and apply a 3.99 sticker from another item to one that you sell for 10.99 and "call you out" ???

I got an idea. If you don't like a business don't spend money there.

I don't ever buy from them because the prices ARE high. I don't go around swapping tags like a scumbag. - Obviously the term "markup" means nothing here. It is common and controlled at the corporate level.
 
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IrishCannon said:
That is called theft. Call who out? You're the one that pulled the sticker off. Should I go into your business and apply a 3.99 sticker from another item to one that you sell for 10.99 and "call you out" ???

I got an idea. If you don't like a business don't spend money there.

I don't ever buy from them because the prices ARE high. I don't go around swapping tags like a scumbag. - Obviously the term "markup" means nothing here. It is common and controlled at the corporate level.
Click to expand...

Great point. It's good nobody here (?) works in the pharma industry. What a bunch of rip-off artists. lol.
 
Those over-priced stores do have a place in the world. They are the last places to run out in panic-buying season. I remember at one point in history CTD had P-Mags for $75 each, but they were the only place that had them in stock. So if you like to keep your shelves full, keep your prices high.
 
Dadawada said:
Back in the day, like Cabelas, if you went in there to buy something specific behind the counter you would have to wait between 30 and 45 minutes or more just to buy it. That is why the big boxes will fail, poor customer service. I for one prefer to support local physical stores where possible. I'm willing to pay a little more to be able to walk in and physically see and touch some items I want to purchase. Scopes are a good example. But I'll be dang if I'm going to walk in and wait 45 minutes while 2 or 3 buys try to serve 50 people waiting.
Click to expand...

I think this is a big reason brick & mortars are having trouble. I will pay a little more locally to be able to look at it, hold it, discuss it with a knowledgeable salesperson, and be able to walk out with it now instead of waiting to have it shipped to me. But I've had this same experience more often than not, especially with the big box stores. Many times I've gotten tired of waiting for someone to help me and just went home and ordered it online, usually for less money.
 
Bailey Boat said:
For obvious reasons b&m companies cannot, and never will be able to compete. Physical presence, employees, local expenses imposed by the cities, state expenses, etc. etc. Can't have the cake and eat it too. There's a price for being able to "see it in person" and then go buy it on line... Get real..."......
Click to expand...

We are "real". No one has even been close to making the argument that they should be as close to pricing as online. Not one time. Even Academy and Walmart are higher than online. What we have a problem with is the MSRP plus pricing and the "return the clearance stuff to MSRP and then take 10% off and call it a closeout price."

I've never had a problem with GM customer service. What we have all had a problem with is a $10 box of 5.56 that is $7.50 at Walmart.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Meckmeister said:
Great point. It's good nobody here (?) works in the pharma industry. What a bunch of rip-off artists. lol.
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How does the pharma industry relate to IrishCannon's comments? I couldn't follow. (Not intending anything by my comment, just couldn't understand)
 
thecarman said:
How does the pharma industry relate to IrishCannon's comments? I couldn't follow. (Not intending anything by my comment, just couldn't understand)
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Maybe not the best reference point. But in a free market Gander, Best Buy, whoever can charge what they want, re-sticker, reprice, whatever. Like said, if you don't like the price, there are multiple sources.
 
Meckmeister said:
Maybe not the best reference point. But in a free market Gander, Best Buy, whoever can charge what they want, re-sticker, reprice, whatever. Like said, if you don't like the price, there are multiple sources.
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Even more than that, often times the cost of the product goes up when certain natural resources become more expensive. Just look at all the products that contain silver. If silver goes up, the cost of the good goes up (usually) - Often times manufacturers will attack an MSRP to the product, but these can fluctuate long after it's on shelves.

I've caught numerous customers switching tickets on products. Price theft is a major issue in retail stores and one of the reasons online retailers are able to keep prices lower. There is no physical shopper switching tags, switching signs, making bogus complaints, abusing coupons. All reasons why B&M will have high prices. - That's not even counting typical product loss/theft.

Margins in B&M stores are terrible right now. It's on life support, and the blame goes all around, not just the retailer or the customer. Both of them are to blame.
 
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One other thing I wanted to share about Gander Mountain going out of business. I'm thinking the folks that went in and started clearing out the shelves were clearly people "not in the know". Case in point, while I was there this Russian sounding guy was asking the guy behind the counter for the most "powerful" gun. He was naming the typical "movie" brand guns and bypassed the Sigs and other higher value guns and went directly to one of those brands. Then he said, ok give me the most powerful one. Guy behind the counter lays a .45 on the counter. Guy picks it up and say, ok, I'll take it. To which the guy behind the counter responded, ok I just need to see your conceal carry or permit. The customer was clueless. THAT is what has kept these guys going sadly and who has cleared out the shelves so far.

For me, putting those orange stickers on the items that clearly overpriced stuff was deceptive at best and dishonest at worst. For that, I'm happy to see them close.
 
^^^^

Usually when that scenario plays out it's just a guy from long island. I swear they think NC is the wild wild west.

bastards get pissed off when they realize NC taxes government pensions.
 
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Beef15 said:
I went to the W-S store and it appeared everything had magically gone to full MSRP. There may have been some deals on clothing. Nothing else.

I thought ammo was 10% off, by my receipt I was wrong. I probably woulda grabbed some slugs or buck anyway.

Was surprised at empty spots on shelves and racks so its working on someone.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Was in that store the other day. All the signs on the ends of the ammo isles with a giant 10% off "firearm accessories" under it real small... I thought the same thing until I looked twice.
They cant even go out of business right!
 
I've bought a few things there, not with any frequency.
a few camp chairs, spices, fishing license that kind of cheap o stuff
 
IrishCannon said:
Even more than that, often times the cost of the product goes up when certain natural resources become more expensive. Just look at all the products that contain silver. If silver goes up, the cost of the good goes up (usually) - Often times manufacturers will attack an MSRP to the product, but these can fluctuate long after it's on shelves.

I've caught numerous customers switching tickets on products. Price theft is a major issue in retail stores and one of the reasons online retailers are able to keep prices lower. There is no physical shopper switching tags, switching signs, making bogus complaints, abusing coupons. All reasons why B&M will have high prices. - That's not even counting typical product loss/theft.

Margins in B&M stores are terrible right now. It's on life support, and the blame goes all around, not just the retailer or the customer. Both of them are to blame.
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Online retailers don't have to worry about theft as much either. What amazes me is that people just assume online purchasing is cheaper now. Amazon and eBay have conditioned us to believe that. I find that even if it is, the difference is only a couple of dollars. I have noticed this recently with all of the stuff I have been buying for our new house. My wife did a study on Best Buy for part of her MBA, and found that Best Buy is cheaper on almost all items than a most competitors, but the public generally has the opinion that they are higher. I scoffed at her findings until comparing like items through different companies.

All of that was to say that Gander Mountain's prices sucked, but I hate to see a company close. Especially one that carries ammo and fishing gear.
 
ChickenHawk said:
What amazes me is that people just assume online purchasing is cheaper now. Amazon and eBay have conditioned us to believe that.
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Ive read that Amazon uses dynamic pricing algorithms to adjust item pricing on a per user basis, using your history to determine what price you're likely willing to pay and displaying it accordingly.
 
Only time I ever bought something at Slander Mountain was when they had something I wanted that day and didn't feel like waiting on 7 days of shipping from an online retailer. Never bought a gun or ammo there. Can't say I'm sad to see them go either.
 
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