I used to love going into Gander and walking around. I could always find stuff I "needed". It just seems that in the last few years they've become... well, useless. I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like their selection of hunting gear isn't what it used to be. Last time I was there, I couldn't even find a bottle of wind checking powder. To top it off, I overheard a conversation at the checkout lane that baffled me. A customer asked, "Hey, where'd all your mounts go? Are they out for cleaning or something?" The guy then said the last thing I thought I'd hear. "We had to take them down because someone had complained that they were offended by them." What?! I don't know who I'm more shocked by. The person that walked into a Gander not expecting to see mounts in a hunting store, or Gander for folding like a napkin. Sheesh, this isn't REI.... or maybe that's what they are heading towards. A cheap version of REI. I dunno why it bothers me so much. I guess I'll just be getting all my stuff online or at Cabelas.
I always visit the one in Fargo when I'm in the area. I mostly go there just for the novelty of it since I never get to shop there. However, I wouldn't trade any of our local sporting goods stores (Cabela's, D*ick's, Scheels) for a Gander.
The one by me has really hit rock bottom. Not only is their lack of merchandise frustrating, but the customer service is the worst I have ever seen. It took them 30 minutes to unlock a set of broadheads for me. Normally I would have left, but living in Chicago and making a 45 minute drive out there is the only reason I waited. I will never go back.
We have one close by, not a bad store except that their prices suck. For the most part you can get almost everything cheaper online except if they put something on a clearance sale....not often enough to keep me frequenting the store.
They used to have a GREAT catalog mail order business...once they sold that, it was all downhill from there. The only thing I've gotten at Gander in the past year was 2 hot seats for my son's football games :D
They turned our local Gander Mountain into the largest gun store in Wisconsin called "Gun World". Their prices on guns are through the roof. Gander sucks big time these days.
The Gander nearest to me has never been all that great. Imo they've had the highest prices regarding the products. Fleet Farm by me carries not nearly as much stuff but they're actually cheaper for the same products. The Gander by me also carries a lot of useless products similar to what you may find in a Walmart. One thing I don't really care for about Gander is how the hunting clothing is displayed. It's a real pain to find anything because they have so many different brands, types, etc. With the customer service it's not usually the best. They have 5 or 6 lanes for checking out and you usually have to go to the service desk to check your items because none of the lanes are open. The Gander by me is like almost an hour drive so if I go there I'm in the area or I don't go at all. I'd rather shop online, get free shipping, read the reviews, see the videos, and select products and brands I actually am loyal to. Overall I've never liked big name stores and would really prefer buy from private owners. but that's not to say I never shop at the corporate.
I've only been to a couple and was impressed w. the gun section in the store by Springfield, IL. I love to be able to handle the guns without having to wait my turn and stand over a counter with a sales person staring at me like they do at Cabelas and Bass Pro. We stopped at anther one while we were on vacation(can't remember where), and I wasn't too impressed. As far as the mounts go, it's just like ****s not selling "black guns" anymore. I can't believe they cow tow to the libs so much. Makes me sick to see how little backbone people have these days.
Our's is average. Customer service is poor, and it seems the inventory for outdoor recreation gear is outweighing the hunting and fishing gear by a long shot. I still visit when I'm down that way.
I check the prices at bass pro also, since that's a 10 minute drive. Gander is a 5 minute drive but you never know what you will get from them.
Cabelas and Bass pro continue to open stores in th upper midwest which puts the hurt on Gander. They are going the way of Scheels because they can't compete with the 2 big boys.
Yeah I wish they'd open a Cabelas in the Cloquet/Duluth area like they were looking at. It's a 4.5 hr drive to Rogers
I can't stand Gander Mountain and haven't spent a penny in there in years and don't plan on changing that. My bro-in-law went in there a month ago to look at and possibly buy a muzzleloader. Out of 4 guys behind the gun counter, not a single one of them even knew how a muzzleloader worked let alone able to answer any serious questions. Scheels got his business.
Our here in Central Ohio is the same. Almost nothing in the hunting section and crazy high prices on firearms. They sell used Glocks for the same price as a much larger local gun store "Buckeye Outdoors" sells them for new.
No question. My new tactic is to go to Cabelas to see what I like, then I end up ordering it from Amazon or somewhere else.
Cabela's to add 4th Minnesota store in Woodbury; it will open in 2014 | Star Tribune Why would they do that? Hour from Rogers, hour from Owatonna...
