Gander Mountain going under

[tha bugman]

There's a Bass Pro Shop, Cabela's, and Field & Stream all less than 25 miles from the Gander Mountain in our area.  Their Morrisville, NC store just opened within the past 2-3 years too.  Not much cause to shop Gander Mtn when better deals can be had in the same area.  Too bad they were late coming to the party.

Jim

Iwent to a field and stream store this weekend...I was impressed.  Got my BPS and Cabelas in the mail yesterday....just not as exciting as it used to be.  I guess I have reached critical mass on stuff and if I can't kill it with that, then it can't be killed.

[CrustyRusty]

Yes...but I hear they do crappy work 

Did you know that you can purchase a toilet and have it installed by.... Amazon?
[/quote]

[MK M GOBL]

So many years ago I worked for Gander Mountain in Wilmot, WI. This was the main store and warehouse/DC. This company was so different back then and I had seen a lot of changes during my tenure with them. At the time Gander had the largest Gun-Smiting team in the US. They did some great work on what is now my dedicated Rem. 1187 Turkey Gun. I started doing Turkey Hunting Seminars and created my own series of seminars, did Outdoor Shows and did TV, Video and radio, I was Sponsored by a call company and was the first to sell a custom call on the retail chain market. A lot of my turkey hunting origins were started there, as a Licensed Guide, started my own NWTF Chapter and more. I went through this back then when the company filed Chapter 13 in the mid/late 90's... Was a pretty rough time and seen some awful greedy things go down as the company went through this and some good people go through some rough times as well. Eventually Burger Brothers bought out the business, it was resold again later and then changed hands. Haven't kept up with what's going on with them as a company as of late, I had moved on. This used to be a great company to work for back in those days.

MK M GOBL

[Bowguy]

I'll tell you what I believe is the problem. The management/sales people. I understand needing to turn a profit n return on investment, etc etc. but they're taking the outdoorsman out of the outdoors stores n replacing em w someone who's resume stated 2 years part time at Wendy's or Burger King. No dis to these people but they don't know what you want, need, can't speak the language. Half the time when I hit the gander by me some guy will ask for something maybe not an everyday sale like a rifled choke. I think it's kinda pointless but the salesman walks all over asking everyone what the customer wants. He just told the salesman but the outdoors are so foreign to him he's stuck. The items sold are not what the customer wants. They sell what they may have before, they got all these fancy charts showing weekly sales so a computer can order better than the employees.
Give you a perfect example about this nonsense.
Years ago a buddy n myself wanted a certain buzz bait. Sports authority right near work carried em. Ok so there came in, I bought em. Next week I was late getting there n my co worker beat me. Hmmm this stinks I thought.
Went to the manager n said I wanted to order a bunch. He said he couldn't he only sold three a week. I mentioned they were selling within an hour n I'd pay for 40, just order them. He wouldn't/couldn't or didn't have enough brains to.
Another example of this stupid computer ordering thing. I worked at HD for a bit as a second job. I actually ordered n did inventory. Ok so we sold 240 of 60 w a bulb from GE n 240 a week of that same exact a bulb from Phillips. They got rid of GE. I ordered 480 Phillips. Went to every manager on duty to argue we needed em. They didn't get it. Simple math.
Gotta put someone in charge who has a pulse of what people want n are ready to buy.
They also need to get knowledgeable salesman n stop worrying about who's cheapest to hire. Need to get real bow techs or not set up/sell bows.
Place is terrible n they made their bed

[BowBendr]

I'll tell you what I believe is the problem. The management/sales people. I understand needing to turn a profit n return on investment, etc etc. but they're taking the outdoorsman out of the outdoors stores n replacing em w someone who's resume stated 2 years part time at Wendy's or Burger King. No dis to these people but they don't know what you want, need, can't speak the language. Half the time when I hit the gander by me some guy will ask for something maybe not an everyday sale like a rifled choke. I think it's kinda pointless but the salesman walks all over asking everyone what the customer wants. He just told the salesman but the outdoors are so foreign to him he's stuck. The items sold are not what the customer wants. They sell what they may have before, they got all these fancy charts showing weekly sales so a computer can order better than the employees.
Give you a perfect example about this nonsense.
Years ago a buddy n myself wanted a certain buzz bait. Sports authority right near work carried em. Ok so there came in, I bought em. Next week I was late getting there n my co worker beat me. Hmmm this stinks I thought.
Went to the manager n said I wanted to order a bunch. He said he couldn't he only sold three a week. I mentioned they were selling within an hour n I'd pay for 40, just order them. He wouldn't/couldn't or didn't have enough brains to.
Another example of this stupid computer ordering thing. I worked at HD for a bit as a second job. I actually ordered n did inventory. Ok so we sold 240 of 60 w a bulb from GE n 240 a week of that same exact a bulb from Phillips. They got rid of GE. I ordered 480 Phillips. Went to every manager on duty to argue we needed em. They didn't get it. Simple math.
Gotta put someone in charge who has a pulse of what people want n are ready to buy.
They also need to get knowledgeable salesman n stop worrying about who's cheapest to hire. Need to get real bow techs or not set up/sell bows.
Place is terrible n they made their bed

DO NOT even get me started about THD, been there 15 years and it's going downhill like a fast rolling stone. I can literally see the changes day by day. There used to be a system in place where inventory management associates ordered everything the store needed. As long as you knew your lead times you stayed in stock and it all flowed well. Then, some bean counter got the notion that a trained monkey could do every job in the store, that was the beginning of the end.
There used to be a pro associate in every department, a person that could tell you about every piece in their department. We have since replaced them with children.
The 'Affordable Care Act' made it even worse, we haven't hired a full time associate since Obama took office. Every FT associate that leaves is replaced by a PT goober. When you cut 80% of your staff to part-time, work ethic goes down. You bring in a kid that can hardly read or write, offer them a part-time job for minimum wage and then only schedule them for 10 hours a week, why should they care ? There is nobody going to come in and bust their butt and do a good job, while being yelled at by rude customers for $75 a week. They don't want the hassle and usually move on in short order, he is replaced by goober #37.......and so on.........

This is exactly why Gander Mountain is failing. They have filled their stores with part-time, 12 hour a week kids that know nothing about their field. Most have never hunted, you can tell. They don't care if you shop there, they are just pulling their 5-6 hours for that day and splitting.

Sad part is that when my local GM opened here in my part of NC it was a pretty cool store and was fairly competitive. The staff seemed knowledgeable and willing to help. Used to shop there quite a bit. One day the changes came and it was horribly obvious.

[JK Spurs]

Someday there will be no stores left. Everything will be ordered on line and dropped on your porch. I was in Gander last week looking at a new Benelli. The sales guy handed me the gun and never said one word. I handed it back and he put on the shelf and walked away! I've been in sales for 17 years and this guy obviously has no incentive to sell a gun. Im talking a $1500 sale and could care less. I'm purchasing a Benelli and won't be there.

[renegade19]

Someday there will be no stores left. Everything will be ordered on line and dropped on your porch. I was in Gander last week looking at a new Benelli. The sales guy handed me the gun and never said one word. I handed it back and he put on the shelf and walked away! I've been in sales for 17 years and this guy obviously has no incentive to sell a gun. Im talking a $1500 sale and could care less. I'm purchasing a Benelli and won't be there.

That's about customer service in general these days.  I've had similar experiences in a variety of purchases.  IF you don't act like my money is important to you, you won't be able to sell me anything.  I'll go somewhere else where they appreciate the business.

[mtns2hunt]

I did not know Gander Mountain is filing for bankruptcy. But that does not necessarily mean they are closing down. There are different types of bankruptcy that allow a company to reorganize and start over.

Sportsman's warehouse closed down awhile ago and I spent over 2 K on all the discounts. Two years later they reopened the same store. Now when I go in there I always ask if they are closing down so I can get more deals. I am still using the stuff I got on the mark downs.

[wvmntnhick]

I just hope there's notification of when the local store will be "going under." I'd like to jump on a few deals before the deed is finalized in one fashion or another.

[Bolandstrutters]

Well when they charge 700 dollars for a 450 dollar gun, I can see why!

[trkehunr93]

Saw this yesterday.  I gotta gift card I gotta use!  Don't know if it means the one near me will close, could just be a reorganization like Sportsmans did a few years ago. 

[kjnengr]

I'll tell you what I believe is the problem. The management/sales people. I understand needing to turn a profit n return on investment, etc etc. but they're taking the outdoorsman out of the outdoors stores n replacing em w someone who's resume stated 2 years part time at Wendy's or Burger King. No dis to these people but they don't know what you want, need, can't speak the language. Half the time when I hit the gander by me some guy will ask for something maybe not an everyday sale like a rifled choke. I think it's kinda pointless but the salesman walks all over asking everyone what the customer wants. He just told the salesman but the outdoors are so foreign to him he's stuck. The items sold are not what the customer wants. They sell what they may have before, they got all these fancy charts showing weekly sales so a computer can order better than the employees.
Give you a perfect example about this nonsense.
Years ago a buddy n myself wanted a certain buzz bait. Sports authority right near work carried em. Ok so there came in, I bought em. Next week I was late getting there n my co worker beat me. Hmmm this stinks I thought.
Went to the manager n said I wanted to order a bunch. He said he couldn't he only sold three a week. I mentioned they were selling within an hour n I'd pay for 40, just order them. He wouldn't/couldn't or didn't have enough brains to.
Another example of this stupid computer ordering thing. I worked at HD for a bit as a second job. I actually ordered n did inventory. Ok so we sold 240 of 60 w a bulb from GE n 240 a week of that same exact a bulb from Phillips. They got rid of GE. I ordered 480 Phillips. Went to every manager on duty to argue we needed em. They didn't get it. Simple math.
Gotta put someone in charge who has a pulse of what people want n are ready to buy.
They also need to get knowledgeable salesman n stop worrying about who's cheapest to hire. Need to get real bow techs or not set up/sell bows.
Place is terrible n they made their bed

DO NOT even get me started about THD, been there 15 years and it's going downhill like a fast rolling stone. I can literally see the changes day by day. There used to be a system in place where inventory management associates ordered everything the store needed. As long as you knew your lead times you stayed in stock and it all flowed well. Then, some bean counter got the notion that a trained monkey could do every job in the store, that was the beginning of the end.
There used to be a pro associate in every department, a person that could tell you about every piece in their department. We have since replaced them with children.
The 'Affordable Care Act' made it even worse, we haven't hired a full time associate since Obama took office. Every FT associate that leaves is replaced by a PT goober. When you cut 80% of your staff to part-time, work ethic goes down. You bring in a kid that can hardly read or write, offer them a part-time job for minimum wage and then only schedule them for 10 hours a week, why should they care ? There is nobody going to come in and bust their butt and do a good job, while being yelled at by rude customers for $75 a week. They don't want the hassle and usually move on in short order, he is replaced by goober #37.......and so on.........

This is exactly why Gander Mountain is failing. They have filled their stores with part-time, 12 hour a week kids that know nothing about their field. Most have never hunted, you can tell. They don't care if you shop there, they are just pulling their 5-6 hours for that day and splitting.

Sad part is that when my local GM opened here in my part of NC it was a pretty cool store and was fairly competitive. The staff seemed knowledgeable and willing to help. Used to shop there quite a bit. One day the changes came and it was horribly obvious.

This is why I shop local as much as possible.  "Local" meaning the owner/operator/shop guy lives near me - as opposed to a big box store.  Its the same for all of them -  fly shops, tackle shops, hunting gear, and outdoor gear stores.  Most items are just as cheap as the big box store, but the service is night and day different from the big box store.  Also the local shop is a good place to "hang out" and talk fishing/hunting etc. 

People make fun of me when I tell them I hate Amazon.  These are the same people that blame the big box store from putting Mom and Pop out of business.  Nope. The consumer chooses who to give his/her money to.  I choose to give my money to the guy that lives down the street from me.  The one whose kids go to school with mine.  Or the one that I see at Church.  Or the one that doesn't charge for service work because he knows me by name and knows I bought the thing from him and I will continue giving him business. 

Sorry.  I'll step down off my box now.   

[ilbucksndux]

I agree with kjnenjr . I try to buy local as much as possible,but the problem is we only have 1 local sporting goods store around and they have such a bad attitude I dont see how they keep the doors open.They are usually my last stop and only when I need something right now.At one time they had a good selection but that is getting smaller by the day.  We did have a smaller shop open a few years ago that was more of a waterfowl place(they looked like an Avery catalog) but they were friendly and they had what I needed. They sold some crappie fishing stuff,and also had some seasonal stuff too.( Turkey stuff out around turkey season,deer stuff out in deer season.

I dont like and never have liked GM. The selection in any "department" is poor to say the least,unless your wife wants an Under Armor hoodie and they have every color. I want more of an option than the store brand in one camo pattern. Just a few weeks ago I went to the Marion GM looking to buy myself something,but I walked around the place and didnt see anything I couldnt live without.

[bowbird87]

Pricing was way to high. They wanted $650 for a used Mossberg 835, some of there internet deals with free shipping were good.

[taylorjones20]

I'll share a recent experience at Gander Mountain...  I was just walking by the gun counter and see this guy and his girlfriend talking to the sales guy. He asked to see the SBE2. The salesman handed it to him and the guy asked, does this one have the inertia?  The salesman said, I'm not sure but I think so.  Then the salesman said, I just can't see dropping $1700 on a gun.

I just shook my head and walked off.  I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed...  Bunch of morons!