Gander Mountain Closing

[ww2farmer]

I am not surprised. The ones around here, seem like they go through extensive remodels to change the layout of the store on a yearly basis...........that can't be cost effective.

 

They are also on drugs when it comes to pricing. I have not bought a single thing there in the last few years that wasn't on sale. 

 

Fishing stuff is mildly over priced, same with ammo, but my god they must think that every firearm they have in stock was used by Teddy Roosevelt on San Juan Hill. You would have to be a complete idiot to buy a used gun there, many if not all of them are higher priced than NEW ones at other stores.

[slonezp]

So brick and mortar stores are closing all over the country, doesn't matter what they sell. I think the superstore idea works better outside of urban areas, as earlier mentioned, because you can plan a family trip. I've got a Cabelas 5 minutes away, Dicks 15 minutes away and 2 BPS's within an hour drive. Think I've been to Gander twice in my life, both times in Wisconsin and for last minute things. I don't frequent any of the stores except for last minute things, fishing rods, and ammo. I can see smaller satellite stores staking a footprint, stocking necessities, impulse buys, and things that don't make sense to ship due to size.

[RichF]

I hope Gander doesn't close...it's the only place I can find my Jim Beam Jalapeño sunflower seeds. lol

[Kris2016]

I have been through four GM stores in NC, PA, MD and VA.  I didn't find any of them as busy as the BPS stores in VA, MD, and PA.  I have also been to the Cabelas in PA and DE both of which were busy but not at the rate BPS stores were. I have also been to several DSG in MD, VA and PA.  One is close to my home and I check what is on sale while I am there. Someone else mentioned the GM store in Richmond, VA closing.  A large, local long time fishing and hunting retail store, Greentop, now operates out of their building.  I have been going there for many years.

I think the biggest drawback for some is that BPS stores stock more of their brand and less of the other brands that a lot of serious bass fisherman buy.  Not to say that their stuff is junk because I still use some stuff from BPS.  I think another drawback to all the brick and mortar retailers is the internet.  I am guilty as many are for shopping on line.  I also try to support two locally owned tackle stores, one in MD and one in PA.  I have recently started updating my fishing rods. I visually shop on line at the rod company website and then order it through a local MD tackle store in Timonium area, Anglers Express.  Having him close by makes it easy to find the stuff that BPS doesn't carry and put my hands on what I am interested in before I buy it.  That is priceless.

[Subaqua Adinterim]

This is not the first time into BK for Gander Mtn.  In the 90s they were primarily a catalog business - I can remember getting at least a couple mailed each month. Their prices were good/great then.

 

They were primed for the Internet with their model then, i.e., virtually no big brick and mortar stores and just a call center for orders. Too bad they were just a few years too early and were unable to ride out the rough times until the Internet came into favor for shopping.  I think they sold off their catalog business to Cabelas.

 

When Gander came back several years ago, they went all in on the brick and mortar thing when their original catalog business coupled with the internet would have done them right.  Talk about doing things backward, this company is a university 101 level business course case study on high level bad decision making.

[Spankey]

They just opened one within the last 6 months in S.E. Penna. about 20 minutes away for me. Be a shame if they don't last a little while. But, here today gone tomorrow. Won't be too surprised if it happens. I despise Wally Worlds and DICKS fishing departments. Easier ride than BPS and Cabelas for me. Oh well.

[Airman4754]

Cabela's is failing and is working on being bought out by BPS. Gander Mountain is failing. Sportsman's Warehouse failed, was bought by a Canadian company and closed a bunch of locations.

 

Maybe if everything they sold wasn't 20% more than online dealers they would survive.

 

[slonezp]

1 hour ago, Mosster47 said:

 

Maybe if everything they sold wasn't 20% more than online dealers they would survive.

 

Property taxes, leases, utilities, and wages account for the higher prices. 

[Crestliner2008]

I still wish we had Herter's Inc.!

[Gundog]

29 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Property taxes, leases, utilities, and wages account for the higher prices. 

^^^^This. Brick and mortar stores can't compete with the internet when it comes to prices. Its cheaper to have one warehouse and ship from there than have 40 stores that would cost 40x the amount and keep an online presence at the same time. Its the way of the new economy. 

[Robert Riley]

The Gander Mtn in town is doing pretty rough.

[Catch 22]

12 hours ago, Crestliner2008 said:

I still wish we had Herter's Inc.!

Yeah,all the stuff was personally tested by Joc Herter.

It was annoying to have to add up the shipping weights  for each item ,then wait 3 weeks to receive the order

We are spoiled now ehh

[hoosierbass07]

   Here in Terre Haute we have a Gander Mountain that's been here for some time now.  I can't remember when it opened, maybe more than ten years ago.  But an Academy Sports opened up last year.  Gander Mountain is an expensive store and has always been expensive.

 

 The shoppers between these two stores are very very different.  Mostly grown older men who bring their wives along (who seem to have decent paying middle class jobs) are the regular customers.  But Academy Sports?  I was totally surprised when that store opened.  I see family after family after family in there, plus moms with lots of little kids and even college students going into Academy.  Academy Sports seems to be the Walmart of sporting goods.  Gander Mountain seems to be the premium upper level sporting goods store.  

 

 The Academy Sports parking lot seems to be always packed or have a good crowd.  Gander Mountain, not so.  

 

 I've bought a few guns from Gander.  They have a large gun selection but they overpriced.  There's a local gun shop that offers way better prices.  

 

 On thing Iv'e noticed about Academy Sports - the workers seem to be from another planet, particularly the check out employees.  You go pay for something and they seem busy texting their friends or making faces at other employes and not focused on you the customer.  I find it irritating how a good store could put the same kind of people at the check out counters.  

 

 I would hate to see Gander close though.  It's nice to have two good sporting good stores.   

[blckshirt98]

Just saw this story shared on my Facebook feed - http://www.***/outdoors/***/story/1754270-gander-mountain-preparing-bankruptcy-filing

 

No Gander Mountains out West where I'm at, but I do buy things from them online time to time as they can have some pretty good sales.  Out here the last remaining sporting goods chain is Dick's, and they just opened a new store nearby last year.  I think it's a matter of time before Dick's also declares.

[Deleted account]

Of all the sporting goods retailers, DSG (along with Academy) is in the best shape financially. They face the same pressures and obstacles as every other traditional retailer, but because "outdoors" isn't as large a part of their sales, they can better navigate the changing landscape. They need to tighten up on buying and marketing somewhat though. Sporting retailing, I don't wish it on my worst enemy.

[jimf]

They weren't cheap by any means and they didn't have near the selection of a BPS, but boy I miss the small shops where when you went in you would say to the owner/only employee "Hey Bob, how ya' been?".

[Rpratt]

We got a Gander Mountain a little over a year ago. It was nice to have since where I live the nearest Bass Pro is about an hour away. So if I really needed something I could go there. And then Sports Authority closed and within a few months Sports Academy moved in, literally within a few miles of Gander Mountain. SA has a better selection then Gander Mountain (which had a SERIOUS problem of not restocking items) and the pricing is BELOW what I may pay for the same items at Walmart!  

[buzzed bait]

i think a lot of them held on because of strong gun sales, at least the one i used to live by in Mooresville, NC.  I believe it was or is still one of the largest, if not the largest, gun shop in NC.  

the fishing assortment there was horrible to say the least.  right next to the largest lake in the entire state and they had just as much, if not more inventory in saltwater gear than they did freshwater.  and for anyone curious, it's about a 4 hour car ride to the nearest saltwater from there....

[Phil_M]

On 2/12/2017 at 8:57 AM, Mosster47 said:

Cabela's is failing and is working on being bought out by BPS. Gander Mountain is failing. Sportsman's Warehouse failed, was bought by a Canadian company and closed a bunch of locations.

 

Maybe if everything they sold wasn't 20% more than online dealers they would survive.

 

Cabela's was never in trouble financially.  They made the mistake of going public which resulted in an activist investor group buying shares and forcing the company to split off sub companies and sell.  In the old days, we called this a hostile take over.  The plan worked because the sell to BPS made the stock price increase and the activist group has already cashed out their shares and made millions.  At the time of split and sell, experts estimated BPS and Cabela's books were probably equal but since BPS is still private, their information isn't available. 

[lo n slo]

6 hours ago, buzzed bait said:

i think a lot of them held on because of strong gun sales, at least the one i used to live by in Mooresville, NC.  I believe it was or is still one of the largest, if not the largest, gun shop in NC.  

the fishing assortment there was horrible to say the least.  right next to the largest lake in the entire state and they had just as much, if not more inventory in saltwater gear than they did freshwater.  and for anyone curious, it's about a 4 hour car ride to the nearest saltwater from there....

aint it the truth? BPS is 20 miles away in Concord and Cabelas is over 30, thru Charlotte traffc (no thanks). a GOOD local tackle shop could kill it in Mooresville. i can get my hooks and emergency stuff at Gander if i have to but Wally World is right across the parking lot and is way cheaper. smh

[razor6570]

I agree with what people are saying about the brick and mortar. Internet sales has hurt these stores, I have ordered my fair share from tackle warehouse. 

I however do not mind paying a little higher prices ( I mean little too) for getting the gear in my hands 1st before buying it. 

I have a gander mtn 10 mins from my house. I do buy a few things there. They are very pricey but it works in a pinch for certain things. I have a bass pro 45 mins from me and I absolute love going there a few times a year. I know somethings are not truly deals but I just love the outdoor atmosphere and just looking at all the gear and boats. It's really the only time my wife takes an interest in fishing. She says that I Have a problem, I don't need any more reels or rods. She will never understand ?. 

Hate to see GM file bankruptcy for the fact there are some very friendly older gentlemen that work at my local store. Knowledgeable gentlemen that just work there because they like the outdoors and like to help other sportsmen. They also get a pretty good discount on gear for themselves.

 

 

 

 

[SuckAtPhishing]

I personally try to support the local tackle shops/gun shops (the ma and pop shops) when I did go to Gander Mountain I found it to be very overpriced and staff not knowledgeable enough about what they were selling. I did go to more then one Gmnt with still the same outcome.  Not that I am happy they are going bankrupt because I do agree with most that it will hurt the consumer.  Hopefully they don't close for good and they can recover and do a better job overall on price and costumer service. 

[Cgolf]

For me, we had two smaller Gander Mountain stores, on on the west and one on the east side of town, near two malls. Both stores were always busy, especially the west side store. Then they got the bright idea that they needed the larger super stores off the highways and closed the the two smaller east and west side stores and built the new mega store north of town. The few times we went to the mega store including weekends, I never saw as many cars in the lot as there smaller mall based stores. The mall based stores made a killing on us on our lunch breaks during the week and many spouses hitting the store while the better half hit the mall.

 

It seemed like not long after they started opening the bigger stores that the prices started to go up and the deals were harder to come by. A month or two ago I hit one of the smaller stores I used to love and their tackle selection was non existent, they used to carry a ton, it was really sad to see. The internet thing definitely hurt them too, but at least locally closing two very busy stores was a huge error.

[colts11]

I worked at Gander Mountain for two years. That being said our particular location has been dominated by the local Cabelas for the years I have worked there. The one thing that really keeps the business running is the gun sales. We just didn't get very many people coming through the fishing and camping areas. I haven't been there for about 4 months so I can't really say what the situation is like lately but when I was there the gun sales were what was keeping the business going. 

[everythingthatswims]

On ‎2‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 7:25 AM, Kris2016 said:

I have been through four GM stores in NC, PA, MD and VA.  I didn't find any of them as busy as the BPS stores in VA, MD, and PA.  I have also been to the Cabelas in PA and DE both of which were busy but not at the rate BPS stores were. I have also been to several DSG in MD, VA and PA.  One is close to my home and I check what is on sale while I am there. Someone else mentioned the GM store in Richmond, VA closing.  A large, local long time fishing and hunting retail store, Greentop, now operates out of their building.  I have been going there for many years.

I think the biggest drawback for some is that BPS stores stock more of their brand and less of the other brands that a lot of serious bass fisherman buy.  Not to say that their stuff is junk because I still use some stuff from BPS.  I think another drawback to all the brick and mortar retailers is the internet.  I am guilty as many are for shopping on line.  I also try to support two locally owned tackle stores, one in MD and one in PA.  I have recently started updating my fishing rods. I visually shop on line at the rod company website and then order it through a local MD tackle store in Timonium area, Anglers Express.  Having him close by makes it easy to find the stuff that BPS doesn't carry and put my hands on what I am interested in before I buy it.  That is priceless.

Green Tops is the bomb! My high school bass team got a huge discount there it was great. Very good people there.