Gander Mountain in Johnson CIty

[Highlander]

Had time off work today so was went to McLains for a look see then stopped at Gander Mountain. They changed the entire bow and firearms area last Tuesday. The counter now goes from one end of the new shotgun\ rifle racks to the other. Most items are scattered in different locations. (It was hard enough to find anything before). Talked to guy stocking shelves and I asked why they moved stuff around .
People stealing the place blind, close to millions a year (?!). New firearms were getting damaged by kids dropping them (parents not watching them) as well as older people. They installed more cameras too. Used rifles and shotguns are still out to handle but new ones you have to get a clerk to hand it to you. (Was told more "One on One") When I commented about how long the wait is before changing the floor plan, I was told they are going to hire 2 more people for the counter.
Guy told me how someone would put on a new pair of shoes or boots and place their old ones in the box and walk out. (Can't blame him there) Hard to describe setup as they have it now, you just have to go and see for yourself.
This store will not sell re-load equipment due to slow sales. Only has shotgun cups, pellets, 223 and 308 brass and some bullets. We need real sports store in this area. Dicks sucks, now Gander is cutting back on everything too. Why do the stores around here think everybody enjoys just fishing or golf?

[JStarX7]

Hehe. While the gun area change is new, it's not surprising. There is probably a reason almost everybody does it this way, and - because we KNOW how smart Gander as a corp. is - Gander just figured it out. Late. Cabelas, Bass Pro, every local shop I have ever been to has this same set up. You cannot touch a firearm without being helped by a clerk.

Their reload sales were slow because the JC store couldn't get the go ahead to carry powder. All the equipment in the world does you no good without powder. The Gander in Middletown had a bunch of reloading stuff when I was there last time. (about 6 months)

[av8r]

What makes you think that another store will sell more reloading equipment/supplies if Gander couldn't do it? Online sales kill many facets of retail. If there was a huge demand for this stuff, someone would capitalize on it. 99% of Gander/Dicks customers want new sneakers, a bat or a bicycle.

[JStarX7]

Originally Posted by av8r

What makes you think that another store will sell more reloading equipment/supplies if Gander couldn't do it? Online sales kill many facets of retail. If there was a huge demand for this stuff, someone would capitalize on it. 99% of Gander/Dicks customers want new sneakers, a bat or a bicycle.

See my above reasoning. Nobody wants to buy your reloading equipment if they can't get everything to do it. (And if you charge 3x the price everyone else charges.) Plenty of other big chain sporting goods stores sell reloading equipment.

Also, ordering powder online is more expensive then buying it retail. Hazmat charges are a bitch.

[RAM]

Originally Posted by JStarX7

See my above reasoning. Nobody wants to buy your reloading equipment if they can't get everything to do it. (And if you charge 3x the price everyone else charges.) Plenty of other big chain sporting goods stores sell reloading equipment.

Also, ordering powder online is more expensive then buying it retail. Hazmat charges are a bitch.

Gander is hit or miss on price for most things. I got an amazing deal on my LCP that nobody local could even come close to touching but I couldn't even buy ammo for it there. $35 for 50 rounds .380 ACP when it's $35 for 100 rounds at wal-mart.

[javerial]

Originally Posted by RAM

Gander is hit or miss on price for most things. I got an amazing deal on my LCP that nobody local could even come close to touching

I got my Kimber there for $200 below Kimber's MSRP and at least $100 cheaper than any of the competing stores I looked at.

[Shotgun Shooter]

One gander mountain I went to (Henrietta) they had all their guns on a phone cord type thing that connects it to the shelf. I'm sure guys from Rochester know what i'm talking about. I didn't mind it. Still had enough freedom to hold it to get the feel of it. My local shop I get guns from (Herbs) are in glass cases. Makes me sad.