Gander Mtn...Brainerd, MN

[Scoot]

The Fargo GM is a joke. You can walk around for an hour and pass a dozen associates without getting asked if you need help. Their prices, by and large, are more expensive. The only time they're worth a look is at the end of the season when stuff goes on clearance. They always have a lot of stuff at a good price, simply because people don't buy anything otherwise. Scheels blows them out of the water on everything except, maybe, live bait. If I can't find something at Scheels, I'll hit up The Outdoorsman way before GM, despite the fact it's minuscule by comparison.

I couldn't agree more! Tyler's take is spot on with mine. The Scheels archery department is also excellent, which is important to me. Several guys there who really know their stuff...

[Wanderer]

Good riddins Gander...and shame on you for bowing to the political correctness.

It's not correct, it's just political.

I think I've been in a GM store once per year for the last 5 and keep asking myself why did I stop?; I know better...

I like the Russel clothing line but that's the only thing I can think of that I like within the walls behind the goose and mountain of bull.

[Bear55]

Bear55...I was in the store Sunday in Baxter. About 2/3 of the mounts are gone.

The store manager is lying. The mounts are coming down and not going back up.

I guess we will find out, the place had less mounts than when they first opened but there were still plenty up last time I was in there. I guess there is a big different between less mounts on the wall and pulling them all down because of PETA. If they pull them all I will shop elseware, if they don't I will still shop elseware but still use them when I need things others don't carry.

[srfishin15]

I know people who are part of the company, and for those of you who think Gander is headed down the toilet, you couldn't be further from the truth. 10% climb in revenue in the last year alone. Opening 20+ new stores across the U.S. in the next five years, many out west.

[Alagnak]

I know people who are part of the company, and for those of you who think Gander is headed down the toilet, you couldn't be further from the truth. 10% climb in revenue in the last year alone. Opening 20+ new stores across the U.S. in the next five years, many out west.

WOW. The only thing that can explain that is some people's spouses must buy from there for gifts.

Or- Srfishin10 manages a store and is throwing in his 2 cents before the ship totally sinks.

[MaxGoldman]

I stopped in Gander in Lakeville a couple weeks ago. The only reason I stopped was because I knew I wouldn't make it to Cabelas in time. I got to Gander 10 minutes before close and I was in a hurry understanding I didn't make it there with much time. There were two associates 10 feet from me doing nothing and one of them said to the other one, "why does everyone have to come in the last 5 minutes". Then a couple minutes later the same kid walked by and said, "don't we close in 5 minutes?" to the other associate, and you could tell he was saying this stuff loud enough for me to hear, as if to get me out faster, little did he know I was doing my best to get out of there. I just can't believe he said the second question, when the first thing he said implied that he knew exactly what time they closed and probably counts down the seconds his entire shift. Instead trying to help me find what I was looking and get me in the checkout line faster, he decided to pull that ****. I just dropped what I had on the floor and walked out, that was the last straw for me.

[Black_Bay]

They wear those orange vests so you know who NOT to ask a question.

[LightningBG]

One day I was in Gander to buy an air rifle for some pesky varmints. I had researched them all online and knew what I wanted. I got to the section and everything was in the wrong spots. Took me 15 minutes just to figure out what was what. Nobody anywhere near to help. Finally I found the one I was looking for, but couldn't figure out which price tag went along with it. Finally found someone who pointed out the correct tag. Problem was, the price listed there was about $50 more than the price online, on their site. I showed the guy the print out and asked if they would price match with themselves. The guy said no. I asked "are you kidding?" He said that if I want the price on the HSOforum, I should go home and order it from the HSOforum. I handed it back to him, told him to **** off and went back to work. Never again will I walk into one of their stores.

Overall it's really sad. Being headquartered here in MN, it would really be nice to support the home team, but it's pretty tough when we are all having experiences like the ones listed here. You would think the stores closest to the headquarters would be in good shape. They are the ones the corporate big wigs can walk through on their lunch break or may actually stop by to do some shopping over the weekend.

[toughguy]

I ran into that same issue with not matching their own prices. I even pulled it up on my phone and showed them. They said the HSOforum is a different division and that they can't match it. What a way to run a business.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

Finally found someone who pointed out the correct tag. Problem was, the price listed there was about $50 more than the price online, on their site. I showed the guy the print out and asked if they would price match with themselves. The guy said no. I asked "are you kidding?" He said that if I want the price on the HSOforum, I should go home and order it from the HSOforum.

I received a gift card to GM for Christmas. Last March, I was looking at their HSOforum and found an Aqua Vu on sale for a good price. I stopped at the Eden Prairie location and asked the manager in the fishing dept. if he would give me the internet price. To my surprise, he gave me the internet price and walked me to the register and told the cashier to ring it up at the sale price.

I wonder if they give the managers flexibility to make those decisions? I don't shop there much and they don't carry a lot of the gear I use, however I did have a good experience on that day and the guy that gave me the discount was very helpful.

About 15 years ago, the store in Bloomington (old Burger Bros.) was great with very knowledgeable employees.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I know people who are part of the company, and for those of you who think Gander is headed down the toilet, you couldn't be further from the truth. 10% climb in revenue in the last year alone. Opening 20+ new stores across the U.S. in the next five years, many out west.

a) Revenue means squat about a company doing better in an improving economy "a rising tide lifts all boats"

Ask Best Buy how rapid retail space expansion worked out.

c) I sent an email to corporate Gander Mountain sharing my experience, and linked them to this post for the experience of others with no response. That shows me from top to bottom, they don't give two squirts about customer service. A company isn't going to make it long without that...

[Bear55]

I've got them to match prices a few times from some other websites but overall their prices are way high. I really only buy stuff there if they have a sale or need something asap.

Seeing this more and more at retail places, you have to ask to get their online prices. You also have simple stuff priced sky high but I sometimes pay it if I need something fast.

[picksbigwagon]

Ya know fella's, I apologize, see I have this rotten kind of luck, it is not bad luck like bad stuff happens to me but I have what I call stupid luck. 8 years ago, my wife, for Father's Day, bought me 5 shares of Gander MT. stock. In the years that followed, Gander MT. stock crumbled to the point they bought it back for 10 cents on the dollar, and now seems to be getting beat out of every aspect of the market place. I take all the blame, well my stupid luck takes the blame I guess......

[RawHog]

Right now with where I live I have much better options in Joes Sporting Goods (really good service and knowledgeable staff but a little higher prices)

Joe's is the absolute anti-gander.

You can hardly walk around at Joe's without hitting your head on a trophy walleye or big game animal!

Their shelves are almost always fully stocked.. to the degree where they could really use more floor space in the guns/fishing/hunting side of the store because they carry so much merchandise. Reeds is the same way.

Yes, retail prices can be high as they are a family owned business, but you gotta keep an eye out for the sales they run frequently, being on their mailing list really helps.

I haven't been to Gander in a few years because of the lack of customer service and over-all fishing product selection. Their corporate philosophy is terrible for (somewhat) educated consumers. They buy all the cheapest junk with high margin/surplus' and rarely stock any good, higher-end stuff that outdoor a lot consumers care about. They carry every different models of ugly stick that sell for 30 bucks that gander probably buys for 5. You'll never see an NRX, Xtreme, Core, etc. And if they do have any highend stuff, it seems to be in really low quantity. I've never worked for Gander so I could be very wrong about how they operate. I can only judged based on what I can see.

Rant over. I know where by business belongs.

[srfishin15]

Your choice if you don't want to believe me. And yeah why would revenue increases mean better buisness? That makes no sense...... Lol.

[srfishin15]

And alagnak, I'm not married, I don't hold stock in gander, I don't manage a gander mountain. I shop there just as much as Scheels cabelas fleet and the rest. Like I said, I don't care if you don't believe me, just telling it like it actually is.

[srfishin15]

And yes Gander changed to a more "middle" quality mindset as far as fishing gear goes. The reason being that people who are buying high end stuff (who are few and far between) were buying them at places other than gander. Fishing guides and tourney fisherman were spending big bucks at places like cabelas. The switch has led to the increase in revenue and increased buisness, the same is true for the addition of all the sportswear/apparel. Many high end options remain available online. In fact, almost all the high end gear can be found online and shipped for free.

[LindellProStaf]

Yup Gander used to handle high quality products. The main buyer for Gander that I dealt with retired about 5 years ago. Great guy. Now they don't buy quality products anymore but whatever is the highest margin. That means more money for them and who cares what the customer gets in return. Everyone here is just saying what it turned into. What a shame!!!!

[Alagnak]

And alagnak, I'm not married, I don't hold stock in gander, I don't manage a gander mountain. I shop there just as much as Scheels cabelas fleet and the rest. Like I said, I don't care if you don't believe me, just telling it like it actually is.

I'm just giving you a hard time dude. I don't really doubt what you're saying- but it certainly is surprising from the view of actual fisherman/hunters. It just stinks. There's tons of 'clothing' stores out there already that are worthless to me.

Honestly. If Fleet Farm steps it up a little more and adds milk and eggs I'd rarely shop anywhere else. ;-)

[Bear55]

Your choice if you don't want to believe me. And yeah why would revenue increases mean better buisness? That makes no sense...... Lol.

I think you are mistaking the bottom line with quality customer service and shopping experience, there is whole world between those two.

[jnorm1984]

I ran into that same issue with not matching their own prices. I even pulled it up on my phone and showed them. They said the HSOforum is a different division and that they can't match it. What a way to run a business.

Had the same thing happen when trying to buy a couple tree stand

[Alagnak]

That and hiring people with some shred of expertise in an area. I can understand the average high school kid stocking shelves in the fishing department, but he/she better be told what and where to stock by someone that actaully has fished a day in their life!

[Greenhornet84]

Not a mount left in the St. Cloud store.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

And yeah why would revenue increases mean better buisness? That makes no sense...... Lol.

If the global economy has increased by 10%, generally speaking, retail stores will probably average around that 10% increase, as well. I don't have exact numbers on this, but there is no question that retail stores, as a whole, have had an increase in revenue over the last two years. Now, if Gander Mountain revenue increase outpaces the broader economy by a significant margin, then it is impressive. I don't know whether it has, or hasn't.

All I know is that they've seen my last dollar based on my recent experience.

Had I not had the recent experience, they still would have seen my last dollar, as caving to the granola crowd is not something that I will support.

[rkhinrichs]

It such a waste of time.