Gander Mountain close to bankruptcy

[cookiedough]

Word is out that Gander might be outta business soon.

I hope they do not go by the wayside as Victory is going to do since I prefer shopping there for sale pricing and closer nearby stores than Bass Pro and Cabelas being pricier and further away.

Sure hope someone buys them out and turns things around.  I just got done 2 weekends ago visiting 2 Gander stores on clearance clothing and fishing lures, spent more than I should but a deal is a deal right despite what my wife said spending 20-30 bucks on fishing lures that I really did not need but were say 1.50 vs. 4 bucks each for jigging spoons.   I have enough fishing gear total to supply a large gathering now time to start loosing a few jigs??

[Serk]

They opened a Gander Mountain firearms superstore near me a while back, I was SUPER excited for it, but after checking it out a few times and seeing how ridiculous their prices are (Only store I've ever seen that regularly charges ABOVE MSRP) I pretty much quit even looking there anymore.

Evidently, I'm not alone in that.

I wish them well, and hope they can turn things around, but unless they bring their pricing more in line with the Academy that's 200 yards away from 'em, it won't do 'em much good I'm afraid...

[Danny McMillin]

Our Gander is ridiculous!! Drive down six blocks, and save 40% at Academies! No wonder they headed South!!

[cookiedough]

only hunting/fishing/outdoor stores around me are Gander Mountain though with the nearest Bass Pro over 200 miles away and Cabelas 100 miles away.   There are 3 Gander stores all within 50 miles of me.

NO Academy, no Scheels, no Sports Authority, no Sportsmans Guide, nothing else nearby....

If you shop the sale pricing and clearance which they have routinely around me, the pricing is decent.  Am sure it varies from location to location in the US though.

[Serk]

only hunting/fishing/outdoor stores around me are Gander Mountain though with the nearest Bass Pro over 200 miles away and Cabelas 100 miles away.   There are 3 Gander stores all within 50 miles of me.

Ouch... One advantage of living in the D/FW Metromess... I've got a Gander Mountain Firearms superstore, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, numerous Academys, Dick's (But it'll be a cold day in hell before I spend a penny there), numerous great small independent mom and pop gun shops (Including several class 3 dealers) all within 25 miles of home.

There's a major gun show within 50 miles of home almost every weekend, usually within 25 miles.

Sure, we have the occasional drive by shooting, but that's a small price to pay!

[The emperor has no clothes]

only hunting/fishing/outdoor stores around me are Gander Mountain though with the nearest Bass Pro over 200 miles away and Cabelas 100 miles away.   There are 3 Gander stores all within 50 miles of me.

Ouch... One advantage of living in the D/FW Metromess... I've got a Gander Mountain Firearms superstore, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, numerous Academys, Dick's (But it'll be a cold day in hell before I spend a penny there), numerous great small independent mom and pop gun shops (Including several class 3 dealers) all within 25 miles of home.

There's a major gun show within 50 miles of home almost every weekend, usually within 25 miles.

Sure, we have the occasional drive by shooting, but that's a small price to pay!

How come you won't shop at Dick's ?

[Steve K (IA)]

Gander Mountain is closing down their original location here and building a bigger place across town.

Been checking handgun prices.  GM is about $10.00 higher on handguns than the other stores in the area.

Bass Pro 120 miles west and Cabelas 100 miles NNE.  Looking at prices on the internet to see if I want to take the drive....they are priced even higher, so...nope.

[Jess from VA]

We do not have that kind of selection.  Lots of small shops, no big stores.

Gun shows beat them all (and they know it).

It's nice to support your local shop/range, but there's limits on that support.

I recently paid the local shop $22 over the (nationwide) going rate for a new one.  I could live with that, and finding the exact model I got may have been a problem at local shows, which are also a longer drive and entrance fee to find out.

Of course buying used off our excellent gun boards (with huge selections of barely shot stuff) is the best deal of all.  Face to face, no taxes, no federal paper....... nonayerbidness.

[Bighead]

Our Gander mnt closed about a year ago and guess what I haven't missed it, cause I never went in it ever

[cookiedough]

Gander Mountain is closing down their original location here and building a bigger place across town.

Been checking handgun prices.  GM is about $10.00 higher on handguns than the other stores in the area.

Bass Pro 120 miles west and Cabelas 100 miles NNE.  Looking at prices on the internet to see if I want to take the drive....they are priced even higher, so...nope.

Agree,  comparing prices I find overall Bass Pro adn Cabelas are even higher than Gander is.  I wish there was an Academy nearby though..    I watch the sales at Gander and a few times per year they have their guns and ammo on sale o.k. priced off full blown retail.  I bought my S&W .22 handgun there 30 bucks off which was cheaper than anywhere else at the time.  In the past though several decades ago we would shop local for rifles/shotguns buying local whenever possible mom and pop stores.

[Serk]

How come you won't shop at Dick's ?

During one of the Obama scares they abruptly decided to stop carrying modern sporting rifles, and screwed a lot of folks out of guns they'd already ordered and put deposits down on.

(They gave the deposit money back, but these people in good faith thought they were getting items that they could have been purchasing elsewhere, then once they found out they weren't getting the items they'd already ordered from Dick's, the prices had shot up and the availability had gone to near zero.)

[The emperor has no clothes]

How come you won't shop at Dick's ?

During one of the Obama scares they abruptly decided to stop carrying modern sporting rifles, and screwed a lot of folks out of guns they'd already ordered and put deposits down on.

(They gave the deposit money back, but these people in good faith thought they were getting items that they could have been purchasing elsewhere, then once they found out they weren't getting the items they'd already ordered from Dick's, the prices had shot up and the availability had gone to near zero.)

Didn't know that. 

[Serk]

How come you won't shop at Dick's ?

During one of the Obama scares they abruptly decided to stop carrying modern sporting rifles, and screwed a lot of folks out of guns they'd already ordered and put deposits down on.

(They gave the deposit money back, but these people in good faith thought they were getting items that they could have been purchasing elsewhere, then once they found out they weren't getting the items they'd already ordered from Dick's, the prices had shot up and the availability had gone to near zero.)

Didn't know that. 

More details about the incident if you're so inclined:

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/dicks-sporting-goods-faces-customer-outrage-over-gun-ban.html

[Hooter]

Here, Cabelas is putting Gander Mtn outa business, no comparison. Prices at Gander stink and inventory is terrible. Looks like they might be a victim of their own demise.

[Dave Ritsema]

Gander Mountain is closing down their original location here and building a bigger place across town.

Been checking handgun prices.  GM is about $10.00 higher on handguns than the other stores in the area.

Bass Pro 120 miles west and Cabelas 100 miles NNE.  Looking at prices on the internet to see if I want to take the drive....they are priced even higher, so...nope.

You might consider checking out Kentucky Gun Company. It is rare that I can find a better price than theirs. They ship directly to any FFL holder and at least in my state no sales tax.
https://www.kygunco.com/

[Gavin_Sons]

I order most of my guns online and have them shipped to my local FFL. I do try to buy local at least 1 gun a year. Gander Mountain is outrageous on their prices. I rarely buy anything from them. They wanted 900 bucks for my Raging Bull 44 mag and i got it online for under 600. Even my local dealer couldn't touch the price i got. Hopefully Bass pro will buy them out like they did Cabelas and start small chain stores.

[Serk]

Hopefully Bass pro will buy them out like they did Cabelas and start small chain stores.

The Bass Pro/Cabela's buyout/merger might be off, seems the government is getting involved and mucking things up as it's apt to do...

https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/02/08/bass-pro-shops-55-billion-deal-for-cabelas-inc-is.aspx

[MarkT]

I remember when I used to live in SE WI the Gander Mountain store out in Wilmot, Kenosha county was the place worth driving to.  It was an odd duck - a retail store in the middle of nowhere, looked out of place in a rural area.  At that time it was the first GM and was basically a catalog store.  Then they did some wheeling & dealing with another outfit; sold the catalog branch and expanded into retail brick & mortar operations instead nationwide, generally occupying failed big box buildings.

I wouldn't have thought GM was in trouble - just because they just put in a new store in Parker, next to the Costco. I got a good price on a mini-14 some years back but I think that is the only gun I've bought from them.  I buy most of my completed firearms online, at Gun Broker.  After doing comparisons.  GB often has the best price online. Gun kits - get parts all over online based on price. Locally, Cabela's runs sales on complete guns; I check those out. Like to browse the collector's room at Bass Pro but their prices are outrageous - well I'm sure they set them at what the market will bear but not for me.  Like to check out the same at Cabela's - the old WWII collectibles but haven't bought them. Gun shows are better for that market I think. And periodically go to the Tanner Gun Show in Loveland or Denver that runs semimonthly - they just had one last weekend. When they aren't here, they are in Pueblo.  No shortage of purchase opportunities.

[Serk]

LOL! Gotta love corporate doublespeak... They released a statement:

“Gander Mountain and its ownership group have undertaken a best-practices approach to review our strategic options specific to positioning the company for long-term success.  When we engage in such a review we often seek information and advice from external advisors to inform our decisions.  To assist in this process, we have retained Houlihan Lokey as independent advisors and we are confident that the outcome of the review will identify the right go-forward strategy.  In the meantime, our Gander Mountain stores and gandermountain.com remain the place to go for all of our customers’ outdoor adventure needs.”

[Jess from VA]

Almost as good as Govt doublespeak, or tax schedule instructions.

[gregk]

   Haven't heard but they are sure having a lot of sales that ya I could see.it.Wilmont is the original Gander Mtn.store, it was basically a ctalog outfit but you could buy stuff in their small store .l I lived in Racine and I watched them raise an fall an come back up again. Their 1st store was in brookfield Milw. It was a great place to shop an the sporting goods stores could not match their prices an lost a lot of sales till the sporting good stores lowered their prices I watched this happen but I couldn't get them to say it an they ended up putting the store in Milw. out of business. Eventually they came back big time then mered somehow with I think Boat Us? A marine catalog outfit. The store in Eau Claire Wi. Is slow business, just there this afternoon, the done good till a Scheele's moved in the mall.
I prefer to shop at Cabelas and don't see why but they lately merged with BassPro and I heard that's falling apart.

[cookiedough]

I just hope they do not go bankrupt and someone with big bucks buys them out to continue business.  Even though I do not spend 1000s there, is nice to shop their routine clearance and sale price items.  WE visited all 3 gander mountain stores within 50 miles of us 2 weekends in a row the past few weekends and although none high ticket items (most 20 bucks and less on clearance mostly clothing and fishing), we spent over 200 bucks total.  Not getting rich off of us, but at least moving merchandise is better than not at all. 

MC Sports store also local 30 miles away also went out of business nearby us and closed down last year, although once again,  only bought sale/clearance items from there just a few times.

If anyone knows about merchandise like scopes and other hunting accessories, the markup is nearly double from what the merchant can buy them for so there is significant markup that if ONLY they discounted the 200-300 dollar or more items say 20 bucks less than their competitor still making 30% profit vs. full 50% profit,  they would still be in business I think.    A slight discount would go a LONG ways in terms of volume of sales vs. attempting to get near full retail pricing.  MAP, mininum advertised pricing, is rarely seen, but if ONLY merchants would cut even 5-10% off their nearest competitors,  volume sales will rule and keep them in business am sure of it.

[gregk]

Guess I better go to St Paul an spend my $50 gift card and get some reloading supplies then.

[PAVALKER]

Gander Mountain is closing down their original location here and building a bigger place across town.

Been checking handgun prices.  GM is about $10.00 higher on handguns than the other stores in the area.

Bass Pro 120 miles west and Cabelas 100 miles NNE.  Looking at prices on the internet to see if I want to take the drive....they are priced even higher, so...nope.

Did the same thing here.  Closed some stores in dead zones and opened bigger stores in other areas.  Prices are kinda high, but this new one does have a clearance room/center with them receiving items from other stores weekly.  I picked up a moisture wicking polo shirt for just under 5 bucks and even used my military discount for 10percent off that clearance price.

[Serk]

The other shoe dropped today...

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/gander-mountain-files-for-bankruptcy-protection/article_e1519c20-b919-53fd-aca4-7b2f89ef0188.html

Full list of stores slated to close

Alabama (4) – Gadsden, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa

Georgia (3) – Augusta, McDonough, Snellville

Illinois (3) – Champaign, Algonquin, Springfield

Indiana (2) – Merrillville, Greenfield

Minnesota (3) – Rogers, Mankato, Woodbury

New York (1) – New Hartford

North Carolina (2) – Raleigh, South Charlotte

Tennessee (1) – Chattanooga

Texas (10) – Houston, Killeen, Laredo, Lubbock, Round Rock, San Antonio, Sugar Land, Texarkana, Waco, West Houston

West Virginia (1) – Charleston

Wisconsin (2) – Eau Claire, Germantown

[Alpha Dog]

Wonder what will happen here in Dayton Area.  They were the only game in town for 12 years.  Now we have Bass Pro, Cabelas, and if that ain't enough Field and Stream threw their hat in.

[cookiedough]

Let us just hope they do not go the way of the dinosaur similar to Kmart stores did.  Competition is a good thing and hope someone buys them out for cheap and turns them around since I personally prefer overall Gander Mountain over Cabelas and Bass Pro in terms of sale pricing on pretty much everything around me anyways.

In the interim,  suppliers of product with either be very limited or halted all together.   A few MC Sports and/or Sports Authority stores around me have also closed down although not frequented them much.  

[therapist]

I think most stores that sell guns were secretly hoping for a Clinton win.
Sales are down everywhere.

[Serk]

Update - Now ALL Gander Mountain stores will be closing and liquidating all inventory.

[Gavin_Sons]

Update - Now ALL Gander Mountain stores will be closing and liquidating all inventory.

The Greenfield Indiana store, about half an hour from my work just opened about 2 years ago. Now it is closing. That's alright, i don't like gander mountain anyway.

[cookiedough]

I heard rumors that another company maybe buying Gander out and opening under a new name.  Sure hope so. I think same company as Overtons/West Marine or something like that.

[K R]

camping world bought a bunch of the stores

By Jesse Yang
Connect
Posted: May 08, 2017 12:08 PM CDT

(WQOW) - Gander Mountain's website said its locations nationwide are going out of business, but the CEO of Camping World, which just acquired the chain, said that's not true and also said the Eau Claire location is one that will be saved.
In a video posted to Twitter, the head of Camping World, Marcus Lemonis, said at least 70 gander mountain stores will survive, and he said the stores will operate as Gander Mountain, but inventory will probably will be trimmed down.
Monday morning on Twitter, Lemonis listed six Wisconsin Gander Mountain locations that will remain open. They are:
Eau Claire
De Forest
Franklin
Kenosha
Onalaska
Rothschild
On Twitter, Lemonis also shared that the liquidators have exclusive use of the Gander Mountain website until May 18, which is why it reads like all stores are being shut down, nationwide.

[cookiedough]

sorry,  yes it was camping world, my bad.

Yah,  Deforest is still open! 

Just there last weekend and got good clearance stuff going on for clothes and shoes mostly.  Hard to beat a 60 dollar pair of shoes (overpriced still) but for only 30 bucks.

[baldo]

I think most stores that sell guns were secretly hoping for a Clinton win.
Sales are down everywhere.

 

[vanagon40]

It looks like it is over for Gander Mountain. This was the email I received from them

[MarkT]

The Parker CO store next to Costco just finished putting in their new building and opened maybe a month or so ago.  I haven't even stopped in yet.  Now they have the big going out of business signs plastered on it.  I should stop in tomorrow but bet it will be a zoo.  Was gonna stop in yesterday when I was at Costco anyway.  But I was on the bike, had little room for any purchases anyhow.  I really don't need anything but if the price is right... I wouldn't mind a great price on certain smoke poles.

[bagelboy]

No discount on firearms or ammo! Walked in, and walked out!

[cookiedough]

No discount on firearms or ammo! Walked in, and walked out!

yah, noticed that as well.

I have been seeing good deals mostly on boots, shoes, and clothes with basically 10% off full sticker on stuff like for camping, etc. and also some good deals on fishing stuff on clearance but if you do not go in  early especially on the fishing stuff, it will be gone or picked over pretty good.

I went first day and got fishing stuff as well NOT needed.  The wife gave me a crappy look like why do you need MORE fishing lures when I have enough to supply 10 people easily?  Am sure on lures alone I have well over 2 grand (probably double that if bought new in todays pricing).  I think 4 tackle boxes should be enough?

[Serk]

The one by me had firearms and ammo 5% off... Meh...

They take 50% off and that MIGHT bring it down to Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's regular prices, take 75% off and they might come close to competing with the local gun shows.

...and they probably spent millions on consultants to tell 'em why they're failing, I could told 'em quick and easy, your prices are too cursed high!

[MarkT]

Went over this morning to see what's their closeout deal.  I can use some more camping equip.  I'm expecting to see markdowns 30-70%.

No deal at all.  All markdowns were 5 or 10%.  Some things not marked down at all.  And that's down from their regular pricing.  Which is too high to begin with.  I looked at some sleeping bags and tents.  Said I can beat these prices and quality not to mention customer service a LOT at the Coleman factory outlet. All sales final - and forget it if you need CS - many of their items are house brand.  Who do you call if the zipper is broken on the Gander Mountain tent in a few months - or even right away when you first set it up.  Do they discount it any for the customer service they won't be providing?  Hell no. I didn't see anything that motivated me to buy.  There were lots of people in the store but no lines at the checkout.  Everybody else concluding the same thing.  I said to the store mangler, "10%?  Not much of a closeout sale."  He said "better than nothing"  "You're right - it's better than a crap sandwich."  I walked out and went to the Coleman outlet - beat GM's "MUST SELL EVERYTHING NOW" prices substantially with better product that will have support.