Camping World CEO says Gander Mountain made a bad bet on guns

[pmcjuryny]

He is very correct. I worked for them for years. I saw some of the big purchases GM was making in regards to guns. While Obummer was in office, they were sailing high with gun sales. They just kept buying and buying. Many times, they bought the wrong inventory.

Even when gun sales would start to decrease, GM just kept buying. They paid no attention to other stores and their prices, they were out for mass profit only. They firearm inventory with Gander is beyond huge. For every gun they would sell, they would buy three more. They put too much faith into gun sales.

There are many reasons for their failure. Inventory was a large one. Customer service was another along with non-competitive pricing. Gander will be better than ever once all of this is ironed out.

I look forward to the all new Gander. Hell, I might go back to work for them if Tonawanda stays open.

Not only did they buy to much they bought some pretty weird stuff to stock. Odd ball calibers, unpopular variants of common models, or nearly every variant of certain models. I worked in henrietta, and I swear we had nearly one of every currently remington 700 variant in stock, often in multiple calibers.

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[GOPerfect]

Not only did they buy to much they bought some pretty weird stuff to stock. Odd ball calibers, unpopular variants of common models, or nearly every variant of certain models. I worked in henrietta, and I swear we had nearly one of every currently remington 700 variant in stock, often in multiple calibers.

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Same as Tonawanda store when I was there.

 

[ECU Pirates]

Same as Tonawanda store when I was there.

Same in Johnson City when I was there. The gun room was floor to ceiling (high ceiling) with guns that were not selling. And they still kept prices insanely high.

 

[Podmonkey]

The Gander mountain in Johnstown was the only place I could go to for incedental gun stuff that I didn't have the foresight ro order online. Not really jazzed about having to start ordering crap like gun oil patches, rags and whatnot.

 

[4excal]

The reason this doesn't effect me is my geographical location doesn't have one. Closest one is A: Middletown, Orange Cty 1 hour ride or B: Kingston, Ulster Cty 1 hour and change ride. The only time I cared to even peek at a Gander was when I lived in Marbletown and then it was a half hour to Kingston. So no biggie for me.

 

[spat]

Not only did they buy to much they bought some pretty weird stuff to stock. Odd ball calibers, unpopular variants of common models, or nearly every variant of certain models. I worked in henrietta, and I swear we had nearly one of every currently remington 700 variant in stock, often in multiple calibers.

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Maybe they were just grabbing whatever they could get their hands on, thinking that the days of 300 day wait lists were coming back ?

 

[Shadow2]

Over priced dime a dozen guns, you need to be competitive with the pricing and most of the stores are not and that includes LGS. Dicks has some decent gun sales from time to time. Basic stuff but it's what the market wants. The big chains like Cabala, Gander where expensive and never worth a special trip. To me it was a tourist stop if i happened to,be going else where.

And can someone explain to me how bass pro is still in business the prices are rediculous.

 

[Podmonkey]

Over priced dime a dozen guns, you need to be competitive with the pricing and most of the store are not. Dicks has some decent gun sales from time to time. Basic stuff but it's what the market wants. The big chains got too big for there own good.

And can someone explain to me how basspro shop is still in business prices are rediculous.

They are also Fuddtastic. Last time I was in one I saw plenty of Ted Nugent $1.50 a round .223 but no surplus! When I buy 5.56 I buy it by the case damnit!

 

[Marine Cpl]

I haven't been to Gander in a while but even their used .40 Glocks where almost the brand new selling price. ($475) Really? I know they raped the customers who sold them the guns because they tried with me when I wanted to get rid of my XDS. They offered me less then half price of what I paid for it.

 

[Shadow2]

Definetly Fudd Oriented, the more expensive and the prettier the box they think the ammo is better.

They are also Fuddtastic. Last time I was in one I saw plenty of Ted Nugent $1.50 a round .223 but no surplus! When I buy 5.56 I buy it by the case damnit!

 

[GOPerfect]

All of these stores are over priced. Even your local, "Mom and Pop" joints are over priced. Anytime I can find and pay less, a lot less, for the same thing online, that proves how over priced ALL of these stores are.

 

[Bananabandit]

A warehouse and a website is better than store front.

 

[GOPerfect]

A warehouse and a website is better than store front.

Sometimes, yes. There are times that I really enjoy walking around these stores. Sometimes I do not know what I want until I actually see it and put it in my hands.

 

[Glenn B]

So he won't sell guns. I went to CW to buy a camper and they wanted to charge me a $2000 destination fee. I walked out and they still a year later keep bugging me. I'm not sure I'll support CW or shop there.

I read the article but must have missed the part about him saying or even implyi g they will not sell guns. Will have tp tetead it.

 

[Glenn B]

Outrageous prices on most of their merchandise had to have put several nails in their coffin. Heck, the prices at their going out of business sale were sky high this past Monday, higher than most nonsale items at other similar retailers

 

[S&W Fan]

All of these stores are over priced. Even your local, "Mom and Pop" joints are over priced. Anytime I can find and pay less, a lot less, for the same thing online, that proves how over priced ALL of these stores are.

This is only partially true when it comes to the Mom & Pop brick and mortar stores. They do have an overhead that they have to account for. Therefore, their prices will inherently have to be higher than shopping on the interwebs. Yes, Large Gun stores have overhead as well but the sheer volume of sales of tons of other items often offsets that. I also shop on the internet, but if I can negotiate a fair price with a local shop owner I would rather spend my money there. I have no love for the Big Box sporting goods stores like Gander,Cabelas, Bass. Pro, Dicks and others. Camping World will Not be seeing a dime of my money

 

[@thewheels]

The Henrietta store is on the list to stay open.

Stopped by there last Friday and they had a big sign hanging on the front of the building. Something about store closing sale or the like.
Massive 5,10 and 20% discounts on merchandise were pulling in more customers than I'd ever seen at the place. There had to be almost 40 people in line waiting to check out.
No deals on any ammo or firearms.

 

[Glenn B]

Repotedly, the only Gander Mountain stores slated to remain open in NY are the ones in Cicero and New Hartford. See: https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/101453086/

Seems odd they would keep two stores open so close to one another and close the one in Middletown.

 

[GOPerfect]

Repotedly, the only Gander Mountain stores slated to remain open in NY are the ones in Cicero and New Hartford. See: https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/101453086/

Seems odd they would keep two stores open so close to one another and close the one in Middletown.

That list is very incomplete.

Time will tell, my guess, at least 80 stores will end up staying open.

 

[IloveNY]

The new CEO just tweeted that Kingston will stay open. The more stores the better as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Vinson57]

Camping world asshole is implying he does not like guns and GM messed up, screw him and his company. Pure and simple here. If you look at MBA's, they are the root of all evil also.

 

[Dr. Evil]

The new CEO just tweeted that Kingston will stay open. The more stores the better as far as I'm concerned.

Gander Mtn – We Live Outdoors
According to their site, all stores closing.

 

[pmcjuryny]

Camping world asshole is implying he does not like guns and GM messed up, screw him and his company. Pure and simple here. If you look at MBA's, they are the root of all evil also.

I don't think it's a matter of him not liking guns, but gander mountain did bet wrong on guns. They bet that the sky high demand would continue, and seemingly bought every gun they could get their hands on. Having millions of dollars tied up in inventory that isn't selling will crush any business, it doesn't matter what they are selling.

I have been in the gun storage room. It was packed literally to the roof with guns, and that was mostly guns that didn't sell worth a damn. The guns that did sell, it seemed like we were always out of.

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[Robin]

Hoo Kayer's?
Robin

 

[Harry Hood]

Repotedly, the only Gander Mountain stores slated to remain open in NY are the ones in Cicero and New Hartford. See: https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/101453086/

Seems odd they would keep two stores open so close to one another and close the one in Middletown.

Look at the locations for the stores, one is on 81 and the other one is not far from 90, both in high traffic areas, like the Walmart theory

 

[Podmonkey]

A warehouse and a website is better than store front.

Sometimes, yes. There are times that I really enjoy walking around these stores. Sometimes I do not know what I want until I actually see it and put it in my hands.

PSA has a store you can walk around in. I drive past it every now and again. If I can find a place to park my truck nearby I'll head in there sometime.

 

[Kwalsh]

If they have so many guns why are the just offering a 5% discount on guns, I was in Johnson city today and they had tons of guns and nothing else

 

[Doc8404]

Just drove by the New Hartford location.
Has for sale signs on the building.

 

[Jaywmustang]

I guess camping world are going to keep the more profitable store open and renaming them gander outdoors. Cicero location is suppose to become one. After the Cicero location closes they will remodel and reopened sometime in the fall with the new name.

 

[Bananabandit]

WHAT shade of lipstick are they using?