Yesterday my wife and I decided to visit the Gander Mountain in Springfield IL. We live just inside Illinois from St. Louis and normally visit the Cabelas in Hazelwood MO. It was about an hour and a half drive, but we wanted to go somewhere different. When we pulled in the lot, there were only about 20 cars in the lot on a 75 degree Saturday afternoon. Not a good sign. The store was clean and organized well, but WOW are their prices high! Their gun prices were right in line with other gun stores, Cabelas included, but EVERYTHING else was much more expensive. They had a "hot buy" on 100 rd packs of 45ACP...for $69.99 and a 50 rd box of Federal 38 special for $32.99! Federal and Winchester sporting clay 12 gauges shells for $13.99 a box. It wasn't just ammo either. I briefly looked at magazines. A single M&P 40 15 round mag was $49.99. Thats more than directly from the S&W website! Hunting boots and clothes were just as high. Needless to say I didn't purchase anything. We were in the store maybe 30 minutes. Their associates were very polite and the store was very clean. I told my wife I feel sorry for the people of Springfield IL because this seems like their only "outfitter" type store. We did find a great steak place to eat dinner at and my filet was great! Well worth the trip even though we didn't purchase any gun goodies. Has anybody else noticed their prices? Wonder if it was just this store...?

I have a Gander Mtn less than 5 miles away and while I do go there on a regular
basis, I haven't been in the ammo section, other than walking through, for
years now. I don't even bother looking at the guns there either.

The gun & ammo prices that I had seen there in the past,
were, well, just insane as far as I was concerned......

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Ogy

What was the steak place? You should have driven another 65 miles North, big gunshow here this weekend.

I've found their prices high on most everything. I have picked up a few items there as it was convenient and they had what I wanted.
I have got some good deals on clearance items end of season though like 75% off a quad parka once. Those sales are hit or miss and you have to be there at the right time.
I don't make a special trip but since they're close to my doctor and dentist I sometimes stop in to look for deals.

Texas Roadhouse. They don't exist around me unless we drive well over an hour.

IMO Gander Mountain won't be in business much longer. There was a time when their prices were reasonable if slightly high, however today their prices are stupid high. I used to like to go their because they have a good selection of items but I don't even bother stopping in when driving past one because their prices are an insult. Really, 32.99 for a 50 round box of 45ACP American Eagle FMJ ? I can get the same ammo 5 miles down the road at Walmart for 18.97 and if Walmart is empty a local range keeps a great stock on hand at only 22.99 per box.

I've thought that for some time now, but keep hoping they'll be around when I need them.

I just came in from "re-luring" the area around my live-trap with Raccoon
"Moonshine" & fish oil, both, in addition to the live trap, purchased at GM.

A few days ago I painted the front sight of a M438 with Lure & Jig paint purchased at GM.

About an hour ago I went out and pulled the SD card on my back-yard trail cam
and walked past two "Trophy Rocks" (mineral blocks), also purchased at GM.

For me they serve a useful purpose for a number of
items that would be harder to find, locally, otherwise.

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Ogy

My local GM has looked like it is running on fumes for a couple of years. I like having it there if I need something, but I usually only buy stuff on sale. Their guns are way too expensive for my blood.

The usual ratio of staff to customers looks to be about 3-to-1, down to 2-to-1 during the xmas season.

Cabelas, Gander Mtn., Bass pro shops, Dick's sporting goods, are all within an hours drive but i can't afford ammo or guns at these places. It is nice the selection on clothing and footwear they carry. And like Ogy said, the other (little) things they carry are a convienience as they cannot be found unless ordered online. But they do sell some guns and ammo or they would'nt carry these items i guess. I'd hate to see them go out of business regardless. They all provide a niche for someone at one time or
another.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

the gander mountain in ashland,va.just nosedived out of business...i'm sure due to their sky high prices...a private sporting goods store (greentops) that has been in business since 1947 took over the former gander mtn.location

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I was surprised at the high prices when I first went to GM and they did have a very good selection. However I do not go there often and the last time, the selection was limited. The store closest to me has a simulated firing booth and it is expensive.

There is a Gander Mountain, Cabelas and an Academy just opened in my area Friday (11/9). I receive emails from Gander, but went to Academy and bought a Taurus TCP at their every day price. It was the same price that Gander sent in an email flier as their "Thanksgiving Holiday Sale" price. I would say Gander Mountain is "expensive", Cabelas is "moderately high" and Academy is the "least expensive". Within my own experience and comparison shopping anyway.

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M&PC FS BG Shield+ 642 686+

You guys mean "GOUGER MOUNTAIN"?

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Academy is the only one really near me and their prices are good, but the selection is VERY limited. WalMart may be cheaper, but I'm afraid to shop there for reasons that I probably can't give here. Let's just say that I don't feel it's a safe environment.

The only private gun shops near me are pretty high, on average, one specializing largely in collectors guns and located near a pricey university in a very affluent suburb.

One of the three close gun stores is the Beretta Gallery. They aren't cheap, either, but they do have a remarkable selection for the truly wealthy buyer.

Gun shows seem the best place to shop for guns, and retail stores with unrealistic prices are just driving themselves out of business. Alas, their prices also drive up prices at shows, and Online sellers are another problem in raising prices. Some of the bidders there must be nuts.

The Cabelas in Hazelwood MO that I shop at frequently has really fair prices on ammo. If I need bulk WWB, Wally World here I come. But if I want new hollow points or something different I can usually find it at Cabelas for a fair price. There is a Farm & Home not even 5 blocks from my house that sells ammo also, at slightly higher prices. I was shocked to see everything at GM high. I could understand a few types of items being "inflated": ammo, fishing reels, work boots etc, but not everything. I really wanted a soda before we left but was afraid I would have $10 less in my wallet.

Yep, the Gander Mountain here is pretty high on their prices. Cabela's just opened a store less than a mile away from them, and I figured it would put Gander out of business. They Immediately remodled the store and made a "Gun World" expanding their gun and ammo section tremendously. I shop both stores, especially when they have good sells.
I refuse to shop or support Wal-Mart in any way.

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KICK BRASS!

Local GM is very high, local Cabela's is moderately high, and local WalMart is a little high. The local small business gun shops prices match WalMart. I find internet ammo cheaper, but one must consider shipping costs and no tax. Usually if one purchases enough ammo, shipping costs are offset, compared to local prices. I will never buy ammo from GM. I did fine a great deal there on a Mossberg 500a and a S&W 22a a few years ago.

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Inconsistently consistent

158Grain, just around the corner from Gander Mountain in Springfield Il is Scheels Sports{way bigger than Gander, they have a Ferris Wheel inside} who are loaded with guns and have a decent "Fine" gun room as well as many other items. Slightly south of the junction of I72 and I 55 in the industrial park on the east side of 55 is Bullet Express range and gun store{locally owned and operated seven days a week} and it is a first rate place to buy, trade, shoot and enjoy our hobby. You picked the worst spot in Springfield to hunt guns and acc. I should tell you I always stop at both places when ever I am in the area and I found great deals at both . All my best, Joe.

Thanks for the info! I will have to remember that next time we are up north

The local Gander Mt. had a used 642 Airweight priced HIGHER than a brand new one that sat in the case about 18" away.
Just amazing.

No sense banging on GM. Like most big-box retailers they have lots of overhead and are typically higher than pawn shops, LGS and smaller outlets. You can save buying on-line but when you add in shipping and other fees, it's often a wash. Nothing like a face-to-face transaction.

Ammo at my local GM has always been high. But, speaking of ammo, I was just on Cabela's website to purchase 223. A month ago I bought it on line for $6.99. It's now $8.99 for the same ammo. Something is amiss with ammo.

Primers and powder at Cabelas are reasonable enough, but Ganders' prices on reloading components are astronomical.

I have quit going to both Cabelas' and Bass Pro because their prices are way too high on just about everything. I'm pretty much purchasing 100% from internet and gun shows right now. There is a very good ammo source located about a mile from me, it carries an excellent inventory stock and prices are almost as good as the internet sellers.

I'm the "small guy LGS". I don't have a showroom and am not open to the public... but I do sell quite a few guns online and to people I know. I don't have an "inventory" but I do tell people to goto GM and feel out what they want, then deduct at least $100 for MY price.

But they do have a good selection of guns (and inflated price as stated above).

In my neck of the woods, Gander Mt. is where we go to look at the guns we eventually order somewhere else.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Gander mountain will go out of business! They cannot be running much revenue over there cost to operate. In all the times I've been there people just look at guns and don't buy! Much less there outrageous prices! They all buy from the same distributers,there reason for higher prices over the years is due to slow sales that are tanking fast. Only a matter of time

158 Grain, Worst place in town to shop. Scheel's much better on prices just east down I-72. Better place to eat is Longhorn SteakHouse almost across the street from Texas Roadhouse. But as long as you had a goood time it doesn't really matter.Bullet Express is nice, They also have an underground rifle range. 50yds, IIRC.

My brother made a comment that tells it all.

The difference in customers leaving Academy and GM is that the customers leaving Academy are carrying bags.

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Corripe Cervisiam

Junior and I went to GM and Academy a couple of weeks ago. We went to GM first. When we got to Academy I asked him if he noticed anything different. He said "yea, the people coming out of Academy are carrying stuff they bought." You can find some decent deals at GM if you have a coupon or items are on sale. Unfortunately the sale items usually bring an item back down to what it is selling for somewhere else. GM usually builds in the "high rent district." When Momma comes out of her gated community to buy something for Daddy she doesn't know what it's worth and buys it anyway. It's usually Daddy's money she's spending anyway.

Charlie and I must have been typing at the same time.

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Corripe Cervisiam

GM in Winchester Va has gotten out of reloading equipment, they have some powder, few primers and stuff for for shotguns no bullets that I can remember. Their guns have decreased somewhat then what they had a couple years ago. Ammo has been slimed down . They are high on prices I can go to Wal-Mart up the road and buy cheaper LGS is cheaper sometimes. But you can get plenty of clothes. Reminds me of HD shops last time I went in been awhile plenty of overpriced clothes.

I've found that GM's sale prices are usually higher than Cabelas every day price for most things. They keep sending me the emails and catalogs, I keep throwing them away.

Places like Fleet Farm or Runnings often have good ammo prices. Maybe these are places are only in the midwest but worth checking out if you see one.

Ick. I wouldn't even touch it, much less rely on it.

Use to stop at Ashland years ago when we went to the gun show in Richmond. Green top was a fun place., and BUSY! We have a GM here in Winchester -- they have always been high, but you looked past all that because of the selection, not the case for the most part, anymore. I expect any day for them to go South, and I don't mean to Atlanta. Too bad for the sportsman around here.

I have Gander Mountain a short distance from where i live, i visit the store as often as i can. Heck i even bought my first gun their. A S&W model 36 blued finish 2 inch barrel made in 1972.

You can bust on Gander Mountain all you want but I still got the best gun deal of a lifetime there. My Registered Magnum was purchased at a GM for $279.99 + tax !!!!!!

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Big Fred

There used to be a chain called Sportsman's Warehouse, much like Cabela's, BPS, etc., but on a smaller scale. Selection of everything (guns, ammo, reloading) was quite good, prices were reasonable, and I bought a lot there. But they folded three or four years ago, at least locally. No idea why, as they seemed to do a good business, even in competition with Cabela's and BPS.

Gander and Basspro, no, Cabelas and Midwayusa, yes, most of the time.

They still have some locations around the country, but they totally cleared out of MN, and quite a few other states, I believe. Their prices were pretty decent. I bought a gun from them, and get a little wistful when I drive by their empty space.

They tried to expand a little too fast. They had 4 stores in Arizona, closed one. I go to the one in Mesa a lot, although I do more browsing than buying. Prices much better than Bass Pro and better than Cabelas. Also, unlike Bass Pro, folks behind the counter seem to know which end the bullets come out of.

There are two GM stores in northern MN. One in Duluth and one in Brainerd. They both are quite high on guns, about $100 over other stores. In fact, my M&P9 was right at $90 cheaper at Fleet Farm, which was right across the street! They told me that their price included a three year warranty. When I asked "if S&W has a lifetime warranty, why do I need to pay more for their three year deal", they had no answer.
I eventually purchased my M&P9 at a LGS for even less. GM did however stop handling reloading supplies, for which I'm grateful. Their self proclaimed reloading expert stated to my son that when reloading handgun rounds, you just pretty much fill the case to the top with powder, and don' really have to measure!!! Seriously!!!

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

GM just opened a store here in south GA about 2 months ago. I walked in the other day with high expectations and walked out with some bore mops.

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James

A few years back I got a fifty dollar gift certificate for Gander Mountain and my pal told me I might be able to buy a pair of Jersey gloves with it.


It aint rocket surgery

I haven't noticed their high prices in years, not once since they quit selling reloading supplies.

After they ran all the small stores out of business they started catering to the rich kids that wore camo clothes and filled the store up for their money. I'd rather talk about politics.

Haven't been to mine in years.The prices were over the top.

OH. MY. GOD...........

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Padre,

Iwas referring to Sportsman's Warehouse, not GM.

Gander has nice clothes and boots but their firearms and archery stuff are generally overpriced. As Ihump said, Fleet Farm has much better ammo prices. I got their last box of 5.56 yesterday...

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"Shall not be infringed"