NOT IMPRESSED

[J. R. WEEMS]

The local intown K-Mart went South last year. Saw the other day where 'something' was coming soon. Couldn't quite read the smaller print from the main road so today I drove in where I could read it. Said 'Dicks' was coming soon. Hard to believe, but I guess their marketing people know more than I do. Might give the local GM a bit of run for their money, hard to tell from some of the stories I have read here. Myself, I won't be knocking down their door. Was a surprise though.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

You're right. That news is underwhelming! Ivan

 

[Arik]

I don't understand why would it be a bad move for them to move there?

Especially this part - " Hard to believe, but I guess their marketing people know more than I do" - why would they not know more than you? Are you the only one that lives in that town/city?

 

[bamabiker]

I have been in a local one a few times. Have not bought a thing.

 

[boatme99]

I'd never been in a Dicks until one opened here.
It had been open about a year when I went in and it was absolutely filthy.
The prices were nothing special, either.

 

[tompehret]

We have one here. Went once, not impressed with the store or knowledge level of the staff.

 

[Abbynormal]

Dick's bought out our local / turned regional chain called Galyan's about 10 years ago. I used to shop Galyan's once a week. Since they got bought out by Dick's, I've shopped there twice.

 

[Marshwheeling]

We have one here, about a mile from GM. Neither one is doing particularly well. I am not likely ever to buy a gun from GM, on account of their prices. But I am less likely to buy one from Dick's, on account of they have no handguns at all.

I did buy some Smartwool socks there once.

 

[JohnSW]

If you need some (non-gun-related) sporting goods, my local Dick's Sporting Goods has some things that aren't readily available at other local stores.

My local Dicks Sporting Goods store used to be a Galyan's, so their new stores may be smaller. Here, they have way more floor space than my local Sports Authority store, and they have to fill it with something.

 

[shouldazagged]

A couple of them here, maybe three now, and one across the river in Indiana. I second the thread title. I'm not impressed and their prices for many things, especially fishing gear, seem high to me.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I'd never been in a Dicks until one opened here.
It had been open about a year when I went in and it was absolutely filthy.
The prices were nothing special, either.

Pretty much my point as well-- no, I am not the only one in town, of course not-- Read the above, and that is just the tip of the iceberg-- with people out of work or working minimum wage I just fail to see how they expect to keep in the black-- then again, you just never know. I talk with hundreds of shooters over the course of a year and never heard even one with anything postive to say about them. You want to spend your money there, go for it.

 

[arjay]

Dicks and Gander are just large generic sporting goods stores with high prices.They pay low wages,so the odds of getting knowledgeable help aren't good.Specialty stores and buying on the internet are a lot more fun and efficient.

 

[hoc9sw]

My local Dick's has sporting goods staff who are competent and courteous, is clean and in order, and has prices on par with Academy and Sports Authority. My GM, Cabelas, and Bass Pro are all 20+ miles further away, so gas costs count, even if they are a bit cheaper on some things.

When I was desperate to find 100 rounds of 9mm for my CHL qualification, and there was none to have anywhere, the "lodge" manager found it at a store (different chain) while she was shopping, bought it, and brought it in for me. Their (new) handgun selection is too expensive, but if anything is close to a price I expect to pay, I buy it there.

Maybe I'm just lucky.

You could have gotten a chuckie cheese.

 

[Arik]

Pretty much my point as well-- no, I am not the only one in town, of course not-- Read the above, and that is just the tip of the iceberg-- with people out of work or working minimum wage I just fail to see how they expect to keep in the black-- then again, you just never know. I talk with hundreds of shooters over the course of a year and never heard even one with anything postive to say about them. You want to spend your money there, go for it.

No I really have nothing to shop for there. Ok last year I did buy a face mask cause it was cold. A few years ago I bought a tent there when it was on sale. As far as guns go they don't have anything I'm interested in. They mainly sell lever, bolt and shot guns. None of which I have any interest in, not even in gun stores. But it doesn't mean no one else shops there. Golf, soccer, hockey, football, baseball, lacrosse, running, hiking, camping, excersisce equipment,....all stuff that they sell and none of which I'd find in any other store so they must have something for someone. Like I said I don't shop there and neither does anyone I know both shooters and none shooters and yet somehow there are 3, that I know of, within 20 miles of me. I could drive to GM, Cabelas, Bass Pro but that would mean a 2 hour drive each way with tolls.

 

[photobiker]

I'm with Arik. Not really my place either because of what they don't sell. It seems more and more people are taking up outdoor activities these days and Winchester is close to Shenandoah Nation Park as well as George Washington National Forrest. If your are looking for hiking, camping, fishing, biking, Kayaking, golf..... they have what you need.

One opened up here in town, Williamsburg, maybe 5 years ago and they are still here so I guess they are making ends meet. The people are nice and the store is clean. There is a L.C. Penny and Target in the same shopping center, so men at dicks and spouses at the other stores.

 

[the ringo kid]

I have been in a local one a few times. Have not bought a thing.

I went into ours twice--ONLY because I had two $5-or $10 dollar discounts for ammo--one purchase at a time and good for one day only, I thought it silly that I could buy a box, had to walk out the store only to buy the other but--whatever...Aint been back since.

 

[Biggfoot44]

*We* aren't really their target demographic. Their competion is Sports Authority and Modells. The guns could disapear , and the fishing and hunting could shrink to one asile each , and their core business of stick and ball sports , exercise gear , and athletic apearal would do just fine.

That said , the Lodge Mgr I usually see is a fairly knowledegable nice guy. The various corperate policies are above his pay grade. In the ammo availability roulette , sometimes they will have somthing on the shelf that the only other nearby source doesn't.

 

[fdw]

I quit visiting Dicks a while back, probably been over a year. Nothing in there excited me and didn't they stop selling ARs to be PC?

That's enough for me to quit. I figure Cabelas and Academy will put them out of business soon enough.....

 

[LVSteve]

Dick's bought out our local / turned regional chain called Galyan's about 10 years ago. I used to shop Galyan's once a week. Since they got bought out by Dick's, I've shopped there twice.

Same here. Leading up to the change Galyan's sold off their handgun stock at near wholesale, so I got my 686+ nice and cheap.