Anyone else been to "Gander Mountain" yet. We just had a few open up in the Pittsburgh area (Robinson, behind K-Mart and C-III)

I'm not a hunter, and I haven't been camping in alot of years, but this place is COOL!

TONS of hunting, fishing, camping, and outdoor gear. I even bought an ATV box for my Kodiak. It seems to be as nice or better than any other that I've seen and at a reasonable price.

Check this place out if you have one in your area and haven't yet.

(I know this isn't a "Yamaha" related topic, but there isn't a better place to put it. Besides, Yamaha riders are the Coooooolest [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img])

Andy

 

Gander Mountain is overpriced, and has few knowlegable people. Their firearm selection is half what is was a couple of years ago. Better choice is Bass Pro Shops, or Cabela's. Cabela's opened a new 225,000 square foot store in Dundee, MI on August 30th this year and had 200,000 people on the first day. It has a 65,000 gallon aquarium, a stocked trout stream, indoor shooting ranges, a resturant serving wild game dishes, and more mounts than most museums. They are adding a lake(!) so you can test drive new bass boats and a 200 space RV park. You can take a picture tour at Cabela's website.

 

i dissagree. as far as gander mtn. having poor people that is a local store problem. again as far as the guns are are you talking used or new? the used dept. depends on what is traded in. i don't work there but i have been a customer for some time. they are the best at trade in value for used guns- about 80% of the new price. depending on the condition of the gun. they are also one of the few places that will tell you what they are going to charge for the one you just traded in. the don't bs i've checked back. i also know that every gun that they take in is checked over by a gunsmith- even ones that are traded in new in the box. you may pay a little more than a mail order only place but you don't pay for shipping and the product is right the first time. just my .02

 

I agree with upracer... The few sales people I talked to seemed like they knew thier stuff. I work in Sales and have a pretty good BS detector.

As for prices: I bought a leathermen for a gift and the Box for my Kodiak. The Leathermen was $5-$10 cheaper than any other local store, and the box was cheaper and nicer than the Tamerac I've been eyeing up. (It's a Kolpin)

I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything... Just thought it was a pretty cool store for peeps who are into that kind of stuff.


Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong. (DM)

Andy

 

im 17 now and i remember when i was like 9 they sent catalogues in the mail.i would sit around dreamin about all of the tents and atvs i would have as a teen.then the catalogs just stopped commin.Gues ill never fulfill tht wish.What happened here?

 

Gander started as catalogue sales only, then they were purchased by Holiday Corp (as in Holiday gas stations). Holiday started a retail division and discovered this was a better money maker and so they dropped the catalog side of things. It was too hard to compete with Cabela's and Bass Pro Shop, who at the time did not have any retail outlets.

As for the quality of the stores I have always been happy with the sales staff, prices and selection for the most part. Although I will agree with 95warrior that there firearm selection has decreased a great deal, mostly due to bad corporate knee jerk reactions to the bumblings of the Clinton administration.

-Shawn

 

As a long time customer of bass pro, at their original store in Springfield, MO, I was always dismayed at the general lack of attention to hunting that the store had( and still has.) Of course that fits their name anyhow. Now when cabelas got to going and muscled gander mountain out, NOW that was the best thing since sliced bread. Something for me, primaryly a hunter.( Even if it is an seven hour trip to Owatonna for widgets!) In a pinch I can go to the new bass pro in St Charles, MO. It interestingly is MUCH more hunting oriented than the original bass pro store, but still not even close to par with cabela's on serious outfitting equipment needs anymore.

( Try my latest shopping list, a -20 rated sleeping bag, a GD full legnth no compromise cold weather parka, 300 win brass, Noslar Part. 180's, Western 'style' beaver felt hat, quality full legnth underwear, a snow mobiling suit, a standard canteen, horse packable duffle bags. NOT a SINGLE item of the above was available from bass pro, Cabelas had everything, except I didn't like their hat, so I got a nice Stetson wide brim while I was going through NM to a guided hunt in arizona recently. )