Sports retail giant Gander Mountain is rolling back and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company isn’t closing all of its doors but it will be shutting down low-profit locations.
This follows bankruptcy rumors for a few weeks following a recent Reuters report. Earlier this month Gander Mountain responded to those rumors in a statement saying that they were looking at ways to turn their business around.
The company is working with Wells Fargo to structure a “going-concern” sale of its businesses. The Gander Mountain Company also owns Overton’s, a brick-and-mortar and online boating goods retailer. Across the U.S. Gander Mountain will be closing and selling 32 of its locations.
“[Bankruptcy] is the result of an in-depth review of the company’s strategic options undertaken in recent months to preserve the value of the company and position it for long-term success,” said the company in a statement. “Like many retailers, Gander Mountain experienced challenging traffic patterns and shifts in consumer demand resulting from increased direct-to-customer sales by key vendors and accelerated growth of e-commerce.
“Despite aggressive actions to improve the efficiency of the company’s retail operations and support functions, the underlying financial impact from underperforming stores and unproductive, excess inventory hampered efforts to create a sustainable path forward.”
WFMJ has a list of all 32 stores in 11 states that are closing. The company still has long-term plans for the remaining stores.
See Also: Gander Mountain Responds to Bankruptcy Rumor
In 2012 the company added more than 60 locations across the country. This increased the number of stores to over 160 in 28 states. Gander Mounting is currently working with “a number of interested parties” looking to solicit bids prior to their auction. The company expects to hold an asset auction in April of 2017, with sales closing in the month after that.
Gander Mountain’s business model had clear flaws. As a firearms retailer, Gander Mountain’s business should have been booming. Gun sales from 2012 through 2016 were nothing short of record-breaking.
While gun sales only represent a portion of Gander Mountain’s income, the company’s inability to capitalize on four straight years of increasing gun sales indicates flaws with their old sales model.
The structured bankruptcy will allow Gander Mountain to protect their interests and their employees.
“The company generally expects to conduct normal business operations during the pendency of its restructuring,” added the statement. “Employee pay will continue to arrive on time and in full, employee benefits will remain in place and retirement accounts are intact and protected.”
Overpriced guns, laughable offers for trade-ins, indifferent customer service, a general atmosphere of cluelessness…I’m surprised they’ve lasted as long as they have. It will be interesting to see if they can get their act together with their remaining stores.
Nothing like waiting an hour for a clerk to look at a gun. Just when you think you are close to being waited on they all go to lunch.
I’ve only been to two Gander Mountain stores, on in Merrillville, IN. that is on the list to close, and one in Joliet, IL. that is not on the list to close. I was working near the one in Merrillville and decided to go into it as it billed itself as the largest gun dealer in the area, and after seeing it, I didn’t think that it had as many arms on hand as Cabela’s in nearby Hammond, IN. or Bass Pro in nearby Portage, IN. The Merrillville store seemed nice, was in a good location at the mall there. Had a large selection of ammunition that seemed in line with other places. I don’t know, seemed like a nice enough place, but I pass Cabela’s and Bass Pro and others all the time, so I shop them. As far as their store in Joliet, IL. the staff seemed very friendly, and nothing against them but the gun laws in Illinois are so anti-gun that most arms dealers in Illinois won’t even allow me to touch firearms or ammunition. Bass Pro does because I have a legal Indiana ID as well as gun permit and they say that’s good enough for me to hold…not purchase unless I have it shipped back through an FFL. Gander in Joliet is like most other Illinois dealers, won’t allow me to even touch because of the Illinois FOID law/permit. The folks at the Joliet store did sell me some gun cleaning supplies and were very nice. Overall, from what I saw at Gander, they were like smaller Cabela’s and Bass Pro. I hate to see them or anyone have financial troubles, especially arms dealers in this hyper anti-gun climate here in our United States Of America, where we have a Constitution that affirms and confirms OUR God given right to own and bare arms.
I have a gander Mt Credit card and get discounts there. Almost any retail store is too expensive for me but I got a couple of Stack On gun cabinets there a couple years ago that I could not find online for a better price. They are like any gun shop or retail store. You can find deals if you go in there to keep an eye on what they have like the guy above with the scope. Walmart does not have the cheapest price on everything, no does Dollar store. Shop for what you can get as a good price and it is up to them to be profitable. Same for GM or any other business.
Yep! Overpricing will kill a business. I worked for an AT&T authorized retailer who owned 10 stores. Whenever certain phones would sell very well, he would Jack the price up in greed, only to kill the sells numbers. He never honored Corporate sales and pricing, because authorized retailers had the option to set their own prices. All 10 of his stores went out of business. I have only been to Gander Mountain in Concord Mills Mall near Charlotte a few times. I could never afford to buy anything there, so it was more like a wishing trip. Those type of shopping malls also charge insane rents, so I’m sure that didn’t help. I once looked into renting a small retail space in a mini-mall and they wanted 40% Of my gross receipts and insisted I use their cash register that would be monitored. I told them, “so you want me to work my butt off and give you my profits? Ain’t gonna happen!”
One cause and one cause only. They cut customer service. I walked in to buy a gun off the shelf.. Stood at the counter while being ignored for 15-20 min. Asked the guy stocking ammo for help- – – -“Not my department”. Others standing around chatting. never been back. 2014.
DITTO²…..their “sales” staff cannot even spell the word!
Gun store commandos…..SMH
Yeah they are going out of business because they think they can charge msrp for firearms and a hundred for a camo or outdoors shirt now. I used to go to them over Cabelas because they were affordable. Now they are trying to match Cabelas ridiculously priced items.
I experienced some of the rudest employees I’ve ever dealt with at the Tuscaloosa Al. store.
I say good riddens. Close all of them. I shop at Cabelas.
Never really had a problem with GM. In my community, GM will price match any competitor’s price PLUS take another 10% off.
Gander Mt. has earned the right to go out of business. Their prices on everything in the Duluth MN store are set by people that have no idea what they are doing. The last couple of times I stopped to look around I actually started laughing when I saw some
of the prices they had on shooting supplies.
I saw a brand new Kahles 2×7 rifle scope there once for $200. When I asked the clerk about it he told me
a woman from management had marked it down. A friend that was along bought the scope. That was some time
ago.
It is an hour drive from my house to the Gander Mt. store. I used to always stop and shop there. Now I never stop anymore. Neither do any of my friends. Prices are just crazy high now. Don’t really care if they go out of business or not.
Them thar Gander Varmints must have thought that us Texans was a bunch of Backwoods Dumbasses to buy our ammo and guns from those Corporate boys!
They deserve it – their prices are awful. There’s one very close to my place of work, yet I haven’t set foot in their in years. Their standard price on Winchester USA .45 ACP 230gr Ball was $34.99 per box (and this was BEFORE the great ammo scare). Their other gun ammo/prices were nearly as bad.
I walked through the one in Tuscaloosa AL yesterday. The prices there are sky high. I was wondering just who buy at these prices. But it is a college town. Maybe daddy buys it. I wouldn’t. Even their sales prices ( on UnderArmor no less) are way out of bounds.
My dad and I would shop at GM in the 1970-80s in their Wilmot WI store, which was over an hour drive each way. We bought guns, ammo, reloading equipment & lots of reloading supplies. Fast forward to 2017, and GM no longer has reloading supplies, and their guns and ammo are obscenely expensive. There is now a GM close to me, but I never go there because it is nothing but a waste of time due to their poor selection and ridicules pricing. A shame.
Gander Mountain is known for this. They took suppliers to the cleaners from bankruptcy back in the late 80’s or early 90’s. How can you be bankrupt after 8 years of Obama unless management is stealing the company blind.
back in the day when their only store was in wilmot WI ., GM was a great store . now they stink . everything is overpriced . their gun prices are way too high . their used gun prices are sky-high . sometimes i see new gun prices cheaper than they ask for the same gun used . see ya , gander—-you wont be missed by me………MBP
Max Slowik, please proof read your story before you publish it. All I can say is… Wow!
JEEsus! who the fuck gives a fuck about store employees being Rude?! What do all you big time badass gunslingers need a blow job just to buy a gun? What does politeness have to do with anything. How could anybody who makes minimum wage for being on their feet all day dealing with idiot customers be polite in the first place? You’re lucky they’re just civil? I’m just glad they don’t stare too long at my ugly shrapnel and knife scarred face. At least GM had decently priced .22LR ammo when everybody else was out or gouging?
No wonder they’ll never pass the hearing protection act without capitulating cunt-ass suck ass sychophants skeeered so shitless that they’ll be more than willing, in fact, begging, to be registered with background checks just to buy a freaking lawn mower muffler without a tax stamp! Because we’ll be more concerned with the ATF being courteous when they jackboot in our doors to confiscate all registered suppressor owners at 4am wee wee call and flash bang your ass just as you’re holding your dicks!
YOUR INTELLIGENCE IS SHOWING
You must of used to work for GM and lost your job with the downsizing!
Is that your real name? Who pissed in your Wheaties? You almost made some good points, such as expecting people to work for a non-living wage, but that’s not our fault. And GM isn’t the only one who doesn’t pay a living wage, and we can blame the corporations, however, they are only doing what the crooked politicians are allowing them to do, but the problem is deeper than that.
But the fact, is there prices are very high usually. I did buy a used G26 from them a few years back at a good price but found out while I was doing the paperwork that the manager in that dept was going to buy it at the end of the day, because it was about to exceed the time they will stay out before employees can purchase. Soooo I’m thinking the low price likely had something to do with that, because most of their used pistols are more than news ones at other stores. Then, just by coincidence, if you believe such a thing, I’m going to pick up a S&W 6946 that they reduced on-line plus added a $40 discount. Will be interesting to see if it’s a worn out piece of crap or an O.K. pistol. Those old Smith’s are well made. I hope life turns around for you!
Yes, and I know it is “their” and not there but didn’t catch it!-:)
Define living wage. That term is nothing but national socialist spin garbage. The same as assault weapon – coin a term that has no basis in fact, only emotion.
I agree. Who makes up these asinine terms like ” living wage” or “assault weapons”, etc. these days anyhow?
Troll much???
Careful where you step gentleman so as to avoid landing in the bullshit in this area…
Having said that, I remember when the Killeen location opened near Fort Hood. I had never been in a GM before and was shocked when I walked in and saw the “grand opening” pricing they had. Even then, when prices should’ve been at their lowest to entice new customers they were head and shoulders above Academy and Dick’s; which are within a few miles. I said from that day that they weren’t going to last in central Texas.
Hey Mahatma….having a bad morning, are ya?
Nah Barry, Every day I still wake up is a good moment. It’s just that I ‘know’ things that most of you don’t. And sometimes I can’t believe that supposedly sane humans worry more about so much stupid shit instead of worrying more about the most important insidious evil getting ready to exterminate every last freedom we ever had, and will never have again.
And I see things most don’t. Like if we can’t quickly get most of the major gun laws reversed, repealed, or nullified, all you ‘bargain hunters’ and overly sensitive consumers, won’t have anything left to complain about when it comes to buying guns anymore. But you will be complaining about how fucking RUDE the Police are when they come to take your shit.
We have about a year to win…or we lose.
I am the customer bringing in money to spend, I expect to be treated respectfully. You sound like an absolute hammer dick, stupid and arrogant. I guess you work at Gander Mountain. Look on the bright side-you don’t pay rent for living in your mom’s basement.
WOW.Are all of these people from Indianapolis? I found the same thing here at both stores. Rude or disinterested employees from the firearms department to the cashiers. No one shows any interest in serving you and having to take a number when no one else is even in the department is ridiculous. Even though they don’t handle handguns, I can go to Dick’s Sporting goods and get friendly service and good prices on long guns and ammo, with follow up by the store. Good bye GM, Don’t need ya!
25-30 years ago it was a good store. Last 10yrs turned into yuppie store and no longer carry tall sizes.
I bought an 870 Rem. combo for one of my sons for Christmas from them because they ran a (Outstanding) sale on them and published in their mail flyer. I drove to the store (30 mi) one evening to get one and they didn’t have any, the guy behind the counter said there weren’t any on the way to them either. I spoke with the manager and he told me just because they show them in the sales flyer doesn’t mean the store will have any! My response…WHAT!! That is a bait and switch….. So he ordered one, said it would be there on a certain day. I called them that day, the guy behind the counter told me it was there. I drove (30 mi.) to the store to pick it up and they didn’t have it. The guy misread the inventory list and they hadn’t received it yet. In the end, they got one for me and the manager gave me a voucher for $100 to the store, after I dressed him down on my second trip. Regardless, that was my last gun purchase from them.
Don’t feel bad because I also drove over a half hour to buy things that were in the sales flyer they mailed me. I got there the day the sale started and was first in the door, First at the Guns & ammo and they were sold out of the ammo I wanted as well as the gun I was going to buy.The sales flyer is just a big scam and the one thing good it done for me was to never go over to Gander Mountain again, (((EVER)))
I haven’t experienced rude staff (always a factor of local management in my opinion). Usually has good on hand inventory of hunting and camping gear. However, prices are indeed on the high side compared to competition so I shop around. Agree with other statements here, firearams are definitely overpriced. Negotiationg down from MSRP does not come close to what you can get elsewhere. Used prices are not even close enough to start bargaining.
Everything is over priced. $7.50 for a single pack of shotgun primers, you got to be kidding. $75.00 a thousand Can get them elsewhere for $25.00 a thousand. Firearms are outrageous Even Cabela’s is cheaper..
Not surprising. Their prices made Bass Pro look reasonable. I have been to the store twice once during a grand opening where they had 22lr door busters at high retail prices which was lower than everyone esle using gouging pricing and once later on just to give them another chance. The first time I bought nothing but the door busters as the price of everything else was higher than I had ever seen. The second trip ended in the same conclusion. There prices were so much higher than every other retail and internet site there was not reason to ever go back. When their sale adds came in the paper I looked through them but still found their sale prices higher than every other place I could buy it. they will not be missed
Most of the time workers are rude about anything you ask them. Then they want a good recommendation. Prices used to be higher than local gun stores. This should not be, the purchasing power of Gander, they should have the lowest prices. God forbid if you take a firearm into there store. Within minutes associates will be screaming at you to see if gun is unloaded. I hate this chain so much I opened my own sporting goods store in Pa.
Gander mountain is a great store in my area and they have been a good and fair retailer ever since their store opened. I purchased a kayak from them at an already good price which they further reduced through their price matching policy. I bought a very good, collectible, High Standard tournament pistol from that at a very favorable price. When I took their firearms licensing course in their store, not only did I get a veterans discount, but also a senior citizen discount which, all told, set my price for 50% off their already competitive price. I have purchased a great deal of fishing tackle, archery supplies, clothing and other supplies from them with always excellent service and their return policy is second to none. They are the victim of an ever-increasing, hostile business climate with rising rents, insurance costs, taxes, utilities, etc., which is smithering retailers and other business all across the country.
GO PACKING GM. When you guys caved to the ANTI 2A cry babies of the Milwaukee area by CANCELLING the NRA
meeting last minute was enough for me to take my business ELSE WHERE ( Spent nearly $8k since, and drive TWICE the distant for a CABELA’S #1 ). Maybe all the non-outdoor, anti gun groups that you so fondly responded to while turning your backs on your PAYING NRA gun patrons can carry your ANTI gun asses…. Try growing a back bone and SUPPORT the 2A, outdoor, hunting/shooting types — the very group that SUPPORTED your company, and see what happens…. Or just GO AWAY with your weak and feeble minded ANTI AMERICAN POLITICS ! ! ! ! I bet nobody in your group is even paying attention to all this INVALUABLE BUSINESS CORE feed back….. CRICKETS ! ! ! !
I have had a Gander Mt. store credit card for almost a year now, and it can’t be used for online purchases. This, I would think has lost them a lost of sales, for the people not living close to a store. Thanks. Gary…
I agree with several of the other responders. The staff at my local GM were rude and not knowledgeable. I went to GM several times to purchase a pistol and couldn’t get waited on. Prices were high on everything. As a veteran, one of the cashiers gave me a 10% discount on a shirt. My next visit I was told headquarters sent out a memo that veterans get no discount.
Gander mountain is a great store in my area and they have been a good and fair retailer ever since their store opened. I purchased a kayak from them at an already good price which they further reduced through their price matching policy. I bought a very good, collectible, High Standard tournament pistol from that at a very favorable price. When I took their firearms licensing course in their store, not only did I get a veterans discount, but also a senior citizen discount which, all told, set my price for 50% off their already competitive price. I have purchased a great deal of fishing tackle, archery supplies, clothing and other supplies from them with always excellent service and their return policy is second to none. They are the victim of an ever-increasing, hostile business climate with rising rents, insurance costs, taxes, utilities, etc., which is smithering retailers and other business all across the country.
Gander is a poorly run operation with high prices and zero customer service. From the time the store nearest us opened, it reminded me of the foolish people I’ve met that say ” I am going to open my own business so I don’t have to work so hard”
Ha ha. Only problem with the Gander example is that they were doing it with OPM= other people’s money.
Yes, GM listed gun prices were ridiculous, but many people didn’t know they price match!! Still a terrible way to grab market share. Luckily the GM isn’t closing by me & I’ll keep buying guns from them.
Okay…let me see if I have this right: By “price matching” you mean they will TRY to rip you off, and if you catch them at it, they will grudging sell you something for market value? Wow, what an amazing policy, hard to believe they would be bankrupt with forward thinking customer focused policies like that!
YEa!~!!! ….. What he said!
The staff are rude. As a woman gun buyer I can tell you that I only bought one from them and I would never go back. Cabelas sales people were far more friendly and supportive. Using a gun is hard for a newbie and doubly hard for women – it’s intimidating and frankly they were jerks.
I agree. My last trip to GM was my last. After finding the wanted product, without even an offer to help from the staff, I stood alone at the check-out counter located at the gun showcase. This was worse than any Dr.’s office. At least there, they will acknowledge your presence. Anyway, I waited approx. 10 minutes and still no help. It turned into a timing game for me. I wanted to see just how long before one of the staff approached me. I could see these clowns walking around, talking to each other, oblivious to their surroundings. Finally, I returned the items to the shelf and left the store never to return.
After reading some of these reports, I guess each lost customer has it’s effect eventually.
Gee I wonder if the reason they werent profitable is their prices. I went to a Gander Mtn not long ago, killing some time while a friends wife shopped somewhere else. They had USED glocks for the price of NEW ones anywhere else. The place was nearly deserted, while all the other stores nearby were packed. What kind of idiot pays an extra $100 for a gun because Gander Mtn has it?
Yea….their ‘going out of business’ sale prices will be competitive…..maybe
We have a store local. When it first opened I went and looked to see some of their products. One of the first things I seen was a used shotgun with a price around $1100.00. No thank you. We have a local gun store and I’ll deal with them. This was before we got a Bass Pro near by.
This saddens me, because i really like the beautiful stores and some that have the Wild Game restaurants. One possible problem i think, is that Gander Mountain found cheap properties in various towns, like St Augustine and West Palm Beach, and built these magnificent stores in areas that violate the first rule of marketing; “Location”. In both cases, these multimillion dollar properties are hidden behind other businesses, where highway traffic and even local traffic, cannot find out where they are, or when they see them, cannot discover how to drive back into their location. i suspect many others are sadly similar. As a businessman myself for years, i have seen many young “Upstart marketing types” come into firms and convince good companies to follow disastrous stupid ideas like these store locations, and fail miserably.. Its just a shame because these two stores are staffed with amazing dedicated professionals who serve their customers well. That in itself just doesn’t overcome stupid location decisions.
Thomas, I agree 100%. I lived in Boca Raton for many years. When the Gander Mountain store opened in West Palm Beach I googled the address and checked google’s map but it was just too darn hard to figure out how to get there. Bass Pro Shops? No problemo, they were right off I-95 in plain view.
There is a store in Jacksonville (FL) that was one of the first stores to be built and opened in the massive shopping area at he corner of I 95 and Airport Rd. This location is easy to see and get to, as well as located in one of the newest and busiest shopping meccas in town. I do not know how well the store is doing, as the ONLY time I entered was while they were having their grand opening event and I experienced much of the same conditions as those listed above. Not much selection of guns and REAL hardware, poorly made “survival” equipment, REDICULOUS prices, and terrible customer service (after finally tracking down one of the associates that were aimlessly wandering around. When I was about to leave, there was an employee standing near each door asking for customer feedback. I was extremely polite, but forthcoming with my experience. The employee called for the store manager to come and talk to me about the bad experiences, but I apologized and left after waiting for 15 minutes, NEVER to return. I also have seen the same overpricing of merchandise on their website. It seems like this is the norm since mid 2007.
Their prices were insane because of their poor management practices. Ive known several people that have worked there, including my gf. She came from working retail in California, to working at a Gander in Indiana. So she had ALOT of ‘security’ related experience, and had seen all the latest ‘ripoff’ and shoplifting tricks.
She said the store was getting robbed blind EVERYDAY. And NO ONE would do anything about it. The cameras in EVERY STORE are in the exact same place, looking at the same locations. And somehow, the crooks know it. She called other stores, and they had the same problems, in the same part of the store. Crooks going behind a blind spot, removing tags from clothes etc and leaving with them. She begged management to review the cameras and they wouldnt. Literally pleaded with them.
There was even one guy who came in (empty handed) grabbed a generator and took it to the returns counter. He said, “i would like to return this”. They said “sorry, you cant return it without a receipt”. He said ‘ok’ and strolled out the door with a new FREE generator. Im told someone did that with ammo as well at the other nearby location.
Its a complete joke corporate wide. A ‘security consulting firm’ could make a fortune with these dingbats.
Very good points. It’s likely that management has yet come to terms with the degradation of our society. Your gf from Cal would have been exposed to it in a major way. I lived in Cal in the early 90’s. One of the most corrupt states, if not the most, in the U.S. Even “normal” businesses were more than willing to cheat if they could. Much of the population, at least in South Cal, are more than willing to steal or cheat if they can. Likely partly because their government is totally and completely corrupt. The state is similar to a 3rd world country. Very beautiful place, so that’s unfortunate. Like anywhere, there are some great folks and even some good businesses, but they were the exception and not the rule. Now send me your hate mail, but if you live, or lived there, and you are honest about it, you will agree!
They weren’t able to capitalize on gun sales because their prices are ridiculous. A $499 Glock at Academy is $599 at Gander. 9mm ammo is .20-.25 cents/rnd anyplace you look online yet Gander wants .30 cents/rnd. They’re sky high on everything. It’s not rocket science. Have they never heard of benchmarking?
Could GM management not see that their prices were not competitive for so many years? I don’t see how they survived this long. Cabela’s (sold to Bass Pro?) as well. . .although Cabela’s had better values. Somebody made a pile of money 2012-2016 and then ran it further into the ground looks like? Bass Pro and Sportsman’s Guide have better bang for the buck. But United Parcel Service continued to rape, plunder and pillage – never impressed with them anyway. You’d think they’d have taken lessons from Sportsman’s Guide which seems to be thriving. Sure seems that the days of boutique outdoor equipment are pretty much over
I won’t go on a tirade but was a member of Sportsman’s Guide for a few years and without going into it, they have issues. Same with Bass Pro. The good thing about Bass Pro is they have some really nice stores. Cabela’s had them all beat for years but since going to Bass Pro, they have issues too. I know you would like specifics but I don’t feel like writing a novel. If you are happy with them, by all means, shop with them. I’ve pretty much limited my purchases to small operations. And as for Cheaper than Dirt, what a bunch of %&^$&%!
Their prices were sky high and a large portion of the merchandise is not price marked! Ask someone for help, and they either can’t find the price or take forever. These stores are chaos. First thing, the need to get competitive on their pricing.
Adjusting their profit margin might have kept them out of trouble, everything was sky high…
You’ve got to be able to compete online. Their shipping rates were outrageous. People will go for the best deal.