Big Box Sporting Goods Stores

[Hangingrock]

I was in Cary NC recently and visited one of the (Big Box Sporting Goods Stores) Field&Stream. The inventories were the equivalent of A to Z hunting, firearms, archery, paddling, fishing, camping, and etcetera-etcetera.

For those that reside in the Greensboro, NC area I was told that Field&Stream is going to open a store there also.

Realizing there are other venues such as examples Cabela’s, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shops and etcetera. These “Super Stores” for the lack of a better terminology are redefining the market place in regards to “Gun Stores”. It’s a business transformation that’s going to squeeze out of the market place small venues that we or I should say I’ve been use to in my life time.

Just commentary on my part of the changing face of things.

 

[Robert]

We have a Bass Pro here in Colorado Springs now. It has a great fish tank...

The Cabela's in Denver (Lone Tree) has a great one too...

Honestly I bought my last rifle from Sportsman's Warehouse because they are the ones that didn't try to sell me anything other than what I wanted and offered to order it for me before I could even ask.

We are home to one of the biggest private gun stores this side of the Mississippi but their prices are higher than everyone in town and some of the staff is well, gun store staff... great selection though.

 

[herrwalther]

I don't think buying from a Big Box sports store will drive out many of the smaller places. In two opposite directions, about equal distance apart is an Academy and a Bass Pro. One of the three local Wal-Marts also sell firearms as well. All of these big box stores in my area sell firearms at MSRP or just under. I will never pay full retail price for a firearm, it is absurd. Now I have found great deals at small hole in the wall stores and those are the stores I will shop at. Just because I can get a firearm and a new bow at the same store does not outweigh paying sometimes half of the retail cost for just a firearm.

 

[oneounceload]

Big box stores will carry mass merchandise that moves, in my area, that means your basic black plastic pistols and shotguns, some used guns priced as high as new and a few rifles. Their accessories are more expensive than amazon, their staff is usually clueless, etc.....

Local stores, if YOU support them, can carry odd/specialty items, do custom orders without major issues, and will usually work with you on certain items....

 

[MedWheeler]

We have a Bass Pro and three Wal-Mart stores in my city (one of the WMs does not sell firearms, but does sell some accessories and ammo.)

We also have a showroom-style gun store with attached range. Most of my handgun purchases, and two used rimfire rifles, have come from there.

The BPS does not sell used guns, nor takes them in trade. Their new guns are only close to reasonably-priced when there is both a sale and a rebate applicable at the time of purchase. I do, however, buy ammo there.

Fifty miles south of me is a Gander Mountain. Like BPS, they can have an occasional deal when a sale it going on. Such was the case last week when I happened in there. I'd been looking for a basic 12-gauge pump shotgun, and the HRR Pardner Protector was on sale for I think $179, which is about what it would have gone for at WM had WM carried it (they only carry the 28-inch version, not the Protector.) I walked out with it.

LGS's abound in this area, and most are doing well. The stores mentioned above impact each other more than they seem to impact any of them.

 

[Kaeto]

Field and Stream is owned by Dick's Sporting Goods. With what Dick's pulled just after Newtown I wouldn't shop there.

 

[Hangingrock]

Kaeto

Field and Stream is owned by Dick's Sporting Goods.

I am not endorsing Dick's Sporting Goods but simply pointing out the expansion of such venues and the changing market place.

 

[oneounceload]

I have a Dick's where I live that opened a few years before that "incident". During that time, they had plenty of guns and ammo - especially Remington Gun Clubs - which went on sale every three weeks. Afterwards, everything disappeared. Even as last as a few months ago, they were limiting shotgun target ammo to 6 boxes (when they come in flats of 10) and their sale prices were higher than online with shipping. Even Gander beats them. They also used to have great sales on golf gloves which I use year-round for shooting. That stopped as well, so therefore did my patronage.

 

[steveno]

within 50 miles of Minden there is Cabela's in Kearney , one other gun shop in Kearney , one gun shop in Grand Island and Dunham's in Hastings. Dunham's is a total waste of time so after that the closest is Scheel's in Lincoln. except for Dunham's there isn't anything wrong with the rest of them. just not a lot of choices

 

[md2lgyk]

There's a big box (Gander Mountain) not far from me. The only positive thing I can say is they have a much larger inventory and selection of ammo than any of the five local gun stores around here. They also have a lot of guns, but most seem to be priced at full retail or even higher. And the one time I talked to a salesperson about a particular pistol I was interested in, he didn't seem very knowledgeable. I don't think the LGSs have anything to worry about.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Funny, I've had great luck at my local Gander. I only get good deals and I probably stop in and window shop 5x as often as I actually purchase, but Gander has been very good to me. I always stop at my LGS and try to give them business first but they usually cannot match what I can get at Gander. YMM obviously V's.

 

[PJSprog]

In the St. Louis area, we have a Bass Pro Shop that's been here quite awhile now, a Cabela's that's also been around a few years now, and a couple of newer Gander Mtn stores. I believe there's a Dick's in South STL County, but I've never been there. The newest GM just opened not too far from me in Southern Illinois. As gun and ammo prices go, I'm seriously unimpressed with all of them. They all have the occasional good sale, but their regular prices are just too high.

Example: The S&W 637 has an MSRP of $469. Gander has it for $449. I bought one Saturday at my LGS (Precision Outfitters in Highland, IL - formerly The Gun Shoppe) for his everyday price of $379.

Sure, the big guys have tons of inventory. But, at those prices, they can keep it.

 

[jlr1962]

In DFW, Gander and Bass Pro will price match any local advertised price on guns and ammo. Cabelas is rigid with their pricing, but are competitive, and they have a great selection. Academy usually has the lowest advertised prices. Dicks prices are not bad either. Dicks does not advertise that they sell guns at their Stonebriar Mall location, . The LGS folks have to be competitive to stay in the game. Competition is a good thing for the consumer.

 

[ohioshooter]

For most of the reasons people are saying above (Gander, Cabela's, Bass Pro etc) they are the reason that the mom and pop shops will stay around. They are the only ones getting and selling used guns. Plus, most mom and pop shops can sell below retail because they don't have a 25,0000 sq ft building to pay for.

 

[SSN Vet]

All but two of the firearms I've purchased in the last 9 years have been on-line buys with local FFL transfers. (One local purchase was made when they gave me a reasonable trade. The other was a second hand rifle off the racks.)

So you could say that the internet is killing the small guys, BUT... all of the online purchases I've made were from gun shops in other locations that sold on-line... (none from Buds or big name outfits).

Cabelas is too expensive and Dick's has really uninteresting inventory.

The internet simply makes the "local" market, much larger and increases competitive pressure.

 

[jlr1962]

All but two of the firearms I've purchased in the last 9 years have been on-line buys with local FFL transfers. (One local purchase was made when they gave me a reasonable trade. The other was a second hand rifle off the racks.)

So you could say that the internet is killing the small guys, BUT... all of the online purchases I've made were from gun shops in other locations that sold on-line... (none from Buds or big name outfits).

Cabelas is too expensive and Dick's has really uninteresting inventory.

The internet simply makes the "local" market, much larger and increases competitive pressure.

I have had such bad luck with my online purchases. I wind up with defective, damaged, or misrepresented stuff. The hassle or returning stuff purchased online has left a bad taste in my mouth.

Gun parts and accessories have been the only items that have not been dramatic adventures.

I have never purchased a gun online. Maybe some day.

 

[TomJ]

I've been in a number of the big box stores, and without exception I've yet to come across one of their employees who are more knowledgable than me. I'm not saying that they're not out there, only that I haven't met them yet. Given that I consider myself a novice, that doesn't speak well of their level of knowledge. The level of knowledge at my LGS's is at the opposite end of the spectrum, as they know what they're talking about. My choices have been to pay more at a big box store and deal with employees who generally try hard, but are not knowledgable or go to a smaller LGS, get good advice and pay less. I understand that this is anecdotal and based on one person's experience, but I think a well run LGS will compete well against the big guys.

 

[HankB]

I've bought guns from places like Sportsman's Warehouse and Cabela's, due to better selection and price. (Caveat: At places like Cabela's, you have to combine sales with coupons and Cabela's points to get that good deal. And Cabela's is sending out far fewer coupons of late.) Service quality varies by clerk, but I've never had a really bad experience.

And I've found that some local gun shops I've entered are run by dishonest and obnoxious swindlers who SHOULD go out of business.

 

[Wes Mantooth]

Within 20 miles of Wichita, there's a Cabela's, Gander Mountain, Academy, Wal Marts and even Ace Hardware. You would think with that much competition they would try to out do each other. Not so much. I stick to pawn shops and one small private shop that out do them all. I've never bought a firearm from big box stores, probably won't.

 

[jmr40]

I live about 1/2 way between Chattanooga and Atlanta, within about an hour of 2 Cabelas, a Gander MT, 3 Academy Sports, a Dicks Sproting Goods and a Sportsmans Warehouse. As well as at least 1/2 dozen Walmarts. The closest Bass Pro is about 2-3 hours away, but I get in one occasionally traveling.

Walmart has decent prices if they have what you want, but are hard to deal with. I've never bought from Academy, but they seem fair on their prices with a better selection than Walmart.

Never seen any deals on new or used guns at Cabelas, Gander MT or Bass Pro. Of the big box stores Sportsmans Warehouse is my favorite. Fair prices on guns, people who know their stuff and good quality clothing and other hunting gear at fair prices. I sometimes buy clothing and gear from the others, but never guns. I think Sportsmans Warehouse is primarily a Western company with only 1-2 stores east of the Mississippi. Good people in my opinion.

They don't sell guns, but REI is another big box store I'll give a thumbs up to. Hunting, at least for me involves long walks in rugged country and a real need for hiking gear and clothing. The closest REI store has been great on advice from knowledgeable people and selling great gear at fair prices. Nothing in camo, but brown and green are close enough.

One of my favorite gun shops is family owned and with a selection that makes all of big box stores seem puny. They usually have very reasonable prices and a huge selection of used guns at fair prices. Adventure Outdoors is in Smyrna, a northern suburb of Atlanta and claim 10,000 firearms in inventory. Seem like more than that.

http://www.adventureoutdoors.us/

 

[Bigdog57]

Our local first such store was "Sportsman's Warehouse". Prices a tad high but they had EVERYTHING I could ever want or need. Unfortunately they expanded too far and too quickly, and closed in less than a year. But it was long enough that I was able to make a major jumpstart to my handloading and prepping hobbys. I was able to stock up on brass, bullets, powder and primers just before the 2008 Immaculate Deception. Had I not done that, I would not have been able to shoot for two to three years.
Later, we saw Bass Pro, Academy Sports and Dicks come to town. Not as good as the old lamented SW (no handloading stuff) but they do have a good selection of other "Men's Toys" that I like. Unfortunately they are all on the far side of town and it means an hour and a half trip going and coming. But it beats waiting days or weeks for the BBT.
Wish we would get a Cabelas here, I keep their online orders hopping!

 

[Sunray]

"...other venues such as..." Wal-Mart.
"...Gander has it for $449..." Because they buy by the train load. No small shop can compete price wise, but no big box shop can compete with small shops for service.
The big guys pay untrained clerks(mostly part time teenagers and housewives.) minimum wage, no benefits or job security to fill shelves.

 

[antiquus]

Two great stores in Michigan. One is Guns Galore in Fenton, they wheel and deal, lots of used guns to look at, some real bargains. The other is Williams Gun Sight near Flint. Gun range on property, something like 3000 rifles and 500 pistols in stock, plus everything else. They have powder when no one else does, and never gouged anyone during the last few years 'emergencies'.

 

[usfan]

I haven't bought a firearm from a store in years. Too much trouble, prices too high, taxes.. no upside. I get them from onlines stores.. buds, sportsman superstore, grabagun, etc, & they ship fast, price low, & i get it at the ffl for a small xfer charge, which is less than taxes.

But then, a lot of my shopping is going that way. Amazon, newegg, ebay.. don't need to go to the store much for things, except groceries.

 

[PJSprog]

"...other venues such as..." Wal-Mart.
"...Gander has it for $449..." Because they buy by the train load. No small shop can compete price wise, but no big box shop can compete with small shops for service.
The big guys pay untrained clerks(mostly part time teenagers and housewives.) minimum wage, no benefits or job security to fill shelves.

You missed the rest of that statement, Sunray. Gander has it for $20 under MSRP. I bought it from my LGS for $379 - his everyday price was $70 lower than Gander.

If their business model is to buy by the trainloads and pay cheap labor, that savings is certainly not translating into lower prices on their products. Not from what I've seen, anyway.