Dick's Policy on Hand Guns,

[Axman]

The chain SG stores are really not my favorite for shooting supplies. The local Big 5 here has a glass case filled with Airsoft guns and they keep them locked up like they are real guns. The rifle/shotgun selection isn't much either as they only have about 24 of these long guns to choose from. If I do buy one it would be one of the few milsurps that they carry.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

...it's for the better that they stick to tennis rackets.

Actually, Dick's doesn't know anything about tennis raquets, either. It's hard to find anything they sell that they actually know something about.

I must not be the only person in my area who feels that way. The local Dick's lasted about two years, then cancelled their lease and closed the store.

 

[mike101]

"Actually, Dick's doesn't know anything about tennis raquets, either. It's hard to find anything they sell that they actually know something about"

Exactly. Dick's and Wally World are department stores who have no expert advice to offer about anything they carry. They don't want your gun related business, either, so don't give it to them. Dept. stores are for clothing and appliances.

Rules that I live by; If you want a stereo, go to an audio shop. If you want a bicycle, go to a bike shop (you don't want one that was put together by a Dick'soid, anyway). If you want a gun, or ammo, or accessories, go to a gun shop. Try to buy from knowledgable people in the first place, and you'll have fewer problems down the road.

 

[Fn-P9]

I am gonna say something good. The Sportsman's warehouse (aka Cabelas, we don't have Cabelas here and you may not know of sportsmans warehouse) is very gun friendly. They sell all makes and models of handguns and long-arms. All the ammo, even wolf 7.62X39 for $5 a box of 20. I shop there all the time. They even sell EBR's. Go find one and ignore DICK's. Ignore walmart. Its nice to be able to talk to someone about a defensive load and they say they prefer the Speer Gold dots over the next X brand. My .02 $

 

[dfaugh]

do not believe what the salesman stated is the true reason why Dicks does not sell handguns.

Yup...Dick's didn't ever sell hand guns here but Galyans did...UNTIL Dick's took over. Was told by Galyans employee (right after all their handguns "dissappeared" overnight, when Dicks tookover) That this was because Dick's had run afoul with the Feds, and couldn't sell handguns. Once they took over Galyans, they couldn't sell them either. Kinda too bad, as my buddy actually got a couple good deals on used handguns there.

 

[TexasRifleman]

That this was because Dick's had run afoul with the Feds, and couldn't sell handguns.

Might be true but I doubt it. FFLs don't state whether rifles or handguns can be sold specifically.

If they were in trouble they would lose the whole FFL.

I'm sure its store policy since they pulled them as soon as they bought Galyans in those stores.

The one next to me won't be around much longer anyway, Academy is doing it's best to put them out of business, and I'm helping with that

 

[waynedm]

We've established that Dick's and Wal*Mart blow.

How about we figure out what major stores [are] good?

Is Gander Mountain good? Scheel's? Sportsman's Warehouse? Cabela's? Anybody have good or bad stories about your major retailers and firearms?

 

[Daemon688]

Cabelas and Gander Mountain are the only two "big name" stores I'll buy from. Otherwise all my firearm sales have been through real gun stores.

 

[TexasRifleman]

I have had no complaints (other than price) at Cabelas, Academy, or Gander.

All friendly people and nice inventory.

Pricing is of course close to MSRP but I guess that's to be expected in stores like this.

 

[repo]

I went to a Gander Mountain once in PA, it was a nice store. They had alot of handguns and HD-type shotguns, black rifles, as well as the hunting stuff. Also had crates of ammo lying around.

I go to the Cabela's in KC sometimes and it used to be pretty good, they had racks of used rifles you could walk up and fondle at your lesuire, M1As, AKs, AR-10, AR-15, Robinson M96, SKS, mini14, ARs. The last time I went they only had shotguns and their ammo selection seemed to have shrunk. Maybe it's a seasonal thing. It's still a cool store to browse sometimes.

They opened a Bass Pro in KC recently but I haven't checked it out.

Really the best gun store is probably the internet.

 

[dfaugh]

Might be true but I doubt it. FFLs don't state whether rifles or handguns can be sold specifically.

I didn't think so either, just relaying what I was told, but pehaps there's lots more to the story than we know.......

 

[GJRugby]

We have 2 Wal-Marts where I live. They both carry long guns and all ammo. I live very close (one mile) to a Farm & Fleet (Big R, Tractor Farm Supply, etc.) and they have ammo only. Up until a year ago, if you wanted anything other than shotgun stuff you had to get the salesperson to get into the case on the wall, since they were all locked up. Well, times here have changed. Now everything is just sitting in the open, right there on the shelves for anyone to grab. I walk right into the store, grab my ammo, and never even have to talk to anyone, except the cashier (I don't recall them asking for a FOID either). I know that when the ammo was locked up, the salesperson would ask to see my FOID before even opening the case. Good idea.

I like my guns/freedom (I don't hunt and there is no indoor range nearby), but I do think they might be getting a little TOO relaxed. But, for me, I like not having to go find someone to get something I need. But the same goes for the "knowledge" of the salesperson...they just carried the key to the case.

As for Galyans/Dicks, I used to go there in Indy all the time, but the theme has changed a lot since Dick took over (hahaha).

Oh yeah, Farm & Fleet does sell all the air-gun crap, and right across the street is a small paintball "boutique" that also sells bongs and "tabacco" stuff...with a paintball course in its backyard. Good idea...let's go get hi and shoot each other!

Stupid!
George

 

[Master Blaster]

I only buy shotgun shells when they are on a loss leader sale, or occaisionally other convenience items at Dicks like a bore brush, and only when there is no other alternative.

I dont really care why Dicks doesnt sell handguns, and if they did it would be models I'm not interested in at high prices.
Dicks is in business to make money and can do whatever they like in their stores.

 

[Robert J McElwain]

Speaking of gun prices.

If I go into my local gun store to buy a gun, and tell them I've seen that particular gun on the internet for such and such a price, they'll go a darned good job of matching that price. That wouldn't happen at Cabela's, Bass Pro Shop or most of the others.

Bob

 

[SteveS]

Three years ago, looking to purchase myself a Remington 870 I went to Dick's, lured by their ad. This particular Dick's had been a Galyon's (sp?) only one weekend earlier, and I did not register the name change until I was leaving... a good deal later.

Thain, is this the one in Okemos? Not that Galyans was perfect, but they were sure better than Dicks.

 

[FieroCDSP]

I work for an "X"-mart, whose name shall not be spouted from my keys for employment reasons. I can say that if I wasn't a shooter, there wouldn't be anyone there that knows squat about guns, ammo, or hunting (not that I know much about hunting either. The company has recently started a program the makes us do work-books and product familiarity on seasonal merchandise. For some reason they consider guns summer seasonal (probably the same reason the only bows we get in are junior bows, and those only during fall hunting season, instead of summer camp season.) Anyway, Said workbook had nothing about specific arms that we carry (items same throughout region), but only the functional difference between bolt/pump/and semi-auto actions, and that 410 shotguns are considered youth guns. I didn't even read the brochure, but went straight to the test in the back, and despite two things that were entirely wrong, I aced it (anyone on here could).
Retail employees aren't entirely stupid by choice. I'm sure Dicks, Walmart and others give little or no real knowledge to the people behind the counter. If you have a bad experience at a store, let them know what and why. Most stores have a corporate direct complaint service. You may have to leave a voice-mail type complaint, but they do actually listen to them. Whether they act on them depends on what it is and how many complaints warrant policy revision. If something is bad for business, they'll usually act. The sheer number of people forced to buy their ammo at walmart, I'm sure they'll at least be able to figure out there's a problem if y'all complain.

 

[Thain]

SteveS: Novi/Wixom