Rediculous Mark-Up at Gander Mountain

[heavypat12]

I am just wondering, if there is a store representative here please speak up, why does Gander Mountain Mark their CZ's up so high? 
I am trying to order a Polycoat 97B and seeing as I do a lot of business at Gander I figured I would ask what their price was to order one.  After a brief session of browsing the associate came back and told me $899.99!!!!!!!
Which thanks to this forum and amateur searching I knew was rediculous. I mentioned that I could find one for just under 600 and he said yea our price that we pay for it is $564.something.  Then on top of that the transfer price to send the gun there would be $75 dollars.  Unless somebody tells me differently looks like I'll stay away. 

[Dashpot10]

Gander Mountain's prices for both handguns and ammunition  here in the Denver area are usually much higher than several small local gun shops. My advice is simply to take your business elsewhere locally or order online and have the gun shipped to your LGS.

Chris

[larryflew]

Goose Hill here is ridiculous also and the biggest gun store in the midwest. Whole top floor is guns in this one.

[JimThornTX]

Yep, Gander Mountain is higher on guns and ammo than other stores. Luckily we have an Academy here as well. 

[bozwell]

It's funny because typically you think that the larger volume stores could get by on slimmer margins and price out the competition.  On the other hand, when it comes to guns and ammo, it seems to be the opposite scenario.  My best guess is they don't price them lower because they can get away with their current prices.  I think they get a lot of less sophisticated customers in there who may not know what the price is online and how to go about getting it transferred to a local FFL (or which local FFL to use).  I've stopped going there altogether, unless I really need something small and don't want to wait on Midway/amazon to ship it to me.

[armed hiker]

Simple in my eyes

I do a little retail with my business (non-gun related) and quite often see these price swings. Sometimes a large retailer will buy in enough volume to buy at a lower price. Often times when they do they will work on the same percentage for profits and that's when you see a "deal".
Other times it may be when a retailer is selling a item at or even below cost just to get people in the door in hopes of selling you lots of other items to make up the lost revenues( ammo,holsters,spare mags ...etc).

This all can go out the window for a couple of reasons.
The retailer does not buy enough of the product to get a good percentage and is not willing to sell below a certain percentage.
The retailer is large enough they really don't care that you will but elsewhere as they will still probably get your business for extras they make more money on.

The Internet is a mixed blessing in that now most retail is a world market and not just your locals competing. Sure we all like to get deals (self included) but , now think of the competition for selling at  those low prices. A similar scenario would be someone across the country posting up that they are willing to do your job for less money, the only way to compete is either earn less or change how you earn your money. This gives rise to internet only retailers that are no more than warehouses with a phone bank, Hard to compete with a brick and mortar.

It is not all bad though, The distributors have plenty of power to control prices and as long as they keep your local gun store in mind there will always be room for someone to run a small gun shop. They just need to focus on things the internet cannot do (face to face sales, knowing the customers, transfers).

As long as we can keep the little guys going it is in our best interest to throw them a bone every so often .They should be returning the favor once in a while. Big retail chains (Cabelas and gander) are less likely to do so for a couple reasons.
1. they don't need to do to size
2. Corporate policy's may not allow a store the flexibility to do so.

[bang bang]

you are still free to buy from whom you choose.  its their business and they can do whatever they please. 

if you dont like their prices or CS or whatever, let  your $$$ talk while you walk.

My LGS makes $$$ on accessories not guns.  there are FFL holders that will bring in a gun for cost+%.    however, those small FFL holders cant compete in price when it comes to volume or large buy programs.  iirc, SIg, Kiimber and some others will give you price break/free shipping or whatever if  you spend $$$ (thousdands) or buy so many guns/year.  one of our largest gun shops buys that way. he has a large inventory of most name mfg, but you will see over time his stock drop down to a few guns, then a few weeks later, its busting over with stock.  if you want it , buy it when he has it, if not wait till the next shipment.  this goes for CZs too.

[RIGHTWING CZ]

I can not speak for the rest of the country and yes I know I'm free to spend My money else where and I exercise that right frequently it bears noting the Gander Mountain in My area is out of line on everything firearm related and not any particular brand. When I can purchase a can of Gun Scrubber from any of the 7 other smaller local gun stores for 9.00 and Gander Mountain is 14.00 I'd say the mark up is far to high and not competetive at all. I think the truth is they rely on the ignorance of the shopper and that most people beleive they get a better deal from a box store. That's just My opinion.
That being said I do know that the Gander here will price match on firearms and other non accessory items if the stated lower price is verifiable but it's up to the customer to speak up. You woudn't pay sticker price for a new car would you???

[ferd45]

I'm with JimThorn--go to Gander Mountain (or Cabela's for that matter), take a gander at their merchandise, then go to Academy and get it cheaper.

[armed hiker]

Being big is not always going to make things cheaper.
A few years back my largest supplier (largest in USA) was selling battery's for 1/3 more than a little local distributor.
I buy based on where I can get the best price so I can be price competitive with the big guys, I do not buy exclusively from one supplier, are there times I am high on a product? You bet!

Once when I worked retail we would price shop the competition monthly, you could not keep up with the changes.  there are also times that you buy based more on service than outright price. I would say if the little guy is beating the box store on price , support the little guy rather than help the box store drive the little guy out of businesses. I must say it frustrates me some times when a customer comes in with parts from a internet supplier and I sell the parts for less than he paid. Often we are trained that the box stores or the internet are going to be best when it is not always the case.

[bozwell]

Realistically, I suspect GM could sell things cheaper than a lot of local shops if they were so inclined.  However, I think they made a business decision that they will be better off selling fewer firearms at a much higher margin.  Frankly, it doesn't affect me much other than to occasionally blow my mind when I see what they're asking for stuff ($16/50 rounds of 9mm, vs. $10-12 at Wally World for the same ammo).  I would love to have a place like GM that competitively priced their merchandise and carried a great selection of firearms and firearm-related goods, but oh well.  These days, I order almost everything online (I'm an Amazon Prime victim  ) and I only check the local stores as a last resort.

[larryflew]

Since ours is so big I do occasionally go in there and drool on their display cases for awhile.

[miataeric1]

Pat,

Stinks to hear that the local Gander Mtn is trying to gouge you so much. If you can't find a LGS that will get you one for a better price, I would suggest Damascus Gun Shop: https://www.damascusgunshop.com/shop/pistols/cz-97.html

-OR-

CZCustom:
http://czcustom.com/CZ-97B-PolyCoat-45ACP.aspx

I have bought both my 75B and PCR from Damascus and they're a good bunch of guys, family run business. You can't go wrong with either of the two choices as you'll find people all over these forums that have have had very positive dealings with both, as well as about the cheapest prices you'll find online AND free shipping, no taxes, etc.
Good luck on your search. I've just gotta pay Schmecky for the rest of the work he's doing on the 97B I'm getting from him, and I can't wait to get my hands on it and get some lead down range!

[armed hiker]

Wow I was just about to defend Gander when I checked MSRP on the 97b from CZ-USA $686.00.... really? over $200 above MSRP?

With a price like that my first thought is it is a mistake....... $200??  come on. We are talking about above Manufacturers suggested retail price, but $200? If they stick by the price I would send The CEO a letter explaining that the mark up is an insult to us all.

[heavypat12]

I am in the process of developing a spreadsheet with competitors prices to send off to gander. 
Any info that you guys think should be added please provide!