buying from gander mountain

[wtnhunt]

The rifle I am wanting to buy is available at gander mountain, supposedly gun purchases from them are supposed to be better for some various reasons they advertise. Think I read that they give you a trigger lock(think every gun I have bought in recent years have come with trigger locks from the factory), they offer extended service, a free cleaning, and they are supposed to have competitve pricing. Not sure if I missed anything else or not, but their price for the rifle I am looking at is about $150 more than what I can buy the gun for online with the shipping. I would have to pay $20 for the ffl transfer buying online and the rifle would be backordered in directly from browning, but there is state sales tax here that would come to around $115-120 on the gun.

Thinking even with the services offered from gander mountain that it may not be the smartest idea to pay around $250 more than what I can get the gun from elsewhere, unless the services are really worth it. I may have to wait a little longer, but I am fairly patient.

I am really kind of turned off of gander mountain in the first place too, but am willing to consider them. Guess I am kind of curious about deals from gander mountain, anyone here dealt with buying from them, how the after sale services really are, and is it worth the extra you pay?

[toddyboman]

never been to a gander mountain....but if you are a patient person and can buy it else where cheaper.....I think I would buy it else where cheaper.....

As for the "benefits" of buying it from gander mountain....
trigger lock....Most guns come with one.
Cleaning.......Are you really going to take your gun to them each time you need it cleaned???
Extended Service......what exactly does that entail....and does it cost extra...

Good luck.

[bluelund79]

I have bought my last 11 firearms from my local Gander Mtn. I have never had any problems dealing with them. When I got my Tikka, they had it shipped from the store in PA whre it was at, and even honored their clearance price from there. I haven't had to use them for any service yet, but their gunsmith seems pretty proficient and the counter guys are top notch. I don't see how you are going to pay that much more for a firearm, but I have also seen the difference between stores. There are 2 by my parents house that I refuse to go to. If there is that much more of a price difference, then wait. But talk to the counter guys and see if they do a reasonable price match. The extras they incude are a lock, gun sock, extra warranty, and a cleaning. I clean my own guns...So its nice, but not needed. Good luck in your search.

[wtnhunt]

But talk to the counter guys and see if they do a reasonable price match. The extras they incude are a lock, gun sock, extra warranty, and a cleaning. I clean my own guns...So its nice, but not needed. Good luck in your search.

Yeah, I have always cleaned my own too, really not a plus there with what gas is at to drive 30 minutes away. I do wonder about the extra warranty though has anyone really needed it?

I will print off some stuff from the internet on pricing and availability before I get back over there and ask the counter guys point blank what the best deal they can do is. Like I said, sales tax here will add up quick at around 10%. Guess if they cannot get reasonably close I will order and have it shipped to the same ffl that I had my last rifle go to. There are a couple reputable online dealers who show they can get the gun around $125-$150 less than the tag they had on it at gander mountain.

[snapper]

I would go the cheaper route if it were me. Your going to get the same gun and their "services" aren't something I see using anyways. If its a defect in the gun...they are going to ship it back to the manufacture just like you could. Any other work done to the gun...I personally use a private gunsmith...so I wouldn't take it them to work on anyways.

With the FFL transfer...Gander just incorporates that into the price bc they'll have to do it as well. What gets me is someone charging $20 to do the background check! I know its a going rate...but its nuts.

[Orion_70]

I was in Gander Mountain yesterday looking at rifles, the advertised prices they have are higher than I can buy online and have transferred. See if they will match the price of online plus the shipping etc. if not, then order online.
Not sure if any of your Walmarts there carry firearms, but if they do, you can special order them online and have them shipped to the store and they are some of the cheapest prices around. Just ask for the book at the counter. I've ordered several Remingtons from them and may be about to order a TC Encore.

[wtnhunt]

Not sure if any of your Walmarts there carry firearms, but if they do, you can special order them online and have them shipped to the store and they are some of the cheapest prices around. Just ask for the book at the counter. I've ordered several Remingtons from them and may be about to order a TC Encore.

Wal Mart can order some brownings, matter of fact that is where my oldest daughter's a bolt micro hunter came from, but do not think he can get the one I want. Think I may check dick's sporting goods too, they seem to have better prices on most of their stuff than gander, and they have a pretty broad range available in their special order catalog too from what I saw last time I was in there.

[BR44]

Might check into galleryofguns.com, you feed in your zip code and they show the closest dealers along with their prices so you can choose which one you would prefer. Not sure, it's been awhile since I was looking on that site, but I think they had a warranty for life on the purchased firearm.

[Michiganbowhunter_SQ2]

Not sure about other Gander Mountains, but when we were shopping for the best price for my dads muzzleloader, they were about $100 higher than bass pro, cabelas and a local shop and they said they only do the price match with stores within a certain distance of the store. So we could use the price match for the local store, but cabelas and bass pro they couldn't use. We ended up just making the trip to cabelas to get the gun. Haven't used their gun services yet. if they are anything like the archery dept. here, i don't think I'll ever use em.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks for all the replies, waiting now to hear back from a dealer I checked with online this morning.

[bowana]

Try Guns America.com. Having an FFL I have purchase and sold many a guns and have had no problems what so ever. Don't be shy and ask for references before purchasing. Always try and use a credit card to protect your purchase. Request pictures and speak with the dealer directly. Buy from a dealer and not an individual. I use to transfer to customers for $15 and $25 for people who were not existing customers. I bought some guns CHEAPER on GunsAmerica than through my own distributors....let alone retail. Remember, almost all firearms are warranted for life by the manufacturer. Warranty should not be an issue.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks again for all the replies here. Pretty sure I have got a deal worked out online and they can have me the rifle most likely by mid June. The ffl transfer is going to cost me $25, price of shipping is $19. Will still be paying a good bit less than the gander tag price with the transfer and the shipping figured in. Just got to figure out a good way to break the news to the wife that I am about to spend about half of what we got with our stimulus check on a new rifle.

[davetucker]

suppose ole mike waddel would like to hear how high his partners are and how much cheaper you can get things elsewhere!!I know he probably has nothing to do with it but 125 to 150 higher in my books is outragous and i would go elsewhere!!