Camping World Announces Acquisition of Gander Mountain and Overton Assets

[JEBar]

just to make it clear, I'm a Lifetime Member of Camping World's Good Sam program but (to put it mildly) I'm not a fan of its CEO Marcus Lemonis .... as noted in this article http://investor.campingworld.com/press- ... fault.aspx , Camping World is buying Gander Mountain and Overton .... a list of the stores they plan to keep open can be found in this link http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ ... ada37.html .... I'm happy for the jobs saved and do hope it goes well

[Dennis H]

I wish them well also. The free advice I'll give them is lower their prices. Why they're surprised no one wants to go to their store and pay double for something they can get elsewhere is beyond me.

[Henry88]

It says ALL 126 LOCATIONS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.

So are they going 100% online?

[Yornoc3]

I understand that, while Camping World bought the business, another party acquired the liquidation of the current inventory, until a certain date (May 18?). So where it goes from here is apparently a reduction in the number of stores, but Gander Mountain remains as a storefront. I wondered what they were thinking a few years ago, expanding brick and motor stores when everyone else was pushing on-line marketing, but they'd lost their catalog sales the last time the went toes up.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I've been reading some here and there on different sites, now I'm more confused than ever. In the link they list stores A to M. What happen to N to Z ??

I'd really hate to see our closest store close. But like mentioned above, I first heard they all are closing.

[daytime dave]

A couple in the upstate NY area will remain open. A couple I have gone to will be closing.

[Henry88]

There is a really good thread about this over at RFC for those that are interested and have a lot of time on their hands......

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/sh ... p?t=914546

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

Looks like my closest store may be staying open after all. Here is an updated list:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/bu ... 101453086/#

[Henry88]

Yeah, mine is closing as well............Adios..........

True story.

Was working the late shift and went into GM to buy a redfield scope that was behind the counter.

First trip > there are maybe 2 people behind the large gun case and 3 or 4 people with tickets in their hand waiting. I have my ticket as well.
The demeanor of the sales persons would be that of bandit1250 "slowly" showing you every gun in his collection while sipping fine whiskey.

I figure this is a bad night and try will again later in the week.

Second trip > read details of first trip except there is an exceptionally fine looking lady customer looking at expensive shotguns and only one sales person. The 3 or 4 people standing there with tickets could easily have been the same as first trip; not even sure they're alive.

Only my way out after 15 min the "now serving" number is unchanged as I point out to the 3 people standing by the door with nothing to do.

I also gave them my ticket and asked them to call me if it ever came up.

I ended up ordering the scope online, shipping free to store, and getting it from the 3 or 4 people up front with nothing to do.

If you ever could get help, they were condescending and naive.

BTW, there is an academy 100 yds away. I think that was the nail in their coffin.

[PT7]

Latest info from the CEO; came via email today:

On Sunday, May 28, 2017 6:22 AM, Gander Mountain <ganderdirect@email.gandermountain.com> wrote:

An Important Message to Gander Mtn. Customers from Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World & Good Sam.
We are delighted to announce that Gander Mtn. is now part of the Camping World & Good Sam family following Camping World’s successful bid for certain Gander Mtn. assets in a bankruptcy auction in April. Camping World & Good Sam is the nation’s largest network of RV-centric retail locations and the only provider of a comprehensive portfolio of services, protection plans, products, and resources for the outdoor enthusiast. At Camping World & Good Sam, we place a high value on customer satisfaction and our goal is to keep as many as 70 or more Gander Mtn. stores open following the bankruptcy liquidation process. Following the liquidation process, you’ll also see a fresh release of GanderMountain.com. By leveraging Camping World & Good Sam’s scale, operating infrastructure, and product expertise, we will be able to provide new products and services to the Gander Mtn. customer. We are very excited for the next chapter of Gander Mtn. as part of the Camping World & Good Sam family of companies.

As part of the transaction, ownership of the Gander Mtn.’s customer database is being transferred to a Camping World & Good Sam subsidiary that will operate the new business. Camping World & Good Sam will continue to abide by the existing Gander Mtn. privacy policy. In the event that there are any significant changes to the applicable privacy practices in the future, you will have an opportunity to decide whether to opt out of or accept such changes before they are implemented.

We hope you’re as excited as we are about this new adventure and we look forward to earning your business!

Marcus Lemonis,
CEO of Camping World & Good Sam.

[Dennis H]

Just in one this past week in Minnesota, still no deals....

[RetiredSeabee]

I stopped into one here that will be closing. They had selective 20 and 30 percent off on clothing. And 10 percent in the hunting, firearms accessories and such. No mark downs on ammo. Firearms were showing "Sale" prices. Not really a sale price it looked like they put on their highest MSRP tags then sale priced at 5%.
If Camping World really wants to clear out inventory they will have to run at least 30% on everything.

[Henry88]

I don't think Gander ever understood the concept of a sale, or how to run a business for that matter.

I am amazed they lasted so long...........

[JEBar]

while stranger things have happened, I don't see Camping World selling firearms or ammo .... now I can see them stocking some fishing gear

[DAVIDF]

Henry88,

I am guessing you were referring to their store in Lake Mary. I've had some of their sales guys at the gun counter showing me everything that I wasn't interested in. It was pleasant and they were very pleasant to me, but I know what you mean. You can wait forever in that store. I was there a week or so ago and bought out their supply of Red Dot powder on sale. Wanted to get some primers but they were all gone. The lady at the register said they are remaining open and will continue their range and firearm sales. Said she thought they would continue to stock reloading components as well. I hope so as no one stocks any around me at a reasonable price that I know of.

I work about two miles away so the store is very convenient, but I have never purchases any firearms from them. Only powder, primers, .22 ammunition ($2.99 per box of 50 for Blazer) and a few fishing supplies. I much prefer to give Shoot-Straight my business for buying firearms where they understand how to treat you really nice while still taking care of everyone in the store.

[DAVIDF]

while stranger things have happened, I don't see Camping World selling firearms or ammo .... now I can see them stocking some fishing gear

The stores that they keep open will be named Gander Outdoors according the lady I spoke to in the Gander Mountain in Lake Mary, FL. An article in Guns America says the same thing and that "Lemonis has been posting updates on his Twitter account, and he says he plans to rebrand Gander Mountain under the name “Gander Outdoors” and price firearms more competitively....In response to a question about firearms being sold at Gander Outdoors, Lemonis tweeted that firearms have historically represented the company’s “biggest category” and that they “won’t go away.” Even more promising, Lemonis mentioned that his new company’s prices would be better than his predecessor’s."

I just hope they continue stocking hand loading components and price those more competitively as well.

[JEBar]

thanks for that info, I'm glad to hear it ....

[Catherine]

We don't have GM stores around here.

Thanks for the update because I always like to see what brick/mortar stores are doing. I had seen various news stories about GM's sale to CW and stores closing.

Thanks again.

Cate