Gander Mountain

Reviews 4

JO

John Robinson

As Im writing this review by proxy Im not sure how much validity there will be to it, but I hope it gains traction at the store level. My Mother recently patronized your location today to use a firearm for the first time. Unfortunately I, someone who holsters a firearm on my waist everyday for work, was not able to attend with her, as I love the quality of the range. But I gave her as much instruction as I could and she was meeting a friend there who was proficient, so I felt confident in her ability to do well. It turns out I wasnt wrong in feeling confident in her ability, it was the very abrasive sales associate that helped her initially that should have worried me. This sales associate was a male, the sales associate on the receipt is 605568. Im not sure who was logged into the Till to take payment, but there was a very lovely young lady who walked the sales floor with my mother in an effort to select a pair of safety glasses. When my mother approached the sales counter she stated to the male sales associate that she was there to "shoot" but was "corrected" by him to say she was there for "knitting". OK I get the humor, I actually chuckled, then I thought about the jab. My mother has never fired a weapon before and this armchair commando has already made her slightly uncomfortable. My mother then informed the sales associate she was there as a new shooter and stated she needed ammo. The sales associate inquired what type. My mother did absorb a ton of information about operating a firearm in a very short amount of time so she did not recall caliber off the top of her head. She stated to the associate "Im not sure the caliber, but I will be shooting a Glock 19". The sales associate then stated that it was 9mm, and that "you should try to remember that". Well thank you captain obvious. Im sure now that you were so rude shell have no issue remembering, so thanks? Its armchair commandos with this know it all attitude that give this activity a bad name. This type of attitude drives people away and makes it difficult to have a culture of education, as opposed to an elitist exclusionary "my free-float rail costs more than yours" toxic environment. The sales associate should have taken the time and been excited that we, shooting activist, got another one. Rant over. Id love some followup and hopefully an apology. If not, I get it, Im another faceless set of fingers behind a keyboard. Edit- The store manager did followup and apologize for the incident, he also guaranteed to look into the situation. Willing to change my rating depending on the outcome.

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SH

Shawn C

I go on a lot of fishing trips and have used the Lake Mary store without a hitch prior to today. Anyway, I bought an item (about $20 -- not much at all) in fishing that looked a little cheap and asked about the return policy. I was told that it was 90 days no-hassle. Well, it was a HUGE hassle when I decided to return it when I came across a defect. I was told by a very rude kid in fishing that it was probably my fault that it was not working and I probably didnt bother to read the directions. Anyway, I dont need a kid lecturing me and secondly, how is challenging a customers competency a no-hassle return? The fact is that I didnt even have a chance to use the item since it was broken out of the package. He just said, "Im not returning it" like I was three. Not happy. At this point, Im fuming, but still staying polite. I asked for another manager, and got a pleasant but dismissive fella who seemed to suggest that he was aware of the company policy but the store policy was to push people toward the manufacturer rather than simply returning -- he said his boss Dennis made the policy. I told him that this was a far-cry from no-hassle to ask me to go through a manufacturer for an item that was defective, that I had a receipt for, and that I had only bought a week or so previously. He just gave me the store managers card for the GM, Dennis Creamer. Considering this other manager told me that Dennis is ultimately responsible for customer service and implementing company policy and he isnt managing either very well, I dont need to deal with another rude person from the Lake Mary store. Ill cut my losses and just file a charge-back on my credit card with a copy of their store policy attached. At this point, Im just going to throw the item in the garbage and never shop there again. I really dislike feeling cheated and disrespected (even when its a small amount) -- particularly when I was their customer for so long.

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BR

Bradley Mordigan

Save yourself the trouble with these people. If they have something you want make sure you already have your concealed license so you can walk out immediately. Purchased small hand gun from them on 10/28, there was the 3 day waiting period which they said would call as soon as it was ready to be picked up, came to the store on 11/11 only to get "Wow, sorry we didnt call, did you check your messages?" Should be an easy exchange from that point, wrong. The gun case with all the items was brought from the back them I was ushered over to the other counter and thanked by the gun salesman who let the admin associate know I was ready to leave along with 4 boxes of shot. 40 minutes pass as I wait and watch the associate handle new Guests and even fill out the paper work on the computer for other individuals. (NO ONE FILLED MINE OUT??) After waiting there I had to leave so I gave the gun (still in the box) to Chad at the gun counter and told him I would come back for it. 2 hours later I came back and stated I was ready to pick it up. The associate looked for the gun but could not find it. Then it turns out it was placed back in stock because I could not stand there like a mindless drone to give them my money. At this point I stated "Either the gun or a refund" Well I was given the refund at the front of the store due to the fact Chad is monitored by the ATF and the gun leaving one counter and going to the other is considered taking ownership (By who I do not know??) An overall unpleasant experience, one on one seems fine, working in the collective it is hideous, lacking customer service skills and the common knowledge of ATF vs The Department of Agriculture in the state of Florida. Save yourself the trouble. They kept the $5.00 processing fee, I guess its a small price compared to the crap they must put others through.

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MI

Michael Jackman

I can thank this place for DESTROYING MY QUALITY OF LIFE. Last June, I went to their range to use a new pistol I had recently purchased. I am not an experienced firearms person. I was using ear plugs given to me by a friend. The gun range monitor never indicated that there was any reason to be concerned about the plugs and then placed me in an alley right next to someone shooting something that sounded like a police or military tactical weapon. I did feel some pain each time that gun went off but I never knew that the pain I was feeling was the destruction of the hairs in my cochlea and that experience would RUIN the rest of my life.. I now have Tinnitus, an incurable affliction where I constantly hear buzzing or ringing in my head. It has been consistent for almost a year now and doctors say that I have to learn to live with it. I have since discovered that I am not the only person to whom this has happened at Gander. The same thing happened to another individual, only in his case, the Gander folks were actually the ones who provided the ear plugs. When this individual tried make a claim regarding the injury to their hearing and the case of Tinnitus that resulted, Gander hid behind their disclaimer and basically had their lawyers tell him to pound sand. I will never set foot in this place again and I hope anyone who reads this will do the same. I wonder what the quality of life of two customers is worth to Gander.? Boycott this place and bring the whole damn corporation down. Please....

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