Forum Discussion
- Hello,
I am going to close this topic due to lack of activity. Thank you for your time and participating. Feel free to open a new thread on this topic in the future.
Thanks,
Stacy
Good Sam Care Team ontheroadwithjake wrote:
I did say in "many" markets. and in fact it is written policy at Holiday that they will never be the cheapest station or lower the price first. Second ALL station prices are posted electronically from the main office. Each station manager has to report AT least once a day a survey of prices of stations near him, chosen by Holiday.
There are very few franchise stores left and the one near you may be one of those thus being more competitive. The stations I see all around the country are priced up their with the more expensive ones.
It is not just one station. We have 3 holiday station stores in my town. Next bigger town 15 miles down the road probably has 10. Some are right on the exit to the Interstate and also right across the road from competing stations. They ALWAYS match the competing station and sometimes their price is lower. The other brand station is NEVER lower than Holiday. And then there are the 10 cent off gas coupons they issue. Plus additional money off if you use a Holiday credit card (which I don't).
So no matter what you may say about their store written policy or not being the lowest price first, the stores in my community are EXACTLY that (and that is even before coupon redemption). Perhaps you are the CEO for Holiday, and you know all about their policies. I don't know any of that. All I know is what you are saying as absolutes are absolutely NOT true in my experience.dewey02 wrote:
ontheroadwithjake wrote:
And Holiday Gas stations are never the lowest priced and in fact are often higher than the competition in may markets. This is their basic strategy and it carried over to Gander.
Holiday Station Stores are always have competitively priced gas in our area. They are almost always equal with, and sometimes below the cost of all the area competitors. And for the last year, they have a flyer in the local paper about every 2 weeks with coupons for 10 cents off gas, a gallon of milk for $1.99, 1/2 gallon of OJ for $1.99, and a dozen eggs for 69 cents. So they are WAY cheaper than any other gas or convenience store if you use their coupons.
And while their gas station stores have evolved to become more of a typical "quick market" type store over the last decade, they originally were much more of a sportsman's quickstop store back in the day. They had fishing equipment, bait, outdoor apparel (felt-pack boots, gloves, etc.) It wasn't like going to a big sporting goods store, but they were definitely catering to the outdoor crowd. So it didn't seem to be that much of a jump for them to get into the outdoor sporting goods business.
That said, I don't think Gander Mountain was a very good or competitive store. It was sort of like the K-Mart of the outdoor sports stores. Locally owned and run outdoor sports stores catered better to a niche crowd, and the big boys (Cabelas, Bass Pro) catered to mass market.
I did say in "many" markets. and in fact it is written policy at Holiday that they will never be the cheapest station or lower the price first. Second ALL station prices are posted electronically from the main office. Each station manager has to report AT least once a day a survey of prices of stations near him, chosen by Holiday.
There are very few franchise stores left and the one near you may be one of those thus being more competitive. The stations I see all around the country are priced up their with the more expensive ones.ontheroadwithjake wrote:
And Holiday Gas stations are never the lowest priced and in fact are often higher than the competition in may markets. This is their basic strategy and it carried over to Gander.
Holiday Station Stores are always have competitively priced gas in our area. They are almost always equal with, and sometimes below the cost of all the area competitors. And for the last year, they have a flyer in the local paper about every 2 weeks with coupons for 10 cents off gas, a gallon of milk for $1.99, 1/2 gallon of OJ for $1.99, and a dozen eggs for 69 cents. So they are WAY cheaper than any other gas or convenience store if you use their coupons.
And while their gas station stores have evolved to become more of a typical "quick market" type store over the last decade, they originally were much more of a sportsman's quickstop store back in the day. They had fishing equipment, bait, outdoor apparel (felt-pack boots, gloves, etc.) It wasn't like going to a big sporting goods store, but they were definitely catering to the outdoor crowd. So it didn't seem to be that much of a jump for them to get into the outdoor sporting goods business.
That said, I don't think Gander Mountain was a very good or competitive store. It was sort of like the K-Mart of the outdoor sports stores. Locally owned and run outdoor sports stores catered better to a niche crowd, and the big boys (Cabelas, Bass Pro) catered to mass market.DryCreek wrote:
Well, regionally there is a lot of competition here. Both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's (now merged) have better prices, better selection and bigger stores. I can see why they failed here in Texas. I just can't believe how much higher their ammunition and firearms prices are compared to the competition. Even their outdoorsy-type stuff is much higher than their competition. A coworker has described Gander Mountain as "an overpriced Academy".
Maybe Lemonis can turn them around. If he does, and that adds one more spot welcoming overnight RVer's, well then that is a bonus for us all.
Gander Mountain was owned by the same company that owns Holiday Station Stores. This is a "Family" read dictatorial run company whose head at my last reading was in his 90's. While a younger generation is in charge of day to day operations.
This store was always a misfit for this company. And Holiday Gas stations are never the lowest priced and in fact are often higher than the competition in may markets. This is their basic strategy and it carried over to Gander.
The sale was long overdue for sure. The store is mostly regional or too scattered and facing tough competition. It is a perfect fit for GSE. This sale makes perfect sense from a business perspective I think. Whether GSE can make Gander a real competitor or not remains to be seen.- Another CW/GM thread is going with much the same discussion.
Perhaps the moderators could merge them?
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29277994.cfm WI wrote:
I believe CW only bought 17 (of ~140) stores, no inventory, & both the Gander/Overton names.
My understanding is they bought everything but the current plans are to reopen about a dozen and a half and then auction off all the rest. Time will tell.- I believe CW only bought 17 (of ~140) stores, no inventory, & both the Gander/Overton names.
- The jury is still out on this one. Supposedly they are going to clear out the Gander Mountain inventory and bring in their own. Hopefully it will be better quality than Camco merchandise.
- The brand new construction Gander store in Colorado (opened in September) has signs up today that they will be closing. Sad for consumers, but with as much as I dislike Camping World and the way they run their stores, if they own GM, I likely wouldn't shop there anyway. Such seems to be the way of the brick and mortar retail stores.....
And, for the record, I don't think the merger (actually a buyout of Cabelas by BPS) is official. I think there is a regulatory holdup.
