Dick's Sporting Goods - What The Heck Has Happend To Them?

[Glenn B]

I used to love shopping at Dick's (not for dicks - so don't go there please). That was way back when, up in Binghamton, when as far as I know they had only one store and even when they opened a second one. Then I guess they got bought out and as the years progressed they went from being a nice outdoorsy type sporting goods and gun friendly store to a corporate conglomeration of political correctness. The first thing that sucked was when they did away with handgun sales at the store in Binghamton (heck that even may have been before they went national) and then I guess in all of them at least in NY. Then they got all sorts of non-outdoorsman sporty and into being a store for yuppies and leftists. That was probably around the same time they started selling only certain big name brands and the really good deals disappeared on off brands. Then, one day, I noticed they had almost all the exact same stuff as Modell's with the exclusion of firearms stuff at Modell's. Then the fracas over assault rifles and screwing people who had already ordered a certain rifle by cancelling the orders. Then people wanting to boycott them. Then all of a sudden (like as in very recently at least for me) they seemed to have turned around, at least regarding handgun sales and the amount of firearms they sell (at least in the store in Melville, NY). I visited that store a few weeks ago, after not being there in about 6 months to maybe even more than a year, and while they did not have what I wanted, in as much as they have a very poor selection of gun cleaning supplies and black powder equipment and supplies, they did have a huge gun counter in their renovated store. Or should I ask, is it their store? I only noticed today, when I visited again, that the outside shows the right half of the store as Dick's and the left side as Field And Stream but the inside of both sides is just one big store.

Is it like this in all of their stores now? Are they changing like this nationally? Have they merged with Field and Stream? Has Field & Stream taken over Dick's? Is it all one and the same company using two names? Is it something truly new or is it just the corporate types at Dick's realizing that the outdoorsy culture in America (shooters, hunters, fishermen), even in NYS, is alive and well and they had better appease what was their original customer base if they want to stay in business?

 

[Harry Hood]

The are a bag of Dick's now!

 

[Cleck]

Dick's owns F&S and it seems they're including the camping/hiking/shooting people more. That's fine with me, but F&S still seems to be the better of the two. Obviously, that segment is one small section in Dick's, while F&S is one huge store of that segment, if that makes sense. I don't know what the cause for the shift was, but I'm glad because like you said, it seemed like Dick's was going down the shitter recently until this merge. That being said, since F&S opened in Rochester, the DSG across the street seems to be declining in quality. The shooting section was junk, their stock was nil, and I just wasn't happy with it in general. They still sell the golf balls I use, so there's that. The DSG in Webster is in much better shape.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Well, I just hope Dicks doesn't fuck Field and Stream. Not that I'm in favor of big box stores over small business, but they do have their place in the market.

 

[Target]

Is F&S going to be the "outdoors" store and Dick's the "Nike / UnderArmor" team sports store?

 

[Gunright]

F&S is subsidiary of Dick's. They opened the first store near Pittsburgh (Cranberry) in 2013. WebCite query result

 

[Dr. Evil]

After they stabbed us in the back, I stopped shopping there. They haven't been the same since.

 

[GOYABEAN]

Screw them

 

[Graptor]

Field and Stream is my favorite gun store. The deals they have are outstanding at times. I bought by 9mm PX4 Storm for $280 after coupons, 2 freaking 80! I bought my LCP 2 the day it came out at Dicks for $285. Bought a Henry Golden Boy for $410. Bought a Benelli Nova 12 for $185. I'm not saying they are not Dicks, the corporate policy's are what they are but, the deals are plentiful if you have an eye out for sales, coupons and rewards points.

 

[Frankly]

They do a lot of coupons and loyalt/credit card BS to hook you in. But they suck.

 

[4excal]

Why is this even a question?? Some us realized what they really are when they fucked us couple years ago. Them and their parent company are just a farce with overpriced shit and after they take your hard earned money they'll stab you in the neck and side with the antis,to save their own corporate greedy asses! DICKS CAN GO SUCK ON DICKS! Wake up peeps! Plenty of real 2a backing sporting goods stores to spend your cash.

 

[capitalcrew]

I try to buy my guns from the local places, but there are things I buy at F&S. I do like walking around there even if I'm not buying anything

 

[4excal]

The only good 2a Field & Stream is the magazine. The other is just FUDD "Field & Stream" to use the brand name to rob people while sticking them in the back when the MSM attacks..

 

[Bulldog51]

I avoid field and stream and support my LGS. Customer service has been night and day, and I value my time too much to waste it at field and stream.

 

[Cleck]

Everyone has their reasons for supporting F&S/DSG (or not), and to be honest, I support both. As far as camping supplies go, if they don't have it online/Amazon, I'm gonna check there first. Eastern Mountain Sports is overpriced and FSDSG routinely runs sales. Their ammo sales are cheap, and I haven't gotten bad service there yet. I still support my LGS as well for my AR build, that's where I really spend my hard-earned money. I'm not gonna go buy some gay Thordsen stock AR just because, I'm gonna spend money on good shit. I don't ask for discounts from my LGS and I expect them from FSDSG. Everyone can hate them all they want and that's fine, but they fit my budget and they sell guns, always with good deals. That's not everyone's cup of tea and I'm not asking them to drink it.

 

[GOPerfect]

I support those that support my bank account. I don't care any longer. Me not shopping some where is not going to put them under. Best deal is where I shop!

 

[Jmac00]

I went to F&S (marketplace) once looking for some gun sights, after standing around for 30 minutes and no one to help me, this guy comes by, he had to 105 years old. I've seen tortoise's on their deathbed move faster than this guy. After another 30 minutes, the guy finally comes back and says "nope, we don't got them there sights"

Last time I went there.....everything else seemed a little pricy. maybe because it was Market place? IDK ?

 

[Glenn B]

Why is this even a question?? Some us realized what they really are when they fucked us couple years ago. Them and their parent company are just a farce with overpriced shit and after they take your hard earned money they'll stab you in the neck and side with the antis,to save their own corporate greedy asses! DICKS CAN GO SUCK ON DICKS! Wake up peeps! Plenty of real 2a backing sporting goods stores to spend your cash.

It is a question because it is of interest to me. Obviously, I am not of the same opinion as are you - can you understand that and then still allow me to ask it and have my own opinion or are your panties going to be perpetually wadded up your crack over the Dick's issue of years ago? I boycotted Dick's for a year or so after they fucked up, then I figured that was long enough and I started shopping there again. I am not eternally vindictive in such manners, or at least try not to be so as long as the other party does not keep fucking up royally. In other words, it is their business to run their way and my business to give as I see fit - just as it is your business to shop where you want.

I remember Colt ceasing to make firearms for the General Public and plenty of folks got [pissed at them but still buy them now that they reneged on that. I remember Cheaper Than Dirt and many other ammo dealers taking advantage of customers and the frenzy by raising prices exorbitantly during the ammo buying frenzy and people still shop at them. I remember Walmart asking people to see their pistol licenses in order to buy pistol ammo and people getting pissed about that but still buying there. I remember a local gun store near me that screws people left and right and people keep shopping there for whatever reason, even many who got screwed (not me since they screwed me and my son twice, shame on them and third time would be shame on us). I remember the Governor of NY State and the state legislators screwing its citizens with the NY SAFE Act and many other laws yet we who live here still pay taxes to said state. I remember eight years of Obama, eight years of George W. Bush, eight years of Clinton, four years of Carter, about 6 years of Johnson - and their totally screwed up policies that disregarded our Constitution and our rights & liberties in every way imaginable. Yet, we still live here and pay taxes here and obey laws and think it the best country on earth (or at least most of us here do). So, I guess, I find it a little difficult to get my panties all in a wad up my wazoo forever over Dicks making one big mistake and then me not relenting sooner or later by dropping my boycott since I try to be forgiving. I suppose based upon my Christian upbringing even though I am not now religious. So long as Dicks does not screw up in a major way like that again, I am okay with shopping therein. I guess that is "...why is this even a question"! Hope that answered your inquiry whether or not you approve of me shopping there especially since I am not seeking your approval.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Personally, I don't shop at Dicks, Cheaper Than Dirt, Walmart etc.. Yes, I still live in NY. Not exactly the same scenario IMHO. My wife and I had a discussion before we got married in 1991. If either of us ever cheated on one another, that would be it. We could never trust each other again. You are a more forgiving person than me. I have always said be part of the problem or part of the solution. In some small way I feel that patronizing those institutions after they "cheated" on me would make me part of the problem. YMMV.

 

[twax100]

They always seemed a little pricey to me too but it's a convenient spot to stop for ammo so I end up there quite a bit.

One thing that got me though was about 6 months ago I went in to buy 9mm and the chick asked the normal "rifle or pistol" question at checkout. My cards were in my hand already so I handed her my permit and said pistol. Usually they just see it's a NY permit and hand it back but she started typing numbers into the computer.

I couldn't snatch that thing out of her hands fast enough. Apparently there's a section in their computer for permit numbers... which I wasn't going to be a part of.

I only buy rifle ammo there now.

 

[GOPerfect]

Granted the only thing That I have ever bought at F&S was some socks for my wife and some ammo.

Dicks, I bought a basketball hoop/pole a couple of years ago. Never bought a gun form those stores.

 

[Glenn B]

Personally, I don't shop at Dicks, Cheaper Than Dirt, Walmart etc.. Yes, I still live in NY. Not exactly the same scenario IMHO. My wife and I had a discussion before we got married in 1991. If either of us ever cheated on one another, that would be it. We could never trust each other again. You are a more forgiving person than me. I have always said be part of the problem or part of the solution. In some small way I feel that patronizing those institutions after they "cheated" on me would make me part of the problem. YMMV.

I still partake in elections by voting and thus trying to be part of the solution. I write letters not only to politicians in support of the RKBA but to people like the CEOs of companies like Dick's and Walmart trying to get them to do right by the RKBA. I also have joined in protests in Albany over such matters. I am a member of the NRA and NYS Rifle & Pistol Association, the Second Amendment Foundation and one other one the name of which I can not come up with right now ((damn those little gray cells). Shunning those who fuck up, that is what does not help the situation in my opinion. Trying to get them to see the light is the way I choose to go. I would have to think there is a reason that Dicks along with F&S has brought back handguns in their NY stores and I think it has to do with them seeing the tide turning and listening to us, at least I would hope so, despite NY State remaining a vehemently anti-RKBA mecca.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I still partake in elections by voting and thus trying to be part of the solution. I write letters not only to politicians in support of the RKBA but to people like the CEOs of companies like Dick's and Walmart trying to get them to do right by the RKBA. I also have joined in protests in Albany over such matters. I am a member of the NRA and NYS Rifle & Pistol Association, the Second Amendment Foundation and one other one the name of which I can not come up with right now ((damn those little gray cells). Shunning those who fuck up, that is what does not help the situation in my opinion. Trying to get them to see the light is the way I choose to go. I would have to think there is a reason that Dicks along with F&S has brought back handguns in their NY stores and I think it has to do with them seeing the tide turning and listening to us, at least I would hope so, despite NY State remaining a vehemently anti-RKBA mecca.

I also have been doing things over the years to the point where it became a part time job. All the more reason why I won't shop at the mentioned stores. Same way I don't work out 5 days a week and then eat like shit. I do believe not patronizing those facilities is helpful. I guess the idea behind boycotting. The only light they see IMHO is the green light of money. For the most part, they will cave to public pressure where they feel they will lose the most money. We just choose to interpret things differently and therefore handle things a bit differently, that's all. Like I said above, you are more forgiving than I am.

 

[Cleck]

I support those that support my bank account. I don't care any longer. Me not shopping some where is not going to put them under. Best deal is where I shop!

This is a better answer than mine and definitely how I feel.

 

[speedkills27]

I gave up on Dicks after the AW debacle/bullshit the pulled, and totally gave up on Cheaper than Dirt after the refused to ship benign gun parts to NYS post SAFE. I do still occasionally shop at Dicks for sports equipment for my sons.

 

[4excal]

LGS! LGS! LGS! LGS! LGS!LSD!! LGS! LGS! LGS!

 

[Cleck]

LGS! LGS! LGS! LGS! LGS!LSD!! LGS! LGS! LGS!

AllStar has been great with my AR build. I can see the parts when I buy them instead of buying online, they can talk to me about each piece, and I know I'm getting a great piece and I'm supporting a family. It'll cost a little more, but it's going to be a quality gun when I'm done w/ it.

 

[pmcjuryny]

Is F&S going to be the "outdoors" store and Dick's the "Nike / UnderArmor" team sports store?

Doesn't seem like it has happened completely yet, and in some smaller markets may never happen, but this is the plan I heard floating around a while back.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[eagleridge357]

AllStar has been great with my AR build. I can see the parts when I buy them instead of buying online, they can talk to me about each piece, and I know I'm getting a great piece and I'm supporting a family. It'll cost a little more, but it's going to be a quality gun when I'm done w/ it.

deleted

 

[eagleridge357]

LGS! LGS! LGS! LGS! LGS!LSD!! LGS! LGS! LGS!

LSD??