Gander Mountain I purchased a NEW gun that was defective after firing. I was charged $52 for the repair!!! Waukesha, WI Nationwide

 I purchased a new Savage/Stevens 12 gauge shotgun from the Gander Mtn location in Waukesha WI in June, 2016. I purchased the gun for my daughter to shoot sporting clays with me and her brother. The first time out, the overbarrel didn’t work 3 out of the 4 times she fired the gun. We then returned the gun to the store for repairs. About 2 weeks later I picked up the gun and was charged $52 for the repairs! I mentioned to the clerk (nd then the supervisor and then the manager) why would I pay for repairs on a brand new gun that was fired only 4 times?!? The manager said that “once the gun leaves the store it is now used” and they can’t do anything about the defect…wait what?? The manager also said that “repairs would have been covered, if I had purchased the “warranty package”.

In other words, I needed to pay for a warranty package to cover repairs on a brand new gun?? I said that I had never had a problem returning a defective product to any retail store that I had EVER purchased anything from and been compensated in some manner. Gander Mountain offered nothing! I even had items on the counter that I had “planned” on buying until this public relations fiasco. I mentioned to the staff that I never plan on shopping at another Gander Mountain store. They all just looked at me with a blank stare on their faces. When I contacted the manufacturer of the gun, they said that if the gun had been returned to them they would have fixed it FREE of charge. It isn’t the $52 that matters… it’s the idea that Gander Mountain sent the gun (for repairs) to a location of their choice and then had no problem charging me for repairs on a new gun, instead of sending it to the manufacturer (well within the 1 year warranty period).

When I contacted a “Customer Service Representative” she said I would have had to have said that I wanted the gun to be returned to the manufaturer for repairs. I said that didn’t make any sense since I normally would return a defective product to the store and they would replace it or return my money…plain and simple. I had completed 2 online complaints with no response received from Gander Mountain. I had even sent a letter to the CEO of the company in regard to this issue, and had no response from him or anyone from Gander Mountain. Over the years I have purchased many guns and other items from Gander Mountain. At this point I will NEVER shop at Gander Mountain again, and I have informed all of my friends and relatives to do the same.