Scheels Chandler Opened Today

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QuietM4

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Joined
May 15, 2018
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The new Scheels at the Chandler Mall opened today...I'm sure it's a madhouse. I'm checking it out later tonight.

Anyone already check it out this morning?
 
We tried. It took over an hour an a half from where we were in line to get inside. Once inside it was wall to wall people. Couldn’t go down any isles. We just gave up and tried to go into the mall. I guess several thousand people had the same idea as the mall itself was packed like it was Christmas season in the 1990s.

Very surprised the fire Marshall didn’t shut it down. The place was an absolute madhouse.

I guess people started camping out on Thursday for a spot in line.

Probably going to be weeks before the buzz dies down.
 
We plan to go there Monday, hoping the crowd will be gone. We just want to ride the roller-coaster. :D
 
smithers599 said:
We plan to go there Monday, hoping the crowd will be gone. We just want to ride the roller-coaster. :D

It's a small Ferris wheel. Nothing worth waiting in a line for.
 
Last month travelling in Utah, I experienced Scheels for the first time in Draper. I was impressed by the knowledge of those that worked in their respective departments, and a genuine friendliness that is rare in retail.

I went early today, waited in line and the crowd was manageable when I got there (I was there at 6:30 AM so I think I was there well ahead of Joe Blacke), the same genuineness was there (but a lot of the Utah staff is there for the opening). A fellow in line behind me that is a reloader grinned and told me that he was able to get powders he hasn't seen locally for 3 years. I was hoping for some awesome "giveaway" prices for the grand opening, not to be had...but I still spent $200, on ammo...(low on .38 special).

It was a madhouse by the time that I left, I think that going forward they will be a great asset to the firearms community, and the fact that they are employee owned, all of the workers have skin in the game.
 
I went today about 1130. It took 30 minutes to get upstairs to the gun counter from the mall entrance. Ammo prices seemed high. But they had a lot of it there. Primers were about $70 per 1000. They are cheaper at Sportsmans. Only 1000 at a time. Wall to wall people. I told my wife that I would be home to 2-3 hours. Way to many people there for me. Worse than dizzyland or the gunshows when the aisles are tight. I was out of there in an hour. My wife said go back during the week and spend your time.
 
thom said:
I went today about 1130. It took 30 minutes to get upstairs to the gun counter from the mall entrance. Ammo prices seemed high. But they had a lot of it there. Primers were about $70 per 1000. They are cheaper at Sportsmans. Only 1000 at a time. Wall to wall people. I told my wife that I would be home to 2-3 hours. Way to many people there for me. Worse than dizzyland or the gunshows when the aisles are tight. I was out of there in an hour. My wife said go back during the week and spend your time.

Sage advice from your lady, today should not inform you on normalcy at the store…. Anything but.
 
We went also. The prices were certainly nothing to brag about but boy they had a lot of firearms. I didn't even see the ammo as it was just so crowded my anxiety was setting in. Ha Had to get out of the middle of the crowds. Middle of the week trip for me. Looks like it's going to be a great store.
 
pneuby said:
Was anyone able to see if they carried USED guns of any sort
?

I asked the same thing to a buddy that went this morning. Yes, they have "a bunch" of used firearms.
 
Went there today. Crowded, but not terrible. Lots and lots of used guns, some decently priced, others not so much. Lots of ammo inventory, but no bargains. 34 cents for 9, 50 cents for .45, 67 cents for .223.

But as I came around a corner, look what was waiting for me!
ScheelsGriz.jpg
Thank God I had my .45 with me. I put six rounds into the chest, and two in the head, then did a speed reload and did it again.
The crowd, realizing the danger I had saved them from, panicked and ran out of the place en masse. I got caught up in the crowd, so I never got the chance to receive the gratitude of the store managers.
 
Just got back home from the new store. I went at 4:30, thinking it wouldn’t be too busy…WRONG.

I don’t think I’ve seen that much reloading equipment, accessories, bullets, primers, or powder in one store since 2015. Primers are still stupid expensive, but reasonable considering what BP/Cabela’s sells them for. $70 for Win small rifle #41. Grabbed some 77gr SMK for $18/box 50 (500 box was $165…not great, not terrible). Still plenty of primers and powder available.

Gun prices are a touch high, but what I would expect at a big box store. Better than BP/Cabela’s. I didn’t bother exploring the rest of the departments, but I’ll go back when the craze dies off so I can focus.
 
Speaking of the rest of the departments, I noticed the crowds were all in the shooting areas. Golf, tennis, baseball, soccer, kayaking, etc. -- nobody there. Guns are the bread and butter.
 
smithers599 said:
Speaking of the rest of the departments, I noticed the crowds were all in the shooting areas. Golf, tennis, baseball, soccer, kayaking, etc. -- nobody there. Guns are the bread and butter.

The Ski Department was a ghost town.
 
Went back with the wife today----as recorded, still real busy. The schools around this area are currently on the fall break and there were a lot of kids running around with their parents and siblings. I'll probably wait until they are back in school to go back again. However, I was able to get to the reloading area and they absolutely had a lot of primers and powders. One thing I like already is that a lot of their rifle selections are on open racks and you can pick them up and handle them. The handguns however are in cages that look like they came out of Alcatraz. Hard to see.
 
My thoughts on the pistol display;
They are low, so you always have to bend over or kneel to look closely...less than ideal. People are going to be tripping or bumping into other people all day. Small safety hazard, but it's 100% that someone will fall over within the week, if it hasn't happened already.

The cages behind the glass are too tightly woven...looked to be about 2" squares. Not easy to see through. If someone is currently looking at a pistol in the case, and I mean an employee has opened it and handed someone a pistol, no one else can look at the guns in that case, because there will be 2 people standing in front of it, along with the doors standing wide open (which someone will fall over). It looks really cool, but offers more practical use problems.

I don't like that the majority of the rifles are open to be fondled at will. Be prepared to be muzzled dozens of times if you walk through there. I was in that area for about 4 minutes, and had rifles pointed at me 5 times, by 5 different people. The wrong person is going to freak out if a stranger points a rifle at their head. And I want to be there when that happens.

Worst of all, and I GUARANTEE this has already happened. Several of the rifles open to picking up directly, are scoped, and what would be called a "sniper rifle" by the fudds. Someone will pick one up, and point it across the store at another person(s). This will absolutely happen on a weekly basis. How many basic firearm safety rules does that violate? Spoiler alert, it's all of them.
 
QuietM4 said:
...
...

I don't like that the majority of the rifles are open to be fondled at will. Be prepared to be muzzled dozens of times if you walk through there. I was in that area for about 4 minutes, and had rifles pointed at me 5 times, by 5 different people. The wrong person is going to freak out if a stranger points a rifle at their head. And I want to be there when that happens.

Worst of all, and I GUARANTEE this has already happened. Several of the rifles open to picking up directly, are scoped, and what would be called a "sniper rifle" by the fudds. Someone will pick one up, and point it across the store at another person(s). This will absolutely happen on a weekly basis. How many basic firearm safety rules does that violate? Spoiler alert, it's all of them.
What are the chances that some psycho teenager will drop a round in the chamber, then walk away, and wait around for something "funny" to happen. Ha ha.
 
There are trigger locks on the rifles, but locks only stop honest people. I think within the year there will be a cage around all the rifles, unfortunately. In general, people tend to suck.
 
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