Dick’s Sales Drop After Dissing Second Amendment Supporters

Dick's Drops Sales After Dissing Second Amendment Supporters
Dick’s Drops Sales After Dissing Second Amendment Supporters

Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- –Dick’s Sporting Goods is reaping the results of entering politics as a corporate entity.

The purpose of public corporations is to make money for their stockholders. Fortunately, over half of Americans own stock. If you want some corporate profits, add stocks or an index fund to your 401k or other retirement accounts.

When corporations move away from their basic purpose, and into the political realm, they cannot help by alienate some potential customers. When you reduce potential customers, you reduce profits.

Dick’s Sporting Goods decided to alienate a significant number of potential customers. They decided to take sides in an acrimonious political debate. They decided to stop carrying certain rifles in their stores, for purely political reasons. They decided to stop selling rifles and shotguns to an entire age group: 18, 19, and 20-year-old people.

There are about 80-100 million gun owners in the United States. Gun owners, as a group, have somewhat higher incomes than people who do not own guns. The political decision to alienate such a large group of potential customers has taken its toll. From foxbusiness.com:

The embattled sports retailer reported a same-store sales decline of 4 percent compared to the same period one year earlier, or about 1.9 percent when not accounting for the 53rd week in the year. For the full year, Dick’s expects same-store sales to fall by 3 percent to 4 percent, compared to a 0.3 percent decline last year.

“We delivered double digit growth in ecommerce, private brands, and athletic apparel excluding Under Armour, however, as expected, sales were impacted by the strategic decisions we made regarding the slow growth, low margin [hunting] and electronics businesses, which accounted for nearly half of our comp decline,” Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack said in a press release.

Dick’s executives had previously warned that the company’s hunting business would suffer as a result of a decision to stop selling assault rifles at stores. The company discontinued sales of rifles and enacted a 21-and-over age limit on all firearm sales after a deadly shooting at a Florida high school left 17 dead last February.

It was bad enough that Dick’s stepped into the middle of a heated political debate. But they decided to do so even though a large number of their customers were certain to object to the side they took. There is no evidence that non-gunowners felt particularly strongly about their decision.

It might make sense to pick sides in a political debate if you know that your customers agree with you. When Taurus Firearms offers a free NRA membership with the sale of its firearms, it is likely to attract customers. Smith & Wesson went bankrupt when it picked sides against Second Amendment supporters by cutting a special deal with the Clinton administration.

In general, picking political sides is bad for business. Better to stay neutral and keep focused on your primary purpose: making money.

Second Amendment supporters have long memories. They see evidence everyday of long running efforts to destroy their culture and to disarm them, or failing that, disarming their children or grandchildren.

Second Amendment supporters are organized. They have their own communications networks, publications, and media. It does not pay for major corporations to say they do not care about them.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch


About Dean Weingarten:Dean Weingarten 

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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JERR

TYPICAL LIBERAL THINKING….LOOK AT A SITUATION THAT IS BAD FOR YOU AND BAD FOR THE COUNTRY AND THEY GO AHEAD WITH DECISIONS MADE FOR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS THAT IS EVEN BAD FOR THEM AS A COMPANY…..LIBERALS ARE ABSURDLEY STUPID,IGNORANT FOOLS. DEMOCRATS,SOCIALIST, LIBERALS TODAY DO A 180 ON THE NORM AND MORES OF HISTORY…..WHAT FOOLS….AND WORSE THAN THEM……THE FOOLS THAT SUPPORT THEM(BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR HANDOUT WAITING FOR THE NEXT CARROT!!!!)

Albert Sand

I value my rtght to bear arms ……..!

Albert Sand

I would not patroniize Dicks no matter what !

Joe

Once a Dick, always a dick

Jeff T.

I am thrilled to see Dick’s/Field & Stream suffer such losses. I wrote to that assclown Ed Stack when he made the AR announcement. It is heartening to see that so many others are also boycotting this company who has turned their backs on American sportsmen. This is no longer a sporting goods company, it became a political lobbyist entity once Stack opened his big mouth to speak against law-abiding citizens in a knee-jerk reaction to pressure from small, vocal anti-2A leftists. I hope Stack drives himself out of business.

ae

Bye bye Dicksheads

Rocky Wright

The comment about only 2-3 isolated stores suffering is delusional….get online and talk to other (now) former Dick’s customers in other states!
Our Dick’s parking lot in Fairlawn Ohio is deserted!!!
I am weary of businesses punishing me and everyone I know, for the evils of a few insane lunatics!!
From Carolina to California to Texas to Wisconsin, Dick’s sales have plummeted drastically. Maybe they will wake up but I doubt it.
How ludicrous…a young man in the army that handles weapons every day can’t BUY one at Dick’s!!!
The lunacy never stops!

Albert Sand

I agree ….. !

Wild Bill

This just in: NEWS: Dick’s Lost $150 Million Last Year Due to Restricting Gun Sales Last February, when Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack announced he was restricting gun sales at the country’s largest sports retailer, he knew it’d be costly. At the time, Dick’s was a major seller of firearms. Guns also drove the sale of soft goods—boots, hats, jackets. Plus, Stack suspected the position could drive off some of his customers on political principle. He was right. Dick’s estimates the policy change cost the company about $150 million in lost sales, an amount equivalent to 1.7 percent of… Read more »

Mr. Walkker

We have been driving past the empty parking lot at Dicks now for two years. We drive right into the parking lot of Big 5 Sporting Goods, where we purchase all sporting good items, including shoes and clothing. They sell a small assortment of rifles if one needs it. They have some types of Ammo as well. Prices are reasonable too. One thing is for sure. The employees at Big 5 are not dicks and they support the 2nd. Makes one ponder the question: “Since they like cutting, are those other dicks who cut costs at Dicks Corporate, are they… Read more »

Taska

Since WHEN are DICKS” prices reasonable….. Where do you shop??????

Mr. Walkker

My above mentioned post clearly indicates that we NOW purchase from BIG 5 Sporting Goods where prices are “reasonable”.
NO More Dicks.
That will be all.
The End.

Paladin

Remember Dicks backwards is skcid, they left their mark!

James Brigham (Bigg) Bunyon

Dick’s is now no different from any other “outdoors” store and there are thousands making a go of it every day. Contrary to shooter’s popular opinion, guns were not Dick’s sole item making them a profit. Like it or not, there are plenty of non shooters who shop at Dick’s and isolated anecdotal evidence about a single store, or 2-3 of them even, having so few customers is just not consequential to the enterprise.

Mr. Walkker

Really? Tell that to the stockholders. Listen closely to them that now “re-side be-low the water line”. In the bilges, as they bail water. Only attempting to catch “a breath of fresh air.” Awaiting their aledged rescue with the United States Code. As in a Bankruptcy …Code. .. Odin-ance-+Code= “Radi-Fi-Cation. Use it. They made it. File a Chapter 7…. Do what they do., Bail Water, All Currency is fluid. Stop the Current, the Currency. It flows like Water. It is fluid like liquid. All Admiralty. Admiralty Law, Queen of England. Hive mentality. Group Think. The hive. The Queen Bee. Tax… Read more »

Ron W

That will teach such an idiotic owner a lesson that America values the 2nd Amendment and the right to self protection. Dicks’ owners are truly !

Gas Block in WA

Dick;s will eventually wind up selling only workout clothes and running shoes–just like the now defunct Sports Authority.

Bob Arms

They’re really starting to feel an impact on their political decision. Here in NC, their local store has gone out of business. I expect this is only the beginning of a trend for them.

Scotty Gunn

Dicks won’t be making a stand much longer, not without a whole lot of Viagra. All hunters/shooters walked away, and took their families with them. I advised my wife to not shop there and why. So she doesn’t. Nor does the daughter, they go elsewhere for their fitness attire.

m.

D’s: will be happy when to read your business obituary – ur worthless

Walter Goddard

You’re the first “Horton Hears a Who”… to make yourself heard.
It’s a pleasure to finally meet you!

Walter Goddard

This was in reply to @ SW from Fresno..

Stewart White

It’s a shame for everyone; employees, stockholders, and customers. I live in Fresno, California. Unlike the media’s portrayal of the state , this is Trump/ 2A country. Dick’s decision will cost them a lot of business, ironically, with many of the gun counter staff being very involved in shooting sports. Regarding 2A support, cheers to Missouri and Idaho!

Get Out

Everyone should stop into a Dicks Store every now and then to remind them your going to another LGS or Sporting goods store to spend your money.

Jon Aronson

Yesterday, I passed by a Dick’s store and thought I would like to see their bows and immediately I remembered how they decided to remove firearms from their stores and their public stand, re Second Amendment.

I picked up some groceries at Wegman’s and decided to visit a local gun shop that also sold bows. Dick’s doesn’t need my 500-600 dollars if they don’t support me and American freedom

Bob G

Dicks is 20 miles from me. A family owned gun shop is 40 miles from me. I’ll spend the extra $5 in gas to visit the family store.

George Steele

They are well and truly appropriately named. And they will have none of my money.

nam marine

I used to work at Dicks……..then I woke up and quit! They over charge for their Chinese junk ! Their hunting boots are made in Vietnam! Go and figure!!!!!!!!

Jame

I like getting there adds good paper for my bird cage

Old Marine

Oldmarine
Dicks has a new Name ” DICKHEADS ”
Semper Fi

nam marine

semper-fi Marine !

Mike

I will occasionally visit Dick’s while the wife shops next door, for the express purpose of visiting the ever-shrinking “hunting” department. Great fun, asking the employees where everything went, why, and how can they justify such high prices on the very limited stock that they do have!! Stammering, followed by exiting to another department or fictitious customer in need of help. Better than shopping dresses! Ha-ha. Karma hurts sometimes!

John T Darden Jr

There are a lot of BIG differences between an AR bought by civilians and the true AR used by the military, The civilian AR is just another automatic rifle that shoots 1 time per trigger pull. It just looks different. The difference in the military AR is the selector switch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can’t put the civilian AR on ” ROCK AND ROLL” as you can the military version. I spent 28 years in the U S Army with; the INFANTRY branch.

Believe me, the civilian version of the AR15 IS NOT AN ASSAULT RIFLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rod Jones

The “Dick” at Dick’s can suck mine!

Mike in Texas

Civilian AR platform is NOT an automatic rifle. It is a Semi-Automatic, requiring the 1 separate trigger pull per round, as you alluded. Words have meaning and consequences.

AF NCO

Are you really sure? Pelosi and her motley crew of Democratic ignoramuses ALWAYS talk about “assault rifles”. So, I kinda figured every piece of iron what shot out them metal thingys was an “assault rifle”. /sarc/
Thank you for your service.

Lloyd

Dick’s was way overpriced on everything ,I had I quit shopping there before this. I will never spend a penny there .

JERRY DAVIS

DITTO ON BOTH YOUR COMMENTS LLOYD……OVERPRICED AN AGAINST OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS…..DICKS MAY JUST AS WELL GET OUT OF FIREARMS BUSINESS ENTIRELY….AND WOULD IF THEY COUNTED ON MY BUSINESS.

MARION SKAGGS

Well , Some Gun Shops will never learn. The Second Amendment , as some have already agreed with, should be the First Amendment. We already know that, we Legally Registered American Gun Owners could then be used to Protect the Rest of our United States Constitution, It’s Amendments , and our Bill of Rights. God Bless America and our AMERICAN CITIZENS – STAY SAFE . TSgt., USAF Analyst Retired.

Michael Jordan

I believe in gun control, if you don’t have gun control you can’t hit the target. It really doesn’t matter whether It’s first or second, but the liberals had better take note, there would not be a First Amendment if the Second Amendment was not in place to protect it, and nearly everyone calling for tougher laws on Firearms have around the clock ARMED body guards. Hello hillary how many do you have at TAX PAYERS EXPENCE?

Robert Schmidt

Dicks will never see a dime from me or my son, its as simple as that, I only wish I didn’t drive past the store every day………………….

Wild Bill

@RS, Nor mine. Dick’s stock was down 7.1 percent yesterday. The boycott is working, and an example to others. Citibank is also down.

Green Mtn. Boy

@ Wild Bill

When Dickheads stock is in the toilet and the going out of business signs go up,then I’ll pull a cork .

Mr. Walkker

Same, I drive by Dickheads daily…Drive BY. As in Goodby. And we now receive full color glossy ads in the NP, showing 22LR Semi-Auto and Pump Shotguns for Sale…..WTF, I thought they said to H with the 2nd? Dicks at Dicks must think we have some type of short memory. RIP you Dicksters….Good Riddance..LMAO

Ken

I used to shop there about 3 times a week I first wasn’t happy with them selling a scope I put in lay away and didn’t think nothing of it said it was there last one, totally hot about that, second the don’t support our rights to the 2nd Amendment and for us as citizen’s to even protect ourselves, I totally avoid that store now for a few years, will not ever shop there again, even if they sent me the veri x 3, 4x 9 x 42 I was beat out of.

Ben

Any chance I have to snap up dicks advertisements, I do. I throw them all away. It means wasted advertising dollars for them. Every cent ads up. I always mention Academy and the smaller mom-pop shops in town if someone talks guns or ammo…or any sports gear with me. When I’m bored I do walk thru dicks. As soon as an employee asks if they can help me, I point out how slow the business is in the store and mention that they should start looking for a new job too since dicks is on the same slide as Sears.

Cara Gessitz

Was online pricing an item and found a great price but it was at Dicks. No way was I going to give them my business. They lost out of a big sale and I’ll spend that extra somewhere else and stand my ground! What kind of sporting/gun store shoots themself in the foot and doesn’t think it’s going to hurt!

Country Boy

It’s no surprise to me that Dick’s is experiencing limp sales. Maybe they can rename the company Limp Dick’s Sporting Goods store thereto and hitherforward.

Rusty

Local gun store has a sign that says we sell AR15’s. We’re not dicks. I cut up my membership card and mailed to them with a note explaining that their position on the second amendment was offensive to me.

J Buck

Blaming others for how we interpret something is one sign that we are unable to see past our own prejudices.

Country Boy

I drive right on by my local Dicks Sporting Goods Store, on the way to the new, AR-15 selling and young firearm purchasers loving , and very customer aware Academy Outdoors Store where I recently bought a new Ruger AR 556. And over 700 rds of ammo.
Too bad Dicks, you did it to yourself…..

Mike

I just received some Dicks coupons but they went into the trash. I. Outdoor not bring myself going into a progressive fascist retailer

Chiefton

I think car dealers should stop selling those assault cars that are leaving so much carnage and death on our streets.

guitta Dabe

It is worse than the article even mentioned. Dick’s also hired lobbyists to lobby for gun control! So not only did they decide on what to sell and to whom, they decided to go one further by directly attacking the constitutional rights of their customers!

Patrick Riley

I went to dicks one last time .the cashier said can I help you?
I said yes.heres your score card.i don’t agree with your gun views and I’ll never come here again.and I haven’t!

DaveW

Shareholders are mad at management over this. I don’t know what is in their agreement but it is possible the shareholders could sue management for failing to meet their fiduciary responsibility: maximize profits and minimize or mitigate losses.

Consumers have long memories. I can think of a number of ammo suppliers who, while I do not know if it is true or not, consumers have accused of price gauging when ammo supplies were running short. Consumers are still ragging on them and swearing never to patronize them in the future.

H. Spires

Haven’t spent a dime with them since their decision. I don’t even go on their website anymore. I am not surprised at their decision because of where their corporate headquarters are located. A left coast decision.

MARCUS V DE MATOS

Dick’s lost many customers, I will never shop there again either.
Too many people protesting against our rights, it’s about time to show the power of the pro-gun people, we are way more than they think.

Mr James Wilbert Prairie

Dick’s opened a new store in McAllen, TX, not far from where I live just before they made their decision about NRA. I was looking forward to visiting their store but have never gone there. They do not want my business!

BillyBob Texas

EXACTLY same thing here in Prosper, TX (Dallas), James. Couldn’t wait until it opened…..ooops….NEVER been in it – never will.

Ray Miller

I think it’s hilarious that those a**holes slit their own throat.

James J. Grimes

I don’t shop at Dick’s any more and I no longer buy Yeti coolers (I’m a RTIC customer now and I love their coolers).

Charlie

I have a Dick’s 5 minutes from me. Parking lot is mostly empty at all times. It’s vastly over-priced and staff don’t know a damned thing except reading their phones in the back of the store.

BillyBob Texas

Charlie – I’ve also got a brand-new one 5 minutes from me. I have NO IDEA what their staff does……never been in there – and never will.

KP

Will never go there again. I hope betraying a huge portion of your customer base was worth it Dick.

m.

M., a “common-sense” response for any medical interrogator = NOYFB, AH

Ken J. Bower

I don’t think so! Dick’s stock is plummeting like crazy as people aren’t buying nothing! Soon it will be Junk Bonds at this rate.
The Markets Really worried Dick’s made a bad decision; instead of going with the Flow.
Can’t Fix Stupid!

Ken J. Bower

Cheers!

JESUS1

Yes indeed!

John

I declined the appointment because they ask
Questions on an intake form I had while beginning a relationship with a new doctor asked if I had a gun at home. It is none of their Damn business if I had a gun at home. .I haven’t shopped at Dicks or Field andStream since they weny politicial.