"Wow - I guess the majority of people only review when they have a negative issue. Well, I have ordered merchandise off and on for about 10 years through Sportsman's guide, and have either been very lucky or most people don't bother to search out a review site to give Sportsman's Guide the positive feedback they deserve. I can't give a review for most of the products that they sell, but I can say for certain that their ammunition and their military surplus items (clothing, gear, etc.) is top-notch, packed well and with care, and the best bargain around. Nobody else I have ordered from in this venue (Cheaper Than Dirt, etc.) comes close to service, value, and quality. Never had a problem with their shipping in 10 years and they've always had good communications and have lots of coupon incentives. I've bought numerous pairs of boots, coats, uniforms, and if there was ever a size issue (they sell lots of boots and clothing from Europe) I've never had a problem with returns/replacements. I haven't bothered to buy retail items like household gadgets or electronics and such from them so I can't comment on those type of items. After all, they're a 'Sportsman' store, so I assume that is what they specialize in - not lampshades, toasters, or bicycles. Heck, I have even bought fully functional Mausers and Mosin-Nagant rifles, as well as parts kits (minus receivers) for many modern firearms (how about a Belgian Browning Automatic Rifle?) off their website without problems. If you need ammunition (don't we all?), surplus gear, or hunting items then Sportsman's Guide is THE place to buy it. I can't understand how they can have such bargains seeing that they're based in the taxpayer's nightmare of the People's RepubliK of Minnesota. The only negative issue I have with Sportsman's Guide is that their catalogs are too addictive and regularly cause impulse buying :)"

"Possibly the worst customer service and most incompetent company I have encountered. They advertise products they do not stock and send you something else anyway. The product they decided to send was faulty. When I tried to return it they would not give a refund, as it was a gift so I asked for a replacement. They then decided to ignore my instructions and refunded part of the cost back to the gift giver but not the shipping. 9 emails and 2 phone calls required to sort this out and I still have no chair, so I have ended up losing out on a wedding gift. AVOID AVOID AVOID!"

"Ordered Full meal MREs as pictured in their ad. Should be entre, side dish, snack and dessert. Instead, got Potato Cheddar soup and cracker. They claim it is civilian MRE. Not a chance. Disgusted with both their snake oil trick and the follow up "so what". Word to the wise, start boycotting the company. They are no longer friends with the outdoors people, only with the scam artists. BOYCOTT NOW!!!!!!"

"The number above is my order number. I recently ordered table bases, based on a website photo on the Sportsman's Guide website. The photo shows a conical base that mounts flush on top of the floor. They sent one that mounts flush from below the floor requiring cutting a hole in the floor. Close, but not for my application. When I wanted to return the parts they told me I got what I ordered but they would let me return them if I paid for shipping. The shipping would have cost half as much as the parts, so I asked if they would pay the shipping costs.

They refused and told me I was lucky to be able to return at all since I got what I ordered and I ordered incorrectly. They were actually rather insulting. I emailed them the webshot of what I ordered from and they said they don't carry that part anymore.

So beware, when ordering from these guys. Granted, they would have taken back the part, but their shoddy web upkeep, caused me to pay for parts and shipping of things I didn't want."

"I ortdered a heater/defroster on the first of Feb 2010, invoice said order would be delivered in 3-7 days. Here it is 12 days and still no heater defroster.Seems like if you doin't pay the extra for faster delivery you get the shaft from this company. I don't think I will be ordering from Sportsmans Guide again. Such service in this day and age is unacceptable.
Signed
William Johnson"

"I ordered a customized frame for a family friend for Christmas. The website said on the ordering page that if the order was placed by December 13th that the item would be recieved by Christmas....

I contacted them on January 3rd because the frame still hadn't arrived. Several days later a representative called me and said that the manufacturer had the item on backorder and that it would be shipped on January 15th.

I still don't have the frame at this point, they were completely unapoligetic, and, of course, it has already been paid for.

I would have bought the frame from a different website if I knew this was going to happen!!! "

"Buyer beware this is absolutely the worst online store by far!!! I ordered a all pro 40,000 btu propane heater and I used a $10 coupon. After "two days" I get a message saying that I used a buyers club code and that I was not able to use the code and I was going have to pay the extra $10. That was fine but what pi**ed me off was it took two days to tell me that. I canceled the order and got the heater of Ebay."

"I first discovered and used Sportsman's Guide in the late 70's and have enjoyed the catalog ever since. I'd estimate spending $2000-$3000 there every year. Customer service declined significantly over the years, but the prices kept me shopping there despite absolute worst service of any sporting good retailer anywhere. The last straw was reached today on my last order there. I did online shopping at Cabelas, Midway and SPG on 12/9 and have had the orders from Cabelas and got the other orders within 2-3 days. I had to contact customer service at SPG and the response is "I'm sorry for the delay on your merchandise. Our system put a hold on your order that should have been removed right away. I'm sorry that the hold was missed. Even with removal of the hold, the soonest your order would have shipped out, would have been tomorrow". This is the 3rd time this has happen. I'll never shop there again!!"

"Worst online shopping experience!! Stay away! I purchased some stuff from them on Black Friday and they sent me an email on Saturday when their office is closed to tell the prices are higher. I called back on Monday but they told me they couldn't cancel my order and if I return it they wouldn't refund the shipping and handling! I had to pay meaningfully more for the shipping/handling as it's based on price. Got ripped off twice!"

"Screwed on BLACK FRIDAY! Long story short - I thought I was getting some pretty good online "Black Friday" deals at 'The Sportsman's Guide', until I got a phone message the next day informing me that they were charging my credit card more than my invoice amount (their site had a mistake). Black friday deals only come around once a year, so I had no choice but to live with the increase in price (every item went up 10%!). Needless to say, I was pretty upset, and next time I'll make sure to shop with a company that won't reel you in, then jack the price up after the biggest sale of the year is over!"

"I've been buying from sportsmansguide.com for years and have never had a problem with them. I am very suprised to see so many poor reviews here as I have always been happy with their prices and service. Their prices are very good and I love their guide gear brand which is an unbeatable value.

I recently bought a pair of snake boots from them, $80 for me as a club member, $90 for a non-member. Cabelas has them for $140 and a handful of other stores for $190. "

"Ordered 9 items: had to return 4 items (wrong size / lack of quality [of an item listed as new] - 1 item even 3 times! Filed complaint - 3 different associates sent 3 different responses. Received another item (again: wrong size!). Called their call center. Had to wait 5 min. listening to their loud music. Talked to a rep and asked to be transferred to a manager. She declined several times until I said I would file a written complaint and make sure to quote her denying me to speak to supervisor. Talked to supervisor: she said "just send it back!". Best of all I was even over[!]charged. Watch out, if you dare to complain they will even charge you more than the old price WITHOUT buyer club's rebate!!! Of course one of the vouchers I PAID for is gone now and as you can tell I'm not really in the mood to try to order something there in order to use up the ramaining voucher. Very frustrating experience! Have low blood pressure? Order there and get your blood boiling. Ah, BTW: If you, Mr. Gary Olson (owner of this company) read this, one of my order numbers is 37592304 and I talked to Brenda and Leanne and received e-mails from Keith, Bruce and Brett.

"

"Sportsmans Guide has some unique items that are difficult to find anywhere else. Their prices are reasonable, but about 10% to 20% higher than buying somewhere else - IF you can find it somewhere else.

Due to the nature of some of their "surplus" items, I have had a few items backordered indefinitely - but they send me an email confirming that I want it before trying to ship if its been a couple months.

I've had good service, but haven't had to interact with their sales staff.

One thing I don't like is that I can't go online to look at my old invoices anymore (except the last 120 days). 120 days isn't long enough.

Another thing that gets me -- and they have the right to do if they want -- is they raise prices A LOT on items that get really good reviews. If you do a product review there, be sure to put what you paid for it and you'll eventually see.

I'll have to rate them 4 stars out of 5, but I'd rather rate them 3.5 if it was available. Overall, I buy there because of some of their unique Mil Surplus supplies.

"

"ordered a scope to be delivered next day air on Oct/ 22/ 2009 with a delivery date of Oct/ 23/ 2009 when U.P.S. showed up with out my package from Sportsman's Guide I called. After the conventional run a round I was allowed to speak to Nancyat ext. 5311 who then explained how it was my fualt because I had ordred to late! & it would be arriving monday the 26th. this is when I reminded her that their very own web site's order status page, showed that it expected delivery date was how I ordered it. Nancy then choched it up to a computer malfunction. and that it was still in the warehouse I told her if so to ship it next day air or not at all she apologized, said she would refund the $20.00 fee for next day air ship it out I responded as long as it gets tome by monday no later than tuesday it was O.K.and that she could decide whether or not to keep the $20.00 ( a test of character she did return the $20.00 to my account and also put a hold on the money! since the package was in the warehouse she also changed my shipping to U.P.S. basic urban 5-7 day delivery and shipped it out pn Oct/ 26/ 2009 acording to nice young lady at U.P.S. against my explicit instructions. I was upset but was not rude or crude And this woman see's the need to mess with me & incidently my business, I'm a nuisance wildlife operator what I ordered is a tool of my trade and the fact that sportsmans guide alows these things to go on, cost me a job! when it's all said and done I will have paid, with my losses over $800.00 for a $140.00 scope this is not the first time I've had problems with sportsman's guide but It will be the last! my family also agrees that none of us will ever buy from them again. My hope is that people will spread the word, And for once stick it to the big business like they've stuck it to us and stop ordering from companies like this! When did the customer start coming last! if people band together & stop buying from places like this, cutting into their profit margins someone will do something to fix it, and the customers will once again come first! I have learned my lesson and will start shopping local where my money and patronage is welcomed and appreciated and I hope others out there will do the same. Whats the worst that could happen? spend a little more money( but think of shipping cost) get what we want, when we want, and how we want it, and possably stimulate the local economy in your communities in the proccess. R.D. Fowler "

"First time ordering. After I placed the order I started reading the online reviews and I was very nervous that I may have made a mistake.
However, I was pleasantly surprised when my order had absolutely no problems. Good email notification and on time delivery.
Product arrived in great condition and I have no complaints."