It was a just over a year ago that Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that it would no longer sell “assault-style” rifles and high capacity magazines, and would stop selling firearms to anyone under 21 years of age.
The company cited the safety of children in making the decision, which followed the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting earlier that month that claimed the lives of 17 people.
With the decision seemingly not hurting the bottom line, Dick’s Sporting Goods has decided to push further in, announcing Tuesday that it will stop selling hunting rifles and ammunition at 125 of its stores, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
Dick’s Sporting Goods said it will stop selling hunting rifles and ammunition at 125 of its stores, replacing the gear with merchandise it believes will sell better at those locations.https://t.co/koNOzfeMq9
— TribLIVE.com (@TribLIVE) March 12, 2019
As of last month, the company reportedly operated 729 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores across the United States.
CEO Edward Stack said the decision was made after a test run at 10 stores last year, with the gear being pulled in the third quarter and those stores posting strong sales and profit margin numbers in the fourth quarter, according to the Tribune-Review.
Overall, fourth-quarter sales were down and Dick’s stock dropped over 10 percent, from a Monday close of 38.89 to 34.61 as of Tuesday’s close.
More than one gun manufacturer has already ended its relationship with the sporting goods company over its stance on long guns, which includes the hiring of lobbyists on Capitol Hill to promote additional gun control, though it’s not clear if this was a factor in this week’s decision.
But then, Dick’s Sporting Goods’ moral indignation was clear to see when it opted to destroy its inventory of assault-style weapons instead of returning the merchandise to the manufacturers as retailers normally do.
In making Tuesday’s announcement, Stack said the company will replace the rifles and ammunition with merchandise it believes will sell better and it made for social media hilarity.
Here’s a sampling of some possibilities from Twitter.
Vagina hats?
— Scott Berg (@cutshot49) March 12, 2019
Soy lattes?
— JenniferW (@JenWoodruff79) March 12, 2019
I’m guessing drug paraphernalia.
— Archiblade Runner (@Oldunclearchie) March 12, 2019
Maybe they can sell de Blasio Meatless Monday C-rations.
— René Saldaña, Jr. (@ReneSaldanaJr) March 13, 2019
Computer books to teach sales associates how to code after the company goes out of business.
— Resist To The Last Straw (@TheOneToTheRigh) March 13, 2019
Safety pins? ?
— noclownquestion (@noclownquestion) March 13, 2019
Tofu presses? Scrapbooking supplies? Birkenstocks?
— Congressional Medal of Respondix (@respondix) March 12, 2019
RBG workout gear?
— ShakopeePirate (@PirateShakopee) March 13, 2019
And while the company weathered last year’s decision fairly well, given that their stock not only held its own, but grew a little in value prior to Tuesday’s plunge, social media users are convinced Dick’s is “done.”
Dicks is done…. stock holders sell sell sell……
— Jonathan Bostetter (@JStetters) March 12, 2019
Looks like the Dicks buisness model of alienating its customers is going just as expected.
You bought the ticket, now you gotta take the ride.
— Mailman ? (@_Mailman_) March 12, 2019
Haven’t shopped there in over a year anyway, they can continue to flush their business down the toilet.
— K S (@K_Sed_814) March 12, 2019
I don’t like guns. I don’t own guns. I don’t really know anyone who is openly into guns. And I still haven’t shopped there in over a year because I don’t like businesses playing politics.
— StillHere (@MVPTB12) March 12, 2019
Bad bad bad move… Dicks will lose a huge part of their customers as in 2nd amendment is dogma and part of the culture war with them.
Get ready for no earnings for at least 2 years and with retail falling your board couldnt be more stupid.
Corporations never get in politics
— Dr. John Boyle III (@HakeemOboobawon) March 12, 2019
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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