Nantahala Outdoor Center Gatlinburg — Local services in Gatlinburg

It's easy to spend $ in this store. In fact we make a point to go everytime we visit the area. We walked in about 5:45 PM. Shortly after we walked in, I thought I heard them make the announcement that they were closed (but it seemed early so I thought i misheard that tbh). Wasn't sure until one employee approached us and advised they were closed. I looked down at my watch and it was 6:02. As soon as he told us, we knew to hurry up. My husband was there to buy a couple jackets. Saying something like "we closed at 6, if you could bring your selection up to the register asap" anything along those lines. Instead it was "we're closed, please exit the store THAT way" as he proceeded to walk behind us somewhat forcefully.

Not ONE of the SIX employees at the register offered to ring up the items he wanted to buy, instead they all stared as one worker said we should've checked the hours as we walked in cuz they were closed. Even after the exchange about them closing - we got in the car and it was 6:04. I can appreciate that they wanted to be off work, I too share that same sentiment at the end of my work day. HOWEVER, from a business standpoint, there was a more professional way to go about it. Seems wise for any one of them to finish the transaction we were there to make. We were already in the store, they were already on the clock. There were 3 other couples trying to walk in as we were walking out (don't worry, we told them y'all closed). Everyone was surprised the store closed that early. And I know the pandemic has caused employee shortages and changed a lot of things. Didn't seem like the case here IMO. Plenty of people working who could've helped but wanted to be off I guess. Obviously the store can be selective on who/when they wanna help and they maybe have no grace on their closing times. In the minutes the employees stayed over to stand around and watch the interaction, they could've just helped us buy what we came in there for to begin with - and we would've been outta there in the same amount of time, with happy customers and another transaction for the store. But don't worry because as we were walking out, one of the employees sarcastically said "have a...

Place is great but not advertised very well. I'd been here for over 3 days and had no idea they even sold anything due too the small signs. We was headed out after a slight ice storm and I'd gotten out early and went and did a little shopping and left the wife and kids in bed. They'd picked me up latter and I jumped in back as my 12 year old early rbf in development, but beautiful on the inside child sat in my front seat. Upon entry I realize my independent wife is driving around with ice covering the window endangering the life of all of us. I proceed to tell her too pull over so I can scrape the ice off the window and blades. She proceedes to tell me it's fine I'm ok. While I stare and a crystal glass from Frozen out the front window. I demand her pull over in a parking lot so she reluctantly does so. Scape for a second with my debit card which immediately breaks my 2 week old card down the middle. I turn around and started reading signs that say diffrent things sold. Somehow I thought maybe this place would have an ice scraper for sale as I'd lost feelings in my finger 2 minutes into this plan to make myself look like the alpha male in front of my beautiful wife in some sort of man/woman battle of intellectual debate. I then go inside only to be greated with a warm smile from a red headed young lady. When I explained my dilemma she advised while they do not sell ice scrapers..(and I suggest you do) she did have s magnet that she thought would work. At first I was hesitant as my mind pictured that flimsy thing hanging 15 years of life pictures from my fridge. She then pointed out a hard almost credit card magnet covered in a thin plastic that seemed durable enough. I surprisingly said yes that's perfect. She checked me out and me and the other guy there carried on a conversation for a few minutes. I then said my good byes and wished a Merry Christmas. By the way the magnet worked absolutely fantastic once I got my wife too stop slapping my hands...

Been a faithful and frequent customer of NOC but that will change for me due to a bad customer experience. On April 13, 2018, I purchased a pair of Keen hiking boots for $150. In less than one month of wear, my Keen shoes started coming apart. I went into NOC with my shoes and they agreed the shoes were defective and worthy of replacement. However, I learned today that NOC does not stand behind the products they sell. The employee told me they could not warranty the shoe because “they may lose money and not get a refund from Keen.” Really? Isn’t it worth replacing a customer’s purchase to ensure the integrity of NOC and to make sure I continue to shop there? Further, what kind of professional relationship does Keen and NOC have that they would not refund a store for a defective product when that product is a featured advertisement on the store website? After all, I can just shop online from Keen and bypass NOC all together if there is no reliability in NOC assisting customers. I have always been an advocate of shopping local and through a store rather than online due to the advantage of good customer service. I am highly disappointed and will absolutely remember this experience and be sure to tell others. NOC should review their mission to assist...