Army & Navy Store

I would like to start by saying thank you to Penny for her great customer service. Everyone in the front end was great. It’s too bad I can’t say the same for the back end where they sell the guns. Terrible customer service all around! The «assistant manager» and the skinny anti social blonde bitch boy who always looks nervous were the absolute worst! This fat, rude good for nothing piece of monkey shit needs to get a job where he is away from the general public. Trust me when I tell you I will not ever be shopping there again!!! I’m am advising all my friends and family to not shop there while that back staff is still working there. Thank you!

I give this place a 4 star. Might be closer to a 3 because eaxh time I have gone there it is tough to get someone on the clothing floor. Not every time, just most that I have been there which is each time I come to PA cisiting family. I have been going here since 2002 and always make a stop while in the area.
I like that they carry Hobie kayaks. I know how much of a pain it is to get that brand and how good they are so that alone shows me they want to get the best hear if possible. They had a good selection of accessories also but I did go on the off season do it was not as much.
I go here for the surplus items mainly. Always get a few drab shirts and boonie hats. Hard to find either under $ 10 a lot of times. Probably can online but I do prefer to patron a store if they have what I want and the price is ok.
Some things will be expensive. Just how it is in brick and mortar sometimes. If they have something I like it does allow me to check it out. Although not the biggest selection, the do have some 5.11 clothing there. I am a big fan of their stuff as it is too notch.
A little bit of everything here so they can outfit you for just about anything. I would recommend researching what you want before shopping but that is anywhere. Since I usually get clothes there are not usually many people in that department but other sections do have individuals there that are probably pretty helpful.

For all of the complainers out there… I’ve been going to this store for over ten years, and bought my first complete snowboard set-​up there (ten years ago). I just stopped in yesterday, and while I didn’t find what I was looking for (snowboarding apparel that was to my liking), the store was as great as it’s ever been!
From what I saw, they definitely have scaled back on snowboarding/​skiing equipment as far as brand diversity, but I don’t hold them solely accountable. Many brands over the years have been bought out or simply went away. What they still carry is top notch though.
In each department, sales staff was more than helpful to me while I browsed. While I was there, a sales rep stopped in and spoke with the snow sports department. Being in sales myself, I know how important relationships are with the brands you sell, and this rep even gave them credit for being more knowledgable than most other retailers.
This store has such a wide array of quality apparel and equipment from the outdoorsman to the sportsman and countless people in between. I know not everyone has a good experience when they shop somewhere, but it pains me to see one star reviews of an establishment that is literally up against every major chain commercial sporting goods store out there. Unfortunately we live in an «all or nothing» world where you either get one star or five, so I’m choosing the latter.
Whether you’re looking for Carharts, shoes, camping equipment, kayaks, ammunition, firearms, snowboards, skis, apparel or even sunglasses, they have it!
As always, take reviews with a grain of salt. Don’t let some one star reviews on Unilocal steer you away from a store that might have exactly what you’re looking for!

Went in for general info on a handgun with the intent to make a purchase and was completely ignored. The big guy behind the counter was extremely rude. I will gladly go spend my money elsewhere.

Eclectic mix of products. As the kayaks, perennially perched along the outside wall facing the parking lot attest — they carry outdoor gear. Nice range of camping stuff. Product lines you won’t likely find at Dick’s or Sports Authority, and probably not at Cabela’s. This includes skiing and snow boarding stuff, as well as camping gear, clothing, and boots.
On my most recent visit, I picked up a couple of ‘pop culture’ t-​shirts for, uh, my son … yeah, that’s the ticket [themes — Star Wars, and Batman]. I also reloaded my denim inventory with a couple of pairs of Carhart jeans.
In the back, I took opportunity to peruse the hunting /​firearms department. Not a wide array of handguns, but more long guns — rifles and shotguns. They happened to have .22LR in stock — a bit tough to find, these days. Pricing was acceptable on that ammo.
I’ll be back for future camping, clothing, firearm needs. The store’s product lines are positioned somewhere between Dick’s Sporting Goods/​recreational enthusiast, and a serious enthusiast for those respective. Staff I met seemed fine, and professional. The guys at the gun counter were busy with customers. Young lady at the register was friendly, and pointed out some additional opportunities to save money.

No customer service at all. They would have had a $ 100+ in clothing sales. But they too busy ‘hanging out’ being asshats.
I’ll order online.

Lots of young folk that «work» here but no one works here. Totally gone down hill!

I have to agree with other reviews, this place has gone down hill big time. Absolutely no customer service. The guys in the gun department not only ignore you, but if you do ask a question they don’t stop their conversation with each other, it’s just a simple «I don’t think so». If thought Walmart was bad, think again.

The gun department here is the absolute WORST! They jack prices up ridiculously high and the staff back there are beyond rude. I was looking for ammo and asked the man behind the counter if they had what I was looking for and his reaction was to call me an idiot and tell me to look for myself. Aside from that incident they are also the most unhelpful people I have ever met. This store is terrible. Also, I have been told by many people in Lehigh county that Army & Navy does a lot of straw sales (buying a gun for someone who cant pass a background check/​buy a gun on their own for some reason). Not sure how true that is but hearing it enough times is enough to make me never go back to the store!

I used to love this store, but something’s fallen off for me in the last year.
With regards to firearm purchases, I felt that for the price of the investment, I’d rather drive to Cabela’s. There is a greater selection and a little less attitude. The women’s wear section *seems* like it hasn’t added any new merchandise since the last time I was there. It gave off the impression of being a dusty, neglected area of the store. Some of the goods are priced way too high for the Army /​Navy tradition (I mean the more generic goods, not the brand name snowboarding gear, t-​shirts, etc). The shoe selection seems to have declined too, in terms of variety (while the prices are still high for the shoes that aren’t on sale).
The store still does retain that overly packed, crowded, slightly claustrophobic vibe that is inherent to the Army /​Navy shopping experience. If you’re into DG, Fox, and other things, they definitely do carry t-​shirts here that you won’t find in other nearby stores. The problem is, I can also find those t-​shirts online without having to spend 40 minutes going through stacks and stacks of t-​shirts in a too warm store. That said, if they’re having a sale or BOGO on t-​shirts, it’s a pretty good deal.
Finally, the parking area outside is a disaster and for me the bottom line is that if I find the outside of your store a hassle, I’m not going to bother with it and just keep going. The last few times I’ve been here, parking has been such a headache it’s not worth it to me anymore.
The last time I was there, a lot of customers were parking in the back of the store. It’s not a parking area, per se, and isn’t well lit. If there hadn’t been several other customers there when I arrived, I wouldn’t have felt safe parking there at all. If you have to park on the side or back, walking to the front of the store feels a little perilous, as it is a narrow area and cars are coming in and out.
Second, while I was waiting to pay, I witnessed a dispute between the manager and a disabled customer over the manager letting people without placards park in the disabled spots. He sort of made a «who cares?» joke or something about it — he was laughing — and the dispute ramped up. Right there, at the check out area, where dozens of customers and associates were standing. I really regret making that last purchase, because as I was leaving I saw the woman in the parking lot. Her car did have a permit on it and she was very upset and shaken. I can’t be bothered to spend money with small businesses that don’t value **all** of their customers (or who treat them like that in front of other customers).
They really need to repave or restripe their lot, provide adequate lighting and space stripes in the back and otherwise let their customers — including those who have disabilities — feel that the lot is safe and accessible and that their business is welcome.

I’ve been going to WHAN for a few years now and my experiences there have always been great. Anyone expecting to see or buy just army surplus is, well frankly, a bit out of touch. These guys are a retail store in business to make money and offer goods that are hard to find in this particular part of the Lehigh Valley. They do sunglasses better than anyone around, they do skis and snowboards better than anyone around. The same goes for hiking and camping gear. If you’re looking for white tees and camo, they’ve got it. But, they’re so much more. I’ve never had any problems with any slackluster customer service, either.

What the heck did they stop selling surplus and the such? I went here and most of their inventory was just overpriced sporting goods and generic teenager clothing. The customers were also all predominantly teenagers.

I think Unilocal!should have a «no star» category because this business would fit in that category. I remember when the Army & Navy was on 7^th and Tilghman Sts in Allentown a long long time ago. I used to go in there and always found great surplus and friendly staff.
My recent trip was a disaster compared to when I used to buy from them on 7^th st. I went to the gun counter on 10−30−10 to purchase a new concealed carry pistol. I was ready and eager to buy.
There were three salespeople hanging out behind the counter. One was going on and on ad nauseum about an experience he had with a bagel. It seemed like his story went on for over half and hour, even though it was only five minutes. Another sales rep was talking about some firearm that he recently won-​almost to the point of bragging and boasting. The third sales rep was kind of sort of waiting on another customer.
I stood there perusing the pistol selection and NO ONE came over to ask if I needed help. I purposely looked at the two guys who were sitting and talking about bagels and guns-​still I could not elicit a response. I rode in on my motorcycle and was dressed in biker leather-​it was chilly outside. I guess they prejudged and prequalified me as being a «biker dude» who had no money.
I guess they have no need to make a $ 600.00 sale-​maybe they sell enough jeans and don’t need to sell any firearms. Who knows? I do know that I went to Cabelas and purchased a pistol to the tune of $ 600.00. The customer service there was EXCELLENT!
. Oh! Their firearm prices can be whopping 50% higher than MSRP-​yes, 50% higher than what the manufacturer sells the item for. Check out their website and you’ll see. EG: A Walther PPK has an MSRP of $ 525.00 Army & Navy’s price: $ 742.00! More than 40% higher than MSRP.
From other reviews I have read about Army & Navy (here and other), it seems they have poor customer service overall. Maybe it is time for a new manager?

Some of the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. Went in for ski equipment and clothes — good selection but the isle’s are so crammed with stuff you can barely make it through. The staff is rude and could care less that your there. You almost have to beg them to wait on you.

This is definitely a cool place to find outdoor equipment, boots, or clothes. They also have pretty decent prices, as well. On the downside, however, the layout of the aisles is nothing short of labyrinthine, making it almost impossible to navigate to the desired section. Once found, you have to deal with horrendous customer service. I spent a good half hour looking at boots with no less than three sales reps only feet away before they even acknowledged my existence. What makes it worse is that I was the one that asked them if they had something in my size. If that is not the essence of horrible customer service, I don’t want to know what is. The sheer selection, in footwear and elsewhere around the store is the only reason this place still has three stars.
So, go there if you want to find some eclectic or somewhat hard to find item. Just don’t expect the people that work there to help you find it.

This place is good for some alternative clothes and shoes as well as outdoor gear. I’ve comparison shopped, and much of their hiking gear is less than competitors.