[dukeofurl]

I decided to peruse some prices....

"Sir we cant sell ammo after 9PM"
"Why's that?"
"Federal law prohibits us"
"I dont see that posted anywhere"
"Because its not"

And it gets better!

"Why cant you sell ammo after 9PM?"
"Because the computers shutdown and we cant do background checks!"
"You need a background check to buy ammo?"
"Oh yeah, the computer asks for your ID"
"I wasnt aware you had to pay $5 to get an FDLE check to buy ammo"
"Oh, we dont charge $5 to do that..."

In conclusion: We can blame all the nonexistent federal laws on guns that people repeat at the gun show on Walmart sporting goods employees. That is all.

[MaterDei]

That boys' cheese has slid off his cracker.

[Ridge]

A friend of mine (He is 19) was at walmart late one night (My buddies make mid-night runs to get the new DVD releases) he was buying ammo for his 22. rifle they asked the standard question "Is this for a handgun?" to which he replied "No",well the younglady couldn't use the register at sporting goods because she didn't have the key for it,so they had to go to electronics,after he had bought the ammo the cashier (I wasn't there so I'm a bit fuzzy on this part) either took the ammo out of his hands or was trying to take the ammo out of his hands,when a guy walked up to him and asked him if he was 21,when warren said no the guy told him it was against the law to sell him the ammo.

I'm sorry but when did this change all of the sudden? Because if I rember the limitations on being 18 or under 21 when it comes to buying firearms or ammo, You have to be 18 to buy a rifle or shotgun,but you have to be 21 in order to buy a handgun.

W.T.F. was is up here?

[hcker2000]

You have to be 18 to by paint at wall mart enough said.

[LeonCarr]

Typical visit to Wal-Mart to buy ammo:

May I help you?

Yes, I would like a Winchester White Box 100 round value pack of .40s

No, I need 40s not 9mms

Down, left, down, right, over one more...ok thats it :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[owen]

The inferiority of Wal-Mart service pokes up its head in spporting goods, more than anywhere else in the store.

I've asked clerks who were standing behind the counter for help, and got a dirty look, and "I'm on break!" more than once. Seems to me that should be a firing offense.

[Justin]

There are over 20,000 gun laws on the books, and you get mad that the poor dork behind the counter at Wal-Mart doesn't know them?

I mean, federal gun regulations are so byzantine that we have an entire section of the forum here dedicated to answering such questions- and there's often much contentious debate as to what, exactly is legal. Can you really fault some Wal-Mart worker drone who probably is more interested in Pokemon than shooting for not knowing the law?

FWIW, it's not a law, but at some Wal-Mart stores their policy is not to sell ammunition after 9pm. IIRC, this should be posted somewhere near the Sporting Goods counter.

[TimRB]

"Can you really fault some Wal-Mart worker drone who probably is more interested in Pokemon than shooting for not knowing the law?"

Certainly. Well, not the actual clerk, maybe, but someone at WalMart (the sporting goods manager or even a WalMart lawyer) should have gone through all the applicable local, state, and federal firearms laws and boiled them down. The laws relating to retail sales are not *that* complicated, even in California.

Tim

[GT]

you want cheap you go to Walmart, you want gun laws and knowledgable staff you go to a real gun store. Oh wait! You guys hate them too right? All the braindead dorks, mall ninjas and supercilous gun "experts"? :)

Seriously though, you can only get so mad at so many places. We all have bad retail experiences when buying all kinds of things.

I think we should be glad that Walmart sells firearms and ammunition. If you have a particular problem definitely take it up with the store in question. Management usually does actually care about such things.


G

[CAS700850]

Personally, I've had decent luck at Wal Mart buying ammo. Of course, many times I have to point the clerk to what I want. But, most of the times I hit my local Wal Mart, the gentlemen working there have been shooters, and I found them to be fairly knowledgable about the subject. May just be lucky. Of course, Gander Mountain is just across the street...

[trapperjohn]

does it somehow make people feel better about themselves to make fun of some mimimum wage guy that allows them to get things cheaper and have more money left over?

[RoyG]

:banghead:

I was gonna reply but I'll take the high road on this.

Shop where you want to shop....

BTW the "REAL" gun shop here closes at 8 pm and is closed on Sundays...

[2nd Amendment]

does it somehow make people feel better about themselves to make fun of some mimimum wage guy that allows them to get things cheaper and have more money left over?

My wife manages the local Wally World grocery competitor. In this county it's basically Us or Them, with a few tiny grocery stores scattered around. As such I get to see up close the current quality of cutomer service and the difference is striking. Both groups are around minimum wage but the Wally Wart crew is surly, at best. That's not a function of pay, it's a function of attitude and training and management's concern for employees and customers.

The minimum wage guy in the end gets to make a choice of how he presents himself and when so many do it so badly as is standard with Wally World yes, it is fun to poke fun at them and their apparently equally incompetent employer.

Shop where you want to shop....

I used to, but then Wally Wart arrived and ran them all out of business...shortly before raising prices higher than the competitors it put under...

[Mongo the Mutterer]

Just bought 3 Winchester bulk boxes of 9MM. Once I found the clerk, no problems.

Never really had a problem at mine, except one day when they were out of 45ACP.

[feedthehogs]

Ya want cheap prices and then complain about the help. What do you expect?

These complaints about Walmart are just dumb.

[Zundfolge]

Complaining about the quality of service at Walmart is like complaining that there is no Filet Mignon on the menu at McDonalds :rolleyes:

[Edmond]

I've never had any problems at my local store. I just point to the box I want and that's it. I'm just there to buy ammo, not be educated by anyone or to educate anyone. Just let me pay for my ammo so I can leave! :D

[2nd Amendment]

Really? I've been in retail a long time too, and I'd have to say that comment is dumb. If the service is going to suck then why have the reps? Why advertise friendly service? Why pay those wages when they could simply stuff the shelves and leave customers to find it themselves, like the "Grab and Bag" grocery stores do?

So yes, if you're going to staff the floors then I expect the employees to be reasonably knowledgeable and reasonably courteous. Auto Zone manages it. Parts America manages it. Local retailers manage it. But WalMart can't and wondering why is dumb... OK, I'll try to keep that in mind.

[Logistar]

The answer is 42But what is the question??? ;)


At least the last time I was in Wal-Mart and asked to look at some 7.62x39 ammo the clerk told me flat out... "I am a fishin' man myself. You'll have to help me out a little when it comes to ammo."

I did and everything was OK.

(I didn't know they carried 7.62x39). The local stores here never have!

[Lennyjoe]

No problem purchasing ammo at our local Wal-Mart.

I did notice at a Walgreens that when you buy cigarettes the register asks if the purchaser is over 40. If not, it asks for birthdate. :rolleyes:

[Old Dog]

Perhaps it's time THR added "Wal-Mart Bashing" and "LEO Bashing" forums so we could get back to pertinent gun-related discussions in General Gun Discussions and L & P.

[ThirdShiftRich]

You get what you pay for. Its sad, but if you want good service nowadays you probably have to pay the $2/box more somewhere else. They have to cut the costs somewhere- and the ammo is cheap.

[thumbody]

As far as I know Wal-Mart is the last of the big box stores that still have a decent supply of ammo.K-Mart only sells shotgun and rifle ammo,Target sells no guns or ammo Meijers has a very limited variety. You go to Wal-Mart for the price not knowledge of firearm laws.
As to "You have to be 18 to by paint at wall mart enough said."
This applies to glue, propane cylinders,white out,fuel injector cleaner, etc. The babysitters in Washington want to make sure the kiddies aren't huffing it.

[oldfart]

When we talk about our "line in the sand" we're usually referring to government intrusion into out personal business. In fact, we all have several "lines" in several different areas.
One of mine is at the door of Wal Mart. I live in Oregon and I won't go into a
Wal Mart to get out of the rain! Those low prices just cost too much!

[waterhouse]

I love the guy behind the counter at the walmart I shop at. I start asking for different kinds of ammo, and he gets a slightly confused look on his face, and says, "would it be OK if you just come over here and point at what you want, and then I'll take it out of the case?" This method leads to zero confusion and all parties end up happy.

Once I heard someone ask him about which shotgun to go with, and he said he didn't know much about them and recommended that the gentleman write down the model names and go home and do some research online and then come back and make the purchase. This seemed like much better advice than I've heard in some gun stores.

Some people might say they should hire someone who knows more about guns and ammo to work the gun counter, but I am very happy with someone who knows both their limitations and how to treat a customer.

[fjolnirsson]

Perhaps it's time THR added "Wal-Mart Bashing" and "LEO Bashing" forums so we could get back to pertinent gun-related discussions in General Gun Discussions and L & P.

That's a fine idea, IMO.

[Sisco]

Try this:
Fill up one of those hand baskets with anti-histamines and lithium batteries.
Carry it back to sporting goods, sit it on the counter and tell the clerk you want all the 9mm ammo they've got.

One of two things will happen:
1) The clerk will attempt to delay you until the cops show up or
2) He'll say "You want to pay for that here or up front?"

If you do this, let us know how it worked out. :D

[No_Brakes23]

Complaining about the quality of service at Walmart is like complaining that there is no Filet Mignon on the menu at McDonalds +1

I find it ironic that here in Draconian Cali where the Wally World doesn't even have firearms for sale, I have had mostly good experiences at the ammo counter. In fact the biggest problem ever is when there is no one there. The last 2 100 round value packs of .45ACP I got there was sometime around 10:30pm.

As for the handgun round issue, I try to be a little understanding. It's not really the clerk's fault that the law discriminates against 18-20 year olds. And it is easy to forget that some rifles chamber handgun rounds. For all I know that person at the counter may have been instructed to not sell certain rounds to people under 21. If it really bothers you that much, then go local, go online, or start reloading.

Honestly with all the tinfoil hub-bub about Wal-Mart selling our souls to China, I can't believe that the curmudgeons among us are shopping there anyway. I just try to avoid Wal-Mart altogether, except for certain items that I can't get elsewhere.

[Taurus 617 CCW]

One night when I was buying ammo at the local Walmart I had an incident. The ammo selection and purchase went fine. She asked me for ID and I fished in my pocket for my DL. I realized that I left it in my windbreaker, out in the truck. I found my CCW permit in my pocket and gave her that instead. She said that they don't accept CCW's as a valid form of ID :what:
I was informed that they only accept DL's and passports. After picking my jaw up off the ground, I had to run out to my truck and get my DL. I made the comment that the banks prefer the CCW permits because they are harder to get than driver's licenses. She looked me straight in the eye and said, "Well we aren't a bank." :cuss: I am amazed at how anti corproations like Walmart are becoming. If it weren't for their cheap .40 and 9mm I wouldn't shop there.

[jacketch]

I found that if I take in the end flap from the last box I purchased, they have a much easier time finding what I want.

[itgoesboom]

Jacktech, thats a pretty good idea.

I went to wally world on Friday, needing to pick up 2 bricks of .22lr and 2 value packs of 9mm, and had absolutely no problem. Clerk found the last 2 boxes of the 9mm, and had to scavange around to find the .22lr that I wanted, but was friendly and helpful.

Compare that to the experience I had earlier that day at Bi-Mart (it's a chain store up here that has good prices and a bunch of stuff....like a miny walmart).

Asked for some .22lr bulk packs, and the guy who worked the ammo counter tried to sell me .22 hornet.

It just went downhill from there.

I finally found what I wanted, but decided that I would have an easier time with less frustration if I just went to Wal-Mart. :banghead:

I.G.B.

[cracked butt]

I must be one of the only ones here that has never had a problem at Walmart's sporting goods counter? :rolleyes:

[calzoom]

I saw this in a hardware store several years ago. Posted under a small mirror
at the service counter. "If you think I'm stupid check here."

Never forgot that and a LOT of customers had to have a look. Maybe someone could drop that in WallyWorlds suggestion box. ;)

[jefnvk]

I did notice at a Walgreens that when you buy cigarettes the register asks if the purchaser is over 40. If not, it asks for birthdate.

Always loved the 'We check ID if you are under a certain age' line :rolleyes:

It would sound like most of you simply want Wal-Mart to stop selling ammo. If you want knowledgable people, don't go to a big store. Heck, don't even go to some gun stores. They employ the same caliber of people at the local gun range.

And it probably doesn't help that its seems that some of you are probably not helping the situtation much either, with your actions against the person that came over to help you. It is not a good business decision for Wal-Mart to hire someone to stay at the ammo counter all night. Most people that run to Wal-Mart at 2 in the morning are not going to be buying ammo. Give the person that is trying to help you some slack, don't sit there all mad at him because he doesn't know the difference between FMJ and JHP, or he is asking you if it is for a rifle or a pistol.

I get about the same quality of service in getting things out of locked cases in the Electronics. It is not a plot to disarm you. It is a lack of employee's caring.

If it bothers you that much, buy online. Better deals, anyways.

[TechBrute]

Why do you go to Walmart and then get surprised by the service/response/attitude/etc you get? Talk about the dumbing down of America.

[Tom Servo]

I have three WalMarts in my immediate area, and they seem to operate under three different "company policies." The one closest to where I work only cards me occasionally and lets me take it up front to pay. The second cards me every time, asks me what kind of gun it's for and insists that I pay at the sporting-goods counter. The third (and I won't go there again) asked for my ID, and when I showed it, the clerk asked me to take it out. I wasn't thinking, so I took it out and handed it to him, and he started typing my DL number into the terminal. :eek:

I reached over and took it back and asked him what he was doing. He said that "company policy" required tracking of all customers who purchased handgun ammo. I replied that this was not the case at other locations, and that while I could understand my age being verified, I would not consent to having personal info taken. He then said that this was Federal law. I asked for a manager, who arrived after five minutes, and the manager told me that it was STATE law. Not in Georgia. I took my license and left.

I called a corporate number that forwarded me to a regional manager, and I told her the situation. Her first reply was, "HANDGUN ammo?" She hemmed and hawed and told me they complied with all local laws and such, and I informed her that there were no such laws in Georgia. No luck. She claimed that all locations were supposed to do this.

I'm not going to whale on somebody getting $5.25/hr, but if it's that much of an issue, local management should at least have some idea what the law is, and they should pass it down to their people. They don't need to be experts on gun-control laws; all they're selling is the ammo, and the only restriction is age.

I agree that you get as much service as you're willing to pay for, and at WalMart, you're not paying much, but still, I'm not asking much.

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

Complaining about the quality of service at Walmart is like complaining that there is no Filet Mignon on the menu at McDonalds

No, it's more like complaining that the food at McDonald's is usually stale, or cold, and the lines take forever to get through; and finding that enough people are sick of the poor service at McDonald's to put a considerable hurt on the profitability of that company.

That's exactly what happened at McD's, and the company has moved strenuously to turn things around, Why?, competition, and that's what's missing in the Wal Mart equation.

I refuse to shop at Wal Mart unless it's a dire emergency and I need something at 11:30pm.

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

I agree that you get as much service as you're willing to pay for, and at WalMart, you're not paying much, but still, I'm not asking much.

Good point, but when the sporting goods counter has nobody manning it, and it takes 35 minutes to get someone there, and they're out of .38 special, and then take another 35 minutes to check out, at that point I decide it just simply wasn't worth my time to visit their store again.

[GunnyBob]

I've a cousin who is a Personnel Manager for WalMart, and have often asked her questions concerning the seeming lack of employee knowledge, and not just in Sporting Goods. Apparently, every worker is given rather voluminous information, called CBL or Computer-Based-Learning, pertinent to their departments. All Sporting Goods employees, for example, are provided information, then tested, but problems often arise when the "unwritten" WallyWorld policies conflict with the actual letter of the law. District Managers will flat out demand that certain ammunition sales be placed under scrutiny far beyond what the law requires, others will stress simply following the actual statutes.

Bottom line: Confusion reigns in an already confusing area that DOES require a certain level of expertise. Personally, I use the local Super Center only to purchase inexpensive range ammunition, and try to be as calm and understanding as possible. No sense getting angry with a kid that is trying to balance what he or she has learned with the oft times conflicting policies that can literally change from day to day.

[2nd Amendment]

Why do you go to Walmart and then get surprised by the service/response/attitude/etc you get? Talk about the dumbing down of America.

Why? As Luke pointed out, questioning lousy service has the potential to force the improvement of that service. As I noted earlier, other retailers manage better, even excellent, service paying the same wages in the same areas. Why can't Wally World?

Think of it this way, if you got the kind of service from a waitress making a lousy $3.00 an hour(yeah, tips may make her much better off but there are no guarantees of this) that one usually gets from Wal Mart(disinterested, at best) would you tip her? If you get that same service repeatedly would you continue to go there and also never say anything about it AND tip her? I doubt it. Same deal here.

[simon]

That boys' cheese has slid off his cracker.

ROFLOL!!!! :D

The only wallyworld I've been in, in Lancaster,Ca., went in told the clerk what I wanted, payed for it, and carried it all through the store to the exit.Very easy..

[John3-16]

Go to Wal-mart.go up to counter. under paid worker-can I help you sir? me -I need a box of 45's.-under paid worker- here you are sir any thing else? me - no thank you - under paid worker-have a nice day sir..-me - pay for 45,s and leave. what can I say,come to Texas have fun/good luck

[38SnubFan]

must be one of the only ones here that has never had a problem at Walmart's sporting goods counter? Nope. I've never had problems either. Then again, I try to stay calm about these things. If they want a DL or CCW to verify something, I produce it.

The local Wal-Mart where I live (actually, there's three - all at about equal driving distances from the house) has never given me a problem. The personnel I deal with there are just as much of a gun nut as me, or have been taught by the gun nuts. Thus, nary a difficulty.

Only once when asked for ID, one employee noticed my CCW permit and asked if she could see it. She never said why, but I didn't see the harm and handed it to her. She handed it back to me along with my change, receipt, and Driver's License and told me to have a good time at the range.

I guess Wal-Marts where you guys live need to step up to the plate and learn a few things from the stores around where I live.

-38SnubFan

[2nd Amendment]

Maybe we should define "problem". While I've had hideous problems in Automotive, I've never had a "problem" at the sporting goods counter, per se. I have always had to walk the counter person thru what I wanted, whther it be ammo, knives, binocs, whatever. THAT is what I see as a problem here...

If you are hired at Auto Zone they train you. Sure, they want someone knowledgeable to start with but it doesn't always work that way, so they make you knowledeable. Back to that reasonable customer service standard. That's all I want from Wally World. A guy who can pull out the right caliber, the right knife, etc without me having to direct him every step of the way. A guy who has some basic knowledge of what the law is: yeah, you're the right age, no the set hours are just company policy and not "the law", etc.

If you went to NAPA and had to pretty much find your own parts for the counter guy would you be pleased?

[cortez kid]

In PA, you just have to pay at the sports counter. My complaint is that their selection/ supply really stinks. Last time I looked, every caliber is used in a rifle of some sort. Also their prices aren't always that great. Can't get cheap .44 anywhere, but I usually beat wally worlds at one of my local dealers. Same with .38. In my case, I have to go to three different places to get the best prices on ammo in the area. Saving up for a reloading rig to get the "best price".
good shootin
kid

[Guns_and_Labs]

She said that they don't accept CCW's as a valid form of ID

Seems reasonable to me. They already have a training problem, based on the other comments in the thread, why sign up for more training problems? If they accepted other forms of identification, they'd have to train the clerks what they're supposed to look like. Hereabouts, no one knows what they look like, and they don't look particularly "official".

I'd guess you might cause vapor lock if you tried to use a passport...but they probably can't legally exclude them.

[logical]

NAPA is an auto parts specialty store....apples to oranges I think.

It's certainly understandable if the counter guy is not an ammo expert...there is probably only a customer there every half hour...the rest of the time he's in back incorrectly assembling bicycles with a pair of pliers or sticking price tags on skateboards. They sell golf balls too but I don't expect them to know which ones will spin less off a 7 iron at my swing speed. I don't get upset by them....I manage to get what I need without getting my blood pressure up.

What's not acceptable is for them to not know the law, the company policies and which is which.

[Guns_and_Labs]

What's not acceptable is for them to not know the law, the company policies and which is which.

Maybe they need to upgrade their Computer Based Learning...hire a few video game designers...put the program on Gameboy cartridges. I don't know about Walmart, but our computer-based policy manual is way too boring for the Nintendo generation.

[kaferhaus]

I buy some ammo from WalMart because it's close by and usually cheap (I only buy the white box stuff there anyway). The clerks are not helpful, I always have to "steer" them to the correct ammo.

They are usually cheerful and polite.

I live in a area with a dozen or so gun shops.... ammo is outrageously priced in all of them, the idiots behind the counter (ok some of them are ok guys..) are not much more knowledgable than the Wally world zombies... but most all of them are "commando wannabes" and imagine themselves as "all knowing".... and most are arrogant on top of it.... They all close at 5PM monday thru friday and are only open 11 or 12 to 5PM on saturday.... I like many people work until 5 or later and by 10 or 11AM on saturday, I'm either already at the range or have already gotten involved with other projects... I spend almost no money with these local shops.

They're poor business people who don't cater to the needs of their customers and make them feel less than welcome..... I owned a gunshop in central Florida for 15yrs and made a damn good living from it.... I sold it to "retire" and move back "home" as my elderly parents needed care and we (siblings) refused to put them in a "home". The fellow I sold it too had to do nothing but leave well enough alone and be nice to folks..... he bellied up 3yrs afterwards....

Although I never opened on Sunday, I was open noon to 9PM Tuesday thru Friday and 9am to 5pm on Sat.... I did 80% of my business from 6PM-9PM Tues thru Fri!!

Always had a fresh pot of coffee in the showroom and plenty of gun rags laying about the counters..... amazing how many guys picked up a magazine and ended up ordering something that I never would have invested inventory money in!!!

Local gunstore owners are their own worst enemy.... WalMart's poor service and lack of selection should be making these guys wealthy....

[George S.]

The local Wally World sporting goods section ca't seem to keep anyone in that section for any length of time. There is usually one person who works the entire section so he deals with golf clubs, fishing gear, camping stuff and anything else that remotely resembles "sporting goods".

The biggest problem I have at Wally World is finding somebody to wait on me. Sometimes I think that if somebody is at the counter where the ammo or guns are located, the clerk goes and hides. You would think that I might have money to spend at their store so why shouldn't I be waited on?

The last guy that was running the section was a hunter and the assistant store manager shoots at the same range as I do. When I bought a Marlin 917 last year, and waiting for the clerk to go thru the paperwork, the assistant manager came over (to take the rifle out of the store per the policy) and I wound up talking with him for a half hour. Nice guy and both him and the clerk were very helpful. Both are gone now.

I have pretty much quit buying ammo there as the local monthly gun show has an ammo vendor with cheaper prices than W-W. And I now reload almost all of my pistol ammo so there is no real reason to go to W-W for anything.

And FWIW, the prices at Wal-Mart aren't really that much cheaper than other stores. When the local store opened, I wrote down some prices of stuff I usually buy at Target and compared them about 6 months later. Wally World had raised their prices when I went back and looked again. They advertise cheaper prices but if look and compare, there's an awful lot of stuff in a Wal-Mart that is not that much cheaper.

[DarkKnight01]

Just stopped in there this afternoon to pick up some odds n ends... I circled the gun counter once, looking for the ammo I was in search of... (leaning over the counter trying to focus my poor vision I seen all rifle ammo... strange as last time this was where the 100 pack of .45 auto was that I bought...) After a few seconds a lady came and asked if I needed help... I said yea, I need a 100 round value pack of .45 auto, you got any?, she didnt hardly glance down as she grabbed the box for me... it was under the side I was standing on, not the one I was looking across at, she knew right where they were.... and this was a middle aged female... either she was a shooter herself or she knew her department well.... no problems paid for my other stuff while I was back there... Which was a smart move on my part... the lines up front were horrific...

(I didn't know they carried 7.62x39). The local stores here never have!

Yea I just seen those today too, in the 100 round value packs to boot.. I didnt bother to ask a price though...

[berettashotgun]

I get excellent service at my local store in NW OKC, and just picked up 12 ( twelve!!) boxes of hevi #5 3.5" for $7 per box. I really didn't need the stuff but I'll never have to load up turkey shells for my "loaner" xtrema. My local store has their share of uninformed speculation, but those GUYS always are willing to discuss and read the rules. BTW~ when I was all of 8 years old I strapped my new haven bolt .410 on my minibike, picked up shells at OTASCO on credit :eek: , but I had to sign for them, went to the police station for a can of snuff ( Happy Days rasberry~ no kiddin') for 50 cents. All this happened in 1973.In Moore, OK. Times change, along with the price of snuff, so just roll with them.

[KaceCoyote]

Anyone wanna hear a real scary story?



Wal mart is currently trying to acquire LOWES!

[jefnvk]

Always had a fresh pot of coffee in the showroom and plenty of gun rags laying about the counters

My guy always has a batch of cookies out. Wish I could buy more ammo from him, but honestly, I don't use him or Wal-Mart much. Unfortunately, I do most of my shooting in my backyard, and he is an extra twenty miles past Wal-Mart, just to pay a bit more. The honest truth is that most of my ammo is bulk surplus, so neither store really helps me. Dunham's and the internet gets the sales.

BTW, Dunham's sales people are really no better than Wal-mart, especially when you start getting into the foreign labeled milsurp. NEVER expect them to know what it is, that assumption could cost you your gun or life. You definitely need to know what you exactly need when dealing with them.

[softwaregurus]

ammoman.com

Cheap, available, no wally world involved.

Just my .02 :D

[Sistema1927]

Last Friday afternoon:

Me: "Hi, let me have one of those Federal bulk packs of .22"

Wal-Mart Clerk: "Here it is, is this for a handgun or a rifle?"

Me: "Both"

W-M C: Chuckling "OK, you look older than 21 to me, that will be...."

Normally, the "both" answer flusters them a bit until I tell them to punch in "handgun", but this guy was right on top of the situation.

[WDG]

In my home town they are building a new supper center. I was in the old Wal-Mart to get some 100 box of W-W 45 auto they were out and had been out the last few times I was in. The kid behind the counter said he would tell them they were out but last few times I was there they didn't have any. Had to go to a different WM to get the ammo and it was a new box that has the ammo in a smaller box minus the white styrafoam shell holders.

BTW my wife went to our walmart to get her dad one box of sinus pills on Sunday and they said she would have to come back on monday because the pharmacy was closed for the day and they could'nt get them. This is the Walmart brand over the counter stuff.

[MoeMentum]

It goes like this : Hey new Walmart employees, lets see, you to shoes, you to jewelry, you sporting goods........And you get upset, when they don't know the laws? Come on, they are just there to make ends meet, lighten up ! You know what you want, just help them out. Not a big deal.

[spacemanspiff]

i'm pretty certain that walmart includes all kinds of myths and lies when they train their employees. i had a cashier start quoting 'federal law' about why i couldnt take the bulk packs of 12 guage shells off the back wall and walk to the front of the store unescorted.

fortunately she wasnt completely brainwashed and she listened as i told her that there is no federal law about that, and explained what laws the feds and state have regarding ammo sales.

[R.H. Lee]

I don't know what you people expect. Walmart is a huge centrally controlled bureaucracy, and these people you're hammering on are just trying to make a buck. They don't make the rules. They don't even know what the rules are. All they know is what some 'manager' tells them.

[larry starling]

I choose to buy my ammo on line from natchezz or one of the other big distributor's! I'm one of those guys that thinks walmart is killing the little man! I tend to buy ammo from my local gun store at times, my reason for this is they allow me free access to the range at times and heck there good people trying to make a honest living! :D

[nipprdog]

Ya want cheap prices and then complain about the help. What do you expect?

These complaints about Walmart are just dumb.
http://glocktalk.com/images/smilies/goodpost.gif

Complaining about the quality of service at Walmart is like complaining that there is no Filet Mignon on the menu at McDonalds
http://glocktalk.com/images/smilies/goodpost.gif

Perhaps it's time THR added "Wal-Mart Bashing" and "LEO Bashing" forums so we could get back to pertinent gun-related discussions in General Gun Discussions and L & P.
http://glocktalk.com/images/smilies/goodpost.gif

You get what you pay for. Its sad, but if you want good service nowadays you probably have to pay the $2/box more somewhere else. They have to cut the costs somewhere- and the ammo is cheap.
http://glocktalk.com/images/smilies/goodpost.gif

Why do you go to Walmart and then get surprised by the service/response/attitude/etc you get? Talk about the dumbing down of America.
http://glocktalk.com/images/smilies/goodpost.gif

[Vitamin G]

My previous favorite wal-mart experiences...

"Can I have 3 boxes of 9mm value packs"
"Here ya go... Is this for a handgun?"
"Nope, submachine gun"
"..."
"Rifle technically"
"..."
"How much?"
"Uhh..."


"Do you have .223 value packs in stock?"
(Checks under counter) "Yup, how many do you need?"
"How many do you have?"
"Uhh... (Checks under counter) Ten"
"I'll take the lot of them"
"Uhh... okay... (Rings out items) So do you know where Bin Laden is or something?"
"Nope, High school reunion next week" (leaves)

[jefnvk]

"Nope, High school reunion next week" (leaves)
:D

[Edmond]

"Nope, High school reunion next week" (leaves)

Geez, in our society that's becoming so sensitive to stuff, I'm surprised they didn't try to notify some authorities or something like that. :what:

[Alex45ACP]

Last time I bought ammo at Wal-Mart:

Cashier: "Is this for a handgun?"

Me: "No, it's for a submachine gun."

Cashier: :what:

:D

Edit: Damn, someone else already said that :p

[Cosmoline]

For the 50th time (at least)

STOP SHOPPING AT WALMART!

:cuss:

[Mark8252]

I go to Walmart.... tell the clerk which boxes of ammo I want and pay for them. I have no need for the clerk to know anything other than how to ring up my purchase.
If you need someone at Walmart to help you with ammo you might consider a little more training in your choice of firearms. Maybe even read your owners manual?? I think depending on a Walmart clerks opinion is not such a good idea...unless that clerk is a known shooting champion of course.
I like Walmart for cheap ammo. For expertise I go to a reputable gun dealer....and even then to certain people. Clerks in a gun shop are not created equal. Best solution is to read up on the subject yourself and ask for help from someone you can trust. Ask for the owner is a good place to start if you do not know anyone in the store.
The exact same ammo at Walmart is considerably cheaper. When you shoot as much as I do its a good thing. Have no interest in reloading myself.

[Strings]

I've actually helped "train" some of the local SprawlMart employees in ammo sales. Goes something like this:

Me: "I need some 230 gr FMJ .45acp"
Sales Clerk: "uh..."
m:"ok... hand me a box at random, and I'll explain it"
SC:"ok... here"
m:"Cool. This is the caliber: 9mm. Underneath, it says 115gr: that means the bullet weighs 115 grains. And it says 'FMJ' here, that means 'full metal jacket'. So... find me a box of 230gr .45acp FMJ"
SC:" I get it now. Here: these what you're looking for?"
m:"yep. Now find me..."


Of course, I usually go in sometime around midnight, and they've got a bit of time to kill...

[SteveS]

I choose to buy my ammo on line from natchezz or one of the other big distributor's! I'm one of those guys that thinks walmart is killing the little man!

While natchezz, cheaper than dirt, etc. are certainly not on the scale of Walmart, I don't really consider them to be some kind of mom and pop operation.

Personally, I rarely buy ammo at WW (except for shotgun) because I can usually find better prices at Dicks or online. The few times I have purchased ammo there were ok and I got adequtate service. I have gotten poor service at gun shops, too. I asked a clerk for .45 ACP and he handed me .45 LC. I told him that this wasn't the right one and he said "it says .45 right here." I still go to that shop and usually just find one of the other clerks.

[tthiel]

I pretty much always have to have someone called to the counter and then point exactly to the ammo I want. I'm annoyed at having to call someone to the counter but I don't care if someone doesn't know ammo. They're minimum wage, what do you expect? The next day they could be working in the grocery section. The ammo is so much cheaper than gun shops that I put up with the minor hassle or I order by the case over the Internet.

[cidirkona]

I asked the Manager why he walked me to the front door after I bought a 10/22 there and he said it was Federal Law. I told him I found that interesting because I've purchased many guns all around Arizona over the past few years and never ran into that at any of the firearms shops I had been to.

He just turned and walked away.

-Colin

[The Drew]

It's a company policy based on their insurance policy... Gander Mountain always escorts a firearm out of the building when you purchase... For the same reasons...

[BluesBear]

I've asked clerks who were standing behind the counter for help, and got a dirty look, and "I'm on break!" more than once. Seems to me that should be a firing offense. Technically it is.

No Wal-Mart or Sam's club employee is to be anywhere on the sales floor during their break UNLESS they are shopping. This is a long time corporate policy. Wal-Mart has a very strict policy on such things.

The next time they tell you they're on break, ask them for their name first, then ask them for the store managers name. BTW, they MUST be wearing their name badge in plain sight at all times.

Actually it's better if you already know the store manager's name and just tell them that you'll mention their name to him.
Like I said, they're strict.

[Yooper]

Shopping at Wal-Mart is a lot like living a Kurt Vonnegut story. Just let the soundtrack from the Vonage TV commercial (hoo-hoo hoo-hoo-hoo) run through your mind, and be entertained! Where else can you have that much fun on a Tuesday night?

[GEM]

Let me tell you a story. My wife and I were having a party. So I went to a high end gourmet deli in Portland, OR. I wanted to set out a cheese plate. So I asked the woman behind the counter for what would be a good selection. She looked at me with scorn and said : "We have emmenthal. Do you know what that is?" And I said, Yes - it is the classic Swiss cheese.
Hmmph - she says - we have Caerphilly. I sez - Ah, an English Cheese, a fresher taste than the classic farmhouse cheddar. Used by Welsh miners and part of the Ploughman's lunch, a wedge with pickles. Such an arrogant and rude clerk!

My point - there are idiots everywhere. Remember we are descendants of primates - we are big monkeys. Go to the zoo and look at our relatives. Then go to WalMart or the gourmet store - not so different.

There are idiots in WalMart and the high end gun store. That's because - they are EVERYWHERE! :what:

[TechBrute]

My point - there are idiots everywhere. Remember we are descendants of primates - we are big monkeys. Go to the zoo and look at our relatives. Then go to WalMart or the gourmet store - not so different. Although employees of Wal-Mart give some credibility to Darwin, I was created by God. ;)

Sorry for the hijack, back to our regularly scheduled (and non-religious) thread. :D

[GEM]

No desire to have an evolution debate. If you believe in creation, then perhaps for some of us, they took out the monkey blueprints by mistake. :p

My point was that Walmart is not unique. Poor wages, no real incentives and people behave according to the minimum effort needed to keep that job. I've had crappy jobs with little chance of advancement in bad times in my life and I wasn't motivated to become a highly motivated employee. I got a better job.

[GlocksRock]

The last time I got ammo at walmart, the guy behind the counter used to work at a gunshop so he actually knew what I was talking about when I asked him for a particular type of ammo. It was nice for a change to encounter a knowledgeable walmart staff member.

[Control Group]

It's a company policy based on their insurance policy... Gander Mountain always escorts a firearm out of the building when you purchase... For the same reasons...
Maybe locally, but they certainly didn't when I bought a handgun there a few months back. I picked it up from theback of the store, then walked to the front all by my lonesome, carrying a black pistol case prominently featuring the Steyr logo on its side.

[TimH]

We had a great Walmard Sports Counter guy. I never really talked to him (I evesdropped alot) but he knew his stuff. He left and went to a office supply store. Finally got to talk to him the other day. Turns out he ios big into shooting, Life NRA member & NRA recruiter. I had to laugh while standing in the store he's saying how he LOVES GUNS & SHOOTING I'm sure some of the customers got a little squeamish :evil:

[BluesBear]

soundtrack from the Vonage TV commercial (hoo-hoo hoo-hoo-hoo) That's The Woo Hoo Song by The 5,6,7,8s. An all girl Japanese Surf Rock band.

[MoeMentum]

In my area, you are always escorted to the front door when you purchase a firearm, and I'm talking gun shops, not department stores, so it may very well be either a state or federal law.

[sm]

The dumbing down of America

Yep, seems to be a infectious disease which can be found in any Service, Retail or Wholesale business.

I don't expose myself to such "diseases".

One cannot change people places or things - don't mean I can't change playgrounds, playthings and playgrounds.

My time, my money, my choice.

I don't do stupid people.

[BluesBear]

so it may very well be either a state or federal law :banghead:
There is NO Federal law that says you must be escorted to the door. But you go ahead and think what you want. Wal-Mart is always hiring.

And I'll wager there is no such law on the books in ANY of the 50 states/commonwealths that comprise the USofA.

[Cosmoline]

IF ANY OTHER STORE were behaving this way, most folks here would be screaming for a boycot and crying bloody murder. But for some reason Walmart gets a pass. There's a blind, stupid loyality to that hideous hole which continues to baffle me. Why are so many shooters TOTALLY BLIND to what their dollars are supporting?!?

PLEASE STOP GOING TO WALMART!!!

AND IF YOU REALLY CANNOT KEEP YOUR WIDE BEHINDS OUT OF THOSE FILTHY AISLES, PLEASE DO NOT COME ON HERE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW TERRIBLY THEY TREAT YOU! That company is the heart of darkness, and has no more concern for your right to keep and bear arms than it does for the number of illegal aliens it employes. If you go in there, expect to be treated like something the dog brought in.

[BluesBear]

Gee Cosmoline, lighten up. Your have made us all aware of your complete hatred for Wal-Mart dozens of times previously. I for one and tired of hearing it.

I am very glad that you can afford to shop any place you choose. There are many people who don't have that luxury. Their financial situation or locale of residence makes Wal-Mart their best or only choice.

Personally I currently only step foot inside a Wal-Mart three or four times a year. Mainly because I don't have one nearby. I have Target and Fred Meyer stores that are closer.
But then they don't sell ammunition.
GI Joe's and Sports Authority do but their counter clerks are complete idiots.
So if I didn't live in an area that had 22 decent gunshows per year I might be forced to go to Wal-Mart in order to find cheap ammo. The last time I was in the closest Wal-Mart Superstore, they had 525 round Federal .22LR bulk packs for $6 and both counter guys were very gun knowledgable.

So you shop where you wish and let the rest of us shop where we choose.

And if you don't like what I have to say then put me on your ignore list (I'm already on more than anyone else on THR) since you have become the newest name on mine.

[Cosmoline]

The only reason you've heard me say this so many times is because of the countless threads where a loyal walmart shopper complains about the latest outrage (escorting gun buyers out, demanding to know the purpose of ammo purchases, demanding to search bags, etc etc etc). There is ALWAYS a choice on where to shop. If you choose to spend your money in a store that treats gun buyers like criminals, you should not complain about it when they treat you that way.

Trust me--if you place your faith in Walmart all you will get for your trouble is a knife in your back. It will be planted there when the executives decide the political or legal winds mandate removal of firearms from their stores. And then many of you will be SOL, since your dollars spent at Walmart forced the mom & pop FFL's to shut down years ago.

[Commissar Gribb]

Walmart doesn't usually have the evil guns I like.. Ammo dept. has never given me any problems though. I only buy there when I'm low and waiting for another shipment from CTD or a similar website.

In my area, you are always escorted to the front door when you purchase a firearm, and I'm talking gun shops, not department stores, so it may very well be either a state or federal law.

I dont see what's so special about the front door. What's to stop you from loading up, coming back in and shooting up the place? Or for that matter, sliding in a mag and shooting the guy who's escorting you? It just seems rather silly to me. :banghead:

[BluesBear]

The real reason Wal-Mart escorts you to the door with a firearm purchase is to discourage a straw purchase.

It would be all to easy for someone to purchase a firearm and then hand it off to someone else somewhere else inside the store.
They're actually supposed to escort you to your car to ensure it doesn't happen outside too.

It's not like your local gun shop where the sales counter is within spitting distance of the front door and they can see everything.

[Tory]

"The real reason Wal-Mart escorts you to the door with a firearm purchase is to discourage a straw purchase."

Not bloody likely.

The straw could take possession anywhere. The REAL reason for the escort is the suicide by a customer who bought a shotgun in Walmart and promptly killed himself onsite. Well, that and the subsequent lawsuit. :eek:

I'm NO fan of Wallyworld, but let's "keep it real."

[jwhisler]

The straw could take possession anywhere. The REAL reason for the escort is the suicide by a customer who bought a shotgun in Walmart and promptly killed himself onsite. Well, that and the subsequent lawsuit.



what's stopping people from doing this with the escort?


everytime I was escorted out of Dunhams for ammo purchases, my escorter was always 5 steps ahead of me and seemed like he was in a hurry

[BluesBear]

As a former Sam's Club employee I am keeping it "real".

That was the REAL answer I was given by the Wal-Mart/Sam's western region manager.

But you go right ahead and believe whatever truth your mind creates.

[RoyG]

Actually iirc it was a murder suicide at a Wal-Mart in AL that caused WM to begin escorting you to the door/car.

A guy bought a shotgun and shot his wife (a WM employee at the store) and turned it on himself.

[Strings]

>The straw could take possession anywhere. The REAL reason for the escort is the suicide by a customer who bought a shotgun in Walmart and promptly killed himself onsite. Well, that and the subsequent lawsuit.<

You aren't refering to the girl that was also buying her psych-meds at the Sprawl Mart pharmacy, are you? 'Cause they were doing the whole escort thing for YEARS before that little event...

[docfubar]

1) The reason Walmart escorts you out with a gun purchase is it is company policy. It's a big store and for liability reasons they don't want an incident to happen.


2) The reason "idiots" are behind the sporting goods counter is salary management doesn't let hourly management help pick their people. I got involved and PICKED my people when I ran sporting goods in my store for 5 years.


3) You don't like walmart stay out. The company has been good to me and I have seen stupid policies every where I worked, so lighten up or stop going there.


Want clarification on something else ask, but I am rant off and going to take the high road.

[RoyG]

3) You don't like walmart stay out. The company has been good to me and I have seen stupid policies every where I worked, so lighten up or stop going there.

+1

[Zundfolge]

Why are so many shooters TOTALLY BLIND to what their dollars are supporting?!?

Lets look at Walmart's competition.

Grocery stores like Albertson's, Kroger, Safeway ... all union shops so my dollars there are supporting labor unions that are actively trying to disarm me and make me a slave to the nanny/police state.

other Big Box stores like K-Mart and Target bowed to the antis years ago and stopped carrying guns and ammo.


So that leaves me with shopping for groceries at either Union stores (more expensive ... just as "evil" as Walmart as far as how the treat/pay their employees and just as bad service), or little boutique stores like Whole Foods Market or Wild Oats (more expensive and support political groups that make the Union run stores look like radical right wingers).


I'd rather support Walmart then those other idiots.

[Art Eatman]

I happen to know that WalMart's pay scale at their Thomasville, Georgia, superstore is a bit above prevailing wages. FWIW.

I've shopped at various WalMarts along I-10 from Tallahassee to San Antonio and on US 90 to Del Rio. No problems. Same in Fort Stockton and Odessa.

I've noticed that in the huntin'/fishin' departments, most of the clerks aren't very knowledgeable. But, they've never been unfriendly or unhelpful.

I won't say their service is all that much better or friendlier than other large chain stores, but I certainly have no cause to do any bashing. Generally, if somebody asks if I need help, my response is commonly, "Well, I'm probably beyond help, but..." Did you ever notice that when you get folks smiling, they tend to really WANT to help?

:), Art

[Edmond]

I don't know why there is so much "minimum wage" bashing going on here. To me, that just stinks of arrogance. I don't work for WM and I wouldn't want to (I can't deal with people that well :D ) but I know that they do pay more than minimum wage. They pay more than other retailers and definitely more than fast food.

Some people there aren't working there to live off of and 99% of the folks there are good people. Some are retired who work there for extra money, to meet new people and to pass the time. Some work there for insurance. Some work there for play money. Some people work there seasonal.

Like I said, I don't work for WM or any other retailer or fast food. But this talk of "minimum wage" this and that really isn't the High Road way, is it?

[Cosmoline]

I'd rather support Walmart then those other idiots.

You are a lot more patient than I am. If anyone dared asked me the purpose of an ammunition purchase or tried to "escort" me out with a new firearm, I would undo the transaction instantly and give them a rather angry piece of my mind before leaving their store forever. I might have to tolerate intrusive behavior from authorities, but under no circumstances will I tolerate it from a business which is supposed to be SERVING ME.

I have shopped at every gun store in south central Alaska. I have purchased firearms from most of them. I have never been treated the way Walmart treats its gun buyers. Not even the worst run shop commits these outrages. The choice is not between Walmat and S-Mart. It's between supporting self-serving big business who will sell you down river at the first opportunity or supporting LOCAL GUN STORES.

Sadly, many gun owners will bend over gleefully and grab the soap at the prospect of saving a few bucks on .223.

[pete f]

FIrst of all> I do shop at walmart sometimes, I prefer target, but around here there are 24 hour walmarts and sometimes that fits my schedule.

Two I have never been treated rudely or unpleasantly at a walmart. I have run into some unhelpful salespeople, but they have not done it with malice, either they do not know what i am asking about or they have tried to help and given me something they thought would work but did not. It is ok tho, they TRIED. I would be great at the gun counter but i would suck at the sewing, or housewares counter too.

Target did not cave in to the Antis. They had too many stores where the minimun wage help could not keep the books straight enough to satisfy the ATF and were told to stop selling guns or face a fine for every error. This happened under the Carter administration. Target stores have never posted no guns welcome signs around here. Target used to be a chain owned by the Dayton family(see moronic US Senator Mark Dayton) a HUGELY Democratic and Anti family, but they never got past their roots and in Minnesota selling firearms for deer hunters and duck hunters is a common thing, hence Target sold guns. I bought a 788 remington in 6 MM rem for 87.50 in 1978 . and a marlin 39A in 1979 for 139.50. but shortly after that Target was caught with too many unlisted firearms in too many stores and faced an edict to stop selling or be fined for every gun that was on the books but lost, or every gun in the store that was not on the book.

I have never been as poorly treated by a wal mart sales rep as i have been in many a gun store. never looked upon with derision as I pass on the over priced POS the gun counter clerk wants me to buy when i want to look at his model 99 savage sitting behind the counter.

[phorvick]

Let me do the math for my specific situation: Let's say I am out of 9mm practice rounds and am going to the range and I want 200 rounds. Wal-Mart is about $23 for the 200 rounds; travel is minimal. They usually have it in stock, sales staff is sparse, but I'll get what I want. Total cost: $23.

Local gun store, same distance as Wal-mart. They really don't carry much ammunition (primarily a clothes store and hunting accessories). Box of unheard of brand of 50 is $9.99, or $40 for the 200 rounds.

Local other big chain when there are sales. (Fleet Farm); closest one is a 50 mile drive; cost on sale is $4.99/box, or $20 for the ammo to avoid Wal-mart. But, my truck is such that the trip back and forth is a 7 gallon trip, or about $15 for gas, plus the $20 for the ammo, total $35.

So, Wal-Mart = $23
local gun store = $40
big competitor = $35

pretty easy decision for me. And, our Wal-Mart is clean, reasonably friendly, and employs a lot of local retired and youth for more than minimum wage.

[Cosmoline]

If you're going to buy in bulk, WHY NOT MAIL ORDER?! You can save enormous amounts of money while keeping your dollars away from the evil empire.

[TechBrute]

I have no problem with Wal-Mart. What I have a problem with is people complaining about getting what they pay for. No, I don't expect the clerk to know all the ammo any more than I expect the film guy to know about film speeds because they're probably the same person, and I don't want to pay for their knowledge.

If I want someone who knows what they're talking about, I'll go to the local gunshop, where someone MAY POSSIBLY know something about ammo. But I don't want to pay for someone's knowledge and service, when all I'm trying to do is buy some cheap 9mm. Heck, if someone would come up with a self-serve ammo machine that is cheaper still, sign me up. Until then, Wal-Mart is the closest thing to self-serve that you can get.

[TechBrute]

If you're going to buy in bulk, WHY NOT MAIL ORDER?! You can save enormous amounts of money while keeping your dollars away from the evil empire.

500rds 9mm
Ammoman - $75 to your door (Blazer)
Academy - $39 after tax (Blazer)
Walmart - $41 after tax (WWB)

Depending on what you're buying, mail order isn't always that cheap. And in some people's cases, they're already at Wal-Mart shopping for groceries or other things, so it's not even a special trip.

[DarkKnight01]

Depending on what you're buying, mail order isn't always that cheap. And in some people's cases, they're already at Wal-Mart shopping for groceries or other things, so it's not even a special trip.

Exactly, whenever I go there im not just picking up ammo.... its ammo... toothpaste... some deodorant... new pair of shoes for one of the kids...(10-15$ shoes for a kid thats gonna out grow them in a few months works for me ) some new ear plugs... bore cleaner... and whatever else I come across... I dont mind shopping at wal-mart, its a one stop place its convenient and its cheap... perhaps another 10 years when I have more money to blow ill be able to afford to buy ammo from my gun guy... but for now its ammo from wal mart, but I still buy my guns from the locals... when it comes to feeding your kids and making ends meet you save a few $ wherever you can...

[Zundfolge]

I have shopped at every gun store in south central Alaska. I have purchased firearms from most of them. I have never been treated the way Walmart treats its gun buyers. Not even the worst run shop commits these outrages. The choice is not between Walmat and S-Mart. It's between supporting self-serving big business who will sell you down river at the first opportunity or supporting LOCAL GUN STORES.

Okay, the issue keeps swinging back and forth between buying guns/ammo at Walmart and buying anything at Walmart ... maybe I'm wrong but I assume you're agianst the latter as well.

If that's the case then yes the choice is between Walmart and S-Mart.

Just where is this Nirvana of Retail Stores where you buy your food, staple items, clothing, etc, and get significantly better service and NOT support union thugs? (not that I've found better service AND supported union thugs ... I find the union folk to be worse then the non-union Walmart employees as far as service)

At any rate, as for supporting Local Gun Stores ... maybe the gun stores in Alaska are better then anywhere else in the world but my experience has been that I've had WORSE service at Local Gun Stores in general then I've had at Walmart.

There are at least two gun shops here in Colorado Springs where you couldn't get the schmuck behind the counter to urinate on you if you where on fire, let alone give good service. There are at least two others where you get good service, but if I had to buy my practice ammo from them I'd shoot about half as much as I do (which is not enough as it is).

John Ross addresses your concerns about Walmart and the local gun shops better then I could here (http://www.john-ross.net/walmart_ii.htm)

[phorvick]

"500rds 9mm
Ammoman - $75 to your door (Blazer)
Academy - $39 after tax (Blazer)
Walmart - $41 after tax (WWB)"

Must be a great WalMart. Our store is $11.34/100, or $56.70+another about $3.40 in tax, or about $60+ for the 500 rounds.

[JMag]

There have been many good points made in this thread. However, if you are selling something you should at least know something about it or know how to find someone who does, preferably quickly.

[countertop]

I split my time between two places - the Virginia suburbs of DC about 80% of the time and North Georgia the other 15-20% of the time.

I hate shopping at Wal Mart in the DC area because they are usually crowded, smaller stores, with limited stock of ammunition (whatever they get flies off the shelf, not that they don't carry it), and the stores are dirty (at least the two I go to - Dulles Town Center and Fair Lakes). In addition, most of the employees leave a bit to be desired and in the gun department are sometimes difficult to find, but no one has ever been rude to me or done anything remotly like I've read hear. For the most part, they mind there own business and give me the ammo I want.

I shop there because its simply cheaper. I can buy ammo at Blue Ridge Arsenal, the NRA Range, Virginia Arms, Potomac Arms, or now Dicks sporting goods. The gun shops are much much more expensive (as is the range) and while Dicks runs the occaisional sale I won't give them any business (I used to shop at Galyans in Fair Lakes alot - bought tons of ammo and a few rifles and a shotgun there). Wal Mart ammo is cheap and available immediatly. We generally don't shop for anything else there though.

In Georgia one of my first stops when I get to town is the big and beautiful Wal Mart Super Center. Its well stocked, clean, bright, and has an assortment of inexpensive goods. The employees are ALL very friendly and the sporting goods department is staffed by knowledge people. Maybe not as knowledgable as folks around THR but at least they know what ammo they have. In addition, if no one is around in that department, I can always find someone else in the store to get me ammo - at any time of the day. The prices are the same though. We do our grocery shopping and get whatever other supplies we need.

While it is true that Wal Mart has run alot of its competitors out, I find the town is starting to thrive as local business folks have adjusted to the market and now concetrate on what they can do better than Wal Mart. Thats the way the free market works. The only long term loss for the town has been K-Mart, and that simply brings a smile to my face. The other busineses that went under (and strip malls that remain vacant) are the result of poor marketing and customer service. Its not Wal Marts fault that the crappy dirty expensive food lion couldn't compete with Wal Mart and the other two supermarkets in town, nor is it wal marts fault that the Long John Silvers never had business.

That said, while I love to shop at the Wal Mart there, I can usually get ammo even cheaper just down the road in Chichamauga at the Pawn Shop/Gun Store where they sell bulk rifle and pistol ammo at Natchezzss prices with a very slight markup on bulk purchases, but without the huge shipping charges. Works for me, works for them. Plus, it gets people in to look at all the surplus and C&R and other rifles.

Bottom line - I like Wal Mart - they serve a function and are in deed a function of the free market. If you have a business that cant compete, reexamine your business model. Adopt or die. Thats what Darwin taught and its still true today (apologies to the creationists out there)

[gcerbone]

I don't get all this WalMart "evil empire" business. WalMart is like any other big chain. Some stores are great, some suck. They have very low prices because they have huge pricing leverage on their suppliers and because they are amazingly efficient in their inventory management. They got their start putting stores where other folks wouldn't put stores, mostly in rural America. They have had a very successful business model, and have made a ton of money doing it. They also happen to employ a hell of a lot of people. What is so evil about that?

Sure, they have some folks who don't know the difference between 9mm and .45. Of course, I had a clerk in a gun store try to sell me .45 colt when I needed .45 acp, and swore UP AND DOWN that they were the same cartridge. Point is, there are idiots everywhere. The walking you out to your car thing, yeah, it's dumb. But it's not a conspiracy. It's just what some cheesehead in authority somewhere decided they needed to do to comply with some other cheeseheads policy. Never attribute to conspiracy what can be explained by stupidity.

In fact, this thread has inspired me to updage my sig line.

GC

[Berek]

My favorite:

"I'd like 2 boxes of 150gr. Win. .300 WSM, please."

"Here ya go"

"No, these are .300 WM. I need .300 WSM."

"They're the same thing. You can use them interchangably."

"You're an idiot. I'm going to Gander Mtn." :fire:

{filing complaint with manager... going to get someone killed with that advice... .22Mag fits all .22's, right? }

Berek

[docfubar]

Well this thread shows us one thing........WE all agree to disagree!


I work at the "EVIL EMPIRE" and do it for a living to support my family. It pays the bills and puts extra money in my pocket. I buy my ammo there and my guns from the local shops. I have been to good stores and bad ones just like I have met good people and bad ones. It's the same all over, no matter where you live, we all take the good with the bad. But what do you do when you see something bad? From what I have read here you would rather yell at someone or give them a piece of you mind, stop shopping there or rant and rae about it here. Why don't you try to fix the problem?? WE ALL have the same enemies....the anti's. What is the first step in our fight against them???? Anyone,bueller, bueller....(sorry got carried away) anyway it's education. Try to teach the clerks a little. Heck I have been shooting and hunting for 22 years and I still welcome advice from strangers. But complaining about it is just petty. If you are not part of the solution you are just another part of the problem.

This is our sport ,pastime, hobby, whatever you want to call it. Why make things harder for everyone just complaining about idiots or bad service. Help them understand more and maybe things might improve for everyone including the idiots and us.

[cidirkona]

Agreed - I buy .40cal and .22 there, but everything else will come from a gunshop. The majority of the people that have worked at the gun counter at the Walmarts around here have no idea what they're doing -- but when I was a kid working at Popular Outdoor Outfitters, I had no idea what the calibers on the boxes meant, none the less grain, shot count, etc etc... There's a guy that works at our eastside Wally World that's a hoot to chat with.

"What'cha huntin' today?"

"1 gallon water jugs."

"Ahh yes, isle 19 around the corner. You show those water jugs a lesson!"

Then again, the guy that's normally at the northside Walmart always looks at me like I'm some ruffiant who's going to be shooting all the rounds on the southside or something... The central Walmart never has the same person twice at the gun counter...

-Colin

[gunhog1950]

:cuss: :banghead: I worked retail sporting goods and for awhile wholesale sales.The sad part about the WALLY MARTS killing the smaller FFL dealersIS believe it or not many times the gun MFGRS fault. (example) If Remingtom gives wally mart $10,000 worth of 870 expresses at cost of $189.00 ea/and give 'em 90 days same as cash they spread 'em out and use 'em as leaders, and still make money on the invested monies over the 3 month period. The poor dealer pay $189.00 + shipping or gas to run to the wharehouse then if he wants to sell it ..Whats' he to do mark it up $10.00 and make $2.00 or maybe even lose money.While evryone else is going to WM for the $10.00 cheaper gun. I'm gonna take the high Road on the WM comments. Just say I don't shop there. but there are alot of things happening in this country.many of you don't take the interest to follow,and it will bite you in the butt in the end....WM or not...If your not a member of an organization that puts fear into the hearts of the anti gun Rep & Senators in DC and vote.It won't much matter. If you are a member and vote ..ThankYou.--Jim--

[NavajoNPaleFace]

For all of those who are complaining about Wal-mart's ammo policies, the myriad of imcompetent store personnel, and other buying issues...what are you gonna complain about when Wal-mart eventually quits selling ammo and guns (and, it'll happen).

You'll be singing the opposite story about how great they WERE. :D

[Werewolf]

I didn't use to believe that Walmart was evil and still don't but they certainly do take advantage of their size to screw over manufacturers.

I work as a Financial Analyst for a large manufacturing firm. We make a wide variety of home building products. Our main customers are Lowes and Home Depot. A few years back our marketing guys decided that our products would make a good fit in the Walmart hardware section.

Walmart agreed. Long story short they wanted to pay less than our cost for the products. When we said are you nuts their response was imagine the visibility your line will get. After doing the financial analysis we told 'em to take a hike.

As part of the analysis I came to learn that in many many instances Walmart actually does pay less than manufacturer's cost for goods. Usually those goods are such that the maker does need to maintain the visibility that being on Walmart's shelves will give them and just raises the prices he charges to everyone else.

As a fine upstanding believer in the power of capitalism I don't fault Walmart for it's business practices. If you can buy a product for less than everyone else (hell - less than it costs the maker) then do it. That's just good business.

OTOH...
Give it time (50 years or so). Eventually Walmart will be the only retailer around just like Taco Bell was the only restaurant around in the movie Demolition Man.

[TechBrute]

Give it time (50 years or so). Eventually Walmart will be the only retailer around just like Taco Bell was the only restaurant around in the movie Demolition Man. I keep telling people that soon the only stores that will exist is a single Walmart for each community with a Starbucks and McDonalds in it. All other stores will be OOB.

[Edmond]

Give it time (50 years or so). Eventually Walmart will be the only retailer around just like Taco Bell was the only restaurant around in the movie Demolition Man.

I'm going to be in trouble because I don't know if I can understand the thing about the 3 seashells. :neener:

[Peet]

Cosmoline:If you're going to buy in bulk, WHY NOT MAIL ORDER?! 'Cause it is illegal where I live. Or was that a rhetorical question?


After reading some of this thread, I had to go to one of the local WM
stores and see for myself:

Northampton W.Mass (our own little bit of Cambridge - *SPIT*). Store is
cluttered and dirty (didn't used to be). Sales droids in sporting goods are
one surly older woman and a eager but only semi-knowledgable kid
(looked like highschool age). No firearms - they stopped selling them last
week. Minimal ammo - e.g. one box .38 Spl FMJ - at substantially higher
prices than my local gun shop.

Local gun shop sells mostly (90% approx) to LE and has a LOT of LE trade-ins
usually in very good shape. For some reason (*grin*) they have a huge pile of
Rem shottys piled around the shop lately.

I'll prolly continue shopping WM for socks and junk like that, but not even
much of that. Hell, the local "working men's " clothing store has better
quality EVERYTHING. So I pay twice as much for jacket/pants/shoes that
last four times as long. But that's totally off-topic...

Peet

[John3-16]

I sure am glad I live in Texas.stores are clean,people are nice,and price,s are low.