[CB1961]

I ordered a rifle from Walmart about a year ago, paid half up front and the other half when I went to pick it up. When the rifle arrived at the layaway counter I was told that I was not allowed to touch it!? I was sort of speechless for a couple of seconds and then told the clerk that she would have to pick it up and I walked her through an inspection as I stood beside her. Rifle was ok...but I won't do that special order business with Walmart again. Anyone had anything like that happen before?

[Foxtrot427]

Its probably not the actual rule. She is probably just a scardie.

[Chawbaccer]

I bet you didn't get to carry it to the front door either.

[Cliff47]

Sounds like a floating company policy to my nose. I would guess that a) the department manager was on break or lunch, or b) you got the most knowledgable member of the department staff to wait on you. Either way, it makes chills go up and down my spine.

[mogunner]

The last firearm that I purchased at Wally World, I was treated to the same spectacle. I wasn't allowed to touch the rifle and they carried it to check out for me. Needless to say, I have purchased no more firearms from Walrus world. Lucky the rifle had no damage, because the clerk at sporting goods was a total Moron and asked what I call the DS question of trhe year, when he asked "What type of ammo do you fire in this thing" (It was a .22):

[Chuck Dye]

One of my fonder memories is of doing the WalMart perp walk when I bought the honorary nephew’s .22. I nearly bit through my tongue controlling the urge to tell the layaway manager of the (licensed) 1911 under my sweater.

Grin and bear it, you will get over it.

[Commissar Gribb]

well it makes sense to me. There was absolutely no way you could have loaded the thing in the PARKING LLOT and brought it back in to shoot up the place. THEY'RE DOING IT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CUSTOMERS!

:banghead:

[Firethorn]

I once bought a rifle from them. Thought the carrying part was hilarious, seeing as how I was carrying at the time.

Let's see, which is more dangerous, an unloaded .300 wby w/o sights or scope, or a fully loaded CZ75?

As for the purchasing part, who was I to say no to a 75% discount?

Buying from wally world is a tradeoff of knowledge and convience for price.

[Mannlicher]

Whats the big deal about it all?

[Commissar Gribb]

if it wasn't illegal here (walmart sells alcohol), I would open carry at wally world.

[akodo]

Should have told them

'I paid for half the rifle, it is legally half mine, I say YOU cannot touch it!...now what do we do?'

[akodo]

this got me thinking....

Once you get approved, sign the form, and pay your cash, the gun is YOURS, right? Unless they are escorting you to the front register to pay, what is stopping you from saying

"STOP, this is my legally owned firearm, I have no assurances that you can legally have access to firearms, hand it over, or I call the cops and tell them you are stealing my property"

I mean, just to piss them off or freak them out.

[lbmii]

Should have told them

'I paid for half the rifle, it is legally half mine, I say YOU cannot touch it!...now what do we do?'

"Yes indeed! So now here we are; you and I in a bit of a quandry."

[carebear]

They can void the sale, tear up the 4473 (or void it and give it to you whatever is Fed reg.) offer you a full refund and ask you to leave the store. They can call the cops and wait for them to show up and have THEM accompany you and the manager on the escort out, all sorts of fun things.

It's their policy and their store. You should have asked prior or just put up with their stupidity and then never do business there again.

Why be a donkey?

[CB1961]

I hadn't done a lot in the way of firearm purchases recently,only own 3 rifles and a shotgun, so I suppose I was just suprised by the policy. I was polite, clerk was polite, just had a weird feel to it. Guess I have been out of the loop too long. Hoping to take up a bit of target shooting as a hobby, haven't done any of that since I was a teenager so I guess I'm in need of a refresher course.

[carebear]

It's not you.

It's just Wal-Mart's weird idea of a good idea.

[loumarch]

It's not just Wally World...Cabela's escorts you to the front door after a firearm purchase.

[wheelgunslinger]

Yet another good reason to do business with a local, independently owned gun store. And, one more reason to not do business with Wal-Mart.

[dpesec]

Even the independent ones do. When I bought my G19, it was taken to the cash register and placed with the clerk. When I went up I claimed it and it was fine. I suspect this was to prevent it from "growing legs" :D

[MHB]

I went through the same process about 6 months ago, they let me handle it to make sure it had no scratches or dings from shipping. They did put some plastic trigger lock thing on it before they handed it to me though.

[spooney]

I have no problem with the customer handling a firearm I am about to sell them, I work at Wal-Mart in sporting goods and to a man every person in my store thinks the walk to the door is asinine. I usually tell the customer the manager walking them out is to give all of us a chance to start running before you come back shooting, people are usually a lot more ok with it then.:evil:

[Falconeer]

I bought my 10FP at Walmart; they let me look it over while they were finishing up paperwork, then the manager walked me to the door with it when we were done. Goofy? Sure. Insulting? Nah... if I was insulted by every stupid thing that goes on these days I'd never leave the house. :p

[ScottsGT]

One of my fonder memories is of doing the WalMart perp walk when I bought the honorary nephew’s .22. I nearly bit through my tongue controlling the urge to tell the layaway manager of the (licensed) 1911 under my sweater.

Grin and bear it, you will get over it.
__________________


I actually did this at K-Mart when they were selling off all their guns on clearance. I bought a 10/22 for $125 and was being "escorted" to the door and struk up a conversation with the sales guy. As we got to the door, I mentioned how I'm allowed to carry this "1911 in .45", while patting my waist, "but not carry out an unloaded NIB rifle."
Of course I was not carrying at the time, but it was worth saying that for the shock value! Should have seen the look on the guys face! He still remembers me 8 years later and now He's working for Home Depot.

[hksw]

I don't know of any retail store that would like the negative publicity a shooting at their store would bring. Having had a couple themselves, I'm sure Wal*Mart can do without any more.

Certainly, having no-CC-weapon signs at the doors and having employees escort gun buyers out of the store will not prevent shootings by criminal individuals. It is, however, the most they can do when dealing firearms that will help ease the public's perception of safety (or lack there of with regards to the WM shootings). It is simply a show to ease the general non-gun savvy public's mind. Contrary to what you may believe, I'm positive there are well educated (formal and informal) individuals who realize that the signs and the escorts will not prevent shootings higher up in WM's management (corporate). But, to combat the negative stories of those shootings, what would you do? (I'm also sure WM management knows some CC license holders disregard the signs.)

[danurve]

Similar experience at Dick's Clothing & Sporting goods. Big friggin deal.
We are not talking about your favorite gunshop folks. All these other places like Basspro, Gander etc., are retail outlets following policy.

So, lets all get together now and bash Walmart in yet another Walmart & guns thread untill they are done & out. Some are already there. Sometimes I think the bashers are as bad as good ol~ rosie herself.
What place is next?

[Starfox]

The Wal-mart in my little town, does not have any signs posted, because if they did, I would not do bussiness with them.
But as soon as the CCW passed in Mo. the bank that I do bussiness with, posted a sign. NO WEAPONS ALLOWED so I called the main office and told them that I didn't appraciate them putting up the sign, just because CC was passed, They didn't have a sign up for all the criminals, why should they put one up for the law abiding citizen? And I was told "that is our policy" So I told them, "My policy is I no longer do bussiness with you. and I cancled my three accounts, plus, my sons, and my grandsons.:cuss:

[CB1961]

Didn't mean to dump on Walmart in general. I shop there quite a bit with my wife. Didn't mind the walk to the door, or general precautions with firearms, just thought I should have been able to check the condition of the rifle myself. The bolt was out and inside a plastic bag. It wasn't so much a bad experience as just a rather awkward one, but I need to adjust to that I suppose. Thanks for all the feedback. I did buy a shotgun at Basspro and was allowed to take it to the checkout myself...no escort...even had a box of ammo...although a trigger lock. Well I suppose the world has changed a lot in the attitude towards fireams, thanks to a never ending supply of nut-cases, guess I will just adapt. Thanks again: didn't know it would draw so much interest.