[mparris71]

I was in Wal-mart today went to the Sporting goods to buy some ammo, and ask them if they had an 870 Express 18" plain Barrell. I was floored by the reply "We don't sell them with 18" barrels because they are assault weapons" where do they find their firearm experts? I replyed. no they arn't, and they are perfectly legal. I could tell he dissagreed with me and he told me I would have to go to a local gun shop to get one. :rolleyes: If they don't sell that model fine, but why make up a bunch of BS.

[HankB]

I don't know where they find these people.

I recently visited the new Oshman's sporting goods in Northwest Austin and asked to look at an SW1911. The guy behind the counter wasn't completely clueless, but he *wasn't allowed* a key to the cabinet . . . he had to call the manager.

Manager comes over, takes the pistol out, and removes the trigger lock while pointing said pistol at my belt buckle. (I asked him not to point it at me, so he pointed it at someone else.)

Once the manager got the trigger lock off, he tried by main force to pull out the magazine. I had to inform him that there was a magazine release and show him how the button worked, whereupon he said he didn't like guns, had no use for them, and didn't know why anyone else did, either.

The regular gun counter guy - the one they weren't trusting with keys - just rolled his eyes.

Where do they GET these people???

[foghornl]

but why make up a bunch of BS?If ya can't impress them with brilliance, baffle 'em with BS..... Would be my guess.

[jsalcedo]

I was told by walmart that it is illegal for shotguns to hold more than 8 shots in the tubular magazine. More than 8 shots in a shotgun was
for police only according to them.

I don't think the info was correct..are they talking about the importation of sporting purpose shotguns VS "destructive devices like the striker or streetsweeper?

Asking a walmart employee for gun info is like asking the parish priest how
to pick up chicks.

[Nando Aqui]

Asking a walmart employee for gun info is like asking the parish priest how to pick up chicks Are you sure? Some are quite knowledgeable, you know. (You can figure out who I am talking about...)

[No4Mk1]

Actually, jsalcedo, I think you would have a lot more luck with the parish priest.... Remember, they weren't born priests....

What I don't get is why anyone would be surprised that Wal Mart has numbsculls working at sporting goods.... You get what you pay for! You want customer service, you better be willing to pay the little bit extra that a quality shop will charge. You want the lowest price, be prepared to deal with idiocy.

[greyhound]

On a slightly related note, I went to the Wal-Mart sporting goods section this weekend to look for swing swivels for a .22, and NOT as usual to buy ammo. Wouldn't you know it, there were two people behind the counter! Every time I need ammo, I have to have someone paged numerous times and then wait 1/2 hour! I was tempted to buy ammo just on general principle!:o

[Rebeldon]

I have only met a couple of Wal-Mart associates that worked in the Sporting Goods Department that knew anything about guns.

I've met a couple that admitted that they don't know anything about guns.

Most pretend to know about guns, but don't.

[Matt1911]

If you go to the Merriville Wal-mart 'round here,you'r apt to get a bunch of anti gun/hunting attitude,but just 50 miles south,in Rennsiller(rensel-tucky),you'll not only get someone who at least tries to help you out,but more than likely,a conversation on how last years hunting was,and "what do you think this year'll be like".
Sure is something to be said for small towns...
Matt

[4v50 Gary]

Good managers know where to put good people. The Wallyworld you went to sucks.

[TallPine]

I have only met a couple of Wal-Mart associates that worked in the Sporting Goods Department that knew anything about guns.

I have only met a few Walmart associates in any dept that knew anything about anything.

Why do you all somehow believe the sporting goods dept is going to be any different than the rest of the store?

Hope springs eternal, I guess ....;)

[DigMe]

I met a guy at my local Wal-Mart who works in the outdoors/gun dept. He really knows his stuff and it turned out he's a member here.

brad cook

[45R]

Wake up guys its not just Walmart. Ignorant people are everywere :uhoh: Sometimes it not worth the 1 hour wait at Walmart for ammo or other goodies.

[mparris71]

I wasn't surprised that the customer service guys did not know what they were talking about. Was surprised with BS answerers I got and kind of ticked off that the guy was referring to a plain Jane pump shotgun as an assault weapon. Just hope he's not spreading ignorance like that. BTW I haven't ever bought a gun from Wal-mart and now I never will.

[popeye]

Matt1911....M'ville is greatly effected by libs from Illinois infecting Lowell. Gun show in 2 weeks in Crown Point.

[BenW]

I was recently at Walmart renewing my hunting license. I don't know if it makes a bit of difference or if it's just a marketing ploy, but the employee that helped me was wearing a "Firearms Certified" badge with their nametag. Maybe sometimes Walmart fills in with whoever so you sometimes get someone who knows their stuff and other times get a borrowed employee from the pet supplies dept.:)

I would have tested the knowledge of the employee I dealt with to help you guys out by asking about the guns for sale, but of course CA Walmarts only have fishing poles in the rifle cases nowadays.:mad:

[ietrash]

I worked at a Wal-Mart, in sporting goods, while putting myself through Instrument school. Minimum wage, no insurance, no benefits, no overtime.
Believe me, anyone that is knowlegable about ANYTHING, that works at Wal-Mart, is merely biding there time until something better comes along !

[tech]

I called the local WM about ordering a winchester camp defender. At first he did not know what model I was talking about. Then after I described it he said "to racey for walmart". After talking to the manager I was informed they can only order whats in thier catalog and that was not offered. We had better shop at our local gunstores boys because if all we have is WM we are in trouble.

[Standing Wolf]

Wal Mart is my shopping destination of last choice: too much Chinese junk on the shelves, and customer service is twelve and a half miles beyond completely incompetent.

The one time I bought a selection of .22 caliber ammunition at a Wal Mart, the individual behind the counter seemed acutely afraid I'd go on a shooting spree on the spot.

[Ringer]

The WalMart by my office is where I buy ammo from time to time. Have never had any anit-gun remarks made so far. They rarely have anyone in the Sporting Goods Dept, but I'm still in and out pretty quickly. There is always someone in electronics right next door and they almost always have the keys to the ammo cabinet. I go get them, we play a couple rounds of - up, right, no your other right, yeah right there - and I'm on my way. Recently they have been keeping the .40 and .45 Value packs right on the counter where you can just grab them. I was there today and after she placed my ammo on the counter I told her I would pay for it up front because I was going to pick up some other things on my way out. She tells me I have to pay at that counter. I say what about the stuff on the counter I could just get that myself and take it up front. She says she is only doing what she has been told, ammo must paid for at the SG counter. I say OK pay and I'm on way out the door.

WalMart...it is what it is:scrutiny:

[Abenaki]

About 7 years ago I stopped off at Wall Mart before work to pick up some 22 shells. It was about 5 a.m. and there was not a soul to be found any where near the sporting good section. So I grabbed a couple of bricks off the rack and went up front to pay for them. When the lady tried to scan them a buzzer went off. Then the lady got the manager, who called security . Who gave me a lecture about security and who then marched me back to the sporting goods section along with the manager. I then paid for them and they marched me out the front door!:banghead:

Every time I get asked if these shells are for a handgun, I always reply that they are for my shotgun. :eek: And no one seems to notice.

Remember me must not scare the sheep!:cuss:

[zpo]

That firearms certified badge means they took a 20 minute course on the computers in the back. It teaches them to fill out the 4473s. I know, that used to be me.

[swampsniper]

Walmart here will not sell ammo between 9pm and 8am. If you are planning to hunt tomorrow best get your ammo early.:cuss: :banghead:

[Partisan Ranger]

I've decided that I will tolerate a high level of ignorance/B.S. at Wally World because those White Boxes are so freaking cheap! What can I say, my wife's back in school and our income is seriously reduced. Maybe in a couple years when she's raking in the bucks I won't mind getting bent over in the gun shops for $15 for 50 rounds of Winchester 9mm!

[NewShooter78]

The only person that has been knowledgeable at one of my local walmarts when it came to firearms and ammo was a retiree that was working in sporting goods. Everyone else is just there as a body filling an open position.

[dandean316]

No offense, but what do you expect? I'm happy just to get out of that store with all my stuff in the bag.

I buy guns from people who know guns. For Ajax---well, Wally World gets my money.

[Partisan Ranger]

...and let me add that the worst I've run into at the two Walmart's where I've bought ammo is amicable ignorance, not hostility.

Two times I got a salesperson who knew exactly what I wanted. One sales guy said, "This (WWB 9mm value pack) is what I sell most of the time." I asked him, jokingly, if he was going to ask what I was going to use the ammo for.

He rolled his eyes, and said "Are you going to kill anyone with it? Not that you'd tell me anyway?"

He was cool.

[PawDaddy]

I know a couple of the ladies that work in the local Wal-Mart sporting goods department. One, in particular, knows what's going on. I guess that at some time she hunted or had men in her family that hunted. She knows a good deal about guns and ammo. More than anyone else that I have dealt with in a Wal-Mart.

But, here it the South, alot of folks who work there are probably hunters/gun owners.

We have a Fred's Discount store in town. That is where I buy most of my ammo. It's kinda strange because their ammo is not behind any counter or locked up in any way. They also have a few long guns on display. They are in a rack with locks, but some of them are not secure because I have turned them at times to look at them. I could have easily slipped one out of the rack.

I don't know of any problems that they have ever had.

There is another Fred's that opened recently in a nearby town, but they do not sell guns or ammo.

[dave5339]

A friend of mine wandered into the local Kmart chasing after some Winchester Wildcat 22 ammo that they were advertising on sale.

The only person he could get to help him was an elderly lady. She was kind of confused about what was on sale.

My buddy pulled out the sales flyer and showed her a picture of what he wanted. The add was for a box of 50 Winchester Wildcats for $0.89/box. The picture showed the brick of 500. She pulled out a brick of 500 and rang it up, when she saw the price didn't match the add, she overrode the price. Rang him up for $0.89 per brick! My buddy cleaned them out of all they had, paid cash and walked out.

Semper Fi

[NRA Instructor]

There are two Wally World stores near me. One is staffed with friendly people who know firearms, especialy one of the managers who I always stop to talk guns with. He not only has offered to order anything I need but has let me go through his order book. He knows I'm an NRA Instructor who has to use my own firearms for classes and is willing to help on pricing.
At the second the sporting goods department does not have anyone staffing the department. I assume anyone who has a question about a firearm at the second store will not get a good answer from a clerk who answers a call for help message on the intercom.
It pays to shop around.
My local gun store owner has only basic knowlege and would never consider any discount, insturctor or not, but always ask that I send my students to him for their purchases. Sure.......

[Carlos Cabeza]

Never take a Ferrari to a FORD mechanic.

[OEF_VET]

Getting helped well at the Wal-Mart down the street from my apartment is about a 50/50 chance.

There are at least two people there who know what they're doing. The first is an older gent, probably in his late 50's, early 60's. You tell him what you need, he can find it on the shelf quickly, knows what it's for, and doesn't ask stupid questions. The other person is a woman who could be the first guys mother. She has to be at least 70, maybe older. But, you tell her you need some ammo and she knows where it is. You ask her if they have any 12 ga. game loads in the back, and she'll tell you about the first time she used a 12 gauge to go duck hunting and how the recoil felt. She's pretty cool.

Most of the other employees, to include managers, are about as dumb as a box of rocks. You tell them what you want and it's a game of left, up, back down, right, no, right till you get them to the ammo.

[Newt]

My local WM is in a small town and is the closest one for 30 miles or so. Small town in Arkansas = no harassment of any kind from the sporting goods guy. Everyone around here owns a gun, so to find an anti around here is far more rare than someone who isn't. The sporting goods mgr. knows his stuff most of the time. He left WM for a short time, but wasn't long until he was back. Guess the grass wasn't greener on the other side.... ;)

Newt

[mattd]

Buy the 20 inch one or whatever they come in, and then go to the hardware section of the store and buy a saw.;)

[repsychler]

I'll share my Stupid Wal-mart Trick:

I was shopping late one night (between 11pm and midnight)
getting last minute stuff for a camping trip the next day, and I asked if I could buy one of the knives they had in their cabinet. I was told they couldn't sell anything out of the cabinet at night. The clerk was unimpressed when I pointed out I could grab a 24" machete right off the shelf, but I can't have a 3" pocket knife.

[willyjixx]

sounds like a bit of laziness...........................

the anti wall mart rants always have me rollin. its always the same rant whether your a gun guy, car guy, truck guy or gal! but for some odd reason they stay in business................i remember in high school wall-mart yanked all music tapes an cds that had foul language an replaced em with the censored ones. apparently they are still in business!

as many people hate wall mart why in gods green earth are they putting em up all over the place barely 20 miles apart? because as much as people loath them they still want that sweet price even if it means dealing with completely incompetent people or getting substandard goods. i for one loved the response go get a hacksaw an buy the shotgun! the irony an looks on peoples faces would be enough to make me have to run to the jon! an make sure you pick up a case of ammo an soon as you get to your car start cuttin away before the manager has time to flee to safety

[hutch24]

The last time I was in wal-mart the guy at the the sporting goods counter suggested that I get my CHL so I didn't have to waste my time with the NICS check. But then I'm in Alaska so I expect a pro gun response most places I go. :D

[BallisticTip]

I always like the Wally World threads, reminds me not to go there.

[mattd]

chl = concealed handgun license? I thought they got rid of that for a Vermont style carry? I never had a problem at walmart, but one time I was buying some ammo, gave this women my id, about about 2 minutes of her trying to figure out how old I am she just guessed and was 3 years off.

[AZ Husker]

Most of you are simply wrong. EVERY WalMart has knowledgeable and trained firearms staff. You can usually find them working in the office supply or hardware sections. This new customer service method was developed and perfected by Home Depot.

[swampsniper]

I have not had a lot of luck in some gun stores. I was recently restoring an old percussion lock, had to weld up and recut some screw holes. I called several local gun shops, asked for a 6/40 tap. The best response was "why are you calling me, this is a gun shop". :what:

[mattd]

Shouldn't you've of gone to sears or hardware store to buy a tap?

[DigMe]

but one time I was buying some ammo, gave this women my id, about about 2 minutes of her trying to figure out how old I am she just guessed and was 3 years off.

Next time just look around for someone with one of the "Certified Math Expert" stickers on their name tag.

brad cook

[swampsniper]

mattd, a 6/40 is commonly used as a gun part. It is not a standard hardware store item these days, any more than a 5/40,or a 6/48. A really GOOD gun shop should stock them all. A really good gun shop owner or employee should know what the heck he is talking about, as well.:D

[SGT109FA]

Wal-mart
I was in Wal-mart today went to the Sporting goods to buy some ammo, and ask them if they had an 870 Express 18" plain Barrell. I was floored by the reply "We don't sell them with 18" barrels because they are assault weapons" where do they find their firearm experts? I replyed. no they arn't, and they are perfectly legal. I could tell he dissagreed with me and he told me I would have to go to a local gun shop to get one. If they don't sell that model fine, but why make up a bunch of BS.


Because they are minium waged dolts who could care less about what they sell.