Ammo Purchasing Question

I've been going to a big box retailer recently to buy ammo. Usually twice a week, and about 20-100 rounds each visit. I noticed a couple of employees made comments such as "you already shot all that ammo?"
Last time I was there, it looked like a manager in a suit who rushed over to talk to the employee helping me. I overheard him saying, "this guy is buying ammo like candy." He also said some other things I couldn't hear.
I have not been back to that store since then. Does buying a lot of ammo from one store cause management to get worried? I was only buying a few boxes a week on a regular basis. Maybe I heard the guy wrong, but I got the impression that I was not welcome to buy ammo anymore.

To heck with them!... next time go in there and buy your ammo wearing a turban.

Yea, this really made me angry, and I don't want some "officials" coming in to investigate reasonable ammo purchases.

I don't believe any big box retailers have limits on ammo purchases. If I'm correct, then those comments and perceptions are those only of the employees. I also don't know that Walmart or whoever you are referring to would allow even management-level employees to make a call on whether your purchase volume is reasonable or not.

Long and short, buy what you want, when you want, where you want. If they have any issues with that, I would let someone up the chain know about it and/or perhaps find another place to buy it. It all just depends on how you feel about it.

P.S. Where in Georgia are you? I would think ammo sales would be a fairly common affair down there.

Good luck!

Luckily there are other big box retailers in my area I can go to. Maybe management view ammo purchasers with suspicion if they buy a lot of ammo, especially since most non-gun owners seem to think a couple hundred rounds is a lot of ammo.

Well it is a "box store" you probably there best customer for ammo. They are use to the 1-2 box per customer a year sales. The manager didn't say anything to you, they didn't refuse the sale. Most likely the kid at the counter does not know any better, to them it is alot of ammo. Next time ask if you can get a case discount.

WalMart recently started playing the Homeland Security "Watch Out!" videos at their checkstands. They instruct citizens to be alert for unusual behavior and to report anyone who isn't acting like everyone else. Probably some vigilant citizen was alarmed by the threat posed by your multiple ammo purchases and reported you to the manager.

Don't you sleep better at night knowing that Homeland Security has our backs?

Buy online if you know where to shop its cheaper and you do not have to deal with the idiots you will encounter in local shops.

Sound like you just overheard some small talk.

I bought a box of ammo at walmart and the clerk didn't have any small bags, I said no problem I don't need a bag. He said" I can't let you walkout with ammo visible like that. It will freak people out" I almost laughed right in his face.

I never go into a Wally mart or Dick's or whatever for anything without getting a box of something (cartridges or shotshells). Its a matter of principle :)

I do get most of my stuff online, though - you can order by the pallet load and no one blinks an eye :D

I would think in this economy they would be grateful for your business.

Politely contact the stores head office and report that certain employees have been making disparaging remarks regarding your purchases at said store behind your back while you were within earshot.

Usually twice a week, and about 20-100 rounds each visit

Er, did you mean boxes??? Generally rifle has 20 in a box & pistol has 50. 5 boxes of 7.62x39 or .223 for example would be spent in a few mags!

20-100 rounds twice per wee isn't all that much at all. If they decided to report you to "the man" for sucpicious behavior the report would be laughed at with that volume. There are plenty of target shooters shoot 1k-2k rounds per week (some a lot more than that).

Just continue to shop and be happy.

I do know that a lot of local Wal-marts around here did enact a limit on ammo purchases (it varies by store, but I've seen one store that limited you to 6 boxes per day total, and another that limited you to 2 boxes of any particular type per day - you could mix and match brands to get larger quantities if you wanted), but most of those policies went into effect during the "Great Ammo Shortage of 2009" and per a friend I know that actually works in the sporting goods department of one of the stores, was just put in place as customers were complaining because someone would come into the store on the day they got their ammo shipments and would literally buy every box of the common stuff (particularly .22lr, .380, 9mm, and .45) - most likely just to jack up the price and resell at the next gun show.

I don't believe any big box retailers have limits on ammo purchases. If I'm correct, then those comments and perceptions are those only of the employees. I also don't know that Walmart or whoever you are referring to would allow even management-level employees to make a call on whether your purchase volume is reasonable or not.

Long and short, buy what you want, when you want, where you want. If they have any issues with that, I would let someone up the chain know about it and/or perhaps find another place to buy it. It all just depends on how you feel about it.

P.S. Where in Georgia are you? I would think ammo sales would be a fairly common affair down there.

Good luck!
All of the big box stores in my area have ammo limits when supplies are tight. I believe that Walmart still has a 6 box per customer limit on most ammo. Some clerks will ignore it now that supplies are a bit better than in 2008-2009. I have however had some odd looks and a few questions when buying 6 (100 rnd) boxes of 9mm.

In Georgia?! Where are you, Atlanta (land of the carpetbaggers)?

I'd figure in Georgia you'd have to buy ammo by the truckload before anyone would blink.

I bought a box of ammo at walmart and the clerk didn't have any small bags, I said no problem I don't need a bag. He said" I can't let you walkout with ammo visible like that. It will freak people out" I almost laughed right in his face.
I bought some blackpowder sabots for my Dad a few years ago. It wasn't what he wanted so I tried taking them back to Walmart. The woman behind the counter exclaimed, "That's ammo! You can't return that!"
You would have thought that I was bringing an IED in.

About 1 year ago I was in a local K-Mart looking for an item and swung past their ammo section, noticed the 22 bulk Federal was mis-marked for price. Quickly got a cart and bought all they had. Another customer who identified himself as a shooter asked why I was buying all the ammo, I told him to look at the price. He was shocked and appreciated it when I gave him two bricks before checkout. $5.49 for the 550 bulk packs were a good price. Most everything else was $25.49 - even price in computer was wrong at checkout - I paid and walked out pushing cart. Haven't been back in a while. Now have 13 of the 50cal ammo cans level full of 22LR for whatever and whenever.

You have to remember that these days you have two types of people working the box stores; those who are truly stupid and those who are not but can't find anything else and have a bad attitude because of it. This would be especially noticeable in the sports department. If ammo was not so cheap in box stores and shipping so expensive I would never buy there.

Don't you sleep better at night knowing that Walmart salespeople have our backs?

Fixed it... ;)

They should report you. For your behaviour.

Going there twice a week. To buy 60 rounds of ammo at a time. Of course you have made a name for yourself! How about going once a week. 120 rounds at a time. Or go crazy and swing by a few times a month for 180 rounds.

Unless you work next door and are stopping by for a soft-drink or chaw, it does look odd. I think.

AttackWatch.com

I stopped at Wally's to pick up a 100 WWB to run in a new 9mm and was asked if it was for a rifle or pistol. Told him rifle. First time with this clerk at this store, others no problem.

wow they must have a most wanted poster of me some where. when i went to pick up my stag model 3 stag sent non ca friendly ar 15s aqnd i wasnt able to pick them up worst off it would b a week b 4 i got it. it was friday and my doughter and i were going to go shoot 4 the 1st time. so i complained. and ny new friend kelly at the gun shop gave me a case of 1000 rounds of pmc bronze 223 55 grn bullets. foe 30$ . i asked him how much a case cost he said they had a pallet of it and was selling it foe 250 a case so i got one more hehe no one said any thing no one even looked twice at me and i live in ca

I looked for the report where a part of the "see something say something" program says something about bulk ammo sales should be reported. But as usual the link I read did not specify what is bulk ammo? Maybe someone else knows where to find it?

I wouldn't worry about it. Buy your ammo and leave. If they refuse to sell it to you then tell them, "Okay, your loss. Not Mine.", and buy your ammo elsewhere.

Unless all you shoot is .22 rimfire you should take up reloading! You can save money if you really shoot that much. At least I do reloading 45colt and 44spl.

FYI: People will take you much more seriously, and maybe read your entire post, if you use English. ;)

Sounds like they may just need some education. Invite them out for a day at the range, make shooters out of them and maybe they'll give you a heads-up on upcoming sales.