BS. i can't beleive people actually think that gun makers have special machines set to the side that make guns only for walmart.
Well, I can tell you that some of the camera kits that Walmart sells are different from the ones shipped to regular camera stores. For example, for more than three years now, the Canon Rebel kits (Rebel 2000, Rebel Ti, etc.) available to camera stores have included a 28-80mm zoom lens. The kits sold at Walmart usually include 35-80mm zoom lenses. This configuration, with the less expensive, less desirable lens, is not available to camera stores. In fact, the 35-80mm lens was officially discontinued many years ago by Canon. (We asked our Canon rep about were Walmart gets theirs. We were told, in so many words, that they do special production runs for Walmart. The camera body is the same, mind you. It's just the lens that's different.)
Sometimes the product is inferior at Walmart. On other products, they sell the same quality level of product for less. For instance, they sell the Nikon Coolpix line for about .5% less than we do. Yes, point-five percent.
Yes, Walmart does sell some of the same products for lower prices. They also sell lesser products for lower prices. Unbelievable to some, they even sell some of the same products for higher prices. Their price for size 123 Lithium batteries, for example. Our camera store sells them for 4.99 each. You can get them online from flashlight dealers for far less. The local Walmart here sells them for about $5.75 each, last time I checked.
Caveat emptor, and YMMV.
Incidentally, our price for the battery includes testing your old battery (and sometimes telling you we don't need to sell you a new one yet, unless you want to keep backup handy); installing the replacement battery (a real value-added service to some less-coordinated customers); cleaning of your camera's battery contacts, if needed; cleaning of your lens if requested, or if we notice it needs it; advice on the operation of your camera, including, if asked, what every single one of the buttons does, etc. This sort of personal service allows us to sell thousands of camera batteries a year; even though many people tell us they assume the batteries cheaper at Walmart, which they aren't.
-twency
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And now you know. And knowing is half the battle.
Edited to add:
I know this post doesn't talk about guns, but I assume similar business practices apply in the purchasing department when sporting goods are being ordered.