Wal-mart quit selling "black" guns?

Confirmed. Article on Forbes

I have a real heard time believing there isn't a shred of political motivation behind this, but oh well.

Reported on CNBC moments ago. Discontinuing "all semiautomatic rifles" according to a press release from Walmark.

Whatever their rationale is, I have a hard time believing it's "just business." Demand for ARs might have slowed down, but I don't think they are just sitting around rotting on the shelves. I'd have to think that semi-auto rifles are one of their better sellers.

They aren't - most folks who frequent Walmart do so because finances are a little tight these past few years - they might have enough to buy a Pardner pump or similar, but they aren't shelling out $800+ for an AR.

Walmart has some of the best inventory analysts anywhere and the company operates on huge volumes at tight margins to create low prices. Their costs are WAY up after granting almost a billion dollars in wage increases alone, so expensive stuff that doesn't sell gets axed; plain and simple.
There might be one or two in mgt who think it might lessen some $$$ exposure because high-capacity weapons are the supposed favorite of mass murderers and if they don't sell them, their fannies are better protected - but in reality it simply comes down to dollars and cents. They do not want an $800 item - no matter what it - languishing for months on the shelves eating their margins with carrying costs.

Demand for ARs might have slowed down, but I don't think they are just sitting around rotting on the shelves.

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we have a few FFL's on here, maybe they can chime in on how well they are moving now-a-days.

Cause every time I walk into a LGS, it seems like the black rifles are just collecting dust. It will only get worse over the next couple months too, as hunting season is fast approaching.

tarosean said:

we have a few FFL's on here, maybe they can chime in on how well they are moving now-a-days.

Cause every time I walk into a LGS, it seems like the black rifles are just collecting dust. It will only get worse over the next couple months too, as hunting season is fast approaching.

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The LGS I sometimes visit has several all priced over $1K. They seem to just sit and sit which can be expected for a AR collection where the better guns are worth around $600. I figure they will be there for a long time.

As to Walmart? Oh well others will pick up the slack and ARs will continue to sell. Maybe not like no tomorrow but they will sell.

Ron

It's more than just a supply/demand issue. They're changing their sales strategy. They want to cater only to sportsmen. Which is insulting because their implication is that MSR's aren't useful for hunting. They're also going to stop selling semiautomatic pistols. If it were simply economic reasons they wouldn't stop selling pistols but keep revolvers in stock. I'd boycott them if I didn't already avoid WalMart like the plague. It also is a good strategy to negative publicity by getting out the AR market at a low point so if/when the next overly sensationalized gun crime involving an AR occurs they can say that they already quit selling them.


Wal Fart CEO, "Our focus in terms of firearms should be hunters and people who shoot sporting clays, and things like that," said McMillon in June. "So the types of rifles we sell, the types of ammunition we sell, should be curated for those things."


When asked at the time if he would curtail sales of semiautomatic guns, McMillon said "yes."

"We want to serve people who hunt and fish and we want to have a great sporting goods department," he said.

What are the odds that Wal-Mart would still be selling AR15s and AKs all day long if they were Norinco brand? I think what has clearly happened is that the bottom has completely fallen out of a purely-domestic industry, and there is basically no profit margin left for anyone, top to bottom, in the chain of production. Surely not enough for a company like Wal-Mart seeking the best bang for their money, globally.

I do think they then tried to explain this phenomenon in profoundly Fudd-ey language, though. Sorry, but I just won't believe an organization like Wal-Mart is even capable of being politically motivated in its actions (well, apart from directly-applicable lobbying efforts)

TCB

Walmart selling ARs never really made any sense in the first place. Walmart's whole business strategy is selling inexpensive products in high volume. Walmart customers go there specifically because they want to save money. The firearms that are attractive to these people are budget guns like the Maverick shotgun, Savage Axis, and Marlin 22s, not $800 ARs.

They're changing their sales strategy. They want to cater only to sportsmen. Which is insulting because their implication is that MSR's aren't useful for hunting.

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OH BS....it has been shown again and again - if it doesn't sell in a given time period it costs them money and they stop selling it - doesn't matter if it is an AR, a certain hot sauce or a brand of cell phone

The report I saw said no more guns that hold more than seven rounds. That would mean no more 10/22 or Marlin 60, or are 22's exempt?

I guess I need to stop by WalMart tomorrow and see if they are marking any down.

oneounceload said:

OH BS....it has been shown again and again - if it doesn't sell in a given time period it costs them money and they stop selling it - doesn't matter if it is an AR, a certain hot sauce or a brand of cell phone

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Did you not read the article? The CEO states that is the reason for the change. You think they're selling more budget pump action turkey and deer guns than ARs? Or at the very least making a greater profit margin on those firearms? Yeah, right.

CLP said:

Did you not read the article? The CEO states that is the reason for the change. You think they're selling more budget pump action turkey and deer guns than ARs? Or at the very least making a greater profit margin on those firearms? Yeah, right.

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I read the article. The only statement from Walmart is this:

“We previously carried modern sporting rifles in less than a third of our stores,” Lundberg told Forbes. “Our merchandising decisions are driven largely by customer demand. In our everyday course of doing business, we are continually reviewing and adjusting our product assortment to meet our customers’ needs.”​

The rest of the article is useless filler

CLP said:

Did you not read the article? The CEO states that is the reason for the change. You think they're selling more budget pump action turkey and deer guns than ARs? Or at the very least making a greater profit margin on those firearms? Yeah, right.

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Of course they are selling more Pump shot guns and deer rifles than ARs. I don't think you have a handle on their customer base.

For all the people that I know that have ARs, very few of them bought their ARs at Walmart.

Almost every hunter I know has bought, at least one, bolt action or shotgun from Walmart.

ARs sales would not come anywhere close to the number of bolt guns Walmart sales. Not even in the same ballpark

"Of course they are selling more Pump shot guns and deer rifles than ARs. I don't think you have a handle on their customer base."
Apparently the kind of people that can wait in line daily for two boxes of ammo, month after month after month, to resell on Gunbroker...

"As far as I know they weren't selling pistols at all."
Even Wal-Mart wasn't crass enough to go into the Hi Point business; that's just bad optics, there. Wal-Mart obviously has no interest in pursuing the home defense/tactical/self defense markets, and I can't say I blame them. It's hardly a subject top-of-mind for most of their customers shopping for baby shoes and frozen pizzas, constitutes a fairly expensive chunk of the store (dedicated employee properly licensed/trained, floorspace, hardened storage arrangement, licensing the store itself, zoning...there's actually a lot Wal-Mart has to put up with just to put that lousy kiosk in there), and really and truly does negatively affect a certain type of person of which there are too many, but who do contribute to the bottom line.

For gunnies, guns hold no special feelings as objects (especially cookie-cutter ARs of 'meh' repute at non-bargain prices), but for everyone else, they really do need to be in a certain mood to be comfortably exposed to them. Even gun-ambivalent or friendly folks that are rarely exposed will react in some small way when they walk by the case and glimpse some unexpected black plastic. Much the same way I shudder inwardly every time I walk past the Ram-sets at Home Depot (more so if I notice someone considering them who's just as much a goober as that one guy). Just my lizard brain notifying me there's a potentially hazardous object/person in proximity, but in others enough of a 'bad feel' to kill a soccer mom's appetite for (more) Hot Pockets & cost Wally a sale.

TCB

Walmart Gun Sales: Stores To Stop Selling Assault, Sporting Rifles Due To Low Demand

I thought someone on here said that Walmart was the largest seller of AR's in the U.S. Maybe I'm wrong.





http://www.ibtimes.com/walmart-gun-...ssault-sporting-rifles-due-low-demand-2069928

Walmart Gun Sales: Stores To Stop Selling Assault, Sporting Rifles Due To Low Demand

By Julia Glum @superjulia [email protected] on August 26 2015 3:36 PM EDT

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest gun retailer in the United States, confirmed Wednesday it will stop selling assault and sporting rifles at its stores. Although the decision came amid an ongoing national discussion about gun control, spokesman Kory Lundberg told Forbes it was not politically motivated.

"We previously carried modern sporting rifles in less than a third of our stores,” Lundberg said. “Our merchandising decisions are driven largely by customer demand. In our everyday course of doing business, we are continually reviewing and adjusting our product assortment to meet our customers’ needs."

Wal-Mart has previously taken action to reduce the number of weapons it sells. Wal-Mart has not sold handguns since 1993. In 2006, the retailer decided to stop selling guns in a third of its stores based on "diminished customer relevancy and demand in these markets," the retailer told the New York Times at the time. But it expanded its gun and ammunition stock three years later.

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Walmart is the largest seller of firearms in the USA. I'm sure most of that comes from them being by far the largest retailer in the USA. (4.5 x bigger than #2 Costco) I'm sure they are the largest seller of a lot of things.

MAKster said:

Walmart selling ARs never really made any sense in the first place. Walmart's whole business strategy is selling inexpensive products in high volume. Walmart customers go there specifically because they want to save money. The firearms that are attractive to these people are budget guns like the Maverick shotgun, Savage Axis, and Marlin 22s, not $800 ARs.

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$800 is being generous as some of the AR's Walmart had were going for over $1000. No one is going to go to Walmart to buy $1000 AR when they could go elsewhere and buy one for $600.

And you're right about Walmart's original business strategy because I know more people who have bought cheap .22's and shotguns from Walmart than AR's. In fact, I don't believe I know anyone who ever bought an AR from Walmart.

It funny, but Walmart dumping their AR's has generated more press for them guns than ever.

usmarine0352_2005 said:

I thought someone on here said that Walmart was the largest seller of AR's in the U.S. Maybe I'm wrong.

http://www.ibtimes.com/walmart-gun-...ssault-sporting-rifles-due-low-demand-2069928

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Yet I've heard time and time again that AR15 platform rifles are now the most common rifles in the entire nation...

I'd check the source on this one...

tarosean said:

we have a few FFL's on here, maybe they can chime in on how well they are moving now-a-days.

Cause every time I walk into a LGS, it seems like the black rifles are just collecting dust. It will only get worse over the next couple months too, as hunting season is fast approaching.

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At my LGS, they are well stocked with ARs at all price points. The majority of AR sales for the past year or so have either been the low price entry level guns like the S&W Sport or the higher end Daniel Defense and above rifles. The middle range AR market has tanked.

Has anybody else noticed that post-panic demand has tanked as well as the prices on ARs?How many "barely used" ones are for sale now? NOte they did not take them off the shelves, and are simply selling off their inventory at clearance prices. Not everything is an anit-gun conspiracy, and when you only stock a half dozen or less of the least costly models, it doesn't pay to occupy space with expensive ones that don't sell. The AR fad is going away with the panic.