Does Wally World get different Guns?

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I have seen the walmart difference. I am in construction and am around tools daily. Not that many tools come from walmart but tape measures, squares, etc. sometimes do. I very much agree with the view point that they have their own model numbers with different build material or methods. Some things you cant figure out until they are side by side.

I currently do not buy those things there. They likely work fine for someone who uses them 3 times a year, but not daily. But that is why walmart sells them.... However, when it comes to general merchandice, I don't boycott them; I just usually cant justify saving .50 on a 10.00 item knowing it might not last as long. Yes, they would accept the return, but it gets old. I dont think they intend this to be the outcome, They get what they pay for from their suppliers, nothing more; and then they pass it on to you. Its really not all that different than construction. Building owners who beat up the contractors for every last penny think they are getting value, but in my experience, that is when the get what they ask (Specify) for, which is not necessarily what they want.

Specific examples: (For you doubters)
Stanly tape measure, lock quit working 1st day. It seems some of the internal parts were not as sturdy and still allowed the reel to wind the tape. (Yeah, I took it apart) I likely own 10 tape measures between home and work (And have owned many over my career so far). This is the only Stanly tape to do this. Most others are replaced due to theft or "Borrowing" :scrutiny:
Stanly Speed square: I purchaced one at WM, nearly all of the paint came off very soon after owning it. While the Stanly speed square in my shop at home is still pait covered and nearly 10 years older (Not from walmart).
Also, I have owned several black & decker drills for use at home. Walmart had a sale advertised for Black & Decker drills last Christmas. I looked at them in the store and they were noticably different than the ones at Lowes or what I had at home (Different model numbers also). I had my doubts and I did not buy it. It was probably a powered by a rubberband and a mouse :evil:
 
I know that walmart does buy products produced just for them, and buy in volume, as does Sams Club, Cosco, and other stores.

Of course, Trying to figure out if the Savage bolt action .22 lr are worth buying, as i found one for sale at walmart for about what it takes to fill up my mazda 3 with gas twice...
 
If Wal-Mart does ask for "cheaper" products from manufacturers then it is an unfortunate sign of the times. For a manufacturer with a decent reputation, be it Remington or Stanley, to knowingly produce a lesser-quality product, and then sell it at the nation's largest retailer, is pretty short-sighted. Although having been involved with large companies before I've seen more ridiculous things done by clueless management.

Interestingly Costco seems to get quality but "different" products built for them. I once bought a Toshiba laptop from Cotsco and the model number came up with very few hits on the web. When I looked into it further I figured out that Toshiba took parts from various model and built a special computer just for Costco. It was packaged in a very plain cardboard box with a sticker. In reality Toshiba probably was using up the parts inventory from various products that were being discontinued. An enclosure from this model, a motherboard from this model, etc. instead of writing off parts as scrap. But in no way could I tell any quality difference, and the price was right. So in that case it was a win-win for Toshiba, Costco, and the consumer.

However, if low-quality products are being built for Wal-Mart and still sold under reputable brand names, then it doesn't help the manufacturer's image, Wal-Mart sells them until customers figure out that they are junk, and the consumer decides that brand name is now junk. A lose-lose for everyone involved. Short-sighted indeed!
 
You know people used to ask this very same question about guns and a lot of other items, from Sears, J.C. Penny's, Western Auto, and any place else that sold a "store brand" product.

The only difference is today they don't put the stores name on the product.
 
Specific examples: (For you doubters)
Stanly tape measure, lock quit working 1st day. It seems some of the internal parts were not as sturdy and still allowed the reel to wind the tape. (Yeah, I took it apart) I likely own 10 tape measures between home and work (And have owned many over my career so far). This is the only Stanly tape to do this. Most others are replaced due to theft or "Borrowing"
Stanly Speed square: I purchaced one at WM, nearly all of the paint came off very soon after owning it. While the Stanly speed square in my shop at home is still pait covered and nearly 10 years older (Not from walmart).
Also, I have owned several black & decker drills for use at home. Walmart had a sale advertised for Black & Decker drills last Christmas. I looked at them in the store and they were noticably different than the ones at Lowes or what I had at home (Different model numbers also). I had my doubts and I did not buy it. It was probably a powered by a rubberband and a mouse
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And how much do eggs cost in China????:neener:
 
I don't know about the Stanley tools, but the master mechanic open end wrenches WM used to sell were made on the same machines, of the same stock as some name brand stuff you would know. the only difference was the markings. in fact, if you held them up next to each other, they were obviously the same other than the markings.

I know this because I once talked about it with the guy that designed those particular tools.

the same machines spit out four or five different brands of this particualr tool. all identical except for the name on it.
 
Trying to figure out if the Savage bolt action .22 lr are worth buying, as i found one for sale at walmart for about what it takes to fill up my mazda 3 with gas twice...
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the answer to that is YES, the savage bolt action rimfires are ratehr good guns, just be aware that if it does not have the accu-trigger (yes there are still a few floating around, sometimes stuff simply gets lost in a Distribution center for who knows how long) it's rather old stock.


as to the whole "wal-mart specific guns" thing, as many others have said, wally world guns are like wally world anything. they buy in such volume that the for lack of a better term "overhead cost per item" is insignificant. this allows them to sell at a lower per item profit, and still make millions.

the big huge reason Wal-mart, Dick's, sportsman's warehouse, etc. are in most markets THE source for certain fast selling lower cost firearms (read 10/22, the Savage rimfires, and so on) is that their bulk-buying and ability to sell at a lower margin cause them to literally be SELLING the guns at or just above what most FFLs would be paying the Distributor.

then you add in that they DO receive exclusive models from the big name makers, in addition to the already mentioned WM exclusive 10/22 models i think the last time i looked in the special order book at my local WM there were Sam Walton comemerative Rem 870s and 1100s, and i'm pretty sure they're the sole source of the Dale Earnhart 11-87, and i'm Positive that there are plenty of others.

In this same vein, Wal-mart is the reason, mom & pop type appliance stores (a dying breed, and btw i'm speaking from first hand experience) have for the most part stopped selling TVs, and DirectTV systems. too many times Wally world's "everyday low price" is within a few dollars if not the same as "dealer cost" for these items.
 
Wal-mart is the reason, mom & pop type appliance stores (a dying breed, and btw i'm speaking from first hand experience) have for the most part stopped selling TVs, and DirectTV systems. too many times Wally world's "everyday low price" is within a few dollars if not the same as "dealer cost" for these items.
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The reason Wal Mart sells them at a low price is because of one or more of these reasons:

- they are selling at a loss, in order to bring customers into the store to buy more expensive/profitable items (loss leader)
- Wal Mart can operate at a razor thin margin due to volume
- Wal Mart is offered a better price from the distributor or manufacturer due to volume

In any case the mom & pop store can employ the same methods but more than likely they will not succeed because quite simply their operational efficiency is much worse than Wal Mart. Their overhead cost per sale is far higher, and their volume is enough lower that they cannot afford to operate at a very low margin and likewise they cannot negotiate lower prices with the manufacturers. If they sell at a loss they risk going out of business.

Some mom & pop stores remain convinced that there is something about the personal service, or other over-and-above type of customer service that they offer that justifies their higher prices, and they are correct for some number of customers. However they are not justifying higher profit, but also a higher wholesale cost. Whether or not their intangibles are truly worth the premium price will be proven by whether or not they are "run out of business".

I put "run out of business" in quotes because truly they are not really going out of business due to Wal Mart or any other bigger company's action. They are going out of business because they are unable to compete for a dozen or more reasons, not only price. Location, convenience, hours of operation, accessibility, selection, advertising, marketing, timing, purchasing, merchandising, etc.
 
Some of Walmarts tv like the HDs are slightly inferior, they have them made that way. If you guys want you can look it up. I should note that most of the differences the consumer can't tell. I'd imagine they do the same with guns such as plastic trigger gaurds and such. I don't belive manufactuers would make it cheaper regarding function. Also, I belive walmart tried to get TORO to make inferior(thus cheaper) products for their stores

Also Stanley tools at walmart are cheap but they're also the same stanley tools at home depot(the cheaper models), Sams, costco, BJ's etc.
 
Some of Walmarts tv like the HDs are slightly inferior
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Inferior to what?

By what standard?

They have fewer features. They have a different model number, or different brand name altogether. They cost less.

Some cars sold at Ford dealers are inferior. They have them made that way.

Some MP3 players sold at Best Buy are inferior. They have them made that way.

Some guns sold at gun stores are inferior. They have them made that way.

???

This is pretty silly and makes no sense. I guess we are really saying that regardless of price Wal Mart should be selling only the most premium models or brands of whatever they sell.
 
Wal-Mart (Sams Club) has the clout to have products made more cheaply for them and they do so. I would think liability would limit the items, especially with guns. I bought a trampoline from Costco and needed a new spring. When I called the manufacturer they asked if I bought it at Sams or Costco. I asked why and they said the ones from Sams are manufactured differently and the springs are not as heavy duty. The packaging is the same.
 
Reported for closure.
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WHY?? If you don`t like the topic, don`t join the discussion. I know that some of the guys are getting a little off of the subject but who are you to determine what should be "closed".
The question of this forum does pertain to the fact of wally world selling different quality guns guys, so lets try to keep our discussion all in the same book, OK.
 
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