Ok, so there are countless posts on THR about people's experience while buying at Wal-Mart. I'd never bought a gun at Wal-Mart, so it got me really curious how my local Wal-Mart handles gun sales.
I wasn't really in the market for anything that Wal-Mart carries, but I didn't own a 10/22, and I think somewhere there's something that says I'm supposed to. Anyway, the closest Wal-Mart (the one on I-20 in Grand Prairie) didn't have a 10/22 in stock. The guy who answered the phone knew what a 10/22 was, but acted reluctant to check their stock. The few times I've been there (I don't like to shop at Wal-Mart), the gun displays were pretty barren. A quick call to the second-closest Wal-Mart (Uptown Blvd in Cedar Hill), and I located one for purchase.
I left work and drove down to Cedar Hill. I found a parking spot and ventured in. I was met by my favorite Wal-Mart fixture, the greeter. It was an elderly black woman who was working very diligently to make sure she said, "Hi," to everyone that walked in, and to give the little smiley faces to the kids.
I wandered back to the sporting goods department, where an older gentleman named Wilson greeted me immediately upon walking near the counter, even though I was trying to be somewhat unobtrusive. After wandering around the department for a minute, I approached Wilson and told him I'd like to purchase the 10/22 in the case. He said, "Are you the guy that just called," to which I answered in the affirmative. He said that he thought that he had one in the back in the box, and he'd check for me. He left and was back in about 5 minutes.
He asked me if I was familiar with the 4473, to which I replied, "Not really." He proceded to walk me through filling it out, and made sure to clarify that I couldn't abbreviate and if I messed up on 1-12 I could start over, but not if I messed up on 13 on. If I messed up after 12, he said, he couldn't sell me a gun. Those are the questions where you can disqualify yourself.
Anyway, I dutifully filled out the 4473, and he checked it over and then started to dial the phone. He was on the phone for about 3 minutes and then said, "You're approved." I mentioned that I had a CHL, and he looked really embarrassed. He apoligized for "holding me up," but I wasn't really that worried about it. He finished his internal paperwork and then called a manager over. The manager reviewed the paperwork and then started to ring it up.
When he rung it up, I said that I needed to buy some 9mm ammo. He looked really sheepishly at me and said that they can't sell ammo when you are buying a gun. I gave him the raised eyebrow look, and he proceeded to tell me that he already knew how lame the policy was since I'm buying a .22LR and I want 9mm ammo, but he said that was the policy and he valued his job. I wasn't too broken up about it, so I paid and they escorted me out.
All in all, it was less frustrating than some of the trips I've had to actual gun stores, but I did get to experience the joys of corporate "wisdom" with the whole "can't buy guns and ammo at the same time."
I wasn't really in the market for anything that Wal-Mart carries, but I didn't own a 10/22, and I think somewhere there's something that says I'm supposed to. Anyway, the closest Wal-Mart (the one on I-20 in Grand Prairie) didn't have a 10/22 in stock. The guy who answered the phone knew what a 10/22 was, but acted reluctant to check their stock. The few times I've been there (I don't like to shop at Wal-Mart), the gun displays were pretty barren. A quick call to the second-closest Wal-Mart (Uptown Blvd in Cedar Hill), and I located one for purchase.
I left work and drove down to Cedar Hill. I found a parking spot and ventured in. I was met by my favorite Wal-Mart fixture, the greeter. It was an elderly black woman who was working very diligently to make sure she said, "Hi," to everyone that walked in, and to give the little smiley faces to the kids.
I wandered back to the sporting goods department, where an older gentleman named Wilson greeted me immediately upon walking near the counter, even though I was trying to be somewhat unobtrusive. After wandering around the department for a minute, I approached Wilson and told him I'd like to purchase the 10/22 in the case. He said, "Are you the guy that just called," to which I answered in the affirmative. He said that he thought that he had one in the back in the box, and he'd check for me. He left and was back in about 5 minutes.
He asked me if I was familiar with the 4473, to which I replied, "Not really." He proceded to walk me through filling it out, and made sure to clarify that I couldn't abbreviate and if I messed up on 1-12 I could start over, but not if I messed up on 13 on. If I messed up after 12, he said, he couldn't sell me a gun. Those are the questions where you can disqualify yourself.
Anyway, I dutifully filled out the 4473, and he checked it over and then started to dial the phone. He was on the phone for about 3 minutes and then said, "You're approved." I mentioned that I had a CHL, and he looked really embarrassed. He apoligized for "holding me up," but I wasn't really that worried about it. He finished his internal paperwork and then called a manager over. The manager reviewed the paperwork and then started to ring it up.
When he rung it up, I said that I needed to buy some 9mm ammo. He looked really sheepishly at me and said that they can't sell ammo when you are buying a gun. I gave him the raised eyebrow look, and he proceeded to tell me that he already knew how lame the policy was since I'm buying a .22LR and I want 9mm ammo, but he said that was the policy and he valued his job. I wasn't too broken up about it, so I paid and they escorted me out.
All in all, it was less frustrating than some of the trips I've had to actual gun stores, but I did get to experience the joys of corporate "wisdom" with the whole "can't buy guns and ammo at the same time."
:banghead: 
with all the toys you bring to the range I'm sure you could fill it out with your eyes closed and using your left hand/foot. I think may be you were conducting your own mini social experiments 
