Funny experience at Big 5 today

[sniper5]

So I'm at Big 5 and see a box of 7.62 x 54R Winchester white box and decide to pick it up. A man ahead of me asks the clerk (who looked like highschool age and the type to play a lot of video games--dude) for a box of the copper coated .22 ammo on sale. The clerk hands him the box and he walks off into the store to continue shopping.

My turn. I ask for the ammo and he says he has to carry it to the cashier.



I just followed along and started chuckling as I checked out (I was done shopping). I couldn't figure out the reasoning. The shortest rifle I know of chambered for that round is about 40 inches long. It was pretty obvious I didn't have one in my pocket. .22 ammo is chambered in a ton of pistols. The boxes are about the same size (the other guys was a bulk box) so shoplifting potential isn't any different. I am 51 short hair, glasses, goatee and dressed in a polo shirt, slacks, and Nikes and am generally pretty polite and sociable. Not exactly your robber profile type.

The only difference I could see was that the stuff he bought was "like, you know, like just little stuff" and the stuff I bought was "like this big scary stuff, dude"

I normally shop an a Big 5 in an adjoining town and both the female managers there I have bought rifles from were very friendly and knowledgeable about firearms, particularly milsurp.

I just found the whole experience weird and funny. I wonder if this kid knows how many people walk off laughing at him.

 

[Cacique500]

I just wiped out my local Walmart of the Federal .22 bulk packs...and was escorted by the nice lady up to the front to pay. She didn't notice the full size 1911 and two spare mags I had with me. Oh well...at least I'm set on .22 for awhile.

 

[jakemccoy]

A few months ago, I wiped out my Big 5 of all their #8 and #7.5 shot shells. I think it was about 120 boxes, 25 shells each.

A clerk (girl) felt the need to chime in from halfway across the store. She says loudly, "What is that for? Whatever you do, please don't shoot me." No other customers happened to be in the store.

I looked at the manager who was helping me with the boxes. He shook his head to indicate that she's joking or a lost cause or whatever. That simple gesture by the manager prevented me from having to say something to the girl. It wouldn’t have been pretty. I’m glad the manager nipped the situation in the bud. I ended up politely telling the clerk girl, who was cute, that it's for sporting clays and that the boxes at the range were twice as much money.

The manager ended up getting a couple of other salespeople to help me carry the boxes out to my car. He was probably a gun owner.

 

[Nate C.]

The horror stories about Big 5 abound. This has happened on multiple occasions to me and continues to occur to a couple of of my friends who lack the good sense to leave California:

<Making firearm purchase--presents valid California drivers license>
"We can't take this--it has a PO Box listed."
"That's where my mail goes."
"We need proof of residency."
"That's what I just handed you. It's my drivers license."
"But we need something that shows you are a resident."
"Like I just told you..."
"How about a utility bill? Do you have a utility bill?"
"Sure, but they go to my PO Box as well."
"I don't know how we can complete this transaction."
"Get your manager."

....You get the picture.

 

[Zundfolge]

California puts PO boxes on drivers licenses? That seems kinda dumb to me. (but hey, its California)

 

[biscuitninja]

I really don't expect much out of minimum wage people. I got the same with 7.62x54r also. Apparently they were moving and didn't want to move all the ammo and there was a sale. They gave me the stinkeye until it was all over! Anyways good luck and don't work too hard.
-bix

 

[jakemccoy]

.....................

 

[jakemccoy]

Zundfolge wrote,

California puts PO boxes on drivers licenses?

typically, no

 

[ColinthePilot]

I had an issue at one of the big boxes today about that very same caliber. I'm out of 7.62X54R and wanted to shoot my mosin today, so I call the box and ask if they have any of said caliber in stock. The guy looks around, mumbles something, asks another employee and finally says "yeah we have some American Eagle at $11 and Fiocchi at $9." I thank him and hang up. I go to the store about 2 hours later and ask about the ammo. He claims they have none. I tell him I called earlier and was told they did. He talks to the other kids at the sports counter and one says "yeah I heard bill on the phone talkin about fomuchi or somethin." The guy says "oh yeah, the fiocchi, its right behind you, sir." I turn around to find 7.62X39. These guys seemed totally clueless as to the difference. I politely thanked them and left.

 

[gtrguy13]

The horror stories about Big 5 abound. This has happened on multiple occasions to me and continues to occur to a couple of of my friends who lack the good sense to leave California:

<Making firearm purchase--presents valid California drivers license>
"We can't take this--it has a PO Box listed."
"That's where my mail goes."
"We need proof of residency."
"That's what I just handed you. It's my drivers license."
"But we need something that shows you are a resident."
"Like I just told you..."
"How about a utility bill? Do you have a utility bill?"
"Sure, but they go to my PO Box as well."
"I don't know how we can complete this transaction."
"Get your manager."

....You get the picture.

I live in California and since I still live at home for some of the year (in college) I had to make up a housing lease with my Dad for them to copy so that I fulfilled the two proofs of residency at the same address when I purchased my handgun. Hows that for good safe California Law...

 

[Ed Ames]

California puts PO boxes on drivers licenses?

If you ask them to. CA changed the law in the '80s because of the high incidence of crimes where someone (clerk in a store, etc) copies or memorizes the residence address of a (usually female) stranger's DL (e.g. while she returns a product in a store, or buys alcohol, etc...) and goes to their home to rob, rape, and/or murder them.

The state still has your residence address on file but the general public cannot access that information... only your mailing address.

My CA DL displayed my PO box. Frankly, I think having your residence address on your licenses is insane. That's one of the most idiotic things about TX.

The solution, if you live in a backwards state and are concerned about your personal safety, is to have two "residences". That works for rich people but leaves the lower income folks (which means most folks) as victims.

 

[Moonclip]

I have experiemced this type of behavior also but not so mucg at Big 5 because I simply don't buy much there. K Mart has made smart ass comments when I have bought more ammo than they deemed I needed. Also I've had the help at Wal Mart tell me it was illegal for me to buy so much ammo! This was resolved.

The one I have been getting lately at the local library is smart alec comments like "who are you gonna kill" or something like that when I check out a few books pertaining to firearms.

 

[tmajors]

I won't buy guns or ammo from a store that thinks they have to escort me to the registers or out the door (for safety concerns) because I'm buying a gun.

EDIT: comments like "who are you gonna kill"...yea I got that once at Walmart buying a box of winchester white box 9mm.

 

[Diggers]

I would have bought a Mosin 91/30 a couple weeks ago at Big 5 BUT my DL does not have my current address on it.

In CA now when you move and change your address with the DMV, they change it in the computer but then just have you fill out the new address on a paper card you keep with you DL. I guess it’s to save money by not having to make a new DL for every address change.

WELL that card isn't good enough for Big 5 they told me I need a stamp on it from the DMV to make it official in order to buy a firearm.

I kind of just assumed that anything from the DMV was all ready official.......MY BAD.

 

[AlaskaErik]

My CA DL displayed my PO box. Frankly, I think having your residence address on your licenses is insane. That's one of the most idiotic things about TX.

Why? If you have my license with a PO Box address then all you have to is go to the borough web site and find out where I live. I'm not going to spend over $100 a year on a PO Box just so my home address isn't on my license. That's insane.

 

[Donut]

I really don't expect much out of minimum wage people. I got the same with 7.62x54r also. Apparently they were moving and didn't want to move all the ammo and there was a sale. They gave me the stinkeye until it was all over! Anyways good luck and don't work too hard.
-bix

Well, you know how intimidating you nerdy engineer types can be... You probably reminded them of their remedial math teacher, and the thought of long division made their blood run cold...

 

[Kind of Blued]

So do all Big 5's sell firearms???

I just moved to Denver from Kansas City and Big 5 is new to me, but I haven't been in one yet because I figured firearms weren't in the "Big 5" of money-making sporting goods.

The one near my house is really not very big from the outside.

 

[Jaenak]

When a clerk says he has to walk a particular item to the cashier it's because it's a "high dollar item". Meaning, if the kid stole the box of .22LR ammo, no big deal, it's like $3 lost. However if you stole that box you bought, it's alot more than $3 down the drain. It's a money thing, not a suspicious character thing. Also, the clerk doesn't decide when to carry the merchandise to the register and when not to, the dollar amount threshhold is decided by the store mamager or corporate. He has no choice in the matter.

Also, the fact that you don't fit the stereotypical "thief" profile means nothing. Yes there are many teenagers that shoplift, but there are far more full grown adults and middle aged people that do it than kids. Think about it, a teenager walks into the store with his friend, they're laughing and joking, every customer and every clerk has their eyes on them just waiting for them to do something dumb. However, a 45 year old overweight man or a 50 year old house wife walks into the store, no one pays any attention to them. Who's going to find it easier to shoplift? The one you'd think won't do it.

I work in a large nation wide retail chain. I have to deal with all this stuff every single day. Unfortunately.

 

[Ed Ames]

I'm not going to spend over $100 a year on a PO Box just so my home address isn't on my license.

This forum is full of people who insist that they wouldn't buy a kel-tec, mossberg, S&W Sigma, or similar because "Their life is worth more than saving a few hundred dollars on the price of the gun." How much is your life worth if you wouldn't spend even $100/yr to protect it?

OK, that's a tad over the top, but it's just one more precaution one can take. Yes, the info is available w/ court order or subpoena (PMB) or making the correct request (PO Box) but that's a level of extra effort that will deter some of the crooks. It's sort of like alarm stickers and motion sensitive lights... they don't really stop anyone but they do deter some crime.

 

[Bwana John]

Clerk: is this ammo for rifle or pistol?

Me: submachine gun.

 

[sniper5]

In reference to Jaenak's post:

Those points are all valid.

However the two boxes were roughly the same size although different shape. The price on the bulk .22 ammo was $13. My 7.62 x 54R was $20. And the man in front of me was in the same age range, also caucasian, also dressed conservatively, and also polite (at least I thought I was polite-"Could I get a box of that 7.62 x 54R? Yes, that one. Thank you.").

The funny experience remains funny.

 

[Ed Ames]

It's just loss prevention. Slip one round out of a box of .22 and you've stolen $0.026 ... slip one round out of the 7.62 and you've stolen $1. On top of that .22 bricks are usually glued shut so it's fairly hard to slip a few rounds out and put the box back. Centerfire ammo boxes use a simple flap closure that can easily be opened and reclosed.

It isn't strictly price of course. Look at Costco... they'll have a $3000 item on the floor while they lock a $300 watch up in a cage. Of course the $3000 item requires a forklift to move.... retailers are usually rather savvy about loss rates of various items at least by class and they take steps accordingly.

Oh, and profiles? Look up the profile of a shoplifter. There is none. Shoplifting spans genders, ages, races, income levels, all about equally.

 

[BruceRDucer]

BruceRDucer <<<arches eyebrows>>>

<<<arches eyebrows>>>

"I am 51 short hair, glasses, goatee and dressed in a polo shirt, slacks, and Nikes and am generally pretty polite and sociable. Not exactly your robber profile type."----Sniper5

<<<arches eyebrows HIGHER>>>

(BruceRDucer's face twists into a suspcious grimace, finally distorting into a monstrous DISBELIEF...)

Okay Sniper5, let's examine the facts according to your post:

FIRST: You admitted you were standing right there at the counter

SECOND: You spoke directly to the clerk, and told him exactly what you wanted.

THREE: You refused to make the usual assortment of grunts, nods, winks, foot-shuffling, and averting of the eyes, by which retailers identify people too stupid to be a threat.
So what does JUDGE ROY BEAN SAY?

"Guilty of....er....SUMPIN, by your own admission!"

 

[230RN]

No problem about the Big5 near me on Kipling and about 50th. Friendly, knowledgable, helpful.

In fact, one of their managers politely caught me in an error regarding C & R.

Imagine that!

And I thought I knew everything there is to know about firearms!

I, too, did not recognize Big5 as a gun store until I walked in there one day looking for something else. I thought all they sold were the politically correct sporting goods --soccer balls and baseball mitts. I was pleased to find "guhns" there.

Wish they'd sell handguns, but that's their choice, I guess.

 

[Old Dog]

With each passing day, I'm starting to believe that THR needs a sub-forum called Retail Store Bashing and Stupid Clerk Antics.

Either that, or we all need to stop obsessing about Wal-Mart, Big 5, K-Mart, Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, Gander Mountain, Dick's (have I missed any?) , worrying about store policies set by corporate morons, and what happens when we encounter sales people who are not gun people.

Personally, I support the latter concept.

And, by the way, in my area, the Big 5 folks are excellent with the mil-surps (ammo prices still stink, though).