I am a Wal-Mart store manager Questions?

[daorhgih]

Nice people, and REALLY nice people

This is cheery and puts a lump in my throat: "I want to say thank you to Wal-Mart. My town, Mountain View, Arkansas, was hit by a tornado on February 5th. The Super Tuesday Tornado tore a 123 mile swath through the state, staying on the ground for that entire distance, and leaving a half-mile to a mile wide path behind it. We lost all contact with the eastern half of the county. The hospital was destroyed. The ambulance service was destroyed. We could use the telephone locally (to reach part of the county) but long-distance service was out. Highways from the east, south and north were blocked. Before dawn, before communications were restored, a Wal-Mart truck arrived with a huge generator. They got power to the Murphy gas station -- the only souce of fuel in the county now, since no other station had power. They powered up the Super Wal-Mart. They began feeding people who had lost their homes, or who had no way to cook. More and more Wal-Mart trucks rolled in, with emergency supplies -- batteries, canned goods, blankets, generators -- everything we needed. And they did this before we could send a call for help. They did it without asking."
But what has it to do with the fact that more and more of our Constitution is be trampled on by too many institutions. Nice people help others in need. But REALLY nice people do all that they can to (1.) protect America, (2.) protect her Constitution, and (3) protect her citizens' jobs. Attention Wally: three strikes, and you are out. You try to act American but you smell Chinese. IMHO

Thank you, Wal-Mart.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

But what has it to do with the fact that more and more of our Constitution is be trampled on by too many institutions. Nice people help others in need. But REALLY nice people do all that they can to (1.) protect America, (2.) protect her Constitution, and (3) protect her citizens' jobs. Attention Wally: three strikes, and you are out. You try to act American but you smell Chinese. IMHO

If we want to protect the Constitution, we must elect politicians committed to doing that. And to do that, we must work and contribute to such politicians generously.

If we don't like Chinese goods, we should stop buying them. If we wouldn't buy Chinese goods, Wal-Mart wouldn't stock them.

We should elect politicians who will stop warping the US economy so other nations can out-compete us.

The onus in doing those things is on us, not on Wal-Mart, nor on any other corporation.

 

[Im283]

I would like to know why the old guy at the exit of the WalMart I go to wants to
see my reciept but not the merchandise in the bag to see if they match up?

 

[harbingerm]

I've wondered this, too. Why do they even need to check anything after I've PAID for it? That's what their wonder magnetic strip detectors are for, right? I just ignore them and walk straight on out. Never had a problem

 

[zxcvbob]

This town has two Super Wal-marts. About 2 years ago, the north Wal-mart stopped selling guns; this coincided with a new woman taking over as the regional manager (or maybe a little higher up than that; I'm not sure how Wal-mart's executive structure works.) They said it didn't make sense for both stores to sell guns so close together (about 8 or 10 miles apart.) OK, that's plausible.

I was in the south Wal-mart just a few days ago and I stopped by the sporting goods dept to look at ammo prices. The only guns they had were a few air rifles. I asked about ammo and they said they probably wouldn't be selling it much longer either.

It's not that big a deal here because Fleet Farm sells .22 ammo about as cheap as Wal-mart and has a better selection, and a new Dick's just opened up in January. But they are *way* out on the south side of town near the airport.

I just wonder what prompted Wal-mart to get out of the guns and ammo business here. It's not like them to leave money on the table.

 

[daorhgih]

Really Nice People

Abridged Quote:
"If we want to protect the Constitution, we must elect politicians committed to doing that. We must work and contribute to such politicians generously.
If we don't like Chinese goods, we should stop buying them. If we wouldn't buy Chinese goods, Wal-Mart wouldn't stock them." ///Does anyone remember the posters all over WalMart some years ago boasting of all the American jobs Wally had saved?? But then Wally went to China, and left Americans jobless, long before I started buying Chinese goods, because the customer was left with little choice. The "onus in doing those things" rests directly on the corporate shoulders. The burden of keeping America free and employed rests on ALL of us, including WalMart and many other corporations.\\\

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One of the reasons we have so many problems in this country is because alll too many of use want to shirk our responsibilities and blame someone else.

If you don't think American stores should sell Chinese goods, then stop buying Chinese goods.

And don't use the lame excuse, "Well, that's all they sell." Stop buying and get along without those goods.

 

[foghornl]

Steve, thanks for the info, and being willing to stand downrange and hold the targets***

Yeah, various Wal-mart stores/associates do seem to have their own ideas about things...

Couple of years back, Wal-Mart closest to me moved into a new store. Asked guy in the brown vest (Designated Sporting Goods Guy) about Winchester White Box value-packs in .45ACP. Said they never stocked them, even in the old store. I finally got him to look on the shelf, and lo-n-behold in the empty space was the UPC sticker for it. Really about the only knock I have.

***If you are willing to state that you are a Wal-Mart person, yeah you might as well have red & black concentric circles painted on you


Just kidding, Steve....but Wal-Mart has taken some lumps on most firearms forums.

Last time I was asked "May I check your receipt?" I replied "No need. My receipt is in perfect working order." and I kept right on moving.

 

[harbingerm]

If you don't think American stores should sell Chinese goods, then stop buying Chinese goods.

Easier said than done and if you do that you'll get to enjoy a much more difficult and complex shopping life. I'm not talking about extras, either. Just try to find shoes, clothes, etc that aren't made in China/Korea/Thailand or whatever place that exploits child labor. Heck, my beloved LL Bean boots that I've worn over the years used to be made in America. Now they (and their clothes) are made in China. Good luck buying ANYTHING electric/electronic that's made in the USA. Heck, I'm looking at my Garmin GPS on my desk and it says, "Designed in the USA, made in Taiwan".

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I'll give you an example of why they walk customers out with guns. Back in the 70's while an enlisted airman in the AF I was working parttime in a TG&Y store (similar to WW and K-Mart) in the sporting goods department.

We had lost several guns missing out of our inventory and after the investigation the manager, myself, and the assistant sporting goods manager were discussing what additional precautions we needed to put in place. I told him that one thing was that our employees needed to be more observant and make sure that everyone had a receipt for any firearm they carried out of the store. The asst. SG mgr. spoke up and said that no one could walk out without being chellenged. The store manager asked a friend of mine who happened to be in the store if he would help us with an experiment and attempt to carry two shotguns in boxes out the front doors.

He walked right past the front cashiers, through the front doors, into the parking lot, turned around and came back into the store and NOBOBY STOPPED HIM to ask for a reciept going or coming!

BTW, thanks Steve for starting the thread. I've been very disgruntled with Wal-Mart lately here in Alabama due to the lack of guns and ammo in the SG department!

 

[Darthbauer]

I would like to know why the old guy at the exit of the WalMart I go to wants to
see my reciept but not the merchandise in the bag to see if they match up?

They are checking the date and time. Making sure your not walking out with stuff you put in a bag and an old reiept.

Either that or they should be checking the bags and are just lazy.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Easier said than done and if you do that you'll get to enjoy a much more difficult and complex shopping life.

Who said would be easy?

Isn't anyone willing to make a sacrifice for the country?

 

[harbingerm]

I don't think that's the case. What's to prevent a person from buying stuff and coming back an hour or so the same day and stuffing smuggled in Wal-Mart bags with different stuff? Heck, I've gone through the detectors and set them off for whatever reason and never been stopped. Was told not to worry and even to have a nice day.

 

[harbingerm]

Vern, sometimes you can't simply get certain items made in the US anymore. Sometimes people are not in a position to afford the usually more expensive stuff that's made in the US. Patriotism has nothing to do with it in those situations. Also, I served in the US Navy for a long time and still shop at Wal-Mart. I stretch my limited dollars as far as I can. Besides, I like the convenience as ours has a supermarket as well. I do not consider myself an unpatriotic person at all.

 

[Kurt_D]

Dpris, Wal Mart made the decision to stop selling handguns in 1993. The only exception to that rule is for the stores in Alaska. You are correct in stating that a ffl holder can sell, or transfer any gun that said holder wishes, but for the most part we sell long-guns.

This may have already been stated, I didn't read all 3 pages. I'm a manager there too. We (as in our store) didn't stop selling handguns until 1999. I know because I bought my Beretta 96 there, it was the second to last sold at our store.

 

[Darthbauer]

I don't think that's the case. What's to prevent a person from buying stuff and coming back an hour or so the same day and stuffing smuggled in Wal-Mart bags with different stuff? Heck, I've gone through the detectors and set them off for whatever reason and never been stopped. Was told not to worry and even to have a nice day.

It might not be and they probably are supposed to be checking whats in the bags (they used to,dont know why they stopped). Its like I said, they probably just got lazy and dont care. If something comes up missing it isnt going to take money out of they paycheck. Its like the SG's at my work, they are supposed to be checking everyones bags and making sure they are not bring in or taking out any equipment that isnt assigned to them. Do they? No.

 

[harbingerm]

What pisses me off is why they even feel the need to check the stuff I PAID for. I'm sure as hell not going to waste the time letting them look in every bag and check every single thing against the receipt. I shop at many, many stores and none of them ever check or ask to see my receipt. Heck, from what I've seen, their direct competitor, Target, doesn't even do it. Still, it's fun to screw with them sometimes. I get some strange looks when they ask, "May I see your receipt?" and I ask them, "No, I'm not giving consent for search. Do you have a warrant?"

 

[TEDDY]

chinese goods

why pick on chineses goods.whats the US gov pistol,
whats the US Gov mg.
why do you buy foreign rifles /pistols.and ammo.
your reloading tools are partly foreign
RCBS is chineses castings.
the electronic measuring tools, most of your scopes are japanese or chinese
get real you guys.
I could not afford some of the tools I have.
as far as child labor this country had plenty up to the 1920s
other countries do not pay the high wages that northern US pays.south dont pay so good either.with out this country buying goods from the asian countries they would be far worse off than now.ever been to the carribian islands.not the tourist traps. I have gosh what a place stinks no facilities no running water,waste goes in gutter.

 

[harbingerm]

Teddy, it's not just the more expensive labor in the US. The US has one of the HIGHEST (if not THE highest) taxes on business which drives them overseas and/or just pass the cost onto the consumer making stuff even more expensive. We're really slitting our own throats.

 

[Titan6]

Steve- I hope you haven't bit off more than you can chew, and am really surprised the Mods have let this thread stay open since some people insist on going way off on tangents but any case... humor me if you can:

- When I deployed to pick up after Hurrican Andrew I noticed that the K-Mart in the area I worked in had made good use of their sporting good section and had several guards posted outside resulting in the store not being looted. These were just regular employees who were familar with firearms. Does Walmart have an offical policy prohibiting this? -And- Why does it not take more stringent measures to ensure that the stores are not looted of it's guns by criminals (as seems to happen every time a natural disaster hits)?

- I have purchased a considerable amount of ammunition from Walmart over the years. It is quite cheap but they only stock a few brands/ types. I know it is likely hopeless but do you think they would consider expanding their line?

- Considering the rise in gun ownership over the past few years and the drop in the number of firearms and ammunition dealers it seems Walmart is either ignoring market research or making a very poor business decision to abandon firearms sales. You say don't know the cause of this but do you know the mechanism behind how these decisions are made? Because to an outside observor it seems foolish.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

I OC'ed into Wal-Mart today, noone said anything at all, granted Iwas only in there for like5 m inutes, went in to grab a video game, knew exactly where I was going so diodn't take long. I am a man. I don't 'shop'.

 

[tourer]

All the Wal-Marts in my area Southern Maine, Seacoast New Hampshire, have given up on selling firearms.
Is this true of all Wal-Marts?

 

[ccd]

What happened to the Federal bulk packs of 223 Rem that Walmart used to sell? My local store used to stock it and sell GREAT quantities of it. I asked the clerk about this and he said they could no longer get it. Is this a Federal or Walmart thing?

Thanks.

 

[Sistema1927]

Steve, you have quite a bit of courage to start this thread.

My question:

I am 50+ years old, and look every bit of it. Why, when I purchase .22 ammo, do they still insist on asking me if it is for rifle or handgun? And then, when I answer "both", why do they sometimes insist that I narrow it down to one or the other?

 

[junyo]

My only question has to do with general laziness; the Big Book o' Special Order Guns. Unless you guys have really cut back what's stocked at a corporate level, what's on the website is a very limited selection of the Book. And there used to be a PDF version of the Book semi-hidden on your website. Any chance that electronic version still exists, so I can shop in my underwear and just put on pants to go down to the store and point, grunt and pay the deposit? The biggest problem is, at least around here, sporting goods never has anyone in the area, so it's a chore to track down someone, then have them track down someone that knows what's going on. It makes what would be a 10-15 minute transaction (at least the selection/order stage) a lunch hour devouring ordeal.