The Walmart Ammo Counter: The dumbing down of America

[Cosmoline]

I'd rather support Walmart then those other idiots.

You are a lot more patient than I am. If anyone dared asked me the purpose of an ammunition purchase or tried to "escort" me out with a new firearm, I would undo the transaction instantly and give them a rather angry piece of my mind before leaving their store forever. I might have to tolerate intrusive behavior from authorities, but under no circumstances will I tolerate it from a business which is supposed to be SERVING ME.

I have shopped at every gun store in south central Alaska. I have purchased firearms from most of them. I have never been treated the way Walmart treats its gun buyers. Not even the worst run shop commits these outrages. The choice is not between Walmat and S-Mart. It's between supporting self-serving big business who will sell you down river at the first opportunity or supporting LOCAL GUN STORES.

Sadly, many gun owners will bend over gleefully and grab the soap at the prospect of saving a few bucks on .223.

 

[pete f]

FIrst of all> I do shop at walmart sometimes, I prefer target, but around here there are 24 hour walmarts and sometimes that fits my schedule.

Two I have never been treated rudely or unpleasantly at a walmart. I have run into some unhelpful salespeople, but they have not done it with malice, either they do not know what i am asking about or they have tried to help and given me something they thought would work but did not. It is ok tho, they TRIED. I would be great at the gun counter but i would suck at the sewing, or housewares counter too.

Target did not cave in to the Antis. They had too many stores where the minimun wage help could not keep the books straight enough to satisfy the ATF and were told to stop selling guns or face a fine for every error. This happened under the Carter administration. Target stores have never posted no guns welcome signs around here. Target used to be a chain owned by the Dayton family(see moronic US Senator Mark Dayton) a HUGELY Democratic and Anti family, but they never got past their roots and in Minnesota selling firearms for deer hunters and duck hunters is a common thing, hence Target sold guns. I bought a 788 remington in 6 MM rem for 87.50 in 1978 . and a marlin 39A in 1979 for 139.50. but shortly after that Target was caught with too many unlisted firearms in too many stores and faced an edict to stop selling or be fined for every gun that was on the books but lost, or every gun in the store that was not on the book.

I have never been as poorly treated by a wal mart sales rep as i have been in many a gun store. never looked upon with derision as I pass on the over priced POS the gun counter clerk wants me to buy when i want to look at his model 99 savage sitting behind the counter.

 

[phorvick]

Let me do the math for my specific situation: Let's say I am out of 9mm practice rounds and am going to the range and I want 200 rounds. Wal-Mart is about $23 for the 200 rounds; travel is minimal. They usually have it in stock, sales staff is sparse, but I'll get what I want. Total cost: $23.

Local gun store, same distance as Wal-mart. They really don't carry much ammunition (primarily a clothes store and hunting accessories). Box of unheard of brand of 50 is $9.99, or $40 for the 200 rounds.

Local other big chain when there are sales. (Fleet Farm); closest one is a 50 mile drive; cost on sale is $4.99/box, or $20 for the ammo to avoid Wal-mart. But, my truck is such that the trip back and forth is a 7 gallon trip, or about $15 for gas, plus the $20 for the ammo, total $35.

So, Wal-Mart = $23
local gun store = $40
big competitor = $35

pretty easy decision for me. And, our Wal-Mart is clean, reasonably friendly, and employs a lot of local retired and youth for more than minimum wage.

 

[Cosmoline]

If you're going to buy in bulk, WHY NOT MAIL ORDER?! You can save enormous amounts of money while keeping your dollars away from the evil empire.

 

[TechBrute]

I have no problem with Wal-Mart. What I have a problem with is people complaining about getting what they pay for. No, I don't expect the clerk to know all the ammo any more than I expect the film guy to know about film speeds because they're probably the same person, and I don't want to pay for their knowledge.

If I want someone who knows what they're talking about, I'll go to the local gunshop, where someone MAY POSSIBLY know something about ammo. But I don't want to pay for someone's knowledge and service, when all I'm trying to do is buy some cheap 9mm. Heck, if someone would come up with a self-serve ammo machine that is cheaper still, sign me up. Until then, Wal-Mart is the closest thing to self-serve that you can get.

 

[TechBrute]

If you're going to buy in bulk, WHY NOT MAIL ORDER?! You can save enormous amounts of money while keeping your dollars away from the evil empire.

500rds 9mm
Ammoman - $75 to your door (Blazer)
Academy - $39 after tax (Blazer)
Walmart - $41 after tax (WWB)

Depending on what you're buying, mail order isn't always that cheap. And in some people's cases, they're already at Wal-Mart shopping for groceries or other things, so it's not even a special trip.

 

[DarkKnight01]

Depending on what you're buying, mail order isn't always that cheap. And in some people's cases, they're already at Wal-Mart shopping for groceries or other things, so it's not even a special trip.

Exactly, whenever I go there im not just picking up ammo.... its ammo... toothpaste... some deodorant... new pair of shoes for one of the kids...(10-15$ shoes for a kid thats gonna out grow them in a few months works for me ) some new ear plugs... bore cleaner... and whatever else I come across... I dont mind shopping at wal-mart, its a one stop place its convenient and its cheap... perhaps another 10 years when I have more money to blow ill be able to afford to buy ammo from my gun guy... but for now its ammo from wal mart, but I still buy my guns from the locals... when it comes to feeding your kids and making ends meet you save a few $ wherever you can...

 

[Zundfolge]

I have shopped at every gun store in south central Alaska. I have purchased firearms from most of them. I have never been treated the way Walmart treats its gun buyers. Not even the worst run shop commits these outrages. The choice is not between Walmat and S-Mart. It's between supporting self-serving big business who will sell you down river at the first opportunity or supporting LOCAL GUN STORES.

Okay, the issue keeps swinging back and forth between buying guns/ammo at Walmart and buying anything at Walmart ... maybe I'm wrong but I assume you're agianst the latter as well.

If that's the case then yes the choice is between Walmart and S-Mart.

Just where is this Nirvana of Retail Stores where you buy your food, staple items, clothing, etc, and get significantly better service and NOT support union thugs? (not that I've found better service AND supported union thugs ... I find the union folk to be worse then the non-union Walmart employees as far as service)

At any rate, as for supporting Local Gun Stores ... maybe the gun stores in Alaska are better then anywhere else in the world but my experience has been that I've had WORSE service at Local Gun Stores in general then I've had at Walmart.

There are at least two gun shops here in Colorado Springs where you couldn't get the schmuck behind the counter to urinate on you if you where on fire, let alone give good service. There are at least two others where you get good service, but if I had to buy my practice ammo from them I'd shoot about half as much as I do (which is not enough as it is).

John Ross addresses your concerns about Walmart and the local gun shops better then I could here

 

[phorvick]

"500rds 9mm
Ammoman - $75 to your door (Blazer)
Academy - $39 after tax (Blazer)
Walmart - $41 after tax (WWB)"

Must be a great WalMart. Our store is $11.34/100, or $56.70+another about $3.40 in tax, or about $60+ for the 500 rounds.

 

[JMag]

There have been many good points made in this thread. However, if you are selling something you should at least know something about it or know how to find someone who does, preferably quickly.

 

[countertop]

I split my time between two places - the Virginia suburbs of DC about 80% of the time and North Georgia the other 15-20% of the time.

I hate shopping at Wal Mart in the DC area because they are usually crowded, smaller stores, with limited stock of ammunition (whatever they get flies off the shelf, not that they don't carry it), and the stores are dirty (at least the two I go to - Dulles Town Center and Fair Lakes). In addition, most of the employees leave a bit to be desired and in the gun department are sometimes difficult to find, but no one has ever been rude to me or done anything remotly like I've read hear. For the most part, they mind there own business and give me the ammo I want.

I shop there because its simply cheaper. I can buy ammo at Blue Ridge Arsenal, the NRA Range, Virginia Arms, Potomac Arms, or now Dicks sporting goods. The gun shops are much much more expensive (as is the range) and while Dicks runs the occaisional sale I won't give them any business (I used to shop at Galyans in Fair Lakes alot - bought tons of ammo and a few rifles and a shotgun there). Wal Mart ammo is cheap and available immediatly. We generally don't shop for anything else there though.

In Georgia one of my first stops when I get to town is the big and beautiful Wal Mart Super Center. Its well stocked, clean, bright, and has an assortment of inexpensive goods. The employees are ALL very friendly and the sporting goods department is staffed by knowledge people. Maybe not as knowledgable as folks around THR but at least they know what ammo they have. In addition, if no one is around in that department, I can always find someone else in the store to get me ammo - at any time of the day. The prices are the same though. We do our grocery shopping and get whatever other supplies we need.

While it is true that Wal Mart has run alot of its competitors out, I find the town is starting to thrive as local business folks have adjusted to the market and now concetrate on what they can do better than Wal Mart. Thats the way the free market works. The only long term loss for the town has been K-Mart, and that simply brings a smile to my face. The other busineses that went under (and strip malls that remain vacant) are the result of poor marketing and customer service. Its not Wal Marts fault that the crappy dirty expensive food lion couldn't compete with Wal Mart and the other two supermarkets in town, nor is it wal marts fault that the Long John Silvers never had business.

That said, while I love to shop at the Wal Mart there, I can usually get ammo even cheaper just down the road in Chichamauga at the Pawn Shop/Gun Store where they sell bulk rifle and pistol ammo at Natchezzss prices with a very slight markup on bulk purchases, but without the huge shipping charges. Works for me, works for them. Plus, it gets people in to look at all the surplus and C&R and other rifles.

Bottom line - I like Wal Mart - they serve a function and are in deed a function of the free market. If you have a business that cant compete, reexamine your business model. Adopt or die. Thats what Darwin taught and its still true today (apologies to the creationists out there)

 

[gcerbone]

I don't get all this WalMart "evil empire" business. WalMart is like any other big chain. Some stores are great, some suck. They have very low prices because they have huge pricing leverage on their suppliers and because they are amazingly efficient in their inventory management. They got their start putting stores where other folks wouldn't put stores, mostly in rural America. They have had a very successful business model, and have made a ton of money doing it. They also happen to employ a hell of a lot of people. What is so evil about that?

Sure, they have some folks who don't know the difference between 9mm and .45. Of course, I had a clerk in a gun store try to sell me .45 colt when I needed .45 acp, and swore UP AND DOWN that they were the same cartridge. Point is, there are idiots everywhere. The walking you out to your car thing, yeah, it's dumb. But it's not a conspiracy. It's just what some cheesehead in authority somewhere decided they needed to do to comply with some other cheeseheads policy. Never attribute to conspiracy what can be explained by stupidity.

In fact, this thread has inspired me to updage my sig line.

GC

 

[Berek]

My favorite:

"I'd like 2 boxes of 150gr. Win. .300 WSM, please."

"Here ya go"

"No, these are .300 WM. I need .300 WSM."

"They're the same thing. You can use them interchangably."

"You're an idiot. I'm going to Gander Mtn."

{filing complaint with manager... going to get someone killed with that advice... .22Mag fits all .22's, right? }

Berek

 

[docfubar]

Well this thread shows us one thing........WE all agree to disagree!


I work at the "EVIL EMPIRE" and do it for a living to support my family. It pays the bills and puts extra money in my pocket. I buy my ammo there and my guns from the local shops. I have been to good stores and bad ones just like I have met good people and bad ones. It's the same all over, no matter where you live, we all take the good with the bad. But what do you do when you see something bad? From what I have read here you would rather yell at someone or give them a piece of you mind, stop shopping there or rant and rae about it here. Why don't you try to fix the problem?? WE ALL have the same enemies....the anti's. What is the first step in our fight against them???? Anyone,bueller, bueller....(sorry got carried away) anyway it's education. Try to teach the clerks a little. Heck I have been shooting and hunting for 22 years and I still welcome advice from strangers. But complaining about it is just petty. If you are not part of the solution you are just another part of the problem.

This is our sport ,pastime, hobby, whatever you want to call it. Why make things harder for everyone just complaining about idiots or bad service. Help them understand more and maybe things might improve for everyone including the idiots and us.

 

[cidirkona]

Agreed - I buy .40cal and .22 there, but everything else will come from a gunshop. The majority of the people that have worked at the gun counter at the Walmarts around here have no idea what they're doing -- but when I was a kid working at Popular Outdoor Outfitters, I had no idea what the calibers on the boxes meant, none the less grain, shot count, etc etc... There's a guy that works at our eastside Wally World that's a hoot to chat with.

"What'cha huntin' today?"

"1 gallon water jugs."

"Ahh yes, isle 19 around the corner. You show those water jugs a lesson!"

Then again, the guy that's normally at the northside Walmart always looks at me like I'm some ruffiant who's going to be shooting all the rounds on the southside or something... The central Walmart never has the same person twice at the gun counter...

-Colin

 

[gunhog1950]

Sad part about the WW story

:banghead: I worked retail sporting goods and for awhile wholesale sales.The sad part about the WALLY MARTS killing the smaller FFL dealersIS believe it or not many times the gun MFGRS fault. (example) If Remingtom gives wally mart $10,000 worth of 870 expresses at cost of $189.00 ea/and give 'em 90 days same as cash they spread 'em out and use 'em as leaders, and still make money on the invested monies over the 3 month period. The poor dealer pay $189.00 + shipping or gas to run to the wharehouse then if he wants to sell it ..Whats' he to do mark it up $10.00 and make $2.00 or maybe even lose money.While evryone else is going to WM for the $10.00 cheaper gun. I'm gonna take the high Road on the WM comments. Just say I don't shop there. but there are alot of things happening in this country.many of you don't take the interest to follow,and it will bite you in the butt in the end....WM or not...If your not a member of an organization that puts fear into the hearts of the anti gun Rep & Senators in DC and vote.It won't much matter. If you are a member and vote ..ThankYou.--Jim--

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

For all of those who are complaining about Wal-mart's ammo policies, the myriad of imcompetent store personnel, and other buying issues...what are you gonna complain about when Wal-mart eventually quits selling ammo and guns (and, it'll happen).

You'll be singing the opposite story about how great they WERE.

 

[Werewolf]

I didn't use to believe that Walmart was evil and still don't but they certainly do take advantage of their size to screw over manufacturers.

I work as a Financial Analyst for a large manufacturing firm. We make a wide variety of home building products. Our main customers are Lowes and Home Depot. A few years back our marketing guys decided that our products would make a good fit in the Walmart hardware section.

Walmart agreed. Long story short they wanted to pay less than our cost for the products. When we said are you nuts their response was imagine the visibility your line will get. After doing the financial analysis we told 'em to take a hike.

As part of the analysis I came to learn that in many many instances Walmart actually does pay less than manufacturer's cost for goods. Usually those goods are such that the maker does need to maintain the visibility that being on Walmart's shelves will give them and just raises the prices he charges to everyone else.

As a fine upstanding believer in the power of capitalism I don't fault Walmart for it's business practices. If you can buy a product for less than everyone else (hell - less than it costs the maker) then do it. That's just good business.

OTOH...
Give it time (50 years or so). Eventually Walmart will be the only retailer around just like Taco Bell was the only restaurant around in the movie Demolition Man.

 

[TechBrute]

Give it time (50 years or so). Eventually Walmart will be the only retailer around just like Taco Bell was the only restaurant around in the movie Demolition Man.

I keep telling people that soon the only stores that will exist is a single Walmart for each community with a Starbucks and McDonalds in it. All other stores will be OOB.

 

[Edmond]

Give it time (50 years or so). Eventually Walmart will be the only retailer around just like Taco Bell was the only restaurant around in the movie Demolition Man.

I'm going to be in trouble because I don't know if I can understand the thing about the 3 seashells.

 

[Peet]

Cosmoline:

If you're going to buy in bulk, WHY NOT MAIL ORDER?!

'Cause it is illegal where I live. Or was that a rhetorical question?


After reading some of this thread, I had to go to one of the local WM
stores and see for myself:

Northampton W.Mass (our own little bit of Cambridge - *SPIT*). Store is
cluttered and dirty (didn't used to be). Sales droids in sporting goods are
one surly older woman and a eager but only semi-knowledgable kid
(looked like highschool age). No firearms - they stopped selling them last
week. Minimal ammo - e.g. one box .38 Spl FMJ - at substantially higher
prices than my local gun shop.

Local gun shop sells mostly (90% approx) to LE and has a LOT of LE trade-ins
usually in very good shape. For some reason (*grin*) they have a huge pile of
Rem shottys piled around the shop lately.

I'll prolly continue shopping WM for socks and junk like that, but not even
much of that. Hell, the local "working men's " clothing store has better
quality EVERYTHING. So I pay twice as much for jacket/pants/shoes that
last four times as long. But that's totally off-topic...

Peet

 

[John3-16]

I sure am glad I live in Texas.stores are clean,people are nice,and price,s are low.