Walmart lost a sale...

[Joe Demko]

I was over to Wally World last week and decided to purchase myself a Marlin .30-30 along with a few other household items. I'm lucky I didn't have a stroke, instead.

4:55 pm- Golgo-13 tells the elderly gentleman behind the counter he wants a Marlin. Elderly gentleman gets out an inventory book and tells Golgo-13 he has to see if the store has one.

5:05 pm Elderly gentleman announces that he has found the display model.

5:10 pm Elderly gentleman pauses to make another customer a couple of housekeys.

5:15 pm A second elderly gentleman joins the first behind the counter and proceeds to worry about the location of his cigarettes, which he has lost.

5:20 pm Elderly gentleman I annonces that they have a rifle, but it is in the back and a manager will be required to get it. He totters off in seach of a manager.

5:30 pm Elderly gentleman I returns and declares that the manager is busy but will arrive directly. He gets out the yellow form and hands it to Golgo-13. Elderly gentleman II gives Golgo-13 instructions on how to fill it out that are noteworthy in the number of errors contained.

5:35 pm Elderly gentleman II tells elderly gentleman I that he has to charge Golgo-13 two dollars for the instacheck call and that the instructions are printed on a manilla folder by the phone. Golgo-13 pays the two dollars.

5:40 pm Elderly gentleman I puts down the folder, which he has been staring at in an uncomprehending fashion, and checks out some people who have brought in merchandise from other departments. Elderly gentleman II expresses joy at having found his lighter in his smock. No cigarettes, though.

5:45pm Elderly gentleman I is still staring at the folder, his lips moving slightly as he reads. No manager has appeared yet, with or without a Marlin .30-30.

5:55pm Elderly gentlemen I and II become engaged in selling a hunting license to another customer.

5:56 pm Golgo-13 bellows "Keep the &(^%&%$! two bucks! I don't want the *%$#@! gun anymore!" and leaves the store.

I'd just as soon they didn't pick their sporting goods clerks from the diminished-capacity population in the future. After I calm down, I'll give it another shot.

 

[Mike Irwin]

And Walmart just...

doesn't...

care...

that's the sad fact of the matter.

 

[Sportcat]

Good for you. I've gotten stick of standing around at stores waiting for service. Fire Wal-Mart an e-mail and let them know of your experience.

 

[seeker_two]

Buying guns from Wal-Mart is like buying a race horse from a glue factory...

Take your money to an actual gunstore...

You'll end up a lot happier...

 

[Tamara]

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the populace is willing to be treated like cattle in order to experience the joy of saving $1.37 on their shopping bill, and that only tells MartMart that their business practices are acceptable.

I know Wally-World has cheap prices on ball ammo, but I'd rather spend a dollar or two more somewhere else where I get greeted by name and they at least feign happiness over my visit.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

I was there yesterday. Again, no one in the department but found someone quickly this time....

Couldn't pay for the ammo there -- "No key"he said. had to pay up front and asked for my ID again...I said "I already showed it to the other guy." Still had to show it. "Ma'am this is expired." Me: "no it's not. Lady: ...oh no it's not, you're right."

Last time I waited so long, the guy before me left and after two efforts someone finally came -- but didn't work the department so I had to pay up front too. God I hate those people. Do they even care about an e-mail from an angry customer?

 

[Ironbarr]

Diminished Capacity!!!!!!!!

I resemble that remark

 

[No4Mk1]

We get what we pay for....

As long as we (collectively) are willing to abandon service-oriented businesses at the first hint that we can save a couple of bucks, then the businesses that remain will inevitably end up at the lowest common denominator.

I have personally begun to make it a point to shop for non-commodity goods at reputalbe well established local stores where I get a fair price and good service. I will still buy groceries and general stuff at the Wal-marts of the world, as that is what they do best, but when it comes to firearms, furniture, electronics, etc. I make it a point to shop local and spend my money where I know I'll get the service I want.

I read another post today about a guy taking a box-of-Glock back to the gunshop to get it put back together. Try something like that at Wal-Mart.

I don't blame Wal-Mart for this, they are simply giving the public what it says it wants, the lowest price. Golgo-13, don't take this post as disparaging of you in any way shape or form. I went through the same experience at Wal-Mart on several occasions before I decided for myself it wasn't worth it.

Edited to add: Amusing timeline, by the way...

 

[Cosmoline]

Good! I sincerely hope you get said Marlin from a local outfit. Heck, even getting one from Gunbroker is far better than going to the evil empire to buy your rifle

 

[CZ-75]

I think if Megalomart actually DID hire folks w/ diminished capacity, things would go more smoothely. So much for the idea that old folks provide better customer service.

 

[hillbilly]

Wal-Mart service is lousy.

But, I will still shop there. If I save $1.37 enough times, that's more money to spend on ammo.

And, if I can get ammo there cheaper, that's cash I save which I can eventually spend on things like a Gen 2 Mil Dot reticle for my Leupold. (Which I recently got, and which is lovely to behold, indeed).

I hate to sound crass, but for me, it's about the money. And that's it.

All that high sounding, well-intentioned stuff about shopping where they know your name is all fine and good.

But the ONLY reason those little shops "know your name" is because they use that as a selling tool to get you to drop your cash there.

In fact, knowing your name, knowing your favorite brand of ammo, etc, are all just "marketing ploys" which have the exact same goal as Wal-Marts buy it cheap and stack it deep philosophy.........Your cash in somebody else's pocket.

With that final reality in mind, what do I care if the person getting MY money in the end smiles or not? Just so long as I get the products I want for the price I can afford...............

That's why I buy most of my bulk ammo, etc, off the Internet. I know some "good ol boys" in the local gun biz.....but hey, my dollar usually goes farther when I shop online.

hillbilly

 

[spacemanspiff]

man, i feel bad for you people down there in the lower 48. our walmarts have what seems to be more competant employees in sporting goods than yours do. one, is an older guy who knows how to do his job and is always willing to show off the new guns or knives. he helped me decide which shotgun to buy, and although i bought it from a different walmart store, still had good customer service. the only thing they were uncertain of was whether or not they had to photocopy my DL and CHL. they decided they didnt, since all that data was written on the 4473 and in their logbook.

and it was purchased at 9:30 pm, they were grateful they didnt have to call in the NICS. the escort even apologized about having to carry the gun to the doors with me.

i might buy a colt 1991a1 from them, if i ever save up enough nickels and dimes.

 

[Dr.Rob]

If I want to seriously look at anything in a locked case at wally world I request a manager immediately.

Sorry you had a bad time.

 

[Tamara]

In fact, knowing your name, knowing your favorite brand of ammo, etc, are all just "marketing ploys" which have the exact same goal as Wal-Marts buy it cheap and stack it deep philosophy.........Your cash in somebody else's pocket.

With that final reality in mind, what do I care if the person getting MY money in the end smiles or not? Just so long as I get the products I want for the price I can afford...............

Wal-Mart has been oddly unresponsive to my requests to stock .38 Super and 10mm Auto in Cor-Bon, Fiocchi and Georgia Arms flavors at any price. Hence my continued patronage of those places that do. You'll also note that I used the term "feign happiness" over my patronage. I don't know or care if the guys at Bubba's Gun Shack call me everything but a child of God as they see my car roll into the parking lot, and mutter "I thought that blankety-blank would never leave!" after I walk out the door, as long as they play Steppin Fetchit while I'm in the store and continue meeting my needs and requests in a timely and personalized fashion.

 

[KC]

What are you complaining about? Here in the PRCa, Wal-Mart does not *sell* guns anymore, only ammo.
As far as piss-poor service goes, I have a nice silver coache's whistle on a lanyard--it's one helluva attention getter, and when the manager comes running, service improves noticeably. (A whistle is more carryable than the compressed air horns, and harder to accidently trip.)

 

[10-Ring]

I must have gotten pretty lucky. The Walmart near my house has a pretty good guy in sporting goods. He already knows when he sees me, I'm buying up his 9mm 100 packs

 

[MJRW]

Am I the only one that has had positive experiences at Wal-Mart? I bought a 10/22 there and I buy ammo on occassion, too. And the staff at the Manassas Wal-Mart has always been friendly to me and the few times I've had questions has answered them with either correct answers or an honest "I don't know, sir."

 

[sm]

You teach people how to treat you.

I'm with Tamara on this. Strongly I might add.

I spent too many years " in retail", customer service and product selections the foundations of practice.

Wally World and others have proven they can make the consumer drive out of their way, traffic, parking headaches coupled with this is "what" we define what you "will buy" with "no service".

These people used to advertise "American Made" , Wally just opened a Bejing super store--they are the "largest business" and "buyer from China".

Its a free society , spent what you want where. Just don't get upset about the degree of insensitivity these "mega-marts" show. All they want is your money. they care not about you or the employees. I also find it strange on can be out of town and write a check...and besides getting approved with no ID, you later get mail , food, junk mail form another states locality.

Just whom does Wally sell your ID , SSN and CC to anyway?

And don't gripe when the local "Mom and Pop " gunstore closes, the one whom did all that service, free advice, and knew your name.

Its a matter of principle -bottom line-just like my RKBA-don't screw with my principles,- leave my guns the hell alone.

You have a choice on how you teach people to treat you.

 

[hammer4nc]

Last time I was in the Walmart gun dept, I noticed a "Sam Walton Signature Model" shotgun on display. Had to smile, reminder of days gone by when Ted Williams put his signature on all the "deluxe" sporting goods in the Sears catalog. Somehow, Mr. Walton's name doesn't have the same sporting cachet as did the splendid splinter! Sign of the times, perhaps?

 

[Standing Wolf]

Wal Mart has too much junk from communist China to suit me.

 

[Bainx]

Hey, check this......
a few days ago at my local Wally World, they did not even have shopping
carts inside the store. Sheeple were actually going out into the parking lot where the carts are stored and getting one for themselves.
I stood in amazment for several moments watching this strange behavoir.
When I asked the greeter if the manager knew about the situation, the answer was "yes". When I asked why the manager was not bringing carts into the store, I got a blank stare.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I stopped going to Wally world 3 months ago

and I've never been happier.

And I used to run a Mom and Pop music store, and I knew everyone by name, but not as some marketing ploy. These were the people who chose to come to me rather than buy off the internet. These were the people I played with and BS'd with. These are also the people I took care of personally when something wasn't right with their purchase. Any business that doesn't put the bottom line first isn't long for this world, but treating your customers like people instead of herd animals is the best way to boost that bottom line.

 

[rick newland]

And the real kicker is that both of these elderly gentelman have prob done more things in their life that you would never have the balls to do yourself.
I'am not trying to be a troll, but when I hear some idiot like Barry Bonds say he does't have to be in the home run derby because he is a grown man, I just have to smile.

 

[plainsman66]

I must be a most lucky guy-local wal-mart sporting goods hand is also a serious shooter-never a problem on any weapon related sales or questions

 

[Silver Bullet]

As far as piss-poor service goes, I have a nice silver coache's whistle on a lanyard--it's one helluva attention getter, and when the manager comes running, service improves noticeably.

Are you serious, or being facetious ? You don't get "invited" to vacate the premises?