Walmart?????

[briney11]

So I'm in Walmart today with my son looking at .410 ammo. As usual, there is nobody there and so I went behind the counter to see the ammo on the bottom shelf. I have probably done this at at least 7-10 different walmarts and the sporting goods person was the one who told me that it was ok. So I'm back there looking when one of the TLE employees hollers at me from 5 isles away that I am not allowed back there and needed to get out. I got up and said that every other store I've been in it was ok. "Well not in here" he scoffed back. At that time the sporting goods guy came speed walking up. The TLE guy was actually on the phone when he did that and was a complete jerk about it. I promptly snapped back with a "thanks for being a putz about it" Then the sporting goods guy apologized and I told him that it's expected from walmart these days and that I wouldn't be needing anything after all.

If that is against that particular stores policy then there should be a sign in plain sight, but there isn't. And the TLE guy seemed to be on a power trip. He didn't come over to ask if I needed help or anything, he just scolded me like I was walking on his lawn or something. Are you guys allowed to go behind the counter at your area walmarts? This was the first one for me where it wasn't allowed. Everything is locked up so I'm not sure what the big deal is.

 

[Flintknapper]

I wouldn't even consider going behind 'the counter' or any other area not normally (traditionally) open and frequented by customers.

 

[243winxb]

As usual, there is nobody there

When i am in the store and cant get help, i call on my cell photo to the store and tell them i need help. They come a running. Works for ammo or a TV.

 

[briney11]

I wouldn't even consider going behind 'the counter' or any other area not normally (traditionally) open and frequented by customers.

Like I said though, every other walmart it has been ok and the sporting goods employees have always told me that I can go back there. Especially when everything is locked up and the products on the wall extend back there as well.

 

[V-fib]

In the old walmart (when king Obama was first elected) before they turned it into a supercenter, I bought .22lr (federal 550 paks for $6) every time I went in which was at least 2 times a week. Many times there was nobody at the counter and the .22lr was under the counter unlocked. I would just reach over the counter and grab a couple of the 550 paks if they were available and go on with my shopping paying for them at the front register. however I never would go behind the counter. that being said I never go behind the counter in any store without asking permission from a store employee first.
v-fib

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Seems to me that if it were a big deal, the counter would be continuously manned during open hours.

It's a firearms counter. It's frickin' locked when nobody is present.

Besides...you can bet ir's covered by several security camera angles.

 

[hdwhit]

I never go beind the counter at Walmart or any other store for that matter.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I wouldn't even consider going behind 'the counter' or any other area not normally (traditionally) open and frequented by customers.

I agree. Still, I don't like how they hide the ammo at some Wal-Marts. Hard to read, I guess I don't really blame the OP but I personally wouldn't think to do it in the first place.

 

[JohnKSa]

Going behind the counter is poor form. I'm not saying I've never done it, but I certainly wouldn't act the injured party if I were caught doing it and were told abruptly to get back on the customer side of the counter.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Yeah I think it kind of goes without saying. They have things back there that customers aren't supposed to have access to, not surprised someone got miffed when they saw someone back there. Next time I would just ask for some help and be patient.

 

[buck460XVR]

. The TLE guy was actually on the phone when he did that and was a complete jerk about it. I promptly snapped back with a "thanks for being a putz about it" Then the sporting goods guy apologized and I told him that it's expected from walmart these days and that I wouldn't be needing anything after all.

Sounds like to me, the TLE guy was not the only Jerk at Walmart today. Like many here, I don't go behind the counter at Walmart or any other LGS and help myself without asking. Always kinda figured that's why they put a counter there in the first place, to keep customers on the customer side.

 

[danez71]

Going behind the counter is poor form. I'm not saying I've never done it, but I certainly wouldn't act the injured party if I were caught doing it and were told abruptly to get back on the customer side of the counter.

Ditto.

I don't particularly like it when someone goes behind my desk when I'm not there. Just like respecting 'personal space', I feel the respecting 'professional space' is the right thing to do.

 

[lastofthebreed]

Never crossed my mind to go behind the counter at any retail store. To me it's just common courtesy.

 

[godale]

i just pay a little more and get it from finn feather fur and gander mountain and i can see what i am looking at and dont have to chase anybody

 

[WestKentucky]

I have done it at Walmart and other places but I try not to. It's no big deal for me either way. I desperately try to avoid Walmart now. I might go once a quarter. On more than one occasion though I have had keys tossed my way at the LGS and I went to helping the folks out who were swamped. I have gotten some really good deals that way just from being appreciated and getting to know the owners. Did that one night at a bar too, drank for free once the crowd thinned out to where the actual employees could handle it.

 

[22-rimfire]

The only time I have I have gone behind the counter was when I couldn't see the prices in the ammo cabinet from outside the counter.

 

[Plan2Live]

You don't go behind the counter in any retail establishment just like you don't go behind the bar at your local hangout or behind the "service station" at the local restaurant. If you need eating utensils, extra napkins or a refill you wait and you ask. I've leaned me head over the counter early in the morning to see if that box stashed back there was .22 ammo but I have never walked back there or let my hands pass beyond the invisible but fully understood off limits line. Back when ammo was scarce we had a jerk do the same thing at our local Walmart and in retaliation the manager had the sporting goods clerk hold all ammo in the back room until around 10am when we were all at work. That one bad apple spoiled it for the rest of us for roughly a month before they went back to the old routine. There was a time when common courtesy and common sense were just that, common.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

It's Wal-Mart, dude.

Don't set the bar too high. You'll only end up disappointed.

 

[Damon555]

Am I the only one who doesn't know what TLE stands for?......

 

[briney11]

This walmart has an open counter. The product wall extends to behind the counter and the gun/ammo cabinet starts 3-5 feet in. I've always been told in other walmarts that it was ok to go there as it was part of the product wall. And sorry that I don't take kindly to being snapped at in a retail store as a customer by an employee. Especially some putz in TLE (tire lube express) who doesn't bother to come over and even offer to help just yells it from 30' away.

 

[george burns]

He should have said "excuse me sir, but customers are not allowed behind the counter". Having owned several businesses with counters, that is what one of my employees would have said, I would hope. Or hey boss, that guy is behind the counter what should I do. But in all honesty, I would never go behind someones counter, especially if it looked like you were not supposed to be there unless you worked there.People keep all sorts of stuff behind counters, there could be a drop box back there, or countless other things.

 

[berettaprofessor]

I don't go behind the counter but my Walmart just has a low counter and if you want to see the ammo that's there, you look at it from roughly 15 feet away. Or wait to ask a clerk. If they only knew what they could sell if you could actually look at it.

My local gun guy lets me behind his counter to fondle the blues and wood merchandise as much as I want.

 

[Dazen]

I go behind the counter at my local Walmart to look at the ammo, I didn't till I was once told I was a loud too. This counter at this wallmart is a good 15 feet away from the ammo kind of hard to see what they have to offer at that distance with my bad eyes.

Would like to add that the counter is open along one side that is adjacent to the aisle . Just following the shelves walking down the aisle will lead you behind the counter.

 

[VoodooMountain]

I've been told on more than one occasion, including from a friend who works at sap mart and another time by a Dept.manager, that going behind the counter is permissible. It was indeed designed for customers to use.

If they didn't want you back there perhaps they could pay somebody to attend the counter /area.

That store is about useless anyway. I avoid it but ended up there just yesterday helping a family member with some things. People are rude, store is dirty, workers incompetent and absolutely worst of all is trying to check out. You think they would be more eager to take your money than to have you wait 30 minutes in line, but I digress.

 

[Browning]

At any other store I'd never think about going behind the counter.

At Walmart though the ammo counter employees have invited me back behind the counter to take a look so many times that while I'm waiting for somebody to finally come back that I'll do 'the Lean' if I'm looking for something specific (just .22LR for the most part) just so that I don't waste my time going and tracking somebody down if they don't have what I want.

I'd just tell the manager what a jerk the guy was and avoid that store for good.