Handgun Ignoramuses at Wal-Mart

[Ky Larry]

We have a good Walmart here in Lexington and 2 pretty bad ones. The manager of the guns and ammo dept. is a hunter and fisherman. Pretty knowledgeble and loves to shoot the breeze. When something sets around too long he lowers the price until it sells. They had several 50 rnd. boxes of Winchester 155 grain Silver Tips in .40 S&W for $12.00 a box. I bought all of them.


When you are asked if this ammo is for a handgun or longgun try saying "It's for a hand gun. I can't get a long gun into my job at the Post Office."

 

[Russ]

The people behind the counter are making minimum wage, are typically not into guns and just don't know. They are not inately stupid, just un-educated. If your eye sight is so poor you can't see the 3 feet behind the counter and see the 9mm stuff then you don't need to be shooting guns. They don't make corrective lenses strong enough for you.

 

[QKRTHNU]

"The store requires us to ask you what this ammo is to be used for".

For the Kids. Legos get chewed up to easily.

 

[Cosmoline]

WHY DO YOU GUYS KEEP BUYING *ANYTHING* AT THAT PLACE?!?

How many times do you have to get insulted, searched, and generally treated like a criminal before you stop bending over and taking it?!?

STOP SHOPPING AT WAL-MART

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUN STORE OR IT WILL BE GONE! UNDERSTAND, MONKEY BOY? GONE!

 

[ScottS]

WHY DO YOU GUYS KEEP BUYING *ANYTHING* AT THAT PLACE?!?

How many times do you have to get insulted, searched, and generally treated like a criminal before you stop bending over and taking it?!?

STOP SHOPPING AT WAL-MART

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL GUN STORE OR IT WILL BE GONE! UNDERSTAND, MONKEY BOY? GONE!

Well, that's a silly post.

I have never been "insulted, searched, and generally treated like a criminal" at WallyWorld. Neither have most of the people who posted here. I imagine those who have don't shop there anymore. The majority of the above posts reflect friendly, if uninformed, store personnel. Certainly the folks at our WallyWorld are. And, I expect some of them are even my neighbors.

The day my local gun store sells 9mm WWB at $10.96 a box, or even a smidge more, I'll be the first one in the door. But they don't, and this topic has been beat to death. People go where the prices are reasonable, and I rarely see reasonable ammo prices at a gun store. If anywhere, that's where you're likely to be "bending over and taking it?!?"

BTW, "...bending over and taking it?!?" "Monkey boy?" I thought this was a moderated forum.

Scott

 

[Tommy Gunn]

I prefer to support local small businesses over Walmart.

Besides, you will find a knowledgable person, if not a gunsmith, behind the counter at a real gunshop.

 

[ScottS]

Besides, you will find a knowledgable person, if not a gunsmith, behind the counter at a real gunshop.

Please see the many, many "Can't belive what I heard at the Gun Store threads."

Scott

 

[JW2]

Well here in my area Walmarts, nobody has ever given me a strange look, carried out my ammo for me, or asked what I'm doing with it or why I am buying large quantities of ammunition. I do have to go through the standard "Top shelf, no the TOP shelf.. Left, left, left more, whoa too far, right two boxes, THATS IT!". They do always ask me if I'm 21 when I buy handgun ammo but I guess that's understandable since I'm 22 , plus they're just complying with the law which is expected . I didn't know that they would let you pay at the front registers though. I always make the sporting goods counter my last stop and pay for everything there.

 

[Cosmoline]

Whatever. But I don't want to hear any Wall-Mart supporters crying foul when those fine folks in Arkansas have a management change and pull an S-Mart on us.

By that time you'll be lucky if you have a local gun store left in your area. Or any local store, for that matter. See how it works? Rely on Wall-Mart, become dependent on Wall-Mart.

:banghead:

 

[FPrice]

ScottS...

"Please see the many, many "Can't belive what I heard at the Gun Store threads.""

True, but many of us also have good gun stores nearby which we can rely on upon.

My local FFL is very good, BUT he is a small operation and cannot always get all of the ammunition and small items I want to try, particularly at prices I can afford on a regular basis. So I depend upon him for my big needs (firearms) and those items he happens to come upon. But I will go to WalMart or other soures for the smaller items which they can carry at a better price.

 

[ScottS]

My local FFL is very good, BUT he is a small operation and cannot always get all of the ammunition and small items I want to try, particularly at prices I can afford on a regular basis. So I depend upon him for my big needs (firearms) and those items he happens to come upon. But I will go to WalMart or other soures for the smaller items which they can carry at a better price.

I agree completely. I do the same thing. In fact, 9mm WWB is the olny ammo I buy at WallyWorld, because I buy the rest of my ammo mail-order. The 9mm WWB is just so damn cheap...and it's just sitting there...calling to me...

My only point was you won't always find a rube behind the counter at WallyWorld (How smart does he have to be to throw a couple of boxes on counter, anyway? This is not where I go for advice.), and you won't always find friendly, Joe Gun behind the counter at a Gun Store. (Our local one is owned by a rude, opinionated jerk, and his prices are an embarassing gouge, despite his multi-year "Sale.")

Scott

 

[DigMe]

Many people refuse to shop at WalMart because of the fact that they ceased handgun sales after being pressured a few years back. Personally, as much as I hate to see businesses give in to that kind of pressure I think this is the best thing that has happened for the small independent gun stores in relation to WalMart. Now that WalMart doesn't have handguns someone else is guaranteed the sale. In many places, especially smaller places that have no big chain sporting goods stores, that means the small independent guy gets the sale.

I'm in no way condoning the giving in to pressure but what I've said is true. WalMart will not be the one that drives the small independent guy outta business as long as handgun sales are good.

brad cook

 

[TRIDENT]

I think it is good for our cause to have Walmart selling guns and ammo. They are the largest retailer in this country. All the soccer moms, Democrats, antis and others that would never set foot in a gun shop can see mainstream Americans buys guns and ammo. If the Antis convinced Walmart to stop selling guns/ammo they would be dancing in the streets.

 

[blue86buick]

The day my local gun store sells 9mm WWB at $10.96 a box, or even a smidge more, I'll be the first one in the door.

My local stores are starting to stock the 100pc WWB 9mm. It's a few dollars more (13-14 vs 11), but still cheaper than wolf...and reloadable!

 

[Partisan Ranger]

I didn't know this thread would touch such a nerve when I started it a few weeks back!

I was surprised when I went to Wal-Mart here in Fairfax VA and the dudes behind the counter either didn't know that 9mm=9mm Luger or weren't sure and didn't want to look dumb.

But I have nothing against them. I understand they're making 7 bucks an hour and aren't gun nuts. When I worked at a grocery store going thru college, if someone asked me how cook a leg of lamb, I wouldn't have had a freaking clue. I just stocked the shelves!

The 2nd Wal-mart I went to - in Winchester VA in the sticks - was a better experience. The lady behind the counter obviously sold ammo quite regularly. She knew her stuff.

Word is that Galyans has been selling the WB for 9.99, but I haven't gone over there to check it.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Try the Gallyans just down Fairlakes Parkway, on the other side of 7100.

 

[Sulaco]

I am pretty sure region has a good bit to do with the attitude's held by many people working at places like Wal-Mart.

I like Wal-Mart and buy a lot of stuff from the place.

I live in Lexington, SC and we have a Wal-Mart in town. There are also maybe 25 other ones scattered around the Midlands (suberbs of Columbia, the capital) that I frequent depending on where I am.

I buy the bulk pack Winclean also and have never had any problems with purchases dealing with ammo or guns. My local Wal-Mart has a wall of trophy animals and fish donated by locals. They also have a wall of pictures of fish, deer and turkey. The guys that work in the Sporting Goods department are fairly knowledgeable when it comes to guns and ammo. In fact, they keep the Winclean 100 packs in stock for me and a few other people who buy it by the case regularly. They don't even put it behind the glass doors. They keep it on a shelf with all of the large packs of bird and trap shot, out on the main floor.

If ammo can be used for a pistol, the register throws up a message to ask if it is used for a pistol or rifle ("What is this going to be used for?"). This is because Wal-Mart policy is such that you have to be a certain age to purchase ammo used for a pistol. Wal-Mart is not anti-gun nor are they anti-second ammendment. They are mearly trying to keep up with all of the frivolous state and federal laws regarding the purchase of guns and related equipment. THAT is why they stopped selling handguns. It became to difficult to train employees in different states covered by different laws on how to sell handguns (especially considering the turnover rate of low wage retail sales people).

Another local Wal-Mart I frequent has a Sporting Goods sales associate working during the day who worked for Beretta for 20 something years. He also hunts and fishes a lot and we trade fishing spots and stories all the time.

 

[ScottS]

When I worked at a grocery store going thru college, if someone asked me how cook a leg of lamb, I wouldn't have had a freaking clue. I just stocked the shelves!

This may be the funniest thing posted in this whole thread.

Scott