Hassle at WalMart

[R.H. Lee]

A buddy of mine bought 5 boxes WWB .45 ACP. Had to wait in line about 30 minutes because the untrained dufus at the counter didn't know how to work the register, or sell a fishing license, etc.

So my buddy gets home and finds 4 boxes of .45 and one box of .40 S&W.
(He doesn't own a .40). A week later, he took the .40 S&W back to WalMart to trade it for a box of .45-that's when the trouble started.

The nice little old lady at the door insisted he leave the box of .40 at the customer counter and go back to sporting goods and get the box of .45.
OK (same dufus at sporting goods, btw). Customer counter refuses to exchange, chanting mantra of "can't return 'bullets' violation of federal law". Buddy says, "I paid for .45 and got .40-here's the receipt." "Violation of federal law".
OK. Buddy says call manager. Manager on phone chants mantra "Violation..........".

Buddy says, ok, picks up box of .45, puts it in bag with receipt, leaves .40.

Customer service says "that's not yours". Buddy says "It is now" and walks out of store with bag, receipt and box of .45.

Customer service chick follows buddy out to parking lot, tries to take license plate number. No license plate on car because it's new. Customer service tries to read registration sticker in windshield. Wrote down some numbers and says she's calling the cops.

"Violation of federal law", 'ya know.

Who violated federal law, my buddy or WalMart?

 

[esheato]

Regardless of federal law, your buddy shoplifted. I know that's not the answer you wanted to hear, but it's the truth.

If he's a shooter, he knows other shooters....trade it for a box of ammo he does want. Possibly it was a hint from God that he needs a .40.

Ed

EDIT: It most definitely IS shoplifting if he reached over the counter and grabbed what he wanted and left. Yes he paid for it, but he should have been more polite and went to the returns department and asked to be credited for the difference between .40 and .45 ammo then traded it off or give it away....you might make someone's day.

 

[Zak Smith]

If the receipt says .45 and he paid for it, it ain't shoplifting.

-z

 

[Jim K]

I must really be out to lunch. Can someone please explain why exchanging a box of cartridges is against federal law and if so, what law? Or is this something Wally World made up?

Jim

 

[Pendragon]

Its not against the law, but it may present certain liability issues if someone spikes the bullets and they blow up.

This exact thing happened to me - I got home with a box of .40 instead of .45 - but I did not figure it out for several weeks, then I called and it sounded like too much hassle for $10

The violation thing is probably just the easiest thing to tell the people who work there so they won't do it. Having them engage their minds and take things on a case by case basis is just too scary.

I figured thats just what I get for trusting and not verifying.

 

[bamf]

I know Walmart's policy is not to accept returns on ammo after a 24hr period, I've personally returned ammo the same day when I saw I picked up some 20ga instead of 12ga ammo.

Whether it's "Federal law" I have no idea, but is it really worth it to possibly get in trouble and having a confrontation for a measely 15 bucks?

 

[azrael]

Jim,
From what I understand it is more of a insurance thing than law...

If his reciept says .45 then it wasnt shoplifting...he mearly got what he paid for...

next time check your ammo boxes...I have gotten .380 instead of 9mm and .40 instead of .45...

 

[gbelleh]

WalMart is strict about returning ammo, so are other sporting goods stores. That's why it's always good to double check the caliber, weight, etc. before paying.

At Gander Mountain, the clerks have usually asked me to check the boxes to make sure they are what I want because there are no returns.

I agree, your buddy should've traded with another shooter.

 

[P95Carry]

My local Wally World has removed the ''no exchange of ammo after 24 hours'' and put up a notice which now says .. in effect .... ''all purchases of firearms or ammo are final!!''

So - strikes me it pays to check - and double check - what you have that day whilst there ... but as for ''federal'' violation .. hardly!!

Wally violation perhaps!

 

[R.H. Lee]

My buddy is even-tempered and not inclined to do impetuous things. He can be stubborn, though. During the conversation with customer service, he suggested that they destroy the box of .40, and give him a credit for it against the .45. The response was the same........'violation of federal law'...

I think he just got frustrated :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
with the mindlessness, decided he's paid for .45 and he was gonna have .45.

In hindsight, he wishes he would have just sucked it down and left the store with the .40

It does not seem like good policy for the store to send a skinny 90 lb chick to follow some guy out into the parking lot. My buddy could have been a meth'ed up psycho for all they knew.

 

[Josey]

Civil. Not criminal. The video will show your friend grabbing and running. The video will show the CSR in hot pursuit. The video will show the CSR conronting your friend. Your friend will drive off in their video. I hope that is ALL the video will show. If your friend was in physical contact with a CSR, felony charges are possible. Robbery is the charge. Method is strong arm. Criminal assault and battery charges are possible. A resisting arrest charge is possible. Tampering with evidence, fleeing and escape from custody are even possible. These are all state charges. The Wal-Mart policy is prominently posted about returns of ammunition must be within 24 hours. Your friend could now be a wanted felon with warrants outstanding. He could be lucky but, I would bet on the former. The best thing to do is NEVER visit that Wal-Mart again. He was on video.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Wal Mart is my shopping destination of last choice: @#$%^&! service, plus communist Chinese junk.

 

[BHPshooter]

"Violation of federal law".

That's their favorite excuse. My little brother bought a computer game that was online-only. The only computer with the hardware to run it isn't connected to the internet (not to mention the $30 a month for some "subscription").

It took us all of 20 minutes to realize that it didn't work, and we were right back there with receipt in hand.

The old battleaxe at the customer service counter (who interestingly enough always has her nametag on backwards so you can't see her name) wouldn't even give us the time of day, and all she would say was "It's a violation of federal copyright law," which is bull????. It's not a violation of ANY law. If it was, then how come I've been able to take back CDs and Movies before?

I stormed out pissed. I came back the next morning and talked to someone there about my age (20) and she gave my brother back his $55 dollars. To this day, the only thing I'll buy from them is WWB value pack, and only because no one else sells cheap brass-cased ammo. If I find something cheaper, I'll never go back again, and I mean it.

Basically, Wal-Mart isn't worth the trouble. They don't care about you or what you bought, they only care about money. Go somewhere that cares.

Wes

 

[orangeninja]

Man....that was DUMB....for what? Fifteen bucks? Some fights are not worth it.

 

[bluecowdawg]

The video will show your friend grabbing and running. The video will show the CSR in hot pursuit. The video will show the CSR conronting your friend. Your friend will drive off in their video. I hope that is ALL the video will show.



then the video should also show him enter the store and present the box of .40 cal ammo to the person at the service desk

 

[PATH]

I probably would have been mad at first but then started laughing.

How about you buy a box of .45 walk out the door and come back in with your .40 ammo and say you would like to return it for .45 as you just bought it. You are technically returning something within 24 hour period, just not .45's. I believe that most of them would not realize!

Given that Rhodes scholarship status is not required to work at Wally World I would have taken this as a way out. Why argue with dolts? All it does is anger you and confuse the hell out of them!

I hope your buddy does not get jammed up!

 

[Black Majik]

Some people buy rifles because they have extra scopes laying around.

Or a 1911 cuz he had an extra pair of 1911 grips to put on.

He should have bought a .40 caliber pistol to go along with the ammo





IMO if he had a membership I'd go to the range and rent a .40 caliber pistol and use up the ammo.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Civil. Not criminal. The video will show your friend grabbing and running. The video will show the CSR in hot pursuit. The video will show the CSR conronting your friend. Your friend will drive off in their video. I hope that is ALL the video will show. If your friend was in physical contact with a CSR, felony charges are possible. Robbery is the charge. Method is strong arm. Criminal assault and battery charges are possible. A resisting arrest charge is possible. Tampering with evidence, fleeing and escape from custody are even possible. These are all state charges. The Wal-Mart policy is prominently posted about returns of ammunition must be within 24 hours. Your friend could now be a wanted felon with warrants outstanding. He could be lucky but, I would bet on the former. The best thing to do is NEVER visit that Wal-Mart again. He was on video.

Buddy says there was no physical contact with the CSR. Says he did not RUN from the store, walked out calmly. Receipt says .45. He left the .40.

It is doubtful the DA's office would take an interest, WalMart has suffered NO LOSS-they have no damages.

 

[Zundfolge]

If the receipt says .45 and he paid for it, it ain't shoplifting.

I doubt that will work in court ... especially with a reciept thats a few days old. Otherwise I could just save my reciept, walk back into the store and grab another box of .45 and expect to get away with it.

Basically what he did is walk in with a box of ammo that was his property, left it behind and stole a box of .45 (at least thats how the judge would see it).

Wal Mart is my shopping destination of last choice: @#$%^&! service, plus communist Chinese junk.

I keep hearing that same thing, but can anyone point me to a similar type of store that has good prices, good service (although I've never had bad service at Walmart) and no Chinese junk? I can't afford to buy clothes at Dillards or groceries at the Union run (read: communist) stores like Albertsons, Kroger or Safeway.

 

[Pendragon]

Not only that, but he COULD say that he meant to buy a box of .40 for a gift but got all .45 and went to exchage the .45 for the .40 and when they refused, he simply grabbed his own box of .45 and walked out upset.

The film would show him bringing in a box, them bringing up a box and him grabbing one and leaving.

No way would this pass the smell test and no way would a DA take the case. SO many ways you can instill LOTS of very reasonable doubt about what happened and at the end of the day, he left with a box of ammo that is shown on his reciept.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Basically what he did is walk in with a box of ammo that was his property, left it behind and stole a box of .45 (at least thats how the judge would see it).

And that would be the extent of the prosecution's case?

My buddy also tells me he offered to give his phone # to the CSR as she was walking away in the parking lot. She just shouted back that she's calling the cops.

He has prepaid legal. Maybe he'll get a chance to use it.

 

[Mulliga]

As with any national chain, it depends on who gives you service. I can't believe they wouldn't exchange the ammo when it was their mistake, but your friend should have checked the ammo when he bought it.

What I would have done is claim the cartridges were defective (okay, mild lie here). Obviously, they have no way to test it, and rather than risk a lawsuit, I'd bet that they'd simply give you another box of ammo.

Strange...my Wally World keeps the ammo in a locked glass case. Your friend's Wal-Mart keeps it out in the open?

 

[MikeB]

I think your buddy made a mistake. Hopefully it won't come back to haunt him.

FWIW I believe your buddy should have used this as an opportunity like I did once. True story follows.

I'm at the Gunshop I normally frequent and buy 4 boxes of .45ACP. When I get home I find that a box of .357SIG was stacked with the .45ACP by mistake and I didn't notice it when I picked it up or made the purchase.

So I go back within a couple of days and ask that they exchange it or sell me a firearm in .357SIG. They are willing to exchange ..........but long story short I walk out with a Glock in .357 SIG. Only Glock I own, I don't particulary like them but it was a GOOD deal and I didn't have a Glock in my collection. Of course a SIG in .357SIG and a home built 1911 in .357SIG soon followed but anyways.

Granted you buddy wasn't going to be allowed to exchange however he should have bought a firearm in .40S&W or traded with someone as has been mentioned by others for the proper caliber. Regardless it wasn't worth the approx $15 to invite possible criminal charges or the expense of defending same charges.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Strange...my Wally World keeps the ammo in a locked glass case. Your friend's Wal-Mart keeps it out in the open?

No. When he entered the store with the .40 in the bag, the little old lady at the door took it to the customer service counter, told him to go back to sporting goods and get the .45, and return to customer service.

The dufus at sporting goods unlocked the case and handed the .45 to my buddy, who took it to the customer service counter.

 

[Don Gwinn]

a similar type of store

This is mutually exclusive with:

that has good prices, good service

If a store has good prices and good service, it ain't similar to Wally World.

Some of you guys sure seem desperate to give Wal Mart your business. Working hard at it, too.

Last time I tried to buy ammo at a big discount place was at Meijer's about a year ago. I didn't want to do it then, but I told myself I only needed cheap stuff and I was already on the west side of town (and all the decent gun shops are on the east side.)
So I'm standing there at the back of the store next to the ammo locker and waiting for somebody to come by. Nobody does. So I go in search. Nobody. So I go to the front and ask them to page someone to the ammunition. Get a look like I'm from Mars but she pages. Go back to the ammo locker. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.
Check watch. Have now been waiting so long to give them my money that it's been half an hour since I decided to shop there to save time.
What was I thinking? I left. I drove to Bullet Express on the other side of town and bought ammo. I told John, the owner, my story. Confessed my sins and promised to sin no more. Received his blessing and left. Took me less than half an hour AND I had what I wanted and was happy.

There was never any excuse for giving them John's money in the first place. Since then, I never have.