Interesting experience with ammo at Cabela's

[BSA1]

I suppose I could change your statement and say your post is "just a sad commentary on how "holier-than-thou" our society has become.

Feel free to post whatever you want. You started this topic.

Regardless it is still "Me only" attitude.

If you truly didn't have a problem with what the employee did why did you post "I'm glad the old couple got what they were looking for but I'm wondering how to join this exclusive club for access to the secret stash. Is there a secret handshake that I'm missing?"

 

[c.latrans]

Jumping into an i-net peeing match is something I NEVER do. So, here I go.

At a Cabelas before Christmas last year, I ran into a friend who owns a business which employees maybe 30 people. He was there to purchase gift cards for his employees. This store is some distance from our home town. At any rate, the shelf happened to contain two pounds of powder that my friend and I were, by chance, both looking for. We split it and bought a pound each. During a subsequent discussion with a very friendly guy at the gun counter, he mentioned that those two cans had been on the shelf for less than an hour. The ubiquitous discussion over such issues ensued, wherein the counter guy admitted that the store had....call it 225 employees.....I am within a few on that number.....and that 200 of them were looking for this or that component or ammo. The gist was that the fact that certain products would ever make it to the sale floor was unlikely, at best.

I have no clue what Cabelas policy concerning these issues may be, and I in fact do not care. Life has taught me that certain perks and downfalls accompany every profession. But I found the discussion intriguing. I have casually wondered since then if he had the same conversation with other folks who may have a less tolerant attitude and if he may have found himself in a jam over it all.

PS...my wife found 2 pounds of the same powder earlier this week while visiting her family in a different state, which is the first we have come across since the Cabelas adventure.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Yes, I witnessed a Walmart employee attempt to stash 1 cardboard box containing 4 100rd .223 Winchester value packs under the counter. When all the .22 sold and the first 16 .223 value packs sold, he said "no more" and three of us in line pointed out the stashed box and he sheepishly opened it and sold the ammo.

Mike

 

[Midwest]

I don't have an issue if Walmart (or any local gun store) wishes to save a box of ammo for customers who buy a firearm. The policy should be stated straight out and who knows, maybe it will help some more firearms.

Having said that, I have seen two comments about some Walmart employees allegedly hiding ammo. Couple that with other threads where some have said that their Walmart is pretty well stocked except for .22 LR... Now... I can understand some Walmart stores might have more ammo than others.

I consistently go to my local Walmart and the shelves are empty every time I stop by and... others here on THR are stating that their local Walmart is stocked with ammo...there is a disconnect there....

So either there are more scalpers at my Walmart or someone at the store is hiding the ammo.

 

[BSA1]

I just don't get behind all of these conspiracy / hoarding / reselling / secret handshakes reasons for blaming the shortage of 22 ammo.

IMHO the 22 rim fire cartridge is hands down the most popular cartridge in America for several reasons;

1. It has very little recoil.
2. It's small size allows for a high capacity firearm useable by many shooters.
3. It's small size allows such a wide variety of guns it is almost certain a shooter will find one the right size for them.
4. It's small size allows for easy storage of a lot of rounds in a small space.
5. It is very affordable.
6. It is great for teaching new shooters.
7. It is great for informal plinking.
8. It is great for target shooting.
9. It is a great choice for camping, survival, bugging out as it is lightweight.
10. It is available in any type of firearm made including full auto.
11. It is a great choice for small game hunting.
12. It fills a void for a handy self defense round.
13. It's been around for 150 years.
14. Care to guess how many 22 guns have been made over the last 150 years?
15. Care to guess how many of them are stashed in closets and drawers?
16. It is the common man's cartridge. Guns for it are made in every price range.
17. There are a incredible variety of different bullet styles and power made.
18. L.R. isn't fast enough try the Magnum.

The mere fact there are so many posts like this complaining about not being able to buy 22 ammunition is proof of it's popularity.

The fact there are so many posts like this complaining about about not being to buy 22 ammunition is proof that a lot of folks have decided stocking up on 22 ammo is a very good idea.

Frankly I would be surprised if there wasn't this big demand for 22 ammo.

 

[GEM]

Except that we have folks camping out to buy bricks they never will use.

I went to Bass Pro after stopping at Staples next door. There was a couple who had bought up the available bricks. I asked the wife - do you shoot that - NO, husband is stockpiling.

When folks stop stalking the stores (and clerks say it is the same old folk each day) - then it will cease.

It is not a function of popularity but crowd panic behavior.

 

[orionengnr]

man and the 10 Commandants

You mean, like Commandant Klink of Stalag 13?

There was a pretty good thread here a couple weeks ago, about a guy who did his research and documented that Wal-Mart employees were "holding back" significant quantities of ammo for "friends" or accomplices. The "manager" denied all knowledge, but it was pretty apparent what is going on. Clearly it isn't just Wal-Mart.

And spare me all the histrionics about the Biblical "doing the right thing". What we have is employees making their own policy (or lining their own pockets, at their sole discretion), and managers looking the other way.

That deserves the BS flag, big time.

OP, if I were you, I'd have called that clerk to task, called in his manager, documented it, etc. Might have been a fool's errand, but at least you'd have the satisfaction of knowing the truth...and letting them know that you were onto their game.

 

[Warp]

Except that we have folks camping out to buy bricks they never will use.

I went to Bass Pro after stopping at Staples next door. There was a couple who had bought up the available bricks. I asked the wife - do you shoot that - NO, husband is stockpiling.

When folks stop stalking the stores (and clerks say it is the same old folk each day) - then it will cease.

It is not a function of popularity but crowd panic behavior.

1. What makes you think they will never use them?

2. Even if they don't use them, somebody will.

3. Shouldn't you be mad at the people shooting it since they are destroying product/supply that must be continuously replaced? I mean, if you want to get pissed at a consumer, the 'shooter' should be the one, logically, right?


I don't blame the people buying ammo for the shortage when I know they aren't to blame. The reason I can't go buy the ammo I want is the politicians, and the people who elected those politicians. Plain and simple

 

[OptimusPrime]

I like it when old people get helped out. I don't care how many other minor frustrations it caused, as long as nice old couples were given a slice first. That seems like a good enough reason to me.

 

[toiville2feathers]

Pure and simple. It's just the free market working as it should. Every day the oil companies are doing it and so are the tire companies and the grocery stores. Do you complain about that. If you do not very many of you do.
The large corporations are doing this with everything people need or think they need. We have show them that we will pay any price what so ever to get what we want.
Do any of you know of a word called ". BOYCOTT " and what it means? I would strongly advise you to read up on it!

 

[GEM]

Sorry, I have no use for free market Scrooge McDucks of the 22 LR universe. My precious, quack, quack!

I understand the theory but once you have put away about 5 bricks and don't shoot something like competition matches each month - you are waiting for the tiny zombie attack?

 

[silicosys4]

Where I'm at, the seniors are called Elders, and yea, they get a little more respect and special treatment than other people, rightfully so IMO, so I have no issue with what the OP saw.

 

[BSA1]

Hmmm...5 bricks of 22 ammo per gun owner. Sounds like we need for a Federal Government agency to step in and regulate ammunition purchases.

But wait isn't fear of overly large Federal Government that is spying on it's citizens what folks are afraid of?

But isn't all of that spying for our own good?

And isn't State Laws restricting firearms and magazine capacity for our own good?

And I would have never thought old people are responsible for the shortage by purchasing all of 22 ammunition. Why can't they just stay in their nursing homes and watch "I Love Lucy" reruns instead of creating shortages for the rest of us?

But if we had the Federal Government enforcing a 5 brick limit per gun owner there would be enough ammo for everyone including the old folks.

The things I learn from the Internet and Discussion Forums is simply amazing.

 

[BP Hunter]

Many months ago, this also happened to me. But I was at the receiving end. I was looking for small and large pistol primers, and all stores, including the one I was shopping in, were out. Though it was quite obvious that the shelves were empty, I kindly asked the employee behind the gun counter if he had any primers at the back. He said, "Just for you..how many do you need?" He reached under the counter and handed me a total of 4 hundrend primers. I was a regular customer and he knew me well.

 

[Warp]

Sorry, I have no use for free market Scrooge McDucks of the 22 LR universe. My precious, quack, quack!

I understand the theory but once you have put away about 5 bricks and don't shoot something like competition matches each month - you are waiting for the tiny zombie attack?

5 bricks of .22lr isn't enough for a lot of people to get through these long ammo shortages/demand spikes.

And then you have people in, oh, say California. Are you going to fault them for having a supply of ammunition for the just-in-case that is happening now?

You can purchase, shoot, store, etc, however much ammo you want (within your means). Other people are free to do the same. Nobody has to justify their decision to anybody else for any reason. You don't have to understand or get it or agree.

 

[doc2rn]

Lots of stores are keeping it behind the counter and only letting you buy a brick if you buy a gun. I waited almost 3 weeks after buying my current gun to get 50 rds for $4. And they only gave that to me begrudgingly.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I just traded for a Ruger SP101 in .22lr the other day. The shop had no .22 ammo on the shelf, but the kind gent I was dealing with sold me 300 rounds of CCI Minni Mags that he had in back.

I suspect he is reserving his limited stock for individuals who are buying a new .22 gun of some sort. It seems like a good business practice to me. Who wants to buy a .22 and not be able to shoot the hell out of it first thing?

It is also possible that he had it reserved in back for himself and decided to part with a little since I am a return customer. I didn't ask either way. He sold them to me for 7.99 per 100 rounds, and I expressed my gratitude. I did not share that I had 1500 rounds of Federal bulk stuff at home. I'm set for awhile until supply catches up with demand. This can't go on forever.

There may be many reasons it happened, but I understand your frustration.

 

[Reloadron]

Lots of stores are keeping it behind the counter and only letting you buy a brick if you buy a gun. I waited almost 3 weeks after buying my current gun to get 50 rds for $4. And they only gave that to me begrudgingly.

I see "Back in Ohio". If you are anywhere near the SE Cleveland burbs stop over and I'll give you a few boxes of 22 LR.

Ron

 

[OilyPablo]

Bottom line now that there is ammo everywhere I'm not very curious anymore about ammo at Cabelas. I will watch their sales though.

 

[Al Thompson]

Bickering. Lovely.