Wally World -- Phone Call

[ArfinGreebly]

Today, having read yet another Wal*Mart thread with the usual complaints, I picked up the phone and called 1-800-WAL-MART (that's 800-925-6278 for the Fone Letterz impaired).

I waded through the voice menu, which sort of hopes that you'll peel off into something automated before you get to an actual person, and finally go to speak with a Customer Service Droid.

Very courteous.

I explained that there was a store in my area which used to carry firearms, had lost its FFL, had re-qualified, but had been denied by corporate, and I wanted to know what could be done to fix that, since a) they are close to a local gun club, and b) they have never had a "low demand" problem.

I further explained that I shop there regularly for ammo, but I'd also like to be able to pick up rifles for the kids (it's unimportant that they're not MY kids).

CS droid explained that the decision to eliminate guns from certain stores was a nation-wide thing, and based on demand, and blah blah blah . . .

I explained that I understood this, but pointed out that Sam Walton never meant for his stores to not carry firearms, and explained about the Wal*Mart-only rifles and shotgun -- a deal Sam made with certain gun makers before he died -- for example the Ruger 10/22 in stainless with a 22" barrel, and pointed out that there are customers -- like myself -- whose only real draw is the long arms and ammo.

I got some more of the "nation-wide decision" script.

I told him, "Look, the day that Wal*Mart stops carrying firearms and ammo is the day I take all my business elsewhere. I can buy linens, kitchen supplies, tools, furniture, and food anywhere. The reason I walk into Wal*Mart is that they support shooting sports. They day they stop that is the day I stop shopping there."

He finally got that I wasn't interested in the "nation-wide decision" and said he'd pass my concerns along.

I will be following this with a letter, whose content will be essentially what you see above.

Any fool can log on to "teh intarwebz" and bitch about stuff to his homies.

It requires just a little more effort to actually tell the offender.

And tell him again.

And keep telling him.

I invite anyone else who wants to see guns in superstores as commonplace and unremarkable to call the corporate phone bank, patiently explain your concern, and then follow it up with a letter.

They can ignore one.

They can ignore a few dozen.

Can they ignore hundreds or thousands?

Let's find out.

 

[Sniper X]

way to go!

Good on ya! I feel that many of us get to the point of getting preturbed enough to write a letter or email, but those who go so far as to actually call are more productive in my book. I have often been mad enough about a policy, like that of Wallys posting a "no carry" sign at customer service and thinking it is legal. But not gone farther than complaining to the manager in an email. No response of course!

I thinki next time I will go talk to him directly or call because nothing beats a live or phone one on one.

 

[strat81]

Mailing address:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611.

From: http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=224

 

[Rocketman56]

Buyer?

If it's warranted, I'll see if I can locate the name of the buyer of firearms and gear..

I'll live close to the home office (1.2 miles ) and have a few family
members that work in the home office.. By the way, I wonder why Sam's Clubs
don't carry at least ammunition.. Hmm, another good question..

Later,
Steve

 

[Sniper X]

Heres a weird one though, the Wally I go to just REMODELED and increased the size of the firearms sporting goods department! The same Wally I complained via email to about the no carry BS! Additionally, the one about a mile and a half away still has guns, but is in jeopardy of loosing them from lack of interest! Also, another a few miles away,. gun department GONE! I think it is strictly money driven......but I am still hot about that no carry thing. Interestingly a guy was in the one I go to, an older gentleman of 71 and he shot a guy with his CCW piece who had jumped the counter in the deli and was attempting to stab his ex-girlfriend to death in a domestic violence incident. The paper, news and everybody tried to make out the old guy into a gun carrying nut, but he turned into a hero, and even the police said without his interjection she would have been murdered. They said nothing about the no carry policy, or about the hero being indicted with unlawful carry on posted premises.....good end to the story!

 

[NCLivingBrit]

I used to work for Wally and was in sporting goods for a while. I happen to have overheard (ie listened in on) the conversation between our store manager and the regional big cheese about the gradual phase out of firearms and ammo in the store, due to the regulatory requirements and staff training requirements taking too big a bite out of the profit. Don't know if that policy goes any higher, but inside of a month we lost our guns, as did several other local stores.

 

[CCMO]

Is the "no carry policy" nationwide? I've never seen the stores here posted...

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

A Walmart without guns is just another Target----why bother even going there???

I also hear that they've had their worse sales decline in 27 years and talk of going back to Walmart does best---That means GUNS Walmart----ol Sam is spinning in his grave.

 

[Bruce333]

Is the "no carry policy" nationwide? I've never seen the stores here posted...

No, it's not. Actualy the "no carry" sign is in violation of Wal-Mart's policy. Concealed is ok with them, open carry isn't.

http://deadbangguns.com/Coop/WalMart2.html

Sniper X: Get the store number and manager's name and call WM Customer Service and complain about the sign.

 

[Fburgtx]

I agree that, without firearms/sporting goods, Wal-Mart is essentially just a Target store. Used to be that we'd all go to Wal-Mart and, while Mother was off getting housewares, Dad and us kids would go over to sporting goods to look around. Now, Wal-Mart is just turning into a large grocery store with an electronics department and cheap clothing. It seems as though the hardware/tool department has shrunken, also (not that their tools were ever that good to begin with, but it beat driving across town to Sears for something you needed quick). This "phasing out" of sporting goods (and by sporting goods, I mean hunting/fishing) does make it easier for a Cabela's or Sportsman's Warehouse to succeed, but it makes it tougher on guys in small towns. Wal-Mart ran many of the small town hardware and gun shops out of business years ago.

Wal-Mart made huge profits establishing stores in smaller markets where there was little or no real competition to be found. Now that they have expanded to more urban-ized areas (in the last 15-20 years) they are going to have to compete with the Target's, Kohl's, grocery stores, etc. Without a sporting goods section, I think I'd just avoid them all together (electronics at Best Buy, clothing at Kohl's/Western wear stores, groceries at the grocery store).

 

[mechdriver]

The Walmart I go to occasionally here in Kann. NC still has guns and ammo and doesn't restrict CCW.
Now that I think about it, their guns and ammo may be the only domestic items available!