We recently had a new Wal-Mart super center open up here in town and already, I have crossed this store off my list of places to spend my hard earned money. On opening day, my wife dragged me along for the trip and I figured what the heck, give Wally-World another shot seeing I have had problems there in the past. I got bored walking around while the wife shopped so I decided to go check out their book/magazine section, and thought maybe I could pick up a few new gun magazines while I was there. Low and behold, I get to the section and there aren't any gun/firearm/hunting magazines at all on the sprawling rack! Not even a single copy of "Guns and Ammo", "Bow Hunter", or "Sports Afield"!!! So, being as polite as possible, I asked one of them Wal-Mart employees (happened to be a dept. manager too) if they had any gun or hunting magazines and the woman told me that (her phrase) "It is against 'Wal-Mart's politics' to sell anything firearm related anymore" and when the current supply of hunting equipment is gone, they won't be carrying that kind of stuff anymore". I almost fell over in shock! I then took a walk back to sporting goods and for the hell of it, asked the clerk there if they were going to be selling hunting licenses this year and the kid told me unfortunatly no, they are doing away with all hunting stuff. He even agreed it was stupid considering this store is in Central New York, one of the hunting hotspots of the USA. I walked away, found my wife, told her what happened and told her I would be waiting in the car for her. When she came out, I politly asked her to never ask me to go into a wal-mart store again. I refuse to do business with a store who has "politics" against hunting, firearms or anything for that matter.
Another Wal-Mart horror story
- Thread starter Capt_Vin
- Start date
Baba Louie
New member
Sam Walton must be spinning in his grave
Curtis(USAF)
New member
The walmart in my home town back in KY doesn't have guns anymore, small amount of shotgun shells, almost no ammo what to speak of.
The walmart here in Bossier has a few rifles, a decent selection of handgun ammo, but over the years they've really let thier inventories slip.
Damn politics.
The walmart here in Bossier has a few rifles, a decent selection of handgun ammo, but over the years they've really let thier inventories slip.
Damn politics.
Unregistered
Moderator
I don't think the clerk you talked to knew what she was talking about. The Wal Mart here still sells guns, and has two aisles of hunting paraphenalia.
There is no corporate policy against carrying hunting supplies or magazines. My local store is stocked with both. I would send an email to Wal-mart corporate and let them know what store you were in and how disappointed you were that they didn't have hunting mags or gear. Let them know that you are aware other Wal-marts do and would like an explanation for why yours doesn't. My guess is the manager at that store is going to get a nasty phone call from Arkansas.
Wal-mart has been pulling firearms from most of its stores for the past couple of years. Rumor is they are only staying in the stores that were in the top 10% of firearms sales. My guess is that next all ammo from the other stores will go and then firearms from those where they were left. My guess is that within three years Wal-mart will no longer carry firearms or ammo.
Wal-mart has been pulling firearms from most of its stores for the past couple of years. Rumor is they are only staying in the stores that were in the top 10% of firearms sales. My guess is that next all ammo from the other stores will go and then firearms from those where they were left. My guess is that within three years Wal-mart will no longer carry firearms or ammo.
Thank you. Last night at work I po'ed a whole department of people who were not shy in showing their displeasure. That one sentance made me laugh so hard I had barley pop shoot out of my nose. You made my day, thank you!
Face it, Wal-Mart is based in Arkansas. New York is like a foreign country to them. All they know is that the state seems to be rabidly anti-gun, so rather than make a few people happy they chose not to carry stuff that might offend the majority.
I for one can not belive that people are actualy upset that Wal-Mart stopped selling guns in some of its stores. I was tickled pink when they stopped selling around here. That just makes a larger market share for the localy owned gun stores. I for one am thrilled that the gun industry is one that Wal-Mart will not destroy.
FWIW, one of my best friends is now an Assistant Manager with Wal-Mart. I asked him about their gun policy. He told me that the company was trying to save money on FFL fees and training associates to do transfers. After all, if an associate screws up a 4473, Wal-Mart is liable. Just good buisness sense.
Another wall mart horror story
Here in Alabama the WM stores are also beginning to close out on firearms related items. In my area there are 6 stores and only one sells long guns; of course the farthest one from me. The others sell ammo and related stuff but they are slowly cutting back. They didn't have a real good selection, much smaller than the stores carried several years ago, and they were behind the counter. A coupla yrs ago at least 3 of the stores sold long guns, and they were out on the counter in those revolving locked glass cases. Just bought a 22 Marlin rifle from the one WM and the clerk told me they could still order for me if I wanted any other guns. The assistant store manager walked me to the door holding the rifle in the box; a policy they started a while back.
Alabama is a hunting, fishing, and gun friendly state and it may be slow in coming, but even here in redneck country WM is slowly cutting back. Good news for the local gun shops, but they do a great business any way. A new shop opened just last year a few miles down the road from my house. Want to keep them in business so I've bought a Mossberg 12 Ga combo, a Ruger 10 22 and a Bersa 380. They run sales and specials every few months. Great prices at 10% off their list which made them very competitive. Since I'm retired and kids are all married and gone, what else can I spend my money on.
Here in Alabama the WM stores are also beginning to close out on firearms related items. In my area there are 6 stores and only one sells long guns; of course the farthest one from me. The others sell ammo and related stuff but they are slowly cutting back. They didn't have a real good selection, much smaller than the stores carried several years ago, and they were behind the counter. A coupla yrs ago at least 3 of the stores sold long guns, and they were out on the counter in those revolving locked glass cases. Just bought a 22 Marlin rifle from the one WM and the clerk told me they could still order for me if I wanted any other guns. The assistant store manager walked me to the door holding the rifle in the box; a policy they started a while back.
Alabama is a hunting, fishing, and gun friendly state and it may be slow in coming, but even here in redneck country WM is slowly cutting back. Good news for the local gun shops, but they do a great business any way. A new shop opened just last year a few miles down the road from my house. Want to keep them in business so I've bought a Mossberg 12 Ga combo, a Ruger 10 22 and a Bersa 380. They run sales and specials every few months. Great prices at 10% off their list which made them very competitive. Since I'm retired and kids are all married and gone, what else can I spend my money on.
buck-hunter
New member
Indiana Walmarts
They quit keeping guns on the shelf. Think they will still order them. Still carry everything else in the indiana stores
They quit keeping guns on the shelf. Think they will still order them. Still carry everything else in the indiana stores
Walmart
Just looked at there web site and they list quite a bit of gun related items. The even list shot gun barrels. No fire arms are sold over the web.
http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...ch_query=shot+guns&ic=24_0&Find.x=22&Find.y=5
Just looked at there web site and they list quite a bit of gun related items. The even list shot gun barrels. No fire arms are sold over the web.
http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...ch_query=shot+guns&ic=24_0&Find.x=22&Find.y=5
Technosavant
New member
The department manager you talked to is a fool and a liar.
Period. Her store might not carry that stuff, but if that is the case, she is projecting her own ideals onto the store.
Wal-Mart corporate still sells firearms, ammo, and the like. They have cut down on the stores selling guns because the profit they made on them didn't justify the extra training and space needed for them (the guns needed to be kept in a locked cage in the back; space they can use for other products). If one store has quit carrying them, then another in the area has likely received a nicer display; that's what has happened here. The store near me took the guns out (they still sell ammo), but another one received a remodel with a much nicer firearm section.
Period. Her store might not carry that stuff, but if that is the case, she is projecting her own ideals onto the store.
Wal-Mart corporate still sells firearms, ammo, and the like. They have cut down on the stores selling guns because the profit they made on them didn't justify the extra training and space needed for them (the guns needed to be kept in a locked cage in the back; space they can use for other products). If one store has quit carrying them, then another in the area has likely received a nicer display; that's what has happened here. The store near me took the guns out (they still sell ammo), but another one received a remodel with a much nicer firearm section.
Adventurer 2
New member
There was a Big 10/Big 5? sports store in the King of Prussia area (PA), that quit selling all firearms and related merchandise. The manager told me they lost too much business (couldn't compete) to the Cabelas store that opened about 70 miles away. You got a relatively new Bass Pro or Cabelas store sort of in the area?
toybox99615
New member
just fine here
here on Kodiak Walmart has a fair gun department for the size of the store. A good selection of ammo with a small selection of handguns (maybe 10 or 12)and a larger selection of rifles (maybe 20 to 24.)
Interesting question posed about who has the FFL. I understood from a few friends that at the Walmart here the actual firearms sales are through a third party vendor who holds a FFL. But the ammo is through an FFL that Walmart holds. I don't know the current situation on licenses. But two years ago no-one could just walk in and buy a firearm. You had to fill out the forms and wait for them to be sent to Anchorage and returned before you got to complete the sale.
Walmart is a business and carrying whatever the sell is based upon turnover rates. Firearms are not the fastest moving inventory when it comes to turnover rates. Having 50 sq feet of firearms that turn over twice a year might be less profitable than using the same 50 feet of space for computers that turn over one a month. Then add in a factor that the firearm and ammo department require an employee to be there constantly while the computer shelf requires occasional stocking.
Here they had a S&W 50 cal with the long barrel (10 inch?) sit around for over 6 months. Then slowly the price dropped down to $ 550 (more or less) before it sold. ( I almost had tears as it went below $ 600 and kept dropping another $ 10 ever couple of days.)
Are they anti-gun? I doubt it.
here on Kodiak Walmart has a fair gun department for the size of the store. A good selection of ammo with a small selection of handguns (maybe 10 or 12)and a larger selection of rifles (maybe 20 to 24.)
Interesting question posed about who has the FFL. I understood from a few friends that at the Walmart here the actual firearms sales are through a third party vendor who holds a FFL. But the ammo is through an FFL that Walmart holds. I don't know the current situation on licenses. But two years ago no-one could just walk in and buy a firearm. You had to fill out the forms and wait for them to be sent to Anchorage and returned before you got to complete the sale.
Walmart is a business and carrying whatever the sell is based upon turnover rates. Firearms are not the fastest moving inventory when it comes to turnover rates. Having 50 sq feet of firearms that turn over twice a year might be less profitable than using the same 50 feet of space for computers that turn over one a month. Then add in a factor that the firearm and ammo department require an employee to be there constantly while the computer shelf requires occasional stocking.
Here they had a S&W 50 cal with the long barrel (10 inch?) sit around for over 6 months. Then slowly the price dropped down to $ 550 (more or less) before it sold. ( I almost had tears as it went below $ 600 and kept dropping another $ 10 ever couple of days.)
Are they anti-gun? I doubt it.
Lawyer Daggit
New member
We don't have Walmart in Australia. Speaking of a similar shop, K-Mart. When K-mart moved into the Australian marketplace they sold guns and ammo.
Usually they stocked easy to find calibres such as .22LR,22 magnum,223,243, 270,308 and 12 guage, 'popular' inexpensive guns like Winchester 94 .30-30's, a range of cheap .22's and shotguns manufactured under the name Stirling by or for Squires Bingham in the Phillipines and usually had a cheap version of a Winchester centrefire on hand fitted with a cheap scope in a 'package' (the mod 70A Winchester in .243 comes to mind).
A good gun shop however does not 'pick the eyes' out of stock carried and provides a broad range of guns and ammo and accessories. They also have specialist staff who 'cost more' to pay than the kids employed by big stores. Because of this and their inability to buy in mega store volume their prices in are higher.
We had a situation where K-mart started aggressively marketing in an area near a local gun shop and basically sent him broke, resulting in the poor fellows suicide.
While K-mart nolonger sell firearms (for similar reason to Walmart) I always tried to support the little guy in the industry, because without this support he will not survive in the industry.
Having said this I would write to Wal-Mart and complain. By not stocking guns they are making a rude judgement about your tastes and it is open to you if you feel insulted and to take your trade for other things elsewhere.
I bet they are happy to stock magazines like Playboy and Penthouse, so it is interesting to see their attitude toward 'moral' products like that.
Usually they stocked easy to find calibres such as .22LR,22 magnum,223,243, 270,308 and 12 guage, 'popular' inexpensive guns like Winchester 94 .30-30's, a range of cheap .22's and shotguns manufactured under the name Stirling by or for Squires Bingham in the Phillipines and usually had a cheap version of a Winchester centrefire on hand fitted with a cheap scope in a 'package' (the mod 70A Winchester in .243 comes to mind).
A good gun shop however does not 'pick the eyes' out of stock carried and provides a broad range of guns and ammo and accessories. They also have specialist staff who 'cost more' to pay than the kids employed by big stores. Because of this and their inability to buy in mega store volume their prices in are higher.
We had a situation where K-mart started aggressively marketing in an area near a local gun shop and basically sent him broke, resulting in the poor fellows suicide.
While K-mart nolonger sell firearms (for similar reason to Walmart) I always tried to support the little guy in the industry, because without this support he will not survive in the industry.
Having said this I would write to Wal-Mart and complain. By not stocking guns they are making a rude judgement about your tastes and it is open to you if you feel insulted and to take your trade for other things elsewhere.
I bet they are happy to stock magazines like Playboy and Penthouse, so it is interesting to see their attitude toward 'moral' products like that.
"The main American retailer" has changed several times since I was boy.
Years ago Sears was "the" place to go, and they sold guns, military surplus and new production
. The guns are long gone. I don't remember the last time I was in a Sears. Unfortunatley for Sears there was a new business model in the pipeline and places like Sears and Montgomery Ward didn't react well to it.
I bought my first firearm in a place called JM Fields, an upstart big-ish box contrived on the new model. Their business model was basically cloned by K-Mart which came along later. Both had gun counters. Fields even sold handguns.
Alas K-Mart nixed Fields only to be nixed themselves by Wally World. Fields had but stopped selling firearms. K-Mart had but stopped selling firearms locally. As they circled the drain both tried to find salvation by limiting selection and offereing a lot of cheap imported products. I guess the few K-Marts still in operation owe their existence to being acquired by Sears.
Now look at the business decisions taking place at W-M.
The people running W-M may have the capital right now to put a "Super" within 10 miles of every home in America but there's no such thing as life insurance policies for businesses. When the consumer gets tired of the limited selection of products at one place (and cheaply made ones at that) they go elsewhere. Ditto if what the consumer is seeking is never on the selves when they want it. Recently that discribes my expereinces at W-M to a considerable extent. My local old-school W-M still sells firearms, but none that I want, and ammo, at prices I can beat elsewhere. The Super being built next door opens in a month or two and frankly I don't care if they even have a sporting goods section.
W-M won't disappear anytime soon but if they are like other businesses their cycle will run it's course and they'll either evolve or be replaced by some other retailer.
Will the W-M decision to sell or not sell guns and ammo make their sunset come prematurely? No. But it will be a small factor.
Best
S-
Years ago Sears was "the" place to go, and they sold guns, military surplus and new production
. The guns are long gone. I don't remember the last time I was in a Sears. Unfortunatley for Sears there was a new business model in the pipeline and places like Sears and Montgomery Ward didn't react well to it.I bought my first firearm in a place called JM Fields, an upstart big-ish box contrived on the new model. Their business model was basically cloned by K-Mart which came along later. Both had gun counters. Fields even sold handguns.
Alas K-Mart nixed Fields only to be nixed themselves by Wally World. Fields had but stopped selling firearms. K-Mart had but stopped selling firearms locally. As they circled the drain both tried to find salvation by limiting selection and offereing a lot of cheap imported products. I guess the few K-Marts still in operation owe their existence to being acquired by Sears.
Now look at the business decisions taking place at W-M.
The people running W-M may have the capital right now to put a "Super" within 10 miles of every home in America but there's no such thing as life insurance policies for businesses. When the consumer gets tired of the limited selection of products at one place (and cheaply made ones at that) they go elsewhere. Ditto if what the consumer is seeking is never on the selves when they want it. Recently that discribes my expereinces at W-M to a considerable extent. My local old-school W-M still sells firearms, but none that I want, and ammo, at prices I can beat elsewhere. The Super being built next door opens in a month or two and frankly I don't care if they even have a sporting goods section.
W-M won't disappear anytime soon but if they are like other businesses their cycle will run it's course and they'll either evolve or be replaced by some other retailer.
Will the W-M decision to sell or not sell guns and ammo make their sunset come prematurely? No. But it will be a small factor.
Best
S-