Author Topic: Walmart / Firearms / No More !?! (Read 4250 times)

MI.sabot · « **on:** January 26, 2007, 03:41:08 PM »

Last Saturday I placed an order/layaway for a Sportsman 22lr at the local Walmart's.
The clerk(s) had one heck of time trying to put the order in the system but eventually got the transaction to go through.
(This should have been the first clue.)

Well I got a call tonight from WM fully expecting to hear that the gun had come in.
Instead they told me that they can no longer order guns and as of Monday any guns left on the rack will be sent back to the manufacturer.
They were apologetic, they just found out about it this week, but nonetheless they were getting out of the gun business nationwide!

If there's something on the rack that you've had your eye on you might just want to pick it up this weekend.
I don't want to start any rumors/panic but this is what I was told as my order was being refunded.
If you hear anything different, please let us all know.

PS: Georgian, consider yourself lucky if you got your 22mag today!

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2007, 04:04:08 PM »

If this is true then Pelosi and the liberals have landed, and sooner than I expected....<><....

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2007, 04:40:01 PM »

Some store employees don't have a clue what's happening nationwide, so they speculate that what happened at their store is happening to all stores, which isn't true, just those that don't meet WM's threshold for firearms sales which they announced almost a year ago.

Tim

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12316692/

Quote

Post subject: Spoke with Walmart HQ this morning

Here is what I got. I spoke with a Gentleman named Doug at the firearms center at Walmart HQ. About 1000 Walmart stores will still sell guns. Much has been made about customer demands. So if your Walmart does not have gun sales make it known to the local manager and write to Walmart HQ, have your friends write and tell the local manager. If there is enough customer demands they may put firearms back into those stores. They are still evaluating which stores will carry firearms. So if your store still has them, make it known that you want to keep it that way.

If stores do not sell firearms they can not special order firearms. They do not have FFL's at those locations.
_________________
Big Medicine:

http://www.marlinowners.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=18638&highlight=walmart

Ned · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2007, 08:11:50 PM »

One of the Delaware papers had an article concerning this on Thursday and stated that eliminating firearms was a store by store decision based on sales. They started doing so in late 2005.

According to the article there are 5 stores in DE still carrying firearms and sales have been stopped in 3. All stores will still carry ammunition.

One local dealer was quoted as saying "Wal-Mart was more competition in the ammo side of things...They can sell for what we buy for."

An NRA public affairs official was also quoted as saying "They've said it was a business decision, not a political decision."

Still, I suspect they get a fair amount of pressure from anti-gun groups to stop selling firearms.

MI.sabot · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2007, 10:51:24 AM »

Well if it ain't nationwide it sure feels like it around here.

I called 4 Walmart stores within a 15 mile radius of home and none of them carry firearms anymore.

The gun store I frequent wants $170 for the same Sportster 22lr that Walmart's was selling for $116.
This was just going to be a plinking gun mostly for the kids....probably only to be used once or twice a year.
For $116 I could justify it. I don't feel the same for $175.

Just very disgusted with the way WM handled things right from the get go.
Thanks for letting me vent a little.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2007, 12:36:15 PM »

Walmart still sells em, you just need to find one of the ~1000 stores that still have em. $:-\$

Tim

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3138450

MSP Ret · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2007, 02:36:17 PM »

Instead of making each and every customer call all the stores in his area trying to locate a store that sells firearms you would think they would list those stores that that do sell them, or at least a phone number to call to find the nearest store that does sell guns. They have that information and we don't, what ever happened to the idea of trying to help the customer....<><....

Does anyone have the number for the Copporate Headquarters? I especially would like the telephone number to get in touch with that person "Doug" that was supposed to work in the Wal Mart HQ gun section...How about it, anyone have that number and his extension?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2007, 03:06:43 PM »

I PM'd big medicine at MO to see if he'd share the number he called.

Tim

MSP Ret · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2007, 03:17:09 PM »

Thanks Tim, now that I have my 16 I am thinking about a 28 gauge and might as well get it a WalMart. I will be watching and hoping that number is forwarded....<><....

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2007, 05:54:13 PM »

I just received his pm, he's pretty sure this is the number he callled...

Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated
(479) 273-4000

MSP Ret · « **Reply #10 on:** January 28, 2007, 02:13:30 AM »

Thanks Quick, I will call there tomorrow....<><....

Ned · « **Reply #11 on:** January 28, 2007, 05:35:42 AM »

MI sabot:

I can understand your displeasure and you have, I think, echoed the feelings of many when it comes to Wal-Mart or any other big name "box stores."

As I mentioned in another post I am thinking of getting a Sporster myself. I do have a Wal-Mart nearby that still carries firearms but if I do buy I will use a smaller dealer.

I should mention that I called one local dealer and was given a price of about $125 so the difference between that and your quoted Wal-Mart price is very small whereas your was $59.

Still: the quandry is whether that amount is worth laying out to help keep that small dealer going. If the majority of his customers buy from Wal-Mart can he stay in business and perhaps provide other services that WM can or will not? Obviously I don't know your circumstances so you may not need any other services but I would likely use them for scope mounting and maintenance beyond simple cleaning for example.

Also, I don't have a large collection of firearms but the few I have I plan to keep. If you get pleasure from your Sportster - even a few times a year - and your children do the same and they in turn pass on the interest to their children that $59 dollar difference amortized over many many years is quickly forgotten.

I hope this does not come across in any way of criticism of you. I just think it is a concern we all face in many choices of the things we buy and where we buy them from. (And I have bought items at WM and other such stores for many years.)

Ned

MI.sabot · « **Reply #12 on:** January 28, 2007, 07:59:23 AM »

MSP:

No criticism taken!

I have and always will use the dealer for firearms that will require as you said "services beyond simple cleaning."
I felt the Sportster was in the "simple cleaning" category and that's why I chose to purchase it from WM at a less than premium price.

But I'm feeling much much better today.
I needed to be in an area last night about an hour from home and had a couple hours to kill once I got there.
I remembered there was a Bass Pro Shop in the vicinity so I took a ride to see what they had.

I will say the people there were very pleasant to deal with and seemed willing to go the extra mile.
Anyways, they didn't have any Sportsters in inventory and when we looked it up in their computer they were selling for $130. Not bad.
It looked like it may have still been last years model though since it still said it came with the MC stock and scope rail.
This is the model I really wanted in the first place but their supplier had a "0" inventory and looked like it may no longer be available.

While looking at what 22s they had, I picked up a Marlin 60 and quite frankly everything about it felt right.
It shouldered perfectly, the length and weight should be fine for the kids, had a MC stock and rimfire rail if I ever want to scope it,
Marlin/H&R/NEF made and the Model 60 has stood the test of time. And for $130 I just couldn't resist.

All and all I think I'll be very happy with it as it should suit my intented purpose very well.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2007, 11:11:45 AM »

Marlin Model 60's are fine semi-auto rimfire guns and I consider them the "classic" .22 LR semi-auto if there can be such a thing as a "classic" semi-auto. I have 2 and they both are great. I am sure you and your children will enjoy them very much, congratulations on a great purchase....<><....

mr.theman · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2007, 12:17:47 PM »

I don't know if this has been covered yet but I just visited a brand new walmart in Stillwater ( their second store). I couldn't beleive that in rural Oklahoma there would be a Wal-mart that didn't carry guns. I asked the guy what was up and this is how it was explained to me. I have talked to this guy before at the old store and he has always been very knowlegable.

Wal-mart has decided that only the top 500 stores or so (based on annual gun sales) will continue to sell guns. Since the first Wal-mart in town carries guns the new store doesn't because to would cut into to sales at the first store and possibly drop them below the threshold and cause both stores to loose their guns.

It sounded logical to me. I don't buy very many guns at Wal-mart but every once in a while I want something that the local guys can't get me. Or the local guys are way to proud of theirs to justify spending the extra money to keep it local.

HH
SWAT

mardrobe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2007, 12:19:32 PM »

I am not sure of the accuracy, but I was told that the real problem was related to problems with filling out and retaining the federal forms and that sells were currently being limited to high volume gun sales locations. The individual also said they were informed that once existing stocks were sold Walmart was getting completely out of Firearms sales.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2007, 01:05:50 PM »

Walmart has set a threshold of $70,000 annual sales for fireams only, not including blackpowder and ammo, for any store to continue with firearm sales. The last figure makes that about 500-600 stores nationwide, and I'm sure that may change as demand dictates.

Tim

djw · « **Reply #17 on:** February 26, 2007, 10:35:37 AM »

MI.Sabot,
My local Walmart is one of those still carrying firearms (at least as of last week). However, last night at my local Meijer store, the gun case was empty and a new sign up "This Meijer location will no longer carry rifles and shotguns."
For those not in Michigan and ajoining states, Meijer is our local version/competitor to Walmart.
Don

hrminer92 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 26, 2007, 06:30:36 PM »

the Walmart closest to me is stopping sales in March, but there are a few others 5-10 miles further away that are still selling them.

IMHO, this has more to do with having someone who is trained to do the sales and there is probably a licensing factor too. They just can't put an ordinary barcode scanner jockey back there to sell guns.

luv2shoot · « **Reply #19 on:** February 28, 2007, 03:40:26 PM »

Quote from: hrminer92 on February 26, 2007, 06:30:36 PM

the Walmart closest to me is stopping sales in March, but there are a few others 5-10 miles further away that are still selling them.

IMHO, this has more to do with having someone who is trained to do the sales and there is probably a licensing factor too. They just can't put an ordinary barcode scanner jockey back there to sell guns.

I thought they were HIGHLY trained "Wal Mart Sporting Goods professionals"

jgalar · « **Reply #20 on:** March 01, 2007, 02:40:55 AM »

I would much rather deal with a Wal-mart employee who doesn't know which end of the tube the round comes out of than the self proclaimed know-it-all behind the counter of most gun stores.

luv2shoot · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2007, 05:10:13 AM »

You do make a valid point here

Russ Jerome · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2007, 01:44:06 PM »

Spent today over lunch calling every one I could find listed in
SE Wisconsin, if they had not already stopped they are in the
process of shipping firearms back. Asking an employee over
the phone if they can order would apear taboo from there
reaction.

Central/Western Wisconsin may be different did not call Madison
yet.

flitz · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2007, 01:17:55 AM »

NE WIS nolonger carries them in DE PERE or east GREEN BAY. havnt checked
the west GB store

flitz

MOGLEY · « **Reply #24 on:** March 03, 2007, 04:47:49 AM »

The nearest store here has dropped the gun sales this past week but the super store 30mi away has not. Probably going to keep the sales going in the super stores?? I hate to see anyone stop selling guns, we cannot get to ramped up on who it is that sells guns. Any access lost is a loss for all of us. Bad sales people and all.

PartsMan · « **Reply #25 on:** March 07, 2007, 05:55:52 AM »

Talked to sporting goods manager at Enid OK.
He said most of the ones quitting guns have already.
Also said many of those stores only sold one gun a week avearge.
He averages one a day in the off season.
Talked like it was a money thing not political.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** March 07, 2007, 05:57:06 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on February 19, 2007, 01:05:50 PM

Walmart has set a threshold of $70,000 annual sales for fireams only, not including blackpowder and ammo, for any store to continue with firearm sales. The last figure makes that about 500-600 stores nationwide, and I'm sure that may change as demand dictates.

Tim

It is a money thing, plain and simple!

ironduke2 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 30, 2007, 08:55:35 AM »

Yesterday I picked up a 20 Ga ultra slug hunter model 920 and a 20 Ga Topper Deluxe Classic model 218 at Wally world. No problems in my area. Now if my 444 would only get here. Bob

spo · « **Reply #28 on:** April 14, 2007, 03:11:30 AM »

I live on Long Island NY, and walmart does not sell guns here, but in upstate NY they do, K mart did the same, and they use to sell handguns, go figure, Ny sucks I need to move to wis, IO,IL

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #29 on:** April 15, 2007, 03:31:03 PM »

I just ordered a .223 with bb and choate stock from the WM in Beloit Wis $237 + tax wanted the ultra varmit but it was out of stock at there supplier . The guy said they were one of only 4 stores left in wis to sell guns . Do you think it is our own big mouths bragging how good these NEF's shoot or other reasons the prices have gone up on these guns in the last yr or so. Kurt