Author Topic: Wal-Mart (Read 4409 times)

MSP Ret · « **on:** February 16, 2004, 05:19:16 AM »

Well guys, I as most of us would rather buy from a small local dealer. I did however order my first gun through Wal-Mart 13 days ago, thought I would give them a try and also try to set up the cheapest, lightest close range coyote gun I could, a workhorse if you will, not a showthing. So off the Wal-Mart with a friend, ordered a Sportster in .22 Mag, $103.95 plus tax (5%). A bit confusing, no one at the gun counter, got someone paged, 3 guys show up, 2 discuss it, one hides. They finally find the catalog, I have to pick out the gun and read the stock number to the one guy left in the area. He then has to re-check the number I have read to him against the number in the catalog. He calls SportsSouth and confirms the gun is in stock. (first salesman quotes $109.95 for gun, was quoted $103.95 in Bangor, Miane Wal-Mart). Walk to rear of store, young girl in Lay-away section quotes me $103.95 for gun and takes 50% deposit ($54.40 now and $54.40 due when picked up [tax included] and deposit is refendable!) I am advised 10-14 days and they will call when the gun is in. The salesman who accompanied me to the Lay-away section is still there and is nice enough to give me the SportsSouth phone number to check on the gun as well as the stores phone number. He becomes very nice when he spots my State Police ID (retired) when I take out my credit card. I called Saturday and the store manager said no guns had come in, he was sure of that but told me to call the sporting goods manager on Monday. This after waiting for 15 minutes for Lay-away with no one answering. He told me Lay-away just orders guns, dosen't know anything about them or when they come in as lay-aways. Called Wal-mart today, spoke with the spoorting goods manager, he said the gun came in last week and he called and left a message (none here), in any event a bit convoluted and a few errors but I am going to get the gun this afternoon. I still like the warm fuzzy feeling I get from buying from a small local dealer but this deal, although leaving me cold, did not work out to badly, just leaves me kind of empty....<><.... :|

scruffy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2004, 05:49:44 AM »

I imagine the process is so convoluted so anyone wanting a firearm to use in a crime won't buy it from walmart. It's less hassle to buy a car...

But I'm very happy with my sporster mag that I ordered through walmart. After you get it can you let me know what type of rifling it has in it? Mine has the microgroove, a so did slider's (photo in the "gallery" post). I'm curious to know if all new sportster mags are or just some.

later,
scruffy

Moonlitin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2004, 07:21:37 AM »

Hmmm...that does sound convoluted...

I stopped at the local hardware store on the way home from work last week. I recognized the employee at the gun counter and said... "Hi Larry, do you have a Sportster in 22 mag"? His reply..."Hi Tom, yes I do". About fifteen minutes later I was on the way home with my new Sportster 22 Mag in the back seat of my truck. I did pay a little more ($119), but it was worth the extra $15.

I wish it was that easy to get some time away from work so I could see how it shoots.

Moonlitin

MSP Ret · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2004, 07:30:23 AM »

Boy oh Boy Moonlitin do you make me wish for the "good old days". It sure would be nice to have a hardware store like that near me. Hardware stores are my favorite (next to sporting goods stores), as a matter of fact the best stores are hardware stores that sell guns and sporting goods!! I'd get a job there and buy everything with an employee's discount!!....<><.... :-D

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2004, 07:38:49 AM »

Scruffy, I waited a while before I ordered my new Sportster because I heard that as of a while ago Marlin (of Microgroove fame, now owner of H&R/NEF) is now making all the barrels for the Sportsters at least and that all the new ones are microgroove. I waited until SportsSouth was out of stock on that gun (.22 Mag Sportster) and the new ones were in stock (at SportsSouth) I then ordered from Wal-Mart. I will check the gun's barrel today at Wal-Mart before I pick it up and will not buy it unless it is a microgroove!! I'll let you know how I make out. I searched for quite a while for a microgroove barrel and looked at several Sportsters in .22 Mag with no success. I agree with you, the Microgroove .22's seem to shoot the best....<><.... :grin:

brown-trout · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2004, 09:16:17 AM »

i have purchased a gun there before , but wont do it again.....
the little guy cares about your right to shoot, hunt and the like....walmart is concerned with profits only.....if they could make more money NOT selling guns, they would.
my dealer set up my 223 synth. handi for me, bore sighted it and made sure the scope was 100% OK.....im sure walmarts finest wouldnt have done the same.
just my 2cents.....
:grin:
brown-trout

scruffy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2004, 10:51:54 AM »

Unfortunately in my area the walmarts, cumbersome as they are, do more to help me than the "little guy" in town. If i have a choice between buying a handi at walmart for $199 or at the "little guy" for $275+, well, the "little guy" is going to have to do better to get my business. Four of the last five times I was in the "little guys" store I didn't buy anything besause the stuff I wanted he didn't have and instead of ordering it he told me to go get it at a gun show or a couple of times he told me to order it off the internet.

Hey, if he don't want my money unless it's from the sale on an overpriced firearm I'll take my business somewhere else, and I have.

If anyone out there wants to start a good gun shop please do it in central Iowa. We need one!!!

later,
scruffy

22KHornet · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:18:05 AM »

JLM, Frontier Outfitters. Thank god for Sportsmans Warehouse :grin:

VarmintController · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:29:18 AM »

WOW i feel sorry for you guys, i have 2 great gun shops within 30 miles, and a few decent ones around too. the dealer i use for everything from new guns, to ammo. gets $199.95 for a brand new handi his cost is $167.50 before shipping. after shipping he makes 10% and a couple cents. alot of dealers make a 50% profit. but they sell alot less guns. this guy makes plenty of money to run his shop, and keep all of us shooters very happy. we just pick up his wholesale catalog, show him what we want, and we pay 10% over his cost, shipping, and tax. and out the door we go. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D cant say its a bad deal at all. i dont know what i would do if i lived where you guys do, $275 for a handi?

? i just dont think so. the other dealer i use around here charges 15% over his cost on a new gun. there are a couple joints around that charge more, but i just dont deal with them. i guess i am some lucky to live up here in maine where we still have good gunshops around. and FYI for eveyone, i work for LL bean, yep you know who they are, and even with my discount "a good amount off retail price", i cant buy guns from them. they just mark them up to high for my poor blood. so yes i can kinda understand how you guys feel about paying too much for guns. but i am so thankful for the dealers around here. :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Big Blue · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2004, 01:07:39 PM »

I also favor the little guy down the corner. In my case it is a hardware store that has been in business since the 1880's. I bought all of me H+R/NEF guns there. My last was the BC for $299.00, he had to order it and it took nine days to get there, but it's worth it. It would take very little effort on the part of the anti's to get Walmart to shut down the gun sales. While I live in PA., I work in New Jersey, and the Walmarts there don't sell guns, or ammo.
Don

Markus · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2004, 01:36:43 PM »

Vc You are a lucky man to have 2 great gun shops near by. I've got a pretty good one. A crazy overpriced one and a buch that have come ad gone pretty quickly. Owning a shop like the ones you're talking about is a dream of mine. I've never really studied what it would cost to start up one but I know it's out of reach for a few years anyway.I love the small shop thats full of charachter and characters. I made my wife spend a few more $ on the encore she bought me for Christmas by buying it from the small shop.Don't get me wrong I don't particularly like Wal-Mart but I've gotta buy toilet paper and diapers somewhere.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2004, 04:03:09 PM »

Info for Scruffy and others, Scruffy I just picked up my Sportster in .22 Mag from Wal-Mart, what a hassle, took an hour!!! They were trying to be nice, but SLOW and did not know what they were doing. The good part was it does have a micro-groove barrel!! The serial number starts with NT so it is a newer gun with a Marlin barrel. Now to shoot, shoot, shoot. Wal-Mart sure trys to make a somewhat simple process intolerable!!!....<><.... :cry:

hellacatcher · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2004, 04:54:24 PM »

MSP Ret :-) You lucky duck my new ultra don't have microgroove.

jon f · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:06:51 PM »

Hi Guy's,
Down here the price for a sportster is approx $450 aus. 1 aussie dollar is worth 78 us cents..
Even with the value of our dollar its quite dear. Centre fires are approx $540 aus, 30-30 , 45-70 etc.. I just hope the free trade agreement changes a few prices.
Regards Jon....

Cottonwood · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2004, 03:16:18 AM »

I work for Wal*Mart, and several months ago I purchased a Marlin 336CC for my son, it was a slow process even for me, but the price was the best part and I kept that in mind. Wal-Mart has a policy of having to call a Store Manager or an Assist Manager for the transaction i.e. yellow form and the final sale.

It is a process that can incite ones temper to say the least.

I did not buy my Buffalo Classic thru Wal*Mart, nor will I purchase any other rifles thru them. When I purchased my Buffalo Classic at a local Sporting Goods Store the transaction time was cut WAY down. The sales associate went and got the black case that the Buffalo Classic comes in, grabbed the Buffalo Classic and to the front counter we went after I filled out the yellow form. I have a CCP so the process is even faster for me.

Then I walked out by myself with my Buffalo Classic in hand without assistance. At Wal*Mart they will escort you to the front door, and hand you the rifle in box at the exit.

Wlscott · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2004, 03:22:11 AM »

Quote

Hi Guy's,
Down here the price for a sportster is approx $450 aus. 1 aussie dollar is worth 78 us cents

Wow!! Kind of puts everything in perspective for me :eek:

Quote

have a CCP so the process is even faster for me.

I'm assuming that CCP means Concealed Carry Permit. How does this speed up the process for you?

lik2hunt · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2004, 03:34:25 AM »

Well I am pretty lucky here I guess cause at our local Wally there is an ex FFL working the sporting goods counter. Granted he is not there all the time but I know him now and know not to talk to many of the others. Here only 10% down on layaways and 90 days to pay it out. They have gotten so used to seeing me that they all recognize and greet me now, heck one of the guys just grabs the special order book and gets ready to hand it to me when he sees me coming. Most of the local gun shop owners here in OK are the ones who are out for a buck and their stuff is way overpriced , even the used stuff. I do travel OK a lot tho (delivery driver) and I check almost all the local shops I go by, still hoping to find one that can beat Wally World's prices. I guess $$$$ is kinda the bottom line for me too.

BruceP · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2004, 05:16:08 AM »

Quote

I'm assuming that CCP means Concealed Carry Permit. How does this speed up the process for you?

I dont know how it works in Montana but here in Georgia with a CCP I just have to let the dealer make a copy of it and I dont have to wait several hours on an "instant" background check.
BruceP

Cottonwood · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2004, 07:38:37 AM »

Quote from: Wlscott

Quote
I'm assuming that CCP means Concealed Carry Permit. How does this speed up the process for you?

I do not have to go through any computer checks when purchasing ANY firearms. I've already been checked out and that is all that is needed.

brown-trout · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2004, 11:37:49 AM »

second post by myself on the matter......
dont think wal mart sells those guns so cheap because they are 'smarter' than the little guy....they make those suppliers pay to sell their products...
dont believe it..? its true....."pay me / subsidize the purchase of your product or your competitors stuff will rule the roost in 5000+ wal marts across the US.....mr. joe q public wont even know you exist..."
rubber maid had to agree to a nice little package just recently just so their stuff can stay on the shelves. sounds like john gotti type stuff.....
===================================
dont think walmart wasnt aware of their use of illegal alien labor.....
while most of us dont want those jobs, it is still the principle of the matter.
====================================
like i said, if they could fix it so they would make better money bu NOT selling guns, they would.
they are not your friend.
=========================
NOT MEANT AS A SLAM AGAINST THE FOLKS WHO ARE HOURLY EMPLOYEES, JUST
MEANT TO AIR TO THE WORLD WM MGMT'S ANTI-__________
(PICK ONE: WORKER/COMMUNITY/SMALL SHOP KEEPER/ENVIRONMENT)
MINDSET.

brown-trout

Wlscott · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2004, 02:58:57 PM »

Quote

I do not have to go through any computer checks when purchasing ANY firearms. I've already been checked out and that is all that is needed.

That's the way it USED to be in OKlahoma. But now I have to go through the same rigamarole as every other Tom, Dick and Harry :cry:

Kinda ticked me off the first time I had to do it.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2004, 04:01:34 PM »

:roll:, I would like to post this on the new Rimfire Forum but cannot post there yet, "only administrators may post to this forum" is the message I get, so here goes, this is where this tale of woe started anyway. Remember my tale about buying my .22 Mag Sportster from Wal-Mart. It gets better, or worse, it depends on how you look at it I guess!!! I got a call from the stores assistant manager today, the one who carried my gun out and gave it to me once we were outside of the stores doors. Foolish, but so is most of thier gun sales process. It seems the assistant manager forgot to ask me to sign an important piece of paperwork, I was given my copy but niether my copy or the original was signed by me. I was asked if I would not mind stopping in and going to Customer (dis)Service and bringing up my copy, placing the copies together and signing them. Trouble is the store is almost 40 miles away and we just got another 6+ inches of snow, of course the doctor says I can drive as of yesterday and only have to use one crutch or a cane for another 2 or 3 weeks!! No problem, I'll drive up and sign your papers but not tonight, not tomorrow and maybe not next week, BUT I will make a good faith effort to get there within a couple of weeks. I will do this for them, why I don't know, maybe I feel sorry for them and feel they need help. OR, perhaps I'll call them and see if any employee lives near me, perhaps he can bring the paperwork to me to sign. "Nevermore spoke the Raven", and nevermore will I buy a gun at Wal-Mart!!!....<><.... :noway:

BruceP · « **Reply #22 on:** February 18, 2004, 04:35:31 PM »

Sounds to me like someone owes you a couple a boxes of ammo for getin' them out a hot water. Not to mention your trouble and the gas it takes to drive eighty miles.
BruceP

Mac11700 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2004, 05:32:00 PM »

MSP:

I feel for your frustration when dealing with un-educated,store employee's at Walmart.I had a simalar problem with one paticular store in Illinois where I used to live.The SG manager was hardly ever in and when she was,she really didn't want to take the time or effort to stock her shelves for anything to do with hunting.Everything else was up to par...but she just didn't like hunting...so when it came time to even show a person that special order book it was either locked up or misplaced.As far as I know that female SG manager has climbed up the corperate ladder now and has several stores under her.Makes a person have to wonder if the problem is more regional than national.The one Walmart on this side of the river that I do buisness with has a great SG manager...well versed in just about everything from skinning and trapping to deer&duck hunting,muzzleloaders,and center fire hunting.As a matter of fact if I hadn't had prior hunting plans for last season,I would have hunted with his party, he had invited me to join his deer camp of about 8 guys down state in the National Forest.

Not all of the stores are bad,just un-educated people mostly...if we do our part and tell them what we need and want...they can begin to understand...(sometimes)...but we got to try.

Oh...by the way...do you really want to profit off of someone elses mistake? Seems to me you might turn their mistake around to your favour,by showing how true sportsmen handle situations like this...who knows perhaps this is what they need to start treating Hunters a little better,or perhaps they might not take as long or handle your orders in such a untimely fashion the next time..My wife always tells me in times like those...nothing is coincidence,everything is for a reason. Just some food for thought.

Mac

dread · « **Reply #24 on:** February 18, 2004, 06:14:29 PM »

My experience at Walmart was hectic to say the least. Walmart had the rifle there. It took an hour to fill out the forms, etc. Then the manager was called. He had to go all over the forms, etc. again. Then the manager walked the rifle out to the vehicle and told me that I'd have to leave the premises because guns are not allowed in vehicles in the parking lot. I don't think I will buy anymore firearms from them. I had been looking at a model 60 Marlin for 99 dollars on sale. The young salesperson said there were none in stock but when the warehouse sends them to Walmart the sale price would be the same. Not true. The new model 60's are 20 dollars higher. I had asked if I could get a "raincheck" at the 99 dollar price. He told me that they don't give rainchecks on guns. So Walmart lost a sale. I'll go to my local gunshop or buy one used. It is a nice store to walk around and get exercise in tho.

bull b 25-06 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 18, 2004, 07:34:11 PM »

My experience with Wally world was mind-numbing.I was saving for a new deer rifle(RUGER M77 VT MARK II low glare stainless HEAVY BARREL TARGET .25-06)and it was getting really close to deer season. So i finally ordered the rifle on october 24(friday).They said since it was late in the day that they would have to order the rifle on the following monday,and i was told the rifle would be there in 5 days. The next wednesday(29)i called to see how things were going,and they said it. The person that was supposed to order it first thing monday morning didn't enter it in the computer right and admitted that she didn't know what she was doing.So they reordered it on wednesday and got confirmation from their supplier.The rifle finally arrived november 7,and deer season starts on the 15th. Everything was fine now,and about a week before this i had ordered a LEATHERWOOD (bullet drop compensator)6.5x20.50mmA.O. no-math mill-dot scope.The scope arrived the next day afyter the rifle only to find out the free rings that Ruger sends with all their center-fire rifles are the medium height,and i needed the hi height ones. Anyways had to special order the rings from a local gun shop,and they arrived the day before deer season on the 14th. One long drawn out pain in the ass. I'm better now so my therapist says!! just kidding!!!

later bull b 25-06

BruceP · « **Reply #26 on:** February 19, 2004, 04:20:42 PM »

Mac. Sorry that in my earlier post I made it sound like I was suggesting that MSP RET should profit from or ask for something in return for helping fix the mistake that was made. I re-read my post and it did sound like that. I edited the last part but left the first, instead of deleting it all, as to not totally confuse readers who come in late on this thread. To clarify just a little I was really looking at it from the managers side. (I had just came in from a thirteen and a half hour day on my job as a shift manager and did not take time to check how the post looked.) My thinking was that as the manager of that SG department I would feel like I owed something to someone who would go to that much trouble to help me out of a jam. Even if I had to pay the $10 or so out of my pocket.
BruceP

brown-trout · « **Reply #27 on:** February 19, 2004, 05:33:48 PM »

i think folks knew what you meant, at least i understood it.
======================================
i bougt a mossy 500at wm a few yrs back and it was as if they were trying to build an atom bomb from a chinese cook book....HARD TIME
just finding the darn thing in the back, then paper work , whew!
thats a story in itself.
to make it right, the mgr gave me a 25 dollar gift card 'cuz i had about an hour into getting out of there...which i gave to the wife.
then they walk me out to the door and hand me the gun...i asked about that one, as what would stop me from loading it and coming right back in..? doesnt make sense , but im certain some bean counter came up with it and doesnt know its stupid.
=========================================
like i said earlier, you wont catch me buying guns from them ( or anything else that is better handled by someone with a vested interest in taking care of the customer)
brown trout

Mac11700 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 20, 2004, 04:51:18 AM »

Bruce-P :

I understood and thats ok.I didn't mean my response to sound as harsh as it did either,I'm sorry.Everyone see's things differently and for the cost of a 80 mile round trip with a bum leg I think I really would be more than a little P-O'de too. It still would be nice to make a convert or two from the situation.

Funny thing about ole-wally world...it seems that if the storemanager is a hunter...he places people in the SP dept. that want to be there,and has some knowledge of what they are doing.If he/she isn't a hunter...or dislikes hunters...the place can be really a nightmare to get things from,ands they go out of their way to hassle you..

You would think that they would be a little more concsistant with the type of people they hire,being as large as they are.The customer satisfaction factor would be much higher,and their buisness would improve,but I guess as with any large corpoeration the upper level management is only concerned with the bottom line of profits,and just pay lip service to anyone who ask about it.

Mac

fast*eddie · « **Reply #29 on:** February 20, 2004, 02:34:37 PM »

I have purchased two guns at WalMart (Marlin mod 60 22 semi-auto and a NEF 12 ga shotgun) here in Western New York. Used my pistol permit for ID. Neither purchase took more than 10 minutes which was mostly paperwork. I would continue to buy guns there if needed. :grin: