Author Topic: Wallmart stops selling guns in 1000 stores, I think it is a good thing (Read 4180 times)

shotgunner · « **on:** July 18, 2006, 05:03:19 AM »

The NRA reports that Wallmart has stopped selling guns in 1000 of it's 3,800 stores. They want you to urge Wallmart to keep selling guns. I think we are better off buying guns from small gun stores, where people who really know guns work. Wallmart has been underselling the local gun shops, they never have anyone who can give advice on reloading and they don't sell anything near high end products. The shooting community will be better off in the long run without them. Support your local gun store, you kids will thank you. Shotgunner

DWTim · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2006, 11:00:29 AM »

That may be the case, but I'd still like to know why. Any answer to the question is likely to be bad news for the shooting community... Which probably explains why the NRA is involved. If they aren't selling well -- bad, because it further illustrates how we are a dying breed. If Wal*Mart is caving to authoritarian-socialist political pressure -- also bad, because it shows that a loud-mouth, kook fringe minority still has considerable power over their "equals", i.e. the rest of us.

Just remember that the kooks will be coming after your local gun shops, too.

scratcherky · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:50:47 AM »

Several recent Wal-Mart changes probably have old Sam Walton rolling over in his grave.

shotgunner · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2006, 01:35:42 PM »

I had an anti-Wallmart thread on this site before this latest development. It went 3 or 4 pages. I found lots of people very emotional about it. I live out in the country where Wallmart has come into a college town, and closed down the local stores. I have been very unhappy with many of the products they were selling. I bought baseballs that said Spaulding on them and they were hard as rocks and deformed the first time they were hit. I find that there is very little quality to be had. I have done very well with places like Gander Mt. and will continue to support them, as well as some privately owned shops. I will not mind it if Wallmart gives up it's guns. I am suprized that the NRA wants to support them. Shotgunner

FWiedner · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2006, 04:44:05 PM »

I think that any time any business stops selling guns, it's bad for everyone.

Limits the sources, increases the price, and improves the ability of government to regulate purchase.

In my opinion, we should be able to buy a gun at the 7-11, and it should be as easy as buying a six-pack of beer.

You may not like Wal-Mart as a business, but you are screwing all gun-owners by wishing them out of the gun business.

D.C. · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2006, 08:44:13 PM »

HIND SIGHT
I am leaving an area were wall mart has not been selling guns for over a year {CA.} not realy sure of how long. here is the situation as i see it.
1 it is very difficult to find a gun store that has the stuff i could once find at wall mart.
2 even with the mart store i still got guns and supplies in some of the other places too as prices were competitve. but i did get some at the wall mart too. it was closer
3 now that wal mart is out, prices are going up. no free market comp.
4 here is the biggie as i see it. the average joe non gun fan does not see a cool gun in wall mart he does not see it ever he never gets interesrted in the shooting sports one less voice in the fight to keep our shooting rights alive.
5 if you think #4 is not likely look at the post" CA residents take action" and ponder it a bit. I'd go to wall mart and buy a gun and ask them to keep them in stock enough of us do that and by god the numbers would add up good to the folks at wal mart and they would keep selling guns and average joe will be come a shooting fan too. It may be too late I am afraid for CA. Try not to let the nuts steal your rights. First thing i am going to do after i move{ and moveing I am} is go to wall mart and buy a handi in 22 hornet. Then i think I will go to a nieghborhood gun shop and get me one more in a different cal. just one mans view point. Mine. D.C. Don

victorcharlie · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2006, 02:59:01 AM »

A rumor that I've heard is that walmart has been having trouble with the ATF. Walmart is the #1 volume gun dealer in america and thus looked at very closely by the ATF. Walmart pulled guns out of some of their stores that don't do a lot of volume because they can't get the paperwork correct. The plan is to only sell guns in regional stores that have enough volume to dedicate a person to keep the log books and 4473's the way the ATF requires. The customer only sees the form 4473. In order to comply with ATF regulations, the forms must be complete, and correct, all the I's dotted and T's crossed. All guns must be logged in an out of the store and a hard copy log book kept. Form 4473's have to be filed and maintained for 20 years and the process is subject to an ATF audit. Logbooks and 4473's must match and be complete. If the ATF pulls a licence, it's for the whole chain, not the individual store.

I don't think this is a political statement, or has anything to do with Rosy or Micheal.......but simply an attempt to stay in the gun business after being cited many times by the ATF for mistakes made by the $6.00 per hour youngsters who don't care if the process is done right...................This is the same reason a lot of pawn shops don't deal in guns any more. It requires a long term commitment and the people to get the job done right.

After all, Walmart is the ultimate capitalist.......

D.C. · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2006, 06:17:07 AM »

Yes victor charlie
There are probably many valid reasons for the action. And i should know better than to open my mouth before studying the facts. Still no mater the reasons the side effects to it, appear to be less chioce, higher prices, and more regulation.
Perhaps Wall mart should just have fewer stores and keep the ones they can afford to keep fully maned and fully stocked. I guess if I only go to those, that will be my satement.
As for our lak of choices we are all probably {i know I am } guilty of trying to save a few dollars by buying through the mail order chains, So if I came off, hi and mighty,fore give me. My hands are dirty too.
After the fact things get harder to fik, and well, at times it is just plain frustrating. D.C. Don

shotgunner · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2006, 04:04:42 AM »

Free Market? When Remington sells 700s to Wallmart so that they can market them for less than a mom and pop store has to pay just to get one in the door it is not free market. If you want average guys, and girls to get into shooting get involved. Clubs can offer free shooting days and instruction. I have taught clay target shooting to boy scouts and other youth groups. PA has Youth Field Days where kids learn about all kinds of outdoor intrests, I have taught shooting as well as trapping. Let Wallmart go, it is not good for us in the long run. If you support your local gun store you will have more choices, if the local store has enough of a market he can buy in volume and sell for less. Most clubs have a FFL guy who will offer members a deal. I have no problem with saving money, just with where my money ends up. As far as Calafornia, I don't know. I moved out of NY because I didn't like the way things were going 20 years ago. Shotgunner

D.C. · « **Reply #9 on:** September 11, 2006, 06:19:41 AM »

hellow Shotgunner
i have found your statement thought provoking. I may have over simplifyed a problem with local mentalitys. Moving should cure that part. I do intend to support my local mom and pop store, I will be thinking over the wall mart issue as to weather or not i will buy there too or not. As far as getting involved, this sounds like a real good idea to me. I will look into it. D.C.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #10 on:** September 11, 2006, 04:59:12 PM »

Walmart has to compete with Caballas, Gander Mountian, Sportsman's warehouse and others such as Dicks.....

While they have huge buying power, they do have some competition. Mom and Pop stores don't buy in big enough volume to sell at the same price as the big players.......and usually survive by finding a nitch that the big stores don't cater to............such as an indoor shooting range or carry classes.......which walmart doesn't offer.....No doubt, it's tough on the little stores......

shotgunner · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2006, 08:58:23 AM »

DC

I got your note. Funny thing, I was a comercial fisherman also, I dug enough hardshell clams to pay my way through college. One great thing about our country is that states can still govern themselves, and some of us just don't belong in states run by big cities. If you decide to move, good luck. I found that local gun clubs were a good place to start if you want to help. In PA the game comission is working on teaching young people. The local warden gave instruction to my boy scout troup every year. The county youth field days were the best thing I have been involved with. I would think you could find something oline about them. If every state did something like it there would be lots of new shooters. Shotgunner

Oleboy · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2006, 08:19:59 AM »

Hello all new poster. I am a FFL dealer in California. And the ATF agent that busted Wal-Mart here told me that Wal-Mart had sold a gun to a guy and he did not clear the dros so they scratch out his name and put his wife’s name in the form once the ATF found this they started looking at all there records and found a ton of mistakes. Now I could care less about Wal-Mart selling guns they don’t affect me because they have jackass working for them that does not care about our sport or our right to bare arms. But I will say this Wal-Mart makes it easy for the left to say see this is why guns should be banned so for that fact I feel Wal-Mart should not sell guns they just make it easy for all of us to lose our right to bear arms.

flamenblaster · « **Reply #13 on:** October 30, 2006, 01:35:24 AM »

i think wal-mart is great...for the 96 pack of toilet paper and cheap work pants for $10.88 a pair...as for firearms ive only bought one there..a marlin 22..as for selection...they dont generally have what i would prefer..if i want a decent revolver i'll go to sportsmen's warehouse..if i want an ar15, ak-type semiauto, defense shotgun, and etc....i prefer a local small shop run by a very knowledgable man with extensive experience with such things ..he also has the best deals on bulk ammo. i have nothing against wal-mart selling guns..but i do consider them the least desireable place to shop for such things..just my 2 pennies

alsaqr · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:17:56 AM »

" think we are better off buying guns from small gun stores, where people who really know guns work. Wallmart has been underselling the local gun shops, they never have anyone who can give advice on reloading and they don't sell anything near high end products. The shooting community will be better off in the long run without them. Support your local gun store, you kids will thank you." Shotgunner

i live near Lawton, OK. There is not one gunshop in Lawton. Just a bunch of rip-off pawnshops. Got to go Duncan, 38 miles from here to buy a gun. The guy in Duncan is a Browning dealer. Regardless what gun you want him to order, he tries to sell you a Browning. Had a Ruger number 1 on order for over a year before i cancelled the order. Yes, he knows all about Brownings. His prices are near list. No thanks, i prefer WalMart.

shotgunner · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2007, 08:56:00 AM »

I never saw a Ruger #1 at any Wallmart. Sounds to me like you could do well to start a gunshop in your area. Shotgunner

NONYA · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:04:24 AM »

Wallmart sells guns that anyone can afford,you dont go to walmart for a $1200 rifle,you go there to get an entry level gun that does the job,they serve a niche and Im glad mine will continue to sell firearms,i have bought a few guns there,u know why?Because my local gun stoires are RIPOFFS that charge %20 more than Walmart for the same product,you think Im going to pay that markup to supportlocal store that makes it impossible for me to afford thier products...Ill mail order before ill get robbed here locally,i can order from bass pro ,pay shipping and still save money on my outdoor gear.Its supply and demand,we shouldnt be feeling guilty about going with the lowest priced product,if you want to pay more at another store feel free,i cant afford the

alsaqr · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2007, 10:27:31 AM »

"I never saw a Ruger #1 at any Wallmart. Sounds to me like you could do well to start a gunshop in your area."

I never saw one at Wal Mart either. But they were able to get me a Ruger #1 in .22 Hornet within 10 days after i cancelled my order at the Duncan dealer. Years ago i thought of becoming a gun dealer and decided against it.

MRC · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2007, 03:50:13 PM »

Folks, I hate not to give my business to local gun dealers but they can't compete or don't want to compete with Wal-mart. I'm currently waiting on a rifle to get delivered to the local Wal-mart. Why did I order it from Wally World and not the local gunshop? The local gun shop quoted me over $100 more than I ordered it through Walmart. Now $100 may not be much to some of you guys, but it's a lot to me! I would've gladly paid $40 or $50 more to the local gunshop but not $100.

NONYA · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2007, 04:57:48 PM »

i WOULDNT PAY 1$ MORE TO BUY IT LOCALLY.

Dee · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2007, 03:01:54 PM »

I think the point that may be missed here is VOLUME. Everyone howled like a pack of coyotes here in small town Tx. because the only Grocery store here (a small mom & pop) cost more than the Wal Mart supercenters up the road. It's not rocket science, it's VOLUME. Mom & pop order 20 heads of lectuce, Wal Mart orders 20 boxcars of lectuce at a cheaper rate because of VOLUME.
Local gun store buy 5 Remington 870s and it take a year to move them all, and he gets very little discount from distributors. Wal Mart goes directly to the factory and orders 5 box cars of 870s at a VOLUME DISCOUNT.
When the mom & pops are gone Wal Mart will go up on guns just like they have on everything else.

NONYA · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:08:10 PM »

Walmart will NEVER put the local spoting goods stores out of buisness here,they don stock anything seasonal when you need it,as for mom and pop?They have been gone for 20 years,all chain type stores.

Dee · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:27:22 PM »

It's gettin that way here.

shotgunner · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2007, 08:40:59 AM »

People continue to be very touchy on the subject. I think that many of you don't feel right about it even when you do shop there. It is to bad that you think the local stores are ripping you off, when Remington offers thier products to Wallmart so much cheaper. It is volume that makes the difference. I would hope that some of you continue to support small stores, the shooting comminity can not survive without them.

Dee · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2007, 01:09:20 PM »

That was my point. When I was a small gun dealer, everyone came to me wanting a great deal, as I was small and they considered I had lower over-head. If I or one of the others couldn't give it to them the way they thought we should, they would save 20 bucks and go to the chain store. I and a couple others went out of business and guess what. Chain store went way up and they really started howling.
This happend in the early 70s with independent gas stations. Big companies like Texaco started gas wars, that drove us out of business. Once we were gone they went back up. Then my neighbors started complaining to me and my family about gas prices. We just laughed at them and told them they got what they asked for.
I am at a point in my life where I probably will never buy another gun, so let'em fight it out.

NONYA · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2007, 03:23:32 PM »

The only people complaining about walmarts prices are the people being undersold,people want the best bang for thier buck,they are not interested in supporting the locals if it means they wont be able to buy what they want.I dont know anyone that going to pay 20% more for a high dollar item just to keep thier money local.Walmart employs alot more people in my community than any of the sporting good stores do,more power to em!

coyotejoe · « **Reply #26 on:** March 09, 2007, 05:07:42 AM »

I guess I'm a bit late weighing in on this but here's my two cents. I'm a licensed FFL dealer. My business is gunsmithing which requires the same license as WalMart's. I sell very few guns, mostly to friends who want something they can't find locally, I'll order it for them, I don't stock any inventory. If someone wants the standard Marlin 336, Ruger 10/22 or Remington 700, I have to tell them that they can get it cheaper from WalMart than I can get it from my wholesale distributor once I've paid the shipping. I'd go there myself if I wanted something they stock because, after shipping, my wholesale suppliers can't beat WalMart's retail. Since the buying and selling of firearms is not my primary business, WalMart doesn't hurt me a lot. But you should understand that if your local gun shop prices things higher than WalMart it is not a "rip-off", they have to pay more than WalMart up front, they have a small fortune invested in guns which may sit for years on the rack with no return on the investment, they have overhead expense with no "other departments" to defray the expense and many other reasons they simple can not compete with WalMart's prices.
The problem is, yes it does put your local gun shop out of business and before you know it, WalMart will be your only option, both for purchases and for employment.

NONYA · « **Reply #27 on:** March 10, 2007, 02:53:17 PM »

All of our other "gun" stores are 90% clothing and other junk,they defer plenty of other income to cover thier overhead.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 10, 2007, 03:59:23 PM »

I hate to see this happening. The guns at WalMart are the most affordable models available. The less access we have to firearms the less firearms owners we will have to fight the ememies of the second amendment. Without WallMart as the nations biggest gun dealer we may lose some really big contibutions to pro gun politico's too. And sadly enough, money is important topolitics whether we like it or not.

Dank · « **Reply #29 on:** March 10, 2007, 09:08:29 PM »

i heard walmart was phasing out guns in their stores by 2008. Has anyone heard of this.