Another Walmart Story - Collierville,TN

[RobertNashville]

At what point do you quit going to local dealers? For me it is when they are charging more than I am willing to pay for the priviledge to say I bought local. I am part of their marketplace and I will choose who I will bear and who I will not.

I was at a dealer yesterday that had Keltec P3AT's for $419. They had Glocks in the $650-$750 range and used ones for $600+. Not to mention Tula 7.62x39 ammo for $12.99 a box, the same is $4.79 at Walmart. Every AR they had was over $1,000, including the Bushmaster Patrol Carbine available at Walmart for $844. Every gun they had was 25%-30% more than a store only a few miles away.

The dealer can charge whatever they want but don't complain when your prices are so out of line no one will pay them.

I do buy from local dealers but only when I feel what they are asking is fair. What I consider fair and what you consider fair are not going to be the same.

Dolomite

I never said to to buy from local dealers who charge more/unreasonable prices for their products...I'm saying buy from local dealers who give a s**t about the community they serve rather than store like Walmart who could not care less about the firearms community.

Local dealers and fair prices are not mutually exclusive.

Edited February 29, 2012 by RobertNashville

[Murgatroy]

The point is, here in Knoxville, Walmart's prices are the best. Academy has the best prices of any sporting goods store, but Walmart is consistently $0.50 less per box of ammo.

The Local owned and operated shops are consistently 25% higher on ammo and firearms than Walmart.

I will pay a 5% fee to buy from locally owned and operated, but not 25%.

I use the services that one local shop offers, training classes, gunsmith and shooting range, as well as transferring firearms, but I don't buy my ammo (unless renting) or guns from them. They are too high compared to Walmart or Academy. Gander Mountain and Bass Pro are even worse than Locally Owned and Operated stores for price increases, getting upward of 30% over Walmart's prices.

We are a capitalist society. We are going to buy the best quality at the lowest price we can. Price, quality, service, in that order. If the quality and service are better but the price is exponentially higher, guess what, I am gonna go elsewhere to buy and deal with getting treated like dirt.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Ok, I get you.

I understand Walmart is worried about profits, the same as local dealers, but local dealers only deal in firearms and related items. So the local dealers have more vested in making it than Walmart.

I do try to buy from local dealers above all others but Walmart is the place I go for some items that can't be found at local shops or can't be bought for a reasonable price. I tried finding reloadable 7.62x39 brass or ammunition. Every dealer I spoke to has steel cased, not doubt because it is cheap and sells like hot cakes. I had to go to Walmart to buy Remington to get reloadable brass. I even had one dealer call me an idiot over the phone for wanting to reload the caliber when he had steel cased so cheap.

Dolomite

[RobertNashville]

The point is, here in Knoxville, Walmart's prices are the best. Academy has the best prices of any sporting goods store, but Walmart is consistently $0.50 less per box of ammo.

The Local owned and operated shops are consistently 25% higher on ammo and firearms than Walmart.

I will pay a 5% fee to buy from locally owned and operated, but not 25%.

I use the services that one local shop offers, training classes, gunsmith and shooting range, as well as transferring firearms, but I don't buy my ammo (unless renting) or guns from them. They are too high compared to Walmart or Academy. Gander Mountain and Bass Pro are even worse than Locally Owned and Operated stores for price increases, getting upward of 30% over Walmart's prices.

We are a capitalist society. We are going to buy the best quality at the lowest price we can. Price, quality, service, in that order. If the quality and service are better but the price is exponentially higher, guess what, I am gonna go elsewhere to buy and deal with getting treated like dirt.

Well I guess we all have our priorities and that's okay.

I'm not going to pay a 25% premium just to buy "locally" but I've never had to do that; so I find such anecdotal stories a bit difficult to absorb - they may well be true but such price differences certainly hasn't bee my experience.

Frankly, regardless of what I'm buying, I'll pay a slightly higher price any day to be treated well by someone who actually values my custom rather than buy anything at any price from some uncaring mega-store or worse yet, from some ass***e clerk (who isn't an old as some of my underwear) who would rather have me just go away so that he can go back to watching the game on one of the TVs two isles over.

Edited February 29, 2012 by RobertNashville

[Guest A10thunderbolt]

I didn't know there was an academy in knoxville until now. Capitalism is GRRRREAT!!!!

[daddyo]

I also find it very odd that less then complementary posts about Walmart keep showing up here yet people keep going there anyway.

Maybe it's because most of us like to make our own decisions about where we spend our money.

[RobertNashville]

Maybe it's because most of us like to make our own decisions about where we spend our money.

Yeah..people can make their own decisions...never said otherwise...I'm just saying I don't see the sense in it (that's my decision)

[maroonandwhite]

Just an update; I finally got up with a manager at the store and he said he has never heard of the policy or the shooting and that he would speak to the "manager" that told me that and correct him. I didn't get to speak to the head honcho but I am satisfied with that answer. Unless of course it happens again.

[maroonandwhite]

I also see the point Robert is trying to make. In this instance Walmart made a mistake and I gave them a chance to correct the mistake; it seems they have. When that is no longer the case I will take my business elsewhere. That applies to any business I deal with on anything. Also it's not so much the price of the ammo (although important) but rather the convenience of buying there that earns them my business. All of the gun shops are closed by the time I can make it to town so they are my only close option. It just comes down to how much we are willing to sacrifice to further our cause.

[daddyo]

Yeah..people can make their own decisions...never said otherwise...I'm just saying I don't see the sense in it (that's my decision)

Never said you did. Just puzzled at the attitude that people should somehow make spending decisions based on what someone else thinks.

[I_Like_Pie]

If they are open 24/7 like most wal mart stores....When do they start selling again 12:01....6:00am...8:00am

[Capbyrd]

Someone suggested Academy in this thread. Academy doesn't have a location in Memphis or the surrounding area. It would be useless for the OP.

Someone mentioned Bass Pro being bad about price increases. Bass Pro will price match WalMart with no ad. Just walk in, tell them WalMart has it cheaper. They will call WalMart to confirm and then change their price.

[maroonandwhite]

Someone suggested Academy in this thread. Academy doesn't have a location in Memphis or the surrounding area. It would be useless for the OP.

Someone mentioned Bass Pro being bad about price increases. Bass Pro will price match WalMart with no ad. Just walk in, tell them WalMart has it cheaper. They will call WalMart to confirm and then change their price.

I didn't know that about bass pro! Thanks for the info.

[EastHipster]

Robert,

Tell us where you shop. I'll go there.

The Alternative is to order bulk online which also doesn't support local stores.

Walmart has Federal 45acp FMJ for usually around $16

I think I got Winchester JHP 45 for like $22

fed FMJ 9mm for $10.99

Federal .22 for $16 for 550 rounds.

Tula .223 for $5-$6

Then there's the bulk Birdshot.....

To match those prices online you generally have to order 1000 rounds at a time.

I go to Guns and Leather quite a bit.

Have bought several guns there.

Took my HCP class there. Use their ranges, go to their Gunsmith, have bought several holsters there.

But the ammo price and selection is not good.

Their Greenbriar store does have not too bad pricing on bulk .223

Well I guess we all have our priorities and that's okay.

I'm not going to pay a 25% premium just to buy "locally" but I've never had to do that; so I find such anecdotal stories a bit difficult to absorb - they may well be true but such price differences certainly hasn't bee my experience.

[RobertNashville]

"Where" depends on what caliber I'm buying and how much. Some of the calibers I buy can be a bit hard to come by sometimes; at least in quantity...there is no one place I buy from.

If I'm just buying a couple hundred rounds of something and I can find it there I buy from Outpost Armory; if I'm buying much more than that (say 500 to 1,000 rounds at a time of any one caliber) then I often order it online...I've had good luck from PrecisionOne and I think it's a one-owner operation; if I can't get it from PrecisionOne then I'll usually turn to one of the major online retailers (usually Sportsman's Warehouse).

[EastHipster]

Ok...to belabor the point...

PrecisionOne Reload 9mm FMJ with shipping is about $300 per 1,000

Walmart Federal (Factory) 9mm 115gr FMJ would be about $240 per 1,000 including Tax

Even if I have to drive to 3 different stores to find 1,000 rounds I only have to drive maybe 30 miles round trip.

BUT I don't have to buy 1,000 rounds to get that price.

To me, paying $60 extra for reloads and having to wait for delivery isn't minimal.

But if I'm at a local range and they had comparable ammo for $12 or $13 I would just buy it there but I'm not seeing that.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Robert,

Tell us where you shop. I'll go there.

The Alternative is to order bulk online which also doesn't support local stores.

Walmart has Federal 45acp FMJ for usually around $16

I think I got Winchester JHP 45 for like $22

fed FMJ 9mm for $10.99

Federal .22 for $16 for 550 rounds.

Tula .223 for $5-$6

Then there's the bulk Birdshot.....

To match those prices online you generally have to order 1000 rounds at a time.

I go to Guns and Leather quite a bit.

Have bought several guns there.

Took my HCP class there. Use their ranges, go to their Gunsmith, have bought several holsters there.

But the ammo price and selection is not good.

Their Greenbriar store does have not too bad pricing on bulk .223

You need to call around to Walmarts in different areas. My local Walmart has prices way cheaper than you listed. Your Walmart will match my Walmart's prices.

I know Tula 223 is under $5 a box at mine. Federal 9mm is under $10 a box.

Dolomite

[RobertNashville]

Ok...to belabor the point...

PrecisionOne Reload 9mm FMJ with shipping is about $300 per 1,000

Walmart Federal (Factory) 9mm 115gr FMJ would be about $240 per 1,000 including Tax

Even if I have to drive to 3 different stores to find 1,000 rounds I only have to drive maybe 30 miles round trip.

BUT I don't have to buy 1,000 rounds to get that price.

To me, paying $60 extra for reloads and having to wait for delivery isn't minimal.

But if I'm at a local range and they had comparable ammo for $12 or $13 I would just buy it there but I'm not seeing that.

PrecisionOne "reloads" (he loads most of his ammo himself with new brass by the way; this isn't old, already used brass) to be more consistent and better performing than most factory loads. I also suspect that with the factory loads I buy you probably aren't going to find them at Walmart or if you do, the price differential isn't going to be nearly as significant as some have claimed.

Anyway, I was asked where and I answered...if its mostly about price for you that's fine; this isn't about price for me. I don't want to pay more than necessary but for me, this is about principle, the same principle that keeps me from patronizing businesses that post against carry...I don't give such businesses my custom because they don't deserve it. When it comes to things I'm passionate about, like firearms and shooting sports, I don't buy from businesses that that don't have a stake in that passion.

Edited March 1, 2012 by RobertNashville

[Guest A10thunderbolt]

If I didn't worry about price I wouldn't be able to shoot. My wife is the tight wad, I guess thats probably backwards than most marriages.

[maroonandwhite]

If I didn't worry about price I wouldn't be able to shoot. My wife is the tight wad, I guess thats probably backwards than most marriages.

I feel you brother.

[Guest GregK]

I buy from Walmart. I'm the tight wad lol not my wife, so the cheaper I can get it, the more I can shoot. I did buy a case of 9mm winchester nato from SGAmmo 2 weeks ago because after shipping it was about the same price as 5 WWB value packs

[jdi731]

Why does everyone keep hating on the people who work at Walmart?

The lady (I think her name is Jennifer, it's been a while) in the sporting goods area at the Walmart in Cordova has been extremely helpful and friendly to me. I went in there one evening to buy some ammo and while I was in there I went ahead and bought a Savage .22 from them just for giggles. As I walked back there she was about to clock out but didn't because I asked her to get me some ammo then as we were walking to the counter I told her I wanted to get the Savage also. She spent about 30 more minutes at work doing all the paperwork and stuff for my purchase and never once complained, made any kind of rude/unnesecarrry comment, or anything. I haven't been in there to buy much ammo in the past 6 months since my daughter was born because money is so tight and I've just been shooting what I have at the house already so I don't know if she's still working there but like I said, she's been nothing but nice every time I've been in there. The other people who work in the sporting goods area are also nice and I have nothing bad to say about them.

If I had the money to buy from the local gun shops, I would, but being a 25 year old with a health condition, still in college, and working a part-time job at FedEx, I just don't have the money to do so... Maybe one day.

[C.lunn]

A buddy and I were turned away from the Wal Mart in White house by a lady that said no ammo after 10 pm bc Wal Mart did not want to be held liable if we went and robbed a gas station with the ammo. I laughed at her face bc we both were carrying and had bought from the Rivergate store the week before after 11 and we told her that. She just acted like we were crazy and didn't believe us. If I had not been tired I would have asked for the manager.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

[RobertNashville]

Why does everyone keep hating on the people who work at Walmart?

The lady (I think her name is Jennifer, it's been a while) in the sporting goods area at the Walmart in Cordova has been extremely helpful and friendly to me. I went in there one evening to buy some ammo and while I was in there I went ahead and bought a Savage .22 from them just for giggles. As I walked back there she was about to clock out but didn't because I asked her to get me some ammo then as we were walking to the counter I told her I wanted to get the Savage also. She spent about 30 more minutes at work doing all the paperwork and stuff for my purchase and never once complained, made any kind of rude/unnesecarrry comment, or anything. I haven't been in there to buy much ammo in the past 6 months since my daughter was born because money is so tight and I've just been shooting what I have at the house already so I don't know if she's still working there but like I said, she's been nothing but nice every time I've been in there. The other people who work in the sporting goods area are also nice and I have nothing bad to say about them.

If I had the money to buy from the local gun shops, I would, but being a 25 year old with a health condition, still in college, and working a part-time job at FedEx, I just don't have the money to do so... Maybe one day.

No one is "hating" on the people who work at Walmart; some stupidity has been pointed out but that's hardly "hating" on anyone, most especially not so on all the people who work at Walmart.

There are restaurants and other businesses I used to frequent a lot who decided to post against carry so I don't eat/go to those businesses anymore but I don't "hate" the people who work there.

This is about a principle, not about hate.

Edited March 2, 2012 by RobertNashville

[Gun Smith]

OK, I don't think anyone has brought this up yet. One of the main reasons Wal-mart can sell so cheap that they make their money on the buy. The have a herd of buyers that beat down their suppliers. Add to that they can sell cheaper because of volume, they just don't need to make as much on a box of ammo as the mom and pop shop.

As far as folks complaining about Wally world and still purchasing there, I hear the same types of stuff on other forums. Guys on the wood working forum complain about tools bought at the big box home stores, yet keep shopping there. Guys on the tractor forum complain about implements purchased at the farm store such as TSC, yet keep shopping there. Just human nature.

Me personally, when I want the cheap, not so important items, I shop at the cheap suppliers. When I want the good stuff, I go to the real deal dealers.