I went to my local Wal Mart to buy a couple of boxes of 16ga shotgun shells today.
I know the Sporting Goods Manager, and she told me that I would have to be accompanied to the check out by an associate.
I told her to keep the shells, and I would either go to Fleet Farm or even pay the higher price that Gander Mountain charges.
I also said that with this "rule" the shooters of our Community will spend their money for ammunition and other sporting goods at other stores.
She knows that I am pretty well known and respected by many shooters in this area, and I promised to spread the word on their "rules".
I said that I REFUSED to be treated like a potential criminal just because I wanted ammunition.
I was pretty hot.
I just sent an email on the Customer Service site on WalMart.com.

Along with saying what I told the Manager, I also said that I will contact the NRA on this policy. [And I will]

I advice you guys to do the same with emails to Wal Mart.

This really pissed me off, and I will be a real pain in the hind end of our local Wal Mart for awhile.

Eric

I had the same problem at the Canadian Tire Store here two years ago. I bought a hunting knife for a xmas present and was not allowed to carry it to the checkout. I know how you feel, it'll be a long time before I go back for anything there.
Don

Wal Mart.....their so called sporting goods is getting to be next to nothing any more. Most of the ones in my area don't carry any guns and ammo is very limited. There is one about 45 miles away that still carries the basic Wal Mart gun line but the ammo selection is pretty amazing they carry large calibers that you don't even find in the local sport shops. They even carry 444, 45-70, and even 450 Marlin. So far they don't play the escort game yet if they do that will be the last straw for me to. I'll run over there this wee and see what the game is.

When I get ammo from the walmarts around here they have a regester at the ammo desk that we have to pay at.

Joe

Same here in Ava, Missouri. Cash register at the Sporting goods area and no escort...They even allow CCW on the premises...

Back in 06 they started taking a new stance towards firearms and related items !!!
At that time they quit selling guns at approximately 1,000 stores.
If memory serves me correctly they were also planning to implement new policies in the future. (this might be one)
They blamed it on the need to restructure for better customer service but I believe they were giving in to pressures by the anti crowd.

I gave up buying .22 ammo there a while back, because when checking it out, the people would ask if it was for use in a pistol or a rifle.
The last lady that did this, gave me a dirty look when she said it.
I finally told her that it depended if a person pissed me when I had either a rifle or a pistol near by.
She checked it out with a pale face, and me with a grin.

My family buys a lot of stuff at Wal Mart, and I like the store.
I just will not spend a dime anymore in their little sporting goods areas.

I also am going to give the store manager, who I know, a pain in the side for little while, by rattling some cages.

I won't get anyplace doing this with corporate America, but if I am able to piss a few suits off, I will sleep a little better at
night.


Eric

Go get'em Elyboy....!!

Bushmaster wrote:

Same here in Ava, Missouri. Cash register at the Sporting goods area and no escort...They even allow CCW on the premises...

The Wal-Mart by me does the same.

IN MA ,they don't sell guns anymore.And the only thing worth getting in a hunting license there.And they don't even have fishing permits .

ElyBoy wrote:

I finally told her that it depended if a person pissed me when I had either a rifle or a pistol near by. She checked it out with a pale face, and me with a grin.

Could be you’re the reason for all the new rules !!!

Give them hell anyways !!!

In high density population areas, there is an increased probability of shoplifting. The firearm industry has become more assertive in recommending sellers be extra cautious from the point where the ammo/firearms are displayed to the point where it is actually sold. There should be no visual gap between the customer getting the ammo/firearm and paying for it.

By theory, separate checkout lanes allow the cashier to be more observant of the buyer and to process more thoroughly the form of payment, being sensitive to ID, the currency offered and, hopefully, preclude errors in cash handling. Doesn't always work.

Most big box vendors of high dollar items deliver the goods to a seperate area for payment and pickup. Small items, like digital cameras, can easily be hidden. Vendors use sophisticated methods of surveillance cameras, activated sensors and, in some cases, even merchandise inspection at a seperate station when exiting. The revenue margins lost to shoplifting have been high enough to justify these methodologies.

But, perhaps, the looming question Ely Boy, is why are you shopping at Wal Mart? Or, K Mart? or any other big box that destroys the infrastructure of your local economy, takes their profits away from the community and often gives less back than it takes?

Handloader...I can answer that one. Here in Ava there are 3,000 people (give or take one if I'm in/out of town). We have two grocery stores. A super market and Wally-World super store. The super market is small and limited in stock and has no ammunition for sale. Wally-World Super Store has a large inventory and sells ammunition. And is the only place in town that does sell ammunition.

You make a good point Handloader.
Bushy pretty much speaks of me, except we have a Gander Mountain that I do most of my business with on sporting items.

My Wife is a teacher, and many of her partners say the same as you, including that Wal Mart is not Union.
I really don't care if a place is Union or not. I was Dept. Manager at Menards for years before the Doc took out my leg, and I was paid and treated better than the Iron Mines with the Steel Workers Union.

Also the folks employed there, wouldn't have any jobs around here otherwise.
The bottom line for my Family shopping at WM is that we save money.
My problem isn't with the store as a whole, but just the sporting goods, and I WILL boycott that Dept.
Like I said, it won't do any good, but I will do it anyway.

You might remember the old cartoon with the mouse giving the finger to the hawk coming down to eat it, and it said the
"last great act of defiance."
That is pretty much what I am doing.

Eric

Besides. If Wally World has what you want it is cheaper then anyother place in town. And as Elyboy stated...No Wally World, not jobs...