My adventure at Wal-Mart..

[dz86]

I have been looking for a rifle to use for informal fun at the rage, in a single-shot or lever gun. Mostly shooting offhand, and keeping recoil to something of a minimum, as I have a bad right wrist. After several weeks of research, and thinking about things, I settled on buying an H&R "Target Model" .38-55.
Last night I went to Wal-Mart to order the gun, as I can't find one for sale anywhere around here. I was told that I would have to come back when the dept. manager was there because he was the only one who could special order rifles. Of course, the manager only works while I am also at work.
So today I race out there on my lunch break to get it done while he is there. I get there, head back to sporting goods, nobody there. I wait five full minutes then go to find someone.
The girl that I find acts annoyed, but comes back to sporting goods with me. I thought that meant that she was going to help me. Nope. She apparently had to walk all the way back there just to use the intercom to call for customer service. She calls, and leaves. I wait.
After a bit I see a store Asst. Manager coming down the isle. Great! But he walks right past me. So I walk after him and ask if he can help me, as I am on my lunch break and need to get this done. Sure! He says he'll help. We walk to sporting goods, he gets behind the counter, asks what I need. I whip out the printed page from their website, just like the instructions say, and tell him I want to special order this gun. He says he's sorry. He can't help me with THAT. He pages the department manager, then leaves.
Department manager shows up, pushing a cart full of ammo. Apologizes for the delay, and says he'd be happy to order my rifle. He breaks out the special order book to look it up, it's not in there. He says that must mean that they can't get it.
At this point I'm not taking no for an answer! So I tell him that I'll leave my contact info, and that I would appreciate it if he would do whatever he has to do to find a definite answer and get back to me. By this time the General Manager of the store, who I happen to know personally, has walked up to ask the guy about another matter and overhears the last part of the conversation. He asks what is wrong. Sporting Goods guy explains the situation, GM suggests punching the stock # from the printout that I brought into an inventory barcode reader. Bingo! They don't have one in stock, but it does display all the info needed to order one.
They then inform me that I have to go back to lay-away to order it! I am stunned. The GM suggests to the SG guy that he go back with me and see it through. I thank him for that.
We walk back to lay-way. It's Christmas shopping season. We, of course, have to wait in line with everyone else. It takes forever to get to the register.
When we get there I'm told that I can't pay the whole amount in advance. Why not? They don't know it just has to be that way. I have to lay it away in order to get it special order. But I don't want to lay it away, I want to order ir, pay for it, and come pick it up! No, they say. I can't pay for all of it. I have to leave at least $1.00 open for them to order it. This apparently makes sense to someone, somewhere.
So I pay for all but 1 dollar, thank them for their help and get ready to leave. SG guy says he'll call as soon as it comes in. When will that be? I ask. Three to four weeks! I could have fallen over. Most gun dealers get guns in a few days! Oh well, it's already done.....
I walked in the door at 1:12PM, I walked out at 3. Had to take an hour+ time coming to accomplish this.
Sure hope I like the rifle!

[quickdtoo]

Fortunetly it doesn't work that bad in most Walmarts! There's a thread at Predatormasters about the same subject, most everyone that responded was happy with the outcome, most only waited a few days for their firearms.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=008938

[timbertoes]

So I guess you dont want to hear that yahoo returns 65 gun shops within an hours drive of Goshen.   :eek:

Like you, I went through the "one hour+  to buy" a gun at walmart, and thats the last time I will do that.   :twisted:

I bet your HR will show up much sooner than they told ya!!

[wtxbadger]

dz86,

I am not sure if your walmart has the same policy as ours here in Midland, Tx, but when I picked up my special order topper deluxe classic last week I had to sign a disclaimer acknowledging their policy on no returns, refunds, or exchanges on firearms. As this was the case I asked to inspect the shotgun before I paid for it, and was required to wait while a trigger lock was installed and then had an assistant manager right next to me ready to grab it if I magically produced a shell and took the trigger lock off to massacre the other shoppers or employees. I have not encountered this policy before here in Midland and wondered if this a nationwide policy.
I have emailed walmart protesting this policy, but have not received a reply back from them and probably will not.


wtxbadger

[TimJ]

Sports South shows they have them in stock so it shouldn't take very long for Walmart to get it.

I had a long wait with Walmart. They must have been back ordered on the .223 synthetic a couple years ago and it took a loooooooong time. I mean so long I was going to change the caliber to see if they could get any of them. It turned out OK but I will at least check with some local guys before ordering from them again.

btw I saw a .38-55 at Sportsman Warehouse earlier today. Looks like a nice gun. If anyone wants one and is near Sioux Falls SD you now know where to get it. I think it was $290.

Tim

[rp85]

hello;

go to wal-mart's web site and tell your story, just make it shorter.  you may be surprised, i was when i complained about something.

rp

[singleshotfan]

Here in central Florida if you bless Wally World with a gun purchase you are treated like a criminal. They quote you all sorts of regulations about purchasing, paperwork, no ammo, etc. and when you ask they say it is the law. When you say I know the law and you are incorrect they say well it is Walmart policy. Big difference! Why not tell the truth in the first place.
I will not purchase a firearm from a vendor who treats me like an idiot and a criminal. I will spend my money with a reputable gun dealer and pay more for the firearm to keep them in business as well as not spend the money with Walmart. The real good bargains you can supposedly get from Walmart is usually a downgraded version of a model firearm, not the same as you will get from a real gun dealer. Less quality for the discount.
Richard

[TimJ]

The real good bargains you can supposedly get from Walmart is usually a downgraded version of a model firearm, not the same as you will get from a real gun dealer. Less quality for the discount.
Richard

The NEF and H&R's are the same guns as anyone can get, no different models are made for them. I have no problem with people not buying from Walmart, I sure wish there were more options for other stuff too, but to say they are selling poorer quality guns is just not true. Yes they do sell some models that are built just for them but the actual working of the gun are the same as any others. No way would berretta or Remington sell a gun of lower quality just so Walmart can sell a cheap gun. They do offer some with plain wood, synthetic stocks and matte finishes but these are not lower quality. In may cases these make more sense for hunting then some of those shiny swirly wooded guns some gun shops try to sell.

Recently a local gun shop went out of business and I'm sure they blamed Walmart. They are wrong to do so, the salesmen in there were jerks. Sometimes people who don't have a clue and know it are better to deal with then people who think they know everything, and way too many gun shops treat their customers like they know nothing.

btw When I do buy another gun I will go though a local guy and not Walmart, I just don't like this myth of low quality guns.

Tim

[MSP Ret]

dz86, If you think your first encounter was bad wait until you go back to pick it up!!! You will feel like a criminal and after another hour or so there you might become a croiminal by giving someone a dope slap that they deserve. Just to let you know after the long(er) wait ahead of you you will not be allowed to leave the store with the gun. An assistant manager will have to carry it out of the store for you and give you the package in the parking lot and then tell you not to attempt to re-enter the store with the gun. If you are like me at that time you will be carrying a licensed fully loaded semi-auto under you coat but thats OK!!!....<><.... :roll:

[quickdtoo]

The local Bimart store has that same policy as far as escorting you to the parking lot and handing over the firearm, so it must be more than just Walmart's policy.

As far as Walmart selling sub-quality firearms, that's a bunch of horse puckey, they just sell them for less because they buy 50,000 of each and get a heck of a discount in cost. A local sporting goods store owner buys his rifles one or 2 at a time, he pays more for rifles at his cost than what the mart stores sell em for retail, just as an example. My huntin partner worked there for 10 years and the main product he sold wasn't the merchandise, it was the service and a lot of people like that, will pay a bit more for that one-on-one kind of customer service that you don't get at a chain store.

[hellacatcher]

I have bought two from a local Wal-Mart with out any trouble even treated better than one chain sporting goods store did, less than a week wait for both.

[Paul5388]

Of course, y'all could always go to K-Mart and get your guns.  You can even ask Rosie O'Donnell to autograph it for you! :eek:  :-D  :-D  :-D

[dz86]

First, let me say that everyone I dealt with at Wal-Mart acted in a professional manner and seemed to genuinely care about helping. Except the first girl, and even she was courteous. The SG manager is a helpful type, I've talked to him before. He just doesn't know much about guns. He tries though, and that's all that really matters to me. I'd rather get helpful, friendly service from someone who is trying and learning, than be looked down upon by one of those know-it-all gun store counter guys (like was mentioned by someone else above) that act like they're doing you a favor to sell you something. One of the reasons I chose Wal-Mart was that several of the closer gun shops are places I just plain won't do buisness with, based on past experience.  
No, the thing that blew my mind was the fact that it's "rush" season and they have one guy working SG. Then there's the thing about lay away. I still can't get over that. Their only SG guy stood in line with me in layaway for at least 20 minutes. During that time there were 3 pages for customer service in SG, that had to be answered by a manager. I'm just astounded that he can't set this up through the sporting goods department register! What a counter-productive set-up!
MSP Ret, I was carrying a loaded pistol.  :wink: I was in uniform at the time. I am a detective and I rarely wear my uniform. But I had been in court that morning and had it on. My plan was to hit Wal-Mart (which is a few minutes from home) on my lunch break, hit the house and change clothes, then head back to the barn. So much for my plan!

[Ed Hill]

I think the carry-it-out-to the-car thing is for insurance, and we'll probably see more crazy stuff in the future. I called some ranges last month to see if they were renting a pistol I wanted to try prior to purchase. One range had it, but asked if I owned any other handguns. I said yes, and he said "bring one".
This seemed odd, and I asked what he type I should bring? He said he didn't care, they just wouldn't rent you a handgun unless you brought in a working handgun. I guess the idea is if you have a gun, you won't need to rent theirs' to go nuts at the range. Seemed odd, but that is their policy.

E.D.

[hellacatcher]

dz86  let us know how it works out and how the 38-55- works I have thought about one, but had other things come first.

[jgalar]

The 38-55 is on my Christmas list. Hopefully you'll get yours sooner rather than later.

A lot of people bad mouth buying guns from Wal-Mart but at least they are still selling shooting and hunting gear. When is the last time you bought a gun from Sears or your local hardware store?

[dz86]

I was hoping someone could tell me about the .38-55! But I will shot it as soon as possible and let you all know.
I ordered one box of Black Hills ammo and one box of Ultramax from Midway last night just to get me started. I'll have some brass then and a little experience in shooting it to work on loads from.
I agree about WM. They still sell guns, prices are good, and they sell ammo at reasoable prices.
We'll see what I get, and when.
Dave

[Buckeye]

There so much differences in Wal-Marts. The one 3mi. from my home is almost impossible to spec. order.
They are 5 soon to be 6 with-in a 25mi. radius from me they are all so diffucult to deal with.
There 's a Wal-mart in Boone N.C. that has a great sporting goods dept. They have reloading supplies ,they carry a great supply of ammo ,303 Brit.,356win., 375win.,444,45/70,38-55 ,and always have a good supply of useful guns in stock ,like 92 Pumas in 454 cassel,45 colt .,357 mag.,Marlins in 35 Rem. ,444,45/70,They even had 38-55 CB,and a good supply of handi-rifles. And a few real gun guys !

But in most other Wal-marts I've been in don't have a clue.I was once offered a part time job, in the Sporting goods when the dept. manager overheard me answering a question for a shopper.

Always check there books to see what they have in the back ,sometimes you can get a good suprise ,a few years back I got a .356 Win. 94 BB on clearance it had never been on display and was in the back for 4 years !!!

I was with a friend when he got a 30/30 Handi for $ 75.00,
And once I got a stainless Ruger 77 in 7mm Mag. for $ 275.00 !!!

They've gold in thar ,store rooms!

[bluebayou]

Okay, nobody give me crap about where I work please....
1.  All WalMarts are run by different managers so there is variation in how policy is interpreted.  The company policy is that only a member of management or the Sporting Goods Dept Manager may carry a gun out of the store.  A written disclaimer in Midland is some overzealous manager's idea.  
2.  You are better off having the Dept Manager order the gun in most cases.  The Dept Manager probably knows the guys at Sports South, Lipseys, or whatever the vendor is for that brand.  
3.  The firearms are purchased through the layaway system so that a purchase order is generated to recieve and pay for the firearm when it comes in.  WalMart doesn't make guns, they buy them and resell them.
4.  The firearm cannot be 100% fully paid for because you would have "purchased" it at that time and a NICS background check would be required.  As neither WalMart nor yourself have physical possession of the firearm then there is a conflict.  Hence, pay "all but a dollar".
5.  The WalMart special order website does not contain the entire special order firearms catalog.   There is a physical copy of this at the Sporting Goods counter.
6.  As an added wrinkle, there are "assembly" guns.  This is when, as Quikdtoo pointed out, Wal Mart buys LARGE quantities of merchandise.  They "assemble" all of their orders together, issue a PO, and then break up the one huge shipment when it arrives at the distribution center.  Case in point, the Weatherby Vanguard.  WalMart bought ALL of the Vanguards at one point.  Now Weatherby isn't going to discontinue importation of that gun.  They make a piece and WalMart makes a piece.
7.  The majority of Wal Mart employees are like the majority of employees at any other business:  they have to be motivated to do what is, in fact, a simple job.  
8.  Two more cents from me:  gunstores should, and some do, provide knowledge.  That is what people pay non-discount prices for.  Specialty stores of all kinds, video, hobby, crafts, shoe, etc are selling experience and knowledge.  They save you money by knowing what they are selling and how those items interact.  "Joe" at WalMart is just a clerk.

[dz86]

Thanks for clearing up my question abou the layaway, bluebayou. And no, I would not give you any trouble about working there. Like many people I do most of my shopping "under the big W"  :grin:. I don't just shop there because of the prices, I shop there because I like to. As I said, everyone I dealt with was genuinely interested in helping me get what I wanted. Clearly they needed more people working, but that's not the fault of the employees. That SG manager was like a one-arm-paperhanger. All alone and trying to do everything.
Still, it would have saved everyone lots of extra effort if he could have set up the lay-away at the sporting goods register. That was my point.
I really appreciate your answering those questions. I have alot of respect for Wal-Mart employees. I once worked a security detail for about a year at a 24 hour Superstore during the night hours. The employees of that store worked HARD to earn their checks.

[Buckeye]

I'm glad that Wal-Mart sells firearms ,Its great ,I beleive they keep the prices down, I do most of my dealing at Mom & Pops gunstores, but I buy at Wal-Mart occ.
But I'm sure I'm not the only one who has stopped at a Gun Store and seen ungodly prices and a owner had a devil may care attitude !
I've even conforted one fellow bout his high prices,guns marked up to unbeliveable prices !

[Donaldo]

We basically have only 3 gun stores in the town I live in.  WW, a family run snob shop and a local pawn/gun shop.  The two guys who own the "snob shop" so overprice most of their stuff I hardly ever buy anything there.  They sell Bushell Trophy 3-9x40 scopes for $129.95.  Once in a while I buy powder when I can't find it elsewhere.  The clerks at WW try, but have limited knowledge, and don't stock any reloading stuff, except for BP.  One lady working in SG's I found out is a shooter.  She has a 45 ACP and was looking for some brass, which I happened to have an excess of.  Took her a couple hundred or so.  Grateful she was.  And the dept mgr is a good guy.  I found out if you get to know them that helps a lot.  The family running the pawn/gun shop will bend over backwards to help you.  And they can pretty much match WW prices.  I ordered my 223 UV from them.  When the shipment came in we found out the supplier they used had it on backorder.  Bummer, but she picked up the phone and called another supplier, they had it in stock, she expressed it in and I had it 2 days later.  That kind of service goes a long way.  They have most of my business now.  I am thinking I might like to have a 17 HMR and was looking in their catalog the other day.  She said she would just order a couple and I could see if I liked them.  Plus they have some really odd cartridges in stock.  A guy came in the other day when I was there frantically looking for 6.5x55 swede ammo.  Had been everywhere else in town and he was down to his last two cartridges, was carrying them around in his pocket.  Sure enough they had 3 boxes of them.  He left a happy camper.

[Maverick]

I just completed getting my 38-55 Target Model through WalMarts special order process.  I ordered it on my lunch hour on 19 Nov and it was ready to be picked up on the 30th.  Everything went smoothly except that the clerk was sure that it was a shotgun and not a rifle.  The store had several managers who were familiar with the routine for completing the sale.  It wasn't excellent service, just good enough to get the job done without a lot of hassle, so I have no complaints. :-)

[amac42]

I purchased my first handi rifle from a local gun store. I was nervous through the process because I'm definately a novice when it comes to rifles and I almost fully expected some know-it-all jerk at the store to give me a hard time. However I could not have been more wrong. I was treated as well as I could have ever hoped (got a great deal also). W-Mart has just always made me a little nervous and I feel better giving the local stores business. Also if anyone is ever looking for a great deal for a Handi, I suggest looking at Bud's Gun Shop (www.budsgunshop.com) in Paris, KY

[Donaldo]

You know I been harpin on the micro groove thing for a while but to tell the truth, I don't know for sure what it exactly is.  I have just assumed that is was shallow grooves.  That is what it looks like when I look down the barrel of my 223.  However I seem to remember some Marlin ads from years and I mean yearrrrrs ago about something like 12 grooves or something like that.  Does anyone really know what they mean by micro groove?  I also think a lot of the problem with the Handi's not shooting very good, at times, is the fact that these are, lets face it, cheap guns.  Would you really expect 1 moa accuracy from a $200 gun?  Heck you cant't get a decent barrel for anything else for $200.  I think we are lucky they shoot as good as they do.

[spikehorn]

 I too went through a similar experience when the topper deluxe first came out i tried ordering one threw wal-mart. the problem i ran into was that even though it is a special order it is still considered a lay away and if you don't pick the lay away up in 30 days it gets returned to stock and you loose your money so if the order doesn't show up in 30 days you have to cancel the lay away and start all over or loose your money. So on day 29 i canceled the lay away got my money back went to the gun shop a mile up the road from me paid twenty dollars more for the gun than the price at wal-mart plus shipping and had the gun in 3 days. The aggrivation wasn't worth the savings!

[SM Bob]

The Walmarts in my area don't sell firearms, so I can't really comment on their policies.
I will say that I have bought firearms before at places where they made you feel like
a criminal and I didn't like that at all! I never did business with those people again.
I won't buy anything from any local dealers. I don't like their prices or their attitudes.
They make you feel like they are doing you a huge favor by "letting" you buy a
firearm from them. That's why anymore I buy my stuff online and have it shipped
to my local 01 FFL. Even after paying his fee I still come out money ahead and
I don't have to deal with complete morons who don't appreciate your business.

                            Robert

[Rustyinfla]

  So for $20 morre you got to support a local business. Sounds like a win win to me. All the Wal Marts around here have stopped selling guns, but only after they put two local shops out of business.

[petemi]

I don't shop where I know more about the product than the clerk selling it to me.  It's not my job, and I don't get a bonus, to educate them.  Many times over the years, I've overheard some teenage clerk giving out misinformation of one kind or another to someone.  I'll pay the extra percentage to deal with knowledgeable people, who can answer my questions should I have any, and stand behind their sale.........they don't even have to lock my gun and carry it to my car for me

Pete

[spikehorn]

 Yes you absolutely right and his(the local shop) prices on guns aren't bad at all,very reasonable. he makes it up a little bit on his ammo prices,but again like you said supporting local buisiness. Another thing I recently discovered at wal-mart is i used to be able to buy 357 & 44mag shells there the register would prompt for a pistol or rifle and i would tell them rifle and cash out now it automatically comes up permit required. My 357 is a rossi single shot rifle and the 44mag is a handi rifle I don't own a hand gun because the county in N.Y. that i live in is one of the biggest pain in the butt counties to get a pistol permit in. so I can't even buy ammo for these two guns at wally world anymore!