quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
OK, what gives? Somewhat against my better judgement, I went into the local (Elizabethton, TN) store in search of something else and found a shelf full of ammo, including 5.56 and 7.62x39. No signs limiting quantities or anything. Have they reversed their stance yet again, or is this a local decision? This area does have a large number of hunters, shooters and carry permit holders, has not had a Dem representative since 1880 and voted as much as 70/30 for Trump.

Walmart is about making a dollar.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
Have they reversed their stance yet again, or is this a local decision? This area does have a large number of hunters, shooters and carry permit holders, has not had a Dem representative since 1880 and voted as much as 70/30 for Trump.

My guess is their announcement was more guidelines than rules, and the compliance with those guidelines highly dependent upon where the store's located.

E.g.: The Walmarts near me, in a sub-rural area, usually have a "decent" selection of all kinds of ammo, but no firearms at all. The Walmart I visted while at a buddy's property up north, way out in the sticks, had a firearms counter nearly the rival, in some respects, of the counter at a popular place called Jay's Sporting Goods', and a dedicated employee standing behind said counter.

I haven't been in a local Walmart in several weeks, but, last time I looked, their ammo selection seemed unchanged from pre-announcement.

It could also just be old stock. Wal-Mart stated that they would continue to sell the handgun ammo and "short barrel rifle" () ammo that they had on hand, but would not be replenishing their inventory.

In order for them to get rid of this ammo, they are marking it down on clearance. (And they evidently still have tons of it.)

So that they won't have it to sell to me later, they are selling it to me now for cheaper than I can get it anywhere else.

Why don't I feel like I'm being used?

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
It could also just be old stock. Wal-Mart stated that they would continue to sell the handgun ammo and "short barrel rifle" () ammo that they had on hand, but would not be replenishing their inventory.

I heard this as well.

I stopped in a couple of weeks ago and I asked the guy that usually works the ammo section about that and he said that was what they were told. In addition, he told me that the CEO or whoever made the decision on no ammo sales was gone. He had left the company. The employee told me that he didn't know if that meant that Walmart might reverse it's decision or not. Also, I did not see any shortage of ammo in their ammo section.

Sam Walton is turning in his grave over what his children have done to the company.

quote:

Originally posted by Ozarkwoods:
Sam Walton is turning in his grave over what his children have done to the company.

The Waltons no longer own a majority of the company. As of a couple years ago, the various Waltons together hold 49% of the stock. None of the Waltons are executives in the company any more, and there are only two Waltons on the Board of Directors: Rob Walton (one of Sam's sons) and Stuart Walton (one of Sam's grandsons).

Well, I sent them an email telling them of my disappointment, and my decision never to enter one of their stores again.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
OK, what gives? Somewhat against my better judgement, I went into the local (Elizabethton, TN) store in search of something else and found a shelf full of ammo, including 5.56 and 7.62x39. No signs limiting quantities or anything. Have they reversed their stance yet again, or is this a local decision? This area does have a large number of hunters, shooters and carry permit holders, has not had a Dem representative since 1880 and voted as much as 70/30 for Trump.

I just happened to stop in my local Walmart just the other day (though I've greatly curtailed my shopping there since their recent stupid decision, I just can't completely cut them out yet unfortunately). Anyway, the ammo shelf was still full. Everything from 9mm to 5.56. Don't know. Maybe they just haven't been able to sell off their supply yet.

I have a hard time believing this is old, unsold stock. This thread was started Sept. 3, over two months ago. I can't see any ammo in popular calibers staying on shelves that long, not here. I saw nothing to suggest it was being marked down for clearance, either. I didn't think of buttonholing an employee to ask about it, but, as usual, there was nobody at the sporting goods counter anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

Walmart is about making a dollar.

Now that I can easily believe.

What do you want to bet that announcement was put out as a sop for PR purposes with their fingers crossed behind their backs? Academy did something like this once. They stopped putting ARs out in plain sight, but continued to sell them, then after a while put them back out again.

It’s not a local decision. The stores can only get what the distribution centers get and Bentonville tells the DCs what to send to the stores.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I have a hard time believing this is old, unsold stock. This thread was started Sept. 3, over two months ago. I can't see any ammo in popular calibers staying on shelves that long, not here. I saw nothing to suggest it was being marked down for clearance, either. I didn't think of buttonholing an employee to ask about it, but, as usual, there was nobody at the sporting goods counter anyway.
.

This is the main reason why I quit buying ammo from Walmart years ago. I would stand at the sporting goods checkout and multiple employees would walk by me like I was not there. I would eventually have to go to front desk to request assistance at sporting goods and then go back to the front desk again 15 minutes later to repeat.

I then discovered I could get ammo for significantly better prices and variety online shipped to my front door and have been doing that ever since.

I do find it odd that so many are finding full shelves of ammo at Walmart as they are known for their inventory control and fast turnover of inventory throughout the chain to reduce holding costs on inventory and space to store it. Maybe they have quietly changed their stance but did not want to publicize it.

I grabbed a 100-round Federal Value Pack of .45 ACP the other day. The ammunition shelves seemed to be well stocked.

The employee who was handling that area seemed to know as much about ammunition, as I know about neurosurgery, i.e. not very much at all. It took several attempts to get a box of the stuff that I was asking for.

That's why there's still ammo, there's no one to sell it!

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:

This is the main reason why I quit buying ammo from Walmart years ago.

Yeah, it would have to be a really good deal to jump through the hoops. Just as, if not more, annoying is having half a dozen people ahead of you all buying fishing licenses. Academy or, for that matter, a local shop, has about the same pricing and puts it on open shelves. I buy my ammo a little bit at a time; the shipping for online more than eats up any savings per box.

I imagine Bentonville is getting an ear (or inbox) full about this. Given the demographics of a lot of Walmart shoppers, they may be reconsidering.

quote:

Originally posted by Some Shot:
In order for them to get rid of this ammo, they are marking it down on clearance. (And they evidently still have tons of it.)

So that they won't have it to sell to me later, they are selling it to me now for cheaper than I can get it anywhere else.

Why don't I feel like I'm being used?

Plenty of stock and no markdowns near me.

Went with the wife today to pickup a prescription and while she waited, I moseyed over to sporting goods. .223 ammo was filling the display case that use to hold rifles and shotguns. I mentioned to the clerk that I thought WalMart was not longer selling .223. He said once the local inventory was gone there would be no more brought in. Same with handgun ammo. The clerk was mad at corporate and said they probably will just quit selling ammunition period.

I then got distracted by the inventory robot that was cruising down the aisle. Had heard about it but not seen it. Wonder how many jobs that will eliminate.

Good inventory in my local Wally. So far.

I found a way to get damn near an instant response at the ammo counter. After a minute or 2 of watching employees hide or scurry down aisles like Pheasants running down corn rows, I simply remove the retractable belt hooked to the stanchion. They are on me pronto. I get the stink eye, they ring me up and I’m gone grinning inside.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Another reason to avoid Walmart. Looks like target and grocery stores will get more of my business.

BUT....if you go to Target which bathroom to use?????