Anti's pressuring Wal-Mart

[GoGop]

Wal-Mart wants to hear our opinions before they cave in, so let them know we want them to keep the guns and ammo;

http://www.keepandbeararms.com/Information/XcIBPrintItem.asp?ID=1435

[Big John]

I am writing about your policy to eliminate guns and ammunition from your store, I don't believe this should be done. I have purchased a rifle and numerous rounds of ammunition from Walmart in the past and would like the opportunity to do so in the future. It is my understanding that pressure is being put on the company by the anti-gun people, if this is so I don't believe that we the customers and you the merchants should be forced into a policy by the militant minority.

[2BHNTN]

I understand that WalMart is considering not carrying Hunting Guns, and associated ammunition. I am not sure what is driving this. I spend thousands of dollars at walmart every year. Much of this on license's, fishing, camping, hunting equiptment. I know that all that business at least from this customer will cease the day walmart jumps on that political bandwagon. I would prefer walmart to continue to allow me to do business at your stores.

Sincerly,

Dennis


------- I actually do everything I can to avoid walmart but I figure it needed to be said.

[Outdoorsfool]

There is a post on another outdoor site, Mo Whitetails I believe, about Wal-Mart just putting in a bunch of new gun cases in the Independence Wal-Mart. Why would they be putting in new gun cases for additional inventory if the company is considering eliminating all gun sales? I wonder how much of this is really that Wal-Mart is considering not selling guns and how much is related to it simply a lack of sales in particular stores. What if they are getting out of the gun business simply because of business decisions (low profits, poor sales, etc.)? I need more info on this about if it's being done and if so, how and why, before I decide one way or the other.

[Big John]

This is the reply I just got from Walmart:

Thank you for your message.

At Wal-Mart, we strive to provide merchandise to meet consumer demand in a given community.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has made a business decision to remove firearms from approximately 1000 locations within the U.S. beginning March 6, 2006. This decision is based on diminished customer relevancy and demand within multiple markets.

As with all merchandise decisions that we make our decision to remove guns from Wal-Mart locations is simply based on the lack of customer demand for firearms in a given community. We will now be able to utilize our resources more effectively to provide customers with the merchandise that they wish to purchase -- and to discontinue merchandise that they show no interest in.

Thank you,

Customer Relations

[Outdoorsfool]

If that is in fact true, why should they keep merchandise stocked that isn't moving or isn't profitable? I can't fault Wal-Mart over this if it truly is a marketing decision, and not based on politics.

[Great White Hunter]

Who really gives a crap? It's their business, let them run it the way they want to.

[Rafe Hollister]

Dangit, that's 2 or 3 times this year I've had to agree with Snowblower.

[Big John]

I guess what the deal is, if they are indeed being pressured by the anti-gun groups and it works with an oranization that size then they (antis) can put pressure on other smaller dealers (mom and pop) and put them out and eventually you will have no where to buy guns or ammo.

[LadyAngler]

Boys, Wal-Mart guns are generally pieces of poo. Now, if they quit selling ammo or hunting/fishing permits.... that is not cool! And I love Wal-Mart!!! I go twice a week. What can I say... I'm hillbilly white trash from way back.

I easily stopped going to K-Mart after they quit selling guns and ammo, but I'd hate to stop going to the Mart.

[Keith@AimLow]

Big John said:
This is the reply I just got from Walmart:

Thank you for your message.

At Wal-Mart, we strive to provide merchandise to meet consumer demand in a given community.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has made a business decision to remove firearms from approximately 1000 locations within the U.S. beginning March 6, 2006. This decision is based on diminished customer relevancy and demand within multiple markets.

As with all merchandise decisions that we make our decision to remove guns from Wal-Mart locations is simply based on the lack of customer demand for firearms in a given community. We will now be able to utilize our resources more effectively to provide customers with the merchandise that they wish to purchase -- and to discontinue merchandise that they show no interest in.

Thank you,

Customer Relations

Sounds like a reasonable business decision to me. Maybe, just maybe, someone made an assumption that they were ginving into anti's without knowing what they were talking about????? Wouldn't that be a suprise?

[Big John]

So tell me what is the difference between a Remington 700 BDL at Walmart and the same gun anywhere else oh say Dicks for instance?

[Warmouth]

Winchester sold Wal-mart special runs of the m70 that were cheaper to manufacture, and sold at a cheaper price than any mod 70 anywhere else. I would be shocked to find out it was different with other manufacturer's.

If you special order a gun from Wally, then you'll get the straight up, par for the course gun, but not always so if you buy off the shelf.

[Rafe Hollister]

I'll second what Warmouth said.

[Outdoorsfool]

Warmouth - Have you got any facts on this? I remember something going around a year or two ago about Wal-Mart selling seconds or sub-standard firearms and it turned out not to be true. I can't imagine any company that wanted to retain it's image and reputation for quality would run a Wal-Mart special of one of it's models. wouldn't that require retooling of it's manufacturing processes? Wouldn't it also open itself up to potential lawsuits if a substandard model caused an injury?