Any Licensed Wal Marts Out There?

[GregM]

Is it just the metro area Wal Marts that have stopped selling firearms, or is the change statewide?

[White Horseradish]

More like nationwide. Most (but not all) WalMarts no longer sell guns. They decided it wasn't profitable enough.

[macphisto]

From what I've been told by a Wal-Mart employee, the closest store (to the north suburbs, at least) that still sells guns is in Cambridge.

I'm disappointed by it. While the selection wasn't very robust and service was average-at-best, if you knew what you wanted, the prices were great. They also had a huge catalog of guns that could be ordered to the store. I probably would have done that at some point.

[White Horseradish]

Yeah, that's the really sucky part. The selection of special order guns has been cut to almost nothing. I was going to get a Marlin 7000, but never got to it...

[Aceq2jot]

A trick is to go to budsgunshop.com Because they have real good prices. Print the page out and go to gander mountain. They will match the price +$30 transfer fee +tax. A while ago they had the S&W M&P for $399.

[Thor]

Am I to understand that Gander Mtn now charges a transfer fee?!?!?!

[phorvick]

Am I to understand that Gander Mtn now charges a transfer fee?!?!?!

Here is their Low Price Guarantee:
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Gander Mountain's LOW PRICE GUARANTEE

You won’t pay less anywhere else. We guarantee it! If you should find a lower price on an identical in-stock item within 14 days at a local competitor, let us know about it and we will match that price.

Restrictions: We define local as within a one-hour drive of the store. Exclusions include rebates, financing offers, misprints, discontinued, clearance, or closeout prices or prices on used, damaged, returned, open box or display merchandise. For buy-one-get-one offers and coupons we will meet the competitor’s price. This price guarantee does not extend to dealers or resellers.
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Now, in my part of the world...at the Fargo Gander, they will match internet pricing, but they are trying to match what it will actually cost, so they add in an extra fee...not really a transfer as such, but they assume an additional $30 covers delivery and transfer. Scheels does the same.

Now, at least here, Gander can be somewhat disingenuous on matching prices. A few days ago a local Wal-Mart had some 50 round 9mm Winchester boxes on sale for $5.49. I bought the store out. I then went to Gander in Fargo to buy a ton more. They matched the price on ONE BOX ONLY. So, I bought one box.

[White Horseradish]

Bud's has a limited selection of Marlins, no 7000.

[Aceq2jot]

Bud's has a limited selection of Marlins, no 7000.

It is kinda hit and miss at buds sometimes. They seem to vary month to month. From what i have herd if you email them or call on a wepon they are very happy to tell you if thye have it as they dont list everything they carry on thier site. I should imagine that is due to bandwidth, so i would email them and ask about the 700.

When i was last at the gander mountain in Woodbury they told me about the transfer Fee. I was looking at getting a remington 870 the lastest marine magnum version.

[GregM]

Was the decision to discontinue guns sales based on profits or a response to pressure from gun control groups?

[White Horseradish]

The explanation I got from a couple of Wal-Mart people was that there were two main reasons. One, the profits weren't there due to low margins and low volume. Two, it took too much time and effort to train the employees to do gun sales, and even after training they screwed up a lot, so the other reason would be the fear of BATF.

I am not aware of any anti-gun groups specifically pressuring Wal-Mart to stop selling firearms.

[Dick Unger]

The BATF rules make guns unprofitable because of employee training costs. They make more on a hunting coat than a shotgun and no employee costs except unloading the container of pretagged coats and scanning at the cash register.

I sort of like real gun stores with employees who know more than how to fill out forms. For every WalMart that goes down, a real gunstore may be able to survive.

[cobb]

Two, it took too much time and effort to train the employees to do gun sales, and even after training they screwed up a lot, so the other reason would be the fear of BATF.

This is the basic understanding I got from the regular sportings good counter guy at the Mankato Walmart. Too hard to keep the paperwork straight.

[White Horseradish]

I sort of like real gun stores with employees who know more than how to fill out forms. For every WalMart that goes down, a real gunstore may be able to survive.

I wouldn't be so sure. I don't think Wal-Mart was as much in direct competition with small gunshops as people say. Gunshops have handguns, surplus guns, used guns, high end guns, EBRs. Walmart had some cheap rifles and shotguns that I hardly ever saw at gunshops. Only a part of their business competed. Now, in the common caliber ammo Wallyworld still beats any gunshop out there.