Walmart Ammo Purchase by Dealer....

[Greatestsin]

yeah the gander in merrillville had blazer brass when walmart did and now it has federal (just like walmart does) as its over-priced cheap 9mm, 40, and 22lr. They usually charge double or more what walmart has it for. Maybe thats why this walmart never seems to have 9mm anymore

[Jack Ryan]

Originally Posted by JD31

I was in a Wal-mart in Central Indiana about a couple of weeks ago. I was able to buy a few boxes of ammo, and I was considerate of the guy behind me and inquired if he was after the same thing I was. He told me "No, he was good." Then passing by he loaded up on his limit, then someone, I assume was his wife, bought up her max.

While this would not be a problem, I was in a (to remain unnamed) gun shop a week later, and this guy was behind the counter and spoke like he was the owner.

It has been stated in other threads to support your local gun shops, but this incident has me with a choice. Should I be irked or are there "legitimate" reasons that this dealer/owner should be buying up all the hard to find ammo at Wal-mart?

Could it be that he honestly can't price his ammo cheaply enough to earn a profit and buy from himself? It was a small shop and maybe it is a quantity thing.

(Not a big deal, not losing sleep over it, and not bashing dealers in general. I buy my ammo when and where I find it at a fair price and always leave some behind for the next guy. I am just curious as to what the general opinion is about this type of ammo buy up.)

Then he'll tell you how all the gun manufactures and ammo factories deliberately run inferior piles of products destine specificly for Walmart because they can sell special run bad ones cheaper and his is all top grade that he buys one or two at a time. LOL, all while he has a pile of MaoMart ammo right there on his shelf.

[Jay]

Remember, in order for a dealer to sell ammo, at whatever price....... he has to have a buyer. If you buy smart, the shady dealers will get the message. If you continue to buy at any price, the practice will also continue.

[rhino]

I'm in devil's advocate mood right now ... what if the dealer was buy ammo for some reason other than to resell in his shop? What if it was for his own personal use or for someone else, but he could get it cheaper at Walmart than he could could from his distributor (which is entirely possible)? Would that make a difference to those who have a problem with this?

I was at Walmart yesterday. I asked for six of the Federal .22LR bulk packs, and the guy behind the counter asked me almost immediately, "Are you one of those people on Hoosier Topics that's going to sell this?"

I got the gist of his meaning from the context, but I've never heard of "Hoosier Topics," so I asked him what it was. When he explained (it's some kind of online classifieds system according to him), I said, "No; I shoot a lot and .22 is all I can afford to shoot right now." He didn't deserve any kind of explanation from me, but that's what came out of my face.

My point is, he made an assumption about my motives for purchasing that was incorrect. He thought he knew what was happening based on his perceptions, but he was wrong.

Ultimately, I don't care who was at Walmart that bought what I wanted before I got there or why they did it or what they're going to do with it afterward (as long as it's not to commit a criminal act). I only care if they have it or not and if the price is acceptable to me or not.

[one more]

There was a Dealer in if I remember correctly Etna Green, IN. He had a very small shop in what used to be his garage. He has passed away. He used to buy his stock in January because that was when he could buy it the cheapest. What he done was after hunting season and Christmas was over he would go to the Wal Mart in Rochester and buy all the Mossberg 500’s and Remington 870’s Express they had left in inventory. Wal Mart would give him a small discount do to his large purchase. It would be a transfer from their book to his book. Wal Mart would not have to pay inventory taxes on the guns so they saved, and being a small Dealer at that time he could buy the guns cheaper then he could order them from a Wholesaler.
I guess you go into business to make a PROFIT. If you can go down Highway US31 and buy your stock cheaper then from wholesaler x y or z then where are you going to go? I do not care for Wal Mart do to the business practices they do. A lot of people do not know that Rubber Maid went bankrupt and out of business do to Wally World. That is not the only company they have hurt, and I am not talking about Target, K Mart or Sears here. But that is why TV’s and Radio’s have knobs and cars have steering wheels so you can change the channel or drive where you want to go. Well at least we still have that Freedom in America. If they run all of our Manufactures into bankrupts are to China and run all the competition out of business “They will be the low price”(Sam Walton’s “opening price point”) because they will be the only price! I could go on but I will not.
Has anyone here seen the Frontline: is Wal Mart good for America series? I think they have around 20. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gsearch.html?q=Wal+Mart&x=14&y=7 if you are interested in looking for yourself.

[PeaShooter]

I am going to play devils advocate, also. Perhaps this guy is having a hard time getting ammo through his normal channels. How many guns do you think he is going to sell if he doesn't have any ammo to go with them. I can see the transaction now..."Yes, Mr. Smith, you passed the NCIS screening and I can sell you your new Glock...Oh, you want something to shoot out of it??? Well I can't help you there. I suggest you start trolling WalMart to see if they ever get any in stock...What do you mean nevermind on the sale?"

If the price is outrageous, then don't buy. But don't assume that he is only purchasing the ammo in order to "gouge" his unsuspecting customers. I have heard of gun store owners not selling ammo to people unless they purchased a weapon.

Just a thought

[confused89]

Originally Posted by rhino

I'm in devil's advocate mood right now ... what if the dealer was buy ammo for some reason other than to resell in his shop? What if it was for his own personal use or for someone else, but he could get it cheaper at Walmart than he could could from his distributor (which is entirely possible)? Would that make a difference to those who have a problem with this?

I have seen this happen in other sectors. Where shop A goes and buys products from shop B because they in fact cannot get it for that price from their distributor. It really sucks for shop A because who is he suppose to be competitive if his supplier can not even get him the product for what shop B is selling it for? I can see how some people can get mad over this, I am not one of them. I went to Wal-mart on saturday to buy ammo. I bought it there because my local gun store did not have any in stock. Wal-mart had a lot of it in stock. Then again who really shots Cowboy Action Loads in 45LC anyway.

[Michiana]

I am a dealer and I have had .380 ammo on backorder for months from my dist. I buy all my personal target ammo from Wal-Mart; I don't resell it but how would one of my customers know that if they observed me buying six boxes of 40S&W white box. I was told by a employee in that dept that before they put in the six box limit she had a husband and wife who used to come in and buy every box of the popular cal on the shelf and resell it at flea markets for double or more. If there was not a shortage in ammo I would say that was none of my business but under the current situation I think the six box limit is a good thing. What people do with the ammo after they leave the store is their business unless they are running a busines without a license and in that case the State could come down on them.

[JD31]

Michiana--I really appreciate your input to this thread. My original post was intended to get the conversation going, and not to cast dispersions on anyone. I am glad that it did not veer in a nasty direction. I think that we have gotten a good sampling of opinions. Again, thanks for your post.

[jsharmon7]

What if someone offered to sell you ten tickets at face value to next Sunday's Colts' game against the Patriots but you have other plans and can't go. Let's say you know those tickets are going on ebay for anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 per pair. Would you pass up the tickets so that it would be fair to everyone or would you buy them and resell them?