Local WalMart

russde

russde

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The closest Walmart to my house just recently went through a huge remodeling and is just now fully back to regular operations. But they have done away with the sporting goods counter.
No ammo, no knives, no multi-tools. They still have some shot shells on the shelf but no other ammo. Anyone have a similar situation? Heard of anything like this?
I have other Walmarts close by that I can go to for that kind of stuff, but am concerned that it's just another step in the 'gotta make the world safer by not allowing folks to buy dangerous stuff ' campaign.
Russ
 
I actually heard that the only reason Walmart was carring Buck products, was that Walmart and Buck contracted to sell Buck knives in order to depleat on-hand surplus before the move to post falls
 
I see you're in San Antonio? On the one hand, I'm surprised to hear they've gotten rid of the sporting goods. On the other hand, having just moved away from the Austin area a few months ago, I'm not really too surprised. Lots of competition down there, from other sporting goods retailers, hunting/fishing shops, Cabela's (just a short ways north of San Antonio). I know from shopping at some of the Walmarts around Austin, I never saw too much business going on at the knife counter in those stores. Seems like more often than not, the counter usually wasn't even staffed full time.

They might've just decided it wasn't worth the extra overhead.
 
Another thought just occurred to me.

Unless it's changed recently, San Antonio has a somewhat 'dubious' distinction of outlawing ANY folding knife with a locking blade, within city limits. I've heard, for the most part, it's not generally enforced (unless someone stupidly calls attention to themselves). But, maybe this has played into Walmart's (local) decision not to carry knives anymore, due to possible legal issues. Wouldn't necessarily justify getting rid of all of the sporting gear, but maybe it was just one more thing they didn't want to mess with.
 
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I have seen here in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area that Wallys sporting choices are driven by local demographic. The urban areas have very little in the way of sporting goods and the more rural carry the full new line. I live rurally but one wally is 10 miles north(considerably closer to the city) and has the old china dominant assortment(371, 373 119 110 and Omni Hunter) and then 15 miles south(well out in the country) has the full new selection(paclites, Vantage ,odessy, 119, 110 and so on). I cant believe it is being done away with altogher and if many marts are getting new assortments it doesnt make sense to me that depletion theory is intact(although that may very well have been the case and now rethought)
 
Fritz has the correct answer.

Wallys sporting choices are driven by local demographic. The urban areas have very little in the way of sporting goods and the more rural carry the full new line.
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Actually, we are seeing the opposite here. After several years without them, our local WM's are getting guns back.

We're a more rural area though.
 
ours in rural tn still has the longarms, ammo and knives. just this morning grabbed couple boxes 357mag shells and another paperstone vantage. even had a mini14 in the display along with the more typical models seen
 
Walmart doesn't stock knives and firearms in some ethnically and culturally diversely enriched neighborhoods.I found that out when I was in Calif.That's the politically correct way of saying low income high crime minority neighborhoods.I was told that by a Walmart manager.PRETTY SICK!:eek::barf:
 
That's the politically correct way of saying low income high crime minority neighborhoods.I was told that by a Walmart manager.PRETTY SICK!
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Those areas are always as urban as you can get, so again, it's more about urban vs. rural than any racial consideration.

They just don't want to waste their money stocking sporting goods in non-sporting areas. I'm in a pretty rural area and although they have phased out firearms (like most stores of their type) they have ammo, knives and a big sporting goods section.

Not that I'm defending Wal-Mart......they suck and I only darken their door when it's something I absolutely can't find elsewhere--but I think the situation you mention is probably more one of practical marketing than prejudice.
 
My experience mirrors Fritz's. My Walmart has little in way of knives, no guns and decent ammo selection. Just a few miles up the interstate, the Walmart is a full blown sporting goods store.
 
Such is the way of Wal-Marts in every urban area, it seems.
 
Same here in Jersey after the remodel only knifes in hanging packages no more boxed type with a display like before. Whats the point of buying something in person in you can't check it out first. No ammo at all but their never was.
 
wingslevel said:
ours in rural tn still has the longarms, ammo and knives. just this morning grabbed couple boxes 357mag shells and another paperstone vantage. even had a mini14 in the display along with the more typical models seen
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I need to go back to my local Wally World and check on that Vantage. No one was at the SG counter last time and I didn't see it on their picture board of knives. All I recall seeing was the 110, 119 and the Chinese made slippie. I did notice that they sure to like Gerber and Browning as they seemed to represent the majority of their offerings along with one or two Kershaws.
 
sneakbox said:
Same here in Jersey after the remodel only knifes in hanging packages no more boxed type with a display like before. Whats the point of buying something in person in you can't check it out first. No ammo at all but their never was.
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I check the knives in every Wally's I've been in in the last 2-3 years and I think only one has ever had boxed knives. I got a 12 pt Omni Hunter in the box on clearance for $30 there.

Welcome to the forum sneakbox:thumbup:
 
I understood from an acquaintance that Walmart manages every tiny aspect of their supply/marketing operation down to the paper clips in each store. According to him, it is all a function of sales, and nothing more.

If they can sell enough of any product at a profit to have it earn its shelf space, it's on the shelf. if it is a poor performer for any reason, it is gone.

In their recent 2 billion dollar remodel campaign to update their stores, they were proud of the fact that they widened the isles, reduced the crowding in the display areas, and didn't stack as much merchandise onto their shelving. But the upshot is that they lost about 20% of their display space in some stores, so low end performers were the ones to go.

I don't believe their is a nefarious conspiracy behind it, just a simple function of economics.

Robert
 
My Walmart is turning into a "SuperWalmart" with a grocery store. In the process of enlarging the store the size of the gun counter has shrunk. They still have guns, ammo, & knives but the gun counter is much smaller. The construction isn't finished so I don't know if this is temporary. Dick's Sporting Goods has just moved into our area but I don't know if the downsizing is in response to that.
 
We haven't had any guns in my local WM in years. They stock lots of ammo of all types though. If I remember correctly, they had issues with the BATF and their paperwork a few years back and shut down the gun sales "temporarily" but they never came back.

I live close to a couple of lakes and within three miles of the ocean, so they stock tons of fishing tackle of all types, but the WM 20 miles south and inland from me carries very little. It seems to be all about what works for your particular area.
 
i have lots of walmarts around.

the regular grocery store one a few minutes from my house, only has grocerys and their prices are higher .

the super walmart a few minutes longer away, only sells ammo,knives and accessorys, but has a bigger selection on ammo and knives.

the one walmart thats a few minutes longer than that one, has all the regular sporting goods stuff, guns, but less ammo and less knife selection.

i also heard its up to the gm of that specific store what they stock. but who knows really.

i bought some batterys are the regular grocery store walmart and the next day went to the walmart super and they were 1.50 cheaper at the walmart super. go figure i guess.
 
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