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Old August 11, 2005, 05:54 PM   #1
chemist308
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WalMart...

I'm in the middle of a not so good experience ordering a flintlock through Wal Mart--a left handed model was ordered by mistake. When it came in and I picked it up, didn't notice they'd given me a left handed model. Took it back still in the box and barrel not attached to stock (as sold) the next morning they treated me like a criminal. Apparently I shouldn't have been allowed to walk back in with it...Anyway after about 4 managers were paged and over half an hour at the counter they agreed to take back and re-order.
Now it's been 2.5 weeks since my original order and I find out that the damn thing wasn't even ordered by the store. The people behind the gun counter apparantly don't communicate between shifts so I'm stuck with only 2 individuals that even know what's going on.
Do you think it helps if involve the store's district manager? I mean just under $400 is a really good deal on a Lyman Great Plains rifle. But I'm wishing I'd paid $500+ at Cabelas. For around 400 I'm empty handed right now. For $500 I could have actually had the gun for the last 2 weeks.
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Old August 11, 2005, 06:12 PM   #2
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You is 'up a creek'. Just send me the rifle and be done with it.
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Old August 11, 2005, 06:19 PM   #3
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Many times, it seems, the threat of informing an employee's superiors of his gross incompetence is the only way to get him to perform.

I would certainly inform the district manager, and don't forget to add that you were treated like s#it, and made to feel like a criminal when it was THEIR mistake that caused the problem in the first place.

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Old August 11, 2005, 06:32 PM   #4
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I would suggest talking to the sporting goods manager, the store manager (hopefully at the same time), and the district manager. When I had an issue with one of the local Wal-Marts, I had the greatest success/action from the district manager.
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Old August 12, 2005, 08:21 AM   #5
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Dont get too mad at the employees........

remember they are underpaid and underqualified.....

I would not be surprised if the average IQ of the workers at my Walmart was somewhere around 80..... so I cut them a lot of slack.....
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Old August 12, 2005, 08:59 AM   #6
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Only the female employees are underpaid... remember walmart is sexist so says all those women filing lawsuits...

This is a prime example why I do not buy guns from big name retail... like Dick's sporting goods and Walmart especially... Kmart not so much anymore.

I will pay the extra to keep my local Firearm's dealer in business because they always slip me some extras like free ammo, or accessories, stickers and hats and crap like that... Walmart never gave me anything free, mater of fact they always generally overcharge me and double ring my items because the dumb idiot at the register can't have it register in their head that two beeps means it rang in twice....

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Old August 12, 2005, 09:39 AM   #7
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"This is a prime example why I do not buy guns from big name retail... like Dick's sporting goods and Walmart especially... Kmart not so much anymore."

There it is. I once bought a shotgun from one of the large chain sporting goods stores and not only did the manager handling the transaction not know how to do it, he was clearly afraid of both the gun *and me*. The whole experience was so humiliating and weird I will never go back there.

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Old August 12, 2005, 10:50 AM   #8
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What were you thinking? Patronizing the Evil Empire!
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Old August 12, 2005, 11:08 AM   #9
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I only buy stuff like engine oil, light bulbs, batteries, etc. from Wallly World. Every time I go in there it's an adventure. Half of the people at my local one don't even speak english, and the other half look like Jerry Springer rejects.
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Old August 12, 2005, 11:12 AM   #10
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I recently had a kinda similar problem at a Walmart gun-counter. I went to the WM website and at http://www.walmartstores.com/wmstore...OnlineForm.jsp I typed in a rather long letter outlining my problems. One day later I got a phone call from the local store manager who had been instructed by WM HQ to personally take care of the problem. They jump higher and quicker when it comes from above.
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Old August 12, 2005, 11:16 AM   #11
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Jerry springer type = white trash? we have plenty of them at our store, usually fighting with their husband while trying to work and screamin about kids. My girlfriend and I enjoy going to walmart to listen to everyone of the customers fighting though... there's usually a 'fight night' at our local walmart when everyone is generally pissy and people are yelling at each other over stupid [color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color]...

Once Sam Walton died walmart went in the crapper after his greedy, money hungry children got their grubby paws on the 'estate'.

It's sorta sad, but then again they do make how much a year? I try to go there only when I need stuff, but some things they just don't have... like try to find summer clothes now, when they are trying to roll out Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations... haha Also the sports department is shotty at best... they rotate stock so much nothing I ever want is there and during the off-season I might look for something that they generally only carry in the on-season.

I think this thread has been officially hijacked!

Regarding your gun, I'd definately recommend purchasing through Cabelas, or even another online retailer... because if I may speak my humble opinion I do believe Blackpowder firearms are not imposed by the same shipping restrictions as general firearms which use 'self propelled bullets'. Thank God for the ATF, without them BG's wouldn't be using full auto pistols and full auto rifles... Cause we all know BG's obide by all laws especially when ordering firearms and registering them! ... They would probably use Blackpowder but it would take a while for the follow up shot, but you can pickup blackpowder weapons cheaper than full auto, so have about 5 of them in the car lined up and ready to fire... have your lacky reload for you then keep it comin! If you miss oh well, you'd have one hell of a smoke-screen!
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Old August 12, 2005, 11:34 AM   #12
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Huh, didn't know they even made left handed flintlocks.

Secondly, the employees are not underpaid. They agreed to work for that price, meaning they thought that their time was worth that amount of money.

Third, I never see anyone else employing severly disabled people. Still one of Wal-Mart's strongest points, the people they will hire.

Fourth, Super Wal-Mart sucks. Should have left it a regular Wal-Mart.
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Old August 12, 2005, 08:33 PM   #13
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Heh I like superwalmart I can buy watermellons.
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Old August 12, 2005, 08:50 PM   #14
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Quote:
There it is. I once bought a shotgun from one of the large chain sporting goods stores and not only did the manager handling the transaction not know how to do it, he was clearly afraid of both the gun *and me*. The whole experience was so humiliating and weird I will never go back there.

Tim
Heh. I think it would have been fun to spook the guy. Just wait til he's writing on the 4473 and go ... "BOO!!"

And maybe ask him why he seems so pansy-ass scared of you, when you've come in with ID and all to purchase a legal product. Put people who fear guns and gun owners on the spot to explain themselves. Perhaps having to face the nonexistent reasons they have for fearing us will make them realize we're normal people.

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Old August 12, 2005, 11:50 PM   #15
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I'm starting to think that while that store may be good for things like aspirin, cheap laundry detergent or maybe even a fishing lure or two, they really don't have what they need to be a respectable gun dealer. They've got good prices what is physically there, but if you're looking for something specialty I don't know about going there. Hardwood stocks in their display cases are less common, muzzleloaders are considered 'seasonal,' and good quality rifles like what I wanted are special order. Out of all the people that work sporting goods at this place I only know of 1 or 2 that actually knows the difference between a flintlock, caplock and inline rifle--I personally think that one of those two should be running the place... But knowledge of things like barrel twist and affect on ballistics is something you really only find at gunshops, and often only in owner operator shops. Still I thought: if it can be ordered, I know what I'm looking for so I'd do okay.

All I can say is this: my next gun is coming from a gunshop or private individual. I'm finding detailed knowledge and a little passion for what one is selling should be rewarded.
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Old August 13, 2005, 08:31 AM   #16
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Psst. That LF Lyman GPR flinter can be had for a lot less at.................http://www.midsouthshooterssuply.com
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Old August 13, 2005, 09:00 AM   #17
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Boy, these beat on Wally world threads come around about every month or so. Seems the MODS should just give people their own category for WW bashing. Seems half of TFL hates them, however, I bet if truth were told, many who claim to "never shop there again", shop there on a weekly basis.
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Old August 13, 2005, 09:59 AM   #18
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Boy, these beat on Wally world threads come around about every month or so.
Somehow doesn't surprise me with the experience I'm having. However, I might go there for other stuff--maybe motor oil and contact lens solutions (cheapest prices). But I don't know that I'd buy a gun from them again. I bought an NEF 12 guage there last year--they just happened to have a mod choke when everyone else had full. That wasn't a totally bad experience, but then again they had it there in the case and NEFs aren't exactly the best guns on the market. Still there were a few things that shoulda tipped me off not to go back for guns, like the way they have to call a manager, the fact that they won't allow the action to open for inspection and the way you get walked out the door once the sale is made.
So anyway my fault I went back thinking they might be able to get me flintlock. They're really not set up for that sorta thing. You end up dealing with the specific person who was there that day. No-one else seems to know anything about the order--almost feels shady even though they don't mean it to be. A simple notebook would solve half their problems, but I'm not one to tell them how to beat the competition. So maybe I just live and learn...and tell you guys.
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Old August 13, 2005, 11:15 AM   #19
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Why bash on WW for its underpaid/stupid employees? If you order something, it's a given that they'll probably foul it up somehow. So you take your paperwork back in the next day and have the alternate shift people clued in on it too, keep it on the top of the desk or yeah...it'll fall through the cracks and you'll be disappointed somehow.

If you know the employees aren't smart and don't care about anything other than getting to the end of their shift...and you don't do follow ups... who's the idjit now?

Oh and these same employees work and stock the sporting goods too. Look for the mistocked mislabled guns on the rack. They'll sell the misstocked piece for labled price if you jump on it right then, even with layaway. I got a SS Mini-14 for the price of a blued one like that.

All this indignation for minimum wagers by such an intelligent class of customers...tsk tsk. Lets get the minimum wagers in trouble with the DM for being stupid, when you know they're stupid (or else they'd have a real job) and then get mad about it when they fudge an order. Yeah.

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Old August 16, 2005, 02:25 AM   #20
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Its true shopping at Wal-Mart can be a pain.I buy white box 9mm+.45 cheap rarely anything more but I special ordered a Rem 7400 .308 for $416.27 I had to put 1/2 down in layaway .A week later when it came in the sporting goods guy went to layaway picked up the rifle brought it sporting goods to call in the back ground check after that he then went back to layaway with rifle while waiting for me to pay other half , then the dept manager had to ok the sale and recheck all paper work. All this it took 4 people and 30-45 mins to complete .The sporting goods guy then escorted me out the door and to my car while holding the rifle.

Well all the time I was smiling as each worker tried to follow ALL the rules to the letter. They were a little confused but tried to help me buy the rifle .
BTW it shoots great I was knocking down targets out at 250 yds right out of the box.
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Old August 16, 2005, 07:11 AM   #21
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Guys, let's cut them a little break... Odds are the manager got ONE class in how to fill out a 4473, and since F-Troop keeps changing 'em, and will attempt, if provoked in any way, to make his life a living bureaucratic hell (quite frankly, the manager has better things to do than go over EVERY form with the local agent, or stand by and verify EVERY line in the book with EVERY serial number), I'd be scared of having to sign one too...
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Old August 16, 2005, 08:49 AM   #22
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Quote:
Why bash on WW for its underpaid/stupid employees?
I certainly don't. I do however bash on Walmart because 98 percent of everything in the store is now bought from China. China is a military rule government. What does all of this mean. For every dollar that you spend in WW, half of it goes to China so that they can point ICBM's right back over where? You guessed it, right here.

Just last month China proudly proclaimed that if we get involved with thier problems over Taiwan, then they would be prepared to attack the United States.

Still with this knowledge in mind people are going to truck right down to the local WW, just because to them, it is, oh! the greatest thing since sliced bread, and they sell that too!
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Old August 16, 2005, 09:05 AM   #23
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Hahaha. Granted, in any terribly large retailer that markets lots of different products, you're going to get people who aren't "specialists" like we are here on TFL. However, I find it really amusing that guys posting on TFL are criticizing the largest retailer in the World for being the largest retailer in the World. How many start-ups have you business wizards done? What are your gross annual sales? How many Americans, regardless of I.Q., do you employ? What impact do you have on the lifestyles of middle-class Americans? What have you done to get Chinese peasants out of the fields and into gainful employment?
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Old August 16, 2005, 10:00 AM   #24
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I'm sorry you had such a dreadful experience with your flintlock. I hope the Mr. Bigs can fix things.

I feel deprived though, even though my Walmart is officially in Redneck Territory there is almost nothing shooting-related in the sporting goods department. There is one little twirly glass display of long guns and no ammo on display at all. There is one rack of hunting clothing, sized Jumbo. There is one section of muzzleloading supplies and a few arrows and broadheads. geez.
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Old August 16, 2005, 10:24 AM   #25
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Ah yeah. Corporate Walmart would be a horse of a different color. Who wants to send American money to China? Not me. Or as least as possible anyway. I bet they don't order their Federal shotshells from china. No PolyTech for us either.

I help the peasants out of the field in China by not buying anything obviously from China, but am not fanatical about it. They're flooding the heating & A/C market over here now with Chinese equipment, Haier Brand. Fair priced equipment with fairly good set of controls on it, but I refuse to use it for my customers. My longtime supply house switched from an American brand to the Chinese Haier's, and now everytime I go in there they say Ed, how come you haven't been buying any furnaces or A/C units lately? So I told them cause it was Chinese. He didn't even know. I had to take him over to a display unit and show him the ROC sticker on it. There's maybe 20K a yr that don't go to China. Don't let your Heat & A/C guys install Haier equipment for you. The contractor saves 100 bucks a unit and sells it to you for the same price as the American Equipment. China wins and uses the money to make strong their Military, while the Rheem guys get laid off maybe.
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