Serious Concerns About WalMart's Gun Counter

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Brasscatcher84

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So, today I was at the Wal Mart gun counter. I don't buy guns there, but every so often they'll have a good deal on Winchester white box or another ammo I don't mind using. Anyway, There were two college kids working the counter, a guy and a girl. I asked to see a few things, and through various miscommunications, it became apparent to me that these two were NOT that familiar with firearms or ammunition. Not a problem, I know enough to make informed decisions.

While I'm standing there, however, a guy walks up and asks for ".357 magnum or .38 automatic" ammo. :eek: When I heard that, bells went off. The two counter workers, on the other hand, just turned around and begin looking for .357 magnum or .38 automatic. Not wanting to seem obnoxious, I ask what kind of guns he had. He replied, "It's a Glock." Now I know the guy doesn't have a clue.

To make a long story short, this guy had just bought his first gun from a friend, it was a Glock in .357 Sig. He was under the impression that .357 on the side of the Glock meant .357 magnum, and that he could also fire .380 auto in it. Apparently he was putting two half-ideas together and getting one REALLY bad idea. The two counter workers were being ABSOLUTELY no help, as they had less info than the guy with the Glock. I finally was able to convey to the guy that:

(a) .357 Sig and .357 magnum are not the same cartridge,

(b) .357 magnum firearms can also fire .38 spl ammo, but NOT vice versa, and

(c) a firearm chambered for .357 Sig could NOT fire a .380 auto cartridge.

I talked him into going to a reputable gun dealer's shop in town with his firearm and letting them help him.

I was so incensed that Wal Mart had these two knuckleheads working the gun counter that I spoke with the manager on duty, who assured me that it was okay, even if the guy blew his hand off and blinded himself, Wal Mart's lawyers would handle it.:mad:
 
The workers at the Wal-Mart gun counter may have some knowledge (rifle, shotgun ????) or they may have none. The scary part is the guy having a firearm and not having a clue.
 
As disturbing as your story is people cannot expect Wal-Mart to buy made in America products and hire expert employees and still offer the low prices. When you shop at a store like that you make a decision when you go in that you support their business practices.
 
Wal-Mart is a mass merchandiser, big box discount department store. It is not a gun shop. It is not the fault of the kids behind the counter, the department manager, or Wal-Mart that a clueless customer wanted to save a few bucks and didn't know what to ask for.

At some point in life, people have to accept responsibility both for their actions and for their ignorance.

At the two Wal-Marts I usually frequent, there is generally nobody at the Sporting Goods counter. To buy ammo, I have to find a Walmartian to page anyone with the keys to the ammo case. When that person shows up (and it may or may not be someone who ever works in Sporting Goods), I point to the box I want and tell him/her how many. I don't expect expertise, so I'm never surprised or disappointed.
 
Walmartian............

Wish I'd thought of that.

I've seen some pretty naive "clerks" at gun shops too, but that another story.
 
WalMart is not the only place where one will run into folks who are not knowledgeable about guns and/or ammo. WalMart's gun prices are very good compared other retailers. i've bought guns from WalMart and saved a bundle in doing so.
 
I don't think it's fair to blame Wal-Mart for this. The customer obviously didn't know what to buy so why should the seller be blamed? The consumer should be aware of what they're buying and proper usage, not the other way around.

What do you propose? All counter salesperson at Wal-mart be knowledgeable with every single items they carry to ensure proper usage? Not likely.

This is what happened if every John/Jane Doe that turns legal age wants a gun. If we required taking a test to drive a car, why not the same for owning a firearm?
 
Well I can see where I'll be heading to get a job after I retire... :)

At the very least, they should have a one-page reference with common models and calibers from various manufacturers, which could also include the .357 mag/.38 special, .44 mag/.44 special, etc. compatibility chart as well (not that I've ever seen this anywhere, even a gun store).
 
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Sorry, I'm not blaming /Wally.
I never expect and of the associates there to know a thing.

This guy bought a gun and didn't even understand the label on it.
That scares me.

AFS
 
Well I can see where I'll be heading to get a job after I retire...

At the very least, they should have a one-page reference with common models and calibers from various manufacturers, which could also include the .357 mag/.38 special, .44 mag/.44 special, etc. compatibility chart as well (not that I've ever seen this anywhere, even a gun store).
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Why? They are not a gun store. If the purchaser is too lazy to even know what type of ammo they need then frankly the purchaser shouldn't be allowed to drive heavy machinery, much less own a firearm.

How exactly can you purchase a firearm and NOT know you need?
 
spacecoast said:
At the very least, they should have a one-page reference with common models and calibers from various manufacturers, which could also include the .357 mag/.38 special, .44 mag/.44 special, etc. compatibility chart as well
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Why?

As I posted above, Wal-Mart is a discount mass merchandiser. Why should it become Wal-Mart's responsibility to know what the owner of the gun doesn't know? And the kind of reference chart you're talking about could not possibly be one page if the type is large enough to read. Probably more like fifty pages if you only stick to the more popular current models and calibers of guns. Include older guns that are no longer made and you'll be over 100 pages.

Heck, a few years ago Para-Ordnance alone had 73 distinct models in their catalog, and that didn't include special series or the short-run series they do for specific military units.
 
I certainly understand the position that Wal Mart shouldn't be held accountable for the customer's ignorance, however, with a product as potentially harmful as ammunition, a cursory knowledge should be requisite. Wal Mart pays sporting goods employees more than other departments (or did when I worked there). They also train employees how to do their jobs. It would take less than two hours to train an employee about the very basics of firearm/caliber/gauge fundamentals, and if it would help avert a firearms accident, it's worth it.

Now, on to the ignorant customer; it's regrettable, but there is a significant portion of the gun buying public whose only source of firearms info is the person they buy their guns and ammo from. If that person is an ignorant college student behind the Wal Mart counter, then that person is an accident waiting to happen.
 
walmart get's what it pays for, should they have the firearm counter staff actually trained with dealing with firearms, YES. Will they pay for that, no.
 
Also, I don't buy guns (or any other large manufactured good) from Wal Mart, because they are not manufactured by the company on the label, and they are NOT to the same quality as the ones that are.

For instance, if you buy a "weatherby" rifle from WalMart, it was not manufactured by Weatherby. It was manufactured by a sub contractor, generally with less quality controls, and with inferior materials. This is due to the fact that Wal Mart demands such a low price on the items that the regular manufacturer can't supply it directly at the regular quality. Most gun smiths I've been to will ask if customers bought a firearm at WalMart, and if the answer is yes, they won't touch it.

This is true of TVs, cameras, and almost every other large consumer good in Wal MArt, too.
 
I get what you're saying OP however, the guy would never have been able to load .357 mag nor .38 whatevers into a Glock anyway. If he tried he would have eventually gotten a clue. I really don't see this as that big of a deal.

And I gotta be honest....

who assured me that it was okay, even if the guy blew his hand off and blinded himself, Wal Mart's lawyers would handle it
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This response sounds a little "made up" to me.
 
I certainly understand the position that Wal Mart shouldn't be held accountable for the customer's ignorance, however, with a product as potentially harmful as ammunition, a cursory knowledge should be requisite. Wal Mart pays sporting goods employees more than other departments (or did when I worked there). They also train employees how to do their jobs. It would take less than two hours to train an employee about the very basics of firearm/caliber/gauge fundamentals, and if it would help avert a firearms accident, it's worth it.
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Or Walmart will just quit selling ammunition. The moment someone tries to attribute liability to them, they will, as I would.

Now, on to the ignorant customer; it's regrettable, but there is a significant portion of the gun buying public whose only source of firearms info is the person they buy their guns and ammo from. If that person is an ignorant college student behind the Wal Mart counter, then that person is an accident waiting to happen.
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Then those people should not be allowed to own firearms. We're not talking chewing gum here, but items who's intended purpose is to kill things. Seriouly, this is incredibly basic stuff.
 
I was so incensed that Wal Mart had these two knuckleheads working the gun counter that I spoke with the manager on duty, who assured me that it was okay, even if the guy blew his hand off and blinded himself, Wal Mart's lawyers would handle it.
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From Post #2
The scary part is the guy having a firearm and not having a clue.
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From Post #4
At some point in life, people have to accept responsibility both for their actions and for their ignorance.
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I agree with posts #2 and #4 (As well as the other posts that imply Walmart is not really responsible.)

The guy was getting what he asked for. That is what stores do. Why would Walmart be responsible?

If the guys at the gun counter had asked you: Are you sure this is what you want? What are you shooting it out of? What type is it? Most people would blow a gasket and tell them it is none of their business. Walmart loses out either way.

Quote:
who assured me that it was okay, even if the guy blew his hand off and blinded himself, Wal Mart's lawyers would handle it
This response sounds a little "made up" to me.
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:DYeah, but Walmart does have some good lawyers.:rolleyes:
 
The Wally-World in my town doesn't sell anything but muzzle-loaders and ammo. As I was told, due to liability involved in other firearms.

But out of the probably 10 different people I have seen and talked to at the counter, only one that I spoke with even owned a gun - an S&W .357 wheelgun, and he was asking me questions about a weird sound it was making. Keep in mind, all the ammo I was buying was for autos:p

Its not really any different than the high school kid behind the meat counter who doesn't know a good porterhouse cut from a slice of his own buttcheek.
 
Also, I don't buy guns (or any other large manufactured good) from Wal Mart, because they are not manufactured by the company on the label, and they are NOT to the same quality as the ones that are.

For instance, if you buy a "weatherby" rifle from WalMart, it was not manufactured by Weatherby. It was manufactured by a sub contractor, generally with less quality controls, and with inferior materials. This is due to the fact that Wal Mart demands such a low price on the items that the regular manufacturer can't supply it directly at the regular quality. Most gun smiths I've been to will ask if customers bought a firearm at WalMart, and if the answer is yes, they won't touch it.

This is true of TVs, cameras, and almost every other large consumer good in Wal MArt, too.
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You haven't a clue what you are talking about.
You are completely wrong.
Some people are simply Wal-Mart haters, that is their right. But to lie and deceive others is not right.
 
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