Sportsman's Warehouse vs. WallyWorld in Ammo.
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bronicadave
New member
Walmart business practices are no different than anyone elses. I work with large industrial companies. We work hard to get our product specified and then after a few years of using our product they tell us they will only pay x amount. That amount is sometimes lower than we had been charging, they claim the increasing volume deserves a bigger discount. Sometimes they just try and lock us into holding last years prices for another 3 years. We always have a choice, accept the terms or return the smaller volume company we used to be. Walmart is no different. Their manufacturers and suppliers could refuse to accept Walmart's prices and terms. But they would be walking away from their largest customer.
The only reason people gripe about Walmart is because they are successful and people seem to hate success. I think that's why the union issue comes up, unions seem to hate successful companies too, don't they.
The only reason people gripe about Walmart is because they are successful and people seem to hate success. I think that's why the union issue comes up, unions seem to hate successful companies too, don't they.
That was tried a few years ago.
Company asked employees to take a pay cut so they would not have to shut down. Employees refused and went on strike. Company moved to Mexico.
Mickey Moore did a documentary on it, which started his career of blaming everyone white Americans for everything wrong in the world.
And my new Mexican made lawn mower ran as well as the American made one did
I come from that generation when American made meant well made and Japanese transistors were a joke. Guess who rested on their laurels and who strive to make a better product
..maybe I don't want to be a consumer in a monopolized economy...selection and choices are always the friend of the consumer....the question is do I think I had it better before or after the coming of wm...the answer is I was a happier shopper with more to choose from before wm....envious of a sucessful giant?..idiotic!!...GM is a giant and they have a long, distinquished history although there seems to be bad executives now making bad decisions...what about US Steel?...there are many giants with long histories..but walmart turns me off...not envy...despise...I want competitive choices, not monotonous no-choice...and I want a country who's industry I take pride in...but that is the failing of today's generation..no vision...just squeeze money for the moment and lets not think of tommorrow...sort of the way they run their lives...run up credit debt and don't think of tommorrow..until they can hardly make their payments...don't save for retirement..buy a quad..then they hit 50 and realize they have little to retire on...run the national debt into the sky...hopefully we'll be gone before the day of reckoning knocks on the door...etc..etc...etc...
this subject can get me excited...so good-bye!
this subject can get me excited...so good-bye!
I love people that bash Wal Mart, especially the ones that haven't a clue about capitalism.
Ask yourself this...
Before Wal Mart:
1. did you buy your all your groceries at the farmer's market?
2. did you buy all your tools at the local mom and pop hardware store?
3 did you buy all your clothes from the local general store?
Or did you frequent major chain stores like JC Penny, Sears, Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, Ace Hardware, Woolsworth, Montgomery Wards, etc...?
These companies all operated off the same philosophy that Wal Mart does; GET ALL YOU CAN, CAN ALL YOU GET, AND SIT ON THE CAN !!!
The only thing Wal Mart does differently is THEY SELL THE CAN !!!
If you feel Wal Mart is bad for the local economy, go ask your neighbors how they feel. If you live in a financally wealthier area go ask those on the bad side of town. Better yet, go ask some of the workers there who had no other job skills, or options.
Regrettably, things aren't like they were 30-40 years ago, but that's not because the other companies didn't try.
SO...If you don't like them...don't buy from them.
But, don't show your ignorance by just spouting off the bad stuff you read off the internet or hear from those few that don't like them. Because for every one that has a problem, there's about 1000 that don't.
Ask yourself this...
Before Wal Mart:
1. did you buy your all your groceries at the farmer's market?
2. did you buy all your tools at the local mom and pop hardware store?
3 did you buy all your clothes from the local general store?
Or did you frequent major chain stores like JC Penny, Sears, Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, Ace Hardware, Woolsworth, Montgomery Wards, etc...?
These companies all operated off the same philosophy that Wal Mart does; GET ALL YOU CAN, CAN ALL YOU GET, AND SIT ON THE CAN !!!
The only thing Wal Mart does differently is THEY SELL THE CAN !!!
If you feel Wal Mart is bad for the local economy, go ask your neighbors how they feel. If you live in a financally wealthier area go ask those on the bad side of town. Better yet, go ask some of the workers there who had no other job skills, or options.
Regrettably, things aren't like they were 30-40 years ago, but that's not because the other companies didn't try.
SO...If you don't like them...don't buy from them.
But, don't show your ignorance by just spouting off the bad stuff you read off the internet or hear from those few that don't like them. Because for every one that has a problem, there's about 1000 that don't.
Dead-Nuts-Zero
New member
Many good points and comments made in here and it's nice we can have a civil debate...so far.
Now where have I seen this face before???
The US has gone from a hard manufacturing nation to a service nation. We don't make products like we once did. When I started my business nearly 20 years ago, I did much of the labor and had my family helping too. When I quit & sold out, I was doing many times the numbers I started at, and with much less of my manual labor. My day was spent on the phone working as a Broker (maybe Broker is not a good term for this thread
) But I could always find someone who could do my work cheaper than me and better than I or my family could do it. My day was... pick up the phone, buy my product, pick up the phone and find someone to deliver it, pick up the phone and sell twice as much as I did on the last order, and get paid up front besides (well not always but often). Why, because I could find a better product already made without investing in production plants or labor. No employees to complain and no buildings to insure. I don't think I was the one to invent this style of doing business. It's our way of life, a free market. I agree it's somewhat because of our "standards" as others mentioned above. It's eat or be eaten and I managed my business as efficient as I could. As a Broker, I made much more with far less. My quality was much better because I could pay someone who is an expert at manufacturing my products and do it the way I wanted it done, put my name on it... and for less money. I didn't go overseas and I didn't break any arms to get it done cheaper. It's just competitive business.
Many import auto's are not really imports these days, they have huge successful plants built here in the US. There must be a way to build a car here and compete with Detroit because it's being done. You can buy damn good help for far less than 35 bucks an hour to work an assembly line right here in the US.
I often wonder where we would be without unions and lawyers...now that should touch off a few comments...I'm outta here! Going to WM, they are open all night ya know. (To buy ammo and look at guns...just to make this a legal post and keep the moderators happy).
Now where have I seen this face before??? The US has gone from a hard manufacturing nation to a service nation. We don't make products like we once did. When I started my business nearly 20 years ago, I did much of the labor and had my family helping too. When I quit & sold out, I was doing many times the numbers I started at, and with much less of my manual labor. My day was spent on the phone working as a Broker (maybe Broker is not a good term for this thread
) But I could always find someone who could do my work cheaper than me and better than I or my family could do it. My day was... pick up the phone, buy my product, pick up the phone and find someone to deliver it, pick up the phone and sell twice as much as I did on the last order, and get paid up front besides (well not always but often). Why, because I could find a better product already made without investing in production plants or labor. No employees to complain and no buildings to insure. I don't think I was the one to invent this style of doing business. It's our way of life, a free market. I agree it's somewhat because of our "standards" as others mentioned above. It's eat or be eaten and I managed my business as efficient as I could. As a Broker, I made much more with far less. My quality was much better because I could pay someone who is an expert at manufacturing my products and do it the way I wanted it done, put my name on it... and for less money. I didn't go overseas and I didn't break any arms to get it done cheaper. It's just competitive business.Many import auto's are not really imports these days, they have huge successful plants built here in the US. There must be a way to build a car here and compete with Detroit because it's being done. You can buy damn good help for far less than 35 bucks an hour to work an assembly line right here in the US.
I often wonder where we would be without unions and lawyers...now that should touch off a few comments...I'm outta here! Going to WM, they are open all night ya know. (To buy ammo and look at guns...just to make this a legal post and keep the moderators happy).
Not exactly true.
Have you heard of anyone else that brings in company reps and makes them raise their hand to go to the restroom?
From all reports, they do everything they can to humiliate/ dominate the people they are buying from.
Most companies aren't big enough that they can get away with that, but Walmart can.
Walmart has such a lock on the market, they can do what they want.
One figure I saw said that Walmart represented over 20% of our GNP!
I think it was 20/20 that said the last company to run roughshod over competitors and vendors alike was back in the '30s.
(A&P I think)
They were actually bigger than Walmart, and only straightened up after Congress passed new Commerce laws.
Walmart did sell handguns at one time.
I bought my Dad a Taurus .38 there many years ago.
They caved to liberals and quit selling them.
I think there is hope for the future.
Walmart has resisted selling the "morning after" abortion pill.
They have moved Maxim and other magazines because people complained about racy covers.
And, we've noticed that their groceries are (for the most part) more expensive than grocery stores.
Target and Kohls are actually taking back market share from Walmart.
I'm hoping "buy American" will come back in style.
Also do a search on monopolistic predation = Wal-Mart.Most good companies treat their suppliers as a partner, Wal-mart treats theirs as pond scum. They have power driven from volume but what goes around comes around and I think we are in the early stages of Wal- Marts downfall!!
I think perhaps you two should be doing the dictionary searches.
Exactly which racket is Wally the Wall involved with.
This entire thread is on a competitor of Wal0Mart beating it's prices, and several other competitors have been named in the same thread, so where is the monopoly ?
Bigger selection at better prices is what built Wal-Mart not horse heads in the competing CEO"s beds
When the price quality equation starts to work against Wal_Mart Wal-Mart will fold, if they do not adapt.
It's that simple
Exactly which racket is Wally the Wall involved with.
This entire thread is on a competitor of Wal0Mart beating it's prices, and several other competitors have been named in the same thread, so where is the monopoly ?
Bigger selection at better prices is what built Wal-Mart not horse heads in the competing CEO"s beds
When the price quality equation starts to work against Wal_Mart Wal-Mart will fold, if they do not adapt.
It's that simple
bronicadave
New member
aspen1964, you're kidding about General Motors and the US steel companies, right? GM is very close to bankruptcy. I can't think of any US steel company that hasn't already been through bankruptcy. These are not shining examples of American industry. They were 50 years ago but they failed to modernize business practices and products. They were both in industries where unions exerted way too much control to allow the company to respond to normal business cycles.
Walmart is charged with racketeering? That's a good one. The anecdotal stuff about Walmart not allowing factory reps to go potty is just internet mythology. All companies and business people try and gain power in the relationship. My boss still makes anybody wishing to see him wait 15 minutes to see him, it's his small minded way of trying to say he's more important. I once had a boss who kept the chair for guests in his office at the lowest height and one caster smaller than the other. That he was taller and whoever he was meeting with was distracted by the chair wobbling. Walmart is not different than any business. I still say they are hated because they are big and successful. Those are two allegations that no longer apply to General Motors, American steel companies, airlines and any number of industries. Walmart certainly didn't cause their problems.
Walmart is charged with racketeering? That's a good one. The anecdotal stuff about Walmart not allowing factory reps to go potty is just internet mythology. All companies and business people try and gain power in the relationship. My boss still makes anybody wishing to see him wait 15 minutes to see him, it's his small minded way of trying to say he's more important. I once had a boss who kept the chair for guests in his office at the lowest height and one caster smaller than the other. That he was taller and whoever he was meeting with was distracted by the chair wobbling. Walmart is not different than any business. I still say they are hated because they are big and successful. Those are two allegations that no longer apply to General Motors, American steel companies, airlines and any number of industries. Walmart certainly didn't cause their problems.
Oiy, me and my accountant sister were talking about this. We have a cousin who bashes Wal-Mart and all corporations (she has no idea what a corporation is to begin with and the mom and pop's store she glorifies can be one as well) but buys from there because "they are cheaper". No *%^(&, MENSA member! Wal-Mart found a niche quite well. I don't buy ammo from there because the selection sucks and the quality usually is lacking for the most part. I have yet to see anything but birdshot there and I prefer having buckshot. I pay more, sure, but I get my house supplies and other stuff there and my groceries from HEB (a Texan grocery store, which is the Wal-Mart of grocery stores in Texas). Why? Because it's dirt cheap. I have bought a few rifles from Wal-Mart (mostly .22 plinkers and I am thinking about getting a Henry Survival .22 LR because it's dirt cheap and I could use a good survival .22). Bash Wal-Mart all you want, and while you're at it bash Dell computers, McDonald's, KFC, Home Depot, Halliburton, BJ Drilling, Taco Bell, Comedy Central, Star Bucks, etc. for being good at what they do.
By the way, I doubt China wants to wage war. They are making so much money dealing with us peacefully, why wage a bloody war that will cost them lives, morale, and may even spark a revolt. The current military build-up we are seeing is China's way of saying, "US, we like dealing with your American Money, but don't think you'll come back here again and bitch slap us." Is it so wrong for the US to have competition? Not really, and I think all this alarmist bull needs to go. We need to adapt people. We no longer have the same industry as we do now. The reason is peasant children in other countries can do the same work for a lesser price. That's a good thing.
As for the Hand gun thing, what's so bad about listening to your customers. If libs are pissy, who cares if Wal-Mart kotows and stops selling hand guns? I'd rather buy a piece from a local gun shop.
By the way, I doubt China wants to wage war. They are making so much money dealing with us peacefully, why wage a bloody war that will cost them lives, morale, and may even spark a revolt. The current military build-up we are seeing is China's way of saying, "US, we like dealing with your American Money, but don't think you'll come back here again and bitch slap us." Is it so wrong for the US to have competition? Not really, and I think all this alarmist bull needs to go. We need to adapt people. We no longer have the same industry as we do now. The reason is peasant children in other countries can do the same work for a lesser price. That's a good thing.
As for the Hand gun thing, what's so bad about listening to your customers. If libs are pissy, who cares if Wal-Mart kotows and stops selling hand guns? I'd rather buy a piece from a local gun shop.
stephen426
New member
For all of you guys complaining how Walmart treats its vendors, try and get shelf space at your local grocery store. Publix is the dominant grocery store in Florida. If you want good shelf space, you pay through the nose. They can fine you $1000 a day for being out of stock. I'm sure the policy is similar for most grocery store chains.
As someone else said, it is a free market. If you don't want to put up with Walmart's business practices, you could choose not to sell to them. This might mean you will sell a lot less products, even if you make a higher margin. Most companies want to maximize their capacity to spread their fixed costs as thin as possible. If you have factories and machinery sitting idle, that is lost revenue. Most companies would rather put up with lower margins and sell to Walmart than close plants and lay off workers.
One other thing to think about is the manufacturers that sell to Walmart. These are some of the largest companies in the world (GE, Gillette, Black & Decker, Sony, etc...) Do you think that Walmart really controls them? They sell to Walmart because it makes economic sense. Most small companies you guys are crying over won't even meet Walmart's criteria as a vendor since they can't meet demand.
For those of you guys complaining about selection, try walking into a Walmart once in a while. They have a huge selection. They base their purchasing decisions on what sells since slow moving inventory affects cash flow and wastes shelf space. Their niche is lower priced items so you won't be finding higher end products there. If that is your idea of lack of selection, you need to learn about how nich marketing works. No company can carry a wide variety of products and the full range (from el cheapo to high end products) in each product effectively. If that is your expectation, I challenge any of you to find a company that does so and does it cost effectively.
Bash all you want and buy where you want, but base your decisions on facts and reason versus rumors and emotions.
As someone else said, it is a free market. If you don't want to put up with Walmart's business practices, you could choose not to sell to them. This might mean you will sell a lot less products, even if you make a higher margin. Most companies want to maximize their capacity to spread their fixed costs as thin as possible. If you have factories and machinery sitting idle, that is lost revenue. Most companies would rather put up with lower margins and sell to Walmart than close plants and lay off workers.
One other thing to think about is the manufacturers that sell to Walmart. These are some of the largest companies in the world (GE, Gillette, Black & Decker, Sony, etc...) Do you think that Walmart really controls them? They sell to Walmart because it makes economic sense. Most small companies you guys are crying over won't even meet Walmart's criteria as a vendor since they can't meet demand.
For those of you guys complaining about selection, try walking into a Walmart once in a while. They have a huge selection. They base their purchasing decisions on what sells since slow moving inventory affects cash flow and wastes shelf space. Their niche is lower priced items so you won't be finding higher end products there. If that is your idea of lack of selection, you need to learn about how nich marketing works. No company can carry a wide variety of products and the full range (from el cheapo to high end products) in each product effectively. If that is your expectation, I challenge any of you to find a company that does so and does it cost effectively.
Bash all you want and buy where you want, but base your decisions on facts and reason versus rumors and emotions.
Oregongundude
New member
In the last month Walmart raised there prices.
I go to both Sportmen's warehouse and Walmart for ammo. I was getting 100 9mm 115 FMJ practice rounds(Winchesters) for about 11 dollars a box, now it's about 12 dollars for 100 round practice rounds, I was getting the remmington UMC rounds but they smoke to much for me especially in my .45 acp. So now I get some rounds still at Walmart and some at Sportmen's warehouse it depends on who has the best sale at the time. Or you can get some good deals by buying bulk rounds online at www.surplusammo.com.
I go to both Sportmen's warehouse and Walmart for ammo. I was getting 100 9mm 115 FMJ practice rounds(Winchesters) for about 11 dollars a box, now it's about 12 dollars for 100 round practice rounds, I was getting the remmington UMC rounds but they smoke to much for me especially in my .45 acp. So now I get some rounds still at Walmart and some at Sportmen's warehouse it depends on who has the best sale at the time. Or you can get some good deals by buying bulk rounds online at www.surplusammo.com.
I just don't understand the sudden phenomemon of hating Wal-Mart. It seems to just have popped out of nowhere to me. But throughout history jealous people tend to become openly hostile towards a successful and innovative idea. Mom and Pop's stores are generally ineffective compared to wally mart. It sucks that the old ways are dying but such is life. Adapt or die. Evolve (that was just a theory to all you biblical types!) or become extinct.
I have no problem with people who say they hate Wal-Mart and actually avoid shopping there. I think their reasons are stupid. Such as my cousin's "I just don't feel good energy there...." of course being the ardent skeptic that I am, I pointed out that the "feng shui" of the place matters little when it comes to the almighty dollar. I hate Microsoft also so I'm not going to use there products! Just kidding, I dislike the quality of some of them but they are decent enough.
I have no problem with people who say they hate Wal-Mart and actually avoid shopping there. I think their reasons are stupid. Such as my cousin's "I just don't feel good energy there...." of course being the ardent skeptic that I am, I pointed out that the "feng shui" of the place matters little when it comes to the almighty dollar. I hate Microsoft also so I'm not going to use there products! Just kidding, I dislike the quality of some of them but they are decent enough.
Sportsmans Whorehouse has a better selection for just about everything gun-related. Wallmart doesn't sell reloading components and equipment (and GI Joes doesn't sell anything but powder, bullets and primers anymore).
But, I still go into Wally World when I get a chance and see what they have at bargan rates.....
-tINY
steveheavy
Inactive
I'm in the trucking and road work business. My company is disliked in my area and JB Hunt and Schneider are hated all over. All of them provided good service/products, re-invested in their companies, and got very big. To have sales, you need employees. To have employees, you need sales. You just need to think that 75 years ago Hunt had 2 dumb trucks and now has over10,000. Why are the still not a family business? They re-invested and created a lot of jobs. Many of the places that are still mom-and-pop kept that money in their own pockets. If Wal-mart is discontinuing sales, they must be too low. Why stock things that don't sell. Just remember that buying that cheap stuff at Wally has allowed many people to afford extra guns or shells. Just my 2-cents.
Exactly. It's like hating Microsoft for being good at what it does. No matter how high you climb, you will always have nay-sayers who will be waiting to try and kick you down a few pegs. Wal-Mart is not evil, it's just coldly efficient at what it does. People who attribute an inanimate object as evil are ignorant and sometimes a little crazy themselves. Or they could just be projecting themselves onto it.....sound familiar, guys?
Golly, a thread on ammo prices gets to be an on-going discussion of American Business. If you don't like WalMart, don't buy from WalMart. The ghastly idea that a business exists to make money is almost laughable. Businesses that don't make money generally wind up as empty buildings.
As for destroying family businesses, try to find an old fashioned hardware store. Almost all the places that had what you needed and clerks that knew something about their products are gone. We have Lowe's and Home Depot. Go into a Lowe's and ask where they keep hardware cloth. The clerks don't know what it is, much less what department it may be in. I miss the old fashioned hardware stores, but I'm not willing to pay 25% more for the same product to support them.
Manufacturing has moved outside the US because the product can be made for less and with fewer restricting regulations. Heck, the US paper industry is moving off-shore. Think about it. Cut the trees in the US and it is cheaper to put them in a boat, make the paper somewhere else and then ship the paper back can be done more cost effectively than doing it here in many cases.
I buy ammo and other things at WalMart and will continue to do so until someone else will sell the same thing for less or has better quality at a comparable price. Some things I won't buy at WalMart because I'm not sure about the quality or service.
As for destroying family businesses, try to find an old fashioned hardware store. Almost all the places that had what you needed and clerks that knew something about their products are gone. We have Lowe's and Home Depot. Go into a Lowe's and ask where they keep hardware cloth. The clerks don't know what it is, much less what department it may be in. I miss the old fashioned hardware stores, but I'm not willing to pay 25% more for the same product to support them.
Manufacturing has moved outside the US because the product can be made for less and with fewer restricting regulations. Heck, the US paper industry is moving off-shore. Think about it. Cut the trees in the US and it is cheaper to put them in a boat, make the paper somewhere else and then ship the paper back can be done more cost effectively than doing it here in many cases.
I buy ammo and other things at WalMart and will continue to do so until someone else will sell the same thing for less or has better quality at a comparable price. Some things I won't buy at WalMart because I'm not sure about the quality or service.