Walmart, what a pain

RanchMan · Apr 26, 2002

So, where am I supposed to shop? 

Sorry - maybe I should have not made my original comment...

Anywho, I shop @ Wal-Mart (ours is clean & well organized). My wife likes Target (I'm like you - they don't sell what I need). I go to Lowes & Home Depot & 84 Lumber for most of my construction stuff (although I do pop in to the local Ace Hardware occasionally too). Harbor Freight & Northern Tools for hardware. Then there's the NAPA, AutoZone, and O'Reillys for the car. TSC every once in a while, but Gebo's (local mom & pop shop) for tractor stuff. And then of COURSE, the Internet for everything else! I guess I let my "fingers to the walking" (and the UPS man too!) a lot./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird · Apr 26, 2002

Gebo's (local mom & pop shop)

How many moms & pops? I use the one in Hillsboro, but have also bought a few things from the one in Ennis, and the first one I ever saw was way out in West Texas./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

PitbullMidwest · Apr 26, 2002

TBone,

It's not so much that they stopped selling firearms but their whole "anti-sportsman" change in philosophy. Our K Mart used to be the biggest outdoor supplier in town. Now they carry a few fishing rods and maybe a battery for your trolling motor. This change occurred at the same time that K Mart took on Rosie O'Donnell and Penny Marshell as spokesmen so I assume that there was a change at the top of the corporation.

I continue to shop at K Mart because they carry what I want for a reasonable price and I don't have to deal with apathetic, "I've got all day and I know you won't mind spending another half hour checking out while I look at all the neat stuff you're buying and complaining about how hard I have to work" clerks at WalMart.

Mosey · Apr 26, 2002

I found these articles. A Kmart employee made a big mistake and rosie finished Kmart off, probably for good.

http://www.texansforgunsafety.org/articles/utah.htm

http://www.armed-citizens.com/news/armdcitz_news.php?doit=yes&newsid=808

EdKing · Apr 26, 2002

I have purchased firearms at Walmart and it is a very painful experience. First you have to find the guy that does the firearms, he is usually on break when you want to purchase a firearm. Then he has to call a manager to bring one out from the back. After waiting for a while the manager comes back to see what the guy needs, and goes to the back to get the firearm. Either he gets lost, distracted, or the back is in the next town, because it seems like it takes him a half hour or better to get back with the firearm. Then the sporting goods guy has to fill out all the paper work, another 10 min. Then they call it in for the insta-check (they do this in PA, not sure about other states), takes about 5 min. Now the paper work is complete, and you can pay for your firearm. Then they have to have the manager come back and walk you out to the front door with the firearm. I guess an employees estranged husband came into a Walmart once, purchased a shotgun, and then went and shot his wife. Thier answer to this is have the manager walk you out. Of course it takes the manager about 15 to 30 mins to get back to the sporting goods to walk you out, so you have just spent the last hour and a half getting your fire arm at Walmart. At the sporting goods store I frequent, they can get you out in 15 to 30 mins tops.

RobertN · Apr 26, 2002

Thier prices are great because most of the merchandise is inexpensive import stuff. It's hard to find Made in USA tags on anything at WalMart. They make money like crazy selling this stuff, and not adding more knowledgable people. It's pretty simple.

Kmart, Target, and the other stores do the same.

ejb · Apr 26, 2002

I think your answer is in your question....i.e. "there prices are so low and I love to shop there" and "why can't I find any associates".

Seems to me that part of the reason the price is low is that they don't have too many people working there...its a delicate balance I am sure. But I am willing to bet that they have done many many tests to figure out how few employees they can have working there without loosing a too many sales. Some, but not too many..

I for one am glad to see Kmart go under...as dustin hoffam says in "Rain Main"..."KMart s*cks"...good ridance to Kmart and Rosie ODonnell.

tgello · Apr 26, 2002

i've never been in a walmart and don't plan on it anytime soon. i like to leave my money in town if possible...tgello

RanchMan · Apr 26, 2002

Bird -

How many moms & pops?

Eeep! /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif Well, I thought they were a "mom & pop". The one I go to (McKinney) looked "mom & pop-ish" and hadn't ever heard the name before (who would name a chain "Gebo's"??? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) Welp - that's what I get for assuming.....

RanchMan · Apr 26, 2002

I hear you Ed...

While I have bought from big "retail" stores, since it is often only a small portion of the business, they spend 90% of the time figuring out what to do and going through a bunch bogus of "Store Policy" procedures. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif I've never seen anyone violate any law selling stuff @ a retail store like that - just a really SLOOOOOW process since they are making sure to "dot the I's and cross the T's."

The home-town gun shop (or dealers @ a gun show, most of which own their own "brick & mortar" shops) have it down to a science - They know the paperwork, know the law, & give quick convenient service. WOW! Knowledgeable sales-folk! Who wudda thunk it! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif