Walmart selling Handguns?

[edzackley]

I bring my own handguns when I even go near Wal-Mart.

 

[Gacowboy]

it is a old wives tale.

 

[jcountry]

I used to sell them at WM..

Worked there a looonnnnng time ago..

(The minute the old man kicked off, a lot of things changed at the big WM.)

Back we worked there, WM actually HAD a sporting goods department. With actual staff and everything.

5 people per shift with auto and sporting goods.. (Of course, they were going after mkt share back then-once they got it, all that kind of stuff vanished.)

 

[Junior_357]

I wouldn't mind seeing WallyWorld sell handguns.

I don't think they would sell lesser quality models...they would just stick to the lower end of the given spectrum. I highly doubt you would see a S&W Performance Center gun at Walmart. Sigmas, yeah...M&P's probably not.

 

[abailey362]

Isn't the Wal-mart sells lesser quality guns thing an old rumor?
With my cousin I have taken identical Rem 870's apart and 2 Mini-14's apart and there was not one thing we could see different between Wal-mart guns and BP guns. What ever parts that actually had numbers on them matched up between guns. I mean does Buck or Kershaw make a cheaper quality knife than the one you buy at Cabelas or BP? Does Coke have a different formula or Tide a different soap just for Wal-mart? It's always been cheaper to mass produce an item than to re-tool for a one off line. I don't think there is an ounce of difference in the firearms at Walmart and the ones at the local gun store - all guns being the same. I may be wrong and if so I would like to see something with facts showing that it does or has happened. It would make a difference to me if they were an inferior gun and I would shop elsewhere! But the ones I have from there are ticking along just fine.

there may be some guns that are the same, but a lot of their products are made specifiaclly for them and to different standards.

I lived in bentonville for a while and knew a lot of people in the home office. in particular i knew the cosmetic buyer and she said that the products were made differently. the way walmart works is they dictate a price and if the manufacturer can hit the price point they carry it. this leads to different ingredients and parts withing products that appear to be the same as others out there.

 

[wdawg249]

there may be some guns that are the same, but a lot of their products are made specifiaclly for them and to different standards.

I lived in bentonville for a while and knew a lot of people in the home office. in particular i knew the cosmetic buyer and she said that the products were made differently. the way walmart works is they dictate a price and if the manufacturer can hit the price point they carry it. this leads to different ingredients and parts withing products that appear to be the same as others out there.

Bingo!

 

[Cadcom]

there may be some guns that are the same, but a lot of their products are made specifiaclly for them and to different standards.

I lived in bentonville for a while and knew a lot of people in the home office. in particular i knew the cosmetic buyer and she said that the products were made differently. the way walmart works is they dictate a price and if the manufacturer can hit the price point they carry it. this leads to different ingredients and parts withing products that appear to be the same as others out there.

That part I get. No different than shopping at Sams or Costco or Bj's or buying the store brand at Publix's and Kroger. What I'm curious about is are there any firearm manufacturers that are willing to carry 2 separate lines of parts - one for their Wal-mart guns and one for the other retailers, and would they want to open their company and it's reputation up to ridicule and/or lawsuits by doing so? My guess is no. These guns are the same regardless of where they are purchased. I'm talking about quality - not features and options.

I mean wouldn't it make a great story if 60 minutes could prove that Remington endangered lives by making Mod. 700's and now Mod. 870's with cheaper and possibly more prone to failure parts (or to discharge with the safety on) so that they could cut corners to sell guns at Wal-mart? I doubt any corporations legal counsel would sign off on that as a good idea. I don't think that happens. These guns are the same regardless of rumors or mis-information.

Now do they leave a feature off? Like 1 mag instead of 2 or maybe no forward assist etc? Sure. I have no doubt that some options may be deleted in order to shave cost, just like in the auto industry. But no one is buying a lesser quality firearm from Wal-mart. It just might not have some options or accessories.

 

[Gacowboy]

That part I get. No different than shopping at Sams or Costco or Bj's or buying the store brand at Publix's and Kroger. What I'm curious about is are there any firearm manufacturers that are willing to carry 2 separate lines of parts - one for their Wal-mart guns and one for the other retailers, and would they want to open their company and it's reputation up to ridicule and/or lawsuits by doing so? My guess is no. These guns are the same regardless of where they are purchased. I'm talking about quality - not features and options.

I mean wouldn't it make a great story if 60 minutes could prove that Remington endangered lives by making Mod. 700's and now Mod. 870's with cheaper and possibly more prone to failure parts (or to discharge with the safety on) so that they could cut corners to sell guns at Wal-mart? I doubt any corporations legal counsel would sign off on that as a good idea. I don't think that happens. These guns are the same regardless of rumors or mis-information.

Now do they leave a feature off? Like 1 mag instead of 2 or maybe no forward assist etc? Sure. I have no doubt that some options may be deleted in order to shave cost, just like in the auto industry. But no one is buying a lesser quality firearm from Wal-mart. It just might not have some options or accessories.

Great points.

 

[streetglide08]

I don't think the ATF is the one restricting them from selling handguns. When I had my dealers license there was never any stipulations mentioned of only being able to deal in long guns. It feel it is more of a Wal-Mart coporate issue. Being that they want to be politically correct. I think they might be learning that this is costing them more money than they care to lose.

 

[timbgtm]

eff that..guess i'm the only one that hates this idea :/ course i hate walmart with a passion too so

no your not the only one.maybe just two of us now.but i will continue to support smaller dealers(local)for one customer service.and someone who knows what their selling.(knows the difference between a glock and kimber).9mm and 300mag.etc