Walmart's Rationing of Ammunition is Ridiculous!

Rationing is irrational.

So the store has only, let's say, 3 boxes of ammo left.

So what? First come, first serve.

Is their thinking: "We have to hoard this ammo and dole it out one
bullet per customer, so every customer is served" - ?

What is this, grade school? You can't have a cookie unless there are
enough cookies for EVERYONE to have a cookie?

This is supposed to be a market-based capitalistic money-making
economy. Sell the available ammo to whomever shows up with the money,
until the supply is gone. Then get more or say "Sold out." Either way,
you sold it - you got the money - which is what a store is about,
yes?

Rationing is irrational.

At my local Wal-Mart while I was waiting to check out in the sporting
goods department with a box of 12 guage shells, I had another customer
say to me, "Good luck! I waited 40 minutes the last time I bought
ammo." He wasn't kidding. In Illinois only an employee with an FOID
(Fireams Owner Identification) card can check you out. The Assistant
Manager was the only person in the store able to do that. Three pages
from a caring Wal-Mart employee and an hour later I walked out in
disgust and left my shopping cart full of clays and ONE box of shells
in the department.

States, like yours and mine, have got people scared senseless and the
fear is causing unreasonable reactions. It's not an issue at a
Wal-Mart or any store in Indiana. I wound up going to Cabela's [in
Indiana] and paid a little more. (I know that's a bit of a hike for
you.) The clerk at Cabela's didn't even blink at it and only asked
whether I knew I can't return any ammo I purchase. That, of course, no
problem. I just wanted to have some honest, wholesome fun.

It sounds like they had a limited supply - you yourself said it looked
like they had 50 boxes.

It sounds like perhaps that's *all* they had.

If that was the case, then it's very possible they only wanted to make
sure they had enough to serve multiple customers.


I don't think it's because it was ammunition but because they had a
limited supply

This is not just a Walmart isolated case. Looked around
online...happening all across the country.

Ammo is being snatched up as soon as it come in.

Apparently a run on guns by consumers after the election, wars, and
the cost of the raw materials to make the bullits has all caused the
problems.

Economy being so bad..more home invasions. I know they have increased
in my city. You hear about them all the time. People buying for
protection.

FBI has reported a 31% increase in background checks since the
election last November. 4.2 million bacground checks compared to 3.2
same period year before read more below at ...........

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/0
4/02/ammo_shortage.ART_ART_04-02-09_A1_82DEC41.html?sid=101

April 20th will be the 10th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine
high school, in Littleton Colorado.

Wal-Mart, and a lot of other retailers are limiting sales on ammo
because irrational people are rushing out buying boxes upon boxes of
ammo and new guns. Why this sudden rush? ASSUMPTIONS and FALSE
INFORMATION that the current Presidential administration is seeking to
restrict gun/ammo sales and/or outlaw gun ownership. I'm pretty "up"
on politics and have yet to see any hint of this being true. In the
mean time those of us that enjoy shooting are going to have to suffer
for the crazies.

I buy my ammo at Wal-Mart as well. They have the exact same brands as
my local gun range, but at a much better price. As long as you are
buying a quality brand of ammo, it doesn't matter what store it is
purchased at as it all is subject to the same quality standards.

but even if they DIDN'T ration ammo, I still wouldn't buy it from
WalMart.

Personally, I would rather go to a place where they specialize in
ammunition and guns so I know that I am getting quality.

That's one thing I'd be afraid to skimp or go cheap on.

It's news to me. Sounds kinda silly too.

I buy ammo at Wally World, as it is cheaper that the hunting stores. I
am sorry they are restricting your purchases. By the way, I live in
northeastern Ohio.

It sucks!

I would think that the reasoning behind this rationing is just this.
People hear something is going to be in short supply so they run about
and buy as much of it as they can and then there is none for anyone
else.

I apologize if this has already been addressed, but has the OP taken
into account the fact that in Southern California there's a bit of a
gang problem. Gangs go and buy their ammunition through whatever
channels are open to them. Some are quite willing to use straw men to
purchase such through legitimate channels. This happens not only in
California, but in other states.

Then there's the odd shooting rampage by some guy who goes off his nut
because he was fired, his wife divorced him, or he failed to take his
prescribed medication.

Believe me, I'm with you being unhappy with the inconvenience, but I'm
afraid some bad apples out their have spoiled it for everybody. If you
want the situation to change, support laws that keep the gangbangers
heads down and prevent the other nuts from going apespit.

.........................

Your friendly Redding Walmart

I guess they could put the reason on the sign for customers.

I didn't know.....so not everyone knows.....
I didn't realize we needed stock piles of ammo or that ammo was in
short supply. The things you learn on the planet!


Since this store is a store you frequent could you not simply return
another day for 2 more boxex?

It's still their policy. If Walmart was a franchise it could explain
why this policy isn't consistent with the other stores in Redding. I
know this isn't cool for you - especially if you are like me and only
go shopping once a month. But just for a moment think of it from the
big business point of view - if this isn't a safety issue (you would
think that managers would have been briefed if it was) then by
limiting supplies they are increasing the amount of time you frequent
the store, therefore increasing the chances for you to compulsively
shop.

Vote with your dollar and go to stores where they don't limit your
ammo.

If you google Walmart limiting ammunition you will find out that this
is happening all over the country and not just at WalMarts. One of
our local reputable gun shops is doing the same thing.

Wouldn't a gun shop allow you to buy more ammo in a single purchase?

The last time I looked everyone has a right to bear arms. But I do not
believe people have a right to stockpile ammunition or firearms. If
you are purchasing for others then they will just have to purchase it
on their own.

I personally think they made a right decision with this new policy and
it will not hurt their business as much as you think. It may improve
it.

And as far as going somewhere else to purchase the ammo, as you said
Walmarts price is excellent so techinically you are cutting your nose
off to spite your face.

At least they put up a sign.

But if you disagree with a policy then switch stores like you
mentioned.
But how much Ammo do you need? Can you get by with 2 boxes for a few
days, then go back and buy more?

I cheer this store's policy.

You call the policy "inane, ridiculous, anti consumerism," and say it
was made by "inept" management. I'm wondering, do you *know* why they
instituted the policy? Robyn couldn't tell you. To my way of
thinking, you need to know the reason for the policy to shoot it down
so abruptly.

I guess you'll have to get your $1000+ of monthly ammo from another
source to supply your hobby. Tough for you, but a boon to the average
shopper who does some varmit or target shooting and doesn't need to
stock an arsenal.

Is a picture of the sign necessary? It isn't hard to imagine a store
would implement the policy, and the sign must be darned simple. Like
"Limit two boxes of ammo per customer.'

Perhaps in Northern California there are dark forces congregating in
the hills, and the store has implemented this policy to protect the
citizens that live there.

I have to abide by this very policy at Walmart and other stores when
it comes to toys that are in short supply or items that are on sale.
This is not an outrageous policy, especially given the fact that you
yourself have observed the "limited quantities" of ammo available in
stores these days.

First, Wal-Mart is not a bulk discount seller, that is Sam's Club.

Second, the only reason they had that much to sell is because of the
policy. All it takes is one person to buy out all the boxes.

It is not just Wal-Mart, most places that sell ammunition are setting
a limit of some kind, even if nothing official, just to make sure that
everyone has some.