Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Saturday I went to the Fredericksburg Gun Show, the Ammo situation was dismal; I found one table where the ammo looked familiar, Federal .223 100 Round box,
Federal 5.56 stripper 480 round Cans with white labels. Remington 50 round green boxes all from Wal-Mart. Prices were about 1.08 per round.
Last night I ran into these guys at Wal-Mart Buying all the .223 Ammo the clerk handed the Older man three green 480 round cans ( 3 limit) for 175.00ea
Then the remaining can plus two boxes of the federal .223 100 round Boxes for 34.97ea. The guys walk out and I asked the clerk if there where anymore of the 5.56. He said that the guy before me bought all he had. I head on home driving by the next Wal-Mart and again those two guys walking out with ammo.

But again I get there Sold out. I stop into another Wal-Mart and those same two. I walk in and ask the clerk about the two guys and he told me they come in three to 4 times a day and buy any ammo that’s available. He says they get in trucks every day some with ammo and some without, it hit and miss. So I stop into another Wal-Mart in my travels today and describe the two men to the clerk and she says the same thing, that they come in 3 times a day.

So they are driving to all the Wal-Marts buying whatever ammo that is in high demand and sell it for three times the going rate at the Gun shows.
On another note some Wal-Marts are not selling Ammo before 10am and after 10pm. The Manager at one store said that people are going through the pallets and taking the entire case to the front register. When is this going to stop. All I want is a few hundred rounds of 5.56 so I can try out my new gun, and I will NOT pay 1.00 per round period end of story.

So do you think it ok they are doing this or is it just me being angry because I can’t find ammo anywhere for a decent price?
I will not buy from any dealer or store that is taking advantage of the consumer ever.

They are obviously unemployed to be doing that, so not only are they screwing people over on ammo prices, they are screwing all tax payers over.

I would have been overly annoyed just seeing them leaving the 2nd one when I pulled up lol. You should have beat them to the third one.

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They are obviously unemployed to be doing that, so not only are they screwing people over on ammo prices, they are screwing all tax payers over.

I would have been overly annoyed just seeing them leaving the 2nd one when I pulled up lol. You should have beat them to the third one.

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I am mad at government regulations against so-called "price gouging". There's simply no such thing in a free market capitalist environment that we claim we have in this country. Consumers loves it when there's a glut of product in the market driving prices down, but moan and complain when the market is dried up and prices go up. Except in these cases the retailers aren't allowed to increase prices to reflect the increased demand so you end up with shortages. Since there is no way to raise prices, there is no incentive to ramp up production (add another shift to the manufacturing line, expand an existing plant, build a new plant, partner with other vendors, etc).

These people are doing exactly what retailers should be allowed to do. If prices were allowed to rise to reflect the current market value, there would be product at the shelf. The consumer can make a decision whether they want to purchase that product or not.

I dislike these practices, but ....

Sit tight, the problem will sort its self out in do time. When it does, buy it cheap and stack it deep.

Scott, lets beat them at there own game. I'm off Thursday and Friday... Lets babysit a few wal-marts, get all the ammo we can, then lets go to the next gun show and sell the rounds at cost just to bust their chops. We can hang a sign that says "Tired o getting screwed? Buy ammo here!"

Get pics if these nice folks!

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Agreed that this is a disreputable practice, but if they have the time, and resources... (shrugs) Again, I don't LIKE it, but it is what it is...

I check wal-marts frequently, and get what's available. To the chargrin of jackwagons like you described.

Time was that folks who were smart enough to buy cheap and sell high were where called enterprising. The people who hauled food stuffs, ammo, booze, pots and pans, etc. across the plains from St. Jo to Santa Fe were rather well thought of.
These people would not be selling much if there were no customers.
The folks buying the ammo are paying for the convenience. Think of the ammo buyers as 'personal shoppers'.

Jim

Another game that is played is employees working with people to ensure that only they get the ammo. This is a common practice with any hot item, the employees will get cash on the side and will hold items for the buyer. I have seen this over and over and over again and it seems to be happening with ammo as well.

This is going to go on until buyers stop paying these ridiculous prices.

ShotgunBlast wrote:I am mad at government regulations against so-called "price gouging". There's simply no such thing in a free market capitalist environment that we claim we have in this country. Consumers loves it when there's a glut of product in the market driving prices down, but moan and complain when the market is dried up and prices go up. Except in these cases the retailers aren't allowed to increase prices to reflect the increased demand so you end up with shortages. Since there is no way to raise prices, there is no incentive to ramp up production (add another shift to the manufacturing line, expand an existing plant, build a new plant, partner with other vendors, etc).

These people are doing exactly what retailers should be allowed to do. If prices were allowed to rise to reflect the current market value, there would be product at the shelf. The consumer can make a decision whether they want to purchase that product or not.

+1

You're left with two options, a shortage because prices are not allowed to adjust properly or higher prices. I.e. Walmart must sell the ammo at significantly below market rates, which creates a shortage. However, as the OP noted, there will always be speculators who figure out a way to acquire the product at sub-market prices and then redistribute it.

arkypete wrote:Time was that folks who were smart enough to buy cheap and sell high were where called enterprising. The people who hauled food stuffs, ammo, booze, pots and pans, etc. across the plains from St. Jo to Santa Fe were rather well thought of.
These people would not be selling much if there were no customers.
The folks buying the ammo are paying for the convenience. Think of the ammo buyers as 'personal shoppers'.

Jim

+1

Speculation serves a useful market purpose and the speculation is not without risk. I'd suggest Satan's Bushel by Garet Garrett for a fiction based account of useful speculation.

marked8 wrote:Another game that is played is employees working with people to ensure that only they get the ammo. This is a common practice with any hot item, the employees will get cash on the side and will hold items for the buyer. I have seen this over and over and over again and it seems to be happening with ammo as well.

This is going to go on until buyers stop paying these ridiculous prices.

I would report that to Walmart's management. It's one thing to let a friend know when stock comes in, it's another to take a bribe and to hold it, thus denying lawful purchase of the product. That's generally considered unethical business practices and I'm pretty sure Walmart would fire all those involved.

It will end when supply and demand are balanced again. However, that likely won't get prices back to their "normal" range anytime soon. Only a glut of product would do that.

I stopped into Wal-Mart This morning on my way to work and I spoke with the Manager about the night shift person telling me that they only sell ammo from 10am - 10pm, she wanted there name and said that the comment is untrue, they sell everything 24/7 if it's in stock they sell it. I gave her the name and she laughed, I asked why the laugh; she said that the employee was reprimanded twice for holding ammo for friends. so this must be a new tactic to prevent people from buying ammo before her friends can get into the store.

I hope the manager will take care of this bad "associate" as they call them. mean while I will continue to search for 5.56 ammo at a price I am willing to pay, I refuse to pay over .40 per round

I'd really be interested in knowing if these "entrepeneurs" have done the required actions to have a business, including licensing, sales tax collection / payment, etc.

There's a difference between a business model that uses retail outlets as a supply chain and gougers taking advantage.

Best defense is to not buy from these arseclowns.

Let the price of ammo come down. It will. Don't be desperate and buy this $1.08/rd crap.

Then they'll be sitting on ammo that they paid much more for than its current value.

MarcSpaz wrote:Scott, lets beat them at there own game. I'm off Thursday and Friday... Lets babysit a few wal-marts, get all the ammo we can, then lets go to the next gun show and sell the rounds at cost just to bust their chops. We can hang a sign that says "Tired o getting screwed? Buy ammo here!"

Fortunately I do have a job and I really can't take time off to look for ammo. Wal-Mart shipping is erratic and it's hard to tell when ammo is in, you really need to have a friend who works there to call you when a truck arrives with ammo and know when stocking is done.

I assume these guys may know each wal-mart routine or when stock is put out on the shelf's. Dicks Sporting Goods gets shipments in and stocks over night, every morning by 8:30 there is a line at the door, the manager gives each person a ticket depending on the ammo they need, (limit 3 boxes) if the first 3 people in line all want 223/556 then that's it the rest of the people who want that round can go home. they started this due to the stampede every morning, a fight broke out a few weeks ago and the management said this is the safest way.. but again I have to be at work by 7 am so Dicks is out. I work until 9 pm at my second job so any searching in the evening is fruitless since stocking is done overnight (I do need to sleep) so I think I will be waiting out the panic buying and hope that any congressional GC laws don't include ammo taxes or bans. I hope they at least pass meaningful stuff like enforcing laws already on the books and address mental health and stay away from gun types, look and feel so on; also I hope they stay away from a Gun registry via the Universal background check.

SpanishInquisition wrote:I'd really be interested in knowing if these "entrepeneurs" have done the required actions to have a business, including licensing, sales tax collection / payment, etc.
There's a difference between a business model that uses retail outlets as a supply chain and gougers taking advantage.

Good point, I assume that they are a legitimate business since they had a way to charge cards, good inventory of old / used / relic firearms and parts. the wife also sold jewelry there
along with some crafts. it's a small family business for sure.

With mobile credit card readers from Square, PayPal, and others, anyone can now accept credit card payments at low costs. No business forms required.

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Yep. I went to the FBURG show as well. Bought a bunch of stuff, but no ammo. Prices were beyond ridiculous at most tables.

I was recently out of state and found an abundance of 9mm and 5.56 at regualar prices...catch; you can only get two or three boxes a day. I walked home with a ton of rounds after a four day visit.

Funny thing in this state there was a shortage of guns and rifles for these calibers....here in VA the guns and rifles are abundant but not the rounds.

As mentioned before: things will improve....but until that time everyone hold tight.

I'd be just tickled pink if I could get a damn box of .22LR for my plinkers for less than the cost per round of 9mm.

If you're buying up all available ammo to re-sell at gouging prices, that's your business, but you're frankly an ass if you do that. I hope the profiteers buy it at high prices and watch their over-inflated bubble burst out from under them - just like the housing market. I really, honestly hope it ruins them financially.

Found a store in Harrisonburg this afternoon I didn't know about and had 20 minutes to kill til my next job a few doors away. He had 22lr, .223, .38, .308, .40, but none was priced. He was busy with other customers, so I went to leave and he asked if I was looking for anything in particular. I told him ammo, but it wasn't priced. He told me he didn't price it anymore because he was tired of scraping price tags off and putting new ones on as prices we're constantly changing. His cost was fixed at what he paid for it, but he was changing sell price based on what others we're selling it for. I didn't buy any!