What happened to Walmart.com gun pages?

[gfost1]

Howdy, y'all,

Been thinking about getting a .22 rifle to teach the kids with. Walmart has a good selection, and I've browsed them online in the past. Tried to navigate to their gun pages today and they are gone! What's up with that?

Regards,

George

[OakRidgeStars]

I noticed that a while ago too. I guess with guns sales the way they are, their online inventory doesn't match what the stores have in stock. And, it's a good way to drive more people into the stores to browse.

[allingeneral]

I sent Walmart an email to ask them about it. Will let you know if I hear anything back.

[allingeneral]

Here's what WalMart had to say.

Dear Rick,

My name is Randall. I am with the Walmart.com Customer Service Team.
Thank you for allowing me to assist you today.

We are writing in response to your question about selling guns on our
Web site. Certain legal restrictions prevent us from selling guns in our
online store. According to the Federal Gun Control Act, it is against
the law to sell guns via the Internet. [this seems like a bad cite to me] Firearms can be sold only through
federally licensed dealers. Background checks and a personal inspection
of photo identification are required. Because we have no way of doing
this over the Internet, we will not offer firearms online.

We do, however, offer the ability to purchase a firearm in your local
store. In fact, Wal-Mart has sold firearms in its stores for nearly 40
years. We're proud to have become the destination of choice for American
sportspeople, and we will continue to meet the needs of these customers
in local Wal-Mart stores throughout the nation.

Rick, I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Thank you for visiting Walmart.com. We appreciate the opportunity to
serve you and look forward to your next visit.

If we may be of further assistance, please email us at help@walmart.com.
We're here to serve you 7 days a week!

Sincerely,

Randall
Customer Service at Walmart.com

[Vahunter]

I don't think he told you anything that everybody already knows, but he failed to answer your question.

[Riana]

Here's what WalMart had to say.

Dear Rick,

My name is Randall. I am with the Walmart.com Customer Service Team. Thank you for allowing me to assist you today.

We are writing in response to your question about selling guns on our Web site. Certain legal restrictions prevent us from selling guns in our online store. According to the Federal Gun Control Act, it is against the law to sell guns via the Internet. [this seems like a bad cite to me] Firearms can be sold only through federally licensed dealers. Background checks and a personal inspection of photo identification are required. Because we have no way of doing this over the Internet, we will not offer firearms online.

We do, however, offer the ability to purchase a firearm in your local store. In fact, Wal-Mart has sold firearms in its stores for nearly 40 years. We're proud to have become the destination of choice for American sportspeople, and we will continue to meet the needs of these customers in local Wal-Mart stores throughout the nation.

Rick, I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Thank you for visiting Walmart.com. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and look forward to your next visit.

If we may be of further assistance, please email us at help@walmart.com. We're here to serve you 7 days a week!

Sincerely,

Randall
Customer Service at Walmart.com

I'm no lawyer, but I think he's kind of right. I do not believe it is legal to purchase a firearm over the Internet (or even by mail order) and have it shipped directly to you. It has to go through an FFL if it's being shipped. However, you can arrange to purchase one, and pay and pickup in person (either through an FFL or through a private party transfer in VA).

I expect the problem is that Walmart's programmers can't figure out how to restrict a purchase in such a way as to not complete the transaction on-line (requiring pickup), as well as ensuring that the firearm is still at the store where you're going to pick it up (since they're selling like hotcakes right now).

It's too bad, though, that they can't at least list items and say "In Store Purchase Only" or something, so you could browse and decide what you want.

[CCFan]

I could be wrong, but a while back when I looked at their web site, I thought I remembered them shipping it to the store closest to you - i.e. you "ordered" the rifle and still had to go show your license and do the background check at the store...You can order other items via "site to store" so I can't see why they couldn't do that with firearms... You are right, you do have to ship to FFL, I've purchased a few online and had them shipped... but Wally World couldn't match the price when I was looking and I bought from another local dealer. Would still be nice if you knew what Walmart could order for you instead of standing in line.

[Vahunter]

What it said was if your store didn't have in stock the gun you wanted then go to their website, find the one you want, print the page with the item number and take it to your local wally world for them to order for you. You couldn't order firearms from the site so I can't understand why they did away with it.

[allingeneral]

I agree that he didn't answer my question, so here's the response I sent back...

Hello,

I can understand not selling firearms via the internet, although you stated that this is illegal, which it is most certainly not. Completing a transaction through an FFL is the difficult part. Anyway, why not at least show what you have in stock online, but not allow a purchase to be made there? Also, what about ammunition? The firearms control act says nothing about the sale of ammunition requiring a FFL. Surely that could be offered online?

[Vahunter]

Good luck. I can't wait to see his reply. I bet it makes no sense at all.

[Moccasin]

Nothing I've ever gotten from wal-mart customer service ever makes sense. They do a good job of answering everything except the question you asked. I've heard rumors that wal-mart is getting out of the gun business, none of it from anyone who would actually know though.

[gfost1]

Howdy, all,

Thanks for taking up the cause, Rick. I thought maybe they had decided to get out of the gun business, and I missed the announcement.

Regards,

George

[Bob]

You did a good job there Rick, people buy guns on the internet all the time, gunbroker, auction arms, etc.

There is a lot of false info out there, you just have to go through an FFL.

[allingeneral]

Well, here's the response that I got to the second inquiry. It looks painfully familiar, but goes one step further to indicate that "ammunitions can be
sold only through federally licensed dealers"

Dear Mr. Rick Sandlin,

My name is Mae. I am with the Walmart.com Customer Service Team. Thank
you for allowing me to assist you today.

Certain legal restrictions prevent us from selling firearms in our
online store, as well as ammunitions. Firearms and ammunitions can be
sold only through federally licensed dealers. Background checks and a
personal inspection of photo identification are required. Because there
is no way of doing this over the Internet, firearms and ammo are not
offered online.

We are very sorry that your recent visit to Walmart.com did not meet
your expectations. We thank you for taking the time to send us your
suggestions and comments to help improve our Web site. We value your
input in continually improving your online shopping experience.

We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.

Thank you for visiting Walmart.com. We appreciate the opportunity to
serve you and look forward to your next visit.

If we may be of further assistance, please email us at help@walmart.com.

Will everyone please email help@walmart.com and tell them that there is no requirement to have an FFL in order to sell ammunition?

[Moccasin]

Nothing I've ever gotten from wal-mart customer service ever makes sense. They do a good job of answering everything except the question you asked.[/color] I've heard rumors that wal-mart is getting out of the gun business, none of it from anyone who would actually know though.

Been down this road before with these idiots, it was a different type of product but it was still a waste of time dealing with them. It's like they have a pre-determined script and they stick too it. Too much effort to think for themselves, or maybe they just aren't smart enough to think for themselves. They don't even follow the rules when buying a firearm in the store, they add to the requirements.

[OakRidgeStars]

Been down this road before with these idiots, it was a different type of product but it was still a waste of time dealing with them. It's like they have a pre-determined script and they stick too it. Too much effort to think for themselves, or maybe they just aren't smart enough to think for themselves.

The reps in their call center have to stick to the company's script for replies. Otherwise, the rep would be able to interprete company policy any way they want. The real problem is with the people that write the scripts. In a company the size of Wal-Mart, you'll never reach those people by email.

[Nathan]

What it said was if your store didn't have in stock the gun you wanted then go to their website, find the one you want, print the page with the item number and take it to your local wally world for them to order for you. You couldn't order firearms from the site so I can't understand why they did away with it.

Exactly. The firearms on the web page were simply there to let you know what could be ordered through the store. There was never an option to order any of the guns online. I'm sure they pulled those pages to be PC. It's a shame. I've purchased several firearms from Wal-Mart based on what I was able to find on their web site. Made comparison shopping a lot easier.

[Moccasin]

Try these guys. If they have what you want in stock you can have it shipped to a local FFL for transfer. Get a quote, don't go by the listed MSRP. I've never used them but have spoken to one of the FFL guys they ship to. Based on what he told me the quote you get is what it costs- no additional transfer fees, etc. should be added.

I have compared the prices I've paid at Wal-Mart to what these guys charge and they don't seem too far out of line, plus they have a hell of a guarantee.

From their site

"If anything ever goes wrong with any gun you buy with the Davidson's GuaranteeDSM Lifetime Replacement Warranty, it will be replaced. If no replacement is available, it will be repaired at no charge to you. Simple, just return it to the GuaranteeDSM retailer where you purchased it, pay for the return shipping and upon receipt Davidson's will ship you * BRAND NEW GUN."

[goodoleboy]

They don't even sell firearms at any of the three Walmarts near me...kinda a shame

[Moccasin]

They don't even sell firearms at any of the three Walmarts near me...kinda a shame

Friend of mine in NC says that none of them near him sell firearms. I've been told that of those around Fredericksburg only one still stocks firearms, maybe someone that lives over that way can confirm. I know the one in Culpeper had less guns on display than are in my safe, my son and I counted, twice just to be sure. That's pretty sad.