Thoughts on Academy Sports?

DWalt · Dec 30, 2023

I don't go to Academy very often, no more than four or five times per year. And that is mainly because I am going somewhere else which is near an Academy store and I just walk in to see if anything interesting is on sale. Last time I was there was maybe three months ago, ammunition and guns were well stocked. Never saw much in the way of reloading supplies and equipment at any time I can remember. Just some bullets if anything. I do remember seeing some Tannerite on the shelf at one store, but that has nothing to do with reloading.

The Last Standing Knight · Dec 30, 2023

It is not right nor is it fair....

...but it is the way things are in 21st century America and from what I've been seeing we are by no means the only nation dealing with this.

A while back, I commented here on situations such as this. Used to be a time when security and loss prevention personnel use to make arrests. I have done so myself in the past.

Times change.

I agree with the no pursuit policy in the majority of circumstances in this day and age. In many locales police won't even arrest or even respond to shoplifting calls anymore so what is the point of endangering yourself, your employees, or your customers if some knucklehead decides to pull out a firearm or knife and go nuclear? Your good deed for the day can run into hurt or dead people, bad press, litigation until the sun explodes, and for what? An overpriced t-shirt or such?

Stores these days just tack it on to the prices as a cost of doing business.

Inasmuch as a firearms was involved in this case, the Academy stores I have gone into are very rigid in their firearms policy...one at a time and they hold on to your ID. If you purchase, they walk you to the front...even if you pay at the firearms counter. If you still have shopping to do, they will hold the firearm at the firearms dept. until you finish and return. I just went through this a few weeks back. (and I like my CSX so much it is now my primary carry).

I've known and worked with LP's at various stores over the years and the times have changed. In some cases, if the perp does get caught, they get bail almost immediately and are right back...and sometimes with "friends" to as one LP told me "to teach us a lesson".

I heartly agree with a "no pursuit" policy in this day and age and even when I conduct training, I ALWAYS tell my trainees that they are not cops, everything you are guarding is insured, and NONE OF IT is worth your life or health.

For those that might take issue with my opinion here tonight, no I don't like it either, but it is the time of history we are living in.

jrm53 · Dec 30, 2023

I bought a Walther PPKs .22 from them after church one Sunday filled out the 4473 form and left I got a letter from them a week or so later telling me to come back and finish the paper work. I got my birth certific out of the safe and went over there and asked what is the trouble? The clerck said I have to show Rogers as where I was born I showed them my birth papers I said we lived 7 miles out of Rogers they showed I was born in Colville township in Benton county Ar I told the clerck I had a FFL for about 20 years and I knew better than to lie on the 4473 form I said I was born in 1940 and there was not 2000 people in Rogers then. I said I would but under protest and if any thing came up I would sue, these are the types behind the counter. Jeff

armadillo · Dec 30, 2023

I would like to say that all through the various ammo shortages of the last 10 years - Academy around here never raised their prices like so many stored did. Yes there were long lines waiting for the doors to open and one or two box limits, but they treated everyone fairly.

Greyman50 · Dec 30, 2023

FWIW, the employees were most likely after the thief to see what vehicle he got in and maybe get license number. The female manager would certainly not be wanting to get in physical “ altercation” one could guess and was looking for info for LEO. Who knows…

Mike SC Hunter · Dec 30, 2023

Academy is the sole distributor for Yildiz shotguns in the US. That's where I got mine. Bought a Remington 870 410 pump from them that was defective. They had no problem sending it back for repair. I like our store.

Puller · Dec 30, 2023

UncleEd said:
Am sure, should your employees be injured or killed, you'd
be happy to see triipling of insurance rates or millions paid
out from your own pockets because you ignored insurers'
policies.

I have a commercial insurance policy. I have read the terms. It says nothing about allowing people to steal from me.

Crooks like easy targets. That's usually who crooks steal from, easy prey.

03hemi · Dec 31, 2023

Love em, get all my ammo there, good cloathing too.
I have to question the mentality level of someone putting their life in jeopardy for a job in retail though?

SMSgt · Dec 31, 2023

Puller said:
I have an commercial insurance policy. I have read the terms. It says nothing about allowing people to steal from me.

Crooks like easy targets. That's usually who crooks steal from, easy prey.

I have put forth the question to business owners before if their insurance policies stated any such requirements that many blame on the insurance companies. I don't recall any business owner confirming those opinions.

UncleEd · Dec 31, 2023

Puller said:
I have an commercial insurance policy. I have read the terms. It says nothing about allowing people to steal from me.

Crooks like easy targets. That's usually who crooks steal from, easy prey.

In your case be that as it may. But what is more
important, your property or the safety of your
employees? Your insurance should definitely
cover the cost of your property.

ladder13 · Dec 31, 2023

Nearest one is 30 miles away, been there once, wish it were closer. If I boycotted every business that was deemed not gun friendly I would never leave the house.
Heck, I likely wouldn’t own electronics or be on the net.
Dicks is one exception.

Bald1 · Dec 31, 2023

MRB1 said:
The story now explains why they wanted my drivers license before they let me handle a pistol from the display. The clerk put the license on the counter behind him and handed the gun to me. When I returned the gun, I got my license back. Made me mad at first, but now I see it's smart and safe.

Retailers in my area won’t let you see a gun until they see your pistol permit. But they don’t hold on to it. I guess they figure if you have a permit you’re not a thief. Your picture is on your permit in NY

Bald1 · Dec 31, 2023

I drove for the largest grocery retail chain in western NY for over 30 yrs. Back in the late 90s or maybe early 2000s I delivered a store in a sketchy area. I was in a dock on side of building and my tractor cab was even with front entrance of the store. After getting unloaded I sat in my tractor and ate my lunch. I happened to notice a tall scruffy looking guy walking by wearing a trench coat in middle of summer. I then heard yelling and saw a store employee run out. Then the store manager who had just received load from me ran out yelling. Trench coat guy started running and the younger employee tackled him 50ft in front of me. When they hit the ground beer cans came flying out of the trench coat. Most of them popped open and were spinning around on the ground spraying beer everywhere. The employee and manager had their hands full with this guy. Eventually 2 employees from neighboring auto parts store ran out with giant zip ties and tied his hands up till cops arrived. It was all quite entertaining. When the store manager walked back past me he says hey “ thanks for the help”. I simply said Andy I logged out. I’m off duty, on lunch break.

glenwolde · Dec 31, 2023

Puller said:
I have an commercial insurance policy. I have read the terms. It says nothing about allowing people to steal from me.

Crooks like easy targets. That's usually who crooks steal from, easy prey.

It would be more likely a workman's compensation insurance policy. While not specifically prohibited by the insurance companies the cost of the insurance is heavily dependent on the volume of claims. Serious injuries (or God forbid a death) that require hospitalization, which will then require rehab, can run into the hundreds-of-thousands pretty damn quick. A death would run millions.

Puller · Dec 31, 2023

UncleEd said:
In your case be that as it may. But what is more
important, your property or the safety of your
employees? Your insurance should definitely
cover the cost of your property.

"Hey, the insurance will cover it . . . " is not the solution to the problem. Thugs are generally cowards, I'm not rolling over and being a victim to that in my business. Big box stores aside, there is a reason why most local gun shop employees are armed.

Again, kudos to the Academy employees for at least following the thief out of the store. I hope they put that on their resume as to why they left their last job.

Greyman50 · Dec 31, 2023

With the excess of gators here in Florida many of us here could figure a way to “ use some” as a deterrent to theft….

BillBond · Jan 1, 2024

Found some good deals at Academy over the years,
but getting them to stop the daily spam emails is a chore.

TX-Dennis · Jan 1, 2024

The major grocery store chain I work for has a similar policy regarding pursuit of shoplifters. It all started about 25 years ago when employees tackled a shoplifter at one of our Florida stores and sat on him until the police arrived. The young man was not breathing when police arrived, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

One of my friends, a store manager in a NM store was fired a couple of years ago for pursuing a shoplifter - which is apparently also illegal in NM, or so I was told.

LVSteve · Jan 2, 2024

glenwolde said:
It would be more likely a workman's compensation insurance policy. While not specifically prohibited by the insurance companies the cost of the insurance is heavily dependent on the volume of claims. Serious injuries (or God forbid a death) that require hospitalization, which will then require rehab, can run into the hundreds-of-thousands pretty damn quick. A death would run millions.

This is almost certainly how it works. An insurance company is not going to put a "no pursuit" clause in a policy, it would be a public relations disaster. What happens is that should you make a substantial claim, the insurance company will delay as best they can, pay up, then drop you. When you go to another insurer you will find your rates WAY higher than before, because the word is out on you in the industry.

Yes, it's a cartel, and states can do little about it. Should they try, the industry does a collective corporate smirk and asks, "do you want any form of insurance in your state?" I put insurance on a level worse than banks when it comes to putting us over a barrel.

ggibson511960 · Jan 2, 2024

I have a huge problem with any firearms retailer knowingly watching stolen firearms stroll out the door into criminal hands. What would Academy’s liability carrier think about such a weapon being used in a crime. I intend to write a letter to Academy’s headquarters near me and voice my displeasure at their callous attitude towards my safety.

Thoughts on Academy Sports?

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