A change in Walmart's 22 ammo?

[BC38]

As of today Walmart seems to have removed all bulk 22 ammo listings from their website. So...

Is this confirmation of the "rumor" posted by the OP? Has Walmart decided that the profits from 22 ammo isn't worth the hassle of dealing with all of us calling, asking, and looking for it?

 

[nesser]

Was at Walmart about 10:30 tonight checking for 22lr ammo picked up 2 box 1000 rds, of Winchester M22. Wife also got 2 box and they still had some under the counter.

 

[BC38]

Was at Walmart about 10:30 tonight checking for 22lr ammo picked up 2 box 1000 rds, of Winchester M22. Wife also got 2 box and they still had some under the counter.

Yeah, I picked up three of the 333 round boxes last night - after checking stock using the Walmart Android App. BUT as of today the App and even the website don't even list bulk packs as an item they carry. That has to mean something...

 

[shakyshoot]

As of today Walmart seems to have removed all bulk 22 ammo listings from their website. So...

Is this confirmation of the "rumor" posted by the OP? Has Walmart decided that the profits from 22 ammo isn't worth the hassle of dealing with all of us calling, asking, and looking for it?

They also have no .223 bulk packs on their website, but I can't walk into a WW these days without seeing a 1000 rd pk of .223. What they have or don't have on the website is almost irrelevant, since they don't sell ammo through the website. And it's obvious they don't want shoppers to be able to check stock availability of ammo, since they blocked that, unless you know the workaround. Walmart carries bulk .22 ammo. The fact that it's not there daily is no different from any other retailer. Quite a few stores around here have 225's of Golden Bullets right now. Small as bulk packs go, but still bulk packs. (and not on their website)

 

[BC38]

They also have no .223 bulk packs on their website, but I can't walk into a WW these days without seeing a 1000 rd pk of .223. What they have or don't have on the website is almost irrelevant, since they don't sell ammo through the website. And it's obvious they don't want shoppers to be able to check stock availability of ammo, since they blocked that, unless you know the workaround. Walmart carries bulk .22 ammo. The fact that it's not there daily is no different from any other retailer. Quite a few stores around here have 225's of Golden Bullets right now. Small as bulk packs go, but still bulk packs. (and not on their website)

I'm not sure you're really understanding what I'm saying. Last night, using the Walmart Android App, searching for "22 ammo" brought up multiple brands and sizes of bulk packs - every size and brand they sell. Bricks of 225, 333, 500, 525, 555, plus half a dozen different 100 round packs, and another half a dozen 50 round boxes. You could then check stock on each of them at your "selected" store and every other store in a 50 mile radius. The same search on their main web page brought up all the same items, and though it was much more difficult to actually check stock on them, they at least showed up and you COULD check stock on them.

As of this morning, doing a search for "22 ammo" brings up TWO items - both are 50 round boxes (CCI and Remington as I recall). Same thing on their web site. It is as if they have purged nearly ALL info about 22 ammo from their inventory system. THIS IS A BIG CHANGE.

My question is this: IF they are still going to carry 22 ammo, why would they make it impossible to check stock? It brings people into the store, and I know that just about every time I'm there I buy something else in addition to ammo - and I'll bet most other people do too.

A LOT of people aren't going to just keep "dropping in" to check for 22 ammo on the off chance that 1 time out of 10 it will be in stock. Or at least not as often or as many of them as people who WILL go to the store if they know it is in stock. As a major retailer you'd think they would continue doing whatever generates the most traffic to the store. Hiding their inventory doesn't so that. Unless they are going to quit carrying that particular item how does it make sense to make it HARDER for people to check stock on such a popular item?

 

[shakyshoot]

I do understand what you're saying. It would not surprise me if they've deliberately tried to louse up the Android app. If I ran the company, I wouldn't try to cut out my regular customers. However they've already shown months ago that they want to keep their ammo stock a mystery by putting a block on stock lookup on the regular site. Could be that they're now trying to mess up the stock on Android. Hard saying why they do what they do, but they might be trying to eliminate some of the bad blood about "the same 5 guys getting all the ammo." I've never gone and lined up early to get ammo, but I have no complaint with anyone who does. If they're first they should get the ammo. Not sure how this would affect ammo-can, but I would imagine it has to.

 

[smokindog]

GOOD! After reading all these threads AND observing the behavior of the app carrying drop ins, I'd do the same thing (although I don't believe this is deliberate)!

Think of all the people who DON'T go to the store BECAUSE of the app!!!!

The "drop ins" you describe disrupt re-stocking, have been known to be rude, rarely are there to buy anything else, and create mis-information to tarnish reputations. I'm not saying there aren't shenanigans going on here and there but let's face it, all the product they receive will sell regardless of the app having the data. If I could eliminate a headache and not change my bottom line, I'd do the exact same thing.

A LOT of people aren't going to just keep "dropping in" to check for 22 ammo on the off chance that 1 time out of 10 it will be in stock. Or at least not as often or as many of them as people who WILL go to the store if they know it is in stock. As a major retailer you'd think they would continue doing whatever generates the most traffic to the store. Hiding their inventory doesn't so that. Unless they are going to quit carrying that particular item how does it make sense to make it HARDER for people to check stock on such a popular item?

 

[Rick_A]

I've been buying subsonics at the LGS lately for back yard shooting, when I can. Our local Walmarts have gotten secretive all of a sudden about ammo deliveries, and have varied the times they put it out, so I just don't deal with them anymore.

For anything else I want to shoot I still have plenty left, plenty of components to reload with, or other places I can get it.

 

[smokindog]

Just got back from a tour of my 3 local Walmarts. Scored my 3 bulk boxes at each. I'm sure it's coincidence but if not, I'm loving that the information has been pulled.

 

[BC38]

Oh yeah, this is a great development for all the flippers who do a loop of all the local Walmarts, pick up lots of bulk packs for $25 a box and sell it for $50 a box - instead of getting a real job. As I see it this helps these guys prolong the shortage, while they make a living reselling it at a 100% markup to the rest of us who have to go to work every day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about you guys who are buying for your own use, but there are guys doing the same thing you are doing to get 6, or 9, or 12 bulk boxes per day to resell to those who can't hit all the Walmarts in their area every day because they have to work for a living...

 

[smokindog]

I got off my rear end and used my lunch hour to buy ammo instead of sitting on it.

I was taught to work for what I wanted.

Oh yeah, this is a great development for all the flippers who do a loop of all the local Walmarts, pick up lots of bulk packs for $25 a box and sell it for $50 a box - instead of getting a real job. As I see it this helps these guys prolong the shortage, while they make a living reselling it at a 100% markup to the rest of us who have to go to work every day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about you guys who are buying for your own use, but there are guys doing the same thing you are doing to get 6, or 9, or 12 bulk boxes per day to resell to those who can't hit all the Walmarts in their area every day because they have to work for a living...

 

[shakyshoot]

Oh yeah, this is a great development for all the flippers who do a loop of all the local Walmarts, pick up lots of bulk packs for $25 a box and sell it for $50 a box - instead of getting a real job. As I see it this helps these guys prolong the shortage, while they make a living reselling it at a 100% markup to the rest of us who have to go to work every day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about you guys who are buying for your own use, but there are guys doing the same thing you are doing to get 6, or 9, or 12 bulk boxes per day to resell to those who can't hit all the Walmarts in their area every day because they have to work for a living...

Wow, so the Android app is an unfair advantage to the "flippers" and now the lack of the Android app is an unfair advantage to the "flippers." Interesting.

 

[smokindog]

I was preparing to post the same message but was waiting for the second bourbon to disappear! I'm sure I would NOT have been as eloquent....

Wow, so the Android app is an unfair advantage to the "flippers" and now the lack of the Android app is an unfair advantage to the "flippers." Interesting.

 

[CC83]

If people didn't buy it, they wouldn't do it. Same goes for ticket scalping.

 

[Ronbo]

Buy these for my own use, bought some 225 count boxes of Remington (new improved) hollow point this week at Walmart limit 3 boxes at $11 something per box. A month ago they had 325 count of target Federal 22's bought 3 and wife along bought 3 went to the other Walmart across town had them also, bought 6 more about $20 per box. Don't think they get 500 or 550 count in if at all.

 

[LeeVance]

We have had a winter storm, so waiting for things to thaw a little before work went on a State shooting forum and read where a couple of guys found bulk 22 this AM for first time in years (they said). Guess the "regulars" couldn't get out.

I went by a different store around 11:00AM and no .22 but saw a bulk container/can of 5.56 for $497 still in the cabinet, where the scopes are kept.

 

[Gregg12y]

I no longer bother to swing by sporting goods to check on ammo when I go to Walmart. All I usually see are a few boxes of shotgun shells and a few other calibers. For 22 ammo, I rely on the Ammo In Stock page on the S&W Forum M&P 15-22 page, and Natchez. Yes, I have to pay shipping, but I'm not paying $75 for a brick.

 

[Stephanie B]

Market forces are a bitch. Bricks are now shrinking to about 350 instead of 500 or 550. Prices are way, way up. My guess is that the suppliers are shipping smaller boxes because they get a better profit.

A version of the Grocery Shrink-Ray, which has reduced a pound of coffee to 12oz and a half-gallon of ice cream to 1.5 quarts.

 

[BC38]

I got off my rear end and used my lunch hour to buy ammo instead of sitting on it.

I was taught to work for what I wanted.

LOL! Nice! That works - if your job allows such luxuries as an hour for lunch. Workloads at my place of employment (in this wonderful age of "downsizing" and "do more with less") are such that I don't get even a half hour - much less an hour - to eat lunch.

Most days I don't even try to take real a break for lunch. I usually eat my sack lunch at my desk while I continue to work. I've tried going to our break room for a 15 or 20 minute lunch, but have found that it is pointless. Whenever I try to take a lunch break I find that about 4 times out of 5 someone will interrupt even this short break. They track me down either in person or via telephone, because they have something "urgent" they need my help with. And if they can't reach me, the first thing they do is call my boss - and then I have to answer for why I'm not "serving my internal customer".

Even then I still rarely get out of the plant in under 10 hours. Taking an hour long break in the middle of the day and going ammo shopping just ain't in the cards. So I think its pretty safe to say I also work for what I get.

 

[BC38]

Wow, so the Android app is an unfair advantage to the "flippers" and now the lack of the Android app is an unfair advantage to the "flippers." Interesting.

I never said it was an unfair advantage to the flippers, and would like to hear a logical argument for that. Where the flippers gain an advantage is having the time to cruise the stores IMO.Time that regular working folks don't have.

Equal access to the info about what's in stock levels the playing field as far as I can see.