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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: blackwolfe on March 26, 2009, 11:39:57 AM

Title: Ammo baron?
Post by: blackwolfe on March 26, 2009, 11:39:57 AM
First off let me say that I am biased on this subject as I don't think much of the local gun shop that is doing this.  I have not bought any guns there as I think his prices are high and I don't care for his personality.  I don't like what this guy is doing, and think it is wrong.  Let me know what you think.
Owner of a local gun shop is going to at least one Wal Mart and at least one other gun store and buying up all the popular calibers.  I don't know if he has gone to any other retailers and done the same.   He is then stocking his shelves with it at incredibly inflated prices.  I believe in free markets, etc. but this doesnt seem right.  I guess besides the profit motive it would be a marketing tool as it would drive potential gun purchasers to his store also if they can't buy both guns and ammo elsewhere in the area.   
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: fightingquaker13 on March 26, 2009, 11:47:27 AM
First off let me say that I am biased on this subject as I don't think much of the local gun shop that is doing this.  I have not bought any guns there as I think his prices are high and I don't care for his personality.  I don't like what this guy is doing, and think it is wrong.  Let me know what you think.
Owner of a local gun shop is going to at least one Wal Mart and at least one other gun store and buying up all the popular calibers.  I don't know if he has gone to any other retailers and done the same.   He is then stocking his shelves with it at incredibly inflated prices.  I believe in free markets, etc. but this doesnt seem right.  I guess besides the profit motive it would be a marketing tool as it would drive potential gun purchasers to his store also if they can't buy both guns and ammo elsewhere in the area.   

Have you mentioned this to the other dealers and the manager at Wall Mart? I don't know about wally world, but I would think the owner of the other local dealer would bar him speedy quick, for exactly the reason of decreased foot traffic that you mentioned.
fightingquaker13
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: ericire12 on March 26, 2009, 11:47:35 AM
Is that practice not illegal?
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: PegLeg45 on March 26, 2009, 01:05:27 PM
Is that practice not illegal?

Yes.
But it's hard to fight sometimes. They just send several different people in at different times and buy small quantities until they get it all. Hard to pinpoint. There was a guy that tried it here several years ago. Luckily, his other business practices caught up with him and he went under in less than a year. Got bought out buy a pretty good fellow that runs a good GS.
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: MikeBjerum on March 26, 2009, 03:23:31 PM
Is that practice not illegal?

The law has not been able to stop it in Minnesota.  We have had several retailers using Sams as a wholesaler, which is what they claim to be, but in reality they are nothing but a Walmart with a user's fee  >:(

When called on it, it was pointed out that as long as they are not creating a monopoly it is fine.  In this case there is a shortage of available ammo, this guy is in the business of retailing ammo, his suppliers can't keep up, he is finding it where he can, and who's to say what is overly inflated or gouging ... If he has to pay someone to go there, pay mileage, spend the time getting and paying for (all this goes into the cost of the ammo), figure the cost of money when he is now paying up front rather than the terms with his normal wholesalers, and then add the normal margin to operate his business.

I'm not defending him!  I am just pointing out the type of things brought up by the legal folks as to why they would not move forward with charges or law suits after checking into our local retailers.
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: Pathfinder on March 26, 2009, 07:17:24 PM
How is this activity even close to being illegal? And people use Sam's all of the time as a source - that's why they allow you to provide a tax number and get away without paying sales taxes - they assume you're going to resell.

Vote with your feet and your pocketbook - and tell the shopkeeper exactly what you're doing and why. A letter to the local BBB wouldn't hurt wither, although i don't know too many people who even use the BBB. Maybe the local Chamber?
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: runstowin on March 26, 2009, 09:13:49 PM

When called on it, it was pointed out that as long as they are not creating a monopoly it is fine.  In this case there is a shortage of available ammo, this guy is in the business of retailing ammo, his suppliers can't keep up, he is finding it where he can, and who's to say what is overly inflated or gouging ... If he has to pay someone to go there, pay mileage, spend the time getting and paying for (all this goes into the cost of the ammo), figure the cost of money when he is now paying up front rather than the terms with his normal wholesalers, and then add the normal margin to operate his business.

Yeah it's called scalping.
Title: Re: Ammo baron?
Post by: MikeBjerum on March 26, 2009, 09:19:28 PM
Yeah it's called scalping.

And scalping is legal in Minnesota now too ... Just try and get Vikings/Bears or Packers tickets, Gophers Hockey or any other popular game ticket  >:(