Sarah Brady new manager of Sportmart

[Maverick]

My buddy and I went into Sportmart in San Bernardino to get a scope this weekend. As we walk to the hunting section I saw that there were no rifles or shotguns on the rack. I asked the pimpled face kid behind the counter where their guns were he replied that the new manager that them taken down that there were no longer going to sell them in that store. When I asked why I got a big dumb look and an "Idonno". Then I asked him if they were going to continue to sell ammo, and got a same look and "Idonno".
### What kind of sporting goods store takes their guns off the shelves and stops selling them? I know one thing. I will never again shop and another Sportmart.
###

[shaman]

Given the circumstances I can't blame you. The one I go to in Vacaville always seemed to be overpriced untill I started searching for a ruger 10/22. They beat wal-marts price by $10 at $150. Half the time when ###I go in there they don't have the handguns out but the long guns don't seem to be affected at all.

[shaginator]

It's been the same way at Sportmart in the San Mateo/Foster City area.

They used to carry ammo, cleaning supplies, rifles, shotguns, upland game vests, and other hunting-related supplies.

Last I checked there was 1 can of .22 pellets, 4 airguns, and 1 pair of camo gloves. What used to be the archery and rifle counter now holds fishing reels and outdoor magazines.

The more I think about it, the more I see it as a reflection of who's living in the area and the resulting economics moreso than a manager's political motives.


(Edited by shaginator at 8:26 pm on Feb. 13, 2002)

[Maverick]

I didn't even know that sportmart had hand guns, but they used to have a pretty good selection of long guns and camo..Now all they have is some moose and elk calls...like I need them in so cal. I do remember that they had the Rem 870 for 229 that is 10 bucks less then Wal-Mart. ###
now I have to find another sporting goods store. SportMart has gone communist, Turners has horrible customer service and I will never give them any of my business. I have a better selection in my garage then Big 5 has on the shelves. So now where do I go?

[Cynic]

Here's another little interesting tidbit:

Wal-Mart has a very extensive firearms catalog. If you've never checked it out, I encourage everyone to do so. They keep it under the register in the sporting goods department.

The catalog has a great many guns that Wal-Mart would never carry in the displays or in their inventory. Browning Citori shotguns, for instance. And the entire line of NEF guns. And the entire Winchester line, and the entire Remington line, and the entire Savage line. And the entire Marlin line.... and so on and so forth.

(All the NEF singleshot rifles, in the Wal-Mart catalog, are $191 for synthetic and $198 for wood. Find me a competitive price elsewhere and you'll win a new jackrabbit distress call. Well, slightly used. Actually, I lost it somewhere. I think coveybustinchris has it. I've seen USED NEF Handi-rifles for $250.)

To order from the catalog you need to deposit half of the cost of the gun. Try that at Turners... they want the entire amount for a special order.

The real kicker is that Wal-Mart's prices in their catalog are LESS, in most cases, than the price Turners pays for the gun.

A NEF 12 gauge turkey gun through the Wal-Mart catalog is $125.

The cost to Turners, for the same gun, is $145. Turners wants to mark that price up and make a buck or two. So figure $190 to me.

$125 from Wal-Mart or $190 from Turners. What do I do?

Sportmart stopping their gun sales is just a hint of the issue. When Wal-Mart has forced all the little Mom and Pop gunshops out of buisness what will we do? Sure, we'll be getting good deals on guns. Then one day we'll go down to Wal-Mart to buy that new gun and the display case is empty. And the pimple-faced grammer school drop-out just shrugs his shoulders and says 'I dunno'.

[T F Coyote]

The only two Sportmarts I'm familiar with (both in Orange County) stopped carrying handguns 15 years ago, and rifles 5 years ago.

[songdog]

The Walmarts here in SoCal have pretty much the same degree of nothing when it comes to firearms. ###Maybe 2-5 long guns, some oddball rounds and a BB gun or two. ###No calls, no camo, sometimes a box of clays.

When I was back in ID this las fall, we stopped by the local Walmart to pick up a license. ###They had 50+ long guns, bows, reloading equipment, several racks of camo clothes, etc. ###More than any Turner's here in SoCal.

Then they had dedicated sporting goods stores in ID... oh, don't even get me started on how great those were.

[huntducks]

If you are ever in Anchorage Alaska go check out the gun section in Wally & K-mart racks of guns along with a compleat reloading section.

[Kernhuntr]

Huntducks, I've been to both of those stores in Anchorage and you're right. I spend hours in those stores and the Sportsmart accross the street. The selections are awsome, and unlike the counter people here in California they actually have knowledge of the products they sell. Wow what a concept.
One thing I would do is let the store manager know that the new store policy of no firearms would preclude me from ever spending a dime in that store again and none of my friends will either until the policy changes.
Kernhuntr

[foulshot]

Sportmarts parent company is Gart sports (http://www.gartsports.com/home/index.jsp). ###Iv'e been to a couple Gart stores back in Colorado that have a better selection most Turners here in SoCal. ###Not only on guns, but gear, ammo, and other needs.I bought my 11-87 back in Colorado at the Wal-Mart in Colorado Springs. ###It sure was nice to walk out of the strore with the gun the same day I bought it.
I think this lack of guns has more to do with the state we live in. ###Maybe a letter to company headquarters would change the local policy.