Wouldn't surprise me if some FFL holders strike deals with Walmart sporting goods dept 'associates' paying them a little extra 'under-the-table' to tip them off first to these extreme clearance priced sales and/or hold back some for them, then resell at a pretty healthy profit. Even Walmart with their high volume buying clout can't buy this stuff at anywhere near what they are clearance pricing them at.
I know several years back a local gun/pawn shop (no longer in business) owner bought up all of the remaining NIB, special for Walmart only run, of laminated, SS, 10/22 lr from a local Walmart close out priced @ $125 and resold them in his store
Some folks see that as sour grapes, I see it as good business. I don't blame anyone for making some money.
Having said that, if someone doesn't want to deal with that person, then that's their right not to do so.
Again, it's not the straight forward first-come - first-served / early bird gets the worm sales that is a issue, it's the hiding, sneaky tipping-off family, friends, etc., and/or under the table kickback scheming by store employees,
Joken, that happens everywhere, not just at Walmart. I'd probably tell my friends too if I worked there. I agree that it's aggravating to go there, expecting to buy a clearance item, one that's showing up on Brickseek as being in stock, and being told that there are none left.
Last year, when the hunt was on for the Weatherby Vanguards, I found several on Brickseek in a Walmart up around Lexington. As I was going to go visit my grandson who lives in the area, I went there and was told that they were out. The guy working the sporting goods counter refused to go and look in the storeroom, and just walked off leaving me standing there. Several days later, I called the store again and the lady who was working there actually went to the storeroom, verified that they had 2 left, and after hearing what I told her happened, offered to hold them for me if I wanted to drive back and get them. I didn't go, but that shows that for every "bad" employee, there are good ones too.
