Another open letter to people buying ammo (a.k.a. “for cryin’ out loud, people!”)
While some might disagree with me, I love Academy Sports. Yes, it’s a big box store. Yes, I’m aware of all the whargarble concerning big box stores and their effect on communities and so on and so forth. Don’t judge me. I like Academy because their ammo prices are, by far, the absolute cheapest in town. Heck, their guns priced pretty reasonably as well. There’s only one or two stores I can think of off the top of my head that have cheaper guns. There’s also one within a very short distance of my house.
But I digress…
Some of you may have noticed that there’s been a bit of a shortage lately in terms of ammo. Some places have combated this shortage by raising the price of their ammo which, in theory, results in preventing Slappy Kincaid from buying 100 boxes for his weekend shooting lest he not be able to pay his mortgage. Other stores, like Academy, kept their ammo at the same price and just put limits on how many boxes a person is allowed to buy. Both policies work well enough to ensure that as many people can get their hands on ammo as possible.
In Academy’s case specifically, they figured out the most popular ammo calibers (9mm, .45, .223, etc) and put them behind the customer service counter. Then they said you can only buy one box per caliber and 3 boxes total per customer. It’s a simple policy that’s clearly posted all over the gun areas of the store as well as on very conspicuous signs at the customer service desk. It’s worked well for them also. Nine out of ten times, I can get a box of ammo in at least one of the calibers I own and I don’t have to sell the Noob-mobile in order to afford it.
So the other day, I walk into the store nearest my house and make a beeline for the customer service desk like I always do. Lo and behold, there is box after box of .223 back there. I’d almost swear there was a beam of light shining down on it and a choir singing in the background. Even better, there were boxes of 5.56 as well! Yes, you and I know they’re essentially the same caliber. By Academy’s policy, however, that means I can get two boxes today. There was just one problem: The dude in front of me in line.
This guy, whom I will refer to as “Douche McGee” as per the standards set forth in my previous open letters, wasn’t happy with the ammo shortage. He also had absolutely zero understanding of how shipping and ordering works in the realm of big box stores…or any store for that matter. He was going off on the poor customer service rep (who I know for a fact) doesn’t get paid enough to put up with that kind of crap.
“It makes no sense that you guys would sell ammo and not let people buy the amount they want I can go down the road and buy a pallet of ammo and you won’t let me buy two boxes why don’t you have 9mm everyone shoots 9mm its the most popular caliber in the world you should have 9mm no one shoots .40 and you have all this 223 and I just want two boxes and what’s with your prices” and my head hurts now so I’m going to stop trying to recreate the toro caca that was spewing from his mouth.
I started timing it while I was waiting. Taking into account he was already well into his tantrum when I got there, this was going on for more than 10 minutes. To her credit, the sweet little customer service girl was keeping a smile and doing her best to pretend to listen to the jerk. Every now and then she could reply with a partial “we have no control over what corporate sends us” before Douche McGee would interrupt her and continue on his tirade. After a couple of quick “do you believe this guy” type of glances in my direction, he finally stopped long enough to breathe (or choke on his own bile, I’m not sure), she excused herself then turned to me and said “did you need some ammo?”
I put on the biggest, friendliest smile and said “I would love a box of .223 and a box of 5.56 please!” in the most cheerful way I could.
Douche McGee, having been shut down effectively, sulked away and out the front door.
So here’s my statement to you all: don’t be a douche. Every store can only get the ammo they’re shipped. They can order whatever they want but if their supplier doesn’t send it, there’s nothing they can do right now. Does it suck? Heck yes it does. I remember getting 250 round boxes of 9mm for $40 a little over a year ago. Now I’m doing a happy dance if I spot a 20 round box in the wild! Do I blame the sweet little customer service rep who just trying to get through her minimum wage job so she can pay for her college? Heck no and you shouldn’t either.
Yes, it’s frustrating trying to get ammo. We all feel it. We all hate it. Here’s the thing, though: The everyday worker grunts have no control over it. In most cases, the store manager or even the store owners have no control over it right now either. Acting like Douche McGee isn’t going to make ammo magically appear. Also, if you are acting like a jerk, they’re not going to bend any rules for you.
We’re all in this together. The actions of the few weigh heavily on the whole. Gun owners are being scrutinized in every possible way. We need to be better than those who criticize us. That includes the realm of manners. Going off on the employee will solve nothing. It will, however, make you a giant douche.
Like what you read? GunNoob is now part of Pew Pew Tactical. Check out the rest of our awesome resources:
Leave a Reply