| Author | Post |
|---|
Dr. Fresh
Regular Member
| Joined: | Thu Mar 13th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 371 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 08:01 am |
|
| ROFL
|
Dave The Welder
Regular Member
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 09:22 pm |
|
This happened during finals so I've been a little slow on posting it but here's the rest of the ShopKo story.
After not hearing from ShopKo for two days I called loss/prevention again and got transferred to the district office where a guy (another one from Utah) told me that they had heard about my call and that their policy was to mirror state law on the matter. He went on to say that people OC in the Utah stores from time to time and nobody down there has a problem with it as long as they abide by state law. We talked for several minutes about OCDO and my views on open vs. concealed carry. He told me that if the manager gave me any additional problems, I should tell the manager that I talked to corporate and they said to contact Josh Nuwell (I'll double check the name when I get home. I'm sitting at WSU using their high speed internet to look at all the neat pictures on MilitaryMorons .com right now ). He said that I didn't need a number as the manager would immediately recognize Josh's name as Josh has visited all the stores on this side of the country and is apparently very far up in the chain of command.
With the new information in hand, I grabbed ShyPanda, strapped on my sidearm and voice recorder, and headed for ShopKo. Derek, the manager who asked Paul to leave was on duty and we both approached him. Here's the first part of the conversion (as best as I can remember it, as I don't have my recorder in front of me):
Me: Derek?
Derreck: Yes?
Me: Just so you know, this conversion is being recorded. (that got his attention and I think that that was a major reason behind him being so polite to us) Hi, my name is __ and I believe that you met my friend here, [ShyPanda], last week. I'm here concerning you asking [ShyPanda] to leave the store due to a store policy concerning the carrying of firearms in your store. I've contacted corporate and they've stated that you're firearms policy mirrors state law, which means that if it's legal for us to carry a pistol, then it's policy to allow it in your store. I spoke with Josh Nuwell (he definitely knew who I was talking about when I said the name as he visibly looked surprised and straightened up) and he told me that if you had any questions concerning your firearms policy, you should contact him and that you'd know his number. What you do have is a written policy preventing employees from carrying firearms at work and we both suspect that that was where the confusion came in. Since your policy mirrors state law, I thought that you might like one of these (handed him a pamphlet). This covers all the major state laws concerning firearms. We're part of a group called Open Carry Dot Org, and in light of recent events around the country, are now carrying our firearms openly whether than concealed to show the general public that everyday ordinary people do carry firearms that it's the person, not the gun, that's the problem. We hand out a lot of these pamphlets, talk to the general public about firearms laws, and most importantly, put a face on the people who carry for self defense.
Derek: Could we step off to the side for a minute (noticing that the employees at the registers were all listening in intently). I hope that I didn't come across as rude the other day (talking to ShyPanda), I was only trying to enforce what I thought was our company policy.
ShyPanda: No, not at all.
We talked for a few more minutes and then we shook hands and left the store. All in all, a very good outcome. If anybody is interested in the recording, I can see about putting it up, although it really won't have too much more than the above.
Last edited on Wed May 7th, 2008 09:26 pm by Dave The Welder
|
Dave The Welder
Regular Member
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 09:34 pm |
|
Three of us OCed all over Pullman during the end of finals week when the gradutes were running around everywhere with their parents and it was completely uneventful. We even went into the library in downtown Pullman and they didn't bat an eye at my sidearm as I got a library card and then checked out a book. It's so uneventful, it's scary. I think that Pullman is the most OC friendly place ever.
|
surfj9009
Regular Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 8th, 2008 |
| Location: | Spokane, WA |
| Posts: | 640 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed May 7th, 2008 09:35 pm |
|
| that's awesome guys. Great job. I will remember that name, since shopko is near my home. Thanks for following up with corporate dave!
|
Dave The Welder
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 05:09 am |
|
I OCed to Taco Time in downtown Pullman tonight for dinner. I've OCed in there many times, but this seemed to be the time that everybody noticed. The gal making the food came "bouncing" to the front counter to harass the guy taking my order (it was a slow night and they were all making the most of it having fun). She looked over at me and said very matter of fact, "You have a pistol". I replied that yes I did and that this was an open carry state. Both of them seemed interested so I talked with them about open carry and how a CPL is needed if you're in a vehicle. While this was going on, another employee walked into the store and got into the conversation. He asked what I was carrying and I told him that it was a 1911. He said "that's what I thought it was" and went about ordering his food. We all joked for a few minutes until my food showed up and then I sat down to eat. After eating I approached him again as he was still there and asked how he knew that it was a 1911. He said that one of his friends owns one and that he's into firearms and is thinking about buying a pistol. I handed him a pamphlet and let him know about OCDO and what we were about. When I mentioned that we post pictures of us carrying in public, he called the bouncy gal from earlier up and asked if she had her camera on her. He said that he wanted to get a picture of me with the employees to post on OCDO. She didn't have her camera on her but I promised to come in one more time before I left town and bring my camera. The entire time I was talking to him there were two guys sitting nearby eating dinner that were listening in but they never got involved in the conversation or asked me anything. I couldn't have asked for a better encounter.
|
Shy_Panda
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 07:18 am |
|
I had a wonderfully uneventful OC day, stopped by Ace hardware yet again to pick up some odds and ends and then the dreaded Shopko for a bag and other accouterments with no reactions at all. Got into a conversation with the checker who I presumed noticed my sidearm, but didn't say anything, fairly cute but regrettably I didn't have the nerve to do anything about it. Later in the evening I felt the need to become somewhat active and break in my new boots so I went for a short 4 mile ruck at the baseball fields at the bottom of engineer hill, 8 laps in total with my trusty beretta and a 75lbs ruck... I forgot how much new boots make the dogs bark even after a short walk. Every time I passed the bleachers I was strong side to them and even though their eyes were on the game, it was easy for them to notice the dark black spot in the middle of tan on my side as I passed them each and every time. Nobody said anything at all, a couple of kids stayed along side of me for about half a lap and then got bored and found something else to preoccupy themselves. All in all a pretty good day to help boost the spirits.
Dave, let me know when you plan on heading back to taco time before you take off, I will make sure to stop by as well.
|
Dave The Welder
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 07:46 am |
|
Shy_Panda wrote: Dave, let me know when you plan on heading back to taco time before you take off, I will make sure to stop by as well.
I'm thinking Friday as it's 99 cents crisp bean burrito day (yes, I like Taco Time...a lot)
|
Shy_Panda
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 06:43 pm |
|
Dave The Welder wrote: Shy_Panda wrote: Dave, let me know when you plan on heading back to taco time before you take off, I will make sure to stop by as well.
I'm thinking Friday as it's 99 cents crisp bean burrito day (yes, I like Taco Time...a lot)
Just give a call or whatnot on a time and taco time will make at least 99 cents
|
DMR-223
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu May 8th, 2008 07:01 pm |
|
im down for whatever. just give me a call 
|
devldogs55
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu May 15th, 2008 06:04 pm |
|
I worked at a the gun counter at Tri-State for about 2 years not too long ago. They only started this policy after I left though.
E-mailing "corporate" is simply sending an e-mail to one man... Gerard Connelly who owns the company. He is a liberal son of a bitch who proudly told stories of dodging the draft in Vietnam.
Good luck with the Moscow store manager, Thomas. Can't stand the man. I was on his "buddy list" and just couldn't stand the way he treated other people.. I could go on for days about tha place.
|
Shy_Panda
Regular Member
|
Posted: Sun May 18th, 2008 07:31 pm |
|
So I went and saw the new Narnia movie opening night around 930 so obviously the whole town was there, more people than I thought. Before I could even get to the door I noticed that people were looking more than usual. It may have been the fact that I was wearing shorts and so they were merely looking at my pasty white chicken legs or at my sidearm, I guess that one is up in the air. When I went up to the ticket booth to get my ticket There was one guy, maybe 20 on a good day who could not take his eyes off and actually hurried over to his friends to point me out, never noticing that I was looking at him. I purchased my ticket and went into the main lobby to wait for a few other friends, who turned out to already be waiting for me so we all went into the theater. The attractive young lady taking the tickets noticed that I was carrying but said nothing aside from 'theater number 2 is the first one on your right,' I was hoping for something more along the lines ' here is my number' but alas. Anyway, we all went in and got our seats and I was strong side to the front as I walked through so it was difficult to see that I was OC. After I sat down I started to get a dehydration headache cause I work out during the middle of the day and am not a huge fan of water , so I walk back out and hear a few people gasp when they see my firearm. I continue on as if nothing has happened and walk up to the snack counter and wait in line. A manager looking fellow walks out from the ticketing area and asks if he can help me, I inquire about the water situation and end up buying a Styrofoam cup to fill with water at the reasonable price of 25cents, and proceed back into the movie.
Aside from several people looking fairly awkward trying to grasp the fact that people with guns don't hate the world, it was a very pleasant night. And the movie was great, but Ironman was still better. I OCed to that last week. Nothing else of any consequence has occurred, Wallmart, and Hastings in Moscow are both still non-event locations, as are Safeway, Ace and Dismores. I haven't been in Shopko since I went in with Dave so I might have to give that a whirl during my errands.
|
Omnivore
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Jun 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 08:55 pm |
|
Darn. That's too bad. I've been shopping at the Moscow Tri-State for 30 years, and I never knew about this policy.
I'll be avoiding them whenever possible, BUT (and this is important) if I'm going to punish them for this policy by taking my business elsewhere, they both need and deserve to know why.
If you're going to place them on your DNP list, you need to notify them. It will be vastly more powerful that way.
|
Omnivore
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Jun 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 09:08 pm |
|
Their contact page is here:
http://www.t-state.com/main.php?pname=contactUs
|
RyJones
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Jun 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 09:10 pm |
|
Tri-State's contact information is available here:
http://www.t-state.com/main.php?pname=contactUs
I just sent this email:
From: Ry Jones
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:05 PM
To: tristate@t-state.com
Subject: open carry policy on firearms in your stores
Hello,
As a patron of Tri-State, I was sorry to read about your open-carry policy on firearms. Until your policy is changed, I won't be shopping in your stores.
Thanks,
Ry
|
Omnivore
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Jun 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 11th, 2008 11:39 pm |
|
Ry; You gave them the short and sweet. I took them to the tool shed and gave them the 400 word talkin' to:
Dear Management,
I have been shopping at Tri-State since coming to this town in 1978-- more than 30 years. Some of your long-term employees know me on a first name basis.
I was dismayed when it recently came to my attention that you do not allow open carry of a holstered firearm in your store. As I understand it, your policy is to have a salesperson hold the gun while the customer shops. The latter is an especially foolish policy-- it demands the unnecessary drawing and handling of a loaded gun. For safety purposes, such unnecessary handling is not allowed even on most shooting ranges. A loaded gun is best left in its holster until there is a compelling need for it.
You should be aware of the fact that legally armed citizens, taken as a group, are safer, more law-abiding, and have higher incomes than the population as a whole. Statistically, they are more law-abiding than police as a matter of fact.
Logically, there is no reason for your anti-carry policy. People with criminal intent, for instance, are never going to be dissuaded from evil deeds by such a policy, any more than they are dissuaded by "gun free zone" signs in front of a school building or college campus (this has been proven all too often).
In short;
A. Asking that a loaded gun be un-holstered and handled by at least two people is counterproductive to any possible safety concern.
B. Armed citizens are peaceable, safe, responsible, and they spend more money.
Hardly a week has gone by in over 30 years that I have not made a purchase in your Moscow store. Some of the larger purchases, off the top of my head, have been:
A Makita drill
A corded hammer drill
Two milling vices
Two bench vices
Two bench grinders
Two Dremel tools with accessories
A Kitchen-aid mixer
Drill press
Band saw
Glock pistol
At least one shotgun
At least two rifles
Several pairs of high-end shoes
Multiple BBQ grills
Lawnmower
Weedeater
Tree stand
Food Smoker
Tent
High-end backpack
Target trap
Fishing reel
Folding chairs
Cots
Camping table
Ice-cream maker
Multiple tool sets
Drill indexes
Several sleeping bags
Large Coleman Stove
Coleman gasoline lantern
Multiple sets of plumbing fixtures for rental properties
The list goes on and on.
I will be avoiding Tri-State until you rescind this illogical, unsafe, and customer-hostile policy. Afterwards, I will gladly return to your excellent store.
Sincerely,
Lyle Keeney
President-- UltiMAK, Inc.
Vice President-- Keeney Bros. Music Center, Inc.
Former President-- Palouse Practical Shooters
NRA certified instructor-- Basic Pistol & Home Firearm Safety
Member-- Lewiston Pistol Club, NRA, Second Amendment Foundation
|
joeroket
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 12:46 am |
|
Now that is the way to get across to them. Letting them
know you won't be bringing your business back and showing them how much you spend is the kind of thing that usually scares the hell out of retail management. I was in retail management for a little under 10 years and that is the thing that scared me the most.
|
Omnivore
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Jun 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 5 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 12:57 am |
|
I know-- I've a retail business for 30 years. I sent them another letter:
Dear Tri-State Management,
As an addendum to my previous letter, I make a suggestion regarding the carrying of personal firearms in your stores. Cabela’s store in Post Falls, for instance, has a sign at the front door which reads something like, “Guns brought into the store for sale are to be inspected by a salesperson. This does not apply to personal guns carried for protection.”
I would suggest the following; “Personal firearms are to remain holstered at all times.”
Simple and to the point—you do not want loaded pistols un-holstered and handled except in an emergency. It gets the point across, and your good customers will not be made to feel like pariahs.
Thank You,
Lyle Keeney
|
Dave The Welder
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 01:21 am |
|
Omnivore wrote:
Lyle Keeney
President-- UltiMAK, Inc.
WHAT? UltiMAK is based in Moscow? Do you have a store or just a machine shop? I'm sending you a PM. I'd love to come over and see the shop.
|
RyJones
Regular Member
| Joined: | Wed Jun 11th, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 3 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 01:38 pm |
|
Dave The Welder wrote: Omnivore wrote:
Lyle Keeney
President-- UltiMAK, Inc.
WHAT? UltiMAK is based in Moscow? Do you have a store or just a machine shop? I'm sending you a PM. I'd love to come over and see the shop.
Send him email - lyle@ultimak.com - easier way to contact him. There is neither a store nor a shop in Moscow; picture a small warehouse / pick / pack / ship area / photography set and a few offices. All of the machine work is done off-site.
|
just_a_car
Regular Member
|
Posted: Thu Jun 12th, 2008 10:43 pm |
|
Omnivore (and I'm guessing RyJones, due to your last post), it's good to have you, as UltiMAK president (and I'm guessing employee for Ry). Your company has a very good reputation for rail accessories.
I'd shop there, but I can't justify paying the prices you guys charge. For example, I will be buying a tri-rail lower handguard for my AES-10 in the near-ish future, but I can't justify the $220 pricetag you have for them when I can get the same thing from Blackjack Buffers Inc for under $100. I'm not knockin' ya for running your business the way you want to, but I wish your prices were more competitive so I could send my money to more local (and gun-friendly) states.
|
|
|
