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Anyone had any experience with Bi-Mart?

Reverend45Cal

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
37
Location
Aloha, Oregon, USA
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Was at Bi-Mart today, Thursdays are their delivery day for ammo. After walking in, Going directly to the Gun counter checking the ammo, I then asked the lady behind the counter if they got their delivery today. She said they were unloading it and would go check on .45.

few moments later the store manager came up to me and asked if i would go ahead and cover up my gun. I asked why? He said because a few customers came up and were concerned about me carrying a gun on me. I mentioned that I would rather not since its not illegal and I am standing at a counter that sells Ammo and Rifles.

At this point a guy that was standing at the counter came up and said "Let me interject im in Law Enforcement: he then proceeds to say "you know that you can carry that in public but on private property when asked to leave or cover up I must comply" I looked at him and said "I am discussing this with the store manager, I respect his stance, I know the law" I then proceeded to ask the store manager "what if i don't have a CWP" He replied to me that I would either need to leave the store or leave it in my car. I said well I would rather leave since leaving a gun in a car in the parking lot is not safe or secure.

Just then the lady came up to tell me they didn't have any .45. I thanked her and left.

Now i have been in bi-Mart many times OC, never once had a Issue. Anyone else have any conflicts with Bi-Mart?
 

Ruger9mm

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Joined
Dec 10, 2009
Messages
55
Location
Caldwell ID
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I haven't carried in either of the Beaverton ones yet. Have never had issues with the one in Prineville. Was it the one on 185th Ave. or the one on Western Ave? Time for a no gun/no money card!
 

We-the-People

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Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
2,221
Location
White City, Oregon, USA
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We have two bi-marts here in Medford. I've been into one numerous times without ever being approached other than by curious customers. The other, I did much the same as you, straight to the ammo counter. The manager came up to the end of the counter and unheard by me told my wife he'd like me to cover it up. She, being a good wife told me and the manager and I talked.

He said it made customers nervous. I said I wouldn't cover it but if he'd like me to leave I would. He said no, go ahead and shop, I'll just escort you.

Now this sounded funny to me but I refrained from laughing. Howwas this 60 some odd year old, overweight, out of shape, unarmed manager going to make it any safer for a younger, in shape, man with a gun to walk around the store while shopping?I explained again that if he wanted me to leave I would gladly take my money elsewhere but I wouldn't be escorted around the store because I was lawfully carrying. He walked away, I finished my business at the ammo counter which didn't result in any purchase because they too were out of what I wanted.

I think I'd have told the supposed "I'm in law enforcement" guy in your case that I'd like to see his identification. For all you know he's a 911 dispatcher or impersonating an officer. If he was a sworn LEO I'd have said "yes, it is private property and the manager and Iare perfectly capable of working out a civil matter without governmental intrusion. Did he not supply identification I'd have called 911 on suspicion of an individual impersonating an officer.
 

Reverend45Cal

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
37
Location
Aloha, Oregon, USA
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Well the "LE individual" pretty much shut his mouth when i told him that I was speaking to the manager on this and we will work it out. He went back to flirting with the girl behind the ammo counter.
 

We-the-People

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
2,221
Location
White City, Oregon, USA
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I've been pretty lucky in my OCing. I started last summer andhave carried openly exclusively since then. I've been told "no entry" at the local free fire zone mall, the incident I mentioned with the bi-mart manager, and one store shift manager that said "you shouldn't have that here" but didn't persue it and I just let it go as I'm in that store all the time with no problem.

I even carried at the state captiol building during the 9-12 rally. A state trooper checked me out visually and there was radio chatter about me (the only OCer there) according to Salem PD but no officers approached me which I thought was outstanding since, being on the capital grounds, they could have gotten away with checking my CHL (I don't see how in a shall issue state that checking for an unloaded weapon is constitutional under the 4th amendment) and inspecting the weapon to insure it is unloaded (which it is not per 166.360/370).

I don't carry at college but I do carry an empty holster and i'm working on filing a grievance for their unlawful policy preventing lawful firearms carry in violation of 166.170.
 

FREEDOM_FOREVER

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2008
Messages
40
Location
Oregon, ,
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Reverend45Cal wrote:
few moments later the store manager came up to me and asked if i would go ahead and cover up my gun.  I asked why?  He said because a few customers came up and were concerned about me carrying a gun on me. 

Almost the exact same situation happen to me at the Bi-mart in Gresham back in December. I figured they would be ok with OC since they sponsor the Rose City Gun Show. (showing your Bi-mart card at the ticket counter gets you an admission discount)I wonder if the managers are trained to say "a few customers came up and were concerned about me carrying a gun".
 

Curmudgeon

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Jul 17, 2009
Messages
307
Location
York, Pennsylvania, USA
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Has anyone attempted to find out exactly what corporate policy is? You be surprised how often managers and employees act on their own and operate outside of corporate directives. It can be very helpful to know policy ahead of time, and educate them on it.

The last time I had a similar encounter/conversation with the assistant manager at my local WalMart, he seemed to be aware of PA OC laws, but was completely unaware of his own corporate policies.

We had a very pleasant conversation, he put in a call to corporate to get clarity on OC, and he also said I was good-to-go on OCing in his store, as far as he was concerned.

He also said he would cover the whole OC/CC issue at the next staff meeting, since it was a staff member who brought me to his attention.

As is the case with Starbucks, you may find that corporate just wants to follow local laws.
 

GSXRrider

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Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Messages
56
Location
Beaverton, ,
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I've bought knives at that Bi-Mart. Funny though, they must carry the knife to the counter for you. I was having a hard time holding back my laugh as I was CCing.
 

We-the-People

Regular Member
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Aug 13, 2009
Messages
2,221
Location
White City, Oregon, USA
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You just never know when the next madman might go on a knifing spree in a big store like that. I wonder if they'd have done the same if you were OCing? I'm sure they would, store policy ya know!
 

Glockguy

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2008
Messages
83
Location
Albany, Oregon, USA
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I OCed at the one here in Albany and they asked me to cover it up.. actually I went to the gun counter asked about ammo and as i was leaving the guy pointed at it and said dont do that again, I acted stupid and said excuse me? He said the same thing every store says I was Scaring customers to bad no one even called up to the counter when i was there to mention anyone being " scared"..

So I just said oh this? I was going to have you bore site it for me!then just turned around and walked out.

I dont understand how i can walk in there with my Ar15 in my hand thats all tricked out and have them not bat an eye but i walk in with a handgun in my holster and OH MY im scaring people:banghead:
 

Reverend45Cal

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
37
Location
Aloha, Oregon, USA
imported post

Yea im beginning to think this is just their SOP. When i was there the only people that I came across or in contact with was the lady at the gun counter and the "LEO" at the counter talking to her. She didnt have a issue with it, no one made even a mention of it till the manager came up.
 

Mainsail

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2007
Messages
1,533
Location
Silverdale, Washington, USA
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I was getting thrown out of Cabela's in Lacy WA almost every time I walked in there, even though their policy was that OC was OK. I was even told TWICE on one visit that I had to cover up, have my pistol strapped, or leave- this was during an OC meet-up while there was six other OCers in the store with me! Every time the manager confirmed to the misguided employee that open carry was allowed.

When you got it, you got it!
 

Jeff Hayes

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
2,569
Location
Long gone
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GSXRrider wrote:
I've bought knives at that Bi-Mart. Funny though, they must carry the knife to the counter for you. I was having a hard time holding back my laugh as I was CCing.

I was escorted to the cash register to purchase a knife while OCing in Deer Park WA. The poor sales clerk said this is really stupid but it is store policy, I agreed with him.

OC in the Bi-Mart in Deer Park WAseveral times per month with out any comments so far.
 

We-the-People

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
2,221
Location
White City, Oregon, USA
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Orphan wrote:
GSXRrider wrote:
I've bought knives at that Bi-Mart. Funny though, they must carry the knife to the counter for you. I was having a hard time holding back my laugh as I was CCing.

I was escorted to the cash register to purchase a knife while OCing in Deer Park WA. The poor sales clerk said this is really stupid but it is store policy, I agreed with him.

OC in the Bi-Mart in Deer Park WAseveral times per month with out any comments so far.

I had to read that twice to get it. Ahhh the joys of being in college as a "mature" student and dealing with English essays that make your eyes go crossed.

Gone are the days of common sense. The policy says they gotta escort knives to the counter, they gotta escort knives to the counter. Never mind the semi-auto pistol and spare mags on your belt, they're not mentioned in the "escorting knives to the sales counter" policy.
 
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