Ammo vending machines in grocery stores

[GunnyGene]

First heard about this about a week ago. Today I find out that the company who's installing these is getting swamped with orders since story came out. They're going national.

https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2024 ... s-n1225582

Excerpt:

You've gotta look pretty far and wide to find one of American Rounds' Automated Ammo Retail Machines, at least at the moment. Currently the machines are operating in a handful of grocery stores in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas, but American Rounds CEO Grant Magers says the company has received hundreds of orders for the machines since they were first reported in the media last week.

"Our sales are up 900% since the first story went viral," Magers said. "We have 200 locations waiting on a machine and are getting 20-25 emails per hour."

Magers wouldn't go full Shark Tank with WFAA and reveal the full scope of his sales but mentioned that most of the stores wanting machines aren't big fish chains.

However, he did mention that a group his company is working with has over 800 stores.

"One of my partners was at one of our stores recently, and there were 15 people at the machine waiting to use it," Magers said.

Gun control advocates are still melting down over the arrival of the machines, with USA Today columnist Marla Bautista one of the latest to bemoan bullets being purchased at grocery stores. In her latest column, Bautista declared the "idea of vending machines dispensing ammunition in the same stores where we buy diapers and bananas seems unreal, like something out of a dystopian novel."

I guess Bautista has never gone shopping at a Walmart, where you can pick up a box of shotgun shells or 9mm ammunition at the same time you're purchasing Pampers and fresh fruits and veggies.

As Magers says, there's nothing new about retailers offering ammo for sale. What makes American Rounds' product unique is its automated approach.

"We're the safest, most secure method of ammunition sales on the market currently," Magers said. "Our ID reader is the same as the TSA's -- it's the highest quality. Any minor can go to the website of a big box sporting goods store and click the box saying they're 21 and order 1,000 rounds to their house."

Magers calls it the future—smart, automated ammo sales. The origin of the product makes sense. Most of the grocery stores with his machine are in rural areas where a drive to a sporting goods store might take some time.

The only store with a machine in Texas is in Canyon Lake.

"Sometimes, the customers of these stores might have to drive an hour outside of town to grab ammo. Those grocery stores came to us with this idea -- they wanted to offer a sporting goods package for hunters in their communities. We realized that -- we're on to something special in providing for them and safely selling ammunition while maintaining the integrity of the Second Amendment."

[Coach]

Not in California for sure…

[GunnyGene]

Not in California for sure…

Likely not in several other States either. You know the ones. That aside, I'm wondering how the company is handling the logistics of servicing and reloading these machines, and transporting ammo to them. This isn't fresh produce being delivered, so some kind of security in route would be appropriate to prevent hijacking I'd think.

[Sir Henry]

Not in California for sure…

Likely not in several other States either. You know the ones. That aside, I'm wondering how the company is handling the logistics of servicing and reloading these machines, and transporting ammo to them. This isn't fresh produce being delivered, so some kind of security in route would be appropriate to prevent hijacking I'd think.

Also if the truck is all ammo it’s hazmat.

[GunnyGene]

Not in California for sure…

Likely not in several other States either. You know the ones. That aside, I'm wondering how the company is handling the logistics of servicing and reloading these machines, and transporting ammo to them. This isn't fresh produce being delivered, so some kind of security in route would be appropriate to prevent hijacking I'd think.

Also if the truck is all ammo it’s hazmat.

Hadn't thought about that, but that would also be a concern - traffic accident, etc. Probably none of this is a pressing issue for them at the moment, but if it grows like they expect all this will need to be addressed. And of course will add to the cost of the ammo at the machine, so I wouldn't expect vended ammo to be any cheaper than what you'd pay at a Walmart for example.

[BigAl52]

Coming to Colorado not sure how that happened. Should make some of the boys in the big city a little nervous

[fortyshooter]

Dumbest thing I ever heard of given the break ins of stores now days!