An open letter to Sinclair International

[dreever]

Dear friends at Sinclair (Fred, I sure hope you read this).
Ever since Sinclair's merge with Brownells for some unexplainable reason I never get a catalog unless I call and ask "Where's my Catalog?" I spend my fair share at Sinclair's every year, and when I call whomever answers assures me I'm on the mailing list and they send a catalog out to me. This happens twice a year, every year so I have to call.
I realize you contract with whomever to do a mass mailing and it is beyond your control (at least that is what you tell me every time I call) but you need to consider this: What if I'm not the only one? What if there are hundreds of catalogs not mailed that you are paying for under the false assumption that they are actually being mailed? How much revenue might be lost because buyers go elsewhere because they never got thier catalog?
This now has been going on for years and it is time someone on your end investigates to find out just what the heck is going on.
Yes, it's only a minor inconvience, but if it were my business I'd want to find out just what is going on.
I called this morning and Megan was very nice and will send my catalog out, but here again you are paying for a second catalog plus a second round of postage for everyone that has to call.
I'm sure others will post a reply here so that may give you an indication just how many are affected.

Danny Reever

 

[cmillard]

this is why a lot of companies are going to online shopping and have online catalogs. sometimes i like to get the catalogs myself, but the catalogs don't list any promotions or sales like the websites do.

 

[lightman]

I'm not getting a catalog either.I can and do shop online,but the online catalog is noy really friendly for those that like to browse.Thanks, Pete

 

[Nodak7mm]

I too have noted its been pretty irregular in getting a catalog vs the yrs past.

However my bigger sqauwk is that the website is not like Lightman said user friendly. It simply takes forever to load the pages and it doesnt matter what computer or IP I am using. Not sure how much data and graphics it trys to load, but its like being on "dial-up". So I do not like to go there. Ordered once on line, wont do that again.

Human nature, if it is inconvenient (a pain), I wont use it. Sorry Sinclairs.. Fantastic stuff & service, but your storefront sucks.

Nodak

 

[jesker]

I also quit getting my catalouge from sinclair, I don't think I have ordered from them since

 

[1000yardstare]

Odd. I live outside the U.S. and receive a yearly catalogue, sometimes two a year. I always order by fax. Have no idea if that is connected to a mailing list.

 

[kitsap]

I am sure there are lots of variations on this.

I have cable internet and the web site is as fast or faster than any other I visit. The web site has matured and improved over the past few years.

Also I have not missed receiving the catalogs for at least the past ten years.

DougF

 

[tripcrow]

I got my new catalog last Wednesday and phoned in an order for bullets and some other goodies same day. Wish they’d go to USPS Priority Flat Rate shipping. I’m still waiting on my order to arrive.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Just got my new catalog today.
And the shipping "is" getting a little on the expensive side. USPS Priority Mail sure would be real nice for some of those "small things" that you just can't live without.

 

[slewfoot]

I buy alot from Sinclair. The cat. are few and far between. In fact the last one I rec. was picked at their store' by a friend of mine. I had him tell them about my lackof rec. them. I hope it will help in the future. I really like them. Allen Travous

 

[broncman]

Brownells have been Midway USA's BEST salesman! I have a TERRIBLE time loading Brownells sight to order anything , where as Midway is a breeze.

I looked at my 2 year order history from Midway's and

I wished I had half that money back....

 

[NorCalMikie]

That'll teach you to look at you "order history".

 

[Flybuster]

Just received my catalog (without asking) and really happy with my last shopping experience with Sinclair. Using the vendor link from this site I purchased over $250 worth of reloading merchandise and received free shipping with a promo code: SHIP009 to make the shopping experience even better, I had forgotten a small part and added it to my order after it shipped, they said "no problem" and shipped it out with no shipping charge. The service representative who corresponded with me also assured me I will love my new .284 because he built one last year and enjoys his.

 

[kjcpoint]

Second the catalog issue. The catalog also lists some stuff not on there web page. I have ordered a ton of stuff from them lately and still have yet to recieve the new catalog. A friend of mine orders about $11 worth of stuff every 3 years and he gets a catalog every other week? go figure.

kyle

 

[squirrelduster]

I just received my catalog today.

 

[SS427]

I've been getting two a year for the last three years. Kinda wish they would stop sending them to me cause I covet what I see. I keep one copy on the back of the can and one in my recliner. I end up placing an order about once a month.

All the suppliers must be on to my weakness. Cabela's sent me a 1,500 page hardbound catalog, and Midway sent me a 1,000 page catalog. I expect my MidSouth catalog any time now. I for one will not be looking at any order histories!

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I received my new Sinclair catalog late last week. The first one I asked for took quite some time to get here. As a matter of fact I placed an order online, received the merchandise, and then a couple of weeks later received the catalog. Didn't quite make sense to me but, who am I to say.

Mike

 

[xtightg]

Hi I got my catalog a few days ago in New Zealand ;D

 

[dreever]

It's pretty evident that there is a problem somewhere. I sent this link to Bob Blaine, and he e-mailed me that he's forwarding it up the line, so Sinclair's now knows a problem exists.
The big question is will the new management care to do anything about it. I and some of the rest of you will know if we recieve the 2010-B catalog six months or so from now.

As to the shipping issue costs are going up everywhere and the Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are going up too, but still are a bit cheaper and every little bit helps. It would be better for us if they would revamp thier shipping policy to charge by the actual weight of the order. NOT to change to the shipping per dollars spent like some do either. Right now you pay the same regardless if you buy a 17 pound rest or a couple of thousand cleaning patches. I figure they feel it all works out in the end for them, that's why they do it this way.

Danny

 

[flatlander]

Dittos to Danny's experience with no longer getting a catalog. I don't know (nor do I really want to know) how much I've spent with Sinclair's over the past 15-20yrs, but I had to ask for the last catalog I received from them, and I think it's the 2009-A issue. Now if they sent out as much crap as Cabela's do, I'd probably prefer to have to ask for an annual catalog. I do usually get their holiday sale flier, but the regular catalogs have been few & far between for the past couple of years.