Midway complaints

[VTG 99]

I have spent a lot of money at midway and have not always been impressed with their customer service. In addition there has been other issues with some products ...brass etc... I have recently did a little searching and found many complaints from others. I am wondering where others purchase their components and your experiences. I don't mind spending a little more money and/or buying from the little guy so to speak. I have preferred midway in the past because I thought their website and the ease of use was superior and I struggle enough with that kind of stuff. I have bought a few things from Brownells, Natchez and Midsouth but not enough to pass judgement. Thanks in advance

 

[RustyInBend]

Interesting ... I've bought a ton of stuff from MidwayUSA over the last six or seven years, and literally "never" had a bad experience. Even when I'm returning something, they've always been fair and responsive. Haven't needed a lot of supplies lately, but I'd have no issues buying from them again, based on the past.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Your first post here is a complaint. Only issue ive had with them is a shipping label is generated when you order and they consider it shipped. It may not actually move for days. This is a minor gripe and no place is perfect

 

[NF1E]

Always had excellent results from dealing with Midway. Whatta Hobby!

 

[nakneker]

Blue collar reloading
Powder Valley
Natchez
Raven Rocks Precision
Brownells
Precision Reloading
Midsouth Shooters supply
Brunos

I’ll shop all of those for pricing and sales. The weekly bulletin here often lists specials too. Powder Valley has been having some solid sales on primers and offers free hazmat at times. Out of that list my personal favorites are Blue Collar reloading and Powder Valley. Raven Rocks doesn’t have a huge inventory but he has deals on bullets and brass that can be hard to beat at times.

I still use Midway way at times too. I have had complaints about packaging twice but they usually ship promptly and sometimes have deals on optics that are hard to pass. I agree with you that their website is easier to navigate more than most. Good luck in finding someone who meets your needs.

 

[6.5 forever]

Your first post here is a complaint. Only issue ive had with them is a shipping label is generated when you order and they consider it shipped. It may not actually move for days. This is a minor gripe and no place is perfect

Larry always touted fast shipping.
As you pointed out, creating a label didn't mean it shipped. Often 2-3 days before the carrier received it. We have found that FREE shipping meant some kind of second rate service that is slow. But knowing that, I accept it. But I generally find better pricing elsewhere.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have spent a lot of money at midway and have not always been impressed with their customer service.

I don't know any of us that haven't spent a lot of money on shooting related items.
If I have a complaint I take it to the source. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Long time Mid Way buyer.
I needed something last order and paid for Faster Shipping Rate.

Well it took longer and and I had to order a second product.
The Mid Way order made it in 16 days..........
I called and got a " this some times happens,sorry".

 

[Paddyd]

Midway has become the most expensive place online for components. Rarely do they offer free hazmat and shipping fees. I too have spent a pile of dollars there in yrs past, but today, Midsouth is my go to for components.

 

[gmr4]

Midway is expensive since the new leadership started… I believe they changed the pricing strategy. I recently wrote them asking why 500 bullets were $55 more at Midway than at Blue Collar, no answer. Midway will not make sure large orders of bullets or brass are the same lot number.

 

[TC260]

I have spent a lot of money at midway and have not always been impressed with their customer service. In addition there has been other issues with some products ...brass etc... I have recently did a little searching and found many complaints from others.

Any company doing as much volume as Midway is there's going to be complaints, especially so if you're searching out complaints on the internet . I don't order as much as other people but I've pretty much had zero problems with any of the larger suppliers, they're all good. Having worked in retail at one point, I've witnessed how utterly ridiculous customers can be so I don't put too much weight on individual complaints if the general trend of a company is good.

 

[moondog]

I've also spent a ton at Midway over the years. When Covid and the shortages hit, they in my opinion took advantage to gouge. They are not a Mom and Pop shop struggling to make ends meet. I did E mail them when I saw what they were doing. My business goes elsewhere. I'll pay more to support the ones who had some morals. I've not given them a Dime since.

 

[HuntClub]

I have bought a lot from Midway but the last year has been quite trying with the way they ship their orders. Two orders w/i 6 months have had shipping issues. I watched one order go to the west coast, then to Louisiana.... then to Pensacola (where I am only 25 miles from) and then straight to SOUTH Florida where it seemed to disappear. I asked for a refund on a lost order but customer service stated I had to allow 30 days for the delivery to arrive before they would consider it lost. WHAT??? It took almost 5 weeks to get the order.

A second order, last month, went all the way to Michigan, then to Georgia - then disappeared - but then arrived about 3 weeks after ordered. Just a basic review of the order "route" shows it traveled roughly 1500 miles beyond what is necessary. Why?

I have not had problems with items ordered, just the way the order is handled when shipped.

The last order I did send back. They were slow on processing the refund as well. Orders just should not take that long to be received when items are in stock when ordered. Period.

There are others that I have no issue with their shipping methods. And as much as I would love to order some 215M right now, I'm not ordering from Midway because of shipping. I don't care if it does move faster with hazardous material handling and signature required.

 

[bobm]

Midway has become the most expensive place online for components. Rarely do they offer free hazmat and shipping fees. I too have spent a pile of dollars there in yrs past, but today, Midsouth is my go to for components.

Midway has had free shipping for 90 days straight spending over $100.

Primers seen today: (per 1000)

...................Midway...........Midsouth.........Grafs...........Bluecollar

CCI 200......$59.00..........$95.00............$63.00..........$65.00
Fed 210M...$77.00..........$120.00..........$83.00..........$90.00
Rem 9.5......$60.00..........$110.00..........$65.00..........$92.00
Fed 215M...$84.00..........$130.00..........$90.00..........$120.00

 

[Rick Richard]

For strictly reloading supplies you can’t beat Bluecollar Reloading in North Carolina.

 

[CJ6]

Midway has had some added fees that I have issues with. Like 85 cents for a LUNCH fee....WTH is that about ? Called and was told they'd look into it and credit my account , never did as far as I could tell.
Midway is at the bottom of my list for ordering.

 

[Paddyd]

Midway has had free shipping for 90 days straight spending over $100.

Primers seen today: (per 1000)

...................Midway...........Midsouth

CCI 200......$59.00..........$95.00
Fed 210M...$77.00..........$120.00
Rem 9.5......$60.00..........$110.00
Fed 215M...$84.00..........$130.00

Both Midsouth and Powder Valley have had the CCI400s at $54. Per thousand. Powder Valley had free shipping over $99 last week.
While in yrs past, I was a Midwayusa guy, no longer. I now only shop there if I cant get it elsewhere.

 

[cem]

I find Midway as good as any. I can't hold shipping issues against the vendor though I have had problems with shipping and with the U.S mail. I'll buy from everybody in this country and in an idle hour I'll check sales and surplus pricing from any vendor I remember.

Camera Land has given some good service for optics in addition to all the others mentioned above. It seems to me that Midway, huge as it is, cherry picks what it stocks while the smaller more specialized firms stock some maybe lower demand items.

For example I just checked on Z Series turret heads for the Redding T7 and if Midway has them I can't find them. I didn't see Z series at Midway when I was buying a T7 turret head though I bought one from stock elsewhere. Capitalism works and I find pricing pretty fair across the board.

 

[mongo chicago]

I would like to know what specific issues the OP had. Too general of a statement to have any real meaning. As far as the packages touring around before being delivered correctly sounds more like a problem with UPS or who ever was delivering the package.

 

[Krogen]

I'm another long-time Midway customer. My sole complaint is their typically lousy packaging. They seem to grab a box, throw your stuff in and drop in a couple air pillows or a wad of paper. I have learned not to buy something heavy like bullets or ammo along with something relatively fragile. I am not alone in grousing about their packaging. It's been going on for a long time. They have to know about it. I can only guess it's an economic decision. Cheap labor and quicker packing more than offset the cost of replacing damaged goods. Not my business model, but then I'm not a bean counter either.

Grumbling over, I do like their website and they generally have what I want in stock. They're oblivious enough to show an item's UPC. Paste that UPC into Your Favorite Search Engine and see who else has it at what price. Buy enough from Midway to get free shipping, compare the prices against other suppliers and Midway often gets my business. They are the big elephant people pick at. They provide a service and they're not going away anytime soon. It still pays to consider other suppliers too.