Reloading supply that deosn't gouge on shipping?

[nonliberal]

Powder valley isn't bad either and they are advertisers on this site.

Grafs is a flat $5.95 handling fee, but you can often find coupon codes to wave that.

 

[TC260]

You have to compare order sizes. Grafs is great for small orders but just last week I compared two larger orders and Natchez ended up being about $25 less than Grafs for the exact same items. Everything at Grafs was a few dollars more which totaled way more than the $10 I would've saved in shipping.

 

[MGYSGT]

I sent an EMail to Mr P at Midway, about shipping small items in large boxes. His reply was, they are looking into it. I just got a shipment of a bolt head from them, in a small 3x5 inch envelope. I was very pleased at the $2 shipping cost. May I suggest , more letters/emails from users to the shippers. If all we do is complain on this site, then who is really to blame.

 

[jonbearman]

They(thedealers) cant make any money by sending a person to mail things hence the extra charge.However the other places that double charge or more for shipping are some of my favorites and it seriously makes me want to chew leather when I get the charges and read them.They are way overpriced and wont do anything about it if we dont flood them with complaint letters arguing sensibly why they charge 15.00 to ship something small enough to go into a envelope.

 

[280shooter]

I know the price of frieght has gone up. But I think they are supporting their TV shows or habits.

 

[DougMH]

I just took 100 Berger Bullets from cradle to grave (w/o actually ordering) on both Midway USA and GRAFS. While the display price on Midway was about $2.50 cheaper, after all the shipping (GRAFS $5.95 for anything ground is great), GRAFS came out $1.84 cheaper.

 

[DougMH]

They(thedealers) cant make any money by sending a person to mail things hence the extra charge.However the other places that double charge or more for shipping are some of my favorites and it seriously makes me want to chew leather when I get the charges and read them.They are way overpriced and wont do anything about it if we dont flood them with complaint letters arguing sensibly why they charge 15.00 to ship something small enough to go into a envelope.

Clearly, I was not meant to be a marketer. It seems to me, Midway USA, sort of the Coca Cola of their industry, would not have to do any advertising beyond their web site. Their order processing is so efficient, it seems like if they stopped advertising, they could go on cruise control and undersell everybody else. I mean they've got tremendous market penetration and word-of-mouth and they could video new products cheaply right on their web site. But, it's not that way for Coca Cola or Midway USA it seems. They both continue to advertise heaivly... and expensively. Like I said, I was not meant to be a marketer.

 

[Sully2]

I had an issue with Midsouth yesterday. I ordered two 100 count boxes of .224 bullets. They charged me $7.35 shipping via FEDEX. They claim to use the cheapest method shipping. I wanted them to put the order in a small USPS $5 priority box, but they claim there would be an added charge of $2.50 for "insurance" by the PO. I told the supervisor I did not want insurance; she said they require it. I did order the bullets anyhow. Upon receipt, I will take those two boxes of bullets to the PO in a small Priority box and ask the charge for shipping with and without insurance to Clarksville, TN. Will report back.

They can stick those 2 items in one of those crdboard postal envelopes...you now the "If it fits it ships" deal and let it go for $5.95 I was buyign E-bay lead pigs...and the guys would stick 10 of them in one envelope and mail it to me.

 

[TC260]

They can stick those 2 items in one of those crdboard postal envelopes...you now the "If it fits it ships" deal and let it go for $5.95 I was buyign E-bay lead pigs...and the guys would stick 10 of them in one envelope and mail it to me.

I have a suspicion that the reason none of the mail order companies use the post office is because the post office doesn't come to their door to pick everything up the way UPS, Fedex, etc. does.

 

[nonliberal]

Also it makes for bad customer service. With UPS or Fedex you can track a package from start to finish. With the post office you may or may not see it again again for a week and its almost impossible to get them to find a package for you. The typical response to a lost package is "give it another week to turn up".

 

[markr]

I ordered a sinclair trimmer with base and sharkfin from them awhile back because they had the best price! $12.85 shipping and a $3.50 handling fee changed all of that real quick. I called to discuss it with them and the girl that answered the phone acted loke there wasn't even a post office in their town. The USPS will deliver packaging to the business and pick up packages that are ready twice a day if necessary and provide the boxes free of charge. I believe that UPS and FedX provide kickbacks tp businesses that ship frequently...JMHO

Bruno's has great prices, but shipping is expensive. I paid a 3 dollar handling charge and 12+ dollars shipping on an item that would fit 10 X over in a $5.00 USPS flat rate box. Personally, I don't mind the $3.00 handling charge, as I realize there is a packaging and labor expense involved in the process. Sure wish they would consider shipping alternatives though. I order some items from McMaster-Carr and get them the very next day at reasonable (by today's standards) rates.

 

[KenO]

I went through the same thing when I wanted a couple air seals for my air pistol (IZH46M). They are just 1/4" rubber washers. I went though the checkout on several places that handled them, and the shipping was $15! I had just gotten 1000 bullets from Powder Valley and didn't pay that much, how can washers that don't weigh an ounce cost that much?

I started calling the places asking, then telling them I would be happy to pay $5 for shipping if they would just put them in an evelope and put a stamp on it. No one wanted to be bothered, and said "it is what it is". My last call was to Pyramyd Air, and they agreed. They put them in an envelope and charged me $3 for the shipping. Any future business will go to them for air rifle/pistol stuff.

 

[Leaddog]

I've stopped buying from some of the 'big name' venues because of the shipping costs (and I buy alot of stuff). As a small business owner, I know how much these things cost to ship. Some of the companies selling to us are gouging us. Btw, as a small business owner, I ship hundreds of automotive products (average weight 9 lbs.) each month at no cost by UPS. My prices are also the lowest in my market. That's why I have a beef with these companies. Maybe more folks could tell these companies they want fair and accurate shipping costs... or we walk.

 

[plinker625]

While lots of people are free to offer up ideas, not everything can be implemented in a large scale operation. Like use of flat rate boxes....most in places have weights for products and not dimensional on every thing like bags of brass from Win etc. unlike a fixed dimension of say a box of berger bullets. Like 2 of their large boxes fit a small flat rate box, and 6 of the small and medium in small flat rate box. As related before if the shipper uses Regional Flat Rate boxes then

Things to consider using UPS.....have stuff shipped to a commercial address such as your work if it will not violate company polices. This will save you about $3.50 or more over shipping residence. Do not lie as UPS will upcharge the sender if it is not a commercial address. Rural address really bite when using UPS, might want to consider using USPS for sure in that case unless haz mat stuff.

USPS does do not pick up twice a day from shippers, unless they pay a fee for the second pick up of about $15.00.

For those in the upper midwest Speedy Delivery Service is an option that some vendors use, and their freight charges are better then most if that is an option. They Do Haz Mat stuff, so might be an option.

 

[KEYBEAR]

Shipping is/can be a rip-off .
Last week I sent a 11lb. Rifle to a buyer in Pa. from Ind.
Sent it Fed-X ground on Wedensday At 4.30 pm he got it friday cost $13.62 . I always look at the shipping cost on e-bay before bidding .

 

[markr]

While lots of people are free to offer up ideas, not everything can be implemented in a large scale operation. Like use of flat rate boxes....most in places have weights for products and not dimensional on every thing like bags of brass from Win etc. unlike a fixed dimension of say a box of berger bullets. Like 2 of their large boxes fit a small flat rate box, and 6 of the small and medium in small flat rate box. As related before if the shipper uses Regional Flat Rate boxes then

Things to consider using UPS.....have stuff shipped to a commercial address such as your work if it will not violate company polices. This will save you about $3.50 or more over shipping residence. Do not lie as UPS will upcharge the sender if it is not a commercial address. Rural address really bite when using UPS, might want to consider using USPS for sure in that case unless haz mat stuff.

USPS does do not pick up twice a day from shippers, unless they pay a fee for the second pick up of about $15.00.

For those in the upper midwest Speedy Delivery Service is an option that some vendors use, and their freight charges are better then most if that is an option. They Do Haz Mat stuff, so might be an option.

They will here in Louisville, and do it at many businesses! No extra charge. At some of the businesses they leave a trailer, just like UPS.

 

[wapiti25]

I shop looking at the shipping as part of the "cost of the Item". I understand that Midway is not going to send one of their employees to the post office, he/she is on the clock. The small business owner may do it on their way home but it is not practical for the larger Co.'s.

 

[amlevin]

The Brownell's-Sinclair "Marriage has proven to be a boon for my needs. I order on Monday and have the as soon as Wednesday via USPS.

I've had enough of Midway's "Minimum order handling charge" and floating backorder availability dates. I have yet to receive an item from Midway that was backordered on my shipping doc's. I usually wait until their first "availability date" passes then cancel the order and get it from someone that had it in stock all along.

As for "Natchez", I just use them for "Price Matching" at places like Optic's Planet, etc.

 

[amlevin]

They can stick those 2 items in one of those crdboard postal envelopes...you now the "If it fits it ships" deal and let it go for $5.95 I was buyign E-bay lead pigs...and the guys would stick 10 of them in one envelope and mail it to me.

I have a suspicion that the reason none of the mail order companies use the post office is because the post office doesn't come to their door to pick everything up the way UPS, Fedex, etc. does.

Actually, the Postal Service does pick up at your business. UPS usually negotiates special "deals" with large companies if they are the "exclusive" shipper.

On the "lead pigs", I get all my 9mm and ,223 bullets from Montana Gold. A case weighs between 40 and 50 lbs. MG's boxes fit just right in a USPS flat rate box. When I get an order, usually 2-3 cases, the Postal Carrier just backs into my driveway and knocks on the door. She even offers me the use of her hand truck.

 

[Hopkins]

All I can say is that shipping , special handling charges and funny back order policies has turned my Midway catalog into a reference book. I have moved my business elsewhere. I guess I am a throw back to different era because I also used to spend a lot with Cabelas but have gone back to LL Bean and Orvis because of quality issues with Cabelas branded merchandise.