Attempting to Buy from Midway-The Saga Continues

[NVcurmudgeon]

I posted a month or so ago about being told by Midway that they could not ship ammunition to my ZIP code. (Pleasant Valley, NV, an unincorporated area near Reno.) This week, under the impression that Midway has a corner on Lee 7.62 Nagant revolver dies, I ordered them from Midway. In order to avoid the small order charge, I added 200 Starline unprimed brass to the order. Again I was told that the brass was verboten in my area. I have since found out that Starline sells their brass direct, without shipping charge. I ordered the dies from Graf & Sons, who don't charge for shipping unless you want your order in a hurry. Regular UPS or Fedex is free. I just got off the phone with Graf and they never heard of any restriction on brass or ammo orders to Nevada. Graf also gives a dealer discount to C&R licensees. Let's see, I have a CCW from Washoe county, a C&R license from the dreaded ATFE (just got a pistol delivered this week), and I can't buy empty shells? Methinks that Big Bwana Porterfield has gotten too big and is now "cherry picking" his business. Just for fun I think I'll run the alleged restriction past State of Nevada, Washoe County, City of Reno, and USPS.

[wills]

http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/nv/laws.html

[NVcurmudgeon]

Thanks, wills. I couldn't find any applicable State law. The Reno P.D. never heard of anything except restrctions on tracers. I have a call in to the County Sheriff's Dept. (the local LE authority where I live.)

[swheeler]

Bill: try and order anything from this one- OUTDOOR SUPERSTORE, Greeneville, SC- hopeless, totally hopeless!!!!!

[NVcurmudgeon]

Updating the vississitudes of attempting to remain a Midway customer. There is nothing applicable in State of Nevada law, the Washoe County Sheriff's office never returned my call, and Reno P.D. says "buy anything you want, except incindeairy or tracer." Next calls will be to USPS, UPS, and Fedex. Meanwhile, I have dies and a mould coming from Graf & Son without shipping charge, and they do give the dealer discount to C&R licensees. Brass? Apparently Starline hasn't heard from Midway that it's illegal to send me brass. I have a 250 pack of 7.62 Nagant on the way from Starline without shipping charge. If Midway is monitoring this site, EAT YOUR HEART OUT, BWANA PORTERFIELD.

[Buckshot]

.............I would send Potterfield and e-mail, stateing the problem and then stating what you found out, and then mentioning what you had done and WHO is shipping you brass and/or ammunition.

...............Buckshot

[wills]

File>Send>Page by E mail>CustomerService@MidwayUSA.com

[StarMetal]

Bill

This isn't a pitch for Midway, but here goes. First Midway has a C&R discount too, I have one with them. Grafs doesn't have a shipping charge because it's incorporated into their prices and in addition they have a service charge. I've never had any problems with either of the two of the and order from both. I can understand where you have a problem and now really hate the company. Buckshot is right, write a letter to Potterfield and explain. You just haven't reached the right person yet at Midway. Hey wouldn't it be something, like the guy that wrote a nasty letter to a company that he had bought something from that you assembled and there were some nuts missing. Well he must have pissed them off because one day he awoke to find quite some large pile of nuts in his driveway. Maybe you will piss Midway off and they will dump a pile of 7.62 Nagant brass in your driveway. Let me know if they do, I'll take some.

Joe

[carpetman]

Write Potterfield---what a joke. Deaf ears. Years ago,when Midway had their shipping charges included in the bill and ofcourse called it "free"(which we all knew it wasn't---but Potterfield didn't figure we knew the difference)there was a no notice announcement that things changed. Potterfield in his arrogance said it's my company,my decision,like it or lump it. True--it is his company. Folks that had stuff on back-order that had negotiated things with the shipping included were now charged shipping fee. Whose fault was it that the stuff was on backorder? Certainly not the customer. May not have been Midways? Their supplier might have messed over them somehow---but the customer should not pay. To me it was very chintzy. Then Potterfield comes out with ads and shows him in his safari gear as he is headed to Africa. Poor guy couldn't afford to pay the shipping charges on the backorder deals he had negotiated,but could afford a safari????? He has the attitude of a kid that was born rich and spoiled and not a self made man. Why write and tell him you think his company stinks and that he is a rectal orfice (that's polite for *******--I sure cleaned that one up didn't I?)--he's already heard and ignored such.

[StarMetal]

Ray,

Yeah you cleaned that one up, good thing you didn't type ******* on here cause we all could get in trouble.

In checking prices, including the total, I don't think Midway is that bad. Grafs and Midway about equal out. I've gotten stuff from them super fast too.

Joe

[wills]

Folks that had stuff on back-order that had negotiated things with the shipping included were now charged shipping fee

Breach of contract, fraud, deceptive trade practice.

[carpetman]

Wills---I would have guessed that the policy of charging folks shipping charges on back-ordered items would be breach of contract. I am surprised there was not a class action suit against them,but I never heard about it if it happened. I wish there had been and it cut Potterfields safari short. Prior to that I did a lot of Midway business and have done ZERO since. Oh yes,Potterfield is a hero with NRA in that he requests customers round up to next dollar and that is an NRA donation. Who knows,as chintzy as he is he probably puts a little in his pocket for handling fees---gosh that would be fair for all his work.

[Iron River Red]

Come on man, tell us what you really think about him...

[NVcurmudgeon]

Joe, this isn't the first time I've butted heads with Midway. Last time my complaint reached a very nice older lady who actually got me free shipping on one order if I did not go away. Still no ammo or brass because, "it is in the computer and it can't be changed." Yeah right, blame the computer when the problem is corporate bureaucracy and employee sloth. Midway is on the self destruction trail, they won't listen to me. Besides, I can't run a "victory" over an idiot system through my guns, I'll just go where I can get what I need.

Ray, I agree with your take on Midway. The ironic thing here is that I would have probably gone on putting up with their shipping charges, extra shipping charges on back ordered items, minimal inventory bait and switch on "sale" items, etc. IF THEY CHOSE TO SUPPLY MY WANTS. It has reached the point where I am reluctant to beg them to sell me stuff any longer.

Midway is probably making money operating the way they are at the present. The owner doesn't care, why should he? The employees are only following orders, being good Nazis, keeping their jobs, and being rewarded. There is an old Navy expression that is a great comfort in this situation. "Bleep 'em all, except six for pallbearers." Porterfield is number seven IMO.

[carpetman]

NVCurmudgeon---Bill,I can't blame Midways mess ups on the employees. Right after the change in policy a few years ago,Potterfield wrote a letter that he took all responsibility for the change. Afterall,it is his company and he can do as he pleases. Very arrogant attitude as if there were no other companies and the customers had no choice. It is his company,and if there are mistakes--I blame him.

[StarMetal]

I understand the dispute isn't about shipping, but as a general rule most companies charge you for shipping. Funny one guy buys a Ford and it's the best car he ever had and the other guy buys the same model and year and has all sorts of problems with it....AND both are treated differently at the dealership from which they bought them from. I happen to think Midway and Grafs are both super...I buy almost all my stuff from them, while Wideners is 30 minutes from me. Wideners prices are higher, they don't give any kind of license break, and TN sales tax is 9.75 percent. Only thing I buy at Wideners is hazardous fee products.

Joe

[carpetman]

Starmetal---You think Midway is super. I just realized it. I have seen you. I saw you in a parade in your Navy uniform. That loose tie with the square knot a flapping,spit shined shoes a sparkling and you were the ONLY one in the whole parade that was in step.

[Slowpoke]

Oh yes,Potterfield is a hero with NRA in that he requests customers round up to next dollar and that is an NRA donation. Who knows,as chintzy as he is he probably puts a little in his pocket for handling fees---gosh that would be fair for all his work.

Yea I don't give Midway much of my coin these days, Its a rare day I can't get more bang for my buck else where.

Actually two weeks ago was the first time I placed an order with them since 1997.

They reminded me I had a $30 credit due me that I had totally forgot about.

I thought that was decent of them.

Good luck

[StarMetal]

Ray

I don't think they are super, but I also don't think they are out of line with the other gun accessory dealers. Get this, us TN residents can't buy anything from
Natchez Shooters, unless you have an FFL , because they feel it is unfair to the dealers in the area!!!! Talk about *******s, they're it. I don't buy from Midsouth cause they charge me sales tax, might as well buy it from Wideners then. I mean who else is there that carries as an exstensive live of stuff besides Grafs, Midway, Midsouth, Natchez Shooters????

Yes siree Ray, Us sailors can stay in step. I'll have you know too that I just didn't roll my necherchief by starting from one side, but by rolling a double roll from starting two opposite from each other. Makes a spiffy tie then. Another old swabie trick was to soak your whitehat and then place it over a coffee can and roll the rim down. That's what we called four O squared away.

Joe