Mail order shipping prices are insulting

[baldyPI]

I wanted to order some .440 Hornady Round Balls from Cheaper than dirt, as I don't have a mold for my Jukar "Junkar" pistol, and found them at CTD for $9.00 per hundred. As I don't shoot the thing hardly ever, I thought that was reasonable... till I put in my zipcode (Virginia) and then did their calculate shipping thing. It came up $14.00, give me a freaking break, thats 1.5 times the price of the boolits...!

Anyone on here willing to melt me two hundred soft lead .440 round balls, and ship em to zipcode 24124 for $20.00? Not sure how many will fit in the small priority size USPS box, but you might be able to get the whole 200 in there, and ship em for $6.35 cents.

A small sprue on the balls is fine and they don't have to be picture perfect. These are primarily for 25 yard or less plinking, not competition shooting!

If someone's interested, best to email me direct so I don't miss your response: james@bulldogpi.net (yeah, I am a PI who also likes to do black powder shooting) :bigsmyl2:

[bbqncigars]

Graf and Sons are good for those kind of orders. $5 flat rate shipping.


Wayne

[44man]

Midsouth is pretty good too and I just ordered parts from Sinclair for $5.95 shipping.
Midway and C.T.D. Make money from shipping.
A reputable company will only charge what it costs them.

[wilded]

I did not complete my last two small orders from Midway when I got to the calculate shipping part I just closed the page and ordered at a higher price from a place that would ship at USPS Priority rates, the total was still a lot lower. Charging well over the actual shipping cost is just not right. JMHO

[MBTcustom]

Why not buy a lee mold and make your own?
I would sure cast you some, but I dont have that mold. If you go to S&S section and ask there, you will surely find somebody who could help you out.

[Rockchucker]

I was placing an order with Midway this morning for a Thumler's Thumbler and they wanted 17 dollars and change for shipping. I then checked out Sinclair's price for the Thumbler and it was the same price as Midway's but their shipping was 12 dollars and change, Guess which one got my order. Do these folks think we're stupid or what? Shipping should be the actual price to ship your idem and thats it!

[Wayne Smith]

e-mail sent

[dragon813gt]

Don't forget the handling costs. As well as the packaging costs. I'm not saying that they aren't overcharging. But packaging supplies aren't cheap. And the items don't put themselves into boxes. To expect to pay just shipping and not handling is an unreasonable request.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

[popper]

Like anything, it's quality, price and service, in that order. Shop around - they will charge whatever they need to stay in business.

[Rockchucker]

Don't forget the handling costs. As well as the packaging costs. I'm not saying that they aren't overcharging. But packaging supplies aren't cheap. And the items don't put themselves into boxes. To expect to pay just shipping and not handling is an unreasonable request.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

Not really, Midway lost a sell for over charging freight.

[Gohon]

You guys must not being paying attention to what you select and check off........my last two orders from Midway was shipped USPS Priority rate. Very last order was $9.02 for a $112 order which included postage, handling, and insurance. I'd have paid more than that locally for taxes.

[Mike W1]

Don't forget the handling costs. As well as the packaging costs. I'm not saying that they aren't overcharging. But packaging supplies aren't cheap. And the items don't put themselves into boxes. To expect to pay just shipping and not handling is an unreasonable request.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

Nobody ever thought supplies were cheap but it's a a cost of their doing business I'd say. After all if you're mail order/online business that's included in their pricing. Don't charge me more than actual postage and far as handling charges that is their job. They're not providing you with an air conditioned store to shop are they? Include it in their prices and I don't wanna see any additional charges. Then the playing field is level.

[dragon813gt]

So you'd rather have hidden charges? Or products that cost more but then cheaper shipping? The handling charge is there for a reason. Stop expecting things to be free. If you don't like the charges then shop somewhere else. I personally try to buy everything from Amazon first. Due to the free shipping. But it's easy to understand how they can offer this when you see the volume of business and the automation they have.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

[9.3X62AL]

I've made a lot more orders this year with Graf's than with Bwana Larry. Part of that has been shipping costs, but the deal-killer with MidwayUSA is that they are ALWAYS out-of-stock on at least 30% of my prospective order.

Given that MidwayUSA is likely reaping some profit on their S&H charges, it makes sense to claim or actually be out-of-stock on a part of the orders, in order to reap further such windfalls. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Roger Ronas]

When you buy from a brick and mortar store there is no handling charges. I feel that if they set a price that is out the door price (+taxes, if applicable). So I feel the price advertised is that price if I walk in the store. If it needs to be shipped, then I feel that packing is no worse then in the store putting it in a bag. Shipping should be actual cost. The shipping companies come to the company to pickup packages and in fact I believe they get discounts for shipping contracts also.
JMHO
Rog

[Rockchucker]

Over charging for freight and sticking Handling charges on top of that is like airlines charging the 100.00 fee for an extra bag. They should stick all their little fees into the base price of their product and it would make the consumer's job easier to shop products. Bottom line is they can about do what ever they want to as far as pricing goes, Smart folks will always shop for the best price, some wins and some loses.

[fatelk]

As a comparison, I made a small non-gun-related order from McMaster Carr. It was shipped UPS ground, only a couple pounds. They only charged me $5 total shipping. I didn't think you could ship anything UPS for only $5. They must get a pretty good discount because they are a big outfit.

I tend to agree about packaging and handling costs being added on. I consider that a cost of doing business like the electric bill or building maintenance costs. It reminds me a little of the "regulatory compliance fee" on my phone bill. Complying with various regulations is just a cost of doing business. It seems like it's just a way to make your prices look a little cheaper to attract customers, then add on these expenses so you don't loose money selling too cheap. Not a big deal either way as long as they're up front about it, just not the way I would want to do business.

On the other hand, maybe it's a subtle way to discourage small orders. I suppose a small order takes almost as much time and materials to package as a large one, with a lot less profit. Just trying to see it both ways.:)

[44man]

I bought a new fridge from Home Depot this year. Cheaper then Sears, free delivery and they took my old one.
A friend just bought one from Sears and they charged her $60 delivery plus $10 to take the old one. The store is about 4 miles away.

[tomme boy]

I ordered a bearing for a machine I was working on last year at work. Shipping was $1400.00 You read that right. Straight from Germany. Overnite.

Midway used to charge actual shipping cost. Now it is another way to make money. Take whatever they are charging you and cut it in half. That is what they are making on the shipping.

[TheBigBang]

I've made a lot more orders this year with Graf's than with Bwana Larry. Part of that has been shipping costs, but the deal-killer with MidwayUSA is that they are ALWAYS out-of-stock on at least 30% of my prospective order.

Given that MidwayUSA is likely reaping some profit on their S&H charges, it makes sense to claim or actually be out-of-stock on a part of the orders, in order to reap further such windfalls. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I too have have experienced this phenomenon of Midway virtually always being out of stock on something I want on most of my "order sprees". I HAVE wondered sometimes if it might often be intentional. But if they're doing it intentionally, they've cost themselves more than they've earned with me, because I often end up giving the order to Midsouth or somebody. And Midsouth and some of the others are first choices on many orders anyway, so *IF* they're doing it intentionally, the may not be reaping as much of a windfall as they think. But I don't know that they're doing it intentionally, all the companies get out of stock at times & it seems like there's alot of higher demand/lower supply troubles these days. It does seem, these days, that more & more companies are looking to make a significant profit from "shipping & handling" charges. Also, in many cases, I think the idea is to have lower product prices to fool you into buying from them, then put the screws to you with the inflated "shipping & handling".

fatelk: They actually already have an extra fee for small orders.

:Bright idea: I think it's time for me to open up a "shooter's supply center" & because I'm a nice guy, to help all of you, my beloved fellow shooters, I will send you whatever you want ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! (You just pay seperate s/h.) BWAAAHAHAHAHA! :twisted:

[Stick_man]

I prefer the "out the door" pricing some places offer. When I am shopping, that is the only way to really compare actual costs. Granted, the cheapest price out the door is not always the best price, but if you don't ever need to deal with customer service or returns, it is.

I shop at Costco (big warehouse store here) for a lot of things, but I will not buy electronics from them again. I had to return an iPod once and didn't have user manual when I went in. I ended up having to buy another iPod, open the package, pull out the manual, and only then could I get a credit for the faulty one. Even though their pricing was the lowest around on it, I would have gladly paid the extra couple bucks and gotten it elsewhere and gotten better customer service. Just sayin'

[Griz44mag]

How many businesses will survive if they charge exactly what it costs them? Shipping is an expense, just like the expense a business incurs buying the goods that they are selling, or the costs incurred by the labor they hire to do the work. Does a mechanic shop charge exactly what it costs them for their hired labor or the parts they install? Do the freight companies charge for drivers, truck and fuel exactly what it costs them? Without profit, our way of life would collapse. New goods and services would never develop, and existing goods and services would cease to exist. The "charge exactly" what it costs idea is called socialism, a method of doing business that has failed in every place it has been tried. If you don't like what a company charges for it's goods and services, shop elsewhere, the market and the bottom line will decide what a fair price is. The companies that give everything away will collapse from no profit, the companies that charge too much will also collapse from no business. Midways seem to be doing very well, so the market seems to think they are not overcharging, and since they are flourishing, they must be making a profit. That's what we call capitalism! And that, is not a bad thing.

[BruceB]

Griz44mag just stated EXACTLY what I was struggling to put into words, but probably better than I could.

You want to see a picture of frustration? For many years, living in Canada, we saw the Midway ads....and the goods were UNAVAILABLE to us because Midway would not ship to Canada. Later on we moved to the USA and I lost no time in becoming a Midway customer. That was fifteen years ago, and I'm STILL a contented Midway customer. Never a back=order or a mistake in filling my needs, and VERY few times when items were out of stock.

Don't like their business practices? Go elsewhere.

[Wally]

Also, these larger mail order forms get a huge discount from UPS and FedEx as a high volume shipper, yet many don't pass on the savings to their clients.

[Rockchucker]

Also, these larger mail order forms get a huge discount from UPS and FedEx as a high volume shipper, yet many don't pass on the savings to their clients.

Midway sure doesn't pass any savings onto their customers, they charge extra. A good friend of mine works a local manufacturing company and ships out a large quantity of their goods daily. UPS gives them a decent discount and they pass this savings onto their customers, oh they charge plenty for their goods and they should so they can make a profit and keep their doors open, But they don't beat them to death on freight.

[MT Chambers]

Just a note to fellow canadians....never have anything shipped to Canada by UPS or any other courier, use US Postal service only! The others charge "brokerage fees" at the border, and these can be double the price of the goods!

[TheBigBang]

I don't think ANYONE here is suggesting these companies give us "something for nothing", or that they not recoup the actual cost of shipping & handling. No one here is in any way suggesting these companies should not make a profit. When you go into a grocery store & buy a load of groceries, the store provides bags to put those groceries in, those bags cost that store money, but they don't charge you a "bag fee"! They have cashiers to tally up your purchases, take your money & give you your change, those cashiers cost that store money, but they don't charge you a "charge determination & collection fee"! I'd like to see the looks on your faces if they did! They don't lose money either, because these costs, along with all the other costs of doing business are factored into the mark-up of the goods they sell.

How many businesses will survive if they charge exactly what it costs them? Well, in the case of shipping & handling, all of them can, because the profit needed to remain in business should be coming from the mark-up of the products they sell. Now, the freight companies charge more than their actual cost, but in the case of the freight companies, shipping & handling *ARE* the "poducts" they sell, the ONLY products they sell. MidwayUSA is not a freight company. What this thread is about is companies gouging the consumer by grossly inflating their S&H charges well beyond their actual cost in order to "sneak" a nice fat "hidden" profit. Or lowering their product prices so that it "appears" that they offer a lower price than their competitors, in order to "trick" consumers into shopping with them, then making up for their "artificially" lower prices by jacking up the S&H charge. It is NOT about a bunch of "commies" wanting free stuff.

[9.3X62AL]

Big Bang summed my feelings up succinctly. Thanks, sir.

[PAT303]

I think you guys are lucky.In Oz powder is $50 a pound,primers are $7 a packet,bullets? jacketed are $50 a box for .30 cal,loaded rounds for the 243 and up are a dollar each and to top it of Midway charge a $20 fee for any oversea's orders,most others won't ship orders under $200.I think you blokes are in front. Pat

[Buckshot]

I think you guys are lucky.In Oz powder is $50 a pound,primers are $7 a packet,bullets? jacketed are $50 a box for .30 cal,loaded rounds for the 243 and up are a dollar each and to top it of Midway charge a $20 fee for any oversea's orders,most others won't ship orders under $200.I think you blokes are in front. Pat

...............Sounds like a business opportunity to me :-)

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

[ku4hx]

When I purchase online, I look strictly at total, out-the-door, cost. For some S&H is higher than others and for others the per item cost is higher. Generally, the marginal difference between the two is not especially significant. When the nearest component vendor is 40-50 miles away, one way, gasoline cost enters the picture. "High" S&H is far less than round trip fuel cost when I have to drive 130 miles to the Atlanta, GA area. And brother, the one "near" place that sells primers and powder in an adjacent state knows they have you trapped. Fact is, it's cheaper for me to buy powder and primers online and pay the full HazMat cost myself. Of course, group buys help out there a lot.

Cost is all a part of the dance and frankly if I want to call the tune, I have to pay the piper. I'd rather have "high" S&H for components then no components at all because vendors can't afford to stay in business. That's what happened locally about ten years ago, so those of us that buy online have gotten what we asked for ... no local vendors period for loading components and supplies.

[Buckshot]

...............Shipping is crazy sometimes. I cruise Midway, Graf, Natchez and Midsouth usually, but his time it was Midway and Graf. I had some stuff I'd selected at Midway in my shopping cart. It was 5 Graf's cartidge boxes, 2 bottles of Lee LA and 2 other otems I don't recall now. Midway's shipping was $15.20.

I went to Graf. I'd put the stuff in my shopping cart at Midway to do a comparison. I will NOT buy Midway's ammo plastic ammo boxes as they're now (and have been for a couple years) made in China. So at Graf's I ordered MTM boxes which were .79¢ more then Midway. The Lee LA was cheaper and so was one of the other items, and the final item, which escapes me now was a bit more then Midway.

Graf's shipping was $5.95. By buying from Graf & Son I saved close to $9 in shipping vs what Midway charged. I will admit however that NO ONE carries all the stuff Midway does. They're the 2000 lb gorilla so far as overall diversity of product items goes, but I think they're counting on that, and take advantage of it.

If you go all the way except of the final step in checking out at Midway, and leave the stuff there, you will get a nice e-mail from Midway Customer Service letting you know you didn't complete your order, and wanting to know if there was a probem. I advised them that I was comparison shopping, and while I paid .79¢ a box more at Graf for the MTM ammo boxes, I refused to buy Midway's made in Communist China junk. In addition 2 of the other 3 items I bought at Graf's was less expensive. I aslo mentioned that Midway showed $15.20 in shipping and Graf's shipped it for $5.95. I had saved about $9.00.

I got an e-mail back (no mention at all of the shipping discrepancy) mentioning that they'd let the marketing folks know of the price discrepancy for the 2 items. Checking back at Midway a couple months later, those 2 items that were cheaper at Graf's were STILL the same price at Midway.

Some stuff is simply amazing however and not limited to gun stuff. I've had an old B&D 7.5" circular saw since dirt was fairly new. IIRC I bought it at K Mart for probably $19.95 or some such. I'd been using it with a dry diamond blade for cutting some Granite rock I was laying for a fire pit. It was getting so it vibrated/groweled when you released the trigger and the blade slowed down. Now I own 2 Skil worm drive saws. A Mag77 of a couple years of age and an older one in a steel case, and didn't HAVE to have the old B&D. But it'd be like ditching a loyal old friend.

I've had that old B&D since the '70's and it has done a whole bunch of wood cutting, and was now being used for cutting rock for goodness sake. I felt I owed it something, like a member of the family :drinks: I tore it down and found it was very well built except it had 2 bushings where 2 ball or needle bearings should have been (had I designed it). Anyway, those 2 bushings were honestly shot. Both were bronze oil impregated and on the motor shaft. One was 12mm ID x 18mm OD x 14mm, and the other was the same except 22mm long. The only place that had them was McMaster-Carr. Boths bushings together were just a tad over $3. Shipping was $4.74 so what the heck, I ordered them. Those 2 small bushings came in a box large enough to house 2 pair of adult sized tennis shoes!

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

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

If someone's interested, best to email me direct so I don't miss your response: james@bulldogpi.net
James
I sent you a email.
Jon

[blackthorn]

MT Chambers----A BIG +1!!! UPS to Canada is one of the biggest rip off's around!! I will not buy from the US if the only option is to have my order shipped UPS! Once bit shame on thee, twice bit shame on ME!!

[Shiloh]

One has to find out what shipping charges are. You're right. They can get spendy.

Shiloh

[Four-Sixty]

I'd recently considered a Midway purchase of around $50. When I saw shipping was going to be $16, it stoped me cold. I did not order. If Midway chooses to be agressive on their shipping prices, I can surf the internet and take a better price somewhere else. I think this will ulitmately backfire on them. (Especially with internet forums where customers can learn where they can get better prices)

I ended up spending most of that money with another site member and got a good deal on some brass instead.

Every time you buy used from another forum member you keep your hard earned dollars out of the hands (taxes) of the government. You also enable another board member to earn tax free income. Participating in the swapping and selling section is a very rebellious act!

[sig2009]

Don't like their business practices? Go elsewhere.

I do. They don't get any of my money! Most people don't realize the cost that comes from sponsoring all the gun shows on the outdoor channel. Stop being a sponsor and lower your prices!

[Rockchucker]

I do. They don't get any of my money! Most people don't realize the cost that comes from sponsoring all the gun shows on the outdoor channel. Stop being a sponsor and lower your prices!

I do also, but you beat me to the reply.:violin:

[MBTcustom]

Most people don't realize the cost that comes from sponsoring all the gun shows on the outdoor channel.
I do.
Most folks dont realize how much that stuff does for your shooting rights.
Midway gets 99% of my business.
Also, I just up and give money to the NRA, and I'm just as broke as anybody.
Its a huge waste of time to write a letter to a senator or two, but I do that also.
Any company that goes to bat for my gun rights like Midway has, gets a good chunk of my business.

[dmize]

I do. They don't get any of my money! Most people don't realize the cost that comes from sponsoring all the gun shows on the outdoor channel. Stop being a sponsor and lower your prices!
Have you ever seen tax writeoffs companies get for "advertising"??
Heck in the pissant car dealership I work at they were able to writeoff 2 totaled cars last year under "advertising".
And I agree with goodsteel at least Midway is doing something to help us.
If someone wants to get their panties in a wad over $10 so be it. Like a couple of local guys bad mouthing the local gunshop over his prices and ordering **** online instead.
Untill I mentioned that without the gunshop,were better than 100 miles from the nearest powder and primer supply.

[smokeywolf]

So far, I've spread most of my business between Midway, Grafs and Sinclair. I too am willing to pay more for U. S. made products and avoid buying Chinese products if at all possible. Midway, like most LARGE companies, frequently count on consumers to be either a little naive or too impatient to price shop. That's why they don't always adjust their pricing to be competitive with Graf or others.
My wife has an internet business and does all her own shipping. Her U.S.P.S. charges typically run $500.00 to $900.00 per day. Just yesterday, she had to mail 2 pages of legal documents Express Mail to Japan; it was $38.00. She said, from Japan to here would have been about half that.
I know that sometimes companies will discount a product and then increase the shipping to fool a naive consumer. For that reason, you have to compare shipping as carefully as product pricing. However, it appears to me that most of the profits from exorbitant shipping prices are being reaped by the U.S.P.S.

smokeywolf

[sw282]

l remember when Midway charge s/h was ZERO. l think they started chg in 2004. l ordered a Lee final crimp die and a .358 luber/sizer kit from Natchez Monday. Goods came to $30. S&H was another $15. l asked why so much? They said liquid lube was hazardous material and had to go UPS. l told them l had just been "LUBED" too. But no kiss

[sig2009]

I do.
Any company that goes to bat for my gun rights like Midway has, gets a good chunk of my business.

Ya Right! Tell that to the legal gun owners in Massachusettes. Midway refuses to sell anything to MA. residents. Screw them!

[sig2009]

l remember when Midway charge s/h was ZERO. l think they started chg in 2004. l ordered a Lee final crimp die and a .358 luber/sizer kit from Natchez Monday. Goods came to $30. S&H was another $15. l asked why so much? They said liquid lube was hazardous material and had to go UPS. l told them l had just been "LUBED" too. But no kiss

What a crock of bull. If it was hazardous as they said they would have to charge you hazmat fee.

[Griz44mag]

Ya Right! Tell that to the legal gun owners in Massachusettes.
Maybe if the voters in MA would throw all of the Democrats and Liberals out of office there, most or all of the stupid guns laws that they have there could get repealed and the sellers could once again sell freely to the residents. Don't blame a vendor for the laws that the voters allowed to be enacted. Go vote and fix the mess there.

[MBTcustom]

I dont mean to step on any toes here. I just wanted to ever so gently point out that our freedoms are under attack. We are in jeopardy of loosing it all someday, and that day is getting closer and closer. Midway is a little higher than the competition, that's true, but they spend an incredible amount of energy fighting for you. They don't have to do that, they get no thanks, but they do it anyway. Now I don't like getting charged extra when I receive nothing for it, but I have never felt that way with midway. Name me one other company that took the time to incorporate an NRA donation option into every single order? Hmmmmmm, I hear.......crickets.......
Name me one other company who's founder personally makes cheesy videos to show you how to properly use the products?
What other company has as many reviews on the different product to help you make the right decision on what to buy (lots of which spell it "boolits")?
How about selection (availability aside)?
I like all that stuff, but none of it is free. In fact some of those things cost a small fortune.
Again, not to step on any toes here, but seriously, is cost really everything?
There is a war going on in this country, and its getting more turbulent by the day. You might want to consider supporting the folks that are doing more than sitting on their butts letting it happen.

[TheBigBang]

I dont mean to step on any toes here. I just wanted to ever so gently point out that our freedoms are under attack. We are in jeopardy of loosing it all someday, and that day is getting closer and closer. What hacks me off is that in this sport everybody is so incredibly cheap! If it were up to you guys, you would gladly and willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights if it would save you a couple of bucks on shipping, or taxes, or fees of any kind, (at least that's the way it seems). Midway is a little higher than the competition, that's true, but they spend an incredible amount of energy fighting for you. They don't have to do that, they get no thanks, but they do it anyway. Now I don't like getting charged extra when I receive nothing for it, but I have never felt that way with midway. Name me one other company that took the time to incorporate an NRA donation option into every single order? Hmmmmmm, I hear.......crickets.......
Name me one other company who's founder personally makes cheesy videos to show you how to properly use the products?
What other company has as many reviews on the different product to help you make the right decision on what to buy (lots of which spell it "boolits")?
How about selection (availability aside)?
I like all that stuff, but none of it is free. In fact some of those things cost a small fortune.
Again, not to step on any toes here, but seriously, is cost really everything?
There is a war going on in this country, and its getting more turbulent by the day. You might want to consider supporting the folks that are doing more than sitting on their butts letting it happen.

Whoa there buddy!!! Where do you get off telling people you don't really even know that they're "incredibly cheap"? And that we would "gladly and willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights" just to save money? That's one hell of a leap to make because of some posts about inflated shipping charges!

If you don't mean to step on any toes, you shouldn't be making asinine, insulting comments like that! How do you know how much money we may have privately given to gun rights organizations? Most manufacturers & sellers of shooting related products support the NRA & various gun rights & shooting sports organizations. In many cases this may be nothing more than "baby kissing", just like the sly old politicians would do. In any case, it's pretty much normal business practice for all of them. Just exactly how much does MidwayUSA (as opposed to all the others) REALLY "support" the shooting community, just how hard DO they work "on our behalf", do YOU *REALLY* know, have you VERIFIED the facts, or are you just taking their word for it? And in any event does it give them some special right to gouge their customers, isn't it up to the customer to decide who he wants to donate his money to & how much?

Most sites have product review sections, nothing special there. Videos? The videos are as much or more of a SELLING TOOL (ADVERTISING) as they are to help customers, imagine PAYING the Electrolux man to come into your house & give you his sales pitch! These videos are not unique either, Brownell's has videos. And how do YOU know what these things cost, do you pay their bills? With the technology of today, if you REALLY knew the the actual cost, you might find that these things are really quite cheap. In any event, they are the costs of doing business & ALL companies have such costs. Selection? I'll give them that, I'll tell you here & now, I'm familiar with ALOT of mail order shooters' supply companies, so far as I know, MidwayUSA's selection is second to none!

I don't HATE MidwayUSA, they've gotten THOUSANDS of my dollars & will likely continue to do so. I have found products there I've found nowhere else that I considered the best available for their purpose & that were less than half the price of obviously inferior items intended to serve the same purpose. But they have also LOST THOUSANDS of my dollars that they would have otherwise gotten because of some of their practices. I am NOT a "cheap-skate" - but I am not a SUCKER either! And you sir, have NO RIGHT to make those kind of judgments about me or anyone else posting to this thread. You don't know us.

[waksupi]

Whoa there buddy!!! Where do you get off telling people you don't really even know that they're "incredibly cheap"? And that we would "gladly and willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights" just to save money? That's one hell of a leap to make because of some posts about inflated shipping charges!

If you don't mean to step on any toes, you shouldn't be making asinine, insulting comments like that! How do you know how much money we may have privately given to gun rights organizations? Most manufacturers & sellers of shooting related products support the NRA & various gun rights & shooting sports organizations. In many cases this may be nothing more than "baby kissing", just like the sly old politicians would do. In any case, it's pretty much normal business practice for all of them. Just exactly how much does MidwayUSA (as opposed to all the others) REALLY "support" the shooting community, just how hard DO they work "on our behalf", do YOU *REALLY* know, have you VERIFIED the facts, or are you just taking their word for it? And in any event does it give them some special right to gouge their customers, isn't it up to the customer to decide who he wants to donate his money to & how much?

Most sites have product review sections, nothing special there. Videos? The videos are as much or more of a SELLING TOOL (ADVERTISING) as they are to help customers, imagine PAYING the Electrolux man to come into your house & give you his sales pitch! These videos are not unique either, Brownell's has videos. And how do YOU know what these things cost, do you pay their bills? With the technology of today, if you REALLY knew the the actual cost, you might find that these things are really quite cheap. In any event, they are the costs of doing business & ALL companies have such costs. Selection? I'll give them that, I'll tell you here & now, I'm familiar with ALOT of mail order shooters' supply companies, so far as I know, MidwayUSA's selection is second to none!

I don't HATE MidwayUSA, they've gotten THOUSANDS of my dollars & will likely continue to do so. I have found products there I've found nowhere else that I considered the best available for their purpose & that were less than half the price of obviously inferior items intended to serve the same purpose. But they have also LOST THOUSANDS of my dollars that they would have otherwise gotten because of some of their practices. I am NOT a "cheap-skate" - but I am not a SUCKER either! And you sir, have NO RIGHT to make those kind of judgments about me or anyone else posting to this thread. You don't know us.


I have been noticing a very confrontational tone in your posts here. Here is a little tip. STOP IT! As it is, I should probably start giving you infractions, and see how fast you collect the whole set. I'm starting to wonder if you aren't a former member back under a different ID. If you are, you will be found out, and gone again. Guess I had better cross check your ISP when I get a chance.

[TheBigBang]

Excuse me, with the exception of perhaps one incident, which I won't go over here, I haven't been confrontational in ANY of my posts. I have tried to help people when I could, when I had some info I thought they could use. I have given my honest opinion on matters, some people may disagree with me & they may be right, but it's my honest opinion, as theirs is theirs. I don't insinuate people are socialists or cheap-skates or accuse them of selling out the sport, so to speak, just because they disagree with me. And no, I am not a former member back under another name.

If you are going to start giving people infractions, maybe you should start with the people who call others "socialists" or "incredibly cheap" because they happen to disagree with them. goodsteel commented that EVERYBODY in this sport was "so incredibly cheap" & that we would "gladly & willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights" to save a buck. That is an insult to me, to you (presumably you are in this sport), to everyone here. There was nothing posted to this thread, by myself, or anyone else, that warranted his comments & you call ME confrontational?

His post WAS asinine, insulting & uncalled for, again, telling people that they'd "gladly and willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights" to save money is pretty strong, NO ONE posted anything to this thread that called for a statement like that. It MERITED the response it got from me.

If you are going to hold some people to a different standard because one is your buddy or something, I'm not sure I WANT to be a member of this site. I stand behind my above post, given the particular circumstances, the insulting & confrontational nature of goodsteel's post, I feel it was warranted. You can give me infractions or ban me if you like, but I've done nothing wrong here.

[muskeg13]

As an Alaskan, living outside the "Continental" USA, I have to be very careful of the shipping costs. UPS and Fed-Ex are often a very expensive add on that drives the purchase into the No-Can-Do arena. I regularly order stuff from most of the main mail order outfits, Midway, Midsouth, Grafs, Natchez, Buffalo etc. The buyer has to be very careful on the shipping choices.

Often, I can't place an economical order via internet, because of the default shipping option. I have to use Uncle Sam's USPS to get stuff, so sometiems I have to either pick up the phone and dial 1-800-, or do without.

I have a real beef with any supplier who won't ship an item to a non-lower 48, but still a valid address in the USA. Gander Mountain balked on me years ago, and they shortly went out of business. Coincidence? I think not.

[Rockchucker]

Excuse me, with the exception of perhaps one incident, which I won't go over here, I haven't been confrontational in ANY of my posts. I have tried to help people when I could, when I had some info I thought they could use. I have given my honest opinion on matters, some people may disagree with me & they may be right, but it's my honest opinion, as theirs is theirs. I don't insinuate people are socialists or cheap-skates or accuse them of selling out the sport, so to speak, just because they disagree with me. And no, I am not a former member back under another name.

If you are going to start giving people infractions, maybe you should start with the people who call others "socialists" or "incredibly cheap" because they happen to disagree with them. goodsteel commented that EVERYBODY in this sport was "so incredibly cheap" & that we would "gladly & willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights" to save a buck. That is an insult to me, to you (presumably you are in this sport), to everyone here. There was nothing posted to this thread, by myself, or anyone else, that warranted his comments & you call ME confrontational?

His post WAS asinine, insulting & uncalled for, again, telling people that they'd "gladly and willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights" to save money is pretty strong, NO ONE posted anything to this thread that called for a statement like that. It MERITED the response it got from me.

If you are going to hold some people to a different standard because one is your buddy or something, I'm not sure I WANT to be a member of this site. I stand behind my above post, given the particular circumstances, the insulting & confrontational nature of goodsteel's post, I feel it was warranted. You can give me infractions or ban me if you like, but I've done nothing wrong here.

Thank you sir for a reply that was very well written, I TOTALLY agree with you and your stand on our rights and freedom of speech.

[MBTcustom]

I apologize. I ran away at the keyboard and said what I think without restraint. I was not trying to slam anyone in particular, I shouldn't have written so strongly, and I apologize. I cerainly didn't mean it that way, I was just trying to point out that some of us consider that doing business with a company like Midway is a deal, considering all the extras you get.

If it were up to you guys, you would gladly and willingly silence every voice that is fighting for our gun rights if it would save you a couple of bucks on shipping, or taxes, or fees of any kind, (at least that's the way it seems).
I wish I had not written this statement. I am very sorry I did. I stand behind everything else I posted.
I have edited my previous post.

[gwpercle]

I was looking for a replacement screw for a set of Jay Scott pistol grips the other day . S & W screws don't interchange. Found some o E-Bay . the screw was .54 cents postage and handling $ 7.00. It's a money making racket.

I whish my momma hadn't raised me to not lie , cheat or steal... then maybe I could make some of that easy money ( it's what I call money for nothing ) .

If I had a lot of money paying $7.54 for a scrw would be ok but my problem is I'm in the construction business and business is bad. I haven't had any work/income in 3 weeks now... what I'm trying to say is I'm poor, but when I got money I'm not cheap about paying for goods and services.

gary

[Olevern]

I just needed to replace a fuel petcock for the fuel tank on a little KTM 50 dirtbike I keep here for the kids to ride. Checked with the closest dealer and they wanted $40.00

Thought that price was excessive, so went online and googled discount KTM parts.

After scrolling thru about the top ten results and working thru their online ordering process (takes about 20 minutes per site with my slow internet) I discovered prices ranging from $15.00 thru $19.95 for the part I needed, but each and every site in the search results (1-10), when one gets thru to the final page which figures postage, ranged from $23.95 for UPS postage up to $29.95 for UPS postage, with no other shipping options.

I think they figure that when you just finished going thru a four or five step ordering process, you are just going to ignore the excessive shipping and click "submit order".

What I did was go to the third page search results and found a vendor who was willing to sell the part for $19.95 with actual postage via USPS of a small fixed rate shipping box.

I may wait a few days more, but I bookmarked the site so that I may use them in the future when I need something.

Those other guys; I hope they paid thru the wazzu for their search result placement and I wish them excellerated gum disease so that all their teeth fall out.

[gnoahhh]

What erks me is when companies and individuals want $5-7 to ship tiny little parts. I went around with somebody who would sell me a couple of small pins I needed at a very reasonable cost ($2.00), but backed out when he insisted on mailing them in a $5 Flat Rate box. I told him to just drop them in an envelope and lick a stamp. What was so hard about that?

[WaywardSon]

I have been in the business of selling products that had to be shipped to the customer for over 30 years. Freight is a fact of life and is a part of your cost regardless of the product. You paid freight on the bag of potatoes you bought yesterday at the grocery store...and on the pound of powder you picked up at the local gun shop last week. Was it shown on your ticket as a separate line item? No, but it is there. Shipping is no different than the light bill to a business. It is part of their operating cost and must be covered like anything else in order to remain profitable.

One thing about shipping that many don't realize, or take into account, is that when a business (like Midway for example) is a distributor, that does not actually manufacture the product you are buying...has to pay shipping to get the product to them before they can ship it to you. Both of those expenses have to be covered.

Shipping is stupidly expensive. As an example, I can drop ship a 55 gal. drum of product to a customer ( I never touch it). Say my cost on the product is $400...shipping will be $95...which the customer is going to pay whether or not it shows up on his invoice as a line item. If the product is shipped to me & I then have to deliver it, he will pay for that as well.

There is really only one way to look at it as every business handles shipping differently. Ignore shipping and focus on your total cost. Make your choices. That said...don't forget to factor in service. In the end, that may prove to be the most important part of the equation.

[Von Dingo]

I do. They don't get any of my money! Most people don't realize the cost that comes from sponsoring all the gun shows on the outdoor channel. Stop being a sponsor and lower your prices!


EXACTLY!

Midway, not too long ago had free shipping and handling, great prices, and turnaround. Since they started all the sponsoring, their prices have risen drasticly.

[Jens]

midway just over charged me

[MBTcustom]

I told him to just drop them in an envelope and lick a stamp. What was so hard about that?
I made a custom grip screw for a member here a few months ago. He sent me his original in a regular envelope with a stamp. I duplicated the screw and sent both out the same way it came in. One week later, the guy still didn't have his screws. I don't know where they went, but they were gone. Fortunately, I remembered all the critical dimensions and I remade two screws from memory and stuck them in a padded, insured and tracked envelope to the customer. Never again will I ship in an envelope.

[GBertolet]

I remember getting notification that Midway was eliminating the free shipping about 10 years ago. Their reasoning was, complaints were coming in from large purchasers in the midwest area ( closer to Midway ) feeling that they were subsidizing customers further away when they paid the shipping included price, and would do better paying a lower price for an item, along with paying seperate shipping for a closer destination. Rather than risk loosing these large volume customers to the competition, Midway made a business decision to end free shipping. I liked the free shipping also, as I am on the east cost, and came out ahead in the process.

[Junior1942]

I made a custom grip screw for a member here a few months ago. He sent me his original in a regular envelope with a stamp. I duplicated the screw and sent both out the same way it came in. One week later, the guy still didn't have his screws. I don't know where they went, but they were gone. Fortunately, I remembered all the critical dimensions and I remade two screws from memory and stuck them in a padded, insured and tracked envelope to the customer. Never again will I ship in an envelope.Yep, shipping a screw or any hard object in an envelope is asking for an envelope with a hole and sans screw to arrive on the other end. I ship screws in a padded manila or Tyvex envelope and with the screws inside a zip bag inside folded cardboard.

[captaint]

If I order some items from Sinclair and they're out of one item, they ship it later and you get NO charge for shipping that item. Guess they figure it's their fault for not having the item in the first place. Sinclair just sent me 2 little set screws for my priming tool - NO CHARGE.. Great people. I actually enjoy spending my money there. enjoy Mike

[williamwaco]

At least once a month, Cabella's will run a special with $5.00 shipping.
They do not have as good a selection as some of the others but you might take a look at their web site.


.

[Alan in Vermont]

I have been in the business of selling products that had to be shipped to the customer for over 30 years. Freight is a fact of life and is a part of your cost regardless of the product. You paid freight on the bag of potatoes you bought yesterday at the grocery store...and on the pound of powder you picked up at the local gun shop last week. Was it shown on your ticket as a separate line item? No, but it is there. Shipping is no different than the light bill to a business. It is part of their operating cost and must be covered like anything else in order to remain profitable.

All of which is perfectly understandable and necessary to make the business viable. It is also factored into the selling price of the goods before the goods are offered for sale.


One thing about shipping that many don't realize, or take into account, is that when a business (like Midway for example) is a distributor, that does not actually manufacture the product you are buying...has to pay shipping to get the product to them before they can ship it to you. Both of those expenses have to be covered.

It sounds like you consider most of us to be too low in intelligence to figur that part out. Thank you very much. You already covered that in your first paragraph. Paying shipping to get product to your facility, so you can resell it should be covered in your selling price, NOT in what you charge to ship it to your customers.


There is really only one way to look at it as every business handles shipping differently. Ignore shipping and focus on your total cost. Make your choices. That said...don't forget to factor in service. In the end, that may prove to be the most important part of the equation.

When I compare pricing and shipping as package Midway loses on both ends. I have spent a few hundred dollars on mail order purchases this year. Not one penny has gone to Smiling Larry & Co. Advertising cost also gets added into the selling price. Virtually bankrolling portions of an outdoor cable TV channel costs a LOT.

If the goal of advertising is to get your name so firmly set in the minds of your potential customers that they use you as a go-to source you really have to pound the $$ to it. Having your own in house TV studio porks the cost even more. Somebody has to pay for those segments that are not a whole lot more than 30 or 60 minute commercials. As long as people think you are the only game in town you can get away with 10% +/- higher prices on what you sell.

What I have found is that, on the things I have been buying, (Lee molds/handles and RCBS shellplates and die plates (Pro 2000)) is that Midway is that 10% more than elsewhere. Add on shipping charges that are also more than what I see elsewhere and it doesn't make sense for me to shop at Midway.

The "total cost" thing works for me. I don't mind paying shipping, it's part of ordering online/mail. What I do mind is when there is a major discrepancy in shipping costs backed up by a higher purchase price. I have to be careful how much I spend and I'm not impressed by hour long infomercials.

[WaywardSon]

Alan,

Thank you for your comments...I'll only take issue with one. I don't consider anyone here to be of low intelligence. We all have different opinions of what is "right" in a business environment. I am completely upfront with my customers...when a prospective customer asks "What about freight?", I just say "You're paying it". And one way or another, they are. Line item or not. Some buyers (or their bosses) have a problem with seeing freight as a line item on an invoice...but no problem with a price that includes freight. Go figure.

I was not defending Midway, just used their name because it had come up in the thread several times. I have bought from them twice...thought the cost was fair and was quite impressed with the delivery time and the packaging job. However, due to many of the comments here I will probably shop around a little better next time I choose to buy online.

FWIW...I am not familiar with Midway's infomercials...don't do TV. However I am sure they are expensive and ultimately paid for by the consumer.

Best.........John

[PAT303]

What I find funny is I have two Land Rover Defenders and because I live in remote outback Australia I have to ship everything in for them,the funny thing is a major city is 1300K's south of me were's England is across the world,if I buy parts from England they get here quicker and cheaper than parts from 1300k's away,the worst part is I've had two NOE molds that never arrived and some reloading tools Buckshot made for me that also got lost. Pat

[MikeS]

I have no problem paying shipping charges, but when they add a 'handling charge' is when I call foul. When I was in the machinery business we always charged a shipping charge (exactly what UPS charged us), and never a handling charge. And I would say that when we shipped out a package it was better packaged than most of the mail order companies of today, we always over packed our stuff, as we wanted to make sure it would get to the customer in the same shape we shipped it in! of course I think companies all did stuff better years ago, and I've been out of that business for almost 20 years now!

[ilcop22]

There's a lot of hating on MidwayUSA in this thread, but even Brownell's is guilty of the new shipping scheme. Their "flat rate" shipping can be a ripoff, though not as bad as Midway or CTD (from whom no one in their right mind would make a purchase).

[Buckshot]

..............Here's an example:

MIDWAY.................

MTM Flip-Top Ammo Box 30-06 Springfield 50-Round Quantity:5 $19.45
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 30-06 Springfield Quantity:1 $28.99
Hornady Bullets 30 Caliber (308 Diameter) 150 Grain Full Metal Jacket. 500 $98.99
Winchester Reloading Brass 30-06 Springfield Bag of 50 $22.99

In Stock Product Subtotal: $170.42
Postage, Handling & Insurance: $22.75
In Stock Grand Total: $193.17

GRAF & SON...............

HRN 30c(.308) 150gr FMJBT BULLET BoatTail PER 500 $104.45
LEE 30-06 SPFLD 3 DIE SET w/FACTORY CRIMP, $28.99
MTM RIFLE FLIP-TOP 50rd ULTRA-MAG STW/GREEN, 5 $16.95
WIN BRASS 30-06 SPRFLD UNPRIMED 50/bag $25.39
In stock product subtotal: $175.38
Handling & Insurance: $5.95
Order price complete: $181.73

The difference is Graf is cheaper by $11.44. I picked these particular items hoping they'd be available from both vendors, and they were. The MERCHANDISE was $5.36 cheaper at Midway.

I then deleted 3 MTM boxes at Midway and shipping dropped to $17.65 via USPS Large Flat Rate Box. The total then changes to:

MIDWAY: $176.40

GRAF & SON: $174.95

Admittedly Midway carries a much larger and more varied inventory then Graf, and also most other general suppliers. Sometimes Midway is less expensive, and sometimes not. Some of the things that aren't cheaper can be surprising like the MTM ammo boxes.

The bulkier items at Midway will soon push you out of the USPS FRB's and into the UPS shipping area. Depending upon what you're ordering it could well pay a person to do a bit of comparison shopping at Graf's with thier flat shipping rate. I am going to leave my (Fake) order at Midway and in a couple days I'll get an e-mail asking why I didn't complete my order :-)

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

[johnho]

Buckshot, love you tag line on fools. how sad it is that this is so true. this line says it all about our country now. It needs to change.

[TCFAN]

..............Here's an example:

MIDWAY.................

MTM Flip-Top Ammo Box 30-06 Springfield 50-Round Quantity:5 $19.45
Lee Pacesetter 3-Die Set 30-06 Springfield Quantity:1 $28.99
Hornady Bullets 30 Caliber (308 Diameter) 150 Grain Full Metal Jacket. 500 $98.99
Winchester Reloading Brass 30-06 Springfield Bag of 50 $22.99

In Stock Product Subtotal: $170.42
Postage, Handling & Insurance: $22.75
In Stock Grand Total: $193.17

GRAF & SON...............

HRN 30c(.308) 150gr FMJBT BULLET BoatTail PER 500 $104.45
LEE 30-06 SPFLD 3 DIE SET w/FACTORY CRIMP, $28.99
MTM RIFLE FLIP-TOP 50rd ULTRA-MAG STW/GREEN, 5 $16.95
WIN BRASS 30-06 SPRFLD UNPRIMED 50/bag $25.39
In stock product subtotal: $175.38
Handling & Insurance: $5.95
Order price complete: $181.73

The difference is Graf is cheaper by $11.44. I picked these particular items hoping they'd be available from both vendors, and they were. The MERCHANDISE was $5.36 cheaper at Midway.

I then deleted 3 MTM boxes at Midway and shipping dropped to $17.65 via USPS Large Flat Rate Box. The total then changes to:

MIDWAY: $176.40

GRAF & SON: $174.95

Admittedly Midway carries a much larger and more varied inventory then Graf, and also most other general suppliers. Sometimes Midway is less expensive, and sometimes not. Some of the things that aren't cheaper can be surprising like the MTM ammo boxes.

The bulkier items at Midway will soon push you out of the USPS FRB's and into the UPS shipping area. Depending upon what you're ordering it could well pay a person to do a bit of comparison shopping at Graf's with thier flat shipping rate. I am going to leave my (Fake) order at Midway and in a couple days I'll get an e-mail asking why I didn't complete my order :-)

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

Buckshot
One question. Is there a difference in shipping time to you from Graf compared to Midway.I am in Missouri and have to pay sales tax on top of Midways shipping charges but the shipping time is very fast for me. Never more than 2 days.I have never bought any thing from Grafs.......Terry

[Lance Boyle]

So you'd rather have hidden charges? Or products that cost more but then cheaper shipping? The handling charge is there for a reason. Stop expecting things to be free. If you don't like the charges then shop somewhere else. I personally try to buy everything from Amazon first. Due to the free shipping. But it's easy to understand how they can offer this when you see the volume of business and the automation they have.


Brought to you by TapaTalk.

Handling can easily be considered a factor in the original price. It's a fact that the product is "handled" somewhere along the line. Just where you insert it in the price to the consumer is the question. This is no different than buying a car. Forget the shuffle, just look at your total cost as a consumer and make your judgement there.

I'm probably neurotic on orders trying to get the best value. I swear, I'll open 2 or 3 browsers, Midway, Grafs, MidSouth, (sometimes Wideners but they're selections are limited) and I'll fill the 3 shopping carts with the items I want and my address and see who has the best to the door price. A couple weeks ago Midway won out with a 10% off promo and they had the items all in stock. Sadly my new 314299 Lyman casts a bullet with a .3124 band and a .299 nose. The mold is on it's way back to CT for a recut. :cry:

[Buckshot]

Buckshot
One question. Is there a difference in shipping time to you from Graf compared to Midway.I am in Missouri and have to pay sales tax on top of Midways shipping charges but the shipping time is very fast for me. Never more than 2 days.I have never bought any thing from Grafs.......Terry

..............I honestly don't recall any difference in shipping times between the 2.

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

[ku4hx]

Just 1 1/2 hours ago I shipped (via UPS) my son's birthday present to him: a Glock 357 Sig barrel and 250 rounds of ammunition. Cost was $21.72; package weighed 9.90 pounds but got billed at the 10 pound rate.

Sometimes you just have to spend a little coin to live your passion and help others do the same. As my Economics 101 professor said, "There aren't any free lunches". For me shipping falls into the "cost of doing business". Or in these type cases, part of the cost of the overall shooting passion.

[gandydancer]

I won an item a while back on ebay a small frying pan(new) for $1.00 no other bids shipping was $11.99. I had it canceled. check you electric bill some time you will find a delivery fee for the juice to your house. A DELIVERY FEE. lord help us all.

[Buckshot]

...........As per my expectations, I got the following e-mail .............

Hello RICHARD,
Just a reminder, you did not complete your order at MidwayUSA.com. We want to make sure we do everything we can to help. If there was a problem on our end, or there is any way we can help, just let us know by replying to this email.

View Your Cart

Access your cart. We saved your place.

Thanks for Your Business!
Larry Potterfield,
Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA

I sent them a list of the 4 items ordered along with Midway's total (Shipping highlighted) and Graf & Son's total price including shipping, which reflects an $11.44 savings (a substantial savings) via ordering from Graf & son. I suspect I will get a reply thanking me, and letting me know they have let someone know.

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

[Rockchucker]

Buckshot, I think the way you handled it was out standing, They need to know and maybe they do realize they're leaving money on the table lately.

[Inkman]

Slightly off topic, but go price a RCBS Pro Melt at Midway and then price it at Grafs. Huge difference and that's before shipping! Same with primers and powder. I put Midway up there with Cabelas as far as the "high cost" leader in shooting products.

Al

[Buckshot]

................Re, my post (#76 above) I got this reply from Midway: ..............

Dear Rick,

Thank you for your recent email letting us know why the order was not completed online. We appreciate you taking your time and giving us this feedback. Feedback such as yours will be captured and aggregated for our team. We regularly review this information to help create continuing improvements. We are constantly reviewing our price and shipping to remain competitive in this market. I hope that you will be happy with the changes that are soon to be rolling out. MY emphasis added.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-243-3220. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT. You may also email us at customerservice@midwayusa.com.

Thanks for Your Business!
Niki
MidwayUSA Customer Service

[ku4hx]

................Re, my post (#76 above) I got this reply from Midway: ..............

Dear Rick,

Thank you for your recent email letting us know why the order was not completed online. We appreciate you taking your time and giving us this feedback. Feedback such as yours will be captured and aggregated for our team. We regularly review this information to help create continuing improvements. We are constantly reviewing our price and shipping to remain competitive in this market. I hope that you will be happy with the changes that are soon to be rolling out. MY emphasis added.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-243-3220. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT. You may also email us at customerservice@midwayusa.com.

Thanks for Your Business!
Niki
MidwayUSA Customer Service

Earlier this year, I bought (on sale) 800 rounds of .22LR ammunition from Midway. When the package arrived, all the cartridges were loose in the cardboard box because the two small sheets of brown craft paper used as packing material simply didn't hold the ammo boxes securely. I complained strongly to Midway and emailed them pictures of the freshly opened shipping box.

I got a full refund on S&H. Say what you want about Midway, I've been using them for well over thirty years and they've always "made it right" for me when I had cause to complain. And on a couple of occasions, they did so when the item's manufacturer wanted to argue.

I'll take that kind of "insurance" every time over dead lowest cost.

[Beagle333]

Another couple of weeks (if the heat breaks) and all I'm gonna be paying shipping for, is lead.
(Nearly finished collecting stuff to make my own boolits)[smilie=w:

[H.Callahan]

(Nearly finished collecting stuff to make my own boolits)[smilie=w:

*hahahahaha* Silly rabbit! If you get hooked on this, you are NEVER going to be finished collecting stuff.

:kidding:

[Beagle333]

Okay.... **revised to say**: Nearly finished collecting stuff to make my first boolits.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Earlier this year, I bought (on sale) 800 rounds of .22LR ammunition from Midway. When the package arrived, all the cartridges were loose in the cardboard box because the two small sheets of brown craft paper used as packing material simply didn't hold the ammo boxes securely. I complained strongly to Midway and emailed them pictures of the freshly opened shipping box.

I got a full refund on S&H. Say what you want about Midway, I've been using them for well over thirty years and they've always "made it right" for me when I had cause to complain. And on a couple of occasions, they did so when the item's manufacturer wanted to argue.

I'll take that kind of "insurance" every time over dead lowest cost.

scattered and loose 22LR ammo in a box is a bad thing, especially if you were buying Match ammo, I've had that with Natchez...they did replace it after I complained...

I've had this same kind of issue with Natchez shooters supply, multiple times.
Yes they made good on the problems, replaced damaged merchandise and such...BUT what a hassle, and then to wait for another shipment !!! I rarely get a well packed shipment from them...of course it's been a while since I've ordered from them...the last problem was a big one. On the other hand, Midsouth always pack there shipments extremely well.

TODAY, I placed an on-line other with Midsouth for some case prep equipment and 2 Lee 6 cav. molds. I duplicated the on-line order with grafs, natchez and midway. Grafs didn't have hardly anything I wanted. Midway had most, but missing 2 items I wanted, and their prices were highest, I didn't check shipping. Natchez did have everything in stock but shipping is higher, but prices were cheaper. End result total of the order: Natchez=$161 and Midsouth $163
I'd pay an extra $10 for this size order, if I knew for sure my order will be packed as well as all my previous orders from Midsouth has been packed. I assume it will, that's why I ordered from them. it's especially important when there is 2 aluminum boolit molds in that box !!!
Jon

[H.Callahan]

Okay.... **revised to say**: Nearly finished collecting stuff to make my first boolits.
There ya go! That's the spirit!

http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/12109/thumbsup.gif

[DrCaveman]

I'd say to get more savvy in your shopping. Midway rules.

Make a list, check it twice. Prioritize the items on your list, and if a few of them are out of stock, wait a few days or more to make your purchase. Don't mess with out-of-stock backorder items, and if your favorite falls in this category, then once again, wait.

I've yet to order anything from midway which exceeds 8% s&h fee. You just need to pace your purchases so that you get the best bang for your buck. Ive shopped around and the other providers simply do not carry the items I want, therefore I pay more percentage in shipping from them than I do with midway.

It took me years (and I am pretty young) to swallow online ordering. But once I do my research, and check availability, midway has been the winner for my purchases. Handling is a very real cost to distributors, and I like that they pack my cardboard box in a way such that my varied contents aren't damaged. This can't be calculated into some BS up charge to the goods, but rather how they can methodically arrange my purchases into one pack.

That is worth a few bux, and I also like the trickle in factor of NRA contributions. Anyone ******** about $5.00 shipping on a $3.00 purchase should research the realities of being a distributor, and become more savvy when they are the end recipient.

Yes, it takes as much trouble and time to properly pack 2 screws as it does 4 sets of reloading dies.

[TheBigBang]

I'd say to get more savvy in your shopping. Midway rules.

Make a list, check it twice. Prioritize the items on your list, and if a few of them are out of stock, wait a few days or more to make your purchase. Don't mess with out-of-stock backorder items, and if your favorite falls in this category, then once again, wait.

*The problem with this, for myself, and I think, many others, is that, while delaying your order waiting for an item or items to come in, other items you wanted go "out of stock". Also, sometimes one needs a product within a particular timeframe & waiting isn't really an option.

I've yet to order anything from midway which exceeds 8% s&h fee. You just need to pace your purchases so that you get the best bang for your buck. Ive shopped around and the other providers simply do not carry the items I want, therefore I pay more percentage in shipping from them than I do with midway.

*Midway DOES have a great selection (when it's actually in stock), but MOST of the Items they sell are available from at least ONE of the other dealers I frequently patronize. Also, there are things available from some of the dealers that (GASP!) AREN'T available at midway.

It took me years (and I am pretty young) to swallow online ordering. But once I do my research, and check availability, midway has been the winner for my purchases. Handling is a very real cost to distributors, and I like that they pack my cardboard box in a way such that my varied contents aren't damaged. This can't be calculated into some BS up charge to the goods, but rather how they can methodically arrange my purchases into one pack.

*As has repeatedly been stated before in this thread, we are aware that handling is a very real cost to distributors. In reality however, the costs of packing the boxes as you describe, CAN be factored into the cost of the goods, not only CAN it be, it ACTUALLY IS, by many, many companies everyday, along with all the other "very real" costs of doing business & THIS HAS BEEN STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE FOR CENTURIES. The orders I've received from Midsouth & Brownell's (just to name a couple) have been just as well packed as those from Midway.

That is worth a few bux, and I also like the trickle in factor of NRA contributions. Anyone ******** about $5.00 shipping on a $3.00 purchase should research the realities of being a distributor, and become more savvy when they are the end recipient.

Yes, it takes as much trouble and time to properly pack 2 screws as it does 4 sets of reloading dies.

*No, actually, it doesn't. 2 screws can be dropped into a small padded envelope, 4 sets of reloading dies cannot.


It's great that you feel you've done your homework, so to speak & you now feel you're a "savvy consumer". I assure you that I & others posting to this thread have done OUR homework & we feel that WE ARE "savvy" in our shopping & some of us have come to a different conclusion than yourself, but hey, sometimes people just don't all agree on the same thing.

[johnho]

I bet I have not ordered ANYTHING from Midway in over three or more years exactly due to their shipping charges. I can ALWAYS find the item(s) I want cheaper deliverd to my door from other vendors than Midway. I research every puchase so how I can find cheaper delivered items than others I don't know. I only look at delivered pricing.

[white eagle]

goodsteel has a very good suggestion
for the price you are willing to pay you can have a Lee mold and make an unlimited supply of RB'S

[rbuck351]

I live in Alaska and the price for shipping anything ( even 2 screws ) starts at about 35$ if it comes UPS or Fed X. So I only order from those companys that will ship USPS flat rate. Many will not use USPS. Personally I would like all the charges to be added into the cost of the item except shipping and charge the actual shipping cost. It would save some surprises at the checkout. Another thing that really ticks me is when I get charged $15/$20 for shipping and it arrives USPS with a $3 stamp on it. Another good one is the free shipping on orders of $xx until you get to the end and find out that doesn't include Alaska. Free shipping is only for continintal US. I'm still trying to figure out what continent Ak is part of. Oh yeah, try ordering some reloading powder in Ak. Ok Rant over.

[Griz44mag]

rbuck,
I was just thinking that maybe the Alaska shipping issues are because the state is not accessible by truck without the trucks needing to travel through a foreign country. That means border stops and customs 4 times in a round trip. The only other way to move freight there would be by air or ship, with ship being a very slow alternative, and air being expensive. Picking a place as beautiful as Alaska to live would have a few drawbacks, but if I could, we would be neighbors...

[Junior1942]

Re: " 2 screws can be dropped into a small padded envelope,.."

Yes, that's true. But I sell and ship screws. If I shipped, via USPS, 12 padded envelopes each containing 2 screws, 4 of the 12 envelopes would arrive with a hole rubbed in the envelope and with no screws inside. Shipped to California, 8 of the 12 envelopes would arrive sans screws. So I put screws in plastic bags and wrap the bags with cardboard and put it all in padded envelopes or cardboard boxes for larger orders. The envelopes and boxes always arrive with the screws still inside--even to California.

[fryboy]

speaking of screws .... in basics we all are when it comes to shipping lolz but even mailing something beats the cost of hand delivering it ourselfs ( no sir , across town or county doesnt count )
man ... some of you get more worked up over this than politics , and i'm afraid to state the obvious truth - we're all cheapskates ( even if you're in denial ) or we wouldnt be here making our own boolits and ammo or bartering for used brass etc , face it because deep down you know it's true ( meaning it's nothing to let the blood pressure raise over ) and if the truth offends you that's in your makeup not in my words , yes sir we all be cheapskates , always looking for the bigger and better deal , eh but while you can lie to yourself and state you arent please dont insult the rest of us and say you aint , a good example ? two totally identical rifles - one is $199 and the other is $99.99 - which one will you buy ? ( yeah thought so ... 'nuff said )
much like most folks money is tight and i do shop around and i compare all the incurred cost , as noted some places are higher and some lower , i'd like to order from natchez - especially lee stuff as it seems about cheapest there but even on a small order shipping is high - too high , yet on a large order ( and usually above what my meager funds will allow ) it ends up being cheaper ( go figure ) making the cheaper prices worthy . beings as the large orders escapes me ... i do what i can to help offset shipping from anyone - i try to buddy up ( mostly it works ) and a great for instance is hazmat fees , splitting it with a buddy in need of powder drops my shipping cost in half , if i can find 3 buddies in need then it drops to a quarter of what it was ( and i could use some more local friends for such if anyone's in the middle of america - read that close by lolz )
worse ? as fuel prices go up so too will everything else - especially shipping [dabnabitman]

[garym1a2]

Just wondering if the cheaper companies return policies are any good. With midway if I get defective material they make it right and either give me refunds or replacement parts.

[TheBigBang]

speaking of screws .... in basics we all are when it comes to shipping lolz but even mailing something beats the cost of hand delivering it ourselfs ( no sir , across town or county doesnt count )
man ... some of you get more worked up over this than politics , and i'm afraid to state the obvious truth - we're all cheapskates ( even if you're in denial ) or we wouldnt be here making our own boolits and ammo or bartering for used brass etc , face it because deep down you know it's true ( meaning it's nothing to let the blood pressure raise over ) and if the truth offends you that's in your makeup not in my words , yes sir we all be cheapskates , always looking for the bigger and better deal , eh but while you can lie to yourself and state you arent please dont insult the rest of us and say you aint , a good example ? two totally identical rifles - one is $199 and the other is $99.99 - which one will you buy ? ( yeah thought so ... 'nuff said ) much like most folks money is tight and i do shop around and i compare all the incurred cost , as noted some places are higher and some lower , i'd like to order from natchez - especially lee stuff as it seems about cheapest there but even on a small order shipping is high - too high , yet on a large order ( and usually above what my meager funds will allow ) it ends up being cheaper ( go figure ) making the cheaper prices worthy . beings as the large orders escapes me ... i do what i can to help offset shipping from anyone - i try to buddy up ( mostly it works ) and a great for instance is hazmat fees , splitting it with a buddy in need of powder drops my shipping cost in half , if i can find 3 buddies in need then it drops to a quarter of what it was ( and i could use some more local friends for such if anyone's in the middle of america - read that close by lolz )
worse ? as fuel prices go up so too will everything else - especially shipping [dabnabitman]

NO, we are NOT "all cheapskates", in the first place, people don't just make their own bullets & ammo just to save money, maybe that's YOUR only reason, but don't assume so for the rest of us. By making our own bullets/ammo, we can tailor loads to specific guns & increase accuracy, we can tailor loads to specific jobs & MANY OF US ACTUALLY JUST ENJOY THE HELL OUT OF DOING IT. You sir, are talking out of your a**, you don't even seem to have a good grasp of exactly what a cheapskate is. We are not "in denial", we are not "lying to ourselves" & YOU are the one insulting the rest of us by ARROGANTLY PRESUMING to know what is in "our makeup" - you don't know us, so, actually, the offense is, indeed, in YOUR words, NOT "our makeup". And it's not the truth offending us, because what you're saying is NOT the truth, it's your arrogance in thinking that YOU know OUR reasons for doing the things we do. It's your arrogance in thinking that YOU know the "truth" of the reasons behind OUR actions & that anyone who doesn't agree with you is "in denial" or "lying to themselves", that disagreeing with YOU is "insulting the rest of us". How do you know these things about us, who you never met, are you psychic, are you God?

Your examples of what makes a cheapskate are ABSURD! Of course, all other things being equal, a person will buy a totally identical rifle for $100 cheaper if they can, that DOES NOT make them a cheapskate, it just means they're not idiots. There is an old saying, "a fool & his money soon part", because someone is not a fool, does not make them a cheapskate. You seem to feel that any person with sufficient intelligence to "shop around" & find the best deal or to barter or trade when it is in their best interest to do so, is a "cheapskate", when, in fact, they are simply displaying their intelligence. rbuck351 posted above about being "ticked" by having paid as much as $20 shipping for an item sent through USPS for $3, I don't think that bothered him because he was a "cheapskate", I think it bothered him because he doesn't like being ripped off. (And before anyone brings up "packing costs", what could be sent USPS for $3 that cost $17 to pack?)Not wanting or liking to be ripped off does not make someone a cheapskate, it just means they're not stupid. It seems, by YOUR oddball logic, that anyone who IS NOT an ignorant "sucker", is a cheapskate.

[fryboy]

any worse than you assuming things about the rest of us ? that's hypocrisy pure and simple kinda like you thinking and saying that i'm arrogant when you know me not , i'm inclined to agree with wasupki , and if i was the type of person to use my ignore button you'd be #1 on the list
fact - 99% of the people who started to reload did so to originally lower the cost ie; cheaper shooting , no non-shooter that i know of has undertaken reloading ( and would you trustthier loads if they did ??? ), and yeah i know a lil bit about reloading , just a little bit mind you as i'm smart enough to know that i'm still learning , you may have a problem with the term cheapskate but that's on you not i and as before the truth often hurts [shrugz]

[TheBigBang]

any worse than you assuming things about the rest of us ? that's hypocrisy pure and simple kinda like you thinking and saying that i'm arrogant when you know me not , i'm inclined to agree with wasupki , and if i was the type of person to use my ignore button you'd be #1 on the list
fact - 99% of the people who started to reload did so to originally lower the cost ie; cheaper shooting , no non-shooter that i know of has undertaken reloading ( and would you trustthier loads if they did ??? ), and yeah i know a lil bit about reloading , just a little bit mind you as i'm smart enough to know that i'm still learning , you may have a problem with the term cheapskate but that's on you not i and as before the truth often hurts [shrugz]

I'm not "assuming" anything about you, I'm not making GENERAL assumptions here. I'm making a specific rebuttal to what you posted, there is NO hypocrisy in that. It's true I don't know you, but I can read what you've written and, in the specific post to which I was referring, you WERE being arrogant, to presume EVERYONE is a cheapskate IS being arrogant. As for it being a "fact" that 99% of of people who reload having started the practice to save money: 1. You have no real way of knowing if that's true. 2. Even if it is true, for what you said to even have a chance of being valid, it would have to be absolutely 100% not just 99% 3. Even if EVERYBODY who reloads does so solely to save money, that does not make them cheapskates. The desire to conserve what is, for even the wealthiest person alive, a FINITE resource does not make one a cheapskate. As for no non-shooter that you know having undertaken reloading, I have no doubt that that is true, but what does that have to do with everyone being a cheapskate? I don't see how that statement would backup any argument you've made here. As for you knowing a "lil bit about reloading", I'm sure you do, but how does that relate to you knowing that everyone is a cheapskate?

I have no problem with the TERM cheapskate, I have a problem with people LABELING others "cheapskate" or for that matter, "commie" "socialist" "whiner" or whatever because they have raised a legitimate issue that the labeler happens to have a differing opinion on. Since you are the one doing the "name calling" that IS on you. While I have stated that you were being arrogant in your above post, I have NOT called YOU any names, put any labels on YOU, or made any GENERALIZATIONS about YOU. I have dealt only with the specific post that you made. The truth is certainly NOT hurting me in this case. Read your own signature quote - Isn't calling EVERYONE a cheapskate judging (unrighteously so)?

[randyrat]

Another couple of weeks (if the heat breaks) and all I'm gonna be paying shipping for, is lead.
(Nearly finished collecting stuff to make my own boolits)[smilie=w:

You will never be finished:kidding:
It is a life long goal to have everything

[Mooseman]

I'm not "assuming" anything about you, I'm not making GENERAL assumptions here. I'm making a specific rebuttal to what you posted, there is NO hypocrisy in that. It's true I don't know you, but I can read what you've written and, in the specific post to which I was referring, you WERE being arrogant, to presume EVERYONE is a cheapskate IS being arrogant. As for it being a "fact" that 99% of of people who reload having started the practice to save money: 1. You have no real way of knowing if that's true. 2. Even if it is true, for what you said to even have a chance of being valid, it would have to be absolutely 100% not just 99% 3. Even if EVERYBODY who reloads does so solely to save money, that does not make them cheapskates. The desire to conserve what is, for even the wealthiest person alive, a FINITE resource does not make one a cheapskate. As for no non-shooter that you know having undertaken reloading, I have no doubt that that is true, but what does that have to do with everyone being a cheapskate? I don't see how that statement would backup any argument you've made here. As for you knowing a "lil bit about reloading", I'm sure you do, but how does that relate to you knowing that everyone is a cheapskate?

I have no problem with the TERM cheapskate, I have a problem with people LABELING others "cheapskate" or for that matter, "commie" "socialist" "whiner" or whatever because they have raised a legitimate issue that the labeler happens to have a differing opinion on. Since you are the one doing the "name calling" that IS on you. While I have stated that you were being arrogant in your above post, I have NOT called YOU any names, put any labels on YOU, or made any GENERALIZATIONS about YOU. I have dealt only with the specific post that you made. The truth is certainly NOT hurting me in this case. Read your own signature quote - Isn't calling EVERYONE a cheapskate judging (unrighteously so)?

Now BigBang...This is funny compared to a post you made in another section of the forum.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=1754464#post1754464

Yes , I am watching this thread .
Rich

[TheBigBang]

Now BigBang...This is funny compared to a post you made in another section of the forum.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=1754464#post1754464

Yes , I am watching this thread .
Rich

Hmm, I honestly don't see the connection, could you please point out what's funny?

[Mooseman]

Ray Charles could see the Connection...

Quote "I avoid hazmat fees by buying from gunshows/local shops. I go to 1 quite large local gunshow twice per year, sometimes several smaller ones as well depending on time/need. There is a dealer at the large one & some of the smaller ones as well, who's prices are inline with the big mail order firms. He has a good selection & if there is something specific you want, you can just call him in advance, tell him what/how much/which show & he will bring it to the show & you pay no haz-mat fees (or even regular shipping)! Great way to stock up on powder & primers at the same "product prices" as the best mail order firms, WITHOUT getting "reamed" by the shippers."

[Fishman]

Bigbang, you are reading too much into Fryboy's post IMHO. Much ado about nothing.

[dbarnhart]

OK, I confess: I'm a cheapskate. If Winchester offered .45acp for $3.47 per box I'd stop casting in a heartbeat. if Federal would sell brass-cased .223 for $118 per thousand I'd stop reloading in a heartbeat.

(of course, for me part of this hobby is seeing just how inexpensively I can produce high-quality ammo)

[TheBigBang]

Ray Charles could see the Connection...

Quote "I avoid hazmat fees by buying from gunshows/local shops. I go to 1 quite large local gunshow twice per year, sometimes several smaller ones as well depending on time/need. There is a dealer at the large one & some of the smaller ones as well, who's prices are inline with the big mail order firms. He has a good selection & if there is something specific you want, you can just call him in advance, tell him what/how much/which show & he will bring it to the show & you pay no haz-mat fees (or even regular shipping)! Great way to stock up on powder & primers at the same "product prices" as the best mail order firms, WITHOUT getting "reamed" by the shippers."

Well, I'm not Ray Charles & I'm not trying to be difficult here. I just don't see how a post about where I get MY powder from is related to my response to a post about someone calling EVERYONE a cheapskate. If you are trying to say I'M a cheapskate for avoiding haz-mat fees, well, I disagree, avoiding ANY *UNNECESSARY* fees, when possible, is simply "good sense". As I tried to illustrate in my response to fryboy, a person is not a cheapskate just because they don't needlessly throw their money away. Further, even if I am a cheapskate, that doesn't mean EVERYBODY is.

People disagree over issues, that's life. My issue with fryboy's post & I stress with his post, rather than the man himself, is that, this guy is basically saying in that post "Hey, you're all cheapskates, period, end of discussion & if you disagree with ME, well, you're in denial, you're lying to yourself. If you disagree with ME, you're INSULTING EVERYONE, because I KNOW the "truth". It's NOT my OPINION, it's the truth, yes I fryboy know what's in your hearts & minds, even if you don't. So don't DARE argue with ME, because I have given you the truth, the ONLY truth & if you don't see things the way I do, well, you're lying to yourself, etc." I mean, REALLY? Am I the only one that finds that arrogant? I mean, seriously, does no one else have an issue with that? Am I reading too much into it? Maybe my "gauge is off".

[Fishman]

I just placed an order at Midway and used a promotional code for NRA members. It just about covered my shipping. It can be found on their website here:
http://www.midwayusa.com/general.mvc/index/vat-nra

edit - Now I'm going to go drink a cold one!

[Fishman]

-Sounds of beer bottle opening-

Ahhh, that's better!

-Checks Lyman 4500, yes it's warm enough-

See you guys. Time to size some boolits. :)

[WilliamDahl]

rbuck,
I was just thinking that maybe the Alaska shipping issues are because the state is not accessible by truck without the trucks needing to travel through a foreign country.

Not necessarily... There is the Alaska Marine Highway System...

[MBTcustom]

I think it's time that some people here sit down have cold beer cool down and lighten up.
It burns too much gas to get to the liquor store, and that's on top of the shipping that's hidden in the cost of beer already! Its not fair I tell ya! And that jerk who owns the liquor store wont listen to common sense arguments and give it to me at half price!
Its not right that you should have to drive there on your hard earned nickle and pay $20 for a thirty pack that has 25% hidden shipping charges tacked on behind the counter.:kidding:
But I'm not cheap! Not a cheap bone in my body. Just trying to get what I've got coming to me by golly. That makes me smart not cheap by gumms!
I drive all the way across state line just to buy my beer for a fair price. I'm not cheap, Its the principle of the thing.
Geez fellers, lighten up! We've got an impostor in the white house that needs a fight a lot worse than the USPS does!

[mold maker]

As my MIL used to say. "Children, Children, Children, get along, or go sit in the corners".
None of us are cheap. All of us enjoy saving money, but not just on loading supplies.
None of us like to feel put upon or taken advantage of.
Midway has been one of my favorite suppliers for many years. No I don't like the S&H price sometimes, but I've been more than satisfied with their service. That is what makes the world go round. Can you imagine what the prices would be if there weren't a selection of sellers to chose from????

[TheBigBang]

None of us are cheap. All of us enjoy saving money, but not just on loading supplies.
None of us like to feel put upon or taken advantage of.


Here here!

[TheBigBang]

goodsteel,

Frankly, I feel your above comment was in poor taste. Why do you feel the need to ridicule people?

[WilliamDahl]

I have a few things on my current shopping list and I've priced them in Midway since their prices aren't too out of line and they have a good selection so that I could get everything that I need from them. I recently priced those same items at Midsouth (minus one bullet mold that Midsouth did not have) and there was a noticeable difference in the prices and shipping. One thing that I don't like about Midsouth though is that the items in your shopping cart do not stay there for any length of time. I'll often spend days adding items to my shopping cart as I decide what all I want in order to minimize my per-item shipping costs. With Midway, if you have an account, it saves the content of your shopping cart even as you move between machines at home and work (i.e. it is not stored in the browser cache). With Midsouth, not only is it apparently stored in the browser cache, it is not stored for very long -- definitely not long enough for me to add some items before I go to bed at night and for them to be there the next day. Midsouth does have a "wish list" feature which makes it at least a little bit less painful to re-enter the items into your shopping cart.