Printable View
I think Wideners may be out of the primer and powder business??
None listed now - Hate to lose a good vendor.
Anyone know what happened?
I noticed supply dwindling after new owners got it.
Then yesterday gone.
Glad I got my Herco at a great price before they went under.
I will miss them as they were great for competition with the others.
They had primers on sale last weekend $12/1000. They had lots of powder in stock too. My guess is people loaded up to take advantage of hazmat and cleaned them out. I was going to - had my cart loaded up, but decided I've got enough components for now.
I had emailed them as I thought they were going out of business, as some of the
rumors I had heard and that I had noticed the powder, primers were gone or slowly
going away. The email response was, they were going out of the primer / powder
business due to several things, HM fees, the ordinance codes, the expenses of all
that had to do with powder / primer storage etc. That they were going to focus on
projectiles, brass, etc. other things the reloader my need, loaded ammo etc.
hope this helps out some, I don't have access to that email address on this device
to actually copy and paste it.
-Rock
Won't effect me because I don't order powder off line. Could never stomach those hazmat fees.
Just have to buy in bulk.Quote:
Originally Posted by 6bg6ga
I can pay hazmat on bulk purchases and still save 30% over what it would cost me locally....not to mention that there is nowhere locally that carries any decent inventory of powders.
This, the more you buy, the more you can absorb the HM fees, some places even offer free shippingQuote:
Originally Posted by shoot-n-lead
and some may for go the HM fee all together, just got to hit it right. It may be a big hit dollar wise
to buy in bulk, the savings in the long run, helps.
-Rock
Buy in build with your shooting friends. Buy the max of powder if possible and divvy up shipping. Makes powder as cheap as yo can get.
SHiloh
That's what I always did - Ask my buds who reload if they need powder because I'm putting in an order.
They usually spring for a few pounds or an eight pounder.
Then I lay in 2 or 3 eights and a few cases of primers.
We split the Haz and shipping.
They get a better price and I get a great price plus I'm set for that burn rate for ummm awhile:p
Well, how about that carp! I've been dealing with them since the middle 80's, so........... I guess I'm done with them, too! ( dang it)
Glad I missed that, because I would have loaded up on more primers, even though I don't need any.Quote:
Originally Posted by dbarry1
I'm a little disheartened that this turned out to be a close out strategy. I was hoping it was a trend on pricing and availability.
Within the past few years it has become more expensive to order powder and primers on line. The HAZ MAT thing was a joke for the carrier to make more money off the shipping. I have friends that work for UPS and the so called haz mat stuff is treated no differently. It now has become cheaper to just buy at the local gun shows.
I must have visited gun shows at the wrong time. I have always been able to beat gun show prices buying on-line. LGS prices are a joke but I did buy 2 jugs of Varget at list price when it was impossible to get.
Well that explains the prices they had. Shame they're getting out of seeing as how they bought the business from someone else. Sure way to lose customers. Had I known they were getting out of it I would have purchased even though I didn't need any. Thought it was an inventory reduction due to taxes.
I for one, just unsubscribed from their e-mail flyers.
Winelover
Wow they were a staple in the bus for years
In regards to reloading components (powders and primers) that is correct. We continue to face higher costs to comply with regulations around the storage, sale, and shipping of powder and primers. You’ve probably noticed the increase in hazardous materials shipping fees, but that’s just a small part of the costs. We also face greater local, state, and federal regulations that place a difficult burden on retailers like us, who focus on serving the small reloader.
It was a hard decision to stop selling powder and primers because we have sold them for so long, and especially because several of us are avid reloaders ourselves. However, we will still offer bullets, casings, and pre-primed casings with the same friendly customer service our customers expect and deserve. We are also already going to work, expanding our selection of loaded ammunition to ensure we can be of help for shooters who enjoy every corner of the passion we all share.
Thank you,
Joe
Wideners.com
1-800-615-3006
I am a small business man myself so I can understand the what they have to deal with. It is not always easy do understand until you have lived it. I feel bad that we have to lose a online dealer.
I've only done powder and primers on line once,me and a few other guys did a group buy so hazmat & shipping was only $10 each. Only added a buck to each lb. of power and brick of primers so it's not a bad deal if you can do it that way. Nowadays I just buy local as my vendor had very good prices on powder,primer an once fired brass.Quote:
Originally Posted by 6bg6ga
I buy as much stuff as I can from small local shops to help them out, even if it costs a little more. I hope Widener's keeps selling brass and jacketed bullets, they are my favorite online source for them.
I get most everything from Powder Valley!! 60 lbs maximum package I believe? I always have them stuff the box with bags of shotgun wads to make the weight limit. Depends on your geographic location but Kansas is the best bet for me.
Thanks for sharing your reasons with us. I have run small $20 million manufacturing companies and know first hand how tough these kinds of decisions can be. At the end of the day, it is not how much sales a company generates but how much cash flow it generates. Yes, cash flow...not profit. Most people do not understand this. BTW, at one company I cut sales by over $5 million and increase cash flow by $2M.Quote:
Originally Posted by djgoings
Still hate to see the loss of a powder and primer source but I wish you success as you move forward.
black powder seems to be the worst to find and buy here in Texas. I am 90 miles from the nearest BP in New Mexico, you have to put your order in several days in advance (so they can go get it out of their bunker) and let them know what day you will pick it up. Then after driving 90 miles, you still have to pay $22 per lb. The only good thing is that you can mix any BP granulations that you want, just so it is 10 lbs. If you buy 25#, then you get about $2 per lb off the 10# price. It is expensive to shoot nowadays!!
I went to look for powders at wideners just last week. This explains a lot. The intrusive hands of government once more affect good business. :-(
$30 C&R License + Graf and Sons dealer account = win
Our group used to buy lots from them.
New owners took over and the shipping prices went through the roof.
We no longer buy anything from them.
You had better be prepared to buy quite a bit just to break even. Shipping will eat you up. I had them remove me from the dealer list. I don't buy over $1K per year.Quote:
Originally Posted by toolness1
Does Graf's flat rate shipping charge of $7.95 not apply to "dealers"???Quote:
Originally Posted by alamogunr
Not in my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guncrank
I would hope the S&H charges are offset by the dealer discount! Otherwise, what's the point of a "dealer discount"?!?!Quote:
Originally Posted by alamogunr
What about the $20 Haz-Mat tax? Or does Graf's hit the "Dealers" with the full (new and improved) $30 amount as well?
Dealer's get no shipping or haz mat discount at grafs