Midway USA shipping problems

[shortlegs]

Midway shipping has gone from the best to worst IMO. Ordered on 10/25 ,got email on 1026 saying "shipped" with tracking info. clicked on tracking info and was connected to UPS. Called UPS and they cant see that tracking info because it is USPS tracking no. USPS can not track this info becaues they havent receivedthe shipment yet, that was 10/28. Called Midway today( waste of their time and mine) and found out that "expected delivery" is 11/4. apparently UPS picks up orders from Madway and takes them to the P.O. when they get a truck load. In the mean time the customer cant "track" that package.What happened to MIdways "Express" shipping? I feel like I got the "run around" from cust ser when I talked with 3 different supervisors about this problem and other problems with logging in to my account.
Guess who wont be spending any more money at Midway!
Thanks for letting me vent! Not expecting any resolution!

[sparky45]

I feel your pain. I've experienced the same problem and not just with MidwayUSA. I pay the same for shipping charge but the seller evidently has cut a deal with the shipper and the customer takes it in the shorts with longer wait times. I live approx 150 miles from MidwayUSA and it now takes 5 days + to get a delivery. I quiet Midway months ago because of this and Mr Potterfield can retire on someone else's money.

[Pigboat]

You can get around this by ordering just a 50 round box of 22 ammo. The whole order has to go ups if it has ammo included.

[mattw]

We are now a culture of instant expectations. Can you imagine what it would do to the bottom line to hire more people just to haul boxes to USPS in real time? If 5 days makes a difference, maybe the item should have been ordered earlier due to the expectation of need being time sensitive.

I know, not a popular opinion... but when I was young there was no such thing as tracking and it showed up when it showed up.

[Ickisrulz]

I have had nothing but good service when ordering something from Midway. This is over the past 25 years. I think they ship better these days than they ever have. Keep in mind though, mistakes can happen. A mistake doesn't make them the "worst." I'm sure you'll get your order

[knifemaker]

You are blaming the wrong company, it is not the fault of Midway. It is my understanding that UPS entered into a agreement with the U.S. postal service in order to cut cost on deliveries. Instead of making numerous stops to deliver packages, UPS drops off a load at the local post office for them to complete the delivery to the customer. It appears that UPS did not want to buy more trucks and hire more drivers to deliver the increase in packages being sent.

I do business with several companies that I order from. On items sent by UPS, 90% end up at my local post office. Your complaint should be with UPS peanut counters that figured out a way to cut costs that inconvenient the person receiving the package.

[Winger Ed.]

Hmm.
Over the weekend I turned the bushing on my 1011, and the spring's plug shot into outer space.
I think it is in lunar orbit now.

So, I ordered a new one and a couple things from Midway Sunday night that will come through the Post Office.
They've always done a good job by me.
I hope that holds out this time too.

[country gent]

Im still waiting in my last order from lowes Ordered 9-8 internet was confirmed and now Im being told 11-9 delivery. This 2 sets of metal shelving for the shop. Paid extra for truck delivery even.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Midway shipping has gone from the best to worst IMO. Ordered on 10/25 ,got email on 1026 saying "shipped" with tracking info. clicked on tracking info and was connected to UPS. Called UPS and they cant see that tracking info because it is USPS tracking no. USPS can not track this info becaues they havent receivedthe shipment yet, that was 10/28. Called Midway today( waste of their time and mine) and found out that "expected delivery" is 11/4. apparently UPS picks up orders from Madway and takes them to the P.O. when they get a truck load. In the mean time the customer cant "track" that package.What happened to MIdways "Express" shipping? I feel like I got the "run around" from cust ser when I talked with 3 different supervisors about this problem and other problems with logging in to my account.
Guess who wont be spending any more money at Midway!
Thanks for letting me vent! Not expecting any resolution!

I can only address my own experiences, and can't really solve yours. I frequently order from MidwayUSA, and in fact have an order in with them at this time. My experiences have always been very favorable. I order on line, immediately receive an acknowledgement of the order, very often later receive a "shipped" e-mail that same day, but always the next business day. I've noticed that the tracking number, doubtless assigned when the order is packed, sometimes lies dormant for a day before it shows up on the appropriate shipping agency's website. The package is probably still at Midway waiting for the shipper to pick it up. Thereafter, if I bother to do so, it is updated daily, and is usually delivered before the projected delivery date. It is not uncommon at all for them to ship via UPS and for final delivery to be made by USPS which just involves them dropping the package at the post office which is 5 miles distant and where I have a P.O. box. One is not going to find a UPS tracing number on the USPS website, but when I figure it should have arrived and again check the UPS website it says "delivered". I might fault Midway for their prices on some items, and not having other items in stock, but shipping is not one of those areas where they fall short (in my opinion). But no one or company is 100% perfect.

[bob208]

I have been buying rom midway since 1985. I would call in a order some times the girl would say any thing else you need ths much more for free shipping so I would up the order. a few years later I got my first credit card midway was the first time I ever used it. in all these years I have never had a problem with midway.

[WebMonkey]

Surepost,readypost,express post.
All names for that crappy idea of split carrier shipping.

As stated above, the parcel starts with ups or FedEx, ends up at the u.s. postal service. Silly.

Not Midway's fault imho.

Stinks though, good luck.

[Wis Tom]

You can blame Midway, but take it from a guy that fixes furnaces, ACs, and refridge, for a living... shipping is a trapshoot, when ordering parts, from anywhere. Overnight, yea right, read the fine print, as that doesn't mean over that night but maybe two, or three. The only thing good about some of those tracking numbers are, you can watch how many days your package sits in, say Kansas City, even if it was shipped out of Green Bay. I am still not complaining, because it would be very hard for me to drive to Green Bay, to get that part. LOL Just got to take the good, with the bad.

[lefty o]

20yrs ago, they were the best, now, so-so is about the highest mark i can give. they just like many others have gone to the once a shipping label is printed, it has shipped, and they automatically email the customer saying that it has shipped. personally, until it has left their building, it hasnt shipped. unless something is on sale, and im in no big hurry to get it, i wont order from them any more.

[Love Life]

1st world problems.

[Rich/WIS]

Had a similar experience recently, ordered Friday AM and USPS delivered Thursday PM. This was with their free shipping, not fast but in the delivery window they listed if I used free shipping. A month or so before did the same thing but one item, a new range bag, apparently was too bulky for USPS and order came within three days via UPS. Curious how much a saving to Midway doing the UPS to USPS hand off given shipping cost for regional flat rate boxes.

[Hamish]

Is there anything that you can buy from Midway that can't be bought cheaper from another company, without having to deal with the dishonest tactics involving wether or not an item is actually available, or are they going to pop you for a second shipping charge,,,,,,,

[gwpercle]

It's not Midway It's UPS... you pay UPS to ship ... UPS delivers package to local USPS (regular US Mail service)and pays them to make local delivery. Saves money for the UPS...the only way around this is don't ship via UPS if you don't like the service.
UPS found a way to save a buck...at the shipped to person's expense . This is how they operate now.

Let me repeat ...this is the way UPS is doing business... they cut a deal with the USPS to make final local deliveries of their packages...the USPS is making money and UPS is saving money on trucks and delivery drivers... It's not Midway.
When you send something by UPS chances are good it will be locally delivered by USPS aka the mailman !

WebMonkey , post #11 , he's got it ...called split carrier shipping . Not midways fault...the carrier is doing it .
Gary

[ShooterAZ]

I also order a lot of stuff from Midway, have been for many, many years. There have been a couple of instances where things got really fouled up, but they always made it right...every time. If I need it really fast, I will upgrade the shipping and pay the $$$. On the Sure-Post shipments, mine go by rail on UPS trailers on Spline rail cars. They go to Phoenix, offload, then gets shipped to Flagstaff still by UPS. UPS then transfers the stuff to the local Post Office to be delivered to my porch. When you think about it, it's pretty amazing that anything ever gets to where it goes.

[Tripplebeards]

I stop doing business with them over a year ago. I ordered an AR stoner 243 upper and it took them four times to get it right. They kept shipping the uppers loosely packaged. The first two boxes had tears in them with the barrels sticking out and damaged. The third one never showed up, and the fourth one finally showed up undamaged. I wanted to blame UPS but it wasn’t their fault that the uppers were loose inside the shipping boxes sliding up and down with no packaging which was ridiculous for a 8.5lb pound upper . I made the mistake of just ordering a second one and paying for it again because it was a couple weeks before deer season and I wanted “yesterday” for hunting so they had me on the hook for two charges and i had to call several times and literally beg them to get my first return refunded . I ended up returning the fourth one because deer season had gone in the past after it showed up. I even called to get an authorization before I used their online return system to make sure I would get a refund As it was the last day that I could return it for a refund. Months went by and never credited my credit card back for it. I had the tracking number and proof it went back to midway months prior. After disputing with my credit card company and calling midway on and off months later. Midway told me they were confused because I was already was refunded (for the first one) and figured out what happened (that I paid for two) and that they credited me one for the other order number and they kept trying to credit me for the same order number instead of the second order number. I was then told I had a credit of $450 on account of which was the whole reason I called to make sure I got credited back to my credit cards instead of an account. They even had notes from my phone call that they pulled up and they still put that up or an account instead of paying me back. After a long discussion with them they credited back to my credit card. It only took about 12 phone calls in two days wasted total to get my money back for items I never had in possession and shipped them back with tracking numbers and proof! I will never do business with them again. That place is a nightmare. They have too many people working there no one answers the phones and when they do they do answer no one has a clue what they’re doing. I even emailed Larry Potter several times where it says contact him direct. It took a week and a half for a response with someone that told me they represent him and Larry does not answer his own emails anymore. They only care about one thing, your money, and just like a car lot once they milked your pocket book you don’t matter anymore. I have ordered gas checks from them in the past and its pretty safe to say they don’t screw those up and I can see you up until the A.R. stoner upper incident they were spot on. I was told by their shipping department that they don’t inspect the boxes and ship those uppers direct in the boxes that they receive from the third-party that makes them “bear creek Arsenal” with a $100 Higher price tag on them because they say they are stoner I realize are in the business to make money and that’s besides the fact but they should be opening up the boxes in and inspecting those uppers for damage before they ship them out and repackaging them in tighter packages which is what they did before time around that’s why it came undamaged.

[Handloader109]

IT IS MIDWAY BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO SHIP THIS WAY!.

If you ship normal UPS (or Fedex) Or USPS, then that is the single carrier.
But there are a LOT of companies that CHOOSE to ship at a reduced rate and use a split shipper. Yes, UPS delivers 90% of the way and then drops off at a USPS hub.
Then 4 days later you get it in the mailbox rather that at your doorstep.

I hate it too. It takes at least 2 days longer to ship this way. And it is the antithesis of good customer service. Company charges shipping fees and then ships crappy.
Shipping department CAN be a profit center.

But just because you have tracking number it DOESN'T mean ANYTHING HAS SHIPPED.
When I print the label, you are getting the email. package still has to be actually picked up. And some devious companies actually print the label even before order has been picked and packaged.
So you might not actually get it picked up for a day or two or three.....

Life in the want it now generation.
(yeah, we're ALL spoiled)

[maxreloader]

Triplebeards is absolutely 100% CORRECT... Midway does not know HOW to package items properly. I have ordered heavy items from them and they literally just toss them in a large box and hope for the best. When I call to complain etc.. they are willing to replace the item but they JUST NEED TO LISTEN and address their shipping dept. issues.

[gpidaho]

Just put in another Midway order this morning. Free shipping on orders over $49. I can wait a day or two extra for free shipping. I'm in no rush. If you want it today, order it last week. Gp

[koehn,jim]

Many of you have no idea how shipping works. Fedx and Ups both have a cheap level of service that specifies the final delivery is by USPS. If this is not to your liking pay the higher price for faster delivery and get it quicker. You are saving money on the cheaper delivery but it takes longer. This is the level that most companies use for their free shipping.

[lefty o]

IT IS MIDWAY BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO SHIP THIS WAY!.

If you ship normal UPS (or Fedex) Or USPS, then that is the single carrier.
But there are a LOT of companies that CHOOSE to ship at a reduced rate and use a split shipper. Yes, UPS delivers 90% of the way and then drops off at a USPS hub.
Then 4 days later you get it in the mailbox rather that at your doorstep.

I hate it too. It takes at least 2 days longer to ship this way. And it is the antithesis of good customer service. Company charges shipping fees and then ships crappy.
Shipping department CAN be a profit center.

But just because you have tracking number it DOESN'T mean ANYTHING HAS SHIPPED.
When I print the label, you are getting the email. package still has to be actually picked up. And some devious companies actually print the label even before order has been picked and packaged.
So you might not actually get it picked up for a day or two or three.....

Life in the want it now generation.
(yeah, we're ALL spoiled)

absolutely correct, they choose this level of shipping to save them money. it does generally take 2-5 days longer to receive package. might be a first world problem, but something to consider when buying form a vendor.

[shortlegs]

I was not offered a choice on the shipping. Midway 3rd level supervisor told me I should have a choice as to shipping. Mr. Potterfield no longer runs the company, Matt Fleming is the pres. of the co. now. I cant open my online acc with Midway because someone changed my password, I did not! I tried to close my Midway acc and the 3rd level super informed me that I was not allowed to close the acc.I want to close it because someone changed my password and therefore this acc is a security risk. No one at Midway can see my password according to super. To me that means that the acc has been compromised and should be closed! I tried to place an order online for 2 days but had to order by phone since I could not get into my online acc with MY password. This is Midways creation not UPS or USPS. when I use them all the way shipping is fast and no problems. Midway chose to use the 2 party shipping. As far as price, Midway was the cheapest as they have discontinued carrying this product and had it discounted. I have told them that when I have to go online to see the price of something that they sent me a flier about that they usually loose because I shop for the lowest price while I am online. Looking for something online is like an easter egg hunt. I put in what I am looking for and have to sort thru everything in that dept like it all was dumped in a box and you reach in blindly and pull out something. Maybe its related to what you are looking for maybe not just the luck of the draw. This is the only site that does this this way thank goodness!

[smithnframe]

I've stopped buying from Midway and have been buying from Graf and sons for about a year now. Better prices on most items and flawless shipping. About 6 months ago I bought a Redding/Saeco lubrisizer for almost $100.00 less than midway!

[historicfirearms]

I still buy from midway very often. Price may be a bit more on some items but with their good inventory and frequent free shipping sales, total order price is often lower than the other guys. Their website is the best in the business. Probably my number one reason for my continued loyalty.

[Slugster]

I place most of my orders with Mid-South, never had a problem. Order from Midway sometimes. Never had a problem. I have learned that just because you can order merchandise on your computer at the speed of light, delivery is a bit slower. Patience and understanding are key in all things.
On the other hand, shoddy customer service and crappy shipping policies are in the control of the company you have ordered from. My money will spend anywhere.

[lightman]

I've always liked Midway. I hope they can get this straightened out before it really cost them.

[Froogal]

With UPS surepost, UPS is entirely responsible up until they drop it off at YOUR local post office, and then the mail carrier either delivers it to your door, or YOU pick it up at the post office.

[Elkins45]

You can get around this by ordering just a 50 round box of 22 ammo. The whole order has to go ups if it has ammo included.

Thank you for this. It had never occurred to me but this is exactly right. They can’t ship live ammo thru the postal service.

I still have a couple of days left on my birthday pricing. Now that I know this little trick I might place an order.

[toallmy]

I'm getting ready to order from midway right now , with complete confidence as I have since the early 80s .
I started out filling out a order form and sending it to them in the mail before the credit card and internet so I consider them fast now . I will choose free shipping knowing the shipping will take a few more days / but if anything happens to my order midway will make it right .

[alamogunr]

Midway isn't the only company that has packaging problems. Early this year I ordered a turret press and extra turret from Brownell's. When it arrived the press was in the original manufacturers box and the extra turret apparently just thrown loose in the outer box. There was a turret size hole in the end of the outer box and no turret.

When informed, Brownell's did replace the missing turret. They should have known that a loose 5 lb piece of cast iron was going to do some damage to the box as it bounced around unrestrained. Luckily, the press was protected and someone along the shipping route got a free turret(if they knew what it was).

In order to remain on topic, I seldom order from Midway. Most of my ordering is from Graf's.

[gwpercle]

Many of you have no idea how shipping works. Fedx and Ups both have a cheap level of service that specifies the final delivery is by USPS. If this is not to your liking pay the higher price for faster delivery and get it quicker. You are saving money on the cheaper delivery but it takes longer. This is the level that most companies use for their free shipping.

Well said... this is what I was trying to say. If not satisfied with the "free shipping" pay for the upper level better shipping .

[shortlegs]

This was not free shipping! I paid for shipping! I like Midway and have been buying from them sense the early 80's. This problem has come up with new management running the company. They have a new president that has been there for about 5 years that IMO doesnt know how to make customers happy. I feel like this company is going down hill like other companies have because of poor management decisions.Said to see a great company go this direction.

[Elkins45]

This was not free shipping! I paid for shipping! I like Midway and have been buying from them sense the early 80's. This problem has come up with new management running the company. They have a new president that has been there for about 5 years that IMO doesnt know how to make customers happy. I feel like this company is going down hill like other companies have because of poor management decisions.Said to see a great company go this direction.

That’s quite a condemnation based on one incident of slow shipping. My experiences have been exactly the opposite.

[shortlegs]

I have been having problems for a couple of years. No resolution. My account may have been hacked, I tried to close itbut they will not. Password on my acc has been changed. I didnt change it. SEE post #25

[JBinMN]

I have not had the difficulty some folks have had, it seems. Maybe I am just lucky that way, but it seems that I get better service if I order on Tues to Thurs & not Fri to Monday. So perhaps by doing that, I skip the issues some are having with the shipping.

No one likes to spend their money & then wait longer than they are told they should wait to get their moneys worth & the package delivered on time.
When it becomes cheaper &/or faster to just drive somewhere to get the stuff rather than paying the shipping, they lose customers from it.

At least they would lose me if I have to go to a "brick & mortar" place to get what they offer & it takes longer to get by "mail" & the price charged for shipping makes it worse.

Hope things get better for those of you having troubles.

[cwlongshot]

im in the middle of exactly same myself!!!

Ordered Monday... I have tracking number Tuesday. I just checked I STILL CANNOT TRACK cause they dont have pkg in there sysyem?!?!?!?

They USED TO BE GREAT... now the suk

CW

[gwpercle]

I've had no problems ordering / receiving packages / returning packages / exchanging defective items or getting refunds from Midway.

Not sure why but they have always taken care of business with me .
Still one of my favored places to buy from .
I go back to the days mailing in a check with the filled out order form out of the little paper catalog in the days BC (before computers)
Gary