Never ever again: Brownells and Fed-Ex

[Soundguy]

I just completed a 3 week ordeal after stupidly ordering powder from brownells. I had my 2 week vacation coming up so ordered powder on a Wednesday or Thursday.. It was expected to ship and arrive within the next 2 weeks easily, expected date was the end of the first week I had off.
Then brownells took 2 weeks to ship it..when it had said it would ship within 3 days. Ok..im back at work.. I'll just have the package held at the hub.. I do this all the time with UPS..firearms..etc. Log into my ups account..digitally sign or hold or delay or pick another address to receive at... Easy. My shipping was originally quoted as UPS. So I figure no problem... Ups has held powder or delayed it for me before in years past from hodgdon. Then I get a fed ex notice..ok..bad.... They have mis-delivered a firearm a couple times to people other than me that caused a storm of phone calls and threats to call the atf and report the guns as missing and give the atf their supervisors name and let them sort it out... So..i already had 0 confidence with them.
Then, as expected.. The problems start. I call FedEx to get the package held. " sorry we cant, the shipper has to request this". Ok.. Ups doesn't make you jump thru hoops..but ok. Call brownells back.. Talk to various people over the course of 2.5 hours.. No problem..we will have it held. This goes on for about 4 days.. Each hold gets turned down..package starts going out for delivery..getting missed. Each day I call FedEx and brownells.. Brownells average call time is about an hour to get handed off from phone answered to shipping to support to support confirmation... Each time they tell me..oh yeah..we got it held..its at their ground location. FedEx tells me that they will not hold hazmat packages at any of their locations now.. There was no where within 4 hours drive that I could have it held. I keep telling brownells thos..they keep assuring me it's held. Final/3rd delivery day arrives.. I call fed ex to see if it's held or on the truck.. Told its out for delivery. ..so I take a precious unpaid vacation day that I have to borrow from next month because mine are used already..from my real vacation using up all my accrued time... Loose a 10 hour day of work... Truck never comes... Tracking says out for delivery AND delayed. Now it's the 4th day and I decode to be at the ground facility at 8m when they open to try and get this box that's in limbo.. Luckily didn't have to be in early today. Jumped thru an hour of fire burning hoops because their ground facility is still under covid controls... Paper on their door says You have to call in and make an appt to get held boxes. Their hours are abbreviated 8-10am and 4-6pm m-f. I call in.. Lots of explaining..hold for half an hour. Box was on a truck..marked ok to load.. Driving around..but not deliverable..stuck in some sort of purgatory of un applied holds, fake delivery attempts.. Fake out for delivery tracking..and me out a days work.. Finally got my package in hand.
Never will I do business with either party again. Brownells should have a good understanding and clear interaction and procedures in place with fed ex to handle hazmat packages. Neither company acted like it had any idea how to handle it...

If you are thinking of doing business with the. And can't set at home 24/7 for 3 weeks... Don't do it!!!

[TNsailorman]

I ordered from Brownell's since Leonard started his business and was always happy with my service. I even talaked to Leonard several times. Then about 5 years ago, I tried to order from Brownell's and was going to send my usual USPSMO--no dice, we do not accept anything but internet and credit cards. Ok, then I tried to order using the internet and credit card--no dice, my credit card info on their system does not match. So I called their customer representative and tried to find out what the problem was all about. No dice again, there was no problem with their system; it was a bad credit card. I tried to explain that they had an error somewhere in their system as I have been using this credit card for several years and everybody else takes it with no problems. Sorry sir, our system is correct, you are trying to use a bad credit card. After trying to resolves the issue for about 30 minutes, I gave up as the two people I talked to were not going to check their system and see where their error was located. I am finished with Brownell's. They don't have a clue about customer service. james

[HWooldridge]

I feel your pain - I have not ordered from Brownell's lately but we have horrendous issues with all the carriers; seems like UPS, Fed-X and good old USPS all have their issues. We have three basic problems that keep reoccurring...1) They deliver to the wrong address and I have to track down stuff at the neighbors. 2) They don't bring it on the day that's on the tracking info. 3) They leave it near the main road rather than coming down our relatively short driveway to our gate.

USPS once left a carton of 45 ACP next to the road in the middle of our driveway - fortunately, I was coming home from work and got there shortly after they dropped it off. Fortunately, our neighbors are good folks (and we get their stuff regularly) so that's not quite as bad but leaving items near a heavily travelled farm road is for the birds...

[Hannibal]

I suppose before long it will become necessary to pick up such deliveries from a LGS or FFL so they can verify delivery. I'm sure that will be great for everyone.

[Soundguy]

If I ever order powder again I'm seriously considering paying my transfer dealer his fee and have Jim receive my powder and just put his name on the order. Cost me 20$.. But that's better than the worry and my lost DAY of work that just happened.

[Soundguy]

I just read where ups is closing gun and gun parts suppliers accounts right and left. Must be what happenned here and I was caught in the changeover. Guess I can't order anything that doesn't go USPS now...

[Hannibal]

I just read where ups is closing gun and gun parts suppliers accounts right and left. Must be what happenned here and I was caught in the changeover. Guess I can't order anything that doesn't go USPS now...

I've noticed that the LGSs and major chains have largely if not completely eliminated their reloading sections particularly where the bullets, powder and primers once were. I can't help but wonder how many will have that section again when/if the supply returns. Might be that online ordering is the only viable option in the future and if shippers follow UPSs lead .......

I just hope that doesn't become reality.

[Electrod47]

One thing I try to avoid is giving any of the carriers too many hoops to jump through. It usually never comes out to my satisfaction.

[barnetmill]

I always hate ordering anything that is shipped via UPS or FedEx because they generally can not put it in my mail box. I do need to order some ammo like .22s and maybe some center fire. It is always a pain. Sometimes you can get it shipped to a shipping point like walgreens or CVS. But often you can not. And they have to leave it on the street since one cannot get past my locked gate. In the last year or so I have ordered some powder through hodgdon and primers through midway and did get everything. But it is a painful process if it is coming to my home of trying to meet the delivery truck and generally a real pain. I was certainly worried when I had ordered expensive AR uppers for example.

[Kuduking]

FedEx has gone really downhill. If I have the option, I won't use them.

[eastbank]

i have had a few problems with both fedx-ups, they should change there names to FEDUP.

[ACC]

I feel your pain - I have not ordered from Brownell's lately but we have horrendous issues with all the carriers; seems like UPS, Fed-X and good old USPS all have their issues. We have three basic problems that keep reoccurring...1) They deliver to the wrong address and I have to track down stuff at the neighbors. 2) They don't bring it on the day that's on the tracking info. 3) They leave it near the main road rather than coming down our relatively short driveway to our gate.

USPS once left a carton of 45 ACP next to the road in the middle of our driveway - fortunately, I was coming home from work and got there shortly after they dropped it off. Fortunately, our neighbors are good folks (and we get their stuff regularly) so that's not quite as bad but leaving items near a heavily travelled farm road is for the birds...

I have never ordered anything from Brownell's but from my experience most internet shopping problems are the carriers, not always but most of the time. But it is nothing new.

Right before all this Covid craziness started my brother in law ordered a whole bunch of 9mm. About a thousand dollars worth and asked if he could have it shipped to my house since he and my sister live out in the country. To make a long story short Fed-X left 60 cases of ammo on the street even though my BinL paid for shipping and I had to move it into my house. The Fed-x guy wouldn't even put it on my porch 10 feet away. Just left it in the street.

But that's not all ancient history. My first order of primers a few weeks ago were shipped UPS. I had a date and time for delivery. The day came and no primers. The next day at 3:00 A.M. a UPS came and rang my door bell. It was my primers. My last shipment of primers were shipped by a company called DSL and from the time I ordered the primers to the time they HANDED them to me was just under 48 hours. They were a little more expensive about 2 dollars. When I order again I am going to ask for them again.

Sorry y'all have had problems but I have racked my brain and can't figure out any other way to have anything shipped unless DSL makes it.

ACC

[Hannibal]

Apparently it all depends on the local employees. I personally have had more delivery problems with DSL than any other carrier where I live now. At a previous rural address everything that came by UPS would be 3-5 days late. Apparently I was at the end of the driver's route and if he wasn't running ahead he'd just skip my delivery. After enough complaints I was informed that UPS had changed the driver's route and I never had trouble after that.

[AlHunt]

FedEx is complete dog poo. I've complained to Brownells about the dog poo service from FedEx and they do not care. At all. UPS is slower but at least consistent. USPS has lost/destroyed several things for me and never once paid a claim.

A pox on them all.

[elmacgyver0]

I expect screw-ups occasionally, I would be disappointed if they didn't happen.
I ordered some Mexican .22 ammo on Brownell's Cinco De Mayo sale.
It never showed up. I sent them an Email and it finally showed up FEDEX, originally it was supposed to arrive "Speedy Delivery".
Speedy said they never received it.
I'm just happy I got my 2000 rounds of Aguila 22s.
I didn't need them but since I wasn't eating Mexican, I thought, what the hell.

[porthos]

at one time when i was "in the business"; i spent around $25,000 with brownells. the last time i ordered anything (several years) i mentioned that i haven't recieved a new catalog. was told that there is now a $10.00 fee for a catalog. bought one and have never ordered from it. if you see something in the catalog or on line that you want; it would be best to go on line and look elswhere. you will find that a lot of stuff,if available is cheaper than what brownells sells it for.

[Handloader109]

Tracking information from FedEx over the past year or so has been 1 to 5 days off. Never early, always late. Heck I've had out for delivery notice same day an item shipped and it shipped from 1000 miles away. Ups has been better until last couple of months. Now same issue 1 or 2 days late. Oh well.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[ACC]

FedEx is complete dog poo. I've complained to Brownells about the dog poo service from FedEx and they do not care. At all. UPS is slower but at least consistent. USPS has lost/destroyed several things for me and never once paid a claim.

A pox on them all.

It is a waste of money to buy the insurance from USPS. My late brother had a computer shipped to him and had it insured for $900. To this day we have not gotten any type of settlement from them and I don't believe I ever will.

ACC

[Noah Zark]

I feel the same about Midway and their incredibly stupid "Nitro Express" shipping cartons that scream "STEAL ME!!!" Three times since 2011 I ordered ammunition on sale, or a free shipping promotion, as well as other needful things and all three times the carton with the "speeding bullet" graphics was broken open on a corner and just the ammunition removed. Midway CS sent replacements immediately, kudos to them, and dealt with the carrier and ins co, but Potterfield brings this pferdscheisse on himself for insisting on using "STEAL ME!!!" packaging, and putting "Midway USA" in the first line of the return address on the shipping label instead of something like "Distribution Center."

2018 was my third such experience and my last Midway order.

Noah

[Soundguy]

Agreed. Marking packages is stupid. I ordered a mold a few months back. Same deal..corner opened..mold gone...

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

Noah
Midway USA also likes using UPS Mail Innovations. I had an order disappear due to this "service" and it took a couple of months to get it resolved through Midway.
THE BUCK STARTS HERE
I had an order that was overdue. The tracking info showed that it was at the USPS processing center. I still don't know if it was ever really there. Long story short - UPS said that they handed the package over to USPS and they had no responsibility from there. They could not and would not research the issue. USPS said that they did not receive the package , call UPS. Apparently the two shippers do not exchange information, no signatures or receipts when UPS drops a load at USPS. Midway USA stalled for over a month. "We show that USPS has your order, give it more time". Needless to say I avoid the UPS Mail Innovations now. Midway USA did replace the order......eventually.

[Soundguy]

It is getting bad I have a 12 gauge roll crimp tool that I'm waiting for from Precision reloading that was mailed USPS I ordered it on the 13th and here it is the 30th and it's only tracked two places from South Dakota and has stopped moving. Originally it showed as going from South Dakota to Wisconsin and stopping there but now when I track it it doesn't even show Wisconsin which tells me that USPS has no idea where it is.

[Castaway]

Fed Ex is at the bottom of my list of carriers. Last fall, after receiving a text a delivery would be the next day and an adult signature would be required, my wife and I juggled our schedules and made arrangements so someone would be home for the announced delivery. Guess what? No delivery happened. After 30 plus minutes I got a Fed Ex representative on the phone who was unsympathetic to my experience. She asked if I’d logged on to the website to see when the delivery would be. My response was I didn’t feel it was necessary since I’d received a text telling me when the shipment would be delivered. A week later, 10 lbs of black powder was dropped off at the door, without prior notification, and without any adult signature releasing the shipment. I called Grafs and expressed my dissatisfaction with Fed Ex but was told although they were receiving complaints about them, they were locked in to using Fed Ex
Fast forward to this spring. One Sunday morning a Fed Ex package was lying at the end of my driveway with an address 10+ miles away. Monday morning the Fed Ex truck was in the neighborhood and I tried to give him the package that fell out his truck the day before. He refused to take it. After an hour trying to get a person on the phone trying to get a Fed Ex person, I found the phone number of the individual to whom the package was addressed. They ended up coming by and getting it.

[almar]

I hate that UPS/USPS innovations service. I currently have a parcel stuck in the transfer and reordering it is not possible because its now backordered everywhere. This service also takes longer.

[Soundguy]

Sad part is..many times when we order from these various suppliers..we can't choose what carrier we are getting..though with ups extracting itself rapidly from the gun market..its mostly going to be FedEx. Dhl doesn't even deliver in my area...

[Gtek]

And I had cleaned up and calmed down ready for the pillow and stopped in here. I have had it broke off in me three times this year already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Static line]

Last year, instead of Fed-Ex driving up my driveway to deliver an expensive western straw hat to me,the driver tossed the big box under the mailbox on the rod in plain sight for anybody to see. Just so happened that it poured down raining that day. However, when I opened the box, I found that the hat already had green mold on it so obviously, the hat had been soaked way before that day and probably sat in the back of the truck for a month. Bunch of idiots!

[trapper9260]

Just a idea order some skunk essences , then see how fast they will move it, in the past before any of this I ordered a lure with it in it and with other supplies and it did not took UPS long to move it and the driver was complaining about the smell. He was glad to get it out of the truck and I take it the company was glad to get it out of the way.

[uscra112]

I thought FedEx wouldn't handle ORM-D packages.

I've never had a lick of trouble with Brownell's, but I have never bought powder or primers there.

[Shawlerbrook]

The blame here lies with FedEx, not Brownell. I never thought a private carrier could beat the USPS as far as dissatisfaction, but FedEx has exceeded the challenge.

[AlHunt]

The blame here lies with FedEx, not Brownell. I never thought a private carrier could beat the USPS as far as dissatisfaction, but FedEx has exceeded the challenge.

I'm going to say the blame starts with Brownells. I've complained to them about crap FedEx service a couple of times and they can't even bother acknowledging the complaint. Brownells would have leverage with FedEx, since Brownells is the customer, not those of us on the "receiving end", as it were ...

[remy3424]

Sounds like many of you guys are a magnet for trouble and poor service. I guess I have not ordered too much the last few years, stocked-up prior to out current situation. But when I do things are fine, with whichever service they use. Had a book I just receive take a bit of time, but that was not priority or 1st class, it was media rate, so it was fine.

[dirtball]

I know I am going to sound like a conspiracy nut, but do you guys see a pattern here? Just another approach to gun/ammo control aided by all the major carriers.
Just a thought.
Dave

[tarbe]

i have had a few problems with both fedx-ups, they should change there names to FEDUP.

Good one!

[Scrounge]

I thought FedEx wouldn't handle ORM-D packages.

I've never had a lick of trouble with Brownell's, but I have never bought powder or primers there.

ORM-D no longer exists. Phased out December 31, 2020. Supposed to use a "limited quantity" sticker, now. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2020-12/ORM-D%20Phase-Out%20Poster.pdf

Been a while since I had to deal with ORM-D, had to look it up.

Bill

[Soundguy]

Just my luck I have a box of ammo due me from Sig.. I'm guessing it will be another pooch-screwing contest for me to get it as I'm guessing it will have to go get ex since ups hates anything fun now...ugh... And FedEx won't hold anything fun related at its ground terminals in my city.

[uscra112]

ORM-D no longer exists. Phased out December 31, 2020. Supposed to use a "limited quantity" sticker, now. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2020-12/ORM-D%20Phase-Out%20Poster.pdf

Been a while since I had to deal with ORM-D, had to look it up.

Bill

Well, now you know how long it's been since I ordered any powder or ammo online!

[gc45]

Must be lucky. Both have been very good for me...

[Scrounge]

Well, now you know how long it's been since I ordered any powder or ammo online!

I ordered two boxes of 9mm for my youngest, so she'd have ammo for her CLEET qualification, and they delivered it on the far side of town, 4 or 5 hours before they got to my neighborhood and said they delivered it. Asked Midway to refund because she found two more boxes at one of the local stores. Turned out to be a good thing, as that batch of ammo got recalled shortly after. UPS delivery, for that one, as well. I sort of wonder where the driver lives... ;) That was the first and probably the last time I order online for delivery. I'll either load my own, or buy/make the components. I was a prepper before it was cool! 2nd step-father started me on it in 1965.

[M-Tecs]

When I order from Brownell's I have a choice of UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, or USPS Priority Mail. I always try to use UPS Ground since they have given me the best service. I have had very poor service for FedEx and USPS. I do use FedEx for shipping ammo since they come to the house and pick it up with a HazMat trained driver.

Brownell's has always been 100% for me. I have a hard time understanding how shipping issues are their problem when you can select UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, or USPS Priority Mail.

[tejano]

In the last 2 months I was able to place three separate orders for primers. The first two arrived via FedEx with no issues. The 3rd order has yet to ship. Hopefully my lucky streak will continue.

[Soundguy]

When I order from Brownell's I have a choice of UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, or USPS Priority Mail. I always try to use UPS Ground since they have given me the best service. I have had very poor service for FedEx and USPS. I do use FedEx for shipping ammo since they come to the house and pick it up with a HazMat trained driver.

Brownell's has always been 100% for me. I have a hard time understanding how shipping issues are their problem when you can select UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, or USPS Priority Mail.

You might want to check if you still have a UPS option with Brownells because it was in the news that UPS canceled Brownells account

[tejano]

3rd order from Brownells arrived today via FedEx without incident . My wife was home. I was at my LGS where I lucked into a brick of Winchester small pistol primers and another of small magnum pistol primers. My lucky streak continues.

[Liberty1776]

Breaking: 9/16/22:

FedEx Chairman says massive slowdown in shipping signals to prepare for worldwide recession.

- FedEx shares were down 21% Friday morning.

- The company had announced significant cost-cutting measures following what it called softness in global volume of shipments.

- The company will close 90 offices and five corporate locations and defer hiring.

Hey, FedEx, perhaps it's not a good idea to throw away customers, regardless what they sell.

Get woke, go broke.

[uscra112]

And the UPS union is threatening a strike.

[Soundguy]

It's time a big company or two folded due to abusing its customers... Might send a message.