It seems like all the group buys are at a standstill. Is my perception correct? This seems to been going on pre virus. I haven't had one complete since the method change at MP. Thanks.
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It seems like all the group buys are at a standstill. Is my perception correct? This seems to been going on pre virus. I haven't had one complete since the method change at MP. Thanks.
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they would go very quickly if people would jump in, can't complete a group buy if it aint full.
The last group buy in which I participated “filled” rather quickly then we waited... in fact we waited so long that the subscription doubled, even with a substantial number of dropouts. When I finally did get it, the mould was everything I had hoped for eighteen months before, when I signed up for it!. The honcho for the group buy kept responding to inquiries of when it would drop with comments like, “Now you have more time to save money to pay for it.” I already had the money or I wouldn’t have ordered it! [smilie=b:
At my advanced age and deteriorating health, I don’t think I’ll be participating in any more group buys. I’ll go for sure things like a quest for the Holy Grail or something similar. If I can’t order a mould off the shelf or to be cut to order in a known time frame, I’ll just have to look elsewhere or do without. Life is too short for me to join these nebulous group buys. YMMV!
Froggie
I'm currently in in GB, we are just waiting for a few more people to sign up.
We've been waiting for a few months. It does seem to have slowed down.
NOE is very quick and Accurate promises in three weeks or so and delivers in about a week. At least that has been my experience.
As people loose their jobs or get hours cut, buying bullet molds will be a luxury dropped early. And, if you get sick, ordering a new mold will not be high on the list.
I'm on the list for my first group buy. I believe this will be the last, just takes too long at my age. I would most likely drop out on this one as I've purchased other moulds that fill my need but I will stay in for others here that have more patience than I do and are looking forward to the mould being cut. If I need something custom cut I'll go with Accurate and for items in stock, I've been very happy with the NOE offerings.Gp
I’ve been in a couple of group buys. One was pretty quick, one took forever. I love both molds. I now have more molds and more lead than I have time to cast and shoot!!!
I think MP has really dropped the ball, and I will not be doing any more business with him because of it. I did a NOE group buy, and it was about a month and a half from opening the thread, to molds being shipped out. I later did an Arsenal molds group buy, and it was 3 weeks from start to molds being shipped. I was in a couple MP group buys, and months later not even an update, dropped out. Last year I joined some more MP buys to give him a second chance. One of the buys even went into last call. Still, 5 months after "last call" not even an update.
I think I am in 2 group buys and for the life of me can't remember them. Guess I will have to dig thru them and see.
There are issues with MP charging more than the agreed price on buys right now. It has been reported but no updates. About ready to send it to paypal to get resolved. The price was agreed on for shipping included on price given. He is now charging $16 more for shipping over the agreed price where it was included. So in essence you are paying for the shipping two times.
My last group buy years ago was for a 6.5 cruise missile cut to proper dimensions. The buy filled up quickly, and we all waited for over two years before every one gave up on it. In fact I gave up on it when I sold the rifle it was intended for, though I could have used it in my 6.5 MS. I've been on 4 MIHA group buys, and countless NOE buys, but probably won't be doing them again. I guess NOE isn't doing them at all any more anyway...
I guess I was impatient. I waited 6 months and bowed out on one GB mould. I guess I'm not much interested in waiting ≥ 6 months to save $10-15 as I'm not that hard-up for cash. I'm happy the mould makers are busy, but they should be transparent about expected turn-around.
Exactly. NOE can make a hollow point mold for cheaper, and they are kept in stock. Any maker can do a solid design as well, and have it to your door in days or weeks. If you have to have the best of the best hollow points, you can have them done by Hollowpoint Molds. You are looking about a 1-2 month tops wait for this. It costs more, but you also get a better product, and made exactly as you want.
With MP you are stuck with a brass mold, made to someone else's design, and you are looking at about 2-3 YEAR wait.
I don't care if he made them for $30, no bullet mold is worth getting jerked around like this.
When I first joined this site I got addicted to buying GB molds. A few of these arrived in about a year from when I committed to the buy, but usually they went longer than that. Sometimes, a lot longer. It was the nature of the game to have enough commitments for the maker to justify gearing up for a new pattern and I have no frustration with the maker over that. A change came for me when the custom shops like Accurate (and others) offered large spreads of designs and fast turn around on the order. Now we have more of these custom shops with ever expanding design patterns. I got out of GB mindset (with one only recent exception) and am comfortable working with the builders who can deliver an order in a month or less. If they don't offer what I "think" I want its usually because I didn't study their catalog closely enough.
I am currently in two group buys one from MiHec it has only been a few mouths, and one from NOE that is going on two years, I know the number of molds that I order has slowed down in the last few years because I have molds that work good for about every gun I own,
most of my group buys have come in less than 2 mouths. but now I don't see as many group buys happening and the ones that are is at a slower pace than in the past
The last on I was in on was for NOE - at least a year ago of so. Time passed, I got busy and when I finally remembered and checked, I was surprised to see the it was closed - never received any notification from NOE - not blaming Al - I just never heard anything. I have been in on others for NOE - always was pleased and I still purchase NOE molds because I like them. I realize that when you go in on a group buy, it sometimes takes a while before you get enough to make it a viable thing. Unfortunately if the wait is too long I think some folks end up going a different route.
We are still up and running. Running normally.
Problem why thinks are slow...... Look at the group buys....they are no more group buys - they are more wish lists.
Group buy means 25 SAME molds. Lately In one group buy I came out with 16 different setups. That's why thinks slow down.
Think this as McDonalds and fancy superduper restaurant.... In McDonalds they have 5 menus ready to go. Pay and go.
In fancy restaurant you wait for an hour, because you want your stake medium rare, not so spicy, done on olive oil.......you get the point?
Trying my best here.
I’m glad you commented Mihec. What you said makes sense. It seems maybe we have too many options sometimes. Maybe we forget the less options that we have without MP and NOE.
I think a big issue with those of us in the US, is we’re wanting more communication, even if it’s less desirable.
I’ve been watching a few group buys that seem to linger awhile. I don’t know, maybe if there were less options on some molds for quicker production then that group buy would go quicker. Another possible slowdown problem is we all have multiple good molds so we can choose to be picky. Then again, I do know that my mold collection is slowly moving to brass and aluminum, and away from the steel blocks.
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Over two years for a 45/70 mold. Finally got it a couple months ago. I'm still on a 45 mold but considering dropping out. Definitely taking way too long.
From where you stand It's a long time. My view is different.
Again, if you order a Ferarri, waiting time is 5 years if you want to buy a Yugo (actually you don't buy a Yugo you get it for free with washing powder) you can get it in second.
I can employ more people, buy more machines but price will go up and quality will drop.
P.S.
A lot of molds on stock is here:
https://www.mp-molds.com/shop/
Personally MiHec, I think your doing a fantastic job owning 15 of your molds so far. Myself I have no issues waiting for a custom mold. I have no issues paying $$$ for quality. Thank you for the molds you make Nothing better that using quality bullets cast from custom molds.
Myself I've slowed down on signing up for group buys. Got too many molds as it is and been thinning the herd for the last year selling 50+ molds.
Perhaps it has more to do with a small market to sell to & those people that buy molds have everything they want/need at this time.
For whatever reason the Honcho for my group buy said at various times that it would run in 30 days or that we were up next. That was clearly not the case and lead to people getting upset and leaving the buy. The lack of good information made the group buy look bad.
I’m not sure how long ago I started involving myself in group buys, or how many. I am certain, though, that I’ve never been misled regarding the time frame involved. I’ve also never had to pay for anything until just prior to receiving it.
All in all, I don’t think group buys have been drastically better or worse than waiting for an NFA stamp.
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This is what I would like to see to even consider it again. Stop taking orders, and get caught up. Then choose which designs you can made in a reasonable timeframe. By reasonable I mean from the time you get 25 or however many committed, to the time they ship, being 2-3 months tops. Better communication is must too. Simple questions going unanswered for weeks is no good. 2 years for a bullet mold is too long, no matter how you look at it.
My GBs have all been with MiHec. The time to deliver was ok but I understood it was a custom mold and did not expect them in a month.
I am currently signed up for a mold for the Master Caster. It has been months. If it makes it to production fine; if not, I will make do with a Magma mold.
He does not ask for funds until he is ready...seems fair to me. If I want something quickly, I will order what he has in inventory, or look elsewhere.
I totally understand. I love your molds and currently have 6 of them. I'm certainly not knocking your quality and commitment to your trade.
I personally just can't wait that long any more. I'm sure some folks can, and that's fine also.
I'm sure I'll buy from molds you have in stock on your website but probably won't participate in any more group buys unless there's some way to reduce the wait times.
As I previously hinted, I went ahead and bailed on the 45 gb this morning. I've been in it over a year and others are approaching 2 years on 4/21. I'm sure it will be a fine mold for the folks that are willing to keep waiting it out.
My 2 cents for what its worth, group buys are great for the more established casters we already have most molds we actually need.
We can wait for a mold we want because we really don't NEED it.
If I was new to this I would pick up a Lee mold or a used one in the swap section at a good price, start casting while waiting on a group buy mold, you can always sell them later.
I love my MiHec, NOE, and Accurate molds, I believe they would rather turn out a great product or none at all. They take pride in their work, so I am willing to wait for a mold my machinest friends look at and say wow what a mold!
Dan
I was never part of the Lee group buys but sure remember all the complaining that went on. Not only did they take years, the molds were out of spec when they arrived. This is not the case w/ the current mold makers.
It seems some people don’t understand low volume custom parts. The mold makers are paying for everything out of pocket before they ship. Pretty sure they don’t want that amount of money tied up for years.
If you sign up for a group buy assume you’re not going to get it for a long time. Put the money aside and patiently wait. If you need a mold quickly Mihec and NOE have molds in stock. If they don’t have what you want Tom at Accurate will make you one in short order. Be happy that there are lots of high quality options at the moment. It wasn’t always this way.
I've got my name in on a MiHec group buy right now, knowing I can't get the same design anywhere else. Sure, I could send a design to Accurate, get it drawn up and cut, pay for it there, and then send it to Erik at Hollowpoint and pay for conversion, but I like the product I've gotten in the past from MP Molds. Plus the brass is gorgeous.
I don't mind the wait, in this case. This one's only been running just under a year and recently closed.
if its a simply issue of "cant get enough pre orders" double the price of the die and cut the number in half. If the product is as good as claimed, people will be happy to take the extra cost..
IF IT MEANS GETTING PARTS ON TIME.
And in manufacturing, the term is EXPEDITED ORDERS. I am used to seeing a single part get expedited, built by 1 pm on Monday so it can get fedexed out by 3 pm on monday
I gotta say it does sound unusual for a business to tool up and schedule for a custom order and then GIVE A DISCOUNT.
Group buy molds should cost MORE.
I just cast a few hundred bullets from my Mihec 314640 HP mould I got from a group buy about six years ago. It was my first brass mould and is without a doubt as nice as any mould I’ve ever owned or used.
That’s the good news. The dark cloud around the silver lining was that from the time the GB hit its target (of 15 units back then) until delivery was nearly 18 months and the number of moulds ordered in the GB had risen to over five times the target. I blame this on the group buy participants rather than Mihec, since the honcho allowed brass vs aluminum blocks, two vs four cavities, two kinds of hollow points (one of which couldn’t be made!) and plain nose, and of course gas checked vs plain base. If there had been a bulk order of one design (with maybe 2 vs 4 cavs) there would have been one setup with one cherry needed and the whole project would have probably gone a lot faster. Group buys should be defined as mass production of a single design if we expect them to be economical and relatively fast.
Rant over, but thanks to Mihec for one of the nicest moulds I own... next time I’ll order from you from stock.
Froggie