hazmat charge vs order size

[amlevin]

For some reason the smaller Dealers are pushing away customers for powder, primers, and bullets. Not just putting up a sign that says "Go someowhere else", instead they just post ridiculous prices.

The Big Box stores are a little better but the Online Stores are getting to be the place to go if you need more than a pound of powder or a box of primers.

I order whenever I can fill a 50# order. I stock up on powder and primers to the point where the Hazmat fee is approximately $0.50 per pound of powder or box (1,000) primers.

Most Dealers will use the excuse that "the Hazmat Fee makes everything expensive". I guess that $0.50 per "unit" justifys the extra $10 per box of primers pound of powder.

With the number of Dealers that stock products like this dwindling the cost of chasing down supplies has increased. I now choose to use my laptop to order supplies while drinking my morning cup of coffee. Don't even need to put a key in the ignition. Everything shows up on my doorstep an average of 5 days later.

As for bullets, most of my bullets are shipped "Freight Included". For special bullets I have my powder/primer supplier add them to the box until the max weight is reached for the Hazmat fee or just ship in a separate USPS "Flat Rate" box.

 

[oneounceload]

instead they just post ridiculous prices.

And you base that statement on what? Comparing a price to a warehouse or major wholesaler? They have to pay the same hazmat and freight charges, and you folks want them to stock every brand of powder in 1, 4, and 8# jugs, same for primers - that costs money, and a lot more than if they were only buying one or two types. Powder that someone MIGHT want sometime, sitting on the shelf more than a week is costing the store money - that needs to be recouped

 

[cemjr]

"For some reason the smaller Dealers are pushing away customers for powder, primers, and bullets." I wouldn't call Gander Mnt, MC sports, smaller dealers by any means but as I said before ," retail is out of the question". At $40.00 per 1k for primers and $25.00 per lb. for powder and $25.00+ for a hundred bullets, it wouldn't pay for me to reload! I'm with amlevin, it would seem to me that the large chain stores are buying at wholesale prices and could pass a bit of those savings on to their customers.

 

[Hondo 60]

Oneounceload -

And you base that statement on what?

amlevin said it best

I order whenever I can fill a 50# order. I stock up on powder and primers to the point where the Hazmat fee is approximately $0.50 per pound of powder or box (1,000) primers.

Most Dealers will use the excuse that "the Hazmat Fee makes everything expensive". I guess that $0.50 per "unit" justifys the extra $10 per box of primers (or) pound of powder.

I'm sure the retailers can do that too.

I don't mind paying a bit more than Powder Valley prices if I can get it local, but when they charge $31.99 for a pound of AA#5 ... to me that's ridiculous.
And I won't pay it!

 

[evan price]

There's a LGS near me that has Ramshot powders $27 a pound, Varget for $35 a pound, Alliant 4# kegs (Red Dot, Unique, Bullseye, etc) for $119, primers $40 per thousand on average and Hornady 308-165-SST's were $39 a box of a hundred. $15 for an RCBS shell holder. $44 for Lee 3-die pistol sets, $69 for RCBS.

 

[RustyFN]

Here is something that a lot of people might not know. You only pay hazmat if it is shipped Fed-Ex or UPS. If you place a big enough order and have it shipped LTL to a business there is no hazmat charge. I know somebody that does it and it's only one pallet and not even a full pallet. I would be willing to bet PV, Graf's, Wideners, GM and all the other big stores don't pay hazmat.

 

[amlevin]

And you base that statement on what? Comparing a price to a warehouse or major wholesaler? They have to pay the same hazmat and freight charges, and you folks want them to stock every brand of powder in 1, 4, and 8# jugs, same for primers - that costs money, and a lot more than if they were only buying one or two types. Powder that someone MIGHT want sometime, sitting on the shelf more than a week is costing the store money - that needs to be recouped

I'd buy your argument if you were talking about someone stocking only Bench Rest Primers of obscure pistol powders. What about those who by LTL auantities of powders such as Varget and H-4895 in 8# jugs that they can't keep in stock due to sales, and still stick it to the Customer on these items. What about the Dealer you ask for a "Quantity" discount on 40-50 lbs of powder and primers, tell him you'll pay up front, and he can just add it to his next order. His idea of a "discount" is "shelf price" for his store. You'd swear that some people need to get knocked over the head so you can slip the money in their pocket while they lie there unconscious.

 

[oneounceload]

Oneounceload -
Quote:
And you base that statement on what?

amlevin said it best


Quote:
I order whenever I can fill a 50# order. I stock up on powder and primers to the point where the Hazmat fee is approximately $0.50 per pound of powder or box (1,000) primers.

Most Dealers will use the excuse that "the Hazmat Fee makes everything expensive". I guess that $0.50 per "unit" justifys the extra $10 per box of primers (or) pound of powder.
I'm sure the retailers can do that too.

I don't mind paying a bit more than Powder Valley prices if I can get it local, but when they charge $31.99 for a pound of AA#5 ... to me that's ridiculous.
And I won't pay it!

Then don't - but it sure sounds like a lot of folks have NO idea how a small retail business works - again, everyone wants their small LGS to carry this and that - every holster, every primer size and brand, every powder type - and then sell it for cost plus 5% - get real - it isn't happening.

Most gun distributors and maker require upfront costs in the 50K range to get decent pricing - when you can't, the markup isn't there - but they still have rent, utilities, taxes, payroll, etc. - and then they have their own mortgage, food, etc.

Those of you who work for some large company - go ask your HR department what your true overhead to them is - typically 3X your hourly wage, maybe as much as 4-5 - that is what the small guy is trying to cover and still provide you with a product you want

What about the Dealer you ask for a "Quantity" discount on 40-50 lbs of powder and primers, tell him you'll pay up front, and he can just add it to his next order. His idea of a "discount" is "shelf price" for his store.

What's YOUR idea of a quantity discount? Do you know what his costs are that he has to cover?

 

[amlevin]

Those of you who work for some large company - go ask your HR department what your true overhead to them is - typically 3X your hourly wage, maybe as much as 4-5

I don't know what kind of company you are familiar with but I retired from a Corporation that saw over 1.5 Billion in Sales. The "overhead" for each employee was in the range of 30%-50% factoring in benefits, office space, and daily costs associated with their position. A $50k/year employee had an average cost to the Company from $65k - $75k after all the expenses were added up. I saw my "expense" to the company every month as I was a department head and received a copy of the "financials" every month which included everything from "Office Rent" to "copier expense", along with insurance, vacation, and sick leave.

I've also been involved with small business ownership and can tell you any company that sees the kind of "overhead" you describe is either going out of business soon or is a branch of Government.

 

[Walkalong]

I just ordered 5K primers and 2 lbs of powder. That spreads it out enough. I have ordered more than that before, which is better.

I had been buying most of my powder and primers from a guy that does gun shows here, but this last weekend he had gone up again to $33 per 1K of Winchester primers, and even more on some others. I went home and ordered from Powder Valley instead.

 

[oneounceload]

I don't know what kind of company you are familiar with but I retired from a Corporation that saw over 1.5 Billion in Sales. The "overhead" for each employee was in the range of 30%-50% factoring in benefits, office space, and daily costs associated with their position. A $50k/year employee had an average cost to the Company from $65k - $75k after all the expenses were added up. I saw my "expense" to the company every month as I was a department head and received a copy of the "financials" every month which included everything from "Office Rent" to "copier expense", along with insurance, vacation, and sick leave.

And that is cheap -overhead runs anywhere from 50% minimum to 200% - depending on the company

and the little guy, trying to male a living, has costs even higher, especially when he is new, as he is buying COD, has loans, etc

Oh nevermind, everyone think they should be able to buy everything at wholesale with no extra costs

This is not worth the effort to try and educate folks