Midway Powder Shipping

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I buy a lot of stuff from Midway ... have since about 1990. What I don't buy from them is powder and primers. I'm not willing to pay that ridiculous hazmat fee on a couple pounds of powder, when I can pay a couple bucks more at my LGS and help him out with his business.

That said, having customers pay up front for any "in-stock" product that won't ship for four months is not a good business practice.
 
No business should charge your credit card until ready to actually ship. I can understand a deposit if I'm ordering something specifically for me but it should be a reasonable amount.
 
Personally I don't see the issue as I am going to get the product, they are clear on the delay and it is money I am going to pay them at some point. Most of us aren't making anything great in the bank either.
 
I ordered 8lb jug of x terminator on Jan 8th (in stock) and am still waiting. I called and got the same story. I've always been happy with midways service but this is killing me, I'm dangerously low on 223 powder!
 
I got a email from Midway this morning, just got in from taking the Grandson's out for some shooting, anyway, said they had some boolits in stock finally. Tried to order 8 minutes after I received the email, "Out of Stock".
I have been ordering various things from Gamaliel, and they have been shipping very quick. Ordered some powder on the 7th, received it yesterday the 13th.
 
While overall Midway is great to do business with, "available" is really pushing it as far as powder they do not have goes. The warning could be more prominently placed and "available" should be something like "mixed availability" or "see shipping notice *".

I also do not believe in a company charging my card for a product they do not have. Normally Midway does not do so for any product listed as "out of stock back order OK. That is just one more reason they should change it form "available", as I imagine the system charges the card automatically because it is listed as "available".

I imagine Mr Potterfield would like to know about this, and I suspect he could change it.

jsnake, Why don't you call and discuss this with them? They might appreciate it.
 
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jsnake said:
Let's premise this by saying that I normally buy powder from local suppliers. That being said, I made my first powder order from Midway and am a bit miffed at the moment and may even cancel the order.

Midway showed WST to be "in stock". In Stock was written all over the invoice, etc., etc. I placed an order and my credit card was charged. Fast forward a few days and I check my account info at Midway to find out that the order was "processed". The meaning of processed on their site apparently means the product was out of stock and will be shipped when available.

So, I called customer service and was told this was normal. They don't keep powder in stock and it is drop-shipped from the manufacturer. I was further told that with the overwhelming amount of orders, that rather than 3 weeks (normal), it could take 16 weeks to get my order. Meanwhile, I have already paid for it.

Am I over-reacting? Should I just be happy that I will have powder in 4 months? What say ye? :confused:
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On December 27th while Cabela'a was still taking back orders I knowingly back ordered some .223 figuring when it shows, it shows. I am not in any rush. However, with Cabela's and many other vendors when it ships you are charged and not before. I like that in a supplier.

Midway are generally square shooters and I like them. I dislike the practice of charging a customer before the order actually ships, this is true of any company. In this case my order is only $299 but let's say a vendor has a hundred such orders and has charged the buyers before the products ship. Nice pile of change sitting out there making someone else money while the customer waits, and waits, and waits. This should be made clear when the order is placed, nice and up front.

Just My Take
Ron
 
Ron,
Apparently, I missed the notices on the site. It is a bit cryptic, however, the problem is in the definition of "in stock". Midway charges immediately for "in stock" items. According to others here, Midway dropships all powder and primers from Powder Valley. Therefore, their definition of "in stock" is troublesome. I will still need the powder in 4 months, so I will stop whining. It is not like I can just order it from somewhere else. Make no mistake about it, future powder orders will be made elsewhere.
joe
 
jsnake said:
Ron,
Apparently, I missed the notices on the site. It is a bit cryptic, however, the problem is in the definition of "in stock". Midway charges immediately for "in stock" items. According to others here, Midway dropships all powder and primers from Powder Valley. Therefore, their definition of "in stock" is troublesome. I will still need the powder in 4 months, so I will stop whining. It is not like I can just order it from somewhere else. Make no mistake about it, future powder orders will be made elsewhere.
joe
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I absolutely agree with you.

Simply put I dislike the idea of charging a customer before the product ships.

Ron
 
One of the several reasons I don't do business with MidwayUSA anymore...
 
They get all their primers and powder drop shipped from Powder Valley. PV is weeks behind.
I got a Powder Valley order for what was in stock powder Feb 24th, I haven't heard a word since the initial email.

Wrong of Midway not to be up front about the delay(The whole industry in under huge delays, however.).
You could request a cancellation and your card credited back. No reason they wouldn't do that if you wish.
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I ordered a PV in stock powder on Feb 21st and haven't received. When did you get yours?
 
Instead of getting mad, packing up your toys, and shopping elsewhere in the future, I still suggest you call Midway and talk to them about it. I bet they will credit your card and then charge you later when your powder comes in. I also still say that I bet they will appreciate the input, and might make changes.

Seriously. :)
 
I have called Midway 3 times to discuss this. Sent emails detailing my issues as well. Have been told on each and every occasion that was the way they do business for "in stock" items. I only have two choices at this point; wait or cancel order and do without.
Joe
 
I quit dealing with Midway many years ago. When they were a small company they provided quality goods at reasonable prices and shipping rates. As they grew their shipping rates became unreasonable IMHO. Too many other sites out there now to choose from.
 
I have called Midway 3 times to discuss this. Sent emails detailing my issues as well. Have been told on each and every occasion that was the way they do business for "in stock" items.
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Well that's a shame.
 
Last time I ordered powder from Midway, it said in stock. Charged my card, and a week later I got a refund and was told the powder was unavailable.
 
Been buying less from Midway too because of rising prices on merchandise and shipping. Made it as cheap to buy from LGS with no backorder/out of stock issues. Used both Midsouth and Grafs too on occasion.
 
I e-mailed Potterfield and got this response.

Thanks for your contact with Larry. I’m sorry it’s taken a while to respond—As soon as the November election was complete Larry’s customer contact rate via email, voice mail and letter skyrocketed to well more than 2000 per week. Between this and his other obligations as CEO, it takes him a while to respond to customer inquiries. He asked me to follow up with you.

Thanks for your kind words and giving us the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately our powder supplier requires payment for the shipment up front. It’s either charge the card at the time the order is taken or don’t sell powder at all. I have forwarded the link you provided to our Social Media staff for review.

If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-243-3220. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT; Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT. You may also email us at [email protected].


Thanks for Your Business!

Brian

MidwayUSA Customer Service
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At least they are going to look at it, and gave an explanation for why instead of just saying "that's how we do business". Maybe they will change how they do it. Normally it would work just fine, but these are trying times for everyone.
 
I've dealt with Larry for about 20 years, have always been satisfied, until the last 5 months. I ordered some Hornady 150 gr. 30 cal bullets, on the web page it said, "out of stock, okay to backorder." , which I did. 2 days later I received an emails saying they would be shipped by **, **, ****. Okay, I wasn't in need of bullets that afternoon, but still chapped my backside. Finally, 5 months later, I get another email, "Product available, please advise." What? Anyway, 5 days later the UPS guy dropped 'em on the porch. I understand some of the things going on at this time aren't Larry's fault, but charging the CC as soon as the order is placed is totally wrong!
 
I think that a properly worded statement on the order page would satisfy most. Even better would be a different agreement with PV, but that will have to take place after this panic has slowed.

My take on this is that the entire supply chain was caught unaware in a situation similar to, but on a smaller scale than, the bank panics of the early 30's.
 
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