Recent experience with Brownells?

I prefer to rely on my personal experience with a retailer rather than internet rumors. If it is someone I haven't done business with before or never heard of I will look for ratings and even make a forum inquiry sometimes. As to Brownell's I have placed a few orders with them this year and delivery was quick. In fact I placed an order on Christmas eve late in the day and got an email this morning saying it has been shipped. That's not bad service for Christmas weekend in my book.

I stopped into Brownells over Thankgiving. They had a wait, as they were allowing only 10 people in at a time due to covid. You had to sit in your car and wait for a text to go into the store. That sucked, but once in, they were great. The only gripe i've ever had with Brownells is how bad their shipping is. It takes forever for them to get something to me 4 hours away.

Contrary to another commenter in this thread, I find MidwayUSA to be much faster (although they did butcher my shipping terribly once. I paid for overnight and i got it like 4 days later). I just ordered from Brownells because they had something in stock I was looking for. But because of the shipping, I tend to put them at the bottom of the list, if I can find what I need there and elsewhere.

I ordered stuff from Brownells every single month since last Feb and haven’t had an issue.

The stuff from the first week in December took a few days longer, but that was probably UPS/Christmas related.

So not really sure what you mean. :Shrug

Ordered a small, insignificant, can't-find-it-elsewhere part and got it right away.

I have ordered from both and have never had a problem. I like Midway's on-line site better as I find it much easier to move around in it and find products. I like the fact that Brownell provides lifetime warranties on items that Midway doesn't. I've found good deals on both sites.

A45acp1911 said:

The Discord reloading group moderator indicated that members are reporting Brownells is resisting resending lost or damaged orders when the $3 shipping protection is not ordered.

.

Click to expand...

Who/what is the Discord reloading group? How many members have "reported" problems? One two 100?

Resisting? What does that mean? Refused?

This is kinda like the old days when people bitched about Midways shipping prices or now when someone out of a billion doesn't get their USPS. UPS package delivered in 3 days and they had to wait 5 days.

Companies are swamped. Shipments are delayed, it;s the way things are these days.

Rule3 said:

Who/what is the Discord reloading group? How many members have "reported" problems? One two 100?

Resisting? What does that mean? Refused?

This is kinda like the old days when people bitched about Midways shipping prices or now when someone out of a billion doesn't get their USPS. UPS package delivered in 3 days and they had to wait 5 days.

Companies are swamped. Shipments are delayed, it;s the way things are these days.

Click to expand...

Discord is a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service that also offers instant messaging capability. In short, it's a newer version of a chat room that also allows people to communicate verbally.

Havok7416 said:

Discord is a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service that also offers instant messaging capability. In short, it's a newer version of a chat room that also allows people to communicate verbally.

Click to expand...

Thanks, now that sounds like a credible source for information!

I heard it through the grape vine!

Thanks @Havok7416 that answered my ? about discord...
I am sure Brownells is getting tired of the calls from people complaining there item arrived damaged when the customer didn't pay for insurance. The customer might be inclined to think it's some sort of scam as had they paid the $3 their item would've showed up in pristine condition. If there is any question an item might get damaged during shipping I will opt for insurance.

brasscollector said:

Thanks @Havok7416 that answered my ? about discord...
I am sure Brownells is getting tired of the calls from people complaining there item arrived damaged when the customer didn't pay for insurance. The customer might be inclined to think it's some sort of scam as had they paid the $3 their item would've showed up in pristine condition. If there is any question an item might get damaged during shipping I will opt for insurance.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I have no sympathy for Brownells, Bud's or any other online retailer putting the responsibility of "insurance" on the buyer. Buyers deserve to get the item they paid for in the same condition as advertised. "Insurance" protects the seller from a claim for loss, damage or theft. If the buyer never receives the item, he's going to contact his credit card company anyway (and do a chargeback if the seller refuses a full refund).

"Well, you didn't buy insurance when you checked out" isn't a valid argument.

Sorry, I have no sympathy for Brownells, Bud's or any other online retailer putting the responsibility of "insurance" on the buyer. Buyers deserve to get the item they paid for in the same condition as advertised. "Insurance" protects the seller from a claim for loss, damage or theft. If the buyer never receives the item, he's going to contact his credit card company anyway (and do a chargeback if the seller refuses a full refund).

"Well, you didn't buy insurance when you checked out" isn't a valid argument.

Click to expand...

I agree 100%. I would have no problem using a chargeback if a retailer gave me problems about returning or exchanging an item that came damaged. The insurance is indeed a protection for the seller.

Just placed an order a few minutes ago for shot and wads; no way they can ship the volume and weight for the $10 charge; but we'll see.

I think that just about every retailer is having issues right now. Inventories are very low and demand is very high. In demand items that are in stock are sold out almost immediately. It is very hard to keep up. Brownells has always been excellent for me. If they are having any issues right now I would tend to give them grace.

earlthegoat2 said:

I will go ahead and give their little Edge membership Amazon Prime-esque service a wild and enthusiastic thumbs down.

Good-technically nothing
Good-ish- faster than standard shipping but slower than advertised.
Crap- supposed Edge insider deals happened until COVID and then I never saw one since.

I’ll still be a customer but I will never buy into Edge again.

Click to expand...

That's disappointing. I think 2020 is taking its toll on everybody. God willing 2021 will be better. I had a targetsportsusa prime membership in my cart earlier this year because I ordered quite a bit of ammo from them over the years and was finally gonna spring for prime. Glad I didn't. They haven't had any ammo for many months and when they have its out of my range. My uncle wasn't so lucky, he bought the membership but at least he got "some" savings before the craziness....

I have ordered from Brownells in the past. Not recently. Never had an issue. I like their USGI AR mags even though they are probably just KAY'S or D&H with a Brownells stamp on the floor plate.

Some retailers go the extra mile. Several years ago I ordered a vise from Jantz Knifemaker's Supply and UPS managed to break the base. How they did so is a mystery to me but they did. I called Jantz for help in filing a claim against UPS. The lady I spoke with told me I needed to do nothing, they would ship me a new vise immediately and deal with UPS but that I might get a request from UPS for the broken vise. I told her it wasn't her fault and I would be content for UPS to take care of the matter. "No, you are getting a new vise", was her response.The new vise arrived quickly and I've never heard a word from UPS. Needless to say Jantz got a customer for life right there. It's too bad that more mail order retailers don't follow this business model.

rust collector said:

Shipping damage is tough because the shipping company owes the duty of care to the consignor (seller) and therefore the consignor must file a claim and follow up but has only the information supplied by customer. There are all sorts of tactics shipping companies use, but ultimately if there are continuing problems the consignor can opt to use a better but probably more expensive shipping method or must spend a lot of time cleaning up messes. When systems are over capacity, there is misery enough to go around.

Click to expand...

USPS/UPS/FedEx all permit either sender or recipient to file a claim.

rust collector said:

I am happy to hear that recipients can file claims. Are recipients compensated directly for lost or damage shipments?

Click to expand...

The person filing the claim is compensated.
If the item purchased never arrives, most buyers would tell the seller "gimme muh $$$$ back! pronto". The seller files a claim for the lost shipment.
If the item arrives damaged and the buyer accepts delivery, he can file a claim for damage, but runs the risk of having to show that the item was damaged before he received it. "Hidden damage" is not easy to prove. Some sellers expressly tell buyers not to accept a package with visible damage. If the buyer accepts such a damaged shipment, its on him to file a claim for damages.

In the past, my experience was that the only liability was to the shipper.

Click to expand...

For a package that never arrives, the seller/shipper is responsible.
If the package shows "delivered" and the buyer says "I never got it!" then it gets interesting.

This is why a seller should always choose Signature Required or Adult Signature Required. Delivery Confirmation just means the letter carrier or UPS/FedEx guy clicks "delivered" when he leaves it on your porch, on top of your mailbox or behind the nearest tree. When it's picked up five minutes later by a porch pirate that Delivery Confirmation is worth every penny.

Treated fine so far by Brownell's and Midway.

dogtown tom said:

This is why a seller should always choose Signature Required or Adult Signature Required. Delivery Confirmation just means the letter carrier or UPS/FedEx guy clicks "delivered" when he leaves it on your porch, on top of your mailbox or behind the nearest tree. When it's picked up five minutes later by a porch pirate that Delivery Confirmation is worth every penny.

Click to expand...

On numerous occasions, I've had signature required packages left on my doorstep by various carriers. It really means nothing.

i like brownells

been a customer for a long time

.

JN01 said:

On numerous occasions, I've had signature required packages left on my doorstep by various carriers. It really means nothing.

Click to expand...

It does when filing an insurance claim.

dogtown tom said:

Sorry, I have no sympathy for Brownells, Bud's or any other online retailer putting the responsibility of "insurance" on the buyer. Buyers deserve to get the item they paid for in the same condition as advertised. "Insurance" protects the seller from a claim for loss, damage or theft. If the buyer never receives the item, he's going to contact his credit card company anyway (and do a chargeback if the seller refuses a full refund).

"Well, you didn't buy insurance when you checked out" isn't a valid argument.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Insurance is to protect the seller. When I’ve ordered from Buds I’ve declined the insurance, and if the shipment were lost or damaged I would fully expect my credit card company to stand behind me in the dispute. If they didn’t they would no longer be my credit card company.

JN01 said:

On numerous occasions, I've had signature required packages left on my doorstep by various carriers. It really means nothing.

Click to expand...

UPS or FedEx (I forget which) left a Glock pistol on my front porch.

Elkins45 said:

UPS or FedEx (I forget which) left a Glock pistol on my front porch.

Click to expand...

Dang. I wish they'd leave a pistol on my front porch!!


Ok, seriously, that is just WRONG.