Campaign against CTD.

[Kiln]

In recent months I've noticed some pretty obvious price gouging going on by this company ($23 for a box of 50 rds .22lr!).

There are several things we can do to let them know we aren't happy about their obvious profiteering and greed directed toward the very people that have made Cheaper Than Dirt so successful.

1. Unsubscribe from their emails. It is something small that you can do that makes a statement that you don't want to hear about their "deals" anymore.

2. Stop buying any products from them. There are other companies out there with fair prices that don't try (to the same extent at least) to take advantage of ammo droughts and panic fueled buying.

3. Write or call their customer service department and voice your displeasure with their company. Be polite but make sure they understand that they've lost you as a customer and make sure they understand the reason.

4. Make sure other gun owners get what is going on with shops and companies like this. The more people you can get on our side, the better. Use social networking to spread the word that CTD has bitten the hand that feeds them and that we're tired of it.

5. Stick to your guns. Don't buy from them even when prices come down because next time there is a panic going they'll throw us under the bus again.

I'm just annoyed at all of the companies who have taken advantage of the panic to buy ammo or weapons and more than triple the sale price. It is ridiculous and it is an underhanded business model.

I just wanted to voice my displeasure and see how many agree with me here.

 

[WardenWolf]

What made me swear off EVER doing business with them again: even after the new gun control bills failed, they sent an email out an email on 4/19/2013 with this subject:

Buy Your AR-15 Before Lawmakers Outlaw Them!

They are trying to feed and prolong the panic. So not only are they profiting off it by gouging, they are actively trying to prolong it with misinformation and spreading FUD.

 

[rm23]

I'll never buy from them again because they stopped firearm sales after the school shooting to "review policies" which they days later lied about and claimed it was because of a huge backlog

 

[yzguy87]

I agree. Boycott those who fuel panic. I have no problem with companies trying make a profit but gouging is ridiculous and shouldn't be tollerated or even supported at all!

 

[Kiln]

The most important thing is that we let them know we're not happy and that you help spread the word that everyone elso who isn't happy should do the same.

 

[mljdeckard]

They never left my poop list after the last panic.

CTD is old news. I think that suggestion #2 is the bulk of the job, and will have the most effect. I save my letter-writing for congress-critters.

 

[TAKtical]

If they go back to being the cheapest online supplier, I'll buy from them again. But they havent gotten a penny of my money in a long time. No company is looking out for us. Every online shop is gouging. There are a few local places that have not participated in the craziness and I will continue to support them.

 

[mljdeckard]

I haven't done a lot of shopping, but I haven't seen any gouging from Natchez or Midway.

 

[X-Rap]

I've never spent a dollar at CTD so I feel no guilt one way or the other.

 

[Kiln]

Everyone has marked their ammo up some because that is what businesses do to make money. Not to mention distributers have likely raised their prices slightly because of the demand.

Buying ammo at near normal prices and then selling for 4x the value is much different.

 

[rdhood]

They never left my poop list after the last panic.

Ditto. They did the same thing in 2008-9. I crossed them off my list then.

 

[Kiln]

Here's the message I sent their customer service department:

I've bought several products from your company and have enjoyed them immensely. I once thought this was an awesome company who actually cared about the shooting community and wanted to protect our right to bear arms. I was glad to give my hard earned money to Cheaper Than Dirt in order to support them and their once fair prices.

I just wanted to complain about the ridiculous prices that CTD has been charging during the recent panic. It has alienated a large number of customers, including myself. While your company could have gained lots of new long term customers, you've traded long term profits for short term profits driven by panic buying.

Your company's profiteering during a second amendment "crisis" has caused me to unsubscribe from your sales Emails despite prior interest in your products.

I also have noticed a large number of other gun owners complaining online about the drastic price increases on many CTD products.

I'd just like to see CTD return to what it once was, which is a good company that sells products for fair prices rather than simply thinking of the profit margins.

I hope that CTD can understand the frustration that other gun owners and myself are experiencing right now and stop what they're doing because what they're doing is driving away the people who have been behind them and made them the successful company that they are today.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

I haven't done a lot of shopping, but I haven't seen any gouging from Natchez or Midway.

Natchez shipping is nothing to brag about now.

 

[shaggy430]

^ Natchez is just down the road from me but does not sell to anyone in TN. I find that ridiculous. I called them one time and offered to come pick up an item they were advertising and still pay shipping. They said no. They are 10 minutes from my house!

 

[jmorris]

I drive by a CTD everyday. I go inside if I am bored and want a free laugh.

 

[basicblur]

Knowing their reputation, I took a chance and ordered a couple of magazines for my Colt 22AR - this was my first, and last, time ordering from them.

1. Needed a 10-rd magazine for bench work.
2. Showed in stock, but could not add two to my cart.
3. Called and was told they only had one left, and was ASSURED they had one!
4. Not wanting to pay shipping just on one item, tossed in a 25-rd magazine.
5. After completing order, got an e-mail - OOPS! We don't have 10-rd magazines!
6. Called to see what order status was - was told they had already shipped the 30-rd. magazine. Told gal that what I was after was the 10-rd. magazine, and I was NOT going to pay shipping on one item! Was told "too late", it's already been shipped and we can't change / cancel the order. I told her I'm refusing delivery when it arrives - she told me if I did so, they would refund the magazine price AND shipping.
7. According to their site, the magazine was still "in the system / unshipped" for another day and a half (before showing shipped).
8. Item arrived, I handed it back to the mailman and he marked "delivery refused" on the package.
9. Probably not enough time has yet passed, but I have not yet received a credit.
10. Called and was told they have not received the package, and gal told me I probably would NOT receive shipping reimbursement, but when she checked computer notes, she said the previous operator made a note that I was to receive a full refund (including shipping).

We'll see if / when I get a refund and IF it includes shipping costs.

This is the first (and last) time I will order from CTD, based on what I consider multiple questionable sales tactics / incompetence.

 

[Kiln]

Couple of guys on another forum caught a good deal on .25acp ammo at $9 a box on CTD. They all ordered some and then the listing went down and half of them got charged $14 a box. CTD wouldn't honor their listed price and then relisted the same item.

 

[HankR]

Every online shop is gouging.

Midway doesn't seem to be. I also just got an email from AIM surplus. They have 30 round PMags in stock for $12.95. I haven't bought any lately (2012), so don't know what the pre-panic price should be, but that doesn't sound ridiculous to me.

I haven't bought anything from CTD in so long I think I've even stopped getting their catalogs/emails. They haven't been decent for years.

 

[lpsharp88]

Currently charging $60 for a box of 50 PMC Bronze 115gr 9mm FMJ, I don't think so!
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-426

 

[basicblur]

Midway doesn't seem to be.

I can't fault Midway USA!
I've been trying to order both 10-rd and 25-rd magazines for my new 15-22.
Midway has a 2-magazine limit, but were out - I have since gotten a couple of 10-rd from them, and just yesterday my order is supposed to be filled for a couple of 25-rounders. Prices were below MSRP, and shipping reasonable.

You really have to play with your cart as Midway's shipping can be a bit screwy.
I was going to order two of their rifle cases - shipping for one was $15 (adding a few other items in didn't change the shipping), but if you added a second bag, shipping went from $15 to $45+!

As a result, I just ordered one bag - may go back and get the other later - would be $15 cheaper to order twice rather than putting both bags on one order!

 

[hso]

No company is looking out for us. Every online shop is gouging.

You are completely wrong.

Several companies have donated considerable sums of money to RKBA groups and without gouging customers.

For a moment lets look at what CTD has actually done. They increased prices to some of the highest in the industry when demand was at full banic flood. This caused more reasonable people to not purchase from them, but they had plenty of unreasonable people spend their money with them instead. CTD made a lot of money off of those folks and then donated $100,000 to SAF. They continue to have higher prices than their competition, but then anyone but a noob knows where the other dealers are and can spend their money there. By having such crazy high prices they have been able to secure product when other dealers couldn't for those same banic buyers to overspend.

Let's compare them to Midway. Midway kept their normal percent markup, but quickly ran out of a lot of the banic buyer's target products and struggled to get replacements. This is the story with Ruger and Natchez and ... What sets Midway further apart from CTD is that they donated a MILLION dollars over and above their over NINE MILLION dollars in their Round Up for the NRA/ILA endowment.

CTD fed on the banic buyers and donated a hundred grand to the cause. Midway kept their prices as normal as possible and donated 10 times that much.

 

[jef2015]

Many of these threads will have several entries stating this is not gouging, it's capitalism at it's finest. Charge what the market will bear until supply equals demand.

I agree, if you don't plan on being in business next year.

I believe Graf and Sons, Midsouth and Midway have behaved admirably and look forward to showing my customer loyalty....

 

[Shadow 7D]

Ha, last time, they had .380 up for almost $90 for 50
CTD, home of 'We gots out, and you gonna pay sucka....'

 

[vamo]

I've never done business with them its always seemed to me that after they tack on shipping the item I like is always cheaper somewhere else. Even pre panick I've always felt I could get something cheaper at from Bud's or in person at basspro or walmart.

Bottom line: somebody at that company has seriously overvalued dirt.

 

[oneounceload]

Without going through the constant need to refute this aspect of non-existent "gouging" yet again.........the solution is simple - don't buy from them. Just because YOU find their prices absurd, does not necessarily mean others do - they are still in business, they priced their current inventory at current market pricing - something that EVERY retailer does, including your local gas station, and your local supermarket (try watching produce prices when something comes into season)