Midway dropping "FFL dealer" pricing

[jmfc606]

I got an email from Midway effective 1-1-14 they will no longer be offering dealer discounts for FFL holders. Granted it wasn't much of a discount but it was something. This applies to type 01 FFL holders as well as us 03 C&R FFL holders.

 

[SC Shooter]

Apparently they don't feel this will have much impact on their business. Time will tell.

 

[RCArms.com]

Yep, they "invited" me to have my account reclassified as a retail account.

I obliged and have just shifted my purchase orders accordingly.

 

[claiborne]

Yep, and they stopped printing big nice color catalogs. I explained to the nice lady on the phone that I do not take a laptop to the bathroom with me. She suggested I get an IPAD. I suggested that she close my account that has been active since 1993.

 

[Twmaster]

Of late Midway has left a sour taste in my mouth. Between the changes to the dealer pricing and issues related to shipping I'll only be buying there as a last resort.

I really hope Midway pulls their cranium out of their pattootie sometime soon.

 

[DoubleMag]

...and I might ad, they never had a LEO discount. Kind of a big operation for no LEO discount. Brownells has a LEO discount.

...and, won't ship a firearm receiver to my FFL (AR lower). Had to be a dealer. Now how are they going to ship a lower if they don't have a dealer program

There's always something, but really.... can't ship a lower receiver TO AN FFL???

Otherwise, I catch a discount coupon for shipping and do it that way. I hardly ever shop MidUSA on regular prices, no sales flyer now though....hmm...

 

[AlexanderA]

It's a common business strategy these days to increase profits by cutting costs rather than by increasing sales. That is, the bottom line is far more important than the top line. That seems to be exactly what Midway is doing -- they've evidently come to the conclusion that the cost-cutting won't affect their sales all that much. It remains to be seen how that strategy is going to pan out for them.

 

[bonza]

The dealer discount has pretty much been a non-issue for at least the past year, with no discernible difference between it & retail prices. I only buy from them if there are no other options these days & do 90% of my dealer shopping at Grafs where they still offer a decent discount to 01 & 03 FFL holders, so long as you meet yearly $-amount levels.

 

[Boxhead]

A simple, well thought out decision I am sure. They are in business to make money and Larry is savvy enough to figure out how. Nothing wrong with good old American capitalism is there? Seems that is what we all chant about supporting?

 

[flphotog]

I haven't done any business with midway for some time. Mostly because they use shipping as a profit center. I can always get better shipping rates from any number of other sources than I can from midway.

 

[Twmaster]

It's a common business strategy these days to increase profits by cutting costs rather than by increasing sales. That is, the bottom line is far more important than the top line. That seems to be exactly what Midway is doing -- they've evidently come to the conclusion that the cost-cutting won't affect their sales all that much. It remains to be seen how that strategy is going to pan out for them.

I hope that works for them as I'll take my business elsewhere.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I haven't done any business with midway for some time. Mostly because they use shipping as a profit center. I can always get better shipping rates from any number of other sources than I can from midway.

Reason I stopped using also.

 

[dogtown tom]

DoubleMag ......and, won't ship a firearm receiver to my FFL (AR lower). Had to be a dealer. Now how are they going to ship a lower if they don't have a dealer program

There's always something, but really.... can't ship a lower receiver TO AN FFL???

Uh, what?

All licensed gun dealers hold an FFL, but not all FFL's are licensed gun dealers.
01, 02 & 07 FFL's are the most common FFL's who deal in firearms,
03 and 06 FFL's cannot deal in firearms.

Maybe your FFL isn't a dealer, but an 03 Collector.

 

[Bibbyman]

I started buying from Midway about 6 months ago. We are fortunate to be within easy driving distance and can do a pickup at the door. It's always been quick and easy. Make the order online, in a few minutes they send a notice that my order is being processed, we head out the door and usually we don't get far before we get a notice that our order is ready for pickup. Obviously, this cuts out any chance of having a shipping delay.

For those that have not been to MidwayUSA, their warehouse and office complex is huge with a number of buildings. And they are adding more buildings and expansion of existing buildings. There is a Midway Italy and Spain, I think.

We also go past Grafs at least once a week doing our grocery shopping. They have their online shipping there as well as a retail store. They will tell you the retail store is independent from the online store. And they are. They carry a lot of guns, etc that are not available in their non-FFL online store. They will have powder and primers that are listed out of stock on their web site. But... I can find things on their web site and take the stocking number to the retail store and they'll punch it in and go back through the door to the warehouse and come back with the item. The price is always the same as online.

 

[marv]

I don't know if this still holds true but not too long ago you could get Brownell's dealer pricing if you were any kind of registered retail merchant. I got it when I was a tractor and farm equipment dealer. All I had to do was send them my State sales tax exemption form.

 

[DoubleMag]

dt tom,

My FFL on this end can do anything including Class3 but that was irrelavent. I never got to the part of who to ship it to, they wouldn't ship it unless that FFL had a dealer account with them. The term ''dealer'' in my post, as defined by Midway, meant ''a dealer with Midway, an account with Midway''.

So, I don't know how they are planning on doing it of they've deleted dealer accounts, perhaps the normal way! Show us the receiving dealer's FFL, we need a hardcopy, fax, etc

 

[dogtown tom]

DoubleMag dt tom,

My FFL on this end can do anything including Class3 but that was irrelavent. I never got to the part of who to ship it to, they wouldn't ship it unless that FFL had a dealer account with them. The term ''dealer'' in my post, as defined by Midway, meant ''a dealer with Midway, an account with Midway''.

Then all your dealer needed to do was open an account by sending Brownells his FFL and sales tax certificate.............which costs nothing.

So, I don't know how they are planning on doing it of they've deleted dealer accounts, perhaps the normal way! Show us the receiving dealer's FFL, we need a hardcopy, fax, etc

Midway hasn't deleted any dealer accounts....all they did was end the dealer DISCOUNT.

 

[Erik M]

Midway hasn't deleted any dealer accounts....all they did was end the dealer DISCOUNT.

Exactly what I heard.

 

[OldMac]

I am glad they changed. Some of the c&r "dealer" discounts would literally be 17 cents on a $20 item. However, the dealer status would prevent many of the routine coupon codes from working. I just placed an order and saved $10 with a code instead about $1.23 with dealer pricing. The sale and clearance prices dont change since the dealer status didnt apply. This is a good thing if you work it right. They still have lightning fast delivery since i am in a neighboring state.

Btw claiborne, this was written on the ipad in the one place i can get some peace and quiet

 

[CCS3]

That's funny. I just got a hand signed letter from Pete Brownell yesterday thanking me for my last 2000 dollar order.

That just shows you which company values it's repeat customers. Brownells will always be my first stop when sourcing parts and if they don't offer it, I will reluctantly get it somewhere else.

Between their discount policy and their poor shipping choices, I don't know how Brownells hasn't forced Midway out of business.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

Midway has been getting less and less of my money in the past couple of years. Their shipping has been getting more and more outrageous and now I think I will stop even looking at their ads. Grafs and Brownells will get my money from now on.

 

[zoom6zoom]

There's a good reason why Brownell's is building a new, larger distribution center and Midway.... isn't.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I've never found Brownells to have an in stock status as well as Midway, and their site is not as easy to navigate either.

 

[rbernie]

Between their discount policy and their poor shipping choices, I don't know how Brownells hasn't forced Midway out of business.

Brownells' non-dealer pricing is not competitive with MidwayUSA (or most any other online parts-n-bits source).

 

[joed]

I left Midway 5 years ago and use them only as a last resort. Their shipping is expensive, they don't stock anything and their prices aren't that low.

I still use their wish list and it's kind of funny as it shows items as out of stock most times. Than I just go somewhere else and buy from stock. After a few months I'll get a notice from Midway that the item is in stock and I just laugh because I got it cheaper and quicker.

Larry is just to greedy for my liking.