Midway USA to eliminate dealer accounts

[Erik M]

No more discounts for C&R holders or dealers. Recieved an email this morning regarding this, read as such:

Dear Valued Customer,
Thanks for your business! It's really important to us that your experiences with MidwayUSA are not only satisfying, but that you feel like you are a part of our family. We work hard every day trying to make sure you get that experience.
Over time, our industry and business have changed dramatically. In order to offer great Customer service and low prices, we must become increasingly efficient and focused. Therefore, on January 1, 2014, we are inviting all of our dealer Customers to become retail Customers.While it may not sound like that is a positive change, it really is. As time has passed, the separation between dealer and retail pricing has narrowed to the point where the prices are predominantly the same. Dealer Customers are also excluded from taking advantage of promotional codes and the Free Shipping available on thousands of products. These restrictions are not in place for retail Customers, which frequently makes overall costs for retail Customers lower than those for dealer Customers.
Many of our previous dealer Customers have already recognized the benefits of becoming retail Customers and have made the switch. We're confident you will be pleased with this change as well. The change to your account will be seamless to you on January 1, so there is no need for you to take any action. You will no longer need to update your FFL on file, and if you are tax exempt, we will continue to honor that status.
Please know that everything we do is intended to be in the very best interest of our Customers, and that we really appreciate your business.
Customer Service
MidwayUSA

They invite you to have no say in the process.

 

[MtnCreek]

Lately, the dealer pricing has been the same as retail on most items I've looked at. When I add items to my cart without being logged in, then log in it will show the savings and I think I saved a few cents on some misc part with my last order.

 

[Erik M]

I know ammo had been that way since I first started buying from them, You used to be able to get some decent discounts on things like clothing, spring kits, and grips.

 

[primalmu]

I never order anything from Midway anyway. Their shipping charges were enough to make that decision.

 

[SuedePflow]

I never order anything from Midway anyway. Their shipping charges were enough to make that decision.

The key is to bundle. Make a list and buy several things all at once rather than random $20 orders here and there. Shipping on one box of ammo is $15. Shipping on 8 boxes of ammo is $16.

And for me personally, as long as I spend at least $250 (which is very easy to do when buying ammo), then the shipping is less than what I would pay in sales tax when buying locally.

 

[browningguy]

Their shipping charges were enough to make that decision.

Yeah, I mean shipping should be free, it doesn't cost anything does it?

Midway will continue to get my business before just about anyone else, I think they showed during the great scare of 2012/2013 they are about the most honest and reputable people in the business.

 

[nplant]

No big deal. They're right - the pricing was essentially the same for the last year that I had a dealer account. And it DID irk me that I couldn't get an EVEN BETTER price on some things when there was a discount code. Honestly, I have not missed my dealer account one bit.

 

[GBExpat]

I have had a dealer account with them for a dozen years and have noticed in the past year or so that price delta has been shrinking noticeably ... when it exists at all.

Also in the past year I have, on a couple of occasions, encountered the Unable To Take Advantage Of Retail Savings problem.

I will have no problem with this change.

 

[dhv]

They ditched international dealers a few years ago, but if this isn't the greatest example of reverse spin I've seen this week I'll eat my hat!

I read it as "since we have failed to pass on to dealers the same efficiencies / cost savings / reduced margins that we have made available to every other man and his dog, we would now like to treat you just like any other joe. Thanks for your business. See ya latter".

Weird.

 

[astra600]

Dump UPS and go USPS. Way less $. Every thing is $10 shipping even if it's a primer sized screw. And if that amount is shipping and handling, well duh. It has to be handled to get it to the buyer to get his money.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Brownells still does dealer pricing, and it's apparently pretty easy to become a dealer on their books, since they spontaneously converted my account to one years ago without explanation or reason that I could discern . . .

 

[Boxhead]

Just a man running his business to maximize his value. Makes prefect sense to me. Simple capitalism.

 

[Balrog]

The main reason I maintain my C&R FFL has been for discounts. I guess I will let it lapse next time it is due. I wonder if the BATF exerted any pressure on Midway to get them to drop the discount. I bet I am not the only person who will drop their C&R as a result.

 

[skoro]

Midway

I never order anything from Midway anyway. Their shipping charges were enough to make that decision.

I've been a good Midway customer for years. But yesterday I got an email notification for some ammo, went to the website and it was limited to 2 boxes @ $15/ea.

Shipping was $16. I passed.

 

[primalmu]

Yeah, I mean shipping should be free, it doesn't cost anything does it?

So quick to jump to conclusions! But yes, when Midway's prices are higher than Brownell's, and their shipping charges are twice what Brownell's charges, you can be sure I'm going to go with Brownell's instead.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I will continue to buy from them as I have been very satisfied with their products and service. Many things that I buy from them(gunsmithing tools and supplies)simply are not easily found elsewhere(yes,I also buy from Brownell's). Their retail pricing is competitive among most other suppliers.

 

[Yotecallr]

I got their email too yesterday. I think it's a result of all the internet competition for most everything they sell. Customers got wise to their high shipping prices and Larry donating millions to the NRA. Guess where the money came from. If their sales dollars are up, I'd bet it's due to the prices of goods going up too.

 

[dogtown tom]

Yotecallr I got their email too yesterday. I think it's a result of all the internet competition for most everything they sell. Customers got wise to their high shipping prices and Larry donating millions to the NRA. Guess where the money came from. If their sales dollars are up, I'd bet it's due to the prices of goods going up too.

This.

When I received my C&R back in 2004, the first thing i did was register for Brownells and Midway in order to get their discounts. Around 2010 i realized that the discount wasn;t so great anymore. I don't think I've ordered a thing from midway since Dubya was in the White House.

There are cheaper sources.

 

[wow6599]

I have taken many "business trips" to Columbia when I just so happened to have an order ready for pick-up.

That said, I wouldn't buy much from them outside of large orders due to their shipping prices, but they do ship things out very quickly.

 

[tommy.duncan]

While Midway raised prices (like most dealers) I stayed with Brownell.com. A lot of dealers and web dealers tried to gouge the public but Brownell's has been cool. When the prices doubled they stayed close to the old market prices. I always suggest Brownell's because they were always on our (the shooter) side.

 

[mljdeckard]

I will continue to do what I always do. I open tabs for cabela's, midway, brownell's, and amazon, depending on what I am ordering. I complete the order on each of them, and see which has the most of my stuff in stock and what is the lowest overall total charge. I have amazon prime which usually gives free shipping, and if I order from Cabela's and pick it up at the store, they don't charge for shipping.

Nine times out of ten, I wind up pushing the button for Midway.

 

[KTXdm9]

I will continue to do what I always do. I open tabs for cabela's, midway, brownell's, and amazon, depending on what I am ordering. I complete the order on each of them, and see which has the most of my stuff in stock and what is the lowest overall total charge. I have amazon prime which usually gives free shipping, and if I order from Cabela's and pick it up at the store, they don't charge for shipping.

Nine times out of ten, I wind up pushing the button for Midway.

This. It's not that hard to shop around. If Midway has the best prices, they get my business.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

I got up an order for some reloading supplies that just so happened to be "on sale" @ Midway; I compared the exact same order w/ Graf's @ their regular price and Graf's was less expensive by a long shot. Those 2 businesses are not very far apart. My conclusion is that Midway uses S&H as a secondary profit center. I brought this up to them one time and they said that isn't the case. I asked them then why is it the exact same order from Graf's substantily cheaper? They couldn't answer.

 

[PT92]

browningguy

Midway will continue to get my business before just about anyone else, I think they showed during the great scare of 2012/2013 they are about the most honest and reputable people in the business.
__________________
Browningguy
Houston, TX

Agreed--Longstanding Patriot Company that I will continue to support.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I wonder if the BATF exerted any pressure on Midway to get them to drop the discount.

I honestly can't think of any reason ATF would care about a retailer giving a discount. Especially if they don't sell firearms.