Midway USA

[B!ngo]

Unless it is a gun, or ammo, I first turn to Amazon. We pay for Amazon Prime once a year and buy almost everything on-line there with no shipping. That includes many shooting accessories. Either directly from Amazon or via one of their affiliates who support the Prime service.
I've looked at Midway and others, and bought once or twice, but they seem to be out of many things that they advertise and their shipping costs are brutal.

 

[mrcooper]

Gaffs and midsouth,
i stoped useing midway about 3 years ago, was a customer for over 20 years, they were great when they never charged shipping.

 

[Chief 101]

I didn't read all the replies but these days seems like there a large group of individuals, that, all want the same thing...maybe something related to the movies...btwdik

 

[egg250]

I've got no issues with Midway and have ordered from them on several occasions. If something that I want is out of stock, I either look elsewhere or exercise a little patience.

 

[Krogen]

Go to Graf's. Shipping is not just "half" of Midway's as another poster said, but $4.95 flat fee. Although Midway has a broader selection, Graf's is the first place I go. There's no "shipping shock" at checkout as with other suppliers.

 

[beatledog7]

A retailer, on-line or brick-and-mortar, can keep everything in stock only if their suppliers can ship, who in turn can ship only if manufacturers can produce the goods.

It all comes down to costing decisions. A retailer who stocks every item he can sell will inevitably have too much capital tied up in inventory, and he'll have to make that up somewhere, most likely in higher prices.

 

[akodo]

online retailers can often save big by having almost no inventory and buying small amounts from the distributor as needed.

In some cases they wait until they have close to some minimum amount to order.

I am not sure if midway is doing that, but many small online retailers DO.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I like them other than the recent rediculous shipping charge increases. I know the price for shipping has increased, but not as much as Midways rates have. I'll start looking at other retailers.
If something I want isn't in stock I'll put in the "remind me" function when it is in stock. If you backorder it there seems to be at least an $8.99 shipping fee tacked on which blows for a small item.

 

[Geneseo1911]

I've done alot of business with them, with no problems, but I also learned to order whats in stock, if its out after I submit my order than I cancel, I don't want them to ship a half order because then they'll charge another shipping fee.

The one thing I wish they could do which would help a lot for us patient folks is set it up so that you can place an order and have it wait to ship until all backordered items are in. I'm patient, and can usually wait on anything, but being a cheapskate I want to avoid getting pinged multiple times for shipping .

^This

I'm a big fan of Midway. I buy a lot from them because they usually have the best price, and my C&R discount knocks some more of of that.

I understand the frustration though. I set up a wishlist that has about 50 items on it now. When I need to order something (or have some "fun" money burning a hole in my pocket), I look through the list. It seems like only about 60% of it is in stock at any given time. Now, part of that is that the stuff they always have in stock, I've already ordered, but some things seems to NEVER be in stock.

For example, I have an email alert setup for when 22/45 MkIII magazines come in. I've only seen them in stock once in the past 6 months, and they were sold out again in a day. Does that mean Ruger just isn't sending any? I don't know, but there are several others just like that.

I suspect this all boils down to the magic of "Just In Time" inventory management. It usually works, and allows Midway a lower overhead, but some things slip through the cracks.

 

[Ben86]

Midway is great. There customer service is top notch and they ship quick. They are often out of stock on things because it's where so many people go to shop.

If they don't have it I buy it elsewhere, but I look there first. The owner of the company also does a lot for the RKBA.

 

[Pyro]

I usually don't rely on everything MidwayUSA has to offer.
Check around other sites and you might find a better deal.
What I love about MidwayUSA is their customer service and fast shipping.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I only had a few items on back order. One was on so long that I called and changed it and there was no hassle.

 

[Zach S]

It's like a music store not having guitar strings or tuners.

Specific strings or tuners. When shopping for guitar gear, I have Zzounds open in one tab, and Guitar Center open in the other, and I order from whichever is less expensive or has all of the items.

I do the same thing with gun accessories. Midway in one tab, Brownells in the other.

Usually the price works out to be pretty close, but I don't mind paying a little more to get everything I need from one place. For example, my next guitar gear order will be from GC because Zzounds doesn't carry D'Addario EXP45s (strings), and my next gun stuff order will be from Brownells because Midway doesn't carry a fixed sight to fit the LPA cut.

I prefer Brownells anyway. Take sights for example. Midway lists 121 front sights for a 1911, and the only filter is for the manufacturer. Brownells has a lot more filter options, one of which is the height, which matters to me more than who made the sight.

I think things are on backorder because companies that manufacture guns, parts, and accessories are experiencing a high demand.

Yeah, it seems to happen every four years or so...

 

[Hardtarget]

I filled out an order. Called it in. Very helpful lady on the phone. Then I said I would send my order with a check. She said wait...did a refigure and said there was additional charge,($10.00). That made the shipping more. So I asked how come? Did that make my products heavier? And how come it was so bad to send a check? Wal-mart handles thousands of checks every day. They just run them through the electronic transfer and hand it back to you.No problem.

So I said just don't do anything with that order, I'll think about it. I've never ordered a thing. I'm very sure they haven't missed me one bit.

Mark

 

[Certaindeaf]

I think it'd be easier to say what you have than what you don't have. But "have" is perhaps a matter of semantics in this day of just-in-time "inventory". anyway

 

[Steve in PA]

I have no issues with Midway. If you are ordering something and it is backordered, its probably because other people are ordering the same thing! Ever go to your local gunstore and they are out of your favorite powder or primer?? Same thing. Midway doesn't keep an unlimited supply of everything they have. Even if it is backordered, its usually back in stock within a week.

 

[3rdChance]

For example, I have an email alert setup for when 22/45 MkIII magazines come in. I've only seen them in stock once in the past 6 months, and they were sold out again in a day. Does that mean Ruger just isn't sending any? I don't know, but there are several others just like that.

I ordered some of these from Midway on 2/8, they shipped on 2/17 and I got them in the mail today. I think that for real popular items they are just about always on back-order, as soon as they get some in they ship them out. Based on this I would not hesitate to order something from Midway that is on back-order, as long as I didn't need it right away.

 

[stevelyn]

Regular customer here. Never had a problem. Their shipping has gone up a bit, but with fuel prices the way they are that's to be expected.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

I always order in stock items and they ship right away.
Buy cheap and stack deep!!
If Obama even looks like he might get gets a second term things will only get worse or imposible to find.

Remember all the new gun owners that were spawned before the election. They are still buying at a pretty frantic pace if the NCIS volume reports are correct.

I have been buying dies and ither items I find on sale as I am going to get a press soon. I'm a reloading newbie but I know I need a swaging tool for my crimped ammo.

Not sure what size primers I need for 5.56 and 7.62 nato mil brass. Any suggestions?

 

[Skyshot]

I have no beef with midway. It seems a lot of reloading components and firearms parts especially AR-15 stuff are backorderd. I don't think its midways fault though. I was talking to a local gun retailer and he told me he was having a hard time getting components also. It's just a high demand at this time in the industry.

 

[JO JO BANG]

They do have some items on backorder but i wonder how long would that take. I guess i'll try and see

 

[jsimmons]

If I'm almost positive they won't charge you additional shipping fees when you order something that's not currently in stock. I know for a fact that Brownell's doesn't because I just when through the backorder experience with them a couple of weeks ago.

I've ordered from Midway before, and their customer service/shipping is outstanding.

 

[hardluk1]

Just a simple supply and demand issue. A company there size simple runs out of stock on "hot " items faster than replacements can come in. Sometimes it also cheaper to buy items direct ,no matter who the middle man is too. If midway is not who you wish to deal with go some where else. Ever time i get around to putting an order together a check with 3 different venders and the supplier if practical and order from one that has what I want an cheaper.

 

[Elkins45]

If I'm almost positive they won't charge you additional shipping fees when you order something that's not currently in stock. I know for a fact that Brownell's doesn't because I just when through the backorder experience with them a couple of weeks ago.

I've been buying stuff from Midway since back when they first placed a small ad in one of the shooting mags offering to sell new Midway-stamped 357 and 44 mag brass. I still have most of the original 500 rounds I bought from them. Back then the shipping was included in the price. It wasn't until the late 90's they began charging separately for shipping. I usually check them first because they have treated me so well over the years.

Having said that, my experience with backorders is 180 degrees from yours. They charge me an addition full shipping charge for items that aren't shipped at the same time. I've learned never to order anything from them that's backordered unless it's one big ticket item that can't be shipped twice.

 

[Double Vision]

I'm a regular Midway buyer and never had a problem with them.
If they're out of stock on something that I need right away I go to another source.