MidwayUSA and pistol powder alerts--what's the point?!

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ExMachina

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I signed up for MidwayUSA's alerts whenever they get powder in.

Today I responded in record time (<5 minutes) to an alert for Alliant Unique 1# and it was already ALL GONE! This was the second this happened to me. Then I see "maximum order 48"! :eek:

MidwayUSA would be doing us all a favor if they reduced that maximum order size until supply caught up with demand.
 
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Can't blame them for doing it this way.
Got to remember that they are in business to sell stuff.
Larger volume sales to a single customer is a lot easier and more profitable.
In, out, done.
 
sure but then why specify a maximum at all?

obviously Midway is trying to find a middle ground. it's just that 48 pounds per order seems destined to see near instant depletion (at least in this market)
 
Just a guess:
Maybe 48lb is the most weight allowed for employees to lift by some regulation or other.
Or that's what fits in a shipping box.
 
< 5 minutes is an eternity when every one is getting alerts on their phones and ordering seconds later.

It is frustrating for sure.
 
Midways email alerts are not sent all at the same time.
Unique most likely was already long gone by the time they sent you your alert.

You could try having your alerts sent to multiple email addresses that you own.
 
The 48 lb restriction comes from the DOT shipping regs. for hazardous materials, not a limit imposed by Midway per se.
 
Midway says their 48 lb limit is so they can serve as many customers as possible.
 
Such a large minimum makes it easy for someone to buy 12 jugs of powder at $65 each and sell them on Gunbroker for $150 to $200 each. If Midway decreased the limit to 12 or 16 lbs they would still sell it all and more people could get some.
 
The 48lbs is in reference to how much powder can be shipped under one hazmat fee. I don't believe it refers to purchase limit.
 
I am pretty sure powder falls under a different federal law. Bartletts has the same limit. 6x 8 lb jugs for one hazmat. That's an odd coincidence.
 
As quoted above, the 48lbs limit per Customer is a MidwayUSA policy.
Click to expand...

Actually it's Powder Valley's policy...PV is the supplier for Midway powder.
 
As ExMachina posted, the limit is 70 lbs, so it seems like it is Midway thing.

Why doesn't someone just call them?
 
<5 minutes? and you still didn't get any? :what:

I'm toast then...I check my suppliers 2-3X a day and if Powder Valley distributes powder to Midway, I didn't see any go thru Powder Valley at all. I'm out in the cold as I can't monitor or try and get powder that appears/disappears in that amount of time. :uhoh:

Hopefully they'll lay me off at work and then I can sit patiently and monitor supplies so I can react instantly except then i won't have the $ to buy it if I land it. :banghead:

Good luck to ya'll! Score if you can! :D

VooDoo
 
From PV website: WE CAN COMBINE UP TO 48 LBS. OF POWDER AND PRIMERS UNDER ONE HAZMAT TO SAVE YOU MONEY. IF SENDING FUNDS IN ADVANCE, PLEASE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE IN CALCULATING YOUR AMOUNT.
 
It's been a few years now, but when I ordered powder from MidwyaUSA, it was shipped directly from Western Powders, yet not one of their own brands. I would be surprised if Midway had any arrangement with Powder Valley.
 
Note that the maximum is 48 units. Some powder containers are 12 ounces or something less than a pound. Unique may indeed be one pound, but a powder like Trailboss is 12 ounces since it is so lofty and relatively expensive too. It would be more difficult to enforce a policy in maximum pounds than maximum number of units. Online ordering probably doesn't support weight as much as Qty.
 
ExMachina said:
I signed up for MidwayUSA's alerts whenever they get powder in.

Today I responded in record time (<5 minutes) to an alert for Alliant Unique 1# and it was already ALL GONE! This was the second this happened to me. Then I see "maximum order 48"! :eek:

MidwayUSA would be doing us all a favor if they reduced that maximum order size until supply caught up with demand.
Click to expand...
While some may disagree, this my take. You are wasting your time attempting to buy powder from Midway. They source it from elsewhere, usually powder valley. This can lead to other problems, even if you happen to get your order "in". Say you want to also add a few thousand primers to "lessen" the hurt of the hazmat...if they source them from somewhere else it is quite possible to get more than one hazmat.

I use Recobs, Wideners, Third Generation, Midsouth and Powder Valley. If you happen to have a local Bass Pro, search them as well because having it sent to the store will yield no shipping and no hazmat...plus they may have something you want on the shelf when you go in to pick up. There are no doubt others, but these have been gold to me.

Check these online stores 3 times a day...it only takes a few mins. In the morning, in the afternoon, and again at night. It takes a little effort but I have bought multiple pounds of any powder I want. Buy it fast, and if it is one you really like to use, I buy it even if I already have it...to a point. There is nothing more comforting than having a couple of 8 pounders of your favorites.

I see people all the time on this and other forums bemoaning not seeing this or that powder for over a year, and I have seen multiple times the past few months where one of these suppliers has had it.

Plus, the source I gave you will allow you to put powders and lots of primers all in the same order and charge a single hazmat fee. Begin with this method and one year from now you will be sitting with all you will need to get through the rest of the current administration, as well as another if things go badly next time. All it takes is another "event" to set off panic buying. An awful lot of people bought guns, got into shooting and reloading in recent years and manufacturers simply cant keep up.

I work a full time job, this searching only takes a few minutes at most. Before work, at lunch and in the evening when you get home. If you work evenings, adjust accordingly. A few minutes is all it takes.

Russellc
 
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