LOLBELL
Member
Today only Midway USA is offering in stock powders with no Hazmat Fees. Choices are limited to Hogdgon/IMR/Winchester powders that are in stock.
They did this earlier in the year with primers. It seemed like a deal until you realized that powder valley's every day low price usually ends up being a few bucks cheaper. In fact I believe that midway drop ships from powder valley.Before you order check powder valley.
I went to midway and compared the price at checkout with no hazmat and powder valley was still cheaper with hazmat.
Midway used to drop ship from Powder Valley and i have not heard there was a change.They did this earlier in the year with primers. It seemed like a deal until you realized that powder valley's every day low price usually ends up being a few bucks cheaper. In fact I believe that midway drop ships from powder valley.
My understanding is that it isn't a "tax" as it isn't being paid directly to a government agency...it is kept by the vendor. The first hint would be that not everyone charges the same fee and sometimes you'll find a vendor who reduces the Hazmat fee as part of a promotion.orpington said:What exactly is a Hazmat fee? It just sounds like another "tax". Where does it go and who profits from it?
If THAT'S the case, why isn't it waived more often, or significantly reduced???My understanding is that it isn't a "tax" as it isn't being paid directly to a government agency...it is kept by the vendor. The first hint would be that not everyone charges the same fee and sometimes you'll find a vendor who reduces the Hazmat fee as part of a promotion.
It is a fee to offset the training and extra handling cost of shipping certain products
I've seen it waived several times by different vendors, usually in conjunction with a large purchase.orpington said:...it has not been waived before, in my experience
That was Midsouth Shooters offering $15.00 HazMat on powder sales of 15# or more.9mmepiphany said:I got some powder last month, I forget the vendor, where buying 20+lbs of powder lowered the HazMat fee to $15.
Let me clarify my previous post. Hazmat is a fee charged by a SHIPPING COMPANY to offset the cost of the USDOT hazmat endorsement that the truck and driver must have to ship certain dangerous items, powder being one of them. Its not a fixed price per trip, but a special extra cost the shipper incurs, so they pass it on to you through the vendor you buy from. Sometimes the vendor will waive this extra charge if you buy enough for them to still make a profit...It is NOT A FEE CHARGED BY ANYONE GOV AGENCY! It is just what 9mmepiphamy said, it is a fee charged by the vendor to recoup the cost of software and dealing with the regulations and training for their employees. That is why it varies and some might wave