Author Topic: I have been to the mountain top(Midwayusa stinks) (Read 2757 times)

bluebayou · « **on:** April 19, 2008, 06:42:42 PM »

So after years of preaching by the big man here, I have decided to quit using Midwayusa on general principle.

What, exactly, do they have INSTOCK on a given day. Good Lord, I wanted 5 items and 4 were out of stock.

I used them for 3 years because of the marginal discount of my C&R license, but that has evaporated too.

And they have high shipping.

Just venting, I will go back to lurking now.........

lendar · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2008, 02:11:50 AM »

I also used midway for years, maybe close to the 25 they have been around. At the start the prices were great and the free shipping was the best. But it all went to hell. I now set up an account with Graf and sons, the prices are better, and they give a C&R discount. Midway is going to ruin themselves, and that's sad.

tn_junk · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2008, 02:36:31 AM »

Same Here.
Buy all my stuff from Mid South Shooters Supply and Wideners.

Great folk to deal with.

alan

daddywpb · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2008, 03:06:26 AM »

Well, I'm on the other side of this one. I've been ordering from Midway fro twenty years, and have never had so much as one problem. Since UPS jacked their prices, I've changed shipping methods. USPS Priority Mail gets anything I order here in about three days for about $10. They're customer service is top notch, right up there with Dillon. I've never had them refuse to take anything back for any reason. Prices are comparable and competitive with everybody else, and sometimes lower. And, Larry Potterfield makes a darn good commercial! Wednesday programming on the Outdoor Channel is sponsored by Midway, and he's all over it. "Thanks for the business."

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2008, 03:16:47 AM »

I am buying more and more stuff through Mid South. They are good people to deal with. They also have good prices on most things. Because of this site (GBO) I have been throwing more business their way. With that said...Midway has better prices on some things. I order enough from both of them to get their catalogs and fliers sent to me. I just received a Mid South 2008 Master Catalog in the mail yesterday. Recently I bought 221 Fire Ball cases through MidWay USA. #1 Mid South is still out of stock and they do not even give you a clue when they will be, just they are over due. #2 MidWay's price is $32/100 Mid South is $36/100 when ever they get them in. Mid South sells them in 100 or 2000 lots. MidWay sells them in 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 lots. I bought 500 at even a better price per 100. Mid South does not carry Winchester Brass or bullets, so if I want to use Winchester brass or the case is only made by Winchester like a 375 Win, I have to get them some where else not Mid South. Mid Way usually has it in stock, when they are out they give you an estimated date of arrival, lots of times their estimated date keeps moving out, because what is promised by their vender's was not accurate, but they do the best they can. I have found that when one of them are out of something, they are usually both out. A guy posted that he could not get 357 Max brass. I looked at both Mid South and Midway, sure enough they were both out. That says that there is a vendor problem. Vendors run things in batches. They will run 250,000 cases for instance and then sell them out until they are gone. Then they schedule them back into their production. It could take months from the time they run out until they actually run another batch. In the mean time some small vendors can have a stash laying around they did not sell because their prices are too high or they are not very widely known. I think you have to shop, compare. Some times Mid South is the place to order from and some times MidWay is the place. Does MidWay have the best prices and lowest shipping over all, most certainly not, but some times they do have a better price or they have some thing that you just can not get from Mid South. I think they both have a place. This has been my experience.

db22 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2008, 03:36:14 AM »

In 25 years of doing business with them, I have always been impressed by Midsouth's service, and I do believe that their prices a a bit better, on average, than Midway's. If only they stocked more parts and tools, they'd get just about all my business. Midsouth seems to be more attentive to customer needs and wishes than Midway.

Midway needs to do something about their shipping charges, but for things like front sight blades, small screws, factory parts, etc., they are still my go-to vendor. They will ship small parts via USPS, which saves a little bit. It appears that they are trying to take some of Brownell's gunsmith trade.

I do agree with bluebayou. Too many backorders, not enough notification of same. I always recommend Midsouth to friends.

superjay01 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2008, 04:03:37 AM »

I'm pretty loyal to midway because of their customer service. I have never had any problems returning anything from midway. I have never had better customer service. they always seem to have what I want when I want it.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2008, 04:23:02 AM »

I haven't had problems with midway either. Although I do prefer midsouth. The only problem I've had with them is they got hacked and someone got a lot of credit card information so I had to cancel a card. They were on top of it though and sent a letter as soon as it happened so there was no damage to me or my credit.

jw83 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2008, 04:50:51 AM »

Midway does have fast shipping and good customer service but like blue said, every time I try to order something it is always out of stock so most of the time I have to get it somewhere else.

30-06man · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2008, 04:57:11 AM »

Midway normally has what I am looking for. I went to their site yesterday and most everything was out of stock no matter what it is. They say they try to keep 1 or 2 of each item at all times.

Inrut24/7 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2008, 06:16:13 AM »

I order some things from midway, but alot of times what i want isnt in stock, I also found it odd that 22 ppc brass isnt carried at midway, but i found them at cabelas.

saltydog · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:24:51 AM »

I buy quite a bit of gear / accessories from several inter-net vendors. Midway has always treated me right. They are typically not my first choice for many items as I try to buy from the source vendor. They have one of the best shipping departments in terms of speed. Shipping is usually no less than $12 for almost anything so if your order is for one or two items it can be expensive. When they have a sale on items it is usually a price that is as low as regular dealers price and in some cases quite a bit under. Recently I have noted an out of stock on many of the items I have been trying to order. I don't know if they have cash flow issues or vendors are not sending products to them but it has become annoying and I hope they get it under control soon.

shaner · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:51:26 AM »

REMEMBER when midway would ship anything for free over 25 bucks in an order? and when they had a sale it was a sale!! when they sold out to the current owners , it started droppin then, oh well nothing stays the same?

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2008, 11:17:52 AM »

Actually I'm "pretty sure" the current owner's are the ONLY owner's the place has ever had. The Potterfield family has always owned it I believe and still do so far as I know. Before they got so big they were a better place to buy I think. I've never really spent a lot of money with them only items they carried that I had a hard time locating elsewhere or when items were truly on sale and the price was right. For most of my gear that they sell I've been using Midsouth as my main supplier since shortly after they opened the doors.

I've found Midsouth's prices pretty much always lower than Midway's if they have the same item and Midsouth charges only actual shipping cost and never adds extra to what they pay to ship an item. I was very pleased when they decided to also sponsor the site since I've had such a long and good relationship with them over the years.

I actually asked Midway to sponsor the site before I asked Midsouth. I'll not say just what I was told by them but needless to say it was rather insulting and I've never done any business with them since.

shaner · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2008, 02:28:44 PM »

you maybe right bill for some reason i was thinking back say

?later 90's they had a big change over i was thinking that they changed ownership or something changes there? /?

NAM70 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2008, 02:51:46 PM »

I'm having an EXTREME issue with Midsouth right now. Via email the customer service is non existent. I've ordered from them before without any problems so I haven't had to use customer service. Almost 7 weeks ago I placed an order with them with 5 items on it. The Bullet part of the order was and is on backorder. I have tried over and over again to get them to ship my order minus the bullets to no avail. Standard response "You're bullets are on back order sir and the order will ship when we receive them" I can't call them during the day. I don't care about the bullets anymore. Very Frustrating!

MOGLEY · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2008, 03:06:32 PM »

I order from both. I have found that Midsouth is cheaper by a couple of bucks on bullets but the shipping with them was higher than Midway. I feel there about even. I like Midways attitiude and contribution to hunters,shooters as they sponsor the wednesday night shows and the NRA contributions. I am happy with both and yes I have backorders with both it happens and like mentioned before, it is probably a vendor issue. Everyone tends to not want a lot of inventory during economic hard times. My spending habits have definitely changed having to buy $400.00 + dollars a month for gas!!!!!

NONYA · « **Reply #17 on:** April 20, 2008, 03:19:11 PM »

Their shipping does suk,they overcharged me on my last order so the could ship me their worthless catalog that is already online.

ben. · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2008, 08:20:53 AM »

Since I probably been reloading and shooting longer than most of you been shooting. I'll throw in my opinion.
I started casting in 1970 and had trouble getting the different casting equipment I wanted locally so went to the catalog oufits
My memory sucks but beleave they were midsouth and midway. I have been dealing with them a long time. Seeing that I shot cast bullets out of probably 20 calibers, I ordered a lot of stuff.
1- Midsouth is cheaper
2- Midsouth has $40 minimum order Midway $25
3- Both equally good to do business with
4- Midway handles twice the products
5- Midway notifies by E-mail both receiving and shipping a order Midsouth doesn't
6- My last order Midway and Midsouth out of stock same product. Got it at Grafs
7- Over the last 30 years? dealt equally with Midway and Midsouth.
8- Can't think of anything else. Except glad there's competition in catalog products we buy.
8- Like them both
9- One more thing. Don't have any opinion about shipping rates.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2008, 08:41:08 AM »

Midsouth's internet order minimum is $20, phone order minimum is $40.

Midsouth does confirm internet orders by email and provides shipping confirmation with tracking too, have one on the way now, will be here Friday.

Tim

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/faq.asp#faq1

spinafish · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2008, 04:33:46 PM »

I'd like to throw Natchez Shooting Supplies into the mix..I do business with all three..depends on their prices and availability of the product needed.

ben. · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2008, 05:06:36 PM »

Tim:
I did mention my memory sucks. I've checked midway catalog #31 for a mininum order and their web sight and can't find any information. I'll go along on the $20 cause your usually right.
Now as far as midsouth I received a $172.56 order on 4-15 2008 and there was no e-mail at all.
Also received a $58.93 order about the same date from Grafs and there also wasn't any e-mail.
Now in all fairness the midway order was placed on 3-31-2008. Invoice date 4-10-2008.
The order was on back order for a little over a week. Maybe that made a difference.
I have never ordered anything by E-mail always by telephone.
Grafs charges a flat 6.95 for freight. 3#
Midsouth freight was $12.18 for probably 13#

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2008, 05:34:18 PM »

I only place orders online, not by email or phone, phoning orders in is kinda low tech and allows for intervention of the human factor, IE, misunderstanding whatcha said, this is the 21st century for cryin out loud!!

I've placed 16 orders with Midsouth in the last 2yrs, every one of em was sent by UPS and they emailed me tracking info when they shipped which is always no later than the next business day, usually the same day when I order early.

The only time I use Midway is if they have what I need and Midsouth doesn't, I use Grafs also for the same reason, they only charge a flat rate handling fee of $4.50 on internet orders, but their prices usually offset that and are a few bucks more that Midsouth or Midway, so you have to do a little comparison shopping.

http://www.grafs.com/page/terms-full
FREIGHT - Freight is prepaid to the 1st 48 states on regular ground service only except for target load ammo (see below). Orders shipping to AK & HI, or any customer requesting a different ship via than UPS or FedEx ground will pay actual freight & insurance. We reserve the right to ship by UPS, FedEx, commercial truck or Parcel Post. Each order will have a Non-Refundable $4.50 handling insurance charge for Internet orders and a $6.95 handling and insurance charge for mail, phone or fax orders added, excluding AK & HI orders, or any order where the customer pays actual freight & insurance. This charge is per order. If items are backordered there will NOT be another handling and insurance charge. On any refused package(s) the customer is responsible for outgoing and return shipping charges, including hazardous materials fees.

Midway's "special handling charge" of $3 is for orders under $25.

http://www.midwayusa.com/midwayusa/staticpages/prod_page_window/shipping.htm

Special Handling Charge
MidwayUSA attempts to keep our costs as low as possible so we can give our Customers the best pricing in the Industry. Since we will accept any size order, there is a Special Handling Charge of $3.00 for all retail product orders under $25.00 and $4.00 for all dealer product orders under $40.00 to offset the additional costs associated with handling orders under these amounts

Midsouth's $20 minimum of internet orders and the $40 phone order can be found at the link I posted.

http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/faq.asp#faq1

Minimum orders
To help keep our cost down and your prices low, we require a minimum order. If you order from our website the minimum is $20.00. If your order total is below $20.00, a small handling fee of $3.00 is added to your order. If you order over our phone the minimum is $40.00.

Tim

bluebayou · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2008, 08:52:01 PM »

Been ordering from Grafs and Wideners lately as they have the foreign ammo that I want. Numrich has the parts that I want.

I will be honest and say that Midway has a fantastic website. They also have a huge, glossy catalog. They have wonderful tv coverage.................oh, that is all marketing crap. They don't have any inventory. If Larry Potterfield reads this, "order up there, Larry. People don't want to wait in the 21rst Century. You snooze, you lose"

My birthday is next week. Between my birthday money and my "ratholed from the wife" money, I want to spend $300 on reloading supplies and a Weaver K2.5. It frustrates me to spend additional money in shipping because I order from multiple vendors. If Midway got its stuff together then it would be "win/win" for both of us.

ben. · « **Reply #24 on:** April 22, 2008, 03:31:07 AM »

Perhaps I should get out of the dark ages and start ordering thru the internet. It seems to have it's advantages. Tim, it amazes me how proficent you are on the computer. I've had a computer for 12 years or more and barely know the basics. I never needed to know more.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** April 22, 2008, 04:32:47 AM »

Ben, they're just tools, use em for whatcha need.

I got my first PC in '97, but used them at work for several years before that, so I had a head start on em!!

thanks,

Tim

NFG · « **Reply #26 on:** April 22, 2008, 05:52:05 AM »

Whazamata with shopping around??? I shop around for item price, shipping cost, availability, etc, but I don't let chump change get in the way of obtaining what I want or happen to need. I use at least 6 different "cut rate" suppliers...not that cut rate means anything in todays world. They ALL HAVE PROBLEMS that go along with todays way of shopping so deal with them..not one of the ones mentioned or the ones I use are perfect in any way shape or form...they are run by HOOMANS...therefore...by definition...faulty.

Shipping is also determined...for the most part...by conditions beyond a customers control...and is determined by where the supplier is located in relation to the customers location...and also by the discount received by the supplier from the shipper plus the cost of packaging determined by the wage scale of the location of the supplier.

I don't know of anyone who doesn't want to eat or buy their media induced toys which means wages continually go up and so does the cost of fuel, and every other commodity available for the consumer...and it is all directly related to greed and avarice on EVERYONES part...I don't see any solution in the future barring a 75% reduction in the human population...we just have to deal with it as best we can...carping about it really doesn't do much good.

'Njoy

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #27 on:** April 22, 2008, 06:45:04 AM »

I have always had very good luck in dealing with midway...They have always been hassle free...I know their prices have gone up a little lately but so has the price of everything else...However, sometimes I am willing to pay a little more for a particular item in return for excellent customer service....

NONYA · « **Reply #28 on:** April 22, 2008, 08:31:46 AM »

I ordered a part that weighed less than an ounce and was 3"x1/4",they charged my $9 shipping so they could include alll their catalogs,ect,that required them to use a huge box,how is that out of their control?

bluebayou · « **Reply #29 on:** April 22, 2008, 04:41:25 PM »

having worked for a wholesale tool company I know the fat discounts that Midway is getting on their shipping. Anyone with decent shipping volume can get steep, steep discounts on UPS charges. What would cost me, personally, $12 to ship from the hub, would cost only $4-5 at the tool company. Midway and others all inflate their shipping fees to mirror the UPS "retail" price. It is just gravy on the side to them.

That being said, yes, I am just carping, griping, whatever. I just think that small order fees and handling fees are outdated ways of doing business. The same can be said for how new cars are ordered and bought. In the 21rst century why can't I order a car on the internet from GM or Ford? Because there is a dinosaur system of car dealerships that get fat middle man subsidies. What a crock.