MIDWAY - Dropping Discounts for Dealers

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10-03-2013, 09:24
james_bond_007

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MIDWAY - Dropping Discounts for Dealers

Attachment 34719

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.

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
5875 West Van Horn Tavern Rd.
Columbia, MO 65203
10-03-2013, 10:24
spqrzilla

I suspect that the overhead of keeping track of "dealers" who order a small amount of goods each year is getting too high.
10-03-2013, 10:38
merl

As often as not the lack of using a "coupon" meant dealers pay more. I know I always check both ways.
10-03-2013, 10:50
MarkCO

Guess all my orders go to Brownells now. Midway discounts were shrinking more and more.
10-03-2013, 13:10
ChrisC

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkCO

Guess all my orders go to Brownells now. Midway discounts were shrinking more and more.

Same here. The midway discounts had become a joke.
10-03-2013, 13:32
ben4372

Though the discounts were getting smaller and there was a minimum order or you had to pay a handling charge..........They were my go to. I have not received the notice yet. More money for Brownells. I'm sending both of them an email. Everyone should thank Brownells, just in case they have plans to follow.
10-03-2013, 13:37
ben4372

Just went and checked regular and dealer prices on a few items, odd prices were the same. Dang it Larry
10-03-2013, 13:42
mahkcod

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkCO

Guess all my orders go to Brownells now. Midway discounts were shrinking more and more.

DITTO!!!!
10-03-2013, 14:11
rondog

Hey, c'mon - Larry's got all those safaris and hunting trips to pay for!
10-03-2013, 14:29
Drucker

As one of the hoi polloi parts buyers, I will continue to use Midway. Better pricing than Brownells and better service.
10-03-2013, 15:36
BPTactical

Midway can play with a bag of broken glass for all I care. Never cared for them at all and Brownells has always been very helpful, quick to ship and respond to any concerns I have had.
10-03-2013, 16:58
KS63

Both companies have treated me well and I will continue to support each one. Prices do vary between the two and I buy from the cheapest total amount.
10-04-2013, 06:56
cofi

I am a brownells guy

Yes they are a little expensive but there cs cannot be beat
10-04-2013, 07:04
Great-Kazoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben4372

Though the discounts were getting smaller and there was a minimum order or you had to pay a handling charge..........They were my go to. I have not received the notice yet. More money for Brownells. I'm sending both of them an email. Everyone should thank Brownells, just in case they have plans to follow.

Don't be surprised if they do. Their LE flyers show a price and that's it. NO vendor discount.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drucker

As one of the hoi polloi parts buyers, I will continue to use Midway. Better pricing than Brownells and better service.

Not even close. Midway has mediocre CS. What brownells responds to issue wise withing 2-3 business days. Midway "gets around to it" After a call or second e-m is sent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPTactical

Midway can play with a bag of broken glass for all I care. Never cared for them at all and Brownells has always been very helpful, quick to ship and respond to any concerns I have had.

see above reply

Quote:

Originally Posted by KS63

Both companies have treated me well and I will continue to support each one. Prices do vary between the two and I buy from the cheapest total amount.

If it's in stock and a needed item, like reloading . I go with that vendor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cofi

I am a brownells guy

Yes they are a little expensive but there cs cannot be beat

6 months later i call and they are , NO PROBLEM make sure you have the original packaging, and invoice. While i have only returned 3 items over the years, once due to my inattention to part number. They have never asked me over the phone why i want to return it.
10-04-2013, 07:21
sniper7

Midway sure dumps a lot of money into the NRA and youth shooting and the RMEF. I'll stick by them. A few bucks here or there while it makes a small difference is not going to push me from them. I'll still shop around for the best price, I won't just blindly piss my money away but midway will still be in my regular search.
10-04-2013, 13:30
Jer

"I think that popular company XYZ that can't even keep items in stock they're so popular should be forced to continue to offer discounts." said no capitalist ever.

Simple economics: Supply v Demand

Demand is winning. When Supply gets the upper hand we'll see discounts again.

Until then, if you want to see discounts, STOP BUYING UP EVERYTHING DISCOUNTED AND SELLING FOR A PROFIT!

Talk about hypocrisy.
10-04-2013, 13:37
Great-Kazoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jer

"I think that popular company XYZ that can't even keep items in stock they're so popular should be forced to continue to offer discounts." said no capitalist ever.

Simple economics: Supply v Demand

Demand is winning. When Supply gets the upper hand we'll see discounts again.

Until then, if you want to see discounts, STOP BUYING UP EVERYTHING DISCOUNTED AND SELLING FOR A PROFIT!

Talk about hypocrisy.

If i'm in business to make a profit. How can i the small business person offer an item that anyone can now purchase for the same price?
Are there folks reselling , with obscene mark up sure. However to penalize a legit business cost wise, hurts everyone.
10-04-2013, 14:09
Rabid

I had a very good experience with Brownells. I received a package of parts and a gas tube managed to poke its way through the box, the gas tube looked undamaged though. I decided to send them a picture of the unopened box with the gas tube sticking out stating that everything looked fine and undamaged but they should really do a better job packing because the box was too small for the gas tube. I got an e-mail back saying the gas tube may be bent and using the shipping label in the picture they gathered my information and another gas tube was already in the mail heading my way. Midway would have asked me to send the gas tube back and once they got it i would have to wait for their super "saver" aka slow shipping method to get the new one in my hands.
10-04-2013, 14:15
Jer

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim

If i'm in business to make a profit. How can i the small business person offer an item that anyone can now purchase for the same price?
Are there folks reselling , with obscene mark up sure. However to penalize a legit business cost wise, hurts everyone.

Find something else to sell or other ways to be competitive. A large companies job isn't to prop up the little guy so they can keep competing with them. It's job is to make money. If they can't keep stock levels at a minimum level to serve ALL the paying customers then should SOME of the paying customers get a discount?
10-04-2013, 14:47
ray1970

I've always had excellent service from Midway and since the dealer pricing thing has no impact on me I will continue to give them my business.

Besides, they are probably just trying to recover some of the cost they will incur due to Obamacare.
10-04-2013, 16:44
Aloha_Shooter

I've had excellent CS from both Brownell's and Midway. Both companies have been upstanding about supporting efforts to defend the Second Amendment. Having said all that, I'm not a dealer. I feel somewhat badly for those who were using Midway as a distributor but doesn't mean they deserve the hate I see on the part of some here. Adapt and overcome.
10-05-2013, 08:08
buckshotbarlow

i switched to brownells after they started offering reloading supplies. I can get 99% of crap in one order now, and cheaper from them now...
10-06-2013, 09:33
MarkCO

Quote:

Originally Posted by sniper7

Midway sure dumps a lot of money into the NRA and youth shooting and the RMEF.

Actually, the vast majority of the millions comes from their customers rounding up. Not saying they don't give any, but realize that getting a buck or so extra from a few million orders and then taking the credit for it directly is good advertising, but a bit on the slimy side.

Also, this is for business and dealers who are supposed to be buying and reselling and or putting those parts on firearms and making a few extra bucks via a better price...for volume. Probably one of the things that does this in is everyone and their brother trying to get a discount. Easily half of the people that try to get a dealer account from us are just after saving a few bucks for their personal purchase, and some are even willing to lie to get it, but have no intention of actually being a dealer.