WOW...Cheaper Than Dirt loss leader.

[Ricrock]

I just received in the mail my copy of the new Cheaper Than Dirt catalog #909. An item on the front cover got my immediate attention: PMC X-TAC 5.56 NATO M855, FMJ, 62 Grains, 50 Rounds. AMM-199......$7.99

When I called to order 1000 rounds (20 boxes), I was told it was a misprint, the pricing is for boxes of 20.

I am now retired, after a half century in the Advertising business, Print/direct mail specifically. I am aware everyone makes mistakes, but it takes months to put together a catalog, and a pricing error of this magnitude should never have made it past the first proof, much less the 2nd, 3rd and more, even making it past the press proofing when the job was printed. This makes it look to me like it was an intentional error, to garner attention for the rest of the catalog.

During the time I was in advertising, Sears, JCPenney's, and many others were required to honor their prices in print, right or wrong. There was a term for this type of deception, called "bait and switch".

I specifically asked the woman I talked to at CTD if she would honor the price, and she said no! She did not even make an attempt at a compromise. Nor did she offer an apology for the misleading advertisement.

I told her that I will have no choice but to expose this false pricing for this loss leader to the forums I frequent. Her response was, "do what you must".

Any way this says a lot about the way they do business.

I will take my future business to another company, even tho they are in my home state of Texas.

Rick

 

[rwsmith]

Isn't $7.99.....

......isn't that still a bit of a steal? At least a good bulk ammo rate? I'm not really up on gross misprints of prices. I think that if you pushed it higher up, you might get some satisfaction. But I don't think that they are absolutely bound to honor an obvious misprint.

 

[gman51]

Walmart did that to me on a new 50" TV for $229. No doubt it was a misprint ad and when delivered to the store they sent a small refrigerator. The manager evidently found out the TV was not available for the price in the ad.
He replaced it with another TV the same size and I took it. No doubt in my mind what happened. I guess I could have pushed the matter but I wasn't wanting the hassle since I did end up with a quality 50" TV at the same price I paid for. I have no doubt I still got a good deal.

 

[Dad_Roman]

Funny....wifey shoved that circular at me this mornin on my way out the door and when I got in my truck I noticed that pricing.

But I didnt call, cause, you know, somebody mighta been a little "spendy" lately

PSA sent out an email a while back and had rifle kits for like 299. I was ready to order 10 of em...lol

They said "misprint" and later that day actually sent out another email flyer to correct it.

I like CTD but dont use them because when you add tax...ugh

 

[Ricrock]

What the issue really is about, their attitude. An apology sometimes goes a long way. And the sales tax issue is a problem for me too.

 

[chud333]

After what they pulled with their pricing on ammo back during the
"ammo crisis" i'll get a slingshot before i buy anything from those
blokes.
They can go pound sand !!!


Chuck

 

[MichiganScott]

CTD catalogs go directly into recycling and aren't allowed to defile the house.

 

[BC38]

After what they pulled with their pricing on ammo back during the
"ammo crisis" i'll get a slingshot before i buy anything from those
blokes.
They can go pound sand !!!


Chuck

I hear ya'.

They were doing stuff like cancelling people's backorders of 22LR that had been ordered for $25 a brick saying the orders "couldn't be filled", then the next week advertising the same bricks at $50 each.

The only way CTD will ever get a dime worth of orders from me is if they have something I absolutely have to have that can not be had anywhere else at any price.

 

[Mulebuk Sam]

Hey Rick,

Cheaper Than Dirt ain't cheap and they are bait and switch hustlers, avoid them like the plague.

 

[Dad_Roman]

With no "local pickup".......and that irks me too


By God you can walk into Grab-a-Gun with a pocket fulla cash and walk out with a whole lotta fun

 

[dben002]

As others here are advising you best to stay away from them.
.
They have earned their reputation........

 

[gen3guy]

I don't understand why companies like this waste the paper in the first place. If I want to order something, I go to the Web site, pick something out and order it. Sure enough, I'll get a flyer in the mail a week or so later..which goes straight into the recycle bucket. I don't even read them.

 

[sierra255]

During the so called "ammo crises", there was also some panic on buying high capacity magazines. I was viewing their ads late one night, and was trying to decide to buy a couple of magazines along with some ammo. I decided to retire for the night and take up the issue in the morning. Seven hours later, I decided to make the purchase and got back online, and I could not believe what I saw.

The ammo that was advertised the day before, went up 50%, and the two mags I wanted had nearly doubled in price. I called them and the nice lady confirmed the new price. When I asked how could these two items go up so much in just a few hours, I was told "it's supply and demand". I replied, "no it's price gouging" and hung up.

I sent several messages to the NRA because Cheaper than Dirt always is advertising in the NRA publications, and the TV American Rifleman. I received one response back from the NRA, and they told me that Cheaper than Dirt has always been a strong supporter of the NRA, and is a trusted partner. At this time the NRA will continue to welcome their advertising and business. (The almighty dollar just spoke)

I will never do any business with them no matter how good their items are priced. My opinion, yours may vary...............

 

[nlghthawk]

CTD

My problem with CTD stems from the ammo shortage in 2013 after Sandy Hook. CTD was hiking up prices to the extent of over $100 for a box of 50 9mm. I swore them off forever after that. There are many places to spend your money and I prefer to never support a company that would gouge its customers.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I had done a little business with them in the past, BUT when they showed their sleaze bag style during Obama-scare # 5 I dumped them. Unsubscribed to emails paper catalogs. Never again.

 

[grover99]

I was looking for a mag for my 6906 and found one on CTD at a not too bad of a price but their shipping was $16.95 for one mag. Midway charges $4.95 to ship a mag. Never will order from them.

 

[LAA]

So far, most responses in this thread, are the typical " I hate this company, for whatever reason, and therefore will add my tid bit complaint."

To the OP. No they don't owe you anything! It's a friggen mis-print! As to being on purpose, I highly doubt it, since they'll be dodging calls such as yours, all day long!

At my age, I've see this over and over throughout the years. Mistakes happen, and a business doesn't need to take a major loss, in order to avoid "internet blackmail".

I disagree with the original message.....

 

[LAA]

The more I read this, the more ticked off I get. So.............let's say the company honors your request. Then what? It will probably be spilled all over the internet, as to what happened. Then customer #2 who reads the post, will expect the same. When customer #2 doesn't get the same deal, which puts the company in the hole for every order..............then what?

It never ends. The woman you talked to, did the right thing.

 

[TX-Dennis]

So far, most responses in this thread, are the typical " I hate this company, for whatever reason, and therefore will add my tid bit complaint."

To the OP. No they don't owe you anything! It's a friggen mis-print! As to being on purpose, I highly doubt it, since they'll be dodging calls such as yours, all day long!

At my age, I've see this over and over throughout the years. Mistakes happen, and a business doesn't need to take a major loss, in order to avoid "internet blackmail".

I disagree with the original message.....

You're correct that they are under no obligation to honor a misprinted ad price. On the other hand, a simple apology costs nothing and does make most people feel at least a little better. CTD should take a lesson in basic customer relations.

 

[otisrush]

During the time I was in advertising, Sears, JCPenney's, and many others were required to honor their prices in print, right or wrong. There was a term for this type of deception, called "bait and switch".

I can't speak to then (and, frankly, I can't officially speak to "now"), but my understanding is that mis-prints are not covered under false advertising / bait-and-switch laws. Those laws can be used when there is a consistent pattern of false advertising.

Given the other responses in this thread maybe it wouldn't be that difficult to establish a pattern of false advertising with CTD. But be that as it may, for one catalog, from what I know.....they can't be compelled to honor it.