I e-mailed S&W customer support hoping to get some reassurances that they’re working hard to get magazines for the Shield Plus into the market, and that they understand the issues.

Instead I got a tone deaf and frankly ridiculous answer to my question of when we can expect the retail availability to improve. I almost can’t believe they sent this to me.

“ These magazines are currently not set up for individual sale. Please continue to check with us periodically for updates.”

Not set up for individual sale????? So you get the two in the box and if one breaks or you just want more…you’re out of luck? I am flabbergasted by that response.

I'm going to go with the idea that demand exceeds capacity and that if they had the means to provide them then they would. We are not on the inside so it's difficult to evaluate the decisions and priorities but I'm not sure S&W even makes their own mags. They may be constrained by the supplier and only have what's needed for new production. Not sure.

I would be more confident in guessing that if they could make them available they would. I've stopped trying to make sense of today's world. While you may find it "ridiculous" that you can't buy a simple magazine it is the reality nowadays to find anything related to firearms to be in short supply or unavailable.

Notice I never said that I thought the constrained supply was ridiculous. I said the response was ridiculous. Two completely different things.

That's automated response everybody has been receiving from S&W.

This one was commented several times... do not expect anything else for next few months.
You can always buy another Shield Plus and get 2 new mags with it.
Just kidding...
For now, sit tight, relax and wait few more months... hopefully...
or follow this thread for details:
Where are the Shield Plus Magazines?

I don't know what other response they could give besides the obvious...customer service departments are most likely kept in the dark on these particular situations and are told to give a canned response, just like the one you received. I am sure S&W would be more than happy to sell you individual magazines if they had them available, as was stated above, I am sure they probably get the same ridiculous response when they contact their magazine supplier about availability...

Sent from my SM-A115U using Tapatalk

Their priority is to make sure there’s 2 mags to go in the box with every Shield Plus they sell. Imagine if everybody bought 3, or 4 extra mags, and now they can’t sell the guns because they don’t have enough mags. There are priorities in life. GARY.

Good manufacturer should think ahead before selling new product.

I'm not picking on S&W, but whenever money is involved, there is no proper thinking. Priority is always the same... "First we, them later"

Imagine new car you have bought... and you don't have access to spare parts...

I agree S&W could come up with a better reply, but these are not normal times in the supply chain.

Some folks are waiting months for repair parts for appliances, cars, etc.

Agree, and this isn’t their first rodeo. One would assume they knew they were releasing a pistol into a booming market, and that the primary value proposition for the new pistol was magazine capacity. Sure the new trigger is cool too, but if you own a Shield 1.0 or 2.0, I doubt you’re buying a Plus for the trigger alone.

I have both a P365XL and a Hellcat, and both have been wildly popular in this same market, and magazines are available (and were shortly after release).

Good opportunity for Promag to jump in.

So what could they have said that would removed the burr from underneath your saddle . . . ?

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Extra magazines aren't a spare part, they are an accessory.

More like a dealer installed trailer hitch for a SUV than a water pump. If you need to a haul a trailer that hitch not being available right away is a deal breaker. But most people won't so not selling that SUV to them would be foolish.

The term "spare magazine" implies you are buying them in case the ones that came with the gun break with normal use. And that magazines breaking is a common problem. That's not why most people buy extra magazines. They buy them because they want to carry more ammo, are competing in a match that requires multiple magazines, are training is such a way they are constantly stepping on magazines, like to arrive at the range with a bunch of loaded magazines or just feel better having some spares even though they know they will probably never need them.

I fall into that last group and like having about 6 magazines for every gun I own that takes a magazine. But in many tens of thousands of rounds of shooting I have never worn one out. I have had magazines that never worked right, typically aftermarket mags, but never had one that worked great stop working. If magazines are available immediately after buying a gun and shooting it enough to make sure its a keeper I buy more magazines. But knowing I might have to wait a few months to do so would not stop me from buying a gun.

I know you guys who bought the Shield Plus are focused on that, but it is not simply a matter of introducing the Shield Plus before mags were available.

It is difficult to get just about any S&W 9mm mags, and has been for months. The 17-round mags for 9mm full-size are nowhere to be found, for example.

It seems to be a general supply issue much bigger than just you Shield Plus guys.

That's going on right now with many auto parts. The manufactures cant even buy them for themselves.

Living in a limited mag capacity state (15 max) I can say 15rd mags for the 2.0 Compact are readily available. The only mags I’ve had that wet the bed are a Nighthawk 9mm 1911 and a couple very old/high use Wilson 1911 .45 mags that are easily 30 yrs old lol. Those get relegated to only range use.

I do feel comfortable with the 24 rounds for the Plus though I do want to pick up 1 or 2 extra 13rd mags at some in case either of the 2 I have go bad.

As far as "supply chains" go, get accustomed to the inconvenience and be pleased that you have gotten what you have got....
New cars are at a premium where they are available. Some manufacturers cannot get their hands on the chips they need to assemble an operational vehicle. (That is why the cost of used cars is astronomical.... they work, and if you need one, there is an option that many have frowned upon in the past.) I, for the moment have all of the magazines that I want or need, but there are some things at the grocery store that have recently become unobtanium.....

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NRA Endowment Member

It’s not just me. Or at least shouldn’t be. This is table stakes for a firearm manufacturer, especially when the mag capacity is what they’re advertising.

Maybe a response more along the lines of:

“We recognize that magazine capacity is key to the value behind the Shield Plus, and we understand they have not been available, but we are working to make them available to our retail partners. We have increased production and working hard to increase supply for our customers.”

Would that provide a definite timeframe or exact solution? No. Would it show they understand the need and urgency? Yes.

The response I got didn’t even acknowledge there’s a problem.

Selling everything you produce might lead a manufacturer to believe there’s really not much of a problem, and might be a bonus. And if they never make extra magazines available, are you gonna sell yours?

At times like these I’m reminded of this King of Queens scene between Doug and his dad:

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Yes…and will never buy another product from S&W again. I own 2 pistols and a rifle now. I also own firearms from Sig, Springfield Armory, Glock, Ruger, etc.

I bought my P365XL a month after the model was released for sale. Mags, slides, grips, sights and other accessories were available almost immediately, despite it and it’s original predecessor being the best selling EDC pistol in the US. Same for my Hellcat a few months later.

Apples and oranges. Both guns introduced well pre-pandemic. . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Muss mentions exactly what I was going to mention.

S&W introduced a very popular firearm in the middle of a pandemic where near everything was closed or limited.

They have done quite well in providing the firearms in rather large supplies given what is going on.....yet someone still isnt happy.

I 100% agree everyone should have 5+ mags per weapon, I always buy extra magazines but I also realize things are different right now.

Smith and Wesson I am sure is doing their best, however when you have millions of people buying a product and millions wanting extras....it takes time....and most people will understand that.

Just a thought....if you wanted a gun you could get extras for......maybe wait a year or so before buying the gun......and realize you arent the only one wanting the item.

Side note, SIG did have to start issuing some guns with 1 magazine and a card to redeem the additional mags later on so they could get their P365's out faster.

Because for them there isn't a problem. Yes, the world is that cold these days, and has been for a while.

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Release the Kraken

OK…and my decision not to buy another S&W product is my prerogative. Companies who care about me get my business.

I am not surprised in the least about the response you got. Pandemic, strong demand, etc., they should believe in "customer service" first - not last.

Not at all. Their response is the issue. Some of you keep harping on the underlying fact that mag supply is constrained. That’s not my issue.

The issue is their tone deaf response. Some of you seem OK with it. So be it. Having an issue isn’t how companies lose customers. How they react and respond to the issue is why they keep/gain or lose customers.

When you market a firearm based on the value of higher capacity, ignoring the customers who bought that pitch makes no sense. But I see I’m in the minority.

Have a nice night everyone. 🙂

Someone got their feelings hurt. So sad.

Smith doesn't make the magazines for the Shield Plus .. they are sourced from Italy, specifically Mec-Gar. I asked Smith directly some 4 to 6 weeks ago. I insisted on the truth, that they NOT blow smoke up my backside. The answer I got .. they did not know when extra 13 round mags would be available. Not a complete answer, but at least direct and probably honest.

I also contacted Mec-Gar USA .. they are not connected to Mec-gar Italy as the USA division is for aftermarket mags only. New / OEM is Italy and the two Mec-Gar divisions do not "talk" to each other.

We're gonna have a wait on our hands .. just don't know how long. Personally, I think months, and would not be surprised if a steady supply of extra / spare / more mags doesn't happen until 2022.

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- Geo. P Burdell

Guess I dont see a correlation between magazine capacity and magazine availability. A capacity should not dictate what a store happens to carry.
A mag only holds 8 rounds, we want more of them. A mag holds 10-13 rounds, we want more. A 17 round mag? Yep we want more. And so on.
There are many things not a available right now, or at an overly high cost if they are… the past 12+ months are not a good point of reference for any production or retail; the coming months likely won’t be much better.

neil0311 Make your choice and move on . Many of use have a number of brands of handguns in different sizes . Don't think sigs all that nether . When I bought a p320c 40sw it was early in production and extra mags took a while a change of grip size took a year and onoy then did imnfo get out that the 45 cal verion would not be as a xchange kit like a 9,mm 40sw , or 357sig was . Shame on them too but I carried it for 6.5 years befor buy a real piece of chit p320xc . Sold 'um both . And the 15 round mags for the XL were some time to show up too .

So stop your whining and ether buy on or move on , Hey maybe a ruger max 9 . Ha . I rather have a m&p SC over the shield plus . Not really much . The 1/2 in length and 4.8 ounce just don't matter much . Run a flat bottom mag in the SC and the heights the same . Width is measured on the SC with a thumb safety so even thats with in .121 wide with a small grip insert . So much over so little .

I already bought the Shield Plus months ago. Maybe stop insulting and try reading. 🙄

I gotta admit the constant “Covid Excuse” is getting old. I’m not in a huge rush to get them, but they should be showing up on shelves by now. It’s annoying to see Springfield, Sig, Ruger, and Glock having available mags for their new guns and S&W not getting them. I’ll bet you Jerry Miculek and Julie Golob have all they want and more. The employees who showcase their product have all they want but not the customer who buys them.

I can understand the OP to a certain extent, being the sensitive type myself. But you have to look at it from the viewpoint of the S&W CS Rep as well. These are hectic times and they are probably deluged with inquiries 24/7. They just can't give a personalized hand-holding response to each one. As well, you can bet that anything they say is going to be picked apart, so they probably get input from the in-house legal dept. on exactly what to say, and to keep it as brief as possible.

It's still a seller's market out there, right? If you really mean that this experience has soured you on all S&W products, why not sell your pistol and buy something from a company with a more empathetic CS Dept.?

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You're shy a few manners.

Yea you bought it so that's why your still complaining months later !!

With the good common sense most of us have you should known that most new "hot " selling handguns to the market are short on extra mags along with parts in general for some time following its introduction . Learn to check for extras before buying like mags and springs maybe a striker even before buying but know going in what may not be available for a while.

Whining here does not help ether , even months later .

Since no more s&w are on your buy list you might wait for those new to the market handguns to have parts available in the aftermarket before buying or at least not short circuit and do not expect the talking heads in customer service to have all the answers you want or like to hear . I tend to wait for beta testers to find the short comings and problems to show up before buying . I've also had to wait for call backs or e mails for some info wanted that had to be found by some one other than a talking head that most company have .

Have a real fine day !

They could have said they didn't have enough mags to satisfy people that wanted more then the guns ship with and will hold the distribution line from everyone until supply equals demand - but we did send a few guns to the writers and you can read all about it in the gun rags…

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I doubt that would have helped . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

The reply the OP got sounds like the response I got from a Ms. Fredette when I called for replacement magazines for my three Walther P22 pistols. She basically called me a liar in regards to having three of them. I had to send her a copy of my sales receipt from Vances in Ohio, the receipt from my local FFL and a photo of all three.

Just a thought, but maybe the management at S&W might want to look at additional sources for magazines. Not to replace Mec-Gar, but as a supplement - rather than the current all the eggs in one basket approach.

I don't know who makes Ruger magazines, but if it's anyone other than Ruger that might be a good choice as both the Max-9 and LCP Max magazines seem to be widely available...

There is a company (Magpul ?) that makes magazines for most gun companies. I would check their web site for the magazines you want

Magazines are a critical component of the platform of any gun. They have to be right or the gun don't work. There are many aftermarket companies making magazines that I won't buy due to their reputation. If Smith outsourced mags to another company and they weren't reliable that would be a huge blow to the brand that wasn't their fault that would live forever on the internet. Not a risk I would take. It may be a viable option but I'm not qualified to comment further.

I've certainly learned my lesson; if I want plentiful magazines, buy a Glock. Every other manufacturer has been a waiting game for new mags: S&W, Sig, Walther, Staccato, Springfield, B&T, etc.

The just-in-time (JIT) inventory system is a management strategy that aligns raw-material orders from suppliers directly with production schedules. Companies employ this inventory strategy to increase efficiency and decrease waste by receiving goods only as they need them for the production process, which reduces inventory costs.
- investopedia

Because it's about the bottom dollar, not your wants or needs.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

BINGO! Hit the nail on the head right there!

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[QUOTE=Ima_Jewish_Deplorable;141227226]Smith doesn't make the magazines for the Shield Plus .. they are sourced from Italy, specifically Mec-Gar.

I live in the mag restricted state of Connecticut and when I purchased my Shield Plus they could only get the Plus' with the 10 and 13 mags. The LGS took out the 13 round mag and sold it with the 10 round only and a voucher for another 10 round later. I ordered a Shield Plus PC 4" and made sure to order the correct SKU number and that came with 2 10 round mags. I have gone through problems like this quite often with many manufacturers through the years. I had to wait over a year to buy a Hellcat with a 10 round mag, they didn't make a 10 round mag. My Glock 43X didn't have extra mags in my LGS for a few months after it came out. I do want to have extra mags for all my guns but I can see why Smith and Wesson is not selling extra mags when they need them for the new pistol orders.
I would also add that in my 45 years of shooting I have only had one aftermarket mag fail on me, none from OEM. It is frustrating but I feel Smith and Wesson is a quality company and will make it right as soon as possible. If you don't like what they are doing you don't have to buy from them. Myself I love all my Shield pistols.
WK

That didn’t work out too well for the auto mfr’s lately, did it. For years, the US auto mfr’s had months of parts inventory at the assembly plants, until they saw the foreign mfr’s using the JIT method, so now we do it too. Under normal circumstances, it works well, & saves them $. But sadly the last 18 months have not been normal. GARY.

That's the overwhelming reason the other day I opted to buy a brand new M&P Shield 2.0 45 over the slightly lower priced Shield plus in the display case. Of course the plethora of extra 45 shield mags helped my decision making.

It's sounds like the reply you get when someone has to answer the same question over and over.

Not saying it's a proper response, but that's what it sounds like. I'll bet they get many "S+ Magazine" emails per day. I'm also sure they would love to sell you magazines if they could just get some themselves!

Probably the same reply the other 158 people got that day calling up asking where all the mags are. GARY.

That's only half the problem. The other half is single sourcing of parts.

In this case, the reduced production capacity of Mec-Gar is only making extra mags scarce. Imagine if a natural or man-made disaster seriously degraded or destroyed Mec-Gar. Then, with no inventory and no other ready source of magazines, their sales of magazine fed firearms grinds to a halt.

At that point another source must be secured and tooled up for production. With so many gun companies depending on Mec-Gar there will be a lot of completion for whatever limited quality manufacturing capacity is available. I imagine the few other mag makers will prioritize their existing customers, and/or charge through the nose.

This world has never suffered from a lack of whiny people. I’m not surprised this is any different.

Nowadays S&W's reply is no surprise. The RIA wide body (hi cap) 10mm comes with one mag and none are available AMYWHERE!

Maybe after the surge in firearm sales tapers off we'll see some spares coming out.