First Time Disappointed in Dillon Precision

[straightshooter1]

I've been a Dillon customer for well over 25 years and in all that time have never, ever had a problem.

The last five or so years, purchases have been few and far between since I really have pretty much all the "stuff" I need.

But, my speed strip pouch is pretty beat and I wanted a new one-the IXL Speedstrip Wallet Dillon sells. I bought one of these years ago from Dillon, but time and my carelessness has made it, uhhhhh, ugly (that's speaking kindly of its looks).

So I checked the on-line catalog and it is $28.95. Seems a bit high for what it is, but, what the heck, I want a new one.

But wait-shipping-it's $9.99! Ten bucks to ship something really small and light?

But, I remember ordering something like this a few years ago, maybe the first IXL Wallet I purchased, but I am not sure. Anyway, the fellow back then said shipping was X amount, but that's so high and this is so small that we'll just drop it in the mail for you.

Great, I got it and the shipping was a small amount, maybe less than a buck.

So, I called Dillon, explained I wanted the IXL, but wondered if he'd drop it in the mail and save me the 10 bucks shipping.

He said it would go in the mail alright, but shipping was still gonna be $9.99.

OUCH!

I was a little annoyed, but I wanted the pouch, so I gave him the credit card.

But, I decided to be more careful about where I buy from now on and Dillon's won't be the first place I look with shipping being that high for something that small.

In this case, Dillon or IXL is the only source and IIRC, IXL's shipping is just as much or more.

Or, is it possible that I am out of line? Naaaaa, no chance, is there?

Bob

 

[Big Stick]

I don't know if it is related, but I saw on another unrelated forum that the USPS just shook up some of their package rates for priority mail, and some other commercial stuff....

 

[Inusuit]

My experience with Dillon has been that their customer service is the best in the industry. I suspect Big Stick is correct. I ship a lot of stuff based on auction site sales and shipping costs have gone up dramatically in the past year. Given Dillon's policies, I doubt they are intentionally putting it to customers. So you may not be out of line, but I think you are incorrect to assume it's Dillon's fault. Unless to you expect retailers to take a loss on sales and shipping. You already mentioned that another source listed the same shipping charge.

 

[H Richard]

I just mailed a package yesterday, USPS flat rate (smallest box) is $6.80. I doubt if you'll find any supplier to mail you anything for less than Dillon. Midway has that "combined" shipping, leaves then by UPS and when arrives in your home city switches to USPS. Now takes 5-8 days to get a package when previously by UPS got in 2 days.

 

[NYlakesider]

Its getting to be SOP for many outfits to have a very high shipping handling charge. Many time the S/H charge is more, sometimes lots more than the price of the object/s you wish to purchase.

Watch all that stuff hucked on TV. BUT WAIT we will double your order for free, just add another shipping and handling charge.

There is money to be made there!

 

[billwill]

Disappointed in Dillon?....Heck...I thought you were going to comment that one of the catalog models wasn't up to your standards. ....

 

[straightshooter1]

No, uhh, no, Billwill, all of them have met my criteria. I am expecting to start the personal interviews shortly.

NO, WAIT-I FORGOT!

My wife doesn't allow me to do that!

Bob

 

[MSgt G]

I bought an old Square Deal B years ago off EBay. I recently sent it to Dillon for some TLC. They returned it to me (no charge) and I'm not sure if any of it is original! Too many parts were replaced for me to even count! I love Dillon!

 

[Rule3]

Disappointed in Dillon?....Heck...I thought you were going to comment that one of the catalog models wasn't up to your standards. ....

Umm, the most recent one is probably the best one for a long time! Damn!

I never bought their calendar for the same reason, the shipping was crazy!

Someone else has to make the wallet as Dillon certainly doesn't.

Most Versatile Ammo Pouch - Leather Ammo Pouch

 

[shotgun693]

Shipping has gotten out of hand. I was going to ship a gun in for a factory fix. It HAD to go over night, $100. That ate up any warranty savings I might have had.

 

[inspcalahan]

You just have to pick up the phone and do it the old fashioned way. I order the Dillon calendar every year. When I try to order online, the shipping is more than the calendar so I cancel the order. I then call them on the phone, explain the "problem", they apologize that it's a quirk with their automated shipping system and place my order over the phone with greatly reduced and "expected" shipping rates.

In regards to shipping, Brownells also the new EDGE program for $49. The biggest benefit is free shipping on all orders for the next 12 months. With 2-3 orders per year, that pays for itself alone. Now I order whenever I want something, no matter how small. Last week I ordered a few things and the next day forgot that I needed one firing pin spring...so second order away! There's a few other perks also. I hope they keep the program for years to come at that rate.

 

[Aticus]

Guys, unless these companies are shipping completely by robot they have to pay someone to box things up label it and get it on the truck so to speak. These folks don't work for love and kisses. They get paid. The shipper charges for their service and most add a fuel surcharge when the price of fuel is up. All that has to be factored in. I know it's a pain to pay what seems to be excessive shipping charges but there they are.

If you really want to avoid the shipping charges buy from a local dealer. You save on shipping and help to keep a local business IN business. Think about that.

 

[Jack Flash]

I've been a Dillon customer for well over 25 years and in all that time have never, ever had a problem.
...

Doing business with them for over 25 years and that's your only complaint? That speaks volumes for the kind of company Dillon is.

 

[NYlakesider]

Guys, unless these companies are shipping completely by robot they have to pay someone to box things up label it and get it on the truck so to speak. These folks don't work for love and kisses. They get paid. The shipper charges for their service and most add a fuel surcharge when the price of fuel is up. All that has to be factored in. I know it's a pain to pay what seems to be excessive shipping charges but there they are.

If you really want to avoid the shipping charges buy from a local dealer. You save on shipping and help to keep a local business IN business. Think about that.

They also have to pay these same people to unload trucks. unpack crates, stock shelves, dispose of the dunnage and enter it all in inventory, answer the phones and do online orders!

Your argument is as off the wall as the car dealers that say O wait now we have to add on a advertisement charge, filling papers fee, ADP, and other items.

I do agree with you on shopping local if you can!

 

[ladder13]

Shipping has gotten out of hand. I was going to ship a gun in for a factory fix. It HAD to go over night, $100. That ate up any warranty savings I might have had.

If it were a confirmed warranty issue, they will send you a label(S&W does) and all you need to do is box it and call Fedex for home pick up.

 

[straightshooter1]

Rule 3:

IXL makes the wallet. It's smaller and much lighter than the one in the link you posted.

Inspcallahan:
That's what I did the first time. Didn't work this time.

Jack Flash:

Yup, I've been a cheerleader for Dillon for years. This is the first time I felt "unsatisfied."

 

[alwslate]

Overcharging for shipping has become a standard way of boosting the
selling price of many things these days. It's so well entrenched that
there's little likelihood of it going away anytime soon. Many sellers on
GB are guilty of doing it. I was looking at an old 4.5 lb C&R single shot
22 rifle until I looked at the shipping fee. $40 for shipping? It's a
rip-off pure and simple.

 

[gman51]

Freight has gone way up in the last couple years especially. $10 isn't squat these days.
I thought a vendor was ripping me off on freight so I did a price check with UPS and the price was right on the money the guy was going to charge me.

 

[Ron AZ]

They say shipping and handling! In my mind the handling is part of their cost and should be priced into the product. That way you get an apples to apples comparison. It also gives incentive to minimize that cost. Otherwise check and balance to control costs is lost. Heck I even had someone charge $5 to ship two small diaphragm calls ($11 total for the products) that could have been stuck in an envelope with a $0.49 stamp. When I contacted them about it they said they're handling costs were built into the shipping to pay for people to do that, not in the price of the product.

I do think they sometimes listen. I contacted Midway and told them several times I had different online orders ready, and cancelled them because S&H was too high. Others must have given same feedback as later they have had some better shipping cost options. I won't pay 25-30% of the cost of the product for S&H. Most of the time I am trying to keep S&H to 10, 12 or certainly less than 15% of the cost of the goods.

 

[Geno44]

I paid $5.85 to post a letter Priority mail from St Louis to Dallas. It was supposed to get there in two days. It was posted on a Monday and arrived on Saturday. Shipping anything seems to be getting pretty expensive and of course the price of fuel is low right now..