Good news/Bad news

[cmj8591]

First the good: At the start of this pandemic/scam, I signed up at Target Sports in Conn. to be notified should they ever receive CCI bulk 9mm. Sure enough I got an e mail yesterday that they had stock. For about 30 seconds, I got excited. Now the bad: The price for a 1000 round case had ballooned to $600! This is the same ammo that 7 months ago retailed for $169. This is nothing short of larceny. I get the whole supply and demand thing but this is the definition of price gouging. Now more bad: It was about an hour between the time I received the message and the time I was able to check out the site. In that time, it was no longer in stock. I don't know how much they actually had but they were able to find enough suckers to buy all of it. For me, this whole situation has reinforced the adage that there are a lot of people who have more money than brains. Should there be anyone from Target Sports reading this post, I have this to say to you: Make your money while you can because this is going to pass. When it does and all these people who are buying guns for the first time go away, you won't be able to depend on those of us who have been supporting you all of these years to keep you in business. In the meantime, I have a suggestion where you can store that $600 a case 9mm should you get any more in.

 

[Warren Sear]

No need to get all bent out of shape about it. If you think it is priced too high, don't buy it.

No one is being gouged.

 

[double-dipper]

The great ammo shortage of 2020 will come to pass just as the last one did in 2012. I don't always buy ammo, but when I do I stock up my friend!

 

[cmj8591]

No need to get all bent out of shape about it. If you think it is priced too high, don't buy it.

No one is being gouged.

Believe me, I'm not going to buy it!

Unless the cost of the ammo has increased by 250% or so, which it hasn't, there is no justification to raise the consumer price 250%. Target is using the shortage to justify the increase. That is the definition of gouging. If you bought it, you were gouged weather or not you know it. As far as getting bent about it, anyone who engages in this hobby should be bent out of shape about what is going on. Otherwise you have two options. Stop enjoying your hobby of get taken advantage of.

 

[Iframe32s]

Would they even ship it to Mass?

 

[deno56]

My LGS had 9mm last week $999.99 for 1000 rounds and sold out. I stocked up when it was $8.00 a box.

 

[Warren Sear]

The market value of my house has increased 250% since I bought it. I will charge at least that when I sell it. If I don't get a buyer, then my price will have been too high, and I will have to lower it if I want to sell the house. My house's current value has NOTHING to do with how much I paid for it.

That's how it works. The buyer ALWAYS sets the price.

 

[ancient-one]

There are a bunch of places selling it for $800-900 a thousand when they have it in stock. Yes, they are selling it.

 

[kraynky]

I recall the businesses that intentionally gouged their customers, both online and locally and I have ceased doing business with them. There's a local shop that still has ammo and it's still at the same prices as before the cootie virus. They are a bit farther than I'd like to go, but I reward them by shopping there.

I don't really need anything right now, other than some items from Dillon to load a new caliber, they can't help with that unfortunately. Remember to "overstock" when things level out some. We know prices never return to the old Pre-panic days, but when it simmers down, buy something every payday. You can sit back and shake your head when it happens the next time. (and it will) I'm glad that you are not rewarding gougers, if nobody did, they would go away.

 

[Fishinfool]

I received an email from "Cheaper Than Dirt" just the other day. Plenty of green tip in stock, new Winchester manufacture. Only two thousand dollars and change per case. Shipping additional. What a deal.

They actually had a pretty good selection of a variety of calibers - Just sky high prices.

Personally, it doesn't bother me. By selling at such high prices, they are able to maintain inventory. If you are totally out of ammo, and need a box for your self defense or hunting gun, its available. Cheaper prices at other retailers means nothing if its not in stock.

So, they do provide a service for those in need. Mostly new gun owners who would otherwise own nothing more than a paperweight.

Now, if you are a regular shooter and gun owner, and let yourself get into the situation where you have no ammo for your firearm(s), no sympathy, from me anyway. There is a price to pay for lack of planning.

Larry

 

[PPS1980]

In the grand scheme of things today $600/1000 for 9mm from a known maker is on the lower side of the prices out there. Not saying I'm paying that, but its not $1/round or even 80c/round for FMJ!

 

[MTC(SS)Ret]

I use Ammoseek.com to look for 9MM ammo deals and prices are consistently at or above 60 cents a round for FMJ. I set up to receive text alerts when any retailer is selling at less than 34 cents and it occasionally happens. In the 2 minutes it takes me to get to the selling website it is usually sold out.

 

[tops]

I don't have sympathy for new gun owners unless they just turned old enough too buy a firearm. There have always been evil people and I have never understood why anyone would think that they would never be a victim. There have been riots before this year. They must not read history or have some kind of unreal view of reality.
I'm glad too see ammo available even though it's kind of high priced. If I need some for self defense I want too be able too get it. I'm probably the only one that thinks so but my life is priceless. Larry

 

[Muss Muggins]

That is the definition of supply and demand . . .

Believe me, I'm not going to buy it!

Unless the cost of the ammo has increased by 250% or so, which it hasn't, there is no justification to raise the consumer price 250%. Target is using the shortage to justify the increase. That is the definition of gouging. If you bought it, you were gouged weather or not you know it. As far as getting bent about it, anyone who engages in this hobby should be bent out of shape about what is going on. Otherwise you have two options. Stop enjoying your hobby of get taken advantage of.

 

[AlHunt]

It always comes down to an argument between the haves and the have-nots, doesn't it?

But the free market is a two way street. I specifically go out of my way to patronize a not-so-local gun shop because years back when 22LR was unobtanium they got a shipment and sold it at pre-drought pricing.

 

[sigp220.45]

I got Herters .380 ball at Cabelas yesterday for 17.99 a box. Same price as before the lunacy.

Say what you want about the big box stores, but it seems like all the price hiking is coming from the Mom & Pop joints everyone loves so much.

 

[rockquarry]

The impatient want-it-right-now Internet crowd is probably having a more difficult time than others with the shortages. Relax, things will get better, but probably not tomorrow. No need to pay outrageous prices for second rate products unless you just can't get over the inconvenience.

 

[bigben55]

I dont see 9mm ever being cheaper than $15/box of 50, even after it becomes readily available again.

I'm getting ready to buy a .22 cal Ruger Mark IV 22/45 for shooting, just to keep the skills up.

 

[Dave Lively]

If they sold out in less than an hour I would argue they didn't price it high enough.

I would much rather see ammo prices set by supply and demand where people decide how much if any they will buy at the going rate. The alternative is an ammo lottery where some individuals that are fast on their keyboards or just plain lucky win the jackpot of ammo at pre-pandemic prices and everyone else gets nothing.

Back when ammo was cheap I bought online from reputable vendors with good, but not always the lowest, prices. Usually sgammo. I will pay a bit more to buy from someone I trust instead of a company I never heard of before. Right now sgammo has 9mm priced about 250% higher than the last time I bought any. But they usually have some in stock. When prices do come down I am not going to punish them by buying elsewhere.

 

[cmj8591]

That is the definition of supply and demand . . .

There is a really fine line between supply and demand and price gouging. When a retailer uses a shortage, or perceived shortage, created by what is essentially an emergency to increase their profits by 100 or 200% above what the market usually supports, then it drifts into gouging. I get the concept that the market is driven by the buyer, but the fact that someone is willing to pay an exorbitant price doesn't change the fact that price gouging is happening. Maybe profiteering is a better term for what Target Sports is doing but it's way beyond supply and demand.