Had to Wait Too Long For a Shield???

[MacA]

I have been a long time supporter of Smith & Wesson. Primarily their revolvers. When the Shield came out I was very intrigued. Did my research and decided to buy one. Maybe I waited too long to make that decision, but it has now been over 2 months since I placed my name on the wait lists of three LGS. I am OK with waiting, but something happened this past weekend that may make me decide to not purchase a Shield...

During this 2 month period, I was reading a lot about the Shield. However, as I read up on the Shield I also started looking at other similar size guns. One in particular caught my eye. It was a Springfield Arms XDs .45 ACP. Being the same size as the Shield, but in .45 ACP (which most of my hanguns are) I was intrigued. So, the longer I waited on word of my Shield, the more I started reading up on the XDs and liking what I read! Well, this past weekend we had a local gun show come to town. Thought I would ask around at the various gun dealers about the availability of the Shield. Most of them just laughed at me. The others said that the VERY FEW they were getting were going towards filling wait-list orders. Feeling frustrated, I decided to head home. On the way I stopped by my favorite LGS. To my surprise they had just received 2 XDs models. One was for a guy that had already placed a deposit. The other was available and I decided to buy it.

My plan was for the shield to be my primary carry weapon. But if the XDs lives up to expectations I don't really have any need for the Shield. I am still on the wait lists, but not 100% sure now if I will buy one.

I know S&W had a roll-out plan for distribution, but obviously they didn't expect this level of popularity. Or at least I hope this was the case. Just wonder how many others found another option because of the long wait??

To be honest, I will probably buy the Shield WHENEVER one becomes available, but I am lucky enough to have put aside enough money to actually purchase both. How many sales are S&W missing out on because of this lack of supply?

 

[spricks]

It's a personal call you had to make. I would of waited for the shield.... I had the same problem with the M&P range and carry kit. It took months of waiting....I finally called S&W and they gave me the distributor that had one in stock....told my LGS who had me on a waiting list with a down payment....he gave them a call and I had my gun and kit finally. I didn't give up, and actually tried harder to get what I wanted....I'm glad I did....I'm thinking about the shield in 40cal....no hurry though.

I thought for sure S&W would have plenty of stock before pushing the shield....guess not, eh!

spricks

 

[MacA]

It's a personal call you had to make. I would of waited for the shield....

I guess I am still waiting. My point was S&W has to be losing many opportunities for sales with this supply shortage.

I would really be curious if anyone here knows (insider info) what S&W is doing right now to build up this supply. Extra people? Extra shifts? And is there any light at the end of this tunnel? Or is this some kind of raise-the-price strategy?

 

[patbelly]

From what I hear, S&W is working round the clock to get these Sheilds out. Losing money????

 

[gnystrom]

It looks like S&W manufactured a product that far exceeded their wildest expectations. Article after article rave about the thought that went into making this little gun. User reviews so far have been 99% positive thus driving more sales. Unless something really unusual happens this may be one of the successful launches of a new firearm in modern history. Every gun store I go into has standing orders for as many Shields as they can get. My question is, will S&W follow up with a price increase in the near future? A single stack Glock may be the only thing that slow this avalanche.

 

[El Zilcho]

I've been on a few lists for 3 months now. I called every gun dealer with a 200 mile radius of me, and most of them said 6 to 9 months more before I could get one.
Starting to look at other options too.

 

[baccusboy]

I waited too long.

Bought a Ruger LC9. Almost went with a Kahr CM9.

Sorry, S&W. If you don't put product on the table, then I don't spend my money on your guns. This "allocated" and "waiting list" garbage just means they lose money and miss opportunities for their shareholders. Sooner or later the gun companies will learn that.

What really disgusts me is that we have a poor economy, people want jobs, and the gun companies are the exact illustration of not hiring new people when needed. Instead of oohing and ahhing when Ruger said, "We stopped taking orders..." I began asking, "Then why don't you expand and give some people jobs?"




.

 

[WrongWay]

I was most fortunate when I ordered mine last Tuesday. It arrived Thursday. Two day wait. I have no idea how that happened. I ordered the 40, I guess most folks want the 9mm.

 

[MacA]

I really don't want this to become a S&W bashing thread! Please keep this civil!

I think S&W really played this one a little too conservative. Unfortunate for them, I don't think they will ever be able to realize the true potential of this excellent gun! Very soon the other manufacturers will follow suit with their own versions. Once this happens brand-loyalty will kick in and S&W won't be able to capitalize on buyers "jumping ship" to buy the best thing going!!

I am happy with the XDs, but if the Shield had been available, I would never have known this! Another lesson in the ramifications of supply and demand. Someone in S&W's marketing department dropped the ball on this one!!

 

[baccusboy]

I don't see anyone bashing S&W. Just telling them that if they can't put guns out there for sale, they aren't going to get sales.

People aren't going to wait around on an "allocated" list for long.

 

[MacA]

I don't see anyone bashing S&W.

I didn't blame anyone for bashing. I just see the potential! And that is not my intent here!

Feeling guilty?

 

[Just One Shot]

I had the same situation in that I could not find an M&P Shield anywhere. I called around to shops 2 hrs. away trying to find one. While on a little road trip with the wife I went to a gun shop and was told that I had missed the Shield by a couple of days.

I asked if they had an XDS and he said yes. I later found out that they actually had more than one. I decided to take the XDS home with me since I couldn't find a Shield.

I must have gotten lucky and hit this GS store right after the XDS arrived because I had also been asking about it when I was calling on the Shield.

Don't be too hard on S&W because they actually held off announcing the release of the Shield until they had built up enough inventory for an initial shipment to the gun stores. S&W did their best to predict how much stock to prepare but they had no idea how popular the Shield would become.


Springfield did not, they actually announce the XDS before it was ready to ship, as a result there has been a waiting list for them as well.

The gun market is going crazy as people are buying anything and everything gun related before the coming election. This is also the reason Ruger had to suspend any new orders. That and the great response they got on the million gun challenge where they promised $1.00 to the NRA for every gun sold. They exceeded that amount and last I heard it was up to 1.3 million.

While most of the gun manufacturers are working around the clock to fill orders, it doesn't make good business sense to add on more people now only to let them go when the feeding frenzy subsides.

The only way this frenzy will continue is if the mistake in office gets another 4 years. If that happens then we will have much more to be concerned with along side the threat on our gun rights.

 

[RussC]

I have been a long time supporter of Smith & Wesson. Primarily their revolvers. When the Shield came out I was very intrigued. Did my research and decided to buy one. Maybe I waited too long to make that decision, but it has now been over 2 months since I placed my name on the wait lists of three LGS. I am OK with waiting, but something happened this past weekend that may make me decide to not purchase a Shield...

During this 2 month period, I was reading a lot about the Shield. However, as I read up on the Shield I also started looking at other similar size guns. One in particular caught my eye. It was a Springfield Arms XDs .45 ACP. Being the same size as the Shield, but in .45 ACP (which most of my hanguns are) I was intrigued. So, the longer I waited on word of my Shield, the more I started reading up on the XDs and liking what I read! Well, this past weekend we had a local gun show come to town. Thought I would ask around at the various gun dealers about the availability of the Shield. Most of them just laughed at me. The others said that the VERY FEW they were getting were going towards filling wait-list orders. Feeling frustrated, I decided to head home. On the way I stopped by my favorite LGS. To my surprise they had just received 2 XDs models. One was for a guy that had already placed a deposit. The other was available and I decided to buy it.

My plan was for the shield to be my primary carry weapon. But if the XDs lives up to expectations I don't really have any need for the Shield. I am still on the wait lists, but not 100% sure now if I will buy one.

I know S&W had a roll-out plan for distribution, but obviously they didn't expect this level of popularity. Or at least I hope this was the case. Just wonder how many others found another option because of the long wait??

To be honest, I will probably buy the Shield WHENEVER one becomes available, but I am lucky enough to have put aside enough money to actually purchase both. How many sales are S&W missing out on because of this lack of supply?

When your Shield comes in sell it on Gunbroker and make $150 - $200.

XD looks nice. I prefer 9mm for the cost of ammo, 8 round capacity and less recoil for the wife.

I would rather sacrifice power for 2 more rounds especially when loaded with Gold Dot +p in 9 mm.

Good luck I am sure you will enjoy your XD. Looks like a great gun.

Russ

 

[baccusboy]

I didn't blame anyone for bashing. I just see the potential! And that is not my intent here!

Feeling guilty?

Guilty about?

 

[Shielded]

The XDs is going to be the Shield's main competition for awhile, and it looks like fine gun. In fact when funds become better I would consider buying one. I like many different handguns, so the more the merrier, however I really like the Shield. It's the gun Glock, and others should have made, but S&W beat them to the punch & I'm glad they did. Enjoy your XDs, and although this is a M&P forum, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the Springfield.

 

[MacA]

TEnjoy your XDs, and although this is a M&P forum, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the Springfield.

Thanks! I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, so I can't speak on functionality yet. However, I am really impressed by the fit and finish of the XDs. I did an initial field strip and cleaning, and felt that the parts are well made and fit together well. Take-down and reassembly was easy. Very impressed with the total purchased package. The case is very high quality. It comes with dual magazine holster and gun holster, spare back strap, replacement fiber optic front sight material, cleaning rod and lock.

I hope I am just as impressed after taking it to the range!

 

[Shield06]

S&w is literally working around the clock 24 hours a day 7 days a weak. I would of waited for a shield.

 

[MacA]

S&w is literally working around the clock 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I would of waited for a shield.

How are you aware of this? How does this work schedule differ from pre-Shield production schedule? A lot of manufacturing companies work 24/7. Are you saying that S&W has everyone working 24/7 on building the Shield inventory? Did they add people and extra shifts to their Shield department to increase production to 24/7?

And as I said before, I am waiting on a Shield.

 

[ken158]

Get on as many lists as there are gun stores in your area. I have seen Shields on display at several stores since I bought mine. My local Sportsman Warehouse got five in one shipment in 9 and one in 40. Another LGS is getting three to five monthly. There are some on Gunbroker right now. Sometimes the hunt is as fun as the fruits of the hunt. S&W is in a good place where they are selling all they can build and the demand is high.

 

[1bdvet]

Just yesterday I went two gun stores looking to buy knife I saw in one of them, but didn't know which store. I asked about the Shield, and said they received either one or two, and quickly sold. I bought mind at gun show two months ago, only one I found at the show, and the person said he can't give it away, and thought it would sell right out. I took it off his hands for 400.00 tax and application fee included. Great weapon.