Is MidwayUSA Birthday Greeting Sincere?

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Filibogado

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Midway USA sent me a birthday greeting message offering me birthday pricing on their products if I order between now and my birthday next week. At the same time, the "Nation's Largest Gun Show" is opening tomorrow in Chantilly, VA. I'm ordering an S & W revolver and a whole bunch of reloading gear, and was wondering if I'm better off ordering from Midway USA now or waiting for the gun show tomorrow.

Is Midway USA's offer for real or is it just a marketing ploy? Which approach would yield better pricing and selection? I don't know Mr. Larry Potterfield personally, but he sure looks like a nice and genuinely likable fellow based on his photo. I am flattered by the attention I'm getting from his company.
 
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I just received mine and while I haven't shopped Midway for many years simply because of their astronomical shipping costs, i decided to see just what was going to be so "special" about their birthday pricing.
So I went through the process including having to register my FID and NJ Drivers permit because of some arcane rule Midway has about shipping ammo to a few states.
I order 2 boxes of 9 mm ammo and a couple inexpensive hats....total savings was about 8% with the "special" pricing but because of their 2 box max per caliber and their shipping costs the ammo would have cost far more than just about any other on line vendor for the same or comparable ammo.
I dumped the order and wrote a nice letter to Larry Potterfield in essence telling him "thanks but no thanks".
Midway is valuable to some because of their outstanding reloading supplies and shooting accessories or so I understand but their shipping costs really makes it difficult for me, at least, to consider ordering from them.
 
Yes it is "real". Click on the link and all products (not already on sale) will be reduced a little. It shows the Birthday price" on every item. Midway does not always have the lowest prices so even with the small discount you may find it cheaper elsewhere.

Some years you get it, some you don't, it's a random thing. I have used it before.

Midway is not the best place to buy ammo, powder or primers based on price.
If there are State laws to comply with, it's the State not Midway
 
I do not shop Midway unless I plan to put in a very large order, they lose 75% of my business because of their ridiculous shipping and handling charges.

It's a shame, they have a lot of variety and when I've ordered in the past, the customer service was top notch.
 
Maybe it's just the heavy stuff that carries high shipping costs? I bought a gun belt and some targets last year, and shipping didn't seem out of line.

I can't recall the exact details of my order, but I remember noticing I was a few bucks shy of my discount going up another tier. I added a second pack of targets which increased my discount enough that the added pack of targets was free. I was rather pleased with the experience.

Next time I need something, I'll look there first.

I got the birthday email recently, but I deleted it. I didn't read it closely enough to realize a birthday discount was being offered. No big deal. I don't need anything at the moment.

Speaking of shipping ammo... I've had two orders with SG Ammo this year. IIRC, one box (50 rds) would have been $12 and shipping for 10 boxes was $14 or so. (UPS ground) I only wanted 5 boxes, so I got an friend to split the order with me.
 
I went to order two boxes of ammo from Midway this week, $48 for the ammo, then they added $18 in shipping, I passed. I ordered the same ammo from Sportsman's Guide, used the free shipping coupon and saved $18. Roughly 1/3 of the cost in shipping less than 24oz's? I don't think so.

I understand there's a Hazmat fee, but that does not explain why Midway's shipping is 30-50% higher on ammo and reloading.

JMO
 
The first time i ordered from Midway was a few months before my birthday. I wanted an Aimpoint PRO optic for my AR , so I waited for my birthday discount. It didn't come that year. I bought the optic somewhere else. I got an email from Midway asking about items I had put into the cart and then never ordered. I politely told them those were less costly elsewhere. I have used the birthday discount in the past. It is great for something like the optic ($400). Midway told me they don't offer everyone the discount every year.
 
I have sort of a love/hate feeling with MidwayUSA. They keep a good inventory so I find that many times I end up ordering though them as one stop shopping instead of two or more places that once their shipping is added up it's no longer cheaper than MidwayUSA. But there have been several times now that for the cost of their shipping my order was placed in a bubble lined bag and shipped only to have everything in my order (reloading dies once) in a jumble and plastic parts broken (the case). I had an extra couple of cases so no reason to call just to belly ache at them. And they are good about not doubling prices like another big box store that will never see my money ever again. (cough, CTD, cough)
 
I used to order a lot of things from Midway. Then last June I got their "Birthday Discount" email. I thought that was pretty neat so I went and ordered a few things, when the shipping charges were added to the order, it seemed to me that the charges were unreasonable for the items ordered. I never had that experience on previous orders. I cancelled the order and wrote Midway an email expressing my dissatisfaction. The answer I got was that shipping and handling charges varied due to items ordered. Not a good enough answer for me. I've only ordered a few things since then and that was because they were the only source (M&P mags). I would say my ordering from them has dropped to less than 10% of what it previously was. Apparently they have enough business not to care. Other than the occasional item (which I could probably do without) there are are plenty of other sources.
 
Got my "birthday discount" email from them last week. I've ordered from them in the past. Their range bags are good quality (and HUGE) but my gosh the shipping! It's double what it should be. I don't mind a company making a profit on the items they sell. That's business. But their shipping costs are just way out of line.
 
I do not understand the complaints about shipping?? Midway charges what it costs to send it UPS. They are not adding anything.

I just received an order of over $200. it weighs 18lbs and was $18 shipped. Got it 4 days.The box is about 16x16x20. How much should shipping be??

Maybe because I live closer than out West??

Ammo is an ORM D so the rate is higher.

Buy one can of spray paint from Brownells and see what it costs. Yes they flat rate but their prices are higher.

As Bob mentioned it's a love hate relationship. Ammo, powder or primers I will not buy there. The also ship powder and primers from two different locations so there is a double haz mat fee.

I can get stuff a little cheaper from Natchez but they sneak in a handling charge and try to ship a catalog which adds. It takes weeks to get something.

Midway is still in business, has great service, and returns and donates millions to the NRA. Just like Brownells I will pay a bit more for what the offer, than places like Cheaper than Soil.
 
I've done business with them for years and have never received a birthday message, greeting, or discount. Is this new? My birthday was just 2 weeks ago. I've also heard they send out other discounts and I've yet to see any of that either. Sounds to me like they have their "favorites".
 
I don't recall ever getting a birthday email from MidwayUSA. However, I do spend hundreds of dollars every year with them. Most of my orders are in excess of $100, so I don't think the shipping is unreasonable. I don't order ammunition, magazines, etc., from them. I do order a lot of cleaning supplies, and some tools. Brownell's gets about the same amount of my money every year, although they get it for parts, and the bulk of my gunsmith tools.

Honestly, for ammo, I've got a couple of online sellers that I use. SG Ammo and Georgia Arms to name two. And have even gotten great deals (although not recently) on GunBroker.
 
357-RevolverGuy said:
I've done business with them for years and have never received a birthday message, greeting, or discount. Is this new? My birthday was just 2 weeks ago. I've also heard they send out other discounts and I've yet to see any of that either. Sounds to me like they have their "favorites".
Click to expand...
Perhaps because you've done so much business with them there is no need in their eyes to offer you any incentive. You're already a good customer, I on the other hand purchased some gun rugs and a cleaning kit 3 years ago.
 
I have received the birthday discount offer in the past. When I shop at a site like Midway, I check other sites for the same product and compare total costs including shipping. Sometimes a site like Amazon can be a better choice if they have what I am looking for because of free shipping.

I also wait for Midway to put a product on sale since some of the savings on sale offset the cost of shipping.
 
I've bought a little from them in the past, but only when I got one of their coupon codes ($20. off $200, or similar).

No coupon codes and the fact I had almost everything I need/want has something to do with it too.

It's hard to buy accessories when all your collection resides at the bottom of a lake.
 
it's real,but these days,they likely won't have what you want. shipping is ridiculous. I only try them when ALL else has failed.
 
Yes, birthday discount ( about 10% ) has been ongoing for many years.

And for you Midway customers....

Save $10 on your purchase of $50.

Discount Code: NRA5013

Good till 9/30
 
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