Midway Conundrum ......

[JonF]

......last November I granted myself a Christmas present. I ordered a Hornady powder measure micrometer (pistol size) $29.95 from Midway Supply.
I was told the part was not in stock, but expected around December 6; so I put it on backorder.

Christmas came and went, so did New Years, My birthday (January 2), and then even Valentines day.

During this time period, I checked with Midway to make sure my order was still valid and what updates if any were affecting my long awaited Christmas present.
I was told (finally?) by customer service, that the part, according to Hornady, was expected sometime in December of THIS YEAR.

I canceled the order and received confirmation that my order had been canceled. My faith and belief in Midway became non existent.

But wait, theres' more........
Two days later I got an e-mail from Midway stating that my part had arrived from Hornady and I better OK the order as it was on a first come first served basis. Just for the heck of it I went ahead with the order.

In less than an hour I got a confirming e-mail message that my order was being processed. Next day I was told that I could expect doorstep delivery in 4 days. Sure enough USPS came through like a champ.

Somebody (company?) is going to step in and step on Midway as the door is open to a smart competitor.

 

[71firebird400]

So Midway is responsible for knowing when the supplier (Hornady) will deliver the part?

Sounds like they need a better crystal ball to appease you.

 

[JonF]

Yup I guess more than a years wait by me is just too demanding.

 

[Old Seabee]

Midway

Wonder what happened to the confirmed cancelation ?

 

[venomballistics]

I think they are trying to dig their way out of a compounding hole.
they could stand to lose business to simplify that task.
I do hope they manage to get it straightened out sometime this year.
I'd hate to see em go just because they are in over their heads, probably with a computer system doing more harm than good through it all

 

[Hapworth]

Yup I guess more than a years wait by me is just too demanding.

I think 71firebird400's point -- and it's well-taken -- is that your understandable frustration is misdirected; Midway can't know when Hornady or any other supplier will deliver something that's probably on an inconsistent production schedule. Midway can give the supplier's expected production date or guesstimate themselves, but that's it and it isn't their fault.

 

[Rastoff]

Anyone that wants to complain about a supply system should work at one for a while. Midway USA has over a million items in their system. I'm not surprised one gets misplaced now and then.

In the Air Force the supply system is much worse. When you order a part they give you a "due in" status. If that status is a year away, that's supply "code" for "we're never gonna get it" even though they won't say that directly.

I think you were right to cancel the order. I might have done it sooner. I'm sure it prompted them to look closer at their supply and they found one.

 

[JonF]

Thanks Rastoff, that was kinda what I was thinking also.

 

[Fishslayer]

Midway has always underpromised & overdelivered as far as backorders go. I ordered some reloading stuff & was told a few months. The stuff showed up a week later.

Now... .22LR ammo... I went from "Backordered 12/13" to "Backordered 6/14" to "No backorders delivery date unknown." Oh well, it'll get here when/if it gets here. :shrug:

At least they don't charge your CC till the order ships.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I'm curious why anyone would order with Midway when an item is out of stock? Why not order from all the other places that have everything in stock, lower prices and free shipping?

I just looked at a couple different places... Not in stock.

 

[george minze]

I live about 45 minutes from Midway, I have never bought from Midway. Nothing personal I just would rather buy from LGS...They appreciate the business. Around here some love Midway and others feel like many on this site do....Not Happy.....I hear the service is sort of distant with little personnel attn. Others swear by Larry. He seems to be doing well..I will keep buying at the local shops, I KNOW THEM AND LIKE THEM.

 

[Rastoff]

Nothing personal I just would rather buy from LGS...

It must be nice to have a local store with all the stuff you need. None of the places within 200 miles of me have what I need when it comes to accessories.

 

[bobelk99]

I'm curious why anyone would order with Midway when an item is of stock? Why not order from all the other places that have everything in stock, lower prices and free shipping?

I just looked at a couple different places... Not in stock.

I like that response.

I am not an avid supporter or detractor of Midway, but I admire a company that actually tries to be 'all things to all people'. Given that, these are bound to be problems with CS, especially with their volume.

Brownells catalog used to have a quote in the front of a statement made by (John somebody I think) that 'there ain't nothing somebody can't make cheaper. And Brownells is not the cheapest.

If you don't like Midway, then ignore them. There is no good reason to whine incessantly to the Net world about a problem in obtaining something they have (maybe sooner or later) for which you decided they were the best source available. Cancel and move on.

I ran a little gun shop for 30 years, so I have seen both sides.
I am also 20 miles from Buds

How's that for a useless rant?

 

[rwsmith]

I was expecting you to say......

I was expecting you to say that after reinstating the order you got an e-mail saying to expect delivery in 8 months.

 

[george minze]

It must be nice to have a local store with all the stuff you need. None of the places within 200 miles of me have what I need when it comes to accessories.

Yes Sir we are lucky lots of LGS with-in 25 miles. A couple of big ones, well stocked and semi reasonable . Of course the only exception is lack of 22lr ammo. Hard to believe isn't it of all things 22lr is like chicken teeth..Go wonder????Could it be Hording ????? Surely not!

 

[Brian41]

I've had good dealings with Midway and will continue to deal with them. When I see something out of stock I simply look elsewhere and if I want it bad enough will even pay more for instant gratification. I ran a service company with counter sales and know something about the ins and outs of inventory. It's hard to make everyone happy but you do try your best to do so.
I am giving some slack to gun parts suppliers these days as I know it must be quite the push with the demand these days. There's been some items I've wanted but found out of stock too. I've either got substitutes I found or waited until they were in stock again. I also use my LGS for a lot of what I buy even if I pay a little more. That pays dividends too as I recently bought some 44 special and the owner put down two bricks of 22lr in front of me and asked me if I was interested. Of course I was and a reasonable price too.

 

[JonF]

Now you've got me laughing.......

 

[Fishslayer]

I'm curious why anyone would order with Midway when an item is out of stock? Why not order from all the other places that have everything in stock, lower prices and free shipping?

I just looked at a couple different places... Not in stock.

Other places might not take backorders. Midway's always been pretty good to me so if nobody else has it I'd just as soon put it on backorder & wait.

 

[Jim Kuykendall]

My, how time flies! Consider yourself lucky.

 

[Rule3]

Here, I did a thread search on the Midway Rants. Just add it to those. It gets old after a while. No offense to the OP but on and on it goes.

Smith & Wesson Forum - Search Results

Oh my here is the last one just yesterday.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/354137-count-me-another-upset-midway-customer.html