Midway magazine shipping disappointment

[prairie]

I have ordered and received 12 S&W M&P 9mm and .40 magazines over the last several weeks from Midway. All 6 orders have shipped via UPS Sure Post/Mail Innovations, and were received in 3-5 days, with excellent tracking via UPS and USPS.
I would just as soon not have UPS involved, and either be shipped by USPS or FedEx, but unfortunately those are not options.

 

[Hodgin]

Same thing happened to me a couple of months ago but not sure it was from Midway. It could have been because I ordered a mag for my high standard around that time. I followed the tracking and my order took a day or two longer than otherwise. It was delivered to the local post office one day and received it two days later.

 

[N4KVE]

"Free" or "cheap" shipping is never really that.
Natchez and Cheaper Than S*!#, on the other hand are out right gougers and will never see another dollar from me!

I once ordered 8 UZI mags from Cheaper Than Dirt, & when they quoted me shipping charges for fast, & slow, I told them it was too much, & would cancel my order. The gal then said there was a third cheaper choice, but nobody really chose it, because everybody wants their stuff right away. I could have my mags shipped for $5, but shipping could take up to 3 weeks. Since I already had 5 Uzi mags, I was in no rush to get them, & wouldn't mind waiting for 3 weeks to have $5 shipping. The mags showed up 10 days later & I was very pleased to have only paid $5 shipping, as the mags were only spares. In today's world, people want their stuff immediately, but want to pay very little for shipping. I salute Cheaper Than Dirt for offering me a cheaper way to ship my mags. I would have been happy if it took a month for the mags to arrive, but it seems most here would have committed suicide by then. GARY

 

[fredg19]

Four days to deliver a statement mailed here in my home town [pop. 1,800]. It went to a sorting office 235 miles away and came back. How can that be saving money?

I live in a small town in KS, if I mail something from my local PO that is to go to a business here in my town, it has to get sent clear up to Topkea and then back before it can be sent 3 blocks. Crazy...

 

[Rastoff]

I live in a small town in KS, if I mail something from my local PO that is to go to a business here in my town, it has to get sent clear up to Topkea and then back before it can be sent 3 blocks. Crazy...

It's not crazy. It's simple effectiveness.

Before the mail can go anywhere, it has to be collected and sorted. Because the vast majority of mail goes much further than 3 blocks, it doesn't make sense to have the local PO sort it there. Let's take it to the extreme. If I send a letter to my next door neighbor it sounds even more ridiculous. I have to walk to the mailbox, which is further than his house. The postman has to pick it up and take it 5 miles back to the local PO. Then it gets packaged and shipped 30 miles to the sorting center. At which time it goes back to the local PO and then to his house.

It has to be that way. If the mailman sorted it there at the mailbox, he'd never have time to complete his route.

Which raises the question, if you're sending the letter only three blocks, why not deliver it yourself and save the cost of postage?

 

[gwilburn]

It's got nothing to do with Midway. The Post Office, UPS, & Fedex all have contracts with each other. Your shipment can start with one company, & end with another in today's cost cutting economy. I know many of the regular postal employees in my area who have high salaries & benefits are being retired early, & being replaced with new hires at a much lower rate of pay, & no benefits. I'm sure UPS & Fedex are doing the same thing. So to cut costs, they are intertwining their delivery process if it saves money. GARY

It's got everything to do with Midway... They are using a UPS service called SurePost (similar product to FedEx SmartPost)...

It's a cheaper service whereby UPS/FedEx delivers to a U.S. Postal Service distribution center, who then delivers it to your door.

It's cheap... and you get what you pay for. Delivery time sucks and so does tracking. Problem is that many shippers are opting for this but not passing on the savings to the consumer.

I know that the amount I was charged S&H for my Midway order far exceeded the UPS published rates. I've been doing this (shipping) for 16 years...

 

[N4KVE]

I know that the amount I was charged S&H for my Midway order far exceeded the UPS published rates. I've been doing this (shipping) for 16 years...

The difference between what Midway charges, & the UPS published rates is the "H" in S&H. It's handling, which includes packing materials, boxes, bubble wrap, tape, & sometimes gas to get to the post office/UPS, etc. GARY

 

[Robotech]

I live in a small town in KS, if I mail something from my local PO that is to go to a business here in my town, it has to get sent clear up to Topkea and then back before it can be sent 3 blocks. Crazy...

It used to be that if you mailed something at the post office there was separate slot for "local" mail. It could then be sorted at that post office for the correct carrier, and not have to go to the main sorting center.

I don't think I've seen one of those "Local Mail" slots in a while now, and they've been re-labeled as just another mail slot where you had them.

 

[D-Hop]

It's got everything to do with Midway... They are using a UPS service called SurePost (similar product to FedEx SmartPost)...

It's a cheaper service whereby UPS/FedEx delivers to a U.S. Postal Service distribution center, who then delivers it to your door.

It's cheap... and you get what you pay for. Delivery time sucks and so does tracking. Problem is that many shippers are opting for this but not passing on the savings to the consumer.

I know that the amount I was charged S&H for my Midway order far exceeded the UPS published rates. I've been doing this (shipping) for 16 years...

I ordered a full size mag for my mp40c from midway. They charged 4.36 for shipping , handling and insurance. My order shipped out the same day I ordered it and arrived to my house in 4 days. The way I see it that's a deal. I can't even drive to Walmart one way for 4.36

 

[gwilburn]

The difference between what Midway charges, & the UPS published rates is the "H" in S&H. It's handling, which includes packing materials, boxes, bubble wrap, tape, & sometimes gas to get to the post office/UPS, etc. GARY

The difference is, they DO NOT PAY the published rates. So the real difference is much greater than you think. They likely receive a discount (ground) of greater than 25%

 

[Cousin Vinnie]

Looks like there are a lot of varied results using this shipping method and all I can do is share my experience which was NOT positive. It took 10 business days to get a barrel, 2 magazines and 2 recoil springs.
If I knew when I ordered, I would of paid the extra $3.00 and went with UPS Ground all the way.
Lesson learned, I will not use the hybrid UPS/USPS again.

 

[sstewart]

Just to be clear, the $3.00 upgrade is after the product ships from Midway, but before the USPS gets it. You pay UPS and I think you have to signup with UPS also. Like registration, simple as I recall.

 

[Stinger083]

This was also my experience with Midway. Ordered magazines, got a specific delivery date with a tracking number. Order did not arrive on said date, no tracking information available with provided number. Had to e-mail midway.. they told me to e-mail them back in 10 days if the order didn't arrive.

Umm.. okay. Order showed up 2 days later, but why provide me a UPS tracking number and then have USPS deliver to me? Just didn't make any sense.

 

[gwilburn]

This shipping method has been around for several years... many retailers have tried it because of the low cost versus UPS or FedEx ground shipments. For small, inexpensive items it is a good method - who wants to buy a $5 item and pay $10 to ship it?
If the order is $100 or more, most everyone will pay $15.00 shipping.

Personally, I avoid it like the plague... If a retailer ships that way, I buy elsewhere. It is (can be) that bad. The USPS does not have the technology to track your packages like the big boys.

I just get ticked off when someone inflates the S&H over the already-high UPS/FedEx published rates.

 

[krtstrk]

I got the order I placed on the day they promised and at proper cost. I was darn happy to see them in stock finaly and available. I was extremely happy with Midway over the entire transaction. We should be happy the magazines are starting to be available and quit nit picking over who delivered them. As long as they get in my hands I'm happy

 

[flat_topp]

Ordered my 2 mags on 9/12 and requested the "cheap" shipping method. They were delivered today (9/19), in this bubble-wrap padded envelope. Inside, each mag was enclosed in a clear ziplock baggie. No boxes or cardboard containers were involved in this shipment. And the mags appear to be new, undamaged, original S&W, ready to use magazines. Way to go, MidwayUSA, I am very happy!

 

[prairie]

Ordered my 2 mags on 9/12 and requested the "cheap" shipping method. They were delivered today (9/19), in this bubble-wrap padded envelope. Inside, each mag was enclosed in a clear ziplock baggie. No boxes or cardboard containers were involved in this shipment. And the mags appear to be new, undamaged, original S&W, ready to use magazines. Way to go, MidwayUSA, I am very happy!

I'll second this!
Just received more magazines in the mail yesterday and today. Between my son and I, that makes 8 magazine orders shipped via UPS SurePost/Mail Innovations in the last few weeks. All delivered within 5 business days of ordering, and with excellent tracking capabilities. Me thinks to many people these days expect instant gratification in everything they do.

 

[sgmann69]

Why is this thread still going? Come on guys, seriously.