Shield shortage is getting ridiculous.

I went to the "Nations Gun Show" here in Northern VA last weekend and they said there were a few in the building when they opened on Friday afternoon and they were all gone within 15 minutes of opening. I then checked with the two LGSs I know of in town and both had a long waiting list (I'm number 29 on the list). Oh, BTW, the gun show was selling them for $499 and one of the LGSs also said they were selling for $499. I saw a few for sale online but don't really know how to do the whole FFL transfer thing. I just looked and saw a Shield going for $685 on GunBroker.com. Thinking I might find Bigfoot or aliens before I find a Shield at this point.
 
Guess I got lucky when I bought mine. It was the last of 5 that one of my LGS had received, they haven't sniffed one since. 40's were around, but they've dried up, also. Be patient:)
 
Here in Utah, I was #2 on a list at a brand new store (Scheel's) for 2.5 months. My name is on two other lists still, now going on three months. They are non-existent.
 
I feel kind of lucky to have gotten mine like a.week after they came out. I didn't even go with the intention of getting a shield or did I even know about them. Went for a glock but liked the shield better.
 
It is all become a ruse to sucker people into buying a 9c or something else because they can't get what they want immediately at that moment.

Helps them move stock they otherwise wouldn't be able to move.
 
This does not seem to be any different than any other popular gun that goes on sale. We have seen this with Ruger and Sig and others. Even ATI which is trying to release a new pistol on their forums is saying they have been delayed and limited due to not being able to get sights for their pistols.

The backorders will eventually be filled or in the ADHD world of gun enthusiasts will simply move on to the next shiney pretty new object.
 
The LGS that I frequent just got a number of 9mm Shields in stock. They said they've sold a number already but still have several left. When you click on the pic of the Shield on their homepage is just takes you to their weekly flyer...no shields in the ad. You will have to call. I bought my Shield through them a couple of months ago...totally dig it! Good luck!

Olde English Outfitters | Quality shooting and hunting equipment, Dayton Ohio
 
I've been searching high & low for a Shield for months now here in Vegas. Three weeks ago I finally got the call I was waiting for from one of my LGS's - "it's your turn, we have a Shield 9mm in for you, come on in and get it!" The bad news? That message came in the form of a voicemail while I was busy sleeping with my phone ringer off and missing the call. Gotta love working nights! Naturally I woke up 5 hours after the call and they were closed, so I was waiting outside when they opened the next morning to speak to the rep who called me.

He said they had gotten in 2 Shields, and they were both gone within a half hour. After listening to my tale of woe, and seeing as how I was apparently the only person he had called who showed enough interest to come out in the rain that morning, he put me back into the top spot on the list so the next one they get is supposedly mine! Is that a light I see at the end of this tunnel? I sure hope so! Ringer - on and extra loud? Check!
 
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I've been searching high & low for a Shield for months now here in Vegas. Three weeks ago I finally got the call I was waiting for from one of my LGS's - "it's your turn, we have a Shield 9mm in for you, come on in and get it!" The bad news? That message came in the form of a voicemail while I was busy sleeping with my phone ringer off and missing the call. Gotta love working nights! Naturally I woke up 5 hours after the call and they were closed, so I was waiting outside when they opened the next morning to speak to the rep who called me.

He said they had gotten in 2 Shields, and they were both gone within a half hour. After listening to my tale of woe, and seeing as how I was apparently the only person he had called who showed enough interest to come out in the rain that morning, he put me back into the top spot on the list so the next one they get is supposedly mine! Is that a light I see at the end of this tunnel? I sure hope so! Ringer - on and extra loud? Check!

Good Luck & Welcome to the forum :D
 
Radical thought: S&W should "contract out" to a reputable company (their partner in some production, Walther?) the production of Shields... just like Willy's built jeeps in WWII, but so did Ford (using the same plans). I think most of us -- who like S&W because they make good guns here in the US, and have good customer service -- would accept that.

I can see why they cannot expand the permanent production base without incurring great cost (new machines, new people) but this level of demand won't last forever...
 
There are 30 listed on Gun Broker, pay up or shut**, some one beat you to them, I paid up 3 months ago and don't regret it for a minute.
 
IMO, is purposely keeping the Shields at a shortage. Just to drive the demand up on them and in return drive the prices up. They know if u want something bad enough, ur gonna pay for it (at whatever cost).
 
Gander Mountain in Lake Mary, FL has them... They even put one aside for me for a week while I got back from work related travel...and I was foolish not to buy it because it was at full msrp :rolleyes: ... At the time the Local Shoot Straight wanted 500.00 for it.

I still want one, in 9mm. Looks like demand will hold high for sometime and I should just give in and pay full msrp if I want it now...I much prefer to give the business to local folks than to order out of state.
 
I was at a Cabel's last Friday and asked one of the firearms department guys about the Shield. He said they hadn't gotten any in in over three months, and the S&W rep said they were only cranking out about 250/day. When I told him I was able to find one in each caliber he offered me $550 on the spot for my .40. I will be honest...I did think about it...only for a minute.
 
I still want one, in 9mm. Looks like demand will hold high for sometime and I should just give in and pay full msrp if I want it now...I much prefer to give the business to local folks than to order out of state.

I'd grab one today if I could even find it at/near msrp, but I certainly won't get hit over the head and pay up to 35% over the msrp to someone on GunBroker (their "buy now" prices all range from $550/600) as was suggested earlier, just for the luxury of having it sooner than later. I live out west now, but having lived in NYC for 40 years has taught me a few things about life, such as how to not get swindled.

I guess I'll just "shut up" and wait it out like everyone else.
 
The fact a local gun/sporting goods store near me has always had just about any first run popular firearm instock ASAP after they became available causes me to think getting large quantaties of a hard to get firearm has something to do with their relationship with suppliers or whom they know is everything with getting ultra popular firearms like the Sheild.

A gun store by my house named Blyths, has had Sheilds from day one and as fae as I can tell had them in stock every time Ive gone in their including the 5-7 days after I saw the add for the Sheild in one of my gun mags and desided I should go and look at one.

The instant after I held the Sheild in my hand and tried its trigger that is BTW designed by gun makers NOT by LAWYERS, I without a second of hesitation bought it. being in the awesome gun owner friendly state of IN, I went home with my new Sheild asap after purchase.

Blythys has always specilized in having instock (especially hand guns) firearms the big stores like Cabelas and BP tend to eithor not carry or only infrequently.

I have put about 250 rounds through my 40cal Sheild and am utterly amaized at its shootability and accuracy. I was not at all expecting this level of shootability/accuracy from such a small gun. It literally fits in my front pocket nessled in a desantis pocket holster. I have carried non-stop everywhere I have gone now except Church and to my sons school. Can not say that with my other compact semi-auto.

I guess availability comes down to who you know in the firearm industry. As far as I know only 3 stores near my home have Sheilds in stock: Blyths, Gander Mtn, and finally, BP. But only Blyths seems able to keep them instock.

I had tried every small sub compact pistol out there for under $600 and all I found EXCEPT for the Sheild had long heavy so called "lawyer triggers" and I HATE lawyer triggers. So I bought the Sheild and have been satisfied beyond my wieldest expectations.
 
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