Why won't Wideners ship anything to my area?

[mmb617]

I've ordered from Widener's previously without any problems but yesterday when I put together an order for bullets, all of which are listed as in stock, I got this message:

Thank you for visiting Wideners.com. Shipments to your area are currently on hold as a result of factors we can’t control.

Which tells me nothing about why they won't ship. A little more explanation would be nice.

Anybody have a clue why this might be? I'm in PA and no other vendor seems to have a problem shipping reloading supplies here. I would understand if it said they were running behind and shipping might be delayed as others have done, but this sounds like it's just certain areas they won't ship to.

I'll send them an email and ask for an explanation but I won't be surprised if I don't get an answer, with everybody being so busy at those places these days.

 

[moosedog]

Obviously connected to the pandemic. Could be any number of things in the distribution channel.
I'd try it again in 30 days.

 

[muddocktor]

Call them up and ask, if you can find a phone number for them.

 

[mmb617]

I sent an email and got this response:

Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately, due to everything going on right now in the country we had to suspend shipping to certain areas of the country.

Our team is working around the clock to meet the demand we are currently facing.

Please keep checking our site often as we hope to catch up soon and resume shipping to your location.

Which really doesn't explain anything. The products are listed as in stock. I wonder what criteria was used to flag certain areas as the ones they won't ship to. The customer pays the shipping so what does it matter to the vendor where it's going?

Like a lot of things during this "crisis" it doesn't make sense.

Most other online vendors are upfront about the fact that shipping times are much longer than normal or in some cases are letting customers know that some items are on backorder and will ship at a future undetermined date, but no one else has refused to take an order for an in stock item based on where I live.

It is what it is, nothing I can do about it, but I will remember this poor customer service when things return to normal and more options exist.

 

[torizus]

My guess is that might be a blanket statement pertaining to new orders, possibly worded incorrectly.

Destination or location would not seem to matter one way or another once the hipper picks it up.

I would call them 1-800-615-3006 and get a more detailed or clear answer.

 

[gwpercle]

Looks like the Corona Pandemic has disrupted their distribution chain .
Not much we can do about it ... be patient .
My wife works in a mail center , everything is all messed up . People are out sick and hard to find replacements .
Our home mailman delivered at 7:30 pm last night ... he usually comes at 11:00 am . I feel so sorry for him .
Mail and package deliveries are starting to become spotty and it all depends on how many trained workers have gotten sick and if any workers are available to replace them with ...just hang in there .

I wouldn't blame the company ... I don't believe they singled out the state of PA. just to inconvenience you but if you feel that way place your order with another co...Problem solved .
Gary

 

[Rule3]

I stopped buying from them long ago when they original owners sold it. It used to be a really great place to "shop"
The owners were/are great people back then.
Plenty of other places, but at this time who knows if in stock for what you want.?

 

[JohnHL]

I sent an email and got this response:



Which really doesn't explain anything. The products are listed as in stock. I wonder what criteria was used to flag certain areas as the ones they won't ship to. The customer pays the shipping so what does it matter to the vendor where it's going?

Like a lot of things during this "crisis" it doesn't make sense.

Most other online vendors are upfront about the fact that shipping times are much longer than normal or in some cases are letting customers know that some items are on backorder and will ship at a future undetermined date, but no one else has refused to take an order for an in stock item based on where I live.

It is what it is, nothing I can do about it, but I will remember this poor customer service when things return to normal and more options exist.

That is certainly a curiously evasive answer.

We have a lawyer here in St. Louis who wears an eye patch.

He said he received many questions about what happened to his eye, so he has decided to explain it by saying, "When I was young, I hurt my eye."

This sounds a lot like, "None of your dang business!" so why give an "empty" explanation?

John

 

[Speedo2]

I got the same response from Wideners when trying to order some 22Win-Auto ammo from them. I went to Ammoseek and found the same stuff from Bud's in Tennessee at a much better price. Shipping took a while, but I was glad to finally get some. For reloading I've found Graf & Son and Midway to have everything I want at decent prices and no problems shipping to PA. -S2

 

[mmb617]

Thank you all who took enough interest in my plight to respond.

Perhaps some of the shortages are starting to ease a bit. Last night I was able to find everything that I'd planned on buying from Wideners elsewhere, when previously I could not. I had to use 3 separate vendors but was able to get confirmed orders from all 3 and pricing was about the same, which is to say higher than it was before this all started but reasonable for the present time.

I got an email this morning from Everglades saying my order has shipped. My order from Brassman didn't indicate any anticipated delay and the order I placed at Power Valley is showing their now normal 7 day delay, but my previous orders from them have shipped faster than that.

So I think I'm in good shape.

I can't say I won't buy from Wideners in the future but I will recall this episode and look elsewhere first. In today's world customer service includes good communications and I think they dropped the ball on that part.

 

[Rule3]

Thank you all who took enough interest in my plight to respond.

Perhaps some of the shortages are starting to ease a bit. Last night I was able to find everything that I'd planned on buying from Wideners elsewhere, when previously I could not. I had to use 3 separate vendors but was able to get confirmed orders from all 3 and pricing was about the same, which is to say higher than it was before this all started but reasonable for the present time.

I got an email this morning from Everglades saying my order has shipped. My order from Brassman didn't indicate any anticipated delay and the order I placed at Power Valley is showing their now normal 7 day delay, but my previous orders from them have shipped faster than that.

So I think I'm in good shape.

I can't say I won't buy from Wideners in the future but I will recall this episode and look elsewhere first. In today's world customer service includes good communications and I think they dropped the ball on that part.

All of those listed above are better than the new Widners anyway.