View Full Version : Midway Ends Dealer Discount
Email just went out a moment ago.
They can get ****ed.
High dollar customers that have an account over 50k to 100k with them deserve a discount.
Not really surprised, their regular/monthly discount codes pretty much ended awhile back.
Business must be good.
I agree with your sentiment but the entire industry has become a race to the bottom retail model. There are way to many "dealers" who have access to wholesale pricing and are willing to operate on a package liquor margins. I love this statement from Potterfield,
"Therefore, on January 1, 2014, we are inviting all of our dealer Customers to become retail Customers."
He is inviting you as if there is a choice...
I order about 10k to 15k a year from them. This is BS.
I agree with your sentiment but the entire industry has become a race to the bottom retail model. There are way to many "dealers" who have access to wholesale pricing and are willing to operate on a package liquor margins. I love this statement from Potterfield,
"Therefore, on January 1, 2014, we are inviting all of our dealer Customers to become retail Customers."
He is inviting you as if there is a choice...
+1
The number of wholesalers that accept orders directly from customers has really killed the industry.
They can sell their stock at competitive retail prices and make more money. Sounds like a reasonable business decision.
BoringGuy45
10-03-13, 23:11
Dealers will just go elsewhere I suppose. There's a lot of other options.
Sounds like the free market effect on Capitalism to me. Sucks if you were previously getting a discount but I see nothing nefarious being done here. Discounts are given to drive business. If you can't keep items in stock at retail price what's the point of discounting?
Alaskapopo
10-03-13, 23:57
Email just went out a moment ago.
They can get ****ed.
High dollar customers that have an account over 50k to 100k with them deserve a discount.
No one deserves anything from a business. If Midway choses to give a discount or not is their business. Your post screams of an entitlement mentality. I appreciate a discount when its given but I never expect one.
Pat
Alaskapopo
10-03-13, 23:59
+1
The number of wholesalers that accept orders directly from customers has really killed the industry.
I don't mind supporting local business but I hate it when they try to put their kids through college on one sale. I have stopped going to most of the shops up here except for stuff I have to have and can't order easily.
Pat
Belmont31R
10-04-13, 00:14
No one deserves anything from a business.
Pat
Says the union man.
Alaskapopo
10-04-13, 00:45
Says the union man.
This is not a union non union issue. This is a consumer and business relationship issue. But nice try to bait/instigate an argument. I am more than happy with midway. They support our gun rights by helping us support the NRA with every order. They have always had what I have considered fair prices. I just bought another 1000 55 grain Hornady FMN's from them after reading this thread.
Pat
Belmont31R
10-04-13, 01:16
This is not a union non union issue. This is a consumer and business relationship issue. But nice try to bait/instigate an argument. I am more than happy with midway. They support our gun rights by helping us support the NRA with every order. They have always had what I have considered fair prices. I just bought another 1000 55 grain Hornady FMN's from them after reading this thread.
Pat
You said no one. I thought that meant everyone but I now see you didn't mean employees and moved the goal post back a few notches.
I don't mind supporting local business but I hate it when they try to put their kids through college on one sale. I have stopped going to most of the shops up here except for stuff I have to have and can't order easily.
Pat
It's this simple.
1. Charge too little and you can't sustain your business and you are soon out of business.
2. Charge too much and you can't sustain your business and you are soon out of business.
Despite any honorable intentions and wanting to be one of the "good guy" dealers if you don't charge enough to have the business sustain itself and generate enough profit to support yourself you won't have a business for long.
And that is why more and more FFLs are folding up shop every day. Even guys who don't have showrooms and low overhead aren't going to pay the licensing for a FFL, code and zoning, county, city and sometimes state occupational licenses to generate what is essentially beer money.
There is simply an expectation among too many people that the price of any firearm should be dealer price + a $25 "transfer fee" and nothing more than that.
Now if you were doing 10 transfers a day, every day, that might work. But I don't know any gun shop doing that kind of volume, even the ones who are transfer specialists and cater to such customers.
Alaskapopo
10-04-13, 01:57
It's this simple.
1. Charge too little and you can't sustain your business and you are soon out of business.
2. Charge too much and you can't sustain your business and you are soon out of business.
Despite any honorable intentions and wanting to be one of the "good guy" dealers if you don't charge enough to have the business sustain itself and generate enough profit to support yourself you won't have a business for long.
And that is why more and more FFLs are folding up shop every day. Even guys who don't have showrooms and low overhead aren't going to pay the licensing for a FFL, code and zoning, county, city and sometimes state occupational licenses to generate what is essentially beer money.
There is simply an expectation among too many people that the price of any firearm should be dealer price + a $25 "transfer fee" and nothing more than that.
Now if you were doing 10 transfers a day, every day, that might work. But I don't know any gun shop doing that kind of volume, even the ones who are transfer specialists and cater to such customers.
You made some good points and the smaller shops may be a thing of the past if its not longer a viable way to make a living. More and more people are shopping on line for pretty much everything these days. I know I seldom buy things other than groceries locally anymore.
Pat
You made some good points and the smaller shops may be a thing of the past if its not longer a viable way to make a living. More and more people are shopping on line for pretty much everything these days. I know I seldom buy things other than groceries locally anymore.
Pat
I buy almost everything online. I got tires recently online for $550 that sell locally for over $900. I did pay full price for my Glock and Colt Railgun from my local ffl. Mediocre quality locally vs a better model online. Salesmen are there to sell you on what they have in stock, in most of my experiences anyways.
Gutshot John
10-04-13, 06:26
Buy from somewhere else.
Problem solved.
LowSpeed_HighDrag
10-04-13, 06:57
Email just went out a moment ago.
They can get ****ed.
High dollar customers that have an account over 50k to 100k with them deserve a discount.
Scott,
whining and demanding that which you have no right to do not suit you.
CrazyFingers
10-04-13, 08:14
MidwayUSA has been one of my go-to stores for years. Partially because they're close enough that "Pick Up" saves me a lot of time & money vs. shipping, especially on anything that requires hazmat shipping like primers.
But mainly because they have a modern and professional web site, wide selection, and competitive prices. As others have mentioned, nobody "deserves" a discount. They offered one for a time to high-volume customers, and are changing that policy, as is their right. I'm sure there are plenty of other places that will set up a distributor account for a set minimum volume, probably with net-30 terms and other perks not offered to the general public.
The one thing that does get under my skin is how MidwayUSA shows their back-ordered items. I've had a spare turret for a Redding T-7 on backorder since April. Every day they increment the "Date expected in stock" by one day, keeping it perpetually one month away. They've been doing this for six months.
You're not fooling anyone Larry, just tell me you can't get it. :p
No one deserves anything from a business. If Midway choses to give a discount or not is their business. Your post screams of an entitlement mentality. I appreciate a discount when its given but I never expect one.
Pat
In almost every other industry, the more you order from a company, the bigger break you get. This is just another example of how backwards this industry is.
I don't deserve a discount. However, if Midway removes that as a business incentive, and a competitor offers it, I know where my (not insignificant) business will go.
In almost every other industry, the more you order from a company, the bigger break you get. This is just another example of how backwards this industry is.
Couldn't agree more. I have to guess that there are so few accounts at Midway that are gold class, they are leaving money on the table continuing to offer discounts. The old school manufacturer-distributor-dealer model is broken.
Manufacturers are no longer happy to make money off of quantity. Very often they choose to work around distributors and sell directly to the dealer or in a few cases the end user. Aimpoint is a shinning example of a company that can't find its ass in a dark room with both hands a flashlight. They have waffled on their business model nearly annually for as long as I can remember. Surefire has the same problem to a lesser extent. Inside sales, outside sales, multi level distribution, dealer direct, distributor only, map pricing, unenforced map pricing, no map pricing and who knows what next month.
The most glaring reason can be found daily on this and every other firearms forum in existence. Alaskapopo couldn't have illustrated it better with this statement, "I don't mind supporting local business but I hate it when they try to put their kids through college on one sale. I have stopped going to most of the shops up here except for stuff I have to have and can't order easily." Translated - I refuse to pay full retail for anything if I can get in cheaper online. Face-to-face retail has been kicked in the nards through the internet by the where can I get it the cheapest crowd. This failed relationship is exacerbated by the demand for Motel 6 pricing and Waldorf Astoria service.
Doc Safari
10-04-13, 13:43
Midway USA: The Brownells Wannabe.
I just love their motto:
"Just about everything........................................BACKORDERED!"
LOLOLOLOLOLOL! :laugh::lol::sarcastic:
No one deserves anything from a business. If Midway choses to give a discount or not is their business. Your post screams of an entitlement mentality. I appreciate a discount when its given but I never expect one.
Pat
And how is this any different than the whole LE should enjoy privileged status because of what they do blah blah etc sentiment? I recall you getting pretty bent when LaRue said no more to LE sales where said items were restricted for regular citizen ownership.
Midway USA: The Brownells Wannabe.
I just love their motto:
"Just about everything........................................BACKORDERED!"
LOLOLOLOLOLOL! :laugh::lol::sarcastic:
Brownells would get more of my money if their website didn't suck goat balls. I hate that pos.
Midway has its issues, like the backorders and charging an inordinate amount of money to ship things that fit in padded envelopes, but all in all I've never been mistreated by Larry.
I don't see the ending of discounts as a huge issue, I guess? If sales drop off, they'll come back.
Midway USA: The Brownells Wannabe.
I just love their motto:
"Just about everything........................................BACKORDERED!"
Exactly the point. This is one of the few industries where discounts aren't needed to sell products. If they can't even keep products in stock why shouldn't they INCREASE prices let alone not discount? Some people don't understand basic economics and how it applies to free market very well. Supply v demand and right now demand is winning. Once supply exceeds demand you'll see discounts to move product once again. It's a quite simple concept actually and is the basis of our entire economic system.
You made some good points and the smaller shops may be a thing of the past if its not longer a viable way to make a living. More and more people are shopping on line for pretty much everything these days. I know I seldom buy things other than groceries locally anymore.
Pat
The problem is the GCA 68 and the FFL requirement. When all of those small shops and transfer dealers fold up you will essentially be left with pawn shop dealers and the giant MSRP stores.
I don't deserve a discount. However, if Midway removes that as a business incentive, and a competitor offers it, I know where my (not insignificant) business will go.
+1 Bottom line. I have no particular loyalty to any given online store. I look for availability and best price.
I buy guns from my LGS. He treats me well, competitive prices. I don't order parts and doodads from him because he always wants to wait to accumulate a big order from his distributor before sending it in. I can order it from home and have in my hands before he gets the order out, or before I can even arrange a trip to Gander Mountain.
Alaskapopo
10-04-13, 15:03
And how is this any different than the whole LE should enjoy privileged status because of what they do blah blah etc sentiment? I recall you getting pretty bent when LaRue said no more to LE sales where said items were restricted for regular citizen ownership.
Apples to oranges. I was/am against Larue's policy decision because it put officers lives and the lives of the citizens they are charged to protect at risk. This is not an issue of feeling entitled to a discount. (money issue vs lives). I simply stopped spending my money with Larue and encourage all my LEO friends to do the same.
No one deserves anything from a business. If Midway choses to give a discount or not is their business. Your post screams of an entitlement mentality. I appreciate a discount when its given but I never expect one.
Pat
The resident liberal calls me out? :rolleyes:
The difference is your entitlement mentality involves an agent of the state forcefully removing money from a private citizen and giving it to someone else, that is mandated by law and enforced by a armed govt agents if the citizen doesn't cooperate.
This is not the same as two private individuals involved is a business arrangement that is voluntary to both parties.
Exactly the point. This is one of the few industries where discounts aren't needed to sell products. If they can't even keep products in stock why shouldn't they INCREASE prices let alone not discount? Some people don't understand basic economics and how it applies to free market very well. Supply v demand and right now demand is winning. Once supply exceeds demand you'll see discounts to move product once again. It's a quite simple concept actually and is the basis of our entire economic system.
They should still give their gold class customers some type of perks.
Whether it be a discount or the gold customer gets their backorders filled first.
Midway could fill gold customer backorders first regardless of when the order was placed. I would be fine with that.
They should still give their gold class customers some type of perks.
Whether it be a discount or the gold customer gets their backorders filled first.
Midway could fill gold customer backorders first regardless of when the order was placed. I would be fine with that.
I wouldn't.
I'm guessing that maybe even Midway is tired of having everything on back order, so one way to insure that they can maintain stock at profitable prices is to do away with dealers buying lots of product from them at lower OI to resell all the while leaving high OI customers waiting. While it sucks if you're an FFL looking to score some parts to resell, it makes business sense. How many dealers are going to move their business away and will that be offset by plane jane folks buying up the same inventory at a higher OI to Midway.
Well Larry does make some sweet gunsmith videos.....just sayin....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HwgT9uNogA&list=SPF141567E93E14EB8&index=13
Moose-Knuckle
10-04-13, 16:06
Midway gives a lot to the NRA and our cause. As a customer, I will continue to do business with them when they have products at a better price point and or deals (free shipping etc.).
Email just went out a moment ago.
They can get ****ed.
High dollar customers that have an account over 50k to 100k with them deserve a discount.
You guys spent $50k-$100K with them??? :eek:
As a dealer that has done some business with Midway, I would think there are MUCH BETTER options for you (if you have that kind of money to spend).
C4
In almost every other industry, the more you order from a company, the bigger break you get. This is just another example of how backwards this industry is.
Interesting. I order all of my boxes from Uline and I buy a lot of them! Never once have I seen, offered or given a discount.
C4
The problem is the GCA 68 and the FFL requirement. When all of those small shops and transfer dealers fold up you will essentially be left with pawn shop dealers and the giant MSRP stores.
This is true I think. I honestly don't know how small brick and mortar stores make it.
The key to doing well in the firearms industry is making contacts. Know the right people and all the doors open up for you (no matter how large or small your bank account is).
C4
Alaskapopo
10-04-13, 16:24
The resident liberal calls me out? :rolleyes:
The difference is your entitlement mentality involves an agent of the state forcefully removing money from a private citizen and giving it to someone else, that is mandated by law and enforced by a armed govt agents if the citizen doesn't cooperate.
This is not the same as two private individuals involved is a business arrangement that is voluntary to both parties.
You think you are owed something for no other reason than being a repeat customer that is pure entitlement. There is no difference in your actions and someone on welfare expecting a free government check every month. Don't like it shop somewhere else that simple.
Pat
Singlestack Wonder
10-04-13, 19:28
You think you are owed something for no other reason than being a repeat customer that is pure entitlement. There is no difference in your actions and someone on welfare expecting a free government check every month. Don't like it shop somewhere else that simple.
Pat
Pot calling the kettle black. LEO's do not deserve a discount any more than the rest of the population. Stating that not getting an LEO discount is putting civilian and officer's lives in danger is a huge stretch. If an LEO needs more firepower, see the chief.
This is right up there with LEO union entitlements.
Alaskapopo
10-04-13, 19:31
Pot calling the kettle black. LEO's do not deserve a discount any more than the rest of the population. Stating that not getting an LEO discount is putting civilian and officer's lives in danger is a huge stretch. If an LEO needs more firepower, see the chief.
Did not say we deserve a discount. Please learn how to read. I was talking about him refusing to sell firearms to officers and departments behind enemy lines.
Pat
You think you are owed something for no other reason than being a repeat customer that is pure entitlement. There is no difference in your actions and someone on welfare expecting a free government check every month. Don't like it shop somewhere else that simple.
Pat
Did not say we deserve a discount. Please learn how to read. I was talking about him refusing to sell firearms to officers and departments behind enemy lines.
Pat
Apples to oranges. I was/am against Larue's policy decision because it put officers lives and the lives of the citizens they are charged to protect at risk. This is not an issue of feeling entitled to a discount. (money issue vs lives). I simply stopped spending my money with Larue and encourage all my LEO friends to do the same.
Its the same thing. Expecting privileged treatment because of who and what one is. That is hypocritical be it a discount or exemption, the latter terms are interchangeable.
Alaskapopo
10-05-13, 12:02
Its the same thing. Expecting privileged treatment because of who and what one is. That is hypocritical be it a discount or exemption, the latter terms are interchangeable.
Not even close but we have had these stupid arguments before and I don't care to have them with you again. You shop where you want and I will shop where I want.
Pat
I can understand why a dealer that spends a great deal of money would expect a discount. If you are ordering $50-$100k worth of product each year, you should expect some kind of consideration. If a dealer no longer gets a discount, I can also understand why they would take their business elsewhere.
Perhaps MidwayUSA is shifting gears to go strictly retail to increase their profit margin on each item they sell. I am not a dealer and as long as they have an item in stock at a competitive price, I will order from them.
If a vendor on this website has a product at a better price or a higher quality product for a slightly higher cost, I will purchase from them.
I cannot believe how this thread got off on a liberal, welfare rat, entitlement minded, tangent. :fie:
A dealer is angry about the loss of his volume purchase discount, period!
I have a friend who owned a gun shop until 2007 and sold out his share to the other owner. He made decent money on a 30% mark up or less on some big $$$ items. The shop was always busy. Probably Midway doesn't need to discount to business because retail sales are plentiful. It is midways choice.
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