CTD Sale

[Ubaldo99]

For what its worth: I got an email alert today from CheaperThanDirt announcing a weekend sale (Oct 7-9). Among the items listed for sale were the Kahr CW9, $362; and various ammo groups like the Speer Lawman, 9mm, 115gr, FMJ; and American Eagle, 9mm, 115-124-147gr, FMJ, for $10.67 each. Prices seemed pretty decent, but CTD has fairly high shipping costs, so that could offset any savings. :)

[Finnster]

I recently tried to place an small order with Cheaper Than Dirt. When it got to the bottom line I was told that the shipping charges were $25 for $21 worth of merchandise. The order taker explained that three of the four items I wanted were not stocked by Cheaper Than Dirt and I would be charged four separate shipping charges. One for the item they had in stock and three more for each of the items that would be drop shipped from the manufacturer or wholesaler.

Were I come from if someone sells merchandise that they do not have IT REEKS OF SCAM !!!!

While a bit inconvenient I had no difficulty finding the items I wanted locally, and at a fair price.

[yqtszhj]

I buy regurarly from CTD. a person just has to balance the price with the shipping charges to see what works best for the situation. I bought wally world 9mm before their prices went up now I'll go back to CTD at time. My local prices are high figuring in taxes and gas to get their and back so CTD works for me a lot of the time.

good point taken though that for small orders the shipping can make it not worth it.

[LaP]

I'm a regular buyer from CTD...what, I don't get an e-mail alert???

As far as costs, yeah, it's better to offset the shipping cost with a large purchase. I learned the hard way (as usual):cool:

[jlottmc]

I just go into the store. Really convenient if I'm already at the Police Academy (they are separated by a little creek). Free shipping to your door if the store doesn't have it and they order it for you. I found that out the hard way too.

[O'Dell]

I recently tried to place an small order with Cheaper Than Dirt. When it got to the bottom line I was told that the shipping charges were $25 for $21 worth of merchandise. The order taker explained that three of the four items I wanted were not stocked by Cheaper Than Dirt and I would be charged four separate shipping charges. One for the item they had in stock and three more for each of the items that would be drop shipped from the manufacturer or wholesaler.

Were I come from if someone sells merchandise that they do not have IT REEKS OF SCAM !!!!

While a bit inconvenient I had no difficulty finding the items I wanted locally, and at a fair price.

Exactly the same thing happened to me a few weeks ago, but I was ordering on line. When I got to the shipping, it was almost as much as the order. I canceled out at that point, but got an E-Mail later asking why I hadn't put through the order. I wrote back and told them and haven't been back since.

[Scoundrel]

One important thing to keep in mind when shopping at CTD is that they have three warehouses. If you are buying multiple items, this becomes very important, because they hit you with a shipping charge for each warehouse they're shipping from.

They tell you right on the product page which warehouse the items ships from. So if you group your purchases from the same warehouse, you do pretty well on shipping.

I sent a note to their customer service a while back, suggesting that they include the ability to sort your search results by which warehouse it ships from. They responded, saying that sounded like a good idea. Of course, it takes time for these changes to be approved and to get through to the web developers.

[LaP]

I sent a note to their customer service a while back, suggesting that they include the ability to sort your search results by which warehouse it ships from. They responded, saying that sounded like a good idea. Of course, it takes time for these changes to be approved and to get through to the web developers.

Excellent idea. I've been doing it the neanderthal way... choosing my items and then checking the shipping cost and then going back to reorder from the same wearhouse.:rolleyes:
I catch on sooner or later...Naaa, it's always layer.

[Barth]

I'm a regular buyer from CTD...what, I don't get an e-mail alert???

As far as costs, yeah, it's better to offset the shipping cost with a large purchase. I learned the hard way (as usual):cool:

+1 on that.
I just ordered
2 x Special Purcahse - 500 rds - 40 cal Winchester Ranger 180 gr Bonded Hollow Point ammo - $299.90 ($149.95 each).
1000 rounds $22 UPS
+
Shipping Insurance: $3.00
Signature Confirmation: $3.25

Go big or go home - LOL!

Before anyone asks I bought the LAST two 500 round boxes...

[Scoundrel]

I've been doing it the neanderthal way

Well, right now the neanderthal way is the only way. Maybe they're not in a hurry to fix this, because of the extra money they're making on "handling" fees.



Shipping Insurance: $3.00
Signature Confirmation: $3.25

Go big or go home - LOL!


Indeed. I skip the insurance and signature confirmation stuff, but then I've never had any packages go missing from my porch and have been receiving them here for more than 10 years.

I think the FedEx guys are grumpy with me though. They drop off the package and then look at the security camera with an expression that seems to be saying "What the hell is IN that small box, anyway? Lead??"

[Scoundrel]

I went to go buy some .22lr bulk boxes today. It takes a pretty big online order to break even on the the online + shipping cost vs. the local + tax cost, and it's usually fairly convenient to get it from Wal-Mart if I happen to be driving that way.

But, someone was there buying a rifle. That is a process that takes a lot of effort from the "associate", of course. The associate rang out a couple of people in front of me while the gun buyer filled out the forms, but the buyer finished the forms just as I got to the front of the line. The ammo case is locked. The associate was ignoring me while he did the gun thing. I waited patiently for a while. Another associate came by briefly, talked with the first one for a second, then started leaving. Although I made eye contact, he didn't say anything, and he left.

I got on my cell phone and called the switchboard, told them I was in Sporting Goods and that associate #1 was tied up, asked if they could send another. When associate #3 arrived, associate #1 had just left to go grab the box for the gun. I told associate #3 that I wanted ammo (and the guy behind me too) and she said that she doesn't have a key for the ammo case. So she starts doing a hunting permit for some guy. Then associate #2 (the one that had made eye contact but had not helped me) came back, asked what we needed, but he didn't have the ammo case key either, so he started a hunting permit for yet another guy.

About 15 seconds later, associate #1 returned, but by then associates #2 and #3 were both busy doing permits. Then, associate #3 started struggling with the permit thing because she doesn't normally work that department. Associate #2 started trying to help her, effectively tying up two associates for one customer. Then they started asking associate #1 some questions while he worked on boxing up the gun, slowing him down as well.

The manager showed up because he has to walk the guy out of the store with the gun when the purchase is complete, and he's just standing there watching all of this happen. I sidled up to him and explained that I, and the guy behind me, have been waiting to purchase ammunition for about 20 minutes now, and gave him the rundown about how only associate #1 has the key to the ammo case, but associates #2 and #3 got involved with permits, so now even though the key has returned, we're still not getting what we want. I figured maybe he'd grab the key, get us the ammo, and/or ring us up - but nope, what he does is go and tell associate #1 that he should help us ammo buyers first, which only annoys associate #1 because he knows how to do his job and he's multi-tasking as well as he can (my words, not his).

Fortunately, associate #1 proves that he is not stupid, like the others, and hands the key to the manager, telling him to get his butt over to the case and get what we need out of it. He does so. Then, laden with ammo, we return to the counter, where a small queue of people buying fishing supplies is now waiting to be checked out.

Sigh.

If you time it right, buying your ammo at Wal-Mart can be a good idea, to avoid shipping costs, if it's not too far out of your way. But today, I would happily have paid CTD $15 shipping & handling to avoid that hassle.

[LaP]

Scoundrel: If that weren't so funny, I'd feel sorry for you. That was right out of a Sienfeld episode (did you feel like George?)

Waldo's is a crapshoot. Sometimes you hit it just right and can get in and out with the things you went there for. Other times, it's a maddening experience worthy of a comedy routine.

[Scoundrel]

It could have been a "candid camera" moment except that everyone was either bored, confused, frustrated, and/or sweating, and although my account of the event comes over like a 3 stooges skit, it wouldn't have been amusing to watch on TV. :)

[lostagain]

Scoundrel.... At least you had someone with the prospect of helping you. Spent 25 minutes waiting for someone to open a completely full ammo case. Asked 5 different people for help, no one had a key. Even called the front desk and still no one showed up. By the time I left without my supplies there were 3 of us standing there. Now I know why the case was so well stocked. :-(

[Scoundrel]

Scoundrel.... At least you had someone with the prospect of helping you. Spent 25 minutes waiting for someone to open a completely full ammo case. Asked 5 different people for help, no one had a key. Even called the front desk and still no one showed up. By the time I left without my supplies there were 3 of us standing there. Now I know why the case was so well stocked. :-(

Ouch.