|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
April 30, 2011, 01:46 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 30
|
BUYER BEWARE - CheaperThanDirt
I'm appalled and darn right disappointed at the business decision CheaperThanDirt (CTD) has made regarding an ammo sale to me. Last night, I saw the following ad on their website and ordered 10 boxes.
Item # AMM-512 Ammo .45 Auto Fiocchi 230 Grain FMJ Boxer Primed Brass Case 50 Rounds per Box $9.39 This morning, after checking the status of my order via My Account on their website and seeing that the product was "backordered", I called to ask why their website confirmed my order against a backordered product, without advising it was backordered. The CS person said, "that due to a system error, the order will not be processed". I then asked to speak to the CS Supervisor - she explained that the product was advertised with the wrong price, and that CTD had made a "business decision" not to honor sales that were confirmed prior to catching the mistake, even though they have stock on the item. I explained that most people regard CTD as a reputable company; but in my mind, this decision is unethical. I asked if CTD is prepared for the backlash they should expect from many who have ordered their products in the past; and now, appropriately, opt not to do business with them in the future. She simply said, "it was a business decision". I personally have never encountered this situation before; when I've dealt with companies that have made mistakes in advertising, they honor the advertised price, realizing the negative impact to their business and reputation if they don't. I will not do business with CheaperThanDirt in the future.
__________________
Semper Fi, Sig P250C - 9mm/.40/.357/.45; Sig P250FS - 9mm; Sig P250SC - 9mm/.40; Sig P229R DAK - .40/.357/9mm; Sig SP2022 - .40/.357/9mm; Sig P238 - .380; Glock 19 Gen 4 - 9mm; Glock 30SF - .45; S&W Model 19 - .357 Magnum |
April 30, 2011, 01:59 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: March 28, 2011
Location: It's HOT!!!
Posts: 39
|
I don't know the legal ramifications to companies when it comes to 'misprints', though, in this instant it was thousands of electrons being terribly inconvenienced.
I've ran into situations both online and in stores. Some honor it, some simply won't, but I'm the same as you, I won't support stores or businesses that can't remove their head from their third point. I've bought a few cases of .45 from them a few months back, no problem but I suppose I'll be looking for a new ammo supplier. I've had friends recommend usaammo.com, not a huge caliber selection but it has the basics, 5.56, 7.62, .45, 9, ect.
__________________
"You can smoke in your ghillie suit if you want, but I'm not peeing on you when you BBQ yourself." Remark over heard at US Army Sniper School 05-05 |
April 30, 2011, 02:00 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 4, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 487
|
Similar experience, loss of customer
About a year ago, I had a similar experience with CTD. I dont remember the specifics but much as you stated, they advertised 9mm ammo for x price so I ordered it and found out the next day that it was backordered. After contacting them, I found out they had advertised the wrong price and would not honor that advertised price.
This does seem like bad business to me. If a company makes a mistake, they are liable for that mistake and should own up to it. They should be a little more sure of what they are advertising. I have purchased various things from CTD in the past but will no longer give them any of my money due to what I would consider 'bad business'.
__________________
God Bless America!! |
April 30, 2011, 02:21 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 1, 2011
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 113
|
Problems? What problems?
I've personally never had even one issue with cheaperthandirt.com and I order from them much more than anybody else. I do wish they'd institute three things: 1. A "real-time" inventory system that updates itself each time an order for a specific item is completed- this would save their customers a lot of issues as the on the OP mentioned.
2. Layaway- especially on their firearms so maybe they could sell more of these! 3. Price matching- where they agree to honor any competitor's advertised price.
__________________
"The best revenge is not in violence, but simply living well". |
April 30, 2011, 02:23 PM | #5 |
Junior member
Join Date: September 21, 2010
Posts: 112
|
Treated you like YOU are Cheaper Than Dirt, eh?
So far, so good for me, w/CTD. But when they get ear of there being 5,000-10,000 other shoppers now keen to their shoddy ("rhymes with" ... almost) business practice, perhaps they will change ad-copy writers, and practices, also. I'm letting them know. Good luck. Dao.
|
April 30, 2011, 02:23 PM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 6, 2006
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 3,324
|
Quote:
Let the government make a mistake and mail you a double income tax refund and see if they don't want it back. Mistakes happen, it's human. The amount of money involved nationwide for this error might have been crippling to CTD.
__________________
Proud NRA Benefactor Member |
|
April 30, 2011, 02:31 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 9, 2011
Location: Land of the Free
Posts: 2,834
|
Never had a problem with CTD, been buying stuff for over 7 years. I have just placed two orders on holsters from opticplanet and ebay, items were said to be in stock. Turns out they arn't!
|
April 30, 2011, 03:39 PM | #8 |
Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 30
|
I wouldn't disagree with an assumption that it was probably the web developer's mistake; and that many, if not most, web developers/maintainers are not knowledgeable of the products...BUT, I do expect that a company will honor the price of a completed sale.
The purpose of my discussion in this thread was to make others aware that most likely, CheaperThanDirt will repeat this behavior in the future; and in my mind, makes it a place not to do business with. I'm aware that many companies do not maintain a live inventory, and my call to CTD CS was originally to find out why the online status showed "on backorder" and learn when they expected to have the ammo in stock. The surprise and disappointment came when the representative explained what was really taking place. reconcoupe - thanx for heads up on usaammo.com.
__________________
Semper Fi, Sig P250C - 9mm/.40/.357/.45; Sig P250FS - 9mm; Sig P250SC - 9mm/.40; Sig P229R DAK - .40/.357/9mm; Sig SP2022 - .40/.357/9mm; Sig P238 - .380; Glock 19 Gen 4 - 9mm; Glock 30SF - .45; S&W Model 19 - .357 Magnum |
April 30, 2011, 03:41 PM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 4, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 487
|
Quote:
Have any of you used stuff from usaammo.com? How is the quality?
__________________
God Bless America!! |
|
April 30, 2011, 03:42 PM | #10 |
Staff
Join Date: March 20, 1999
Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia
Posts: 16,955
|
Notice
I am going to move this to the proper forum for such feedback, the "Retail Deals and Feedback" forum. From here on, the rules for that forum will apply to this thread: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336632 Note that unless you have first hand dealings with CTD, you should not post in the thread. |
April 30, 2011, 04:45 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 29, 2007
Location: Sugar Land, Texas
Posts: 171
|
I once ordered a barber's chair from Costco via the internet. It was a $575 chair delivered, however, someone misplaced a decimal when posting the price. I placed an order for one at $57.50, then went back an ordered another 5 at the same price...
Well, I got the first one shipped, the others were cancelled. Some folks admit to their errors and move on, others hide. |
April 30, 2011, 04:49 PM | #12 |
Staff
Join Date: March 20, 1999
Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia
Posts: 16,955
|
pbratton - a question - was that notice right above your post either not bold enough or not large enough? I can't make it much bolder, but I can make it larger if need be.
|
April 30, 2011, 05:59 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 12, 2010
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 535
|
I've had good luck with CTD but I agree with the OP, this is was a bad business decision and I'll keep it in mind the next time I'm doing on-line shopping. I owned my owned business for almost 25 years and not once did I refuse to honor a quoted price.
|
April 30, 2011, 06:00 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 27, 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 101
|
I have done lots of business with CTD over the years,not one problem.
As one of the above posters said honoring the misprinted price could have been financially devastating to CTD,so you got to remember ...if it looks to good to be true..it probably isn't. FWIW most websites have fine print that reads something like..not responsible for typographical errors...who ever reads the fine print... |
April 30, 2011, 06:00 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 21, 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,424
|
I would not expect a retailer to be morally bound to honor a mistake in price that was likely made by a printer or a web tech. Additionally, they corrected the mistake quickly; in less than 24 hours. Moreover, you suffered no harm.
Someone likely left off a number. 50 Rounds per Box $9.39 is incredibly low priced. The lowest price I could find today was .45 ACP 230gr Full Metal Jacket 50pk for $17.50 at Georgia Arms.
__________________
NRA Life Member - Orange Gunsite Member - NRA Certified Pistol Instructor "When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society,
they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it." Frederic Bastiat |
April 30, 2011, 07:08 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 18, 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,157
|
I have had issues with CTD when buying some magazines for my M1A.
They were advertised as Winchester. They weren't and they didn't fit. I modified them myself and have ordered ammo from them with no problem. The battle pack .308 ammo from DAG and some Lithuanian surplus was just fine. Geetarman |
April 30, 2011, 10:36 PM | #17 |
Member
Join Date: October 10, 2010
Location: GA
Posts: 30
|
I'll attempt to end this discussion - just wanted to give fellow members a heads up. Also - guess I should have included the punch line - they did charge my credit card. In my experience, reputable companies don't charge your credit card until they ship.
__________________
Semper Fi, Sig P250C - 9mm/.40/.357/.45; Sig P250FS - 9mm; Sig P250SC - 9mm/.40; Sig P229R DAK - .40/.357/9mm; Sig SP2022 - .40/.357/9mm; Sig P238 - .380; Glock 19 Gen 4 - 9mm; Glock 30SF - .45; S&W Model 19 - .357 Magnum |
May 1, 2011, 06:46 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 18, 2009
Posts: 637
|
Sounds like an unfortunate mistake on CTDs part, but they are a VERY VERY reputable online dealer.
Ive spent thousands with them. A year or two ago they had a similar incident; .308's, brass cased for 20 cents a round. I ordered, completed order, was told by email of a misprint a day later. No 20 cent .308s It happens. Im not perfect and I dont expect them to be either. CTD will always be one of my go-to sights for firearms gear.
__________________
Maintaining a constant state of cat-like readiness and a heightened state of suspicious alertness. |
May 1, 2011, 11:07 AM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 5, 2010
Location: Miami, Florida
Posts: 6,429
|
I have never had an issue with CTD yet, been a strong customer for them for years and years..Just bought myself a pistol rack 2 nights ago. Should be coming in soon. They send a tracking number, unlike most others that just send it out and have you pray for it to get there..
However it's unfortunate what happened to you. But it does happen...I would be upset but not furious with them as to end any future business with them. UNLESS... They charged it to your card already. Then all bets are off. |
May 1, 2011, 11:56 AM | #20 |
Member
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 89
|
all good reviews here for CTD...
|
May 1, 2011, 03:30 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 15, 2007
Location: Outside KC, MO
Posts: 10,128
|
Constantine, he said they did charge his card. I'd assume they refunded the charge, but that still puts a slightly worse spin on things.
Meanwhile, I've ordered from CTD before, and got what I paid for. I'd be pretty miffed, if they charged my card, then cancelled my order. But I haven't bought from CTD since ammo became generally available again. They had stuff when many others didn't, but their prices aren't so competitive when supplies are more normal. |
May 1, 2011, 05:46 PM | #22 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 15, 2005
Location: Central Connecticut
Posts: 3,166
|
Their website's terms of use states:
Quote:
They have a right to refuse an order resulting from a mistake and everyone else has a right to not do business with them. When I received damaged goods from them, they issued me a pro-rated credit. Unexpected things can happen. Last edited by arcticap; May 1, 2011 at 05:57 PM. |
|
May 1, 2011, 09:37 PM | #23 |
Staff
Join Date: November 28, 2005
Location: Montana
Posts: 9,443
|
This one's closed. I've had enough of taking care of members that either do not or will not read.
__________________
If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting |
|
|