Can't understand Midways Shipping strategy

Live45 · April 16, 2013, 11:53 AM

I ordered 100 .45 brass from Midway on the 10th of April. They said I should get it by the 17th. Actually I'll be getting it today, the 16th. That's great but I live 1hr and 30 minutes from Orlando and my order arrived in Orlando just 2 days after it was shipped. It arrived in my town the next morning (the 13th) by 7:57 AM. Then, instead of putting it on the UPS truck for delivery, they sent it to the local Post Office to be delivered today (the 16th). I wonder why they couldn't of just put it in a Priority Mail box (small) for half the price and I could have received it yesterday. I think a lot of these big company's are making money on the shipping and not letting the customer know. OK, my rant's done.

P.S. And yes I know, I should be happy I didn't have to wait for 4 months like from most other online vendors.

vffdoug · April 16, 2013, 11:57 AM

I have had the same thing happen with many things I have ordered over the internet in recent months. The item is shipped from company to my local post office by UPS and then delivered to my door by the mailman. I talked to my friends that work for UPS and USPS and they both said this happens more often then you think.

Apparently this reduces the cost for the shipper and for the customer.

Hoosier_Daddy · April 16, 2013, 12:10 PM

It is an arrangement USPS and UPS worked out.
Remember the FedEx drop boxes at most larger post offices? USPS and Fedex had a partnership. But now all the FedEx drop boxes are gone and UPS and USPS are now partners.
I guess UPS wants out of home delivery and USPS is trying to increase revenue.

rlc323 · April 16, 2013, 03:22 PM

Seems like the USPS is becoming the delivery service for the "last mile."

I expect that the shipper gets a good discount for using the two company service, and that is the thing that is driving this.

Customer service sort of gets thrown out when something goes wrong. A recent order of mine from Natchez left their company by DHL on April 4th. DHL got the package to the USPS processing facility in Mo on April 8th. Delivery from day one was scheduled for April 10th, which is six days from the ship date, but not bad. Unfortunately the package sat in Mo for 7 more days. It arrived the 15th of April. 11 days after originally shipped. The package may still be there had I not contacted Nachez who got it moving again on the 14th.

In this case I did have two shipping options $10.00 for DHL/USPS and $19.00 for UPS direct. I may spend the extra money next time for UPS.

David Bachelder · April 16, 2013, 04:17 PM

Yes, companies do profit from shipping charges. After covering costs, cardboard boxes, printer ink, mailing service (like stamps.com), labels, electricity, Post Office Visits, FedEx fees, UPS Fees and time. All of these things cost money, and I'm sure I left a few things out.

At the end of the list a company decides what they will charge for shipping and handeling, note the word handeling. Then theres profit. I'd guess Midway has a very large shipping department and each of those employees draws a wage. The company pays wages and overhaed then pockets what is left over.

What may seem simple to us may be very complicated for a company such as Midway when you handle the volume they do.

William T. Watts · April 16, 2013, 04:30 PM

The customer is aggravated with the delay, it saves the shipper "Money" plus no benefit to the buyer, it sucks! Down side there isn't anyone who can/will help with this problem! William

jag2 · April 16, 2013, 04:57 PM

Its not really that hard to figure out. UPS has their own planes and is very efficient at moving things from city to city. USPS is very good at going from house to house. It makes perfect sense to marry the two. UPS doesn't want to drive around some neighborhood they aren't familiar with to deliver to 2 or 3 houses. If they didn't work together I'm sure the rates would be higher, then even more people could complain. Deal with it.

**Unclenick** · April 16, 2013, 05:11 PM

Nuisance, but in abstraction, for UPS and USPS, you can see how one truck driving to a residence per day is cheaper than having two do it.

I'm going to close this thread as I don't believe any of us can solve this and it's a generic problem not peculiar to firearms or reloading supplies. It's much worse in pharmaceuticals, for which I used to design cold-chain transport systems and where losses in transport get as high as 50% for some products. The downsides for recipients of shipments is an unintended consequence of making shipping departments into separate profit centers.

April 16, 2013, 11:53 AM	#1
Live45 Member Join Date: January 23, 2013 Location: Central Florida Posts: 46	Can't understand Midways Shipping strategy I ordered 100 .45 brass from Midway on the 10th of April. They said I should get it by the 17th. Actually I'll be getting it today, the 16th. That's great but I live 1hr and 30 minutes from Orlando and my order arrived in Orlando just 2 days after it was shipped. It arrived in my town the next morning (the 13th) by 7:57 AM. Then, instead of putting it on the UPS truck for delivery, they sent it to the local Post Office to be delivered today (the 16th). I wonder why they couldn't of just put it in a Priority Mail box (small) for half the price and I could have received it yesterday. I think a lot of these big company's are making money on the shipping and not letting the customer know. OK, my rant's done. P.S. And yes I know, I should be happy I didn't have to wait for 4 months like from most other online vendors.

April 16, 2013, 03:22 PM	#4
rlc323 Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2013 Location: Forgottonia, Il Posts: 217	It is getting more common Seems like the USPS is becoming the delivery service for the "last mile." I expect that the shipper gets a good discount for using the two company service, and that is the thing that is driving this. Customer service sort of gets thrown out when something goes wrong. A recent order of mine from Natchez left their company by DHL on April 4th. DHL got the package to the USPS processing facility in Mo on April 8th. Delivery from day one was scheduled for April 10th, which is six days from the ship date, but not bad. Unfortunately the package sat in Mo for 7 more days. It arrived the 15th of April. 11 days after originally shipped. The package may still be there had I not contacted Nachez who got it moving again on the 14th. In this case I did have two shipping options $10.00 for DHL/USPS and $19.00 for UPS direct. I may spend the extra money next time for UPS.

April 16, 2013, 04:17 PM	#5
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	Yes, companies do profit from shipping charges. After covering costs, cardboard boxes, printer ink, mailing service (like stamps.com), labels, electricity, Post Office Visits, FedEx fees, UPS Fees and time. All of these things cost money, and I'm sure I left a few things out. At the end of the list a company decides what they will charge for shipping and handeling, note the word handeling. Then theres profit. I'd guess Midway has a very large shipping department and each of those employees draws a wage. The company pays wages and overhaed then pockets what is left over. What may seem simple to us may be very complicated for a company such as Midway when you handle the volume they do. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

April 16, 2013, 04:30 PM	#6
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	I'm postal retired and already fought this battle with my mail order Pharmacy!! The customer is aggravated with the delay, it saves the shipper "Money" plus no benefit to the buyer, it sucks! Down side there isn't anyone who can/will help with this problem! William Last edited by William T. Watts; April 16, 2013 at 04:37 PM.

April 16, 2013, 05:11 PM	#8
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Nuisance, but in abstraction, for UPS and USPS, you can see how one truck driving to a residence per day is cheaper than having two do it. I'm going to close this thread as I don't believe any of us can solve this and it's a generic problem not peculiar to firearms or reloading supplies. It's much worse in pharmaceuticals, for which I used to design cold-chain transport systems and where losses in transport get as high as 50% for some products. The downsides for recipients of shipments is an unintended consequence of making shipping departments into separate profit centers. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 16, 2013, 11:57 AM	#2
vffdoug Member Join Date: March 19, 2013 Posts: 31	I have had the same thing happen with many things I have ordered over the internet in recent months. The item is shipped from company to my local post office by UPS and then delivered to my door by the mailman. I talked to my friends that work for UPS and USPS and they both said this happens more often then you think. Apparently this reduces the cost for the shipper and for the customer.

April 16, 2013, 12:10 PM	#3
Hoosier_Daddy Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2011 Location: Lower Michigan Posts: 163	It is an arrangement USPS and UPS worked out. Remember the FedEx drop boxes at most larger post offices? USPS and Fedex had a partnership. But now all the FedEx drop boxes are gone and UPS and USPS are now partners. I guess UPS wants out of home delivery and USPS is trying to increase revenue.

April 16, 2013, 04:57 PM	#7
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	Its not really that hard to figure out. UPS has their own planes and is very efficient at moving things from city to city. USPS is very good at going from house to house. It makes perfect sense to marry the two. UPS doesn't want to drive around some neighborhood they aren't familiar with to deliver to 2 or 3 houses. If they didn't work together I'm sure the rates would be higher, then even more people could complain. Deal with it.