Cheaper Than Dirt Suspends Gun Sales
No, really. Not very helpful, guys. And they cranked up their PMAGs to $60.
Via the duck
Update: May be a distribution issue since their suppliers are running low on inventory. And CTD probably drop ships most things.
December 18th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
This morning I bought a couple PMAGs from Midway USA for under $15/each. But it looks like the 30-rounders are sold out now. They still have some 20-rounders.
December 18th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
And a case of 1,000 rounds of M855 is NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
I bought a case from them in June for $375, I think.
December 18th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I just wrote them and cancelled my account. I will never spend another dime with them.
December 18th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Wouldn’t be hasty, it could be a logistics problem, I have heard.
December 18th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
No if they are a. going to price gouge I don’t need them, and B. they could just post out of stock rather than suspend selling.
December 18th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Unc:
I’ve heard the same thing.
But that was hours ago. The message that they posted was – if that’s the case – disingenuous.
They’ve shed something like 20k “fans” on Facebook. No, I think that’s their message. Others report the power that be have shut down mail accounts.
No, that’s their message, and if that’s it, for whatever reason, they deserve to be Zumbo’ed and hard.
“The distribution channel is empty, guys, we’ll let you know when we have more” is a fine message.
“We’re not selling guns, and we’re reviewing our policies” is a far, far, far cry from that. That’s not possibly accidental.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
“Cheaper Than Dirt! is suspending online sales of firearms effective immediately. We are reviewing our policy internally, and will continue to be the leader in the outdoor industry with our full line of gear and accessories.”
They are not discontinuing nor are they cancelling. They are suspending. Like in school you were EXPELLED which was permanent or you were SUSPENDED which was temporary.
This is a temporary stop to make sure all of their policies are in order. If anything this is a responsible action to ensure there are no loopholes in their ordering.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Given that PMAGs are normally around $15, that’s insane.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
@ Tannar Wright: If you can get to a listing right now, instead of a price it shows “CheaperThanDirt.com does not sell firearms” in bright red letters (h/t to Divemedic for that link).
Like I said at Caleb’s, if that’s the case, then they should have said that. The wording of that press release looks a whole lot like “We’re stopping all gun sales for political reasons, and are reconsidering whether we will ever sell those evil black rifles ever again,” and that’s what is hurting them right now.
In other words, if it is an inventory/demand/ducks-in-a-row issue, then whoever wrote that press release needs to be fired, quickly, and immediate damage control needs to be undertaken. Right now, this is killing them.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Things are far from normal, right now. Including the demand/supply ration.
December 18th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I just emailed this to CTD:
Re: Your decision to stop selling firearms.
You know what’s “Cheaper Than Dirt”? Your sense of honor and your courage.
Since you have caved in to the anti-gun hysteria, I will never buy another product from you. Enjoy being “Zumboed” you quislings.
December 18th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Whatever the reason, they’ve succeeded in alienating a lot of people.
December 18th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
It’s disconcerting watching how quickly we eat ourselves at the worst possible times. So much for cooler heads. Considering their history don’t they deserve the benefit of the doubt? A lot is being read into a single statement. I’d like to think they are getting their ducks in a row to avoid being shut down by an administration all too happy to drown them in fog of mass hysteria.
December 18th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Screw them, I just cancelled my account and refused a $2200.00 order from them. May they rot in hell.
December 18th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
My local Gunshop guy said that it appeared the deal with Pmags was that certain shop-orders were in the thousands and they were afraid that hoarding was beginning., an attempt to corner the market – so they went to limit shop-orders to known sales quantities/traffic volumes…
December 18th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Just checked sports south, davidsons, lipseys and william shooting supplies, all of their semi auto .223/5.56 and 8.62×39 are zeroed out. Not sure if they have just sold out but I have put in questions to all of them.
December 18th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Magpul responded to the price increase on Facebook.
They said:
“We’ve received a lot of comments about some retailers charging extremely high prices for our products. We strongly discourage pricing strategies like this with our direct customers, as we just don’t feel right about it. Those retailers who are buying through distribution, and not direct, may be worried about supply and reacting to the market with this pricing increase. We are firm believers in free capitalism, and as long as no one is damaging market value through their pricing strategy, we will allow the market to correct this situation, as it appears it already is. We intend to continue to produce and sell our products to support the MSRPs we have set. Magazines will continue to flow to those retailers, distributors, and OEM customers with whom we have direct relationships.”
Whatever that means.
December 18th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Cheaper Than Dirt has changed their message on the website:
“Cheaper Than Dirt! has temporarily suspended online sales of firearms. As a long time supporter of the Second Amendment, Cheaper Than Dirt! will continue to promote the safe and responsible use of firearms by law abiding customers. During this temporary suspension, we will review our policies and promotions.”
December 18th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I have a feeling they are in panic mode now, after reacting hastily and pulling all gun sales. Now they are back tracking.
All of their older blog posts about firearms are now dead links. The only blog posts still active are about hunting, bows and camping.
December 18th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
It’s also entirely possible that Nancy Lanza bought one or more of the guns used in the massacre from CTD, and they are currently part of the investigation.
December 18th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Luckygunner.com is showing NO 5.56 ammo available at all.
What the hell??
December 19th, 2012 at 12:33 am
Read the tea leaves people:
1. Cerberus dumps Freedom Group, which short-sells it’s Bushmaster position
2. Dick’s Sporting Goods stops all “Modern sporting rifle” sales at 511 stores.
3. Now this CTD thing.
The dominoes are falling, people. Some of us sounded the bugle about this months ago, got laughed at.
Next milestone to worry about: reloading components. If they get shortstopped in the same way, you can lay down a large bet that FBATFE has had their Rolodex spinning and in each call, they threatened severe hassles for those who continued to sell these items.
Yeah, it could be market forces at work, but the answer there is so simple: ration ammo sales, waiting list the ARs but still process orders, etc. No sign of these reasonable approaches to shortage, it’s a shutdown instead, and that is NOT a coincidence, can’t be.
December 19th, 2012 at 6:44 am
Only thing I’m short of is reloading supplies; going to remedy that shortly.
December 19th, 2012 at 9:45 am
Rivrdog,
When you hear hoofbeats, I’ll bet you look for zebras.
You can tell from the facial hair at gun shows that gun nuts sure do hate them some Occam’s Razor…
December 19th, 2012 at 11:26 am
“No if they are a. going to price gouge I don’t need them,…”
Raising their prices is *exactly* what they should do in response to huge demand and a short supply. Might just slow down a few of those who already have “enough” (I do, don’t you?). Slowing sales might just give those who really “need” a mag a chance to get one.
December 19th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Bravo, Tam. Bravo.