Should I be upset?

[GravelRider]

I just ordered 4000 bulk 9 mm bullets for reloading last month from an, for now, unnamed online retailer. They reloaded and shot fine, so I went to buy 4000 more yesterday. I paid $280 for 4000 bullets. Now they only offer up to 1000 bullets at a time, and they're $85 (which would be $340 per 4000, a 21% price increase). I shoot them a quick email to see if the 4000 bullet packs are available. I replied to the email from my original order, hence why I didn't explain the specifics of the order in the original email. Here is a transcript of the email conversation:

Me: Hello, I was looking to reorder another 4000 bullets of the same type/size. When I went to add them to my cart, they were only available in quantities of 1000. Is the 4000 round pack at the price I paid last month still available?

Thank you

GravelRider

Them: No, it is not available at this time.

We have had a huge spike in demand and are adjusting quantities so we can keep items in stock and manage shipping times.

Thank you,

Me: Oh okay. Am I able to order four of the 1000 bullet packs still, as long as they're in stock?

Them: Yes

A 20% increase in price is pretty drastic IMO. And, I understand that sales are getting crazy and with increased demand comes increased prices, and that they'll have a slow period in the future. However, the part that really annoys me is their BS explanation that they're adjusting quantities to keep items in stock... Yet, I'm able to place the exact same order quantity, just at a higher price. I'd be way less annoyed if they just told me that demand increased, so they're raising prices in response.

Should I be pissed about this? Or is this just business in these crazy times?

 

[taliv]

no reason to be pissed at economics. supply and demand. they don't owe you anything. and if you don't like the way they do biz, they shouldn't be pissed if you go somewhere else after this is over

 

[Tilos]

"Should I be pissed about this?"
YES, go elsewhere,

 

[TonyAngel]

Yep, I’d be a bit upset. I wouldn’t blame them if there were limiting how much you could order to be able to accommodate more customers, but price gouging, I cant take. I’ve seen that from vendors that I’ve previously been loyal to. As much talk as you’ve read or heard of community, it seems that goes out of the window when there’s a buck to be made.

 

[1942bull]

Well, businesses respond to market demand. The greater the demand the more prices increase. My two LG stores are practically bought out of all popular pistol calibers. They are running our of ammo. Both are selling guns an irate they say greater than they have ever seen before, and bot his been in operation for over 25 years. The one I regularly use has closed its range, and only allows 10 customers in the store at once. I drove by there this afternoon and the line waiting to gain entry ha to be 50 deep. Right no for guns and ammo it is a sellers market, That is just the way it is. No point in gettin angry about it.

 

[earlthegoat2]

From my perspective they are not gouging. They just got rid of the large quantity price break.

Companies often do this to be able to sell to a greater number of customers and increase loyalty that way. It is not a perfect system as you observed what seemed to be a gouge. In this instance it works to garner them more profit and more future customers.

Hate to say it but even though they lost you there will probably still be a net gain on their end.

 

[Speedo66]

Tough call. Do you recall what their 1000 bullet price was last month, if it was available that way?

While it's annoying, I wouldn't necessarily call it gouging as larger quantity bulk packs usually enjoy a discount. You want to see real gouging, look at Treats You Like Dirt (Cheaper Than Dirt).

Of course, you're free to shop around and see if a better price is available elsewhere. If not, and you still want those projectiles, sometimes you just have to "bite the bullet". Yeah, couldn't help myself.

 

[Pat Riot]

Don’t burn a bridge until you know you have other options. Ammo is selling like crazy right now.

 

[Reloadron]

To be or not to be pissed is entirely up to you. Every time this happens in the supply chain some people get angry and scream gouging, which it actually is. Every time this happens some people come away with lessons learned and some don't. Nobody is forcing anybody to buy or not buy from any given supplier. They have the option of setting their price and you have the option to take or leave their product. The decision to buy and then be pissed over it rest entirely with you.

Ron

 

[mcb]

No you should not be upset. Yes you should look else where before paying more there. And you need to be aware of current market condition and realize that prices may be increasing across the board in the short term due to the current pandemic.

 

[bangswitch]

I'm curious as to what you're doing to go through 4000 rounds in a month. That's 133 rounds per day, every day. Are you practicing for the national USPS championship, or just doing mag dumps? In addition to the bullets, that's a lot of powder and primers, too. I suppose you can reuse the brass many times, so not as much of a deal.
At any rate, the supplier may just be eliminating the large bulk sale, to give more people an opportunity for smaller bulk buys, to stretch his supply. And if he wants to make more while doing it, it helps his bottom line. Don't feel compelled to keep buying from him if you can find it elsewhere.

 

[.38 Special]

I wouldn't be upset. I don't really even consider it "gouging", even if the explanation was a bit shaky. Sales and promotions are disappearing all over. That's life during the apocalypse.

 

[edwardware]

Of course, because they have a moral obligation to maintain their price, no matter how many buyers come and how short on stock they are.

Next you'll ask if you should be angry that they're out of stock. Of course you should be!

After all, being angry is always easier than economics.

 

[Ramone]

Would you be more upset if they were out of stock because someone bought out their their inventory?

 

[GravelRider]

Thanks for the replies everyone, even the snarky ones. It did irk me, but it is what it is. I guess if I want them, I've got to pony up the cash, regardless of where I buy them.

And as to what I'm doing with that many... Maybe I'm reloading them. Shooting them. Replenishing my stock. Hoarding them. Maybe I always buy in bulk orders and 4000 is not a big order for me. Does it really matter? Why do you need a magazine capacity of 30 rounds?

Oh, and I don't recall what their prices on 1000 bullets were when I placed my order last month.

 

[Dibbs]

...because you want a really bulky, heavy, less practical firearm, which will have more fouling ?

 

[denton]

If a business is capacity limited, and can't keep up with demand, the immediate strategy is to raise prices to the point it can meet demand. It's the logical reaction to changing circumstances. Don't be offended. It's just the laws of the market at work.

 

[Virginia Jim]

I would be upset at myself for not seeing it coming.

 

[redneck2]

Everyone flaps their wings and crows when they get a great deal when any seller is in a distress situation and has to discount stuff, sometime below cost

But, flip it around and I’m all kinds of pissed because I’m being gouged when there is high demand

All kinds of guys were butt hurt after Sandy Hook and AR’s were going for big money. Now that they’re dirt cheap, I see all kinds of guys popping off about their screaming deal. Run around thumping their chest

I literally took Econ 101 at Purdue long ago. It’s called supply and demand. You are free to go somewhere else

and no, just because you’re living in America doesn’t mean any retailer owes you a deal. Get over it. When they’re cheap again, buy ‘em cheap and stack ‘em deep

 

[gulogulo1970]

I wouldn't be mad over this, 20% is sizable but not like the crap Cheaper than Dirt pulls.

Some price increase is to be expected also breaking up things so more people get a shot at it is not a bad practice. I've worked in a cigar store where we might get 40 special cigars a year. One guy could come in and buy all of them but we limit people to 2 per day. That way, there are many more happy customers who get some product not zero product.

 

[film495]

only as annoyed as you can get over $60. reality is you probably should be happy that such a good deal ever existed in the first place. after the rush is over, don't be surprised if prices come back to where they were a short while ago, maybe - maybe not, nobody knows …

 

[redneck2]

It’s kinda like the ammo shortage. People were bitching and whining because retailers were charging high prices for .22’s

of course, retailers like Walmart that held their price were sold out in minutes after receiving a shipment so some jackwagon could sell it at a huge profit on line

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Pissed? Nope.

Fall back to what we learned in high school, or should have, about free-market principals.

They too, are paying more unless they have them already in stock and in that case, might likely be paying more to replace them anyhow.

"Supply-Demand" is a non-linear and non-geometric concept. More like a dragon's tail.

Todd.

 

[Dfwkid]

You gotta shop around. Whether it's bullets, guns, cars, wives,etc.

 

[GEM]

Free market economy or would rather the government impose limits. Suggest to the President that along with your check, you get 1000 bullets or rounds of your favorite bang bang.

I get angry if some bottom feeder raises the price on a living saving medicine that folks can 't get elsewhere. I don't get excited over panic ammo buying.