Industry Responses to the market and Pre AWB

[KBScobravert]

How about a thread about responses from the industry regarding the raping and the AWB on the horizon?

***ASSHOLE-PROOFED GEN M3 BLACK PMAGS IN STOCK, $39.20 EACH***

By now, most of you have heard of the Shenanigans in our industry with regards to the inflated pricing of PMAGS and similar, highlighted by the likes of Cheaper than Dirt selling out of PMAGs at $60 EACH. During the first run before President Obama's inauguration, we didn't raise our prices one cent, and sold out of all of our multiple shipments of PMAGS in record time… only to learn that many of our sales were to high volume purchasers who flipped their orders for ridiculous profits to unwitting fellow gun owners. Supply and Demand. Capitalism. America. OK, WE GET IT.

What rubs us wrong is that everyone and their brother who likes AR15s is willing to pay outrageous prices for said AR15s and their feeding devices now that their future seems questionable, but countless among them are folks who haven't lifted a finger or donated a red cent to a worthy cause that protects their freedom. Well, we just got a large quantity of PMAGs in, and rather than just release them at our regular low price to people who would prey on other panicked buyers, we're going to honor market pressures and price our PMAGs accordingly. The difference is that we're only going to keep what we normally charge for a PMAG, but the rest of it will go to one of two organizations that we believe in. SO, if you want one of these PMAGS from SKD, you'll have to select whether you want your funds to go towards the NRA in support of their NEW "National School Shield Emergency Response Program", or the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, rated 4 stars (highest rating) by Charitynavigator.com.

Thusly, we have for all intents and purposes ASSHOLE-PROOFED our PMAGs.

"ASSHOLE-PROOFED" you ask?

1) By donating the majority of the proceeds to a worthy cause, by default no one who purchases these PMAGs is an ASSHOLE.
2) By selling these at or near current market prices, it keeps ASSHOLES who want to flip these PMAGs from purchasing these magazines.
3) By getting these PMAGs out of our warehouse, they are freed from the captivity of the ASSHOLES at SKD.

This is a WINNING proposition no matter how you approach it. As of this posting we have a HUNDREDS of PMAGS in stock. We are limiting their sale to 5 per customer. If you don't like our methods, please don't waste time trying to complain to us because we will not respond. For the rest us, and those like us, please take a moment to contemplate what it is you can do TODAY to help protect the Freedoms that are in jeopardy this very moment. Talk to your friends and family, your neighbors and elected officials, and let them know that our Second Amendment Freedoms matter. And finally, please support the organizations that work tirelessly to protect our Freedoms.

Sincerely,
The ASSHOLES at SKD.

http://www.skdtac.com/Magpul-PMAG-Gen-M3-30-rnd-AR-M4-p/mag.502.htm

[KBScobravert]

well done

SKD LEGION, WE SALUTE YOU.

SKD fans tore through 500 ASSHOLE-PROOFED PMAGS in a few hours and together we raised $12,500 to help protect FREEDOM. We wont know the breakdown for how much went to each organization until after all the invoices are counted (likely Tuesday), but just thought y'all should know that this is what happens when people who care put their money where there mouth is. Hopefully we'll have more mags in before the nonsense hits full throttle. Till then, SOUND OFF IF YOU GOT IN ON THE ACTION

[KBScobravert]

Rainier Arms

From Rainier about the surge in sales and how it will affect the industry

After the tragic events in Newtown CT, Feinstein and Gun control supporters fueled by the media machine, turned our industry into a craze overnight. Starting Friday the 14th, sales of Lowers, high capacity Magazines and Rifles have sky rocketed leaving our showroom walls and saferooms empty. This particular rush easily eclipses the 2008 rush for “assault weapons” by 2-3 fold.

The average reader will think how great it is (financially) for gun dealers. In the short term, you are absolutely right. In the next month to 3 (I project less time), sales will be at record numbers. What happens when supply dries out? (Which already happened for us on many products). We’ll just get more right? Actually, it doesn’t quite work that way. Starting Friday, not only did consumer sales go up, all the dealers & distributors across the county put in orders to larger distributors and directly to manufacturers. It wasn’t just AR15 dealers but any dealer, pawn shop, etc jumped in and ordered as much as they possibly could. Our industry was already producing at max capacity before the scare so what do you think will happen if demand increased by 10 fold overnight? If things hold true to 2008 standards, product deliveries will greatly slow down. Instead of receiving products, say every month, dealers be lucky to see it every 3 months.

To give you some reflection, let’s talk about what happened in 2008. After November’s election, sales doubled overnight and went on for several months to the peak in April and started fading about as fast as it started. About June or July, demand completely completely turned off. The heavy products we ordered during the scare in November started hitting our stores in June, July, August. At first we were so happy to finally get some products in to our bare warehouse but soon happiness turned into a nightmare when the products started flooding in by the truckload. As purchase orders to manufacturers started getting canceled by dealers across the country, manufacturers were double, triple shipping to dealers that would take the orders. We honored nearly all our open POs but even we had to ultimately cancel a few. Manufacturers bought new equipment, hired new staff to run the new equipment, etc and when demand fell, it crippled our industry. There are countless stories of layoffs by industry leaders.

What you may not have heard were stories about the dealers. Dealers across the country work on a NET 30 payment plan which means you have 30 days to pay for your products. Manufacturers entise dealers to take the product and pay them back in 30 days. When the demand is high, dealers can take $10,000 in product, sell it for $12,000 in a few days pocketing $2000 without ever spending their own money. This sounds awesome but only is helpful if demand is high and you use your credit wisely. As businesses grow, so does inventory and monthly payables. Soon payables stack up on products sold 2 months ago. Also imagine what happens, when the monthly sales stop instantly. Many dealers couldn’t pay on their NET 30 payments. Unlike consumer debt where the bank raises your interest rate to 24% (which can hurt), in our industry, you get cut off (which means death). If you don’t have product to sell, how can you pay your payables? You see the ruthless cycle that can creep up on you if you don’t manage your finances properly. You might be asking yourself, what about all of the profits made during the boom? You’d be surprised. With all the inventory, high taxes, tiny margins, there are a lot less profits than the media make it out to be. If you’ve been in the industry for many years, you have seen some small and even larger players go out of business even in this booming market.

Fotunately for Rainier Arms, we have always been a cash business. We only purchase product if we have cash in the bank to cover it. So when demand fell overnight, we didn’t have any payables that drowned so many small businesses. Much like personal finances, if you have zero debt and money in the bank, you can lose your job (income) for several months to several years and you can still survive. After 2009, many gun dealers shut their doors forever.

So what does this mean in 2013? Rainier Arms is the Master dealer of the Year for Daniel Defense and Distributor of the year for Noveske and many others. These relationships will allow us to receive product on a more consistent basis compared to our competition. We have zero debt so we are in a position to look at alternative ways from production to finding other sources for product. We will look at new emerging companies and new ways to bring you products and services you’ve grown to expect from us. Even when the demand crashes, whether by law or the fear dies down, we’ll be here to serve you.

John Hwang, CEO

[KBScobravert]

Del-Ton

....only speaks to their delays.

Due to the outstanding number of orders we have received, we are currently experiencing delays of approximately 3-4 weeks. We are doing everything possible to increase the speed of processing and will be shipping your order as quickly as possible.

If you’d like to check on the status of your order, you can check online by using your account at www.del-ton.com. Alternatively, contact us directly by email sales@del-ton.com or by phone at 910-645-2172 and we can check the status or answer any other questions you may have.

Your satisfaction is our number one concern. We thank you for your patience and understanding while we work through the orders, and we look forward to your continued business.

[cobrajet69]

Some good reads there.
Thanks for sharing Keith!

... and way to go SKD!!!



David

[LANTIRN]

I will have to remember to put SKD near the front of my list of places to shop first when this dies down amd prices aren't batshit insane.

[helosailor]

I've bought a number of things from SKD. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

[KBScobravert]

I've bought a number of things from SKD. I have nothing but good things to say about them.

So have I that is what put me on their page. I bought my body armor from them a long time ago.

[pr1042]

..

GT DISTRIBUTORS

GT Distributors will stand firm and honor current pricing on all our products.

There will be no price increases or gouging due to the current increased activity in the public safety market. Any price increases are solely due to increases from manufacturers. Our customers are the most important asset to our success and we appreciate the business today and in the future.

Over the past couple of days we have experienced increased activity in our Retail Stores, Online, and Inbound phone calls. Please be aware GT Distributors is currently in a backorder situation for all AR & AK rifles. We are also backordered for most magazine manufacturers and Glock magazines are running very low. At this time we are still in a good position for ammunition, however, there will be a shortage of .223 ammunition by January 2013. Inventory on all Glock Law Enforcement and Commercial models are also still in a good supply.

Regardless of GT Distributors' backorder situation we will be receiving product for firearms and ammunition that have been placed prior to November 2012. Please be conscious that although GT Distributors has standing orders with manufacturers, ETA's have been extended and cannot confirm firm delivery dates. Firearm and Ammunition manufacturers have increased their production volume to meet demand and GT Distributors is actively engaging all of our resources to obtain needed firearms and ammunition. At this time ETA's for standing purchase orders are still to be determined.

We appreciate your cooperation during this time and thank all our customers who have understood of our situation. We apologize for the long waiting periods and are doing the best we can to assist each customer.

Sincerely,
The Orr family and the Management Team of GT Distributors