Dear Brownell's,
I'm post this in hopes that someone will give an honest answer to the increase and lack of shipping options now found at Brownell's.
Case in point-I wanted to order some Taran Tactical extended baseplates for my M&P 9. I get the dealer discount. When I go to check out, you guys want $15.99 shipping for baseplates and springs, parts that are not large or heavy.
So, I decided to call Brownell's to ask a CS person why the $15.99 shipping for parts that are not heavy or bulky.
He was polite and professional. You guys do have some of the nicest CS people in the business.
He looked it up and said that is said something to the effect, "Special Packaging" on his screen, in relation to the item. Then he said that he did not understand why it would be that much, since the parts were not that large or heavy. He also said that it should have lightweight shipping, not $15.99.
I told him that I could buy that part from another vendor for the same price and for $5.50 shipping.
He did lower the shipping to match, although it is coming UPS ground, when for the same price, it could easily placed in a flat rate USPS Priority mail box.
Many online vendors have low cost, flat rate shipping. SKD Tactical has $5 flat rate shipping.
While other vendors have strived to keep shipping costs low, your shipping has gone up.
I know that you have to pay people to fill the orders and box them up for shipping, so does everyone else.
What I'm trying to figure out, is while others, smaller than Brownell's can offer flat rate shipping, why does Brownell's charge nearly 3 times more?
You guys used to have awesome shipping options, with some being as low as $3.95 for small parts. I was needing some springs and small parts for an AR build. I put them in my cart and you guys wanted $10.99 to ship them.
I bought them from Citizens Armory and paid $2.95 shipping.
I have been buying from you guys for the better part of 20 years. I even stuck with you when you bought out Sinclair International and started charging me Indiana sales tax, but this ridiculous shipping charges has made me expand my search for other vendors when buying parts.