Cheaper Than Dirt - Not honoring current catalog Ammo Prices

[rickrixter]

Just a note to any forum users who receive the CTD sales catalog. Don't waste your time with a phone call, as I did. Called them this A.M. to order some Lake City .223 ammo they had listed for $7.99 per box. Catalog said "One Month Only - Price Reduction!" The operator I spoke with said the price is $10.97 now.

According to the operator, this ammo was in stock prior to the AD and is still in stock for purchase. Sounds to me like CTD is taking advantage of the current "News" about ammo prices going up. They have the same ammo in inventory as when the catalog was mailed offering the $7.99 price but now they think the "market" will bare a higher price. They must think they are in the Oil business. Won't be doing anymore business with dealer that tries to take advantage of their customers.

Any one else had this experience?

[Dougmyers5]

If they have a current advertised price in a current catalog they must honor it unless in print it says prices subject to change without notice.

You can turn them in to the BBB for false advertising.

[rickrixter]

Yeah, went back and looked at the catalog a little closer. In smaller print says "Ammo Prices Change Daily". Ok, if this is the case, why print prices at all? Just say call for current pricing.

The thing that gets me is, according to what the operator told me, the current inventory has been in stock. They have not yet paid anymore for the ammo than when they chose to print the catalog. When they re-order, then raise prices. I wonder if anyone purchased at the printed price. Anyway, there are several sources for the same ammo that I have dealt with that honor advertised/listed prices. Just thought I would "buy local" this time.

[nitrogen]

I'm guessing they want to price ammo much like fuel is priced; price by replacement value, not by price paid.

I just got a bunch of Serbian Monarch at Academy for a little over $7 for 20, so you might want to go raid them before they raise their prices, too.

(The serbian stuff is much better than the cruddy russian stuff btw)

I've had it with CTD, in my book, this is similar to bait and switch, even if it doesn't met the legal requirements of it.

[shipwreck]

If they have a current advertised price in a current catalog they must honor it unless in print it says prices subject to change without notice.

You can turn them in to the BBB for false advertising.

Actually, they are allowed to claim a "printing error" and not be penalized. But they probably should make an effort for a printed retraction - like U see in the paper a lot.

[htxred]

that sucks.

[308nato]

CDT is not cheap on there ammo, the only ammo I buy from them
is S&B 12ga 00buck.
there M1a/M14 20 rd parkerized mags are very good also for 11.97
havent had any problems with them.

[badkarma56]

That truly bites, dude. Honestly, I've never known Cheaper than Dirt to have any deals on ammo anyhow...even before this ammo "price hike" mess, their ammo prices seemed out of whack to me.

Plus, you're better off buying from an out-of-state vendor anyway to avoid paying TX sales tax on the order...that savings equates to more rounds in the old mag, know what I mean?

[age_ranger]

I thought it pretty funny that they have to sell the catalog stuff out of the back office at CheaperThanDirt in Fort Worth. Otherwise, the ammo on the shelves is marked up pretty quickly and is typically higher. I avoid buying form them but will cruise the consignment cases now and then if I'm out that way.

[Jason73]

Their online/catalog prices are always different than the prices of the ammo on the shelves at the store in Ft Worth. I asked about this one day, the nice lady behind the counter said she has no control over pricing and apologized for the price difference.

If you are at the CTD store in Fort Worth, jump back on 820, head east towards Holiday Ln, and visit Academy. Their prices are ALWAYS cheaper than CTD, and they usually have it in stock (ever tried to buy ammo at CTD on a Saturday around 10 am? the shelves are nearly empty!)

The Walmart on the corner of N. Beach and N. Tarrant Pkwy has much better ammo prices as well.

I would really like to know where CTD gets its dirt from, its waaaaaaay overpriced!

Happy Shooting!

[Rex B]

CTD has always tried to convince custoemrs that the catalog CTD is a whole different company. They just happen to reside in the same building ;)
Anyway, I can live with that. I never found either side to have great ammo deals. I found a guy who loves to reload, and does a great job for far less than any factory ammo. And no sales tax or shipping.

Best thing at CTD are their weekly gun sale items. I have to avoid that store when money gets tight ;)
And their prices for AR accessories are as cheap as anyones, at both the retail and the catalog. Beyond that they don't have any special advantage over anyone else. They are too big to think of them as "my neighborhood gun store" and their counter help varies from Excellent! to "Bubba Know-It-All""

[NAK]

I kinda view CTD's catalog like the old Sears catalog years back...great for looking at the pictures while taking care of the paperwork.

I feel compelled to go by the store every now and then, but very seldom buy anything, especially ammo. Cabalas is over priced and CTD usually makes Cabalas look cheap. Do have to give them credit for having an occasional good value on firearms, but you really have to watch them.

[Rex B]

Always check the prices, but some of the deals I[ve gotten can't be beat. They were selling real nice SKSs for $1q49.95 ($99.95 on sale) until just recently they finally ran out.
They advertised Charles Daly HiPower pistols for $299 a few months ago. Missed it then, but last week they ran them for $319 and I bought one. The week before they had Taurus PT1911s for $499. And they have had XD45s and S&W pistols for $299-$319. I've also bought a police trade-in S&W M10 for $179.95.
Sale ad comes out Thursday in the Star-Telegram. I usually stop by there on the way home, but haven't ha a chance this week yet.

[Jason73]

their counter help varies from Excellent! to "Bubba Know-It-All""

LOL I bet I know exactly whom you are referring to with the latter

[HankB]

I'm guessing they want to price ammo much like fuel is priced; price by replacement value, not by price paid.

I've heard businesses use that line of bull too . . . they're not bashful about raising prices on current inventory when a price increase is looming, but the thing is, if supplier prices are going down, they never reduce the price of their current inventory to replacement cost.

I've had it with CTD, in my book, this is similar to bait and switch, even if it doesn't met the legal requirements of it.

I've had problems with CTD not honoring their promotional giveaways - and laughing at me when I call to complain.

Ethically deficient operations like CTD do not get any repeat business from me.