It looks like CTD is steadily running down the crisis management checklist, trying to reestablish some level of credibility after the furious backlash they no doubt felt due to their decision to stop selling guns after Newtown. The latest tactic they’re trying to get back in the gun-buying public’s good graces: no modern rifles sales to LEOs where the citizens are prohibited from owning those same firearms! CTD claims that it’s always taken that stance, but they’re trying extra super double hard to make sure that The People of the Gun know it now that LaRue and Olympic Arms started the current LEO boycott movement. We asked yesterday whether we should forgive them, based on their apparent change of heart. From a quick scan of the responses, the answer is a resounding no. I tend to agree, even though their insanely fast shipping time to San Antonio is quite appealing.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

64 COMMENTS

  1. “… they’re trying extra super double hard…”

    They are still on double secret probation in my eyes

    • I don’t know…$100k to SAF and now this. They messed up when they stopped selling guns for no good reason and now they’re getting on the right track again. That counts for something.

      • They’d win my business back quicker with a ‘We F’d up and we’re sorry’ press release including specifically why responding to the MSM was wrong. I’d also like an explanation off why they think dirt should be so expensive.

        • This…. Unless they actually issue an apology for their flip-flopping and poor customer service, I will find all of their other actions as cheap ploys to buy back my business.

        • Well stated. It is all shameless and cold without an apology. There is a difference between kissing ass and sucking ass.

    • Maybe they should reconsider. LEO might be the only market they have left. As long as the disarmament fight is on, most of us will be sharply aware of all the rights and wrongs that have been done and the order they were done in. If CTD had given 100k to the SAF in December, instead of caving in to the liberals, then they’d have earned some respect. Anything they do now is simply a cry for help while their former customers watch them swirling down the bowl.

      • “LEO might be the only market they have left.”

        Don’t fool yourself. There are still lots of people that will shop there. Four categories of them off the top of my head: those that don’t know, those that know and don’t care, those who are pragmatic and say they will buy if CTD has something they need that no one else has, and finally, those who loudly trumpet their personal boycott while actually being pragmatic like the people in group three.

    • I don’t even mind the soul searching after Sandy Hook, most of us had some soul searching to do after that event, what I do mind is the price gouging, 60 bucks for BX25? 100 bucks for a pmag? That’s criminal and immoral business in my opinion, that’s why I’ll never shop there again.

  5. I need to see these guys maintain this round of posturing for no less than 12 months before I can consider them worth my hard earned dollars.

    That being said, Keep it up CTD folks!

  6. All the law enforcement agencies that support civilian disarmament need to be boycotted entirely, not just rifles but ammo, pistols and accessories. The Police forces and sheriffs that oppose AWBs and mag limits should be fully supported though, lets not punish them for the actions of people they don’t agree with.

  7. You also have to wonder:

    a) If this includes existing contracts (if they have any)
    b) and how many “agencies” would actually shop at Cheaper than Dirt
    c) The possibility is that they won’t realize much/any impact on their bottom line because LEGALLY, they’re not allowed to see to civilians in those states ANYWAY, and a cop not getting a weapon through his agency is going to have to purchase as a civilian.

    In the end, this is just showmanship and a half-ass attempt to win back the customers they stabbed in the back. It doesn’t past even the least stringent of smell tests. Nice try CTD, but that dog just don’t hunt.

  9. between this and donating 100K to SAF, it is a start…i like what @In Memphis said:
    “They are still on double secret probation”

  10. “…even though their insanely fast shipping time to San Antonio is quite appealing.”

    According to Google Maps, I can get anything you want from Orlando to San Antonio in a bit over 16.5 hours. It’d only cost me (and therefore you) about $175 in gas. I bet I’m faster than Cheaper Than Dirt. Factor in their stupid “handling” charges, and it sounds like I’m cheaper, too.

  11. I won’t ever forgive them. They screwed me on my last ammo order (sent me half but charged me full price), and after trying to contact them 6 times (via email and phone) I had my bank reverse the charges. I personally hope they go under.

  13. In this fight we definitely have friends (MidwayUSA, Barrett, la rue) who you can count on and Allies (CTD) who are on our side for now but should be watched. We should support friends (always) and Allies (as long as they are useful).

    • Good point.

      If you have a problem with shipping charges etc. then don’t use CTD because you don’t think they’re a good business.

      But insofar as gun control is the question: In these times can we afford to be so prickly about who are friends will be? The wayward son strayed and has returned. Should we throw him out and deprive ourselves of an ally? Maybe we’d do better to be forgiving among ourselves so as to keep a united front.

      Don’t let anger make you lash out indiscriminately.

      Thus sayeth the Voice of Reason.

  15. I forgave S&W for their transgressions, but that was after a change in ownership.

    I need to see more sackcloth and ashes.

  16. The Nazgul is encouraged by this news. However, it appears from many of the comments that their business practices and customer service is still suspect.

  17. If we want people to repent and change their ways, we need to accept their repentance and change of ways. I always buy local if I at all possibly can, but I can see CTD getting some of my money in the future.

    • we need to accept their repentance and change of ways.

      So if your spouse was playing hanky-panky with your archenemy and apologized, you’d forgive and forget? Really?

      Repentence is just a word.

    • Infidelity is a poor comparison because my relationship with my wife has a spiritual dimension that would not play in a secular decision. That said, I do believe in forgiving people – even businesses.

      If one does not believe the contrition is legit, that’s another matter. I would not feel less of someone who chose to never to bidness with CTD again.

  18. We punish people who make a poor decision, but we ought to reward people who realize it and change course in response to us. To continue to punish a company once they make a mea culpa sends the wrong message and eventually hurts gun owners. If they have responded to their mistake and are on the right course, then they get my business again, to remind them that they will get it when they make the right decisions.

    • I think Mike has a good point here. If we shun a business forever no matter what they will ever do in the future, what is their incentive to please us … especially given that they may not know how to please us in the first place?

  19. Not enough. Not enough by a longshot. Caving to the gun grabbers AND taking advantage of tragedy to inflate prices: FOAD. Hope to see CTD filing for chapter 11 really soon

  20. “Well, La-dee Freakin’ Da!”

    They had no previous LEO sales since it was only recently they started to sell them.

    Who are they trying to fool. It is a promiss with no merit because there are no sales to loose. Go FOAD CTD!

    • If I may add my 2 cents…CTD is not even in the same ballpark as MidwayUSA… Larry’s a true patriot and his company policies are proof positive of that … But I like what you’re trying to do here. 🙂

    • I hate the $100 price tag as well. Nevertheless, they have them in stock and someone who really, really, really wants to purchase one can … like someone who just now purchased their first AR 15 rifle that only came with one magazine. Keep in mind that I cannot find anyone else who has any in stock anywhere in the entire U.S. — whether at local gunshops or online.

      Their inflated price stops the rest of us that already have 5, 10, or 20 magazines from hoarding more and keeps a few available for newbies that don’t have any.

  26. Cheaper Than Dirt is a profiteer, gouging on prices for many products. Their shipping and handling fees are also a gouge. I don’t understand why ANYONE would buy ANYTHING from them when great outfitters like Midway are out there, holding the line! Friends don’t let friends shop at CTD…

  27. Don’t trust them no matter what they do. This company will toss you under the bus as soon as they perceive any advantage to themselves.

  28. I’ll pay more for a product and even wait on a backorder before I give CTD anymore of my business. MidwayUSA ships to the same mailbox and they don’t back down from anti-gun special interest or price gauge their customers.

  29. Sorry Charlie, dirtier than dirt doesn’t get a dime from me. I have memory like an elephant, I won’t forget them anytime soon, Randy

    • Politicians should note that we are taking names and making lists. We will not forget whom stood by us. Those that did will get our support and votes.

  30. I used to only buy from CTD when the price was the lowest. I think now I’d be willing to pay a little extra to compensate for the loss of sales to dramatic grudge holders such as those on this forum. Well maybe not, but it’s tempting.
    Sorry for the offensive tone, but I don’t feel that not offending people is a sufficient excuse for not making a point.

  31. CTD has jumped the shark and there’s no jumping back. Thanks for the gestures, but they helped give the anti’s momentum when they needed it. They didn’t do the same for us. Ralph’s analogy is spot on. I’ve never been unfaithful once my position is take, I’ve never tolerated infidelity, not going to start now. They chose popular opinion and capitalizing on panic buying over us. What’s the big deal of not selling what you don’t have? PDs wouldn’t pay their prices anyway.

  32. Unless a few higher ups have been fired or resigned, this still
    seems more to do with rebuilding their business, than
    following any set of principals (beyond capitalism anyway).

  33. Put yourselves in CTD’s shoes for a moment. They have a huge overhead, with many warehouses and employees. they don’t make the stuff, they just resell it. All of a sudden there is no inventory. No inventory means no sales, no salaries and no mortgage payments. Have you ever been there? So, they raise prices to keep their people and infrastructure in place. What is so hard to understand about that? IF YOU BELIEVE IN A FREE MARKET THEN THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK!

    Their statement that they won’t sell to government in any of the states and municipalities that cater to anti 2A laws is most welcome by me.

    Let’s not get split on the small crap like prices. We are all together on this, or we are not.

  34. I’m not willing to give them a pass. They screwed up majorly. You are either with the 2nd amendment or not. Not just when it’s politically convenient.

  35. Please realize that there are corporate stores and franchise in the CTD group. Franchise stores do have some leeway to operate but can not make corperate decisions. The store in Ft Worth Texas is a franchise for example. The one in McKinney Texas is coporate.

    That said, the corporate store was the only place that I have been able to find 9MM anywhere in the DFW area period, and at a normal price with no limit restrictions.

    I will not cut off my own nose just to spite my face. If they have it and I need it, they will get my business.

  36. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. After I see another decade or so of diamond level sponsorship for the SAF, we can talk forgiveness.

  38. Way to go CTD! According to the print above CTD claims that it has always been their policy not to sell civilian prohibited items to government. That is encouraging and would be a high-risk gamble (and easy to disprove) to make such a statement if not true.

  40. I have an MBA and help run a business and all I can say is CTD has behaved very unethical. I will never do business with them because of their actions. Also, that $100k that was donated to SAF is just windfall from the markup lately and if they were willing to give up that much, just imagine how much they actually made from screwing people.

  41. I forgave Ruger, because when the buried Bill, they buried his philosophy.

    I have NOT forgiven S&W, because I am reminded of their foolishness every time I see one of their revolvers with an internal lock. Loose the lock.

    And All I have to do is look at CTD’s priced to know they are just pandering.

    Soon enough, we will have to punish all gun, accessory, and knife makers from anti-gun states who choose to stay there. Yes, Knives. Because those will be next.This will be a BAD thing. But that is what war is.

  43. Two thumbs down for CTD once again:

    Browning Semi-auto Grade One Rimfire Rifle .22LR (SA-22) $699 MSRP
    CTD’s price for the gun is $843 retail

    I going to email this information to a few friends.

  44. They charge almost 10X’s retail for mags, then charge to ship, and charge again to “handle”…I could care less to whom they choose to sell. It won’t be to me.

    I don’t know why anyone would purchase from them, especially when you have reputable retailers like Midway, and Brownell’s. Sure it took almost a month, but my 10 new gen 3 pmags got here just fine, and below 15$ each, and no shipping charge.

  46. Colt 6920 for $3595.00 Nope not forgiven, will never shop there again. They are talking out of the side of their mouths while ripping off the very people who put them on the map. CTD is dead to me and money.

Comments are closed.