[John_Wayne777]

Someone on another site mentioned that distributors are telling him that Ruger now requires distributors to order "packages" of firearms to get LCP's. In other words, for the distributor to get 4 LCP's they must purchase 11 other non-LCP Ruger firearms.

Anyone here heard anything about that?

You'd figure most distributors already stock plenty of Ruger guns, but if that's carried over to FFL's it could hurt availability.

 

[ToddG]

I haven't heard this (the last LCP I bought came straight from Ruger). But it's not uncommon in the industry. It helps push slow-moving product out the door by leveraging the popularity of something like the LCP.

What will happen is that individual FFLs will have to buy from distributors, and the prices will go up a bit.

It's also possible that it's more of a discount/price package, so if the buyer wants a certain price point for the LCP it comes as part of the larger 15-gun package. Also very common.

 

[John_Wayne777]

I haven't heard this (the last LCP I bought came straight from Ruger). But it's not uncommon in the industry. It helps push slow-moving product out the door by leveraging the popularity of something like the LCP.

In theory, perhaps...but absent some pretty attractive pricing on that stuff that isn't moving does it actually result in significantly more sales?

I think it's more likely to backfire on Ruger than help them. They may get a bump in the short term, but long term it will probably won't help them much.

It's also possible that it's more of a discount/price package, so if the buyer wants a certain price point for the LCP it comes as part of the larger 15-gun package. Also very common.

That would be a more understandable decision. Giving priority to Ruger stocking dealers or special pricing to Ruger stocking dealers is something I'd expect. Trying to make somebody buy 3 grand worth of guns that they can't sell to get an LCP, on the other hand....

 

[ToddG]

JW, actually, it tends to work really well.

When I was at Beretta, the commercial sales people did something like that with the "Elite Series" guns. They came in packages of four. If you wanted the popular one (the actual "Elite") you had to buy one of each, which meant one Elite, one Custom Carry, one Tactical, and one something-else-I-don't-remember. Distributors bought the package, sold the Elites at a high margin, sold the others at a low margin, and made their money. Beretta sold 16,000 guns instead of 4,000.

SIG did the same thing last year at SHOT ('07). Want a 556? It was the hot new thing at the show. Well, all you have to do is buy this multi-pistol package (I want to say it was 12 guns) and you get the honor of being allowed to purchase a 556. Need two 556's? Buy 24 pistols. And again, you saw the result: early 556 prices were outrageous, but simultaneously there were a lot of great deals on SIG pistols.

 

[HowardCohodas]

In every position I have held where I was sufficiently close to the sales channels to make an observation, packaging popular and/or scarce product with other product was the rule. Distributors always complain, but always go along with it, because it works out for them. They just have to work a little harder to make their margins by either discounting the less popular items or reselling them to other distributors.

 

[jocko]

I haven't heard this (the last LCP I bought came straight from Ruger). But it's not uncommon in the industry. It helps push slow-moving product out the door by leveraging the popularity of something like the LCP.

What will happen is that individual FFLs will have to buy from distributors, and the prices will go up a bit.

It's also possible that it's more of a discount/price package, so if the buyer wants a certain price point for the LCP it comes as part of the larger 15-gun package. Also very common.

Mind me asking how you bought an lcp direct from Ruger. LEO maybe??? Surely would have had to go through a bonefide FFL dealer????

 

[HowardCohodas]

Mind me asking how you bought an lcp direct from Ruger. LEO maybe??? Surely would have had to go through a bonefide FFL dealer????

Todd is very well connected. ;D

 

[jocko]

Mind me asking how you bought an lcp direct from Ruger. LEO maybe??? Surely would have had to go through a bonefide FFL dealer????

Todd is very well connected. ;D

sorry I missed that part...

 

[ToddG]

No, it's my bad. The gun was transferred through an FFL. In fact, it was bought as a gift for a friend who is graduating from a major federal LE academy this week.

As for the purchase, it was just one of those "industry professional courtesy" kinds of things.

 

[brookie0907]

Evidently, this new sales policy is for real. Several of my local shops have said that they will not be receiving anymore LCPS due to Ruger's package policy. One dealer said he would have to purchase about $8000 worth of other Ruger products to get 3 LCP's. I was next on their LCP list. I am in Western NC. Does anyone know where LCP's are still trickling in? Thx

 

[fabricator]

I would venture a guess that this policy may loosen up somewhat when they find out they their gold mine turned into a lead mine, they will eventually have a dealer revolt.

 

[HowardCohodas]

I would venture a guess that this policy may loosen up somewhat when they find out they their gold mine turned into a lead mine, they will eventually have a dealer revolt.

Unless this policy is enforced on sales already made, then there is still an incredible backlog to work off without these restrictions. If I was a distributor, I would not like the policy, but if I was a manufacturer I'd see it as a good way to manage new order flow, enhance my other product lines and improve my profitably. All of which will benefit us end users in the long run.

 

[TheBroker]

Evidently, this new sales policy is for real. Several of my local shops have said that they will not be receiving anymore LCPS due to Ruger's package policy. One dealer said he would have to purchase about $8000 worth of other Ruger products to get 3 LCP's. I was next on their LCP list. I am in Western NC. Does anyone know where LCP's are still trickling in? Thx

Brookie, I shot last weekend at the range in Asheville, and the guys there said the same thing...that to them, it wasn't worth having to buy the slower-moving Ruger products just to get the LCPs. I grew up in Canton, although I'm currently in Middlesboro, KY...about two hours away. Actually, I was there at the range in Asheville a few months ago, and they got an "extra" LCP that wasn't committed to anybody. I was there when UPS delivered it, and wanted it so bad I couldn't stand it...but of course, being a KY resident, it wasn't practical for me to buy it. So, I remained on the list somewhere else.

I got lucky, actually. We just got a brand new gun shop in my town this month, a second location for a shop in the next town over. I went in for the first time last Monday, and inquired about an LCP. They said they'd put me on the list...and yesterday afternoon they called to tell me I was up. Going to pick her up in about a half hour, and can't wait!

 

[BigBen66]

Hey guys, I was at a Gun Show this weekend and was told the same thing by 3 different dealers that Ruger's new sales policy was package deals, to get 3 LCP's you had to purchase 7 other models. There was 3 LCP's in the building when the show opened @ 9:00 by 9:30 all 3 were gone. So they may be going to get harder to find.

 

[brookie0907]

I really wanted to get one to give to my wife when she CC later this year, but I will have to wait to things change with availability. I am going to another gun show next month, so maybe I will be in the right place at the right time and get one for about 350-400. If I were to buy on-line, I will end up paying about the same. Until then, we will just shoot our XD 9's.

 

[Slappy]

Hey guys, I was at a Gun Show this weekend and was told the same thing by 3 different dealers that Ruger's new sales policy was package deals, to get 3 LCP's you had to purchase 7 other models. There was 3 LCP's in the building when the show opened @ 9:00 by 9:30 all 3 were gone. So they may be going to get harder to find.

I wonder if this is the reason why the gun store that I am ordering my LCP from said they "haven't gotten any in lately". :

 

[Plattinum]

I emailed Ruger asking them about this packaging policy. Following is their response:
We do not require anyone to purchase package deals to receive LCPs. There is a promotion that if a certain package of an assortment of firearms are purchased, the purchaser would receive a free LCP. This promotion in no way will cut into the shipments of the LCP and no one is required to participate.

 

[huzzah]

My understanding is that the bigger the dealer the more they recieve. I had my name in a three dealers, one told me the list was short, another list was over 30 names and the third was getting about three a week. The one with 30 was the first to call, second was the 3 a week dealer. The other one had only gotten one LCP in 2 months

 

[HowardCohodas]

I emailed Ruger asking them about this packaging policy.  Following is their response:
We do not require anyone to purchase package deals to receive LCPs. There is a promotion that if a certain package of an assortment of firearms are purchased, the purchaser would receive a free LCP. This promotion in no way will cut into the shipments of the LCP and no one is required to participate.

Thank you for your enterprise in cutting through all the speculation to get an answer from the source. Great work.

 

[brookie0907]

Thanks for the info, but from the response I received from the local gun shops....I believe they understand it differently and claim that they will not be receiving any LCPs in the near future.