I've ordered from Bud's a few times with no problems, but actually ran into the same issue with my latest purchase. The price at Bud's jumped ~$50 in a few hours, between checking the price and returning to make the purchase. I ended up getting it from GrabAGun instead, for the same as Bud's original price.

(Are you teaching at Black River? I teach part time at NW ALETA - Juvenile Law, Firearms, MILO, Domestics.)

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I've ordered from Bud's a few times with no problems, but actually ran into the same issue with my latest purchase. The price at Bud's jumped ~$50 in a few hours, between checking the price and returning to make the purchase. I ended up getting it from GrabAGun instead, for the same as Bud's original price.

(Are you teaching at Black River? I teach part time at NW ALETA - Juvenile Law, Firearms, MILO, Domestics.)

Yes, sir. I sure am at Black River full-time. Been here 11 years (Before that, Jonesboro PD 1996-2007; Walnut Ridge PD 1989-2007).

I attended DRE school at NW ALETA back in 07. I love NW Arkansas. I have a USMS buddy in Fayetteville right now who used to teach with us at Black River. He loves it up there and doesn't want to move back.

I enjoy it here at Black River. I do active shooter training, Constitutional law, DT, Off-duty threats, etc. Good gig.

Fate finally smiled on me today.

I received a reply email from Proven Outfitters. The M9A3 Black is in stock, it is ITALIAN, and it ships TODAY.

The total is $863, which makes it less with shipping than the Bud's LE price with free shipping after they raised it on me.

I've gotta learn some patience and read the fine print!

Does anyone who has noticed the Bud's price increases shop using some sort of "privacy" page on their browser?


I notice when shopping airline tickets, lodging, etc. the price will increase as I check it but not if I check the price anonymously.

No, no, no. Let me tell you about a real idiot: Me.

I signed up for one of those credit card offers back in the day when they offered 0% interest for 12 months. I get the card and they had changed the number of months the card had 0% interest.

Well there was no way I was going to tolerate that. I called the credit card company and raised hell, told them I had saved the promotional info and would complain to state and federal agencies, etc.

When I’d finally run out of breath, the rep says “Most customers were happy to learn we’d extended the 0% promotion to 18 months, but if you insist on 12 months, that’s fine too.”

What? Uhh, never mind.

quote:

Originally posted by rsbolo:
Does anyone who has noticed the Bud's price increases shop using some sort of "privacy" page on their browser?


I notice when shopping airline tickets, lodging, etc. the price will increase as I check it but not if I check the price anonymously.

I sure don't know, rsbolo. I was on my private LE account when I carted the Beretta, so maybe?
My initial theory was that when Bud's gets down to 1-2 of the model, they up the price in a sort of "last minute price gouge."

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
No, no, no. Let me tell you about a real idiot: Me.

I signed up for one of those credit card offers back in the day when they offered 0% interest for 12 months. I get the card and they had changed the number of months the card had 0% interest.

Well there was no way I was going to tolerate that. I called the credit card company and raised hell, told them I had saved the promotional info and would complain to state and federal agencies, etc.

When I’d finally run out of breath, the rep says “Most customers were happy to learn we’d extended the 0% promotion to 18 months, but if you insist on 12 months, that’s fine too.”

What? Uhh, never mind.

HA! That's a great story!

quote:

Originally posted by hvyhawler:
Nope, you are not. We all have done similar things in the past and will in the future... I am like you, not rich and when I decide to buy things I second guess myself. ..

Exactly, we..speaking for myself have done those things and far worse...heck I married my first wife...top that.

I might be mistaken but I am pretty sure all black M9A3's are made in Italy right now but I am glad to hear the outfitter confirmed that his is Italian and shipping for you.

When it comes to Bud's I have noticed the price will change as their stock goes down. Their site doesn’t show it anymore but before they changed their layout a few months ago you used to see "Less than X at this price" or "X+ at this price" located above the two listed prices (credit card price and check price).

I think that may be what happened here because Bud's doesn’t have any QP black M9A3's in stock at the moment.

Not that it matters since you’re getting what you want elsewhere and at a price you are happy with.

Buds prices fluctuate. I have bought a good number of firearms from them and if you see the price you like, buy.

I was about to score a SCAR 16 for $2071 and a 17 for $2545 (both new), but those deals didn't last long.

They have been pretty much seamless transactions, straight purchases and layaways.

quote:

Originally posted by jbourneidentity:

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
If you have the documentation to show the original price and the increase, Bud's Norton price guarantee may refund the difference. That happened to be last year at Bud's and I got the money back.

I do! I actually have it in an email to me. I'm thinking that if the Proven Outfitters M9A3 is a Gallatin, TN build, I might cancel the order and do this very thing with Bud's, but I'm aggravated at Bud's for the inexplicable price increase. I'm betting it's because they're getting low on the M9A3s, but that's just a theory.

I don't mean to be so picky, but I've saved for 2 months and want to get the Italian M9A3 and just be happy. Thanks for this idea.

We've all made mistakes just like yours.

BUT, do whatever it takes to get exactly the pistol you want.

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:
It happens.

We bought a new work truck and I sent it to the body company to install a lift gate. I go to pick it up and notice that the weight sticker on the gate isn't the capacity I ordered.

Yes it was.

Ordered the wrong gate and it was already welded onto the truck.

I hate it when that happens.

FWIW, when I was in the Air Force, I (thought) I ordered 20 feet of pneumatic hosing for an engine test set.
Supply troop calls me to say my "crate of hosing" came in. What??
Turns out I got 20 each of 20' length of hose. My boss was not happy...

quote:

Originally posted by tgtshuter:

I hate it when that happens.

FWIW, when I was in the Air Force, I (thought) I ordered 20 feet of pneumatic hosing for an engine test set.
Supply troop calls me to say my "crate of hosing" came in. What??
Turns out I got 20 each of 20' length of hose. My boss was not happy...

Always check "unit of issue."

And no, I've never made that error.

quote:

Buds prices fluctuate. I have bought a good number of firearms from them and if you see the price you like, buy.

I was about to score a SCAR 16 for $2071 and a 17 for $2545 (both new), but those deals didn't last long.

Yep. This is true. They must use some sort of sophisticated computer programming. I have also played around with their best offer prices. It is somewhat entertaining if you are bored. I have managed some pretty good deals with that feature after carefully checking prices with other online dealers.

seems likes a giant pain in the ass way to order stuff online. Do you not use your own cards online? I have found that most credit cards are pretty damn good about fraud protection these days if that’s what worries you.

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:
seems likes a giant pain in the ass way to order stuff online. Do you not use your own cards online? I have found that most credit cards are pretty damn good about fraud protection these days if that’s what worries you.

No, sir. It's not the fraud that scares me. Credit limits scare me. I've sworn off credit cards after "we" topped the $15K mark recently. So...

The interest bearing cards are gone and I just refill the Wal-Mart card. No cash; no expenditures. It holds "us" accountable.

Next time I buy from Bud's, I'll just send a stupid money order!!!

quote:

Originally posted by rsbolo:
Does anyone who has noticed the Bud's price increases shop using some sort of "privacy" page on their browser?


I notice when shopping airline tickets, lodging, etc. the price will increase as I check it but not if I check the price anonymously.

I’ve seen this before. I go to one site to check price. I go to another site and see they have a higher price for the same item. I go back to the first site and see the price change to match the second higher price. I clear history and cookies and i’m able to get the lower price at the first site. This has happened on more than one occasion.

Not to deviate too much from my original thread premise, but here's the incredible Beretta M9A3 that caused me so much heartburn with my purchase experience.

I'm a very blessed man to own a handgun of this quality, and as you can see, it's made in Italy. The D spring makes the trigger like butter and besides an STI Trojan 1911 9mm, this is the lightest-recoiling 9mm handgun I've ever shot. It just wreaks of quality.

Side-note: I, too, thought all M9A3s were made in Italy, but on the Bud's Qualified Professional website, some of the late 2017 FDE M9A3s in the reviews were made in Gallatin, TN. Apparently, the quality was not what Beretta wanted, and now the M9A3 is being made exclusively in Italy. I think that once Gallatin has their manufacturing and QC up to speed, you'll see M9A3's made there again.

Please forgive the crappy iPhone pics. I'm no photographer, I confess. I hope you like the M9A3! I know I do. I'm liking the 92 series so much that I just put a lightly used and mint Italian 92FS in layaway at my LGS last week. This purchase experience will be better!