Wideners Reloading and Shooting Supply: DEAD TO ME

[chislinger]

I wasn't aware Bud's had any issues with Illinois. They have a pretty clear set of guidelines that they follow for Cook County. They haven't updated in a while, but I haven't had issues with them lately. Did something change?

 

They won't even make an exemption for law enforcement in Chicago, including with department letterhead. That's definitely a plus in my book.

Earlier this year, prior to the passage of the concealed carry law, I was looking for a Beretta PX4 Compact .40 and a big reason was it complied with Chicago's ordinance since it has a 12 rd magazine. No local gun store had it in stock, so I searched online. The only place I could find it was at Bud's. I ordered it, gave them the name and address of my FFL who is in Lake County. A few days later I got an email from Bud's saying "we do not ship handguns to Chicago". Even though they weren't shipping it to Chicago, even though my FFL was not only not in Chicago it wasn't even in Cook County, even though the gun was legal in Chicago.

 

So screw 'em, back to searching and a few days later I discovered Lanbo's Armory in Texas, and they had the PX4 I was looking for and it was $25 cheaper than Bud's! No upcharge for using a credit card either, and they had no problem shipping it to my FFL. Within a week I picked it up, even stopped at a range on my way home I was so anxious to shoot it. Later on I ordered 2 more spare magazines directly to my Chicago address from Lanbo's, again no problems whatsoever. So there are some dealers out there who will ship not only to Cook County but also directly to Chicago. So that's why I'm plugging them here. I have not tried to order ammunition from them as I'm well stocked from local sources so I don't know if they'll do that. http://lanbosarmory.com/

[pomme333]

thanks for the info

[McCroskey]

Good link! Seems like this situation is a great opportunity for some of these other guys to get some of our business vs the folks most of us have been using.

[Geneseo1911]

I never did get a response to my email, so I haven't visited Widener's site since that time. I'm currently looking for a decent price on some ammo for a new to me caliber, and I decided to check their site to see if they ever changed their policy. Now on the magazine page it says:

 

20 and 30 round magazines

cannot be shipped to California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York.

NO SALES TO CHICAGO IL. AREA UNLESS YOU

HAVE A FOID ON FILE

 

Which sounds reasonable to me. With a FOID on file they have your home address and can determine if it is legal to sell to you. It sounds like a pain in the butt to have to check each zip, but it sure beats black-balling the whole state. I'm going to take this change in policy as an apology, even though they never responded directly to me. I'll admit, I really missed Widener's. Just thought I'd let you all know that we won. kind of.

[45Badger]

If you live long enough, shoot long enough, reload long enough, order online long enough, and read enough internet stories- you'll eventually be unable to buy from any supplier because of-

 

-their moral inferiority

-your moral superiority

-high/gouging prices

-your righteous indignation

-their horrible service

-your "internet brother's" claims of "they done me wrong"

 

Eventually, it all works out in the end.........

.

[mata777]

Now credit card numbers are being reported as compromised by ar15.com members after they used wideners. Based on the way I was treated by the "lady" to whom I was trying to explain that it wasn't illegal to possess standard cap magazines in IL and this new security breach I can safely say I will never order from them again. Just last month alone I ordered $400.00 worth of reloading supplies from midway USA, a good chunk of that would have gone to wideners if it wasn't for their rude behavior over the phone. Never again.

[techgeek]

Sadly I have a long list of places I have wanted to or even tried to order from that I can't because of Cook laws. Palmetto State did revise their policy and will ship 10+ round pistol mags. So not every company is doing blanket bans, some are doing what they can. Those are the places that will get my business!

[taxman213]

Speaking of blanket bans, AIM Surplus will no longer sell any firearms at all to anyone in Cook County or Chicago. I live in Cook and have an 03 FFL and tried to order a K31 from them the other day. Got denied on my purchase even though I've had 7 other C&R purchases from them over the past 5 years (one being a K31 LOL). There are no laws against owning a Swiss K31 in Cook. I appealed their decision but they remained steadfast with their unwarranted policy.

 

Their policy is BS and I strongly urge other Cook folks (C&R or not) to send them an email stating how you feel. Sucks too because AIM was the coolest internet vendor in my book. Not anymore. They won't get anymore of my business at all. The AIM hat and shirt that I have is getting thrown out. I posted a more complete rant in the "C&R Chicago, Cook County" thread over in the IL politics section.

 

Oh yeah, vendors can be swayed like the above poster states. Years ago I was able to convince PSA to ship ammo to Cook County after they initially refused my purchase. Very cool on PSA's part that they took the time to research the issue and realize they were wrong in their stance.

[taxman213]

Speaking of blanket bans, AIM Surplus will no longer sell any firearms at all to anyone in Cook County or Chicago. I live in Cook and have an 03 FFL and tried to order a K31 from them the other day. Got denied on my purchase even though I've had 7 other C&R purchases from them over the past 5 years (one being a K31 LOL). There are no laws against owning a Swiss K31 in Cook. I appealed their decision but they remained steadfast with their unwarranted policy.

 

Their policy is BS and I strongly urge other Cook folks (C&R or not) to send them an email stating how you feel. Sucks too because AIM was the coolest internet vendor in my book. Not anymore. They won't get anymore of my business at all. The AIM hat and shirt that I have is getting thrown out. I posted a more complete rant in the "C&R Chicago, Cook County" thread over in the IL politics section.

 

Oh yeah, vendors can be swayed like the above poster states. Years ago I was able to convince PSA to ship ammo to Cook County after they initially refused my purchase. Very cool on PSA's part that they took the time to research the issue and realize they were wrong in their stance.

I'm here to eat my words. Just got a new email from AIM saying they will ship C&R firearms to Cook County. heck yeah! AIM shirt and hat remain intact and proudly worn:)

[chislinger]

I'm here to eat my words. Just got a new email from AIM saying they will ship C&R firearms to Cook County. heck yeah! AIM shirt and hat remain intact and proudly worn:)

They still haven't changed policy wrt Chicago:

 

FIREARMS

 

No sales of firearms within the city of Chicago.

 

Chicago Municipal Code 8-20-100

 

 

 

No sales of modern firearms within Cook County. C&R Firearms can ship to dealers or C&R holders.

 

Mixture of Cook County Ordinance Sec. 54-212 and AIM Company Policy

 

 

 

03 C&R holders may purchase eligible C&R firearms if they provide both a copy of their 03 C&R license AND a copy of their FOID license.

The ordinance they cite says, in its entirety: "Sale or transfer of firearms at gun shows prohibited

 

No firearm shall be sold or otherwise transferred by any person at a gun show. For purposes of this subsection, “gun show” means a temporary exhibit or gathering where firearms or ammunition are sold, leased, or otherwise transferred."

[chislinger]

I sent AIM an email FWIW. Probably won't do any good.

[sleepercaprice1]

I emailed Widener's expressing my disappoinment in their refusal to ship standard capacity magazines to Illinois. Below is their response:

 

We ship magazines to IL all the time since the change last April. If you see something on the web site that states something different please let me know so I can take it off. We did not ship for years due to regulations but that has changed.

[hankwill]

Good work Bud!^^^^^.Your our Man.

[snooter]

i have never run into a problem with mag shipments to IL..but I dont live near that chicago cesspool..the day after the awb died a glorious death I ordered (glock mags at like $12) and they arrived..bought a bunch of the korean glock mags at $3 too...widners is my go to for bulk cases of ammo..im staying..no issues ever..

[iceman]

I refuse to do business with any company that limits my 2A rights. I go to cabelas buy whatever I want and they don't go "OH WAIT SIR YOU ARE A CHICAGO RESIDENT!" if a huge store like cabelas knows they wont lose a law suit for it and that it's "illegal" (til the lawyers prove that the CCL law trumps all home rule crap) to posess the magazine in question. Good for you, don't buy anything from them or anyone else that is too scared.

[chislinger]

I refuse to do business with any company that limits my 2A rights. I go to cabelas buy whatever I want and they don't go "OH WAIT SIR YOU ARE A CHICAGO RESIDENT!" if a huge store like cabelas knows they wont lose a law suit for it and that it's "illegal" (til the lawyers prove that the CCL law trumps all home rule crap) to posess the magazine in question. Good for you, don't buy anything from them or anyone else that is too scared.

Cabela's won't ship ammo to Chicago.

[McCroskey]

 

I refuse to do business with any company that limits my 2A rights. I go to cabelas buy whatever I want and they don't go "OH WAIT SIR YOU ARE A CHICAGO RESIDENT!" if a huge store like cabelas knows they wont lose a law suit for it and that it's "illegal" (til the lawyers prove that the CCL law trumps all home rule crap) to posess the magazine in question. Good for you, don't buy anything from them or anyone else that is too scared.

Cabela's won't ship ammo to Chicago.

 

 

True!

[sleepercaprice1]

I emailed Widener's expressing my disappoinment in their refusal to ship standard capacity magazines to Illinois. Below is their response:

 

We ship magazines to IL all the time since the change last April. If you see something on the web site that states something different please let me know so I can take it off. We did not ship for years due to regulations but that has changed.

I feel kind of stupid for not noticing the date of Bud's original post. I contacted Wideners and told them that I wouldn't be doing business with them due to their refusal to ship standard capacity magazines to Illinois. I trust that their response was true and that they changed their policy last April. Can anyone confirm their current policy?

[chislinger]

I sent AIM an email FWIW. Probably won't do any good.

Yesterday I got the reply: "Thank you for your inquiry to our policy about Chicago gun sales. I apologize but we actually had the wrong citation listed. It appears our website had not been updated since last summer when the new Chicago ordinance took effect. We are working to correct the website now and list the correct citation."

 

And cite they did: AIM's web site now cites a Chicago ordinance regarding business licenses. I cannot believe that any company operating outside of Chicago would think they need a Chicago business license to ship a purchase within the city. Certainly no lawyer was involved in this?

 

I think AIM is a lost cause.

[McCroskey]

 

I sent AIM an email FWIW. Probably won't do any good.

Yesterday I got the reply: "Thank you for your inquiry to our policy about Chicago gun sales. I apologize but we actually had the wrong citation listed. It appears our website had not been updated since last summer when the new Chicago ordinance took effect. We are working to correct the website now and list the correct citation."

 

And cite they did: AIM's web site now cites a Chicago ordinance regarding business licenses. I cannot believe that any company operating outside of Chicago would think they need a Chicago business license to ship a purchase within the city. Certainly no lawyer was involved in this?

 

I think AIM is a lost cause.

 

 

They are. Trust me, I've tried to change their minds for three years. If there's even a .000000001% chance that they think they "might get sued" they won't do it.

[Trevis]

 

 

They are. Trust me, I've tried to change their minds for three years. If there's even a .000000001% chance that they think they "might get sued" they won't do it.

 

Living outside the kingdom of Chicago does have its perks.

[geomick]

 

Speaking of blanket bans, AIM Surplus will no longer sell any firearms at all to anyone in Cook County or Chicago. I live in Cook and have an 03 FFL and tried to order a K31 from them the other day. Got denied on my purchase even though I've had 7 other C&R purchases from them over the past 5 years (one being a K31 LOL). There are no laws against owning a Swiss K31 in Cook. I appealed their decision but they remained steadfast with their unwarranted policy.

 

Their policy is BS and I strongly urge other Cook folks (C&R or not) to send them an email stating how you feel. Sucks too because AIM was the coolest internet vendor in my book. Not anymore. They won't get anymore of my business at all. The AIM hat and shirt that I have is getting thrown out. I posted a more complete rant in the "C&R Chicago, Cook County" thread over in the IL politics section.

 

Oh yeah, vendors can be swayed like the above poster states. Years ago I was able to convince PSA to ship ammo to Cook County after they initially refused my purchase. Very cool on PSA's part that they took the time to research the issue and realize they were wrong in their stance.

I'm here to eat my words. Just got a new email from AIM saying they will ship C&R firearms to Cook County. heck yeah! AIM shirt and hat remain intact and proudly worn:)

 

 

 

I had the same experience during the time period mentioned in your posts. I am also a C&R holder in C®ook County (not in Chicago) and tried to order a Polish P-64 from AIM. They initially denied the purchase, then came back the next day to say it is OK. I saw yesterday that the wording on their website had changed from when I placed previous orders at AIM.

[ilrider78]

 

 

Speaking of blanket bans, AIM Surplus will no longer sell any firearms at all to anyone in Cook County or Chicago. I live in Cook and have an 03 FFL and tried to order a K31 from them the other day. Got denied on my purchase even though I've had 7 other C&R purchases from them over the past 5 years (one being a K31 LOL). There are no laws against owning a Swiss K31 in Cook. I appealed their decision but they remained steadfast with their unwarranted policy.

 

Their policy is BS and I strongly urge other Cook folks (C&R or not) to send them an email stating how you feel. Sucks too because AIM was the coolest internet vendor in my book. Not anymore. They won't get anymore of my business at all. The AIM hat and shirt that I have is getting thrown out. I posted a more complete rant in the "C&R Chicago, Cook County" thread over in the IL politics section.

 

Oh yeah, vendors can be swayed like the above poster states. Years ago I was able to convince PSA to ship ammo to Cook County after they initially refused my purchase. Very cool on PSA's part that they took the time to research the issue and realize they were wrong in their stance.

I'm here to eat my words. Just got a new email from AIM saying they will ship C&R firearms to Cook County. heck yeah! AIM shirt and hat remain intact and proudly worn:)

 

 

 

I had the same experience during the time period mentioned in your posts. I am also a C&R holder in C®ook County (not in Chicago) and tried to order a Polish P-64 from AIM. They initially denied the purchase, then came back the next day to say it is OK. I saw yesterday that the wording on their website had changed from when I placed previous orders at AIM.

 

 

I'm in Crook County suburbs as well and used to give AIM a lot of my money. Ordered several firearms, 30 round AR magazines, 15, 17, 33 round Glock magazines, and ammunition and never had an issue. I tried to order some used Glock magazines and a Glock 19 from them a few months back and received an email stating that they could not send the magazines to me or do the transfer on the Glock 19. Their website states "No sales of modern firearms in Cook County" Here's a link to the restrictions page if anyone is interested... http://blog.aimsurplus.com/state-product-restrictions/illinois/

 

I even spoke with Bryan on the phone and tried to explain our patchwork of laws but he wouldn't budge. Told him that he did not just lose my business but my also my entire family and friends.