Boaters World update

[Tim R.]

I went in to my local BW to buy some more cheap stuff yesterday and the manager told me this:

The 10-30% off signs went up this past Sunday. They will stay that way for 3 weeks. Then the discounts get deeper. He claims they did not raise any prices and then offer a discount and that appears to be true based on my purchases:

1 gallon Interlux Micron Extra shark white for $175
1 small tube of 3M 5200 for $11.00

Right now all their Ancor electrical wire, connectors and tools are 30% off. They have a large stock and I hope to get some great deals once they drop to the next discount level. Boaters who typically shop at this store do not buy high end stuff like Ancor so I hope to cash in on some great deals.

I heard something kind of funny. A couple had just bought a Bayliner and were looking for life jackets commenting on how great the store was and wondering why it was going out of business.

 

[Dave Groshong]

Hey TimR, take the Pepsi challenge with our pricing right now on Ancor wire, I'll bet we beat even their 30% off pricing?

 

[Soundbounder]

Yeah, until prices get a bit lower, I am not going to go there.
And of course by then, most of the stuff I want will already be cleaned out.:cussing:

 

[Warren Milberg]

I don't know about Boater's World specifically, but when big stores post "Going Out of Business" sale signs, they have already turned their inventory over to a middle man to get rid of it for them. The longer you can wait for a specific item, the better price you'll get.

 

[Rick Webb]

I was There Monday

Had a very specific shopping list. Found what I needed went back out to the truck and compaired it to the WM and Defender catalogs bought everything I picked out. Checked later that afternoon and saved $20 on the tachs I bought from the Port Supply price.

One thing I did spurge on, if you have ever looked at the Ancor butane torches and wondered how well they worked. I was never $40 curious but at $18 I thought what the hell, they work great. I am not sure they are worth almost $40 but for $18 I am satisfied.

 

[Ron20324]

This forwarded from a member of my sailing club:
I stopped by a Boaters World store last night to find that the current liquidation sale is a huge scam at this point in time. An honest employee told me that the liquidators have marked up the normal Boaters World prices to full manufacturer's suggested retail price. So, if the normal Boaters World price for an item was $12, the new price tag now reads $15. At the present time, only a 10% discount is being offered on most items. So, after applying a 10% discount, your new low, low liquidation price will be $13.50 (maybe...see below). Such a deal for you! I took an item marked $5.49 to the register. The total came to $5.49 plus tax. I asked what happened to the 10% discount. The clerk at the register replied, "Oh, some of the prices already reflect the 10% discount." This product was not marked any differently than any other item in the store. If you look at the shelves, you will clearly see that all the price tags on the shelves are brand new and freshly printed. I thought I would share my experience with you in the event you are considering wasting your time by making a trip to a Boaters World to see what kind of deal you may be able to get.

 

[Tim R.]

First of all "buyer beware". If you do not check the prices than you deserve to pay too much.

Second, they may be doing this in some stores but not in the one here. Show me where you can get a gallon of Micron Extra for $175. Even on sale at Defender it is $188+shipping.

I do not like BW and have always had very bad experiences when I did go in but there are some deals to be had in some stores.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Not all sales are bagains

and not all bargains are sales.

 

[Rick D]

Well, I Guess My Captain's Card Is No Good

:cussing: I have no joy seeing them out of the market. They were the only real bricks and mortar competitor to WM. I always shopped there first and could beat WM 70% of the time. I have a lot of respect for WM and they have been very good for boating generally, but got over the top in pricing and slashed inventory to the extent that it eroded their primary strength. Of course, now they have to compete with on-line competitors and niche guys like Defender from whom I have purchased for thirty years. BTW, I am disappointed with Defender's pricing in their 2009 catalog too. I'll just have to shop harder.

 

[Dan]

If you tend to track prices you'll immediately see that the "discounts" aren't. In fact, better deals are easy to find, including here, as Dave points out

 

[Ron20324]

Today they had signs on the shelves that the cleaning stuff is 10 percent off, the rope, 20 percent. This, during a 10-to-30 percent-off sale. I didn't buy anything, though on Saturday I got a teak soap dispenser holder for the shelf sticker price, which was still only half of West.

 

[Roger Long]

I stopped by a Boaters World store last night to find that the current liquidation sale is a huge scam at this point in time. An honest employee told me that the liquidators have marked up the normal Boaters World prices to full manufacturer's suggested retail price.

I took my son out to look at foul weather gear and looked around at other stuff. My impression is that this is an accurate assessment.

 

[Larry Neese]

also went to the Marathon BW today, a friend who works/worked there told me the didn't know until the liquidators showed that they were closing, got a couple of things for the galley but no knock out deals, a pump I needed was almost $10 less before the 10% off, never seen that many people in the store.

 

[Rick Webb]

A Quick Observation

The folks who have actually bought things do not claim a markup. Others cite a markup but no figures. I definitely paid less and for things throughout the store. I Bought Sperry shoes, a type IV life ring, flares, a couple of engine tachs, electrical stuff, cleaning brushes, and cleaning chemicals.

Point is make a list check your prices and go shopping