Another West marine comment

jackhartjr · Jun 15, 2009

As someone who delivers to some of the West Marine stores, and purchases this stuff too...let me say...I too look for bargains...on the other hand...I do Like West Marine!
(And they treat truck driver like humans too!)
Jack

sailormanbigd · Jun 15, 2009

I have to go along with you. Makes me wonder about their marketing strategy. Way over priced stuff. I try to get most my stuff online, but I have to go their from time to time for emergency stuff. I know the mgr at my local store, i asked if they match online prices and he told me yes-but if there is shipping then they add that in-as well as sales tax. So, if I am desperate i will print an online invoice and go to them with it. It is nice to have local supplier. They bought out the other local boat supplies, I suppose to eliminate the competition.

Prime Time · Jun 15, 2009

Not as evil as some believe

Over the last few years, It seems to me that they have brought their prices on many items to a better level. That being said, my local store will always match the price of others as long as they also have a store, such as Defender. At my local store, they have always delivered great service. They also have a knowledgeable staff. A bunch of senior guys from my yacht club have worked there. As a example, I needed a new windex sport for my boat. They had it for the same price as Defender. Just like anywhere else, you need to be an educated shopper and comparison shop.

John · Jun 15, 2009

WM price match

sailormanbigd said:
I have to go along with you. Makes me wonder about their marketing strategy. Way over priced stuff. I try to get most my stuff online, but I have to go their from time to time for emergency stuff. I know the mgr at my local store, i asked if they match online prices and he told me yes-but if there is shipping then they add that in-as well as sales tax. So, if I am desperate i will print an online invoice and go to them with it. It is nice to have local supplier. They bought out the other local boat supplies, I suppose to eliminate the competition.

I don't know if there is a sales tax in Florida, but in California there is a substantial one. When I asked WM to match an online price, they also said they'd do it but add the shipping cost. I pointed out that the online price meant no sales tax, so they accepted that it was a wash; shipping cost more or less = sales tax.

Napa Ed · Jun 15, 2009

bffatcat said:
I decided to try the independent
marine supply in the next town over.

You went into the store, saw the product, walked out, drove to the next town over and "saved" (at the most) $23.

I've got an ex-wife you should meet. She'd burn a tank of gas and an afternoon to save $20 on a pair of shoes.

WM delivers value. Item price point is not the only factor in determining value.

SamLust · Jun 15, 2009

I've used The West Marine stores in Perth Amboy, Brick, Toms River. It has been better than 6 years since I've had a sales clerk in any one of the stores I have been into in New Jersey who even knew what a sailboat was. I certainly don't consider that value added. On the other hand the local Marine store has little sailing knowledge, but his prices on the items I can use are closer to reasonable. Even if he is a pain in the neck, at least the money is staying local.

Napa Ed · Jun 15, 2009

Yes dear.

Benny · Jun 15, 2009

What brand of shackle did you end up purchasing? A Wichard, a Ronstan or what? I have no business interest in WM but I like the quality of the products they retail and the convenience of finding it on the shelf when I need it and 5 minutes away from home.

kendall · Jun 15, 2009

Agree, in my opinion being able to get it NOW is often worth paying 'too much'.
I pick up my bike stuff at a local shop, could get it a bit cheaper online, but whenI check my tires and say I need to replace them, I want them replaced now, not after "ten days shipping", and if I put the rush on to get them sooner, the whole savings from buying online is gone.
Buying online is great for planned maintenance, or additions where you can afford to sit back and wait. But emergencies even minor ones are best handled by having a local shop with the parts available.

Ken.

nickc · Jun 15, 2009

Dead Right

Benny said:
What brand of shackle did you end up purchasing? A Wichard, a Ronstan or what? I have no business interest in WM but I like the quality of the products they retail and the convenience of finding it on the shelf when I need it and 5 minutes away from home.

There is a lot of cheap stuff on the market. I saw what appeared to be identical snap shackles needed for the tack of my spinnaker, one unnamed brand at $9 and a Ronstan one at $27. I bought the cheapie and the first time I pulled it in anger to fly the tack the pull ring parted company with the spigot and I nearly went overboard plus losing all the bits ie spring and spigot. I went back to the chandlers and had a second look. The diameter of the pull ring on the Ronstan was twice that of the cheapie. One absolutely useless and the other has proved to be fine. $18 dollars the difference.

sailormanbigd · Jun 16, 2009

I'm not talking cheapy online stuff. The same brand/quality. Example: 3M 5200- for a small tube its around 7$ at wallyworld or home depot, but i think its around 14-15 at WM. Now wally and home are in buisness to make a profit-are'nt they?

sailingdog · Jun 16, 2009

west marine is a fine place to shop, provided you know what the real prices of things are. Some of their stuff is great value and some is actually over the MSRP on the shelf. If you need to have something right away and don't mind paying a small premium for it, then WM can be a great resource. As with any business, CAVEAT EMPTOR.

Alan · Jun 16, 2009

There is nothing wrong with being a wise shopper and comparing price vs shipping time vs tax .. etc. That said, if you are going to compare you need to be aware of an 'apples for apples' comparison. Sometimes a 'cheapo' is perfectly fine, other times the branded higher cost product is far better economy.
Competition is a healthy environment for the buyer. Elimination of competition eventually hurts the buying public. West, like most marine businesses, has been in financial straights in the last couple of years. If they were to close, the result would not be beneficial for the industry or their customers. Their acceptance of documented price matching allows customers to do their homework and still get the best price available.

The bottom line, keeping as many players in the game as possible and being a knowledgeable buyer is the best way for all to benefit.

Dave D · Jun 16, 2009

Hey Phil, can we get a new forum for useless West Marine bashing threads that serve no actual purpose other than the chuckle I get reading the snivel while I drink my coffee?

WAAAAH, I want it cheap, now, right and convenient and I want to be served by a nautical engineer with a PhD and a minor in communications who works for minimum wage!

kloudie1 · Jun 16, 2009

Yeah, the prices on some things can be a little high but I try to use WM sometimes to keep ‘em in bidness. They had the parts to rebuild the head when it blew up two days before the cruise.. Their parts were 20% more than the internet suppliers but the parts were installed and the head working again within a couple of hours.. That is worth something

TimCup · Jun 16, 2009

Sailormanbigd- there's another difference-

I sent my wife to the home depot to get me 5200, and she got it for a good price. Of course, the only 5200 they had in stock was the "7 days to cure" kind. I guess there's a use for that somewhere ( like I want to be fixing ANYTHING for 7 days...). Paid more at wm, but I needed the 24 hour cure!

cup

larryw · Jun 17, 2009

Many of the "more experienced" sailors/boaters on this forum, and I'm not speaking of know-how, will remember when you had to go to one store to get varnish, another store to get marine hardware, another store to get 100ft. of yacht braid, another store for a pump impeller, and another store for a shirt with boats and palm trees on it. West Marine combined all those stores into one more or less conviently located store. I sometimes buy on-line, sometimes mail-order, but sometimes I want to touch it, feel it, maybe measure it before I buy. WM makes that happen, but then sometimes WM doesn't have enough stock. If I need ten screws, they have eight; if I need a popular pump impeller, they're out of stock, but no one said owning a boat would be hassle-free. WM isn't perfect, but they're usually the best option.

zeehag · Jun 17, 2009

i do not ever shop worst marine---i shop downwind marine--the cruisers friend--they are part of san diego marine exchange now and offer a better discount to me than worst ever did and they (downwind) do not employ methamphetamine addicts lol....worst does in dago.....higher prices and less help is worsts motto...after having written they were going to put the mom and pop chandleries out of business in 1990 i stopped going there....

Gary_H · Jun 17, 2009

The problem with WM ( and hardware stores for that matter) is that I love to brows the shelves too much and Usually walk out with twice as much stuff as I actually came for.

Another West marine comment

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