Best outfitter or catalogue?

[dlochner]

West Marine is owned by Monomoy Capital Partners, a private equity firm. The usual game plan for these companies is to buy a company that is marginal, but making a profit, load it up with debt and bankrupt the company. Then sell off the assets and pocket the profits.

I am not suggesting that Monomoy is engaged in that practice, nor that it intends to bankrupt WM and take the profits. However, they did buy a local (to me) company, Oneida Silversmiths, and basically do just that, putting the only US flatware company out of business. Fortunately a few of the local management have resurrected the company but it struggles.

 

[ggrizzard]

Well NY Sail, sadly most of us don't live within 50 miles of defender.
So good on ya.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Plus 2 with Pegg Hall on the SBO STORE cause you are talking with real sailors or those who built them

 

[dlochner]

Plus 2 with Pegg Hall on the SBO STORE cause you are talking with real sailors or those who built them

Are you saying that some marine stores are staffed by people who don't sail? Incredible!

 

[tfox2069]

This is a great thread. I think we're very lucky that we have choices - its not that way in most of the rest of the world.

WM may often be the most expensive, but they have stores in a lot of the places we sail from (or to), and its darned handy when I need an item "right now" to fix something or finish a project. Sure, their point of sale system is a constant source of frustration causing slow checkouts, and sometimes their WM branded gear can be on the low side of high quality, but in the end we'd be much worse off without WM since there's no other chain store that I know of that is in their line of business (if you know of one, LMK!). I am also grateful that the hardware stores around Deale and Annapolis are also marvelously responsive to boaters and sailors within their line of business, and compete decently against WM's overpricing.

OTOH, when I'm shopping for price, Defender is awesome, although Bacon Sails in Annapolis sometimes has something "lightly used" that will do. Fawcett's in Annapolis is legendary as the true local alternative to WM, and I support them whenever I can - they're online too. Jamestown, Maui, Annapolis Performance Sailing (APS), and the other sites mentioned here are great to keep in a folder on your browser to make internet shopping quick and easy.

But I echo Peggy's sentiment that SBO is also a great place to shop, and if you value this discourse (and I think we all do), then its definitely worth shopping them regularly for your needs. To also share an experience here, I've used their phone consultation service for a project which was worth EVERY PENNY of the ~$50 I paid to chat with an expert and get immediately executable advice on how to go about a project on my exact boat. That's pretty incredible and I can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

@dlochner
Working outside in the heat this weekend for Boy Scouts.
As a dealer who visited many Marine stores to include WM, there were many staffed by non sailors who knew very little about sailing to include coastal and inland locations except for those locations where sailing is prevalent for example, Annapolis. An example was the WM store in Raleigh, NC WHO USE TO CALL AND ASK FOR ADVICE when there were non sailors on staff.
This forum is owned by one who use to build sailboats, sold parts to dealers and retail and so forth staffed for exampl, Dave Groshong who is a long time sailor. They also have brand specific parts with the specs and also help. Yes they try to compete but at least you get good help and service. Look at the other responses. Hope this helps

 

[dlochner]

@dlochner
Working outside in the heat this weekend for Boy Scouts.
As a dealer who visited many Marine stores to include WM, there were many staffed by non sailors who knew very little about sailing to include coastal and inland locations except for those locations where sailing is prevalent for example, Annapolis. An example was the WM store in Raleigh, NC WHO USE TO CALL AND ASK FOR ADVICE when there were non sailors on staff.
This forum is owned by one who use to build sailboats, sold parts to dealers and retail and so forth staffed for exampl, Dave Groshong who is a long time sailor. They also have brand specific parts with the specs and also help. Yes they try to compete but at least you get good help and service. Look at the other responses. Hope this helps

Sometimes humor can get lost in a forum. It was sort of a left handed compliment for SBO and other marine stores that are owned and staffed by sailors and boaters, and a criticism of those outlets that are staffed by retail clerks.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Crazy Dave's point was, sometimes good knowlegable service is worth paying a little more. I don't consider that a left-handed compliment.
--Peggie

 

[dlochner]

Crazy Dave's point was, sometimes good knowlegable service is worth paying a little more. I don't consider that a left-handed compliment.
--Peggie

We agree, I wasn't referring to the other Dave's comment, but to my own comment about knowledgeable people in marine stores. The lowest price is not always the best price.

 

[Meriachee]

Irrespective of the capabilities, or even hiring practises of individual stores, the financial arrangements should not be a buying decision. Engaging capital partners allows things that maybe your bank account on any given day might not.
And the thing that everybody here should realize, is that the SBO store is a source of funding for this forum.
(soapbox mode off) Now, where did I leave my beer?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Thank you all recognizing the importance of SBO

 

[JRacer]

@dlochner
Working outside in the heat this weekend for Boy Scouts.
As a dealer who visited many Marine stores to include WM, there were many staffed by non sailors who knew very little about sailing to include coastal and inland locations except for those locations where sailing is prevalent for example, Annapolis. An example was the WM store in Raleigh, NC WHO USE TO CALL AND ASK FOR ADVICE when there were non sailors on staff.
This forum is owned by one who use to build sailboats, sold parts to dealers and retail and so forth staffed for exampl, Dave Groshong who is a long time sailor. They also have brand specific parts with the specs and also help. Yes they try to compete but at least you get good help and service. Look at the other responses. Hope this helps

Thanks for what you do for the Boy Scouts! And, "push the water" it's going to be hot!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Will do sir. Pulled boats till 10 pm. Enjoyed every moment

 

[DougM]

There’s an adage about the “low cost bidder” being awarded a contract...(not always the best choice). There is a certain value attached to consistent quality and service.
I tend to shop many of the places mentioned, some more than others.
I try to support SBO because I feel that this forum is a definite asset, but being on the opposite coast adds shipping to the cost factor, compared to local sources at least for the smaller items.
West Marine and Boaters World used to be convenient and had at least some sailing inventory and my sons worked at both when they were in school. The former has been cast adrift and become a clothing store. The latter no longer exists.

 

[dlochner]

I try to support SBO because I feel that this forum is a definite asset, but being on the opposite coast adds shipping to the cost factor, compared to local sources at least for the smaller items.

Since I have no local sources, the nearest WM is 70 miles away, the nearest marina based chandlery is 25 miles from my marina and 60 away and they charge the MSRP, I do almost everything Mail Order.

For smaller items that can ship USPS Priority Mail, SBO is a reasonable choice for those of us on the right coast, for larger items that must go UPS ground, it simply takes too long get those products across the country economically.