Help i am looking for options for catalina direct. I had a small order and was happy to pay an additional 1/3 of the total order price in shipping becasue it was to go priority mail. Meaning 2 to 3 day service. 3 weeks later it finally came. I called and was told tough luck that they do not promise to send it priority. When I complained that i paid 5.00 for them to send two 14.00 sail slugs in a envelope with 80 cents postage they hung up on me stating that they had already spent enough time on the subject. SO I ask you where can I get the toys and parts for my catlina? What are the options that you have found? All I ask is that they charge me a fair price and be polite.
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Ordering online
The first few times I ordered online, I thought, wow is this a great country or what! I can order anything over the internet by just entering my order and credit card. Now I'm realizing that paying up to $10 for shipping and waiting for the package for a couple of days to a couple of weeks is getting old. I almost think it is more worth it to buy it at West Marine, not pay for shipping, and have the part TODAY. BTW, I ordered some parts from this website over two weeks ago and I am still waiting.
The first few times I ordered online, I thought, wow is this a great country or what! I can order anything over the internet by just entering my order and credit card. Now I'm realizing that paying up to $10 for shipping and waiting for the package for a couple of days to a couple of weeks is getting old. I almost think it is more worth it to buy it at West Marine, not pay for shipping, and have the part TODAY. BTW, I ordered some parts from this website over two weeks ago and I am still waiting.
Order status
Deciding between mail order, online, and retail products should be determined by your objectives. If delivery speed is more important that fit, it can certainly make sense to buy at retail. In some cases, though, custom-made products are of higher production quality than mass produced products. The canvas products sold on this site are made-to-order and customized for various winch sizes, pedestal, or main sail configurations, etc. The items you buy off the shelf at a retailer are not. The delivery dates we quote for custom products are quite fast when compared to the lead times required by many local canvas shops... but not nearly as fast as pulling a box from a shelf and walking out with it! In Mr. Heard's particular case, we quoted a delivery date of 5/19 prior to his order. The items have shipped and will arrive prior to that date. We have confirmed delivery with Mr. Heard in two subsequent emails. On this site, our emphasis is on high quality products, built on demand, for a fair price. Sometimes that takes a bit longer, but that choice is up to you.
Deciding between mail order, online, and retail products should be determined by your objectives. If delivery speed is more important that fit, it can certainly make sense to buy at retail. In some cases, though, custom-made products are of higher production quality than mass produced products. The canvas products sold on this site are made-to-order and customized for various winch sizes, pedestal, or main sail configurations, etc. The items you buy off the shelf at a retailer are not. The delivery dates we quote for custom products are quite fast when compared to the lead times required by many local canvas shops... but not nearly as fast as pulling a box from a shelf and walking out with it! In Mr. Heard's particular case, we quoted a delivery date of 5/19 prior to his order. The items have shipped and will arrive prior to that date. We have confirmed delivery with Mr. Heard in two subsequent emails. On this site, our emphasis is on high quality products, built on demand, for a fair price. Sometimes that takes a bit longer, but that choice is up to you.
what are the choices when you have to mail order
I understand custom orders take time. Like was elluded to by Phil Herring about Mr. Heard's item. But when it is a stock item and everyone states that it would travel priority and then when I called tracing the parts they state that it went priority until it came and was found to not even have traveled first class then, they state in essence tough luck. That i can't accept. All i wanted was someone to say sorry and allow me to make sure your next order that was already placed would travel priority mail. When you live in Alaska you understand mail time however we do not have to accept rude service. Again i ask What are my Catalina Options. 1 West Marine. - Great choice can someone else add to my list of choices. Thanks
I understand custom orders take time. Like was elluded to by Phil Herring about Mr. Heard's item. But when it is a stock item and everyone states that it would travel priority and then when I called tracing the parts they state that it went priority until it came and was found to not even have traveled first class then, they state in essence tough luck. That i can't accept. All i wanted was someone to say sorry and allow me to make sure your next order that was already placed would travel priority mail. When you live in Alaska you understand mail time however we do not have to accept rude service. Again i ask What are my Catalina Options. 1 West Marine. - Great choice can someone else add to my list of choices. Thanks
Sailnet isn't any better....
I got good prices on about $4,000 worth of stuff this year from Sailnet.com but the service was horrible. Bad service considering this was internet business where one would expect efficient communication via emails and web site updates regarding order status. But they kept moving the estimated ship dates back. Every time a ship date arrived the web site would change the date again by a week or two more wait. My emails were ignored or elicited a stock response such as "your item is back ordered". I finally cancelled a number of items and bought them elsewhere. I warned Sailnet of this in emails and also after the cancellations wrote another email about their need ship product in a timely manner. I received no responses to those emails either. Note, this was after $4,000 or so spent with them! After a while the savings are less important than receiving what you order. Chris
I got good prices on about $4,000 worth of stuff this year from Sailnet.com but the service was horrible. Bad service considering this was internet business where one would expect efficient communication via emails and web site updates regarding order status. But they kept moving the estimated ship dates back. Every time a ship date arrived the web site would change the date again by a week or two more wait. My emails were ignored or elicited a stock response such as "your item is back ordered". I finally cancelled a number of items and bought them elsewhere. I warned Sailnet of this in emails and also after the cancellations wrote another email about their need ship product in a timely manner. I received no responses to those emails either. Note, this was after $4,000 or so spent with them! After a while the savings are less important than receiving what you order. Chris
Alternate
I hear everyone talking about Catalina Direct, but I have made all my purchases from Catalina Yacht (factory) at 818-884-7700. They have been equal or cheaper to prices quoted by Catalina Direct. They have there problems too, but you asked for an alternate>
I hear everyone talking about Catalina Direct, but I have made all my purchases from Catalina Yacht (factory) at 818-884-7700. They have been equal or cheaper to prices quoted by Catalina Direct. They have there problems too, but you asked for an alternate>
Another Alternate Parts Source
Although not a Catalina specifc source, BoatUS is another possibility.
Although not a Catalina specifc source, BoatUS is another possibility.
This is Where I Get Off . . .
You can skip the whole problem, some of the time. Whenever possible I find a good auto parts and a good hardware store plus a little ingenious tinkering (okay, hammering) can get you by just fine. Don't buy into the revolving boat store/boat website sales thing. Sailors sailed for thousands of years before any of this . . . And stop buying those sailing magazines, sheesh, you could've had radar by now.(G) Nick "Julia Bell" C-27 #86
You can skip the whole problem, some of the time. Whenever possible I find a good auto parts and a good hardware store plus a little ingenious tinkering (okay, hammering) can get you by just fine. Don't buy into the revolving boat store/boat website sales thing. Sailors sailed for thousands of years before any of this . . . And stop buying those sailing magazines, sheesh, you could've had radar by now.(G) Nick "Julia Bell" C-27 #86
wow thanks for the input
thanks for all the our ideas. If companies would care about thier customers 1/2 as much as we care about boats everyone would have told me i was crazy. the worst part for me was i treated thier cataloge like it was my boating bible. Thanks for the help.
thanks for all the our ideas. If companies would care about thier customers 1/2 as much as we care about boats everyone would have told me i was crazy. the worst part for me was i treated thier cataloge like it was my boating bible. Thanks for the help.
And you paid for that catalogue too!
I can't believe they wouldn't make good on that kind of foul up. Sad. I'm the impatient type so I usually go retail - West Marine, Fisherman's Supply and Boaters World (ack!) are my only marine options. Luckily I'm able to find used and non-marine items that work well quite often. You could try used chandleries in your area - they're usually chock full of goodies. LaDonna
I can't believe they wouldn't make good on that kind of foul up. Sad. I'm the impatient type so I usually go retail - West Marine, Fisherman's Supply and Boaters World (ack!) are my only marine options. Luckily I'm able to find used and non-marine items that work well quite often. You could try used chandleries in your area - they're usually chock full of goodies. LaDonna
Sailnet positive experience
I have purchased a lot of things from Sailnet, and yes, they can be slow. I don't order things from them I need right away. BUT, when I discovered a YEAR after the fact that a part was missing from a Blue Sea Systems panel I bought through them, they went to bat for me, contacting the manufacturer and having them ship the missing part to me - OVERNIGHT, no charge. That's good service! Oh, and though the wait can be long, the price cna almost never be beaten. Shipping is free for orders over $100.00 (which is usually the case for me). I think it used to be $50.00. And, no sales tax. Good order tracking on the web. One of the best. The only exception is that if you want the best price, most knowledgeable people and lightning-fast shipping for rigging components, its Rigging Only in Fairhaven, Ma. (down the block from where Joshua Slocum built and launched Spray, and returned to after his historic solo circumnavigation). With Rigging Only, call them up and order on the phone.
I have purchased a lot of things from Sailnet, and yes, they can be slow. I don't order things from them I need right away. BUT, when I discovered a YEAR after the fact that a part was missing from a Blue Sea Systems panel I bought through them, they went to bat for me, contacting the manufacturer and having them ship the missing part to me - OVERNIGHT, no charge. That's good service! Oh, and though the wait can be long, the price cna almost never be beaten. Shipping is free for orders over $100.00 (which is usually the case for me). I think it used to be $50.00. And, no sales tax. Good order tracking on the web. One of the best. The only exception is that if you want the best price, most knowledgeable people and lightning-fast shipping for rigging components, its Rigging Only in Fairhaven, Ma. (down the block from where Joshua Slocum built and launched Spray, and returned to after his historic solo circumnavigation). With Rigging Only, call them up and order on the phone.
Catalina Direct is missing a great opportunity
It shouldn't be too hard for them to be better with customer service. I work within 3 mi of Catalina Direct's office in Rancho Cordova and have been in their office several times. They are a very small company and should be able to solve the "problem" fairly quickly. Prior to becomming just Catalina Direct, they operated a chandlery and Catalina dealership in Rancho Cordova and I always found them pleasant to work with. I wonder what's happened? Maybe they have one bad apple. If they don't read this site they should.
It shouldn't be too hard for them to be better with customer service. I work within 3 mi of Catalina Direct's office in Rancho Cordova and have been in their office several times. They are a very small company and should be able to solve the "problem" fairly quickly. Prior to becomming just Catalina Direct, they operated a chandlery and Catalina dealership in Rancho Cordova and I always found them pleasant to work with. I wonder what's happened? Maybe they have one bad apple. If they don't read this site they should.
catalina direct
I posted something about 10 days ago about catalina direct. I was not treated well at all. I won't shop there again because of this experience. I will go to a local machine shop, find a used part or go directly to Catalina because I don't like catalina direct's business practices. It may very well be only one or two people in the company. If it was, then the owner should fire them, but this guy claimed to be the owner. Good luck, buy local and keep your money in the local economy. Tim
I posted something about 10 days ago about catalina direct. I was not treated well at all. I won't shop there again because of this experience. I will go to a local machine shop, find a used part or go directly to Catalina because I don't like catalina direct's business practices. It may very well be only one or two people in the company. If it was, then the owner should fire them, but this guy claimed to be the owner. Good luck, buy local and keep your money in the local economy. Tim
3 Cheers
Herb: After reading all the earlier responses about Catalina Direct, I'd like to throw in my two cents and say that the several times I've order from them, I've had excellent service, good products, and quick delivery to Wyoming. Also, I like the way they package items to help us upgrade our older boats to overcome some of the flaws built in by the Catalina Company. Catalina Direct prices seem reasonable to me, though I do shop around and sometimes buy from others, eg. West Marine and Boatersworld.com. Overall I say 3 cheers for Catalina Direct! Dick
Herb: After reading all the earlier responses about Catalina Direct, I'd like to throw in my two cents and say that the several times I've order from them, I've had excellent service, good products, and quick delivery to Wyoming. Also, I like the way they package items to help us upgrade our older boats to overcome some of the flaws built in by the Catalina Company. Catalina Direct prices seem reasonable to me, though I do shop around and sometimes buy from others, eg. West Marine and Boatersworld.com. Overall I say 3 cheers for Catalina Direct! Dick
I had to pay more shipping costs
I ordered a few parts form Catalina Direct and they shipped them priotity mail but didn't pay priority rates. That means I had to go to the post office and pay an extra 2.60 in shipping costs. Gee, thanks fella's! I would guess that Catalina Direct must get a little overwhelmed in the spring with orders and loses track of the details. They always seem nice on the phone with me. I think they only employ about 10 people or something like that. ??
I ordered a few parts form Catalina Direct and they shipped them priotity mail but didn't pay priority rates. That means I had to go to the post office and pay an extra 2.60 in shipping costs. Gee, thanks fella's! I would guess that Catalina Direct must get a little overwhelmed in the spring with orders and loses track of the details. They always seem nice on the phone with me. I think they only employ about 10 people or something like that. ??
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