Defender Sold

Davidasailor26

Davidasailor26

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May 17, 2004
5,542
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
To take a more optimistic angle - any chance this gives them more buying power to negotiate better shipping rates? I’ve had a few times in the last year or two where their shipping has priced them out of a sale for me. It’s usually small items, like a paint roller to go with my antifouling, but it is a frustration.
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,703
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Davidasailor26 said:
To take a more optimistic angle - any chance this gives them more buying power to negotiate better shipping rates? I’ve had a few times in the last year or two where their shipping has priced them out of a sale for me. It’s usually small items, like a paint roller to go with my antifouling, but it is a frustration.
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I doubt it. As I have travelled down the ICW, I am amazed at the number of Defender boxes sitting in marina offices waiting for their owners to collect them. The number rivals that of Amazon packages sitting in marina offices. They do a tremendous mail order business.

The shipping can make WM look like a bargain for small items. I try to avoid small orders for that reason. It also works against them on items where the manufacturer sets the price. Buying in a WM store saves the shipping and earns rewards points.

Stephen Lance, the President of Defender, sometimes monitors this site.
 
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JamesG161

JamesG161

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Feb 14, 2014
7,744
Hunter 430 Waveland, MS
I buy from SBO stores first.

Then another site I found, has better prices than Defender. I have an account with them, but only bought one minor item.

I have only bought a few things from Amazon. My total from Amazon, since 2014, is less than $500

Specialty products like Circuit Boards, normally from OEM's.

Jim...

PS: Since my Boat was badly damaged, I know where to find most all parts.:mad:
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,150
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
dlochner said:
Defender has been sold.
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Oh yeah. NOW you tell me :mad: .

Engaged in a back and forth where Defender sent me the wrong Bomar hatch interior liner ring. Defender write up just says "match it to the original hatch model number" and Bob's your uncle. I find out from Bomar/Pompanette that it's impossible to buy an older (1999) liner ring without using the serial number of the original hatch. The old and new liners don't come within a mile of each other.

Defender will do whatever makes me happy (I want the correct liner) but I doubt they will cover all of the shipping and brokerage fees all over again which came to $78.00 CAN $. I'm not paying that all over again plus the cost of shipping their incorrect choice back to them.

Grrrrrrrrrr :mad: ! ! !
 
Hello Below

Hello Below

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May 7, 2012
1,522
Hunter e33 Maple Bay, BC
Ralph Johnstone said:
Oh yeah. NOW you tell me :mad: .

Engaged in a back and forth where Defender sent me the wrong Bomar hatch interior liner ring. Defender write up just says "match it to the original hatch model number" and Bob's your uncle. I find out from Bomar/Pompanette that it's impossible to buy an older (1999) liner ring without using the serial number of the original hatch. The old and new liners don't come within a mile of each other.

Defender will do whatever makes me happy (I want the correct liner) but I doubt they will cover all of the shipping and brokerage fees all over again which came to $78.00 CAN $. I'm not paying that all over again plus the cost of shipping their incorrect choice back to them.

Grrrrrrrrrr :mad: ! ! !
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Ralph, did you talk with Dave at Marine Outfitters in Kingston? Five years ago evil Simple Green overspray ruined 3 Bomar lens that were only 4 years old. Marine Outfitters were able to replace them at a phenomenal price and shipping was $25 (Cdn)/each. Yes they needed the serial numbers of each.
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,703
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Hello Below said:
Ralph, did you talk with Dave at Marine Outfitters in Kingston? Five years ago evil Simple Green overspray ruined 3 Bomar lens that were only 4 years old. Marine Outfitters were able to replace them at a phenomenal price and shipping was $25 (Cdn)/each. Yes they needed the serial numbers of each.
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On several occasions I have shopped at Binnacle.com in Halifax. Prices were good, shipping was reasonably fast.

The US Site:

Marine and Boating Supplies and Accessories in United States

us.binnacle.com us.binnacle.com
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,749
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
dlochner said:
On several occasions I have shopped at Binnacle.com in Halifax
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I too have shopped at Binnacle. :biggrin:

They some times have very good prices on certain items. Some times they have access to product not available to others. I have wondered about the difference between their Canadian and US site links. You can find some electronics on the Canadian site that is not listed on the US site. There is a difference in price often between the Canadian site (adjusted to USD) and the US site (in USD). The exchange rate is not always consistent with that posted in the financial markets.

Calling them does reach nice and friendly phone agents that really try to help.

Regarding Electronics, I wonder about the availability of Raymarine MFD's for example. Their prices look attractive on the Canadian site, yet the product is not available in the US site catalog. Is there an embargo or limit to where they can sell such electronics?
 
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dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,703
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
jssailem said:
Regarding Electronics, I wonder about the availability of Raymarine MFD's for example. Their prices look attractive on the Canadian site, yet the product is not available in the US site catalog. Is there an embargo or limit to where they can sell such electronics?
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Companies sometimes place limits on where their products can be sold and by whom. The electronics companies may be setting territorial limits. Given your proximity to the border you could have them shipped to @Stu Jackson. Then sail up to visit him, pick up the devices, throw out the boxes, and sail home with a supply of (real) Havana Club rum and a cigar or three. Not that I would ever do anything like that.
 
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Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,150
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Hello Below said:
Ralph, did you talk with Dave at Marine Outfitters in Kingston?
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Guess I'm a little on the lazy side when searching for odd ball items like hatch interior trim rings. If it's not listed on a site, I look elsewhere until I find the part listed. Got to do more homework on this rarified stuff.

Guess I'll look at Canadian suppliers first and if the item is not listed, contact that supplier to see if it can be brought in. Takes time but shipping from the States to Canada is now out of the question. Prohibitively expensive.

When (if) the border ever fully opens up, I can go back to U.S. orders if required and have the goods shipped to my Washington drop box.
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,749
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Ralph Johnstone said:
shipped to my Washington drop box.
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Are you one of those that race down to Point Roberts once a week. :yikes:
I was having a beer and talking to a local sheriff up there. Said the place is more secure than a military base with national guards on each side of the border line. Only challenge he sees is the cars running through the stop sign on the road to the mail box centers. He called it a honey spot for Canadian financial support. :biggrin:
 
Ralph Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone

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Jan 4, 2006
7,150
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
jssailem said:
Are you one of those that race down to Point Roberts once a week.
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Nah, we only go to Blaine. A buddy and myself split the trips going down. He's after parts for his plane and I'm after boat parts. It works out to each driving maybe twice a year.
 
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