Kid in a candy store-West Marine San Diego

[Texas Gun-Man]

This Texas boy's working in San Diego this week. I couldn't resist but to use my off hours to visit the West Marine flagship store. It is as big as a city block. The ones we have in North Texas are about the size of a bathroom, and aren't really geared towards sailing.
Her-Haw! I didn't buy anything much, but it sure was a lot of fun.

 

[kloudie1]

There is a pretty big one in Kemah, TX .. when ya get down that way, look 'em up..

 

[Texas Gun-Man]

Thanks kloudie1. I'm going down there sometime this summer to do my 103-104. I'll check-em out.

 

[kimelmore]

Hey Tex, Must have missed you at the big store there near Shelter Island. Our new boat (well new to us) is docked at one of the marina's there. I made a couple of trips to that store this past weekend. One of them for the $52 steaming light LED bulb that went ...tink..tink..plop when it popped out of the socket while I was up the mast.

 

[jeepbluetj]

The new one in Newport Beach (ca) is pretty nice. But it's still a WM. Lotsa clothes, etc... Not a lot of sailboat parts. 'cause sailors are cheap bastards. I'll stop at Minnies first to see if I can find what I want used.

 

[Texas Gun-Man]

Kimelmore that makes me wanna cry for you brother. As my kids would say, "that's a very 'Jeff' thing to do." (My name is Jeff).
At least you're close enough to get another one.
I'm in a class during the day, but went over there this evening. Gonna go walk around and look at boats tomorrow. I come here about 6 times a year but it's my first trip out since I re-caught the sailing bug.

 

[Jackdaw]

Minnesota might be the fishing boat capital of the world, but the West Marine near Lake Minnetonka is managed by a friend of mine who (heh, heh) SAILS at WYC. Lots is shiny sailboat bits at our store. That being said, the Shelter Island store IS grand.

 

[kimelmore]

Ahhhh...Minnies...the Admiral knows better than to let me go there by myself...ha ha ha

 

[CloudDiver]

I go there more than my wallet would like to admit... I've developed a new appreciation for WM. At first I was turned off at the maximum mark-up (and some cases EXCESSIVE mark-up) on many of their products. Then, after I became a gold member, I started earing a LOT more points. Couple that with getting emails about upcoming sales and bargain shopping on the website I've been doing pretty well at not paying full price unless there is no other better alternative. You just have to realize it takes a lot of overhead to run a big brick-and-mortar chain, and they are there when you need something in a pinch, even if it is at a premium cost.
Texas GM, while you are in San Diego, be sure to check out San Diego Marine Exchange/Downwind Marine. The 'Big Store' on Shelter Island Drive has all the repair/maintenance stuff, and the Sailing Supply Store has all the Sailboat hardware just a block away on Canon St. Both of these stores are just two blocks away from WM. They keep near bankers hours, closed by 5pm and not open on Sundays.

 

[pateco]

We have three WM Stores within 30 minutes of our boat. Fort Lauderdale store has plenty of sailing bits, and is more than twice the size of the Pompano beach store nearer to my boat. the Deerfield Beach store to the north of me is smaller still, mostly power boater parts.

 

[Jackdaw]

At first I was turned off at the maximum mark-up (and some cases EXCESSIVE mark-up) on many of their products. Then, after I became a gold member, I started earing a LOT more points. Couple that with getting emails about upcoming sales and bargain shopping on the website I've been doing pretty well at not paying full price unless there is no other better alternative. You just have to realize it takes a lot of overhead to run a big brick-and-mortar chain, and they are there when you need something in a pinch, even if it is at a premium cost.
.

I agree with all of your points. A price is only EXCESSIVE only if you are FORCED to pay it. But you never are. You choose to based on need and circumstance. So I am very cool with WM. I buy a lot of sailboat gear (two racing programs) and do most of it on-line from an assortment of vendors, including WM (who will ship to the store for free). But if I NEED something right now, I love that they are 5 minutes from my slip. And I'm happy to pay a premium for them stocking the item locally and having it there waiting for me to come buy it.

 

[CloudDiver]

I agree with all of your points. A price is only EXCESSIVE only if you are FORCED to pay it. But you never are. You choose to based on need and circumstance. So I am very cool with WM. I buy a lot of sailboat gear (two racing programs) and do most of it on-line from an assortment of vendors, including WM (who will ship to the store for free). But if I NEED something right now, I love that they are 5 minutes from my slip. And I'm happy to pay a premium for them stocking the item locally and having it there waiting for me to come buy it.

Jack, do you get the Port-Supply Discount? I'm pretty sure its a 30% across the board discount, and if your racing programs have some kind of documentation I'm sure they would honor that just like a business license.

 

[Jackdaw]

Jack, do you get the Port-Supply Discount? I'm pretty sure its a 30% across the board discount, and if your racing programs have some kind of documentation I'm sure they would honor that just like a business license.

We are not, but a guy in our fleet with a HUGE program is. You're SUPPOSED to be a bona-fide reseller so I'm not sure how he pulls that off. Anyway I do use his account; he is only too happy to let other boats in to help him make his annual volume commitment to keep his level of discount.

 

[kimelmore]

Cloud Diver, I loved going to Downwind on Saturday. We will be back down on Friday and I have a shopping list that I plan on using when I go back in there.