West Marine is losing my business

[Don S/V ILLusion]

are these really the facts?

This makes absolutely no sense -"I was screwed by WM the first time I bought something from them. I ordered two 14’ jib tracks and they only ordered one. They expected me to pay shipping again for the second one for $90.00! I paid the shipping because I had no choice. "WM does not require shipping from their DCs to their stores. Even if true, it presumes that if both were actually ordered, you somehow believe you would only have to pay to ship one.This is why I dislike it when someone bashes any retailer. They either confuse the facts or won't admit it was by choice they shop there or in this case, both

 

[Maine Sail]

Nope..!

Quote:"2008 catalog I haven't received a 2008 catalog yet, is anyone in the same boat? I usually buy a couple things from them every year, but no catalog yet. It is one of the winter highlights for me." Nope you have to drive to the store and grovel for one! Even as a fairly high dollar West Advantage member (staring at over $100.00 in West Advantage coupons as I type) they still did NOT send me a catalog..I got catalogs from:Hamilton MarineConsumers Marine ElectronicsDefenderJack RabbitHolland Marine ProductsBut none from West Marine. Not surprising though!!!P.S. Here's a good one for you;Ancor Products Ratcheting CrimperWest Marine Price $104.99Hamilton Marine Price $62.99At normal retail the West Marine price is $42.00 MORE and it's selling for MORE than Ancor's suggested list or SUGGESTED retail price!!!P.S. With my commercial discount at Hamilton I paid considerably less than $62.99 so WM is making a HUGE profit on just this one item and three are hundreds more!

 

[higgs]

I got my catalog

According to the guy at the store West has to pay $6 for the delivery of each catalog.

 

[Ernie]

colr me disappointed too

I, too, like so many others here have had my fill of West Marine. Thankfully the Defender outlet is just five minutes from the house! These days, West is nothing more than a last resort if I really need something that Defender might not have (which is rare).

 

[jimbooth]

Still, it's nice to have a store you can

walk in to and look at some products. I too shop on line primarily, but some times I just want to look around at stuff. I'm thankful that there is a West Marine available. I suggest supporting them a little just so they stick around.Jim

 

[Arthur Griffiths]

West Marine and business

Like all businesses's any chandler can only stock so much. I first discovered West Marine in Toms River in NJ when I bought my 272 in March 2003. The staff, mature and experienced, broke some of the rules to supply me with the fitting out for the trip back to Canada, especially with some of the items that weren't in stock, and held items and price for 6 weeks until I was able to return when the canals had reopened.I've received their catalogue every year since, and specially appreciate the arrival of stores in Canada. First it made the Canadain chandlers more competitive, they are generally the first with new products and although over priced on some items, I can still visit my local chandler and purchase from him. Latest example the new Marinco right/angled shore power connector, which my local chandler is going to supply me with at 15% off WM's price. They also were the only chandler that kept AGM batteries in stock when I changed last year.So long live competition.Lastly chandlers are not the only trade with the same sort of problems, I check my local Home Depot for items, then visit my local small town hardware store and see if they can match the price. There is a need to support both types of units so that we get the best of both worlds.Arthur GriffithsThames Lad

 

[RAD]

The WM near me

Have a lot of stock but most of the time I'm planning ahead for a project and shop at Defender and its at my door within days or the internet for hardware. I get sale coupons all the time for 20% off and take advanage of it if I need the item,I also use there catalog as a guide to see whats available.There is another WM in another town that a friend shops at and he tells me the stock at that store sucks but when you need something at least you can get the item and move on so what you paid a little extra.Most recently I've been looking at the store on this site and like defender its at my door within daysBTWMaine Sail:I ordered a catalog online and it was at my door 2 days later

 

[Rick Sylvester]

Occasionally. Which is why

I've learned to ALWAYS ask the question, "Do you have it on the shelf?" Followed by, "Please pull it and put my name on it, I'll be right there."Your issue isn't a WM issue. It isn't a marine issue. It's a retail issue.You're making a good point which is why you've got to protect yourself and be proactive. If you rely on the tender mercies of the store then you're going to be disappointed on a frequent basis. Defend yourself.I buy from WM when it suits me. I buy from other chandleries when it suits me. I buy online when it suits me.Suit yourself.

 

[Maine Sail]

It's called...

Quote:" According to the guy at the store West has to pay $6 for the delivery of each catalog."It's called a marketing expenditure and they have a marketing department with a marketing budget. Defender has ONE store same with Jack Rabbit and they can to figure it out but the suits at West Marine can't figure out how to send West Advantage member and customer who spent over 4k last year with them a freaking catalog like they are supposed to??? Hell with the margin they make on crimpers alone they should be able to send one to every forum member here..Support Phil !!!!P.S. I'm on my way to WM right now with both my Defender and Hamiliton Marine catalogs in hand, for price matching, to cash in some of my West Advantage bucks. I always love the look on Dan's face when he sees the price they sell stuff for vs. what Hamilton or Defender do... He usually just shakes his head in disgust cause he's a pretty good guy and very apologetic for his companies actions...

 

[JungleJetJock]

Maine

I hate to rub it in, but I got a WM catalog this year...and it was free.

 

[Ross]

Whenever I call a merchant for price and availability

I write down the numbers and ask for the name of the person I am speaking with. That will put them in a position where I can demand to know why I was given false information.

 

[Lou 14643]

On the other hand...

a couple of positive experiences with local West Marines.I bought a gallon of bottom paint from one of their stores, prepared to pay $149. When I got to checkout, the clerk told me it was my lucky day. The paint was marked down to $49 as it had a "bad label." As far as I could see the label was a little faded. I asked if it was old paint, and he said "nope, just came through as "defective packaging" so you win. Second experience a few days later in a different store. I was looking for 24 machine screws. They didn't stock them in 5/8" length, which I needed. First the inventory guy told me I'd have to pay shipping charge if he ordered them for me, but then said, "give me your number and let me call you back." He got back to me a few hours later to tell me that he had to go to a meeting in Annapolis (he was in a Baltimore store) that evening, and he'd be glad to bring them back for me, no shipping charge, if I could wait 'til tomorrow. Sure, I said. When I went to pick them up the next day, he was not there, the hardware was waiting for me, and the store manager could not find the price on the shelf, since they were not a stock item. I told her that they were in the catalog at 15 cents each, same as the 3/4 inch size. She gave them to me for 9 cents, to account for my trouble. Granted, this was not a huge cost to them, but the spirit of the service told me volumes about their desire to have a satisfied customer. I won't spend more there than I can find item on line or elsewhere, but I'll certainly give them a chance.

 

[Tim R.]

Maine Sail

I think it was the marketing department that said not to mail them even if they had the budget dollars to do so. I received a card with a $20(after spending $100) coupon that made me go into the store to get the catalog. It really is a great reference for parts and I think they know it. Of course when I went in to get the catalog, I also used the $20 coupon to buy some more lines. I would say their campaign may have worked(at least in my case).BTW, have a safe trip next week.

 

[bffatcat]

Mest marine my 2c

There is a west marine and two independent marine supplies within 2 miles of where I live. The WM carries a minimum of in stock items. They rely heavily onshipping from their warehouse. The 2 independents are always much cheaper.If they dont have it they can get what you need in the same time frame as WMI use west marine only if I need something immediately and they have it instock and the 2 independents dont.

 

[jcherubini]

I work at West Marine

West Marine is my weekend 'moonlight job'. Call store 110 in NJ on a Sat. or Sun. and ask for me. We'll get it solved, no double talk, no hassle, no clueless looks when you ask. Whatever we do will be the best we can do.Some stores are what they are. I'm sorry for that. Then again some stores actually like you, know the business and the stuff in the store, and feel like doing a good deed for you today... every day. ('The BEST boat-parts experience, EVERY DAY' =WM mission statement.)At least all the WM-brand product prices came down. Thank the new CEO, who actually uses boats himself.JC

 

[Does Not Matter]

BTW

By the way I thought I'd let you guys know a few details about a simple gallon of paint. I did not include my name (Phil I'm sure knows who I am) for fear of retribution by West Marine on my Port Supply account.Here's the skinny.One gallon of West Marine's PCA multi-season ablative paint (their BEST bottom paint):West Marine Price: $179.00 galWest Marine Sale Price: $159.00 galPort Supply Price (same physical store): $139.00 galJust know that even at $139.00 these guys are still making plenty of money off me and their SALE prices are not even polite enough to be at the Port Supply price!Just and FYI so you don't need to feel sorry for them sending out $6.00 catalogs.

 

[Rick D]

Speaking of Port Supply...

...I think it's been a real problem for WM. Around here, only dummies like me don't have a PS card. Almost everyone who knew someone who worked there, or their brother-in-law or cousin got one. Aside from the fact it's a real irritant to have it shoved in your face all the time, it must foul up their pricing a lot. My daughter worked there once but it just seemed a bit sleazy for my taste to use that route. There rules are a lot stricter than their day to day practice. BTW, it was a great place to work and they seemed like a very good employer at least some years ago. RD

 

[Daryl]

West Marine ain't good

They charge way over MSRP for most items. Many of their employees know this and are embarrassed about it. Their new price match policy was changed to only include "competitors" who also over charge.Most employees there are morons. Who else can they get with low wages?West is always the last place to check for supplies or parts. Thanks to West Marine, BOAT US now sucks also.I'm glad they are too cheap to send me a catalog

 

[George]

Morons?

"Most employees there are morons" ????From my dictionary: "Moron: A person of mild mental retardation having a mental age of from 7 to 12 years and generally having communication and social skills enabling some degree of academic or vocational education. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive."This characterization is not consistent with my experience at our West Marine here in town. I think it's OK to vote with your feet, but to attack a group of people in this way is unacceptable.

 

[Brian B321]

West Marine - Toronto - Lakeshore was great

I've been waiting a while to spring for a Raymarine C80 and 125 receiver - Today, I went back to test WM's price match policy. - No problem - John went on the Boaters world website and five minutes later I had a C80 and 125 tucked under my arm at great prices without the delivery charges & importing issues but with the West Marine advantage points. For those of us in Southern Ontario its great to know WM will match boaters world and defender.  - Very few retailers are perfect but I've had good experience with WM. and like this new price match policy that incudes the big .com's!