West Marine is losing my business

[Jim Seamans]

WM is getting very frustrating attempting to buy from. I called my local store on Wednesday to see if they had Collinite 925 and 3m Imperial Compound and "Yeah we have both". Got to the store today and its not on the shelf. "But what happened to the we have it" - It's at the warehouse and we can have it in by Tuesday or Wednesday. Talking to one of the clerks, she told me they have been pulling product or not re-stocking the shelves and not really telling anyone until the last minute. She asked if I wanted to order it and I said no. Why would I want to give WM my money if they don't want to stock items. I can get via the web cheaper.Are any of you experiencing problems like this????Edit: just ordered from Jamestown Dist and will have the product Tuesday. $23 cheaper at Jamestown including shipping..

 

[Napa Ed]

West Marine

Sorry to hear that. There is news online if you look. Delaying their fourth quarter report while they look over the numbers, stock price down quite a bit in the last year. Sometimes business gets tough and playing close to the vest is the best short term strategy. They were down in 2000 with the economy. When you cater to discretionary income you take it in the shorts with everyone else.They are looking for a svp for marketing. Maybe letterman can get a job there?

 

[Rick D]

Inventory Has Slimmed Way Down

Although, I am pretty loyal to WM given I was around when they didn't exist and have seen their value in having the inventory I need when I need it. For example, I tore some grounding foil 3/4 through a job and needed some right now. They had it (one package) and I paid a premium for it, but it was worth it for me. However, I have grown so used to them not having what I need, I generally buy from guys like Defender or other on-line sources, especially here at SBO, if I need something that isn't critical. I save a ton over WM prices. They are obviously having to deal with some serious issues, and the brick and mortar may be a burden, but at this point, I have to agree with Jim, it's all they have. I wish them the best of luck. They have supported boating, transformed the supply chain and made our lives much easier maintaining and improving our boats. Bad decisions can ruin them if too short-sighted. Rick D.

 

[larry w]

Whe WM first came on the scene

they were probably the only place you could get shackles, blocks, varnish, sandpaper and line all at the same place. In those days they were eager to please and they were buying up all the smaller chains and the mom-and-pop marine hardware stores, but gradually they began to carry fewer and fewer items, and less of the ones they did carry. I began to notice that if I needed 12 screws, they only had 8. If I needed a certain pump impeller, they only had the whole pump, then they didn't even have the pump cause it was very popular model and they didn't keep their inventory up. More than once I bought the store display cause it was the only one they had. Complaints to clerks brought only sympathy and promises to do better, but not results. I try to support my local brick and mortar store, but they make it difficult. Location is another sore point; they have two stores in Newport Beach and two in Dana Point, one in Long Beach, but they can't put a small one, for those little things you need, in Shoreline Village so serve the Shoreline Marina? WTF?

 

[Tim R.]

Corporate changes

WM has been planning a massive store remodel for many of their stores. As a result and it being a slow part of the season, they had stopped stocking in anticipation of this change. Because of the 4th quarter report, they scrapped the idea. The stocks should be growing again to get ready for spring. Don't give up on WM. I have gotten to know the manager and asst. manager at my local store and they are super. They are always ready to beat anyone else's price for me. I have even gotten free items. They are now my first choice for a local chandlery becasue they are close and will dicker on price. I can usually get them very close to internet pricing and the tax vs shipping cancel each other out. But I still get my rewards checks which is like another 5% off.Get to know the guys in you local store and if you show them some loyalty, you may just be surprised how generous they can be. Of course I know of some stores in other areas that I have visited where the employees were pretty lousy. I would encourage you to contact the regional manager. They want to know when these things happen and want to fix it.And if you are a big fan of buying locally, well the guys in my store live and work locally so I don't feel bad about spending my money there. Especially since the local guys cater mostly to commercial fisherman.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I'm not an apologist for WM,

but would offer that the retail brick and mortar chandelry business is a pretty low margin affair. I've had mostly good luck with WM over the years, but then my expectations have never been very high for them either. With the advent of online shopping, their margins have gotten even slimmer and they may be experimenting with a variaton of the "just in time" method of stocking/shipping goods. I would also guess that the general downturn in the economy will spill over to the boating industry which will get hurt in a number of obvious ways. If I were in that business, I'd buckle up....

 

[Capt. Sid]

Shop the WM catalog buy from Defender

I had to laugh when I saw this thread. I hardly ever buy anything from West Marine. They are always and I mean ALWAYS overpriced. I love their catalogs though so I order the catalogs to browse through items then I order from Defender, Jamestown Dist., or another online supplier. I just completed a complete paint job on my 27 foot Watkins. I priced all my supplies by adding them to a cart online at West Marine and then at Defender. Guess what, I saved over 400 dollars by ordering from Defender. No taxes and even with shipping I paid less for the very same products.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Low Margins at Worst Marine?

That's why they have the big warehouses. My local chandlery beats WM prices on everything. WM has done nothing for boating except buy every competitor, and raise prices. There is no discount on anything except for the 2% you get back on your purchases, which you have to spend at WM. I know you can get more back, but you have to buy a membership to do it. I quit WM last year, and I don't miss it.

 

[dancing bear]

I can't complain

They are nice to me, they price match, they have given me free stuff, they are 15 minutes from my house, and on the way to the Marina. Their recent special on VC17 was a good one, and the timing was just right.The other really local guy is the wrong way, the place is sloppy and dirty, and his stock is very light.

 

[caguy]

Old guys rule!

It seems as though they have hires a lot of young kids that have never seen or been on a boat. some of the older clerks are knowledgeable. We have two Wms only a block from one another. One caters more toward sailors and the other is well stocked with everything else. The young kids tend to be lazy. I needed to buy some brackets from them but the only had 3 of the 4 I needed. He called to the other store who apparently looked it up on the computer and they had all four in stock. I left the three that I had and went to the other store. Where as mentioned, they were remodeling and everything was packed away in boxes. Nothing was on the shelves. I wasted about a 1/2 hr. with them before I went home and found some stainless stock and make my own.In all fairness though they are usually helpful. I now look for the oldest guy there. FrankPS: For those int he area, The Anchor in Reseda is a good place to shop. They are well stocked but as most marine stores they are not cheap. The owner is usually there and has a great sense of humor, its a fun place to part with your money.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

didn't think it's been 6 months

since the last WM bashing. Seems to occur like clockwork every Fall and again in the Spring with the same issues - limited inventory, high prices, unknowledgeable staff, ordering snafus, etc...I vote that every person who complains MUST make a purchase from the chandlery here as a prerequisite to posting another WM criticism

 

[Brian D]

Per Don - S/V Illusion h40.5

I did. I've purchased several things here that I could have gotten at WM. But I was in no rush, so if SBO has it, I get it.Right now I need plastic shackles for the foot of my main. WM has them for 5/$10! Nope, don't need them that bad.

 

[BOBCAT]

WEST MARINE - OTHER OPTIONS

I have found that i can save money by shopping on the net. That seems to be the trend. This could be helping West Marine fall short of its original goal. I used to go to store and get some really useful informtion by just talking to the sales person. The people working the store were all boaters. Oh for larry w. from long beach, there used to be a marina hardware store in shoreline.........it went under for lack of sales.

 

[48dodge]

Boater's World

We have a Boater's World just a few blocks from the West marine here in town. They carry a large percentage of what WM carries and are usually quite a bit cheaper. I tend to steer clear of both of them since most things can be bought online for quite a bit less. I did receive $200 in WM gift cards from my parents for xmas, so I have to pick and choose carefully. I have to admit that when they hold a sale on some items, they can be had for very cheap.

 

[Kris13969]

Over priced

Seem to charge to much for me, I get sticker shock in the store.I have gone to store to buy something on sale twice now and it is not in stock. They offer to transfer it in and it will be there in a few days. I rather it be there. G.P.S. I went to buy was not there that was on sale. So I went online and bought it $70 cheaper than West Marine sale price online at other place in Arizona.

 

[Liam]

Give them a chance

West Marine is a really great company and resource. Sure they have been through some tough times and have made some mistakes... but they know it.When they originally started it was Randy Repass (founder) and Geoff Eisenberg (second in command). Those two guys are really knowlegable sailors and did a fantastic job creating the biggest and maybe the best marine supply company ever.After an unpresidented growth and 20 years of hard work they both stepped down and turned the day to day functions of the company over to "Businessmen" who were not sailors. Guess what? That didn't work. They now know it.The good news is Geoff Eisenberg has just returned as CEO. My guess is that things will get better quickly. At least I hope so.I am not saying that I buy all my supplies there. Some of there pricing is just nuts. Maybe even insulting. They definately need to get back on track. Support them when you can, hate them if you want, personally I'm glad to have them around.

 

[David]

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.

 

[T37 Phil]

Same trend

The last few times I went to the local WM, they didn't have what I wanted but said they could get it in a week from the warehouse (on their scheduled delivery day). That store is now closed, as well as the one in the next county over. Maybe they will become primarily an online supplier too (I did get their catalog in the mail). I wonder what percentage of their stores have failed.

 

[Dan H]

I quit using them also

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. Since then I went to a different WM store. They used to order items from the warehouse and have it in the store for me next time I came by. Now they will order the item from the warehouse and then charge me shipping! I'm not paying shipping for an item WM didn't order to have on the shelf in the first place! It’s on the truck anyway!I order on line from now on.

 

[Tom]

WM

I usually find the best price on line. Then print out the ad and take it to my local WM. They have always matched or given me a better deal. They are over priced. The locl managers realize this and will always work with you to keep your business. I agree, some of the seasoned managers are a great resource and are very helpfull. Then again, I have only ever gone to the one store in Highland Park, IL.