West Marine to Acquire BoatU.S. Retail, Catalog & Wholesale Operations Business Wire - January 14, 2003 16:01
- Status
Good for them!
You could see West's catalog grown in page count while Boat US's slipped. Service is better, more stores, hungrier attitude.
You could see West's catalog grown in page count while Boat US's slipped. Service is better, more stores, hungrier attitude.
The evil empire!
Any small manufacturer who has dealt with West Marine knows that they scre the little guy. They did it to me, then I got into Boat US- wow! Where is Teddy Rosevelt wheyn you need him! Jim W
Any small manufacturer who has dealt with West Marine knows that they scre the little guy. They did it to me, then I got into Boat US- wow! Where is Teddy Rosevelt wheyn you need him! Jim W
This is not a good thing.
Currently the two stores are two blocks apart in Port Clinton. No more comparison shopping. No more price matching. There are very few small chandleries in our area. It makes me nervous to think of how much more I will be paying for "marine" stuff. Tom
Currently the two stores are two blocks apart in Port Clinton. No more comparison shopping. No more price matching. There are very few small chandleries in our area. It makes me nervous to think of how much more I will be paying for "marine" stuff. Tom
Shop on the internet first.
I guess we will have to shop on the internet first. Take you catalog from the other stores with you. They price match on internet ads too. You just have to play the game with them. This also makes a better reason to shop on the Sailboat Owners website.
I guess we will have to shop on the internet first. Take you catalog from the other stores with you. They price match on internet ads too. You just have to play the game with them. This also makes a better reason to shop on the Sailboat Owners website.
West Marine has HORRIBLE Policies in place
I tend to agree w/Tom And Will. This is not good. The lack of competition is just one aspect. I will be honest and say I don't mind WestMarine and I am happy with their service in general. Plus they put out one of the best marine catalogs on the planet (with great reference articles) BUT. I DO NOT LIKE what they do to the poor enteprenuers out there trying to establish a product. For instance.... I was just at the Atalntic City Sailboat show and as usual the Port-O-Seat (not 100% sure of company name) people were there with their great ratcheting/folding chairs. I also noticed West Marine was selling them also (or what looked like them) But the West Marine version was a 2 for 1 deal. I come to find out that WM used to sell the Port-O-Seat until they copied the design and started selling the cheap knockoff ones made in China. NO the quality is not as good, but when you walk into the West Marine store you do not have the option of seeing the original better made one. I asked the original manufacturer why they couldn't stop them, like patents or copyrights and they said they tried but it was't patentable (even though they were the first to come up with this particualr configuration) THEY RIPPED off these poor people. But the uneducated and deceived consumer would think its the original thing -- (its not---its cheaply made) I hope the original Co. stays in business. I heard they also did this with TefGel company (great product for corrosion protection with unique formula) and West Marine has now dropped the original Co. and knocked off their own cheaply made imitation called TufGel (can you believe it !!). I have been told it is NOT the same formula and will not protect as well. Deception again. I would boycott west marine, but it will only hurt the local guy that owns the store and its not his policy. So from now on I will not purchase ANYTHING substantial from west marine, unless I need it in an emergency or quickly. I will use them for comparison shopping and give my business elsewhere.
I tend to agree w/Tom And Will. This is not good. The lack of competition is just one aspect. I will be honest and say I don't mind WestMarine and I am happy with their service in general. Plus they put out one of the best marine catalogs on the planet (with great reference articles) BUT. I DO NOT LIKE what they do to the poor enteprenuers out there trying to establish a product. For instance.... I was just at the Atalntic City Sailboat show and as usual the Port-O-Seat (not 100% sure of company name) people were there with their great ratcheting/folding chairs. I also noticed West Marine was selling them also (or what looked like them) But the West Marine version was a 2 for 1 deal. I come to find out that WM used to sell the Port-O-Seat until they copied the design and started selling the cheap knockoff ones made in China. NO the quality is not as good, but when you walk into the West Marine store you do not have the option of seeing the original better made one. I asked the original manufacturer why they couldn't stop them, like patents or copyrights and they said they tried but it was't patentable (even though they were the first to come up with this particualr configuration) THEY RIPPED off these poor people. But the uneducated and deceived consumer would think its the original thing -- (its not---its cheaply made) I hope the original Co. stays in business. I heard they also did this with TefGel company (great product for corrosion protection with unique formula) and West Marine has now dropped the original Co. and knocked off their own cheaply made imitation called TufGel (can you believe it !!). I have been told it is NOT the same formula and will not protect as well. Deception again. I would boycott west marine, but it will only hurt the local guy that owns the store and its not his policy. So from now on I will not purchase ANYTHING substantial from west marine, unless I need it in an emergency or quickly. I will use them for comparison shopping and give my business elsewhere.
Island Girl used to outsell their own brand
So they stopped the manager buy system especially after they bought out E
So they stopped the manager buy system especially after they bought out E
Its not good for us... never is
when the main competition is knocked out of the picture. I am a member of both and find one will have a sell on what I need when the other one does not... now, watch out Sailnet.
when the main competition is knocked out of the picture. I am a member of both and find one will have a sell on what I need when the other one does not... now, watch out Sailnet.
Sailnet here I come.
And P-Yacht and Defender. Like Tom I comparison shop at Port Clinton, OH where BoatUS is always the first stop. When is this going to occur?
And P-Yacht and Defender. Like Tom I comparison shop at Port Clinton, OH where BoatUS is always the first stop. When is this going to occur?
Shouldn't they have DOJ anti-trust approval?
On the other hand it worked for Microsoft but THEY were making a profit! Jim W
On the other hand it worked for Microsoft but THEY were making a profit! Jim W
Why sailnet when you can go right here!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed I don't understand why you would go to Sailnet when you can support sailboatowners.com
Ed I don't understand why you would go to Sailnet when you can support sailboatowners.com
Options
Boaters World is expanding, at least in SoCal. I have used Defender for decades. But, there is little question that the selection, inventory and service of WM is standard-setting. There are plenty of options and competitors will fill needs. BTW, I'm old enough to remember when there were few marine store options and we paid through the nose with marginal selections. Jim's points are valid re: supplier relationships (think Sears) but that has a tendency to be counterproductive taken too far (think Sears again). And, look how HOW has filled a needed market too. Rick D.
Boaters World is expanding, at least in SoCal. I have used Defender for decades. But, there is little question that the selection, inventory and service of WM is standard-setting. There are plenty of options and competitors will fill needs. BTW, I'm old enough to remember when there were few marine store options and we paid through the nose with marginal selections. Jim's points are valid re: supplier relationships (think Sears) but that has a tendency to be counterproductive taken too far (think Sears again). And, look how HOW has filled a needed market too. Rick D.
Makes me verrrry nervous!
Unfortunately there is no Boat US outlet here in town but the concept of this concerns me. WM's prices have already shot up
Unfortunately there is no Boat US outlet here in town but the concept of this concerns me. WM's prices have already shot up
Hey Charlie,. . .
I love HOW! But I am a working stiff, price matters. Why else would I buy half my stuff on E-Bay? Then there is the issue of selection. SailNet, Defender, and P-Yacht have it all. I also like Jamestown Distributors and Sailors-Exhange. My own marina has a fine chandlery. Their 5/16" HT chain is about $3.75 a foot compared to $2.79 at P-Yacht for example. That hundred buck difference for a 100 feet probably doesn't phase a lot of "yachties".
I love HOW! But I am a working stiff, price matters. Why else would I buy half my stuff on E-Bay? Then there is the issue of selection. SailNet, Defender, and P-Yacht have it all. I also like Jamestown Distributors and Sailors-Exhange. My own marina has a fine chandlery. Their 5/16" HT chain is about $3.75 a foot compared to $2.79 at P-Yacht for example. That hundred buck difference for a 100 feet probably doesn't phase a lot of "yachties".
It's all a cycle
You see this kind of thing in the airline industry all the time (or at least, in the old days of the airline industry...). Companies consolidate and reduce competition, prices rise, service decreases, and it leaves room for the smaller, nimble companies to carve out a bigger slice of the market. Some of the really enterprising little guys (like SW Airlines for example) reinvent the category and grow big. I'd say that mid- to long-term, this is great news for smaller marine retailers. WM's prices will no doubt increase in the markets where they have monopoly. They have that much less reason to be competitive, leaving the door open for other retailers to waltz in and undercut them. Oh -- and Ed -- while we don't claim to have the selection here that you see at SN, WM, PY, etc., if you compare apples to apples you'll find our prices are competitive with anyone, espeically on the custom and higher-ticket stuff.
You see this kind of thing in the airline industry all the time (or at least, in the old days of the airline industry...). Companies consolidate and reduce competition, prices rise, service decreases, and it leaves room for the smaller, nimble companies to carve out a bigger slice of the market. Some of the really enterprising little guys (like SW Airlines for example) reinvent the category and grow big. I'd say that mid- to long-term, this is great news for smaller marine retailers. WM's prices will no doubt increase in the markets where they have monopoly. They have that much less reason to be competitive, leaving the door open for other retailers to waltz in and undercut them. Oh -- and Ed -- while we don't claim to have the selection here that you see at SN, WM, PY, etc., if you compare apples to apples you'll find our prices are competitive with anyone, espeically on the custom and higher-ticket stuff.
West Marine is Corporate, not Franchised
I can't really get into this because as part of my tenure as an employee of West Marine I agreed to keep things 'company secret,' but I wanted to put this out there: West Marine stores are all corporate. NONE are franschised. Boycott away. You can only help the litte guy. If you can't find what you need here and you want a great catalog source at competitive prices, while still patronizing a small (two stores, huge warehouse), family owned business call Hamilton Marine - link through below. Justin - O'day Owners' Web - only a small chip on my shoulder.
I can't really get into this because as part of my tenure as an employee of West Marine I agreed to keep things 'company secret,' but I wanted to put this out there: West Marine stores are all corporate. NONE are franschised. Boycott away. You can only help the litte guy. If you can't find what you need here and you want a great catalog source at competitive prices, while still patronizing a small (two stores, huge warehouse), family owned business call Hamilton Marine - link through below. Justin - O'day Owners' Web - only a small chip on my shoulder.
Maybe I'm missing something
I have a local West Marine, a Boater's World and two local chandleries. I have friends who work in the four different marine stores and I like them all. I haven't found WM to be higher in prices and they always have a good selection of products. There isn't that many different brands that you can buy for a boat when you come right down to it. I feel for those that don't have the competition that my town has but I suspect that your local WM store has the same prices that mine does even with my local competition that is present. For the moment, I'm going to continue to like West Marine and all the other marines sources for my toys.
I have a local West Marine, a Boater's World and two local chandleries. I have friends who work in the four different marine stores and I like them all. I haven't found WM to be higher in prices and they always have a good selection of products. There isn't that many different brands that you can buy for a boat when you come right down to it. I feel for those that don't have the competition that my town has but I suspect that your local WM store has the same prices that mine does even with my local competition that is present. For the moment, I'm going to continue to like West Marine and all the other marines sources for my toys.
Far from a monopoly
WM has matched price on several occasions to the tune of thousands of dollars for me. Not once was it against Boat/US. Frankly, I've never seen a competitive price from BoatUS. Defender, Sailnet, scores of Internet sellers, but not BoatUS. I am not the least bit worried.
WM has matched price on several occasions to the tune of thousands of dollars for me. Not once was it against Boat/US. Frankly, I've never seen a competitive price from BoatUS. Defender, Sailnet, scores of Internet sellers, but not BoatUS. I am not the least bit worried.
- Status