West Marine

[higgs]

There have been plenty of posts panning WM, but they have served me well over the years. Today brought another example to me of how they operate. I have a Groco toilet. It is a high end unit and as such, parts are tough to find. I needed a new joker valve and in a hurry. I called every chandlery within 60 miles as I need the valve to leave for a cruise in two days. No one had it. I called a WM in Irondequit, NY whom, after quite a search, could not produce the part. I finally found it through the 800 number, but it will cost me $30 to get it when I need it. Anyways, the WM in Irondequit called me back a couple of hours later to tell me they could getr me the part. It is an $11 part and they could have easily just blown me off as it was hardly worth their effort. None the less, they went the extra mile to find this part for me. This is not the first time a WM has gone out of their way to get me what I needed.

 

[Ross]

WM is a merchant and like all merchants need to stay in business. That means they need and are entitled to making a profit and that they have a wide variety of hired help. Some of those people are great empolyees and some are marginal. If you get what you need, when you need it and have had good service everything has worked the way it should.
That said WM is not the most economical place to buy some products. That is not their fault. If you pay more for a product at WM than you might have somewhere else it is your lack of foresight that caused the waste of your money.

 

[jackhartjr]

I deliver to a lot of West Marines stores in the south.
I have never been treated as well by any shipper, anywhere.
The folks in the stores are among the most professional I have seen.
I have commented to a few of them that I have never met a 'jerk' at West Marine. The comment I always get is that they weed them out.
Are they high, on some stuff yeah! But you can't beat the service!
Jack
PS, a couple of deliveries are early morning...wwaayy before sun up. The cats are happy even then!

 

[MrBee]

I have stated in the past, my dislike for their prices and I will go some place else when I can.... BUT I have to give them credit for being all over the place and convienent. When ordering online, if you call they will match advertised price.

Bee

 

[OdayDave]

Always treated me well

In the Midwest there aren't a lot of options for marine stores. The lack of competition is sometimes a recipe for poor customer service, but I have to say, they have always provided great service, including on return items. I do buy plenty of things online and there is a local marine shop (specializing mainly in motorboats) that I go to quite a bit. However, I have no complaints about West Marine and will continue to use them. In every store I have gone into, they are professional and courteous and try to help when you have questions. That's my 2 cents.

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[TimCup]

There's an old proverb I subscribe to:

"A man will pay two dollars for a one dollar item if he needs it now. A woman will buy a two dollar item for a dollar even when she doesn't need it".

Yeah, I know it's sexist, and I hope not to offend, but I still find it true in my life to this day......



cup

 

[bffatcat]

West marine my 2c

There are 5 independent marine supplys within a 30 minute drive from me and of course a couple of west marines. I will say this for them: they usually have what I need in stock. Sometimes the independents do sometimes they dont. One thing is for sure, West prices
are always substantially higher.

 

[TimCup]

And, again, for the record, I am a Man-

and by that, I mean if I want something, I shop around. If I NEED something, NOW, well, God bless West Marine!

Shoot, there are times, like early Saturday morning, when I'd be willing to pay more than WM's prices!! I want to get out there. Now!


cup

 

[Ross in Tampa]

This Monday morning, I was loading my 25 Oday onto the trailer and the winch strap broke. Sounded like a shotgun going off. I consider myself lucky that there was a West Marine 5 minutes away from my ramp. I was able to get what I need right now and change out the strap and be out of the water within 20 minutes. Yes, I paid more than what I probably should have, but, 10 am on Labor Day, I was happy.

 

[Shooter II]

You know, I shop at the WM in Edgewater so often they call me by name when I come in. Been to other WM and always the same good to excellent service. They've custom ordered items for me and gotten me the best price they could. Not at all ashamed to say I shop there.
I stop at the KMart and Ace Hardware or Lowes before going though.

 

[higgs]

WM's policy is to match prices, so why the issue over them overcharging? Just bring in the other guy's catalog.

 

[Steve Dion]

The WM stores on the left coast do not price match from a store to a catalog. They will price match mail order to another mail order from my experience.

There are not a lot of other retailers around to purchase from so price matching in the retail world is not that easy to deal with.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I thought I would never buy any thing from them. But at the prompting of Stu from 'San Fran', I stopped into the store here in San Antonio for a catalog, and talked to a lady for 2 hours, just killing time. I was honest with her and said I was as tight as birch on a tree when it came to money, but I was interested in a grill on the 'let's make a deal table'. She actually talked me out of it and ordered a discontinued magma for me for $70. She had to call a number of stores and continued calling the next day until she found one for me. Her name is Ann. She said she and her husband and moving onto their Cadalac 40 in Houston.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I went to pick up the grill today. The awsome lady that helped me wasn't there. But another guy was. It was a charcole magna not a gas magna. But they had gas magnas on sale for $99. He sold me one of those and threw in the rail mount for $95 total. At first I offered him $90. Then he told me their cost was $90. Like I exactly guessed thier cost, please. Never the less the service from the lady was exceptional.

 

[Shooter II]

My attitude about WM is the same as most things.
If you know you can get it cheaper and they won't match, then either you're foolish buying it there, the sales clerk was "hot" (got your money's worth), the other choices were not convenient (convenience costs). I really have no time for those who overspend and then complain. Kind of like a job. If you have a better offer, take it, else you are taking the best offer available. If Defender beats WM, buy it there. If PYacht has 'em beat, buy it there. No need to complain about their pricing. 'Less you like to complain.

 

[NotCook]

No need to complain about their pricing. 'Less you like to complain.

Shooter, I DO like to complain! I consider it my hobby (I must, I do it so much). But, I'm good at it...

 

[Tim R.]

WM has internet access in every store I have ever been in. Just have them look up the price at Defender.com for a price match. A lot of Defender's prices are lower than the Port Supply(WM wholesale) prices. Although I generally like WM, I miss the former manager who was awesome at customer service. The new manager is definitely more profit oriented. Therefore I shop at our local chandlery(Hamilton Marine) first before going to WM.

 

[bffatcat]

west marine 2nd comment

West is less than a mile from my house and a few hundered yards from my club very convenient
I stopped in there the other day to pick up a small no frills block for a 5/16 line No becket, no swivel their price 28.99. I couldnt believe it. I went to the independent a town over. exact same harken block $14.99. Im done in West If I cant get what I need from the independent Ill get it mail order from Hamilton or defender and jury rig something until I have the right part.