WM2011 Catalog

RAD · Feb 14, 2011

The bathroom wish book

woodster · Feb 14, 2011

when it comes to West Marine ....price matching is the only answer....

regards

woody

Peggie Hall HeadMistress · Feb 14, 2011

Catatalog actually costs WM very little

All the product mfrs in it pay a hefty amount that's based on the number products shown, b/w or color photographs (number of each)...column inches of copy (product description) etc etc etc. It used to be that whether your products made it onto shelves in the stores too, and how many stores, or whether your products were only available by mail order and/or online depended in part on how much catalog space and sale flyer space you bought.

Ron20324 · Feb 14, 2011

New West catalog

Okay, so hopefully everyone on these forums will get the new book and use it as a reference source and answer your own questions.:cussing:

Scott B · Feb 14, 2011

Up here they don't ship the catalog and you get a CD when you ask at the store, at least that was the way last year.

Jalepeno · Feb 14, 2011

Over here on the wet coast, they don't mail them but you can pick one up at the store if you are a member. The catalog is a great resource and remember they price match anyone.

I keep one at home and one on the boat. ps.. Also you don't have to have a computer with you and the batteries never run out.

Warren Milberg · Feb 15, 2011

I just bought some spring maintenance items at West Marine yesterday. I had previously looked up the prices on the Internet (Defender/Hamilton/Jamestown, etc) for the items I was buying. West gladly matched the prices and I think I saved over 40% from their listed prices. If you think West's prices are high, you are missing the boat on price matching...

ggrizzard · Feb 15, 2011

I got the 2011 catalog and compared it to the 2010 version and decided to keep the older one...
Believe it or not, it's got more info!

WayneH · Feb 15, 2011

Did you see this on the front page?

Looking for parts
or accessories?

Ask us first. If we can't give you a competitive price we'll find one for you.

Toll free 877-932-7245

They may not have everything but they support US, why not support them?

Ron20324 · Feb 15, 2011

In addition to this thread, I got an email from West this morning that the new books were out. I went to West, and they said, no, not until next week. Go figure.

joker460 · Feb 15, 2011

New online catalog is up today.

http://catalogs.westmarine.com/WebProject.asp?CodeId=7.4.4.3

Joe · Feb 16, 2011

Warren Milberg said:
I just bought some spring maintenance items at West Marine yesterday. I had previously looked up the prices on the Internet (Defender/Hamilton/Jamestown, etc) for the items I was buying. West gladly matched the prices and I think I saved over 40% from their listed prices. If you think West's prices are high, you are missing the boat on price matching...

That's all well and good..... but the insult is having to do the research, then ask for the competitive price after you come in with the verification..... If you saved 40% and they are still making money... then WM is screwing the regular schmuck that walks in off the street who needs a part today and doesn't have access to a computer.

Some retailers think price-matching is a competive way to do business. Not so... it's just the opposite... it's an admission that their prices are too high in the first place.... it means that you can't trust them to offer their products at a fair price. It also means that their management is unwilling to research the competition and establish their discounts up front. That is not the way to develop a trusting relationship with your boating community.

SamLust · Feb 16, 2011

I agree with Joe completely. For me WM is a last resort. I consider price matching in insult. I research and mail order. Shipping is usualy less tha NJ sales tax, And it gives me a chance to support guys like SBO and my local marine store guys, who actualy live in town.

Phil Herring · Feb 16, 2011

I have to agree with that. To me, a price matching policy is a retailer saying, "We'll gladly screw you if we can. But if you insist, we won't."

Steve Dion · Feb 16, 2011

What is really bad is when you go to one of their stores and need two of something and they only have one in stock. Many of us expect them to have proper inventory levels in their stores, but due to their computerized stocking levels they only stock based on sales.

Gary_H · Feb 16, 2011

I have to admit that I did use price matching at WM yesterday to buy a new chart plotter. I found the cheapest price on line and they did match it. The difference I guess is I have it in my hand now and not next week. I do understand the point though about why wasn't it competitively priced to begin with.

MJWarner · Feb 16, 2011

Well, another Good WM/Bad WM thread. Personally, I'm with Warren on this one. Why? If I'm going to buy a major geegaw for the boat, I'm going to research the pricing on the Internet. Sure, I can then just order it from the site, but by using WM, I get benefits. 1. $10. certificate for ea. $250. spent. 2. Better customer service from real people who know me by name and are willing to jump over themselves to keep me a happy customer. 3. I support a local business, which might be handy when I need to run down to the WM and get a needed little sumthin-sumthin immediately. I hate to not have them in business at that point. 4. When I was cruising last year, I was able to order something I needed, straight from "my guys" at "my store" and have them drop ship it to me within a week. I knew if I had an issue, they would have made it right FIRST, then sorted out the return/cost diff. shipping issues/ etc. later. This kind of support and service is important and appreciated by me. And no, I went to grab my catalog today, and they won't be in my store till Friday. But I did score a free rope reel to house the 600ft. of 5/8 three strand that I scored from my WM 2 weeks ago at .32cents per foot, 'cause they wanted to get it off of inventory (no spool) and I asked if they would make me a deal. It pays, it sure pays.

Liam · Feb 16, 2011

Joe said:
That's all well and good..... but the insult is having to do the research, then ask for the competitive price after you come in with the verification..... If you saved 40% and they are still making money... then WM is screwing the regular schmuck that walks in off the street who needs a part today and doesn't have access to a computer.

Some retailers think price-matching is a competive way to do business. Not so... it's just the opposite... it's an admission that their prices are too high in the first place.... it means that you can't trust them to offer their products at a fair price. It also means that their management is unwilling to research the competition and establish their discounts up front. That is not the way to develop a trusting relationship with your boating community.

Well said. I totally agree that price matching is an insult to those who are forced to use it and a rip-off to the customer who just walks in and pays the price thinking that they are getting a fair deal.
I also believe that the the re-sellers who do have fair and competative prices should be rewarded for doing so and not simply used as leverage to get the best price from WEST MARINE.

Don S/V ILLusion · Feb 16, 2011

Can't help but wonder why folks seem to despise WM's price match policy and then drive to Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, et.al., all of which have the same policy, and think nothing of buying there. I could add Macy's, Marshalls, Sears, most grocery chains, etc... but we like to bash WM more so I won't...

Guess this is just the semi-annual WM dumping thread.

WM2011 Catalog

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