Buy your gear Online or In Store?

[Alan Calfer]

Just curious to see how popular it is by supplies, etc. online vs. going into a local shop or West Marine. I usually split the difference, some easy stuff from locally owned places and some from online.

If you buy online, would buy and outboard motor or cheap boat or inflatable? Or stick to smaller things..

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Mostly online except for life jackets and ski bindings. West Marine is kind of a last resort for me since their prices are pretty bad.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Unless I'm in a hurry I go with a certain online vendor who sponsors this great online forum. But their shipping usually takes just a couple of days.

Boat Parts & Accessories For Your Boat - iboats

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Unless I'm in a hurry I go with a certain online vendor who sponsors this great online forum. But their shipping usually takes just a couple of days.

Boat Parts & Accessories For Your Boat - iboats

I buy some things from that vendor, if they ever fixed their catalog and search for parts then I would use them more. For the most part you either have to already know the part number or use someone elses website to do the search and then plug the part number into iBoats. Had to do that when I bought my boat cover. Nice forum, decent prices, ecommerce site designed by a blind monkey.

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Usually online unless it's local for ~20 price difference either way. I will buy anything online IF I can get it from Amazon or a similiar well known vendor. The reason is Amazon has shipped me many big, heavy, expensive items and they always make sure the packaging and everything is solid. On one of the higher priced items they actually boxed up around the original box and it was large. Normally stuff like that is just shipped as they get it and the original box was in good shape but they took the extra step to secure a safe delivery.

So would I hesitate to buy a motor from them if the price was right? Nope.

 

[chimmike]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Online for sure. IF i'm ABSOLUTELY in a rush and totally impatient I go to west marine, but i like to try a local marine surplus place first. Amazon is great if you're a "prime" member. Free 2 day shipping! Will say, the 2 day shipping option here on iboats is stupidly cheap.

 

[jkust]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Really haven't needed to buy much over the years but Generally buy props online as they are massively cheaper and in a pinch I can hit the Cabelas that is right up the street from me or the Marine Max that is even closer yet. Marine Max would be the absolute last resort. Will need to buy a reload kit for my auto life jackets as one randomly went off a couple weeks ago while we were in the boat and will get that likely at Cabelas as they were a gift purchased at Cabelas. Apparently they aren't kidding about the expiration date of the firing mechanism.

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Online for sure. IF i'm ABSOLUTELY in a rush and totally impatient I go to west marine, but i like to try a local marine surplus place first. Amazon is great if you're a "prime" member. Free 2 day shipping! Will say, the 2 day shipping option here on iboats is stupidly cheap.

I'm prime because being a student it was like $30/yr but most of the time they throw in 2 day shipping anyway and even when they don't so long as it is "fulfilled by amazon" they usually get it to you in 2 days anyway.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

Some boat stuff I get at local vendors, some at West Marine. The extra little $$ at WM is worth having it when I want it. Some I get online. Fishing stuff-- my brother is a distributor of fishing equipment.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

"Local" shops are 55 and 92 miles away, so mostly online.
Bought a motor from iboats about 7 years ago.
OEM motor parts are bought online.
Aftermarket motor parts - online.
Trailer parts, some local, some online.


Some things I will never buy online again (sorry), would be boat,covers, and fishing rods.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

my preferences for everything are first to buy local independent, then local at a chain like West, then on-line. Keep your money in town.

I avoid Wal-mart, Bass pro, and other big-box stores, but f I'm in one say to get shotgun shells I may swing by the fishing department for some sinkers or hooks.

Even West has local people working there or owning that store so not everything goes out of town.

when I go to the indies, I always come out with a fishing lesson or repair tip.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Buy your gear Online or In Store?

I live on a barrier island so the majority of my stuff is online. I always look at Iboats first, then the company whose name I must not say, and finally West Marine. If I absolutely have to have it quickly I'll drive into Wilmington to West Marine but as others have noted, there is a price to pay for impatience. The most local outlets are so limited in selection that it's a crap shoot whether I will find what I need.

For some specialized things I use the Partman up in Long Island, NY. I've gotten a flywheel and a few other engine parts from them.