West Marine going out of business... and I can't think of anything I need!

Lou C

Lou C

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On all of Long Island we will have 2 stores left after this "restructuring" on in East Isip and the other in Patchogue. My local store is closing for sure. I did pick up some deals on motor oil and a few other things.
Luckily we have a great local marine supply store who supplies a large marina nearby, this will be GREAT for his business.
West Marine always had sky high prices, it was nice when they had fully stocked shelves, but our local store always looked empty (with respect to shoppers) to me. High prices and high overhead, no good!
 
P

Pmt133

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My west marine was more of a Kohls with a couple boat parts. Nearly half the store was clothing and coolers...
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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West Marine is hiding behind a Chapter 11 so they don't have to pay the 850million they owe their vendors and suppliers while giving themselves a large bonus

A good friend of mine is trying to get $2M that they owe him

If you find any of the execs from West Marine, feel free to punch them in the throat

 
A

airshot

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Anyone watching had to know this was comming. Hardly any stock, and much of their stock was old, at least in our area. Prices were high with only a few exceptions. When I upgraded my winch, they had the best price by far but the box was old as a dinosoar. To many buying foreign junk off Amazon.
 
rolmops

rolmops

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airshot said:
Anyone watching had to know this was comming. Hardly any stock, and much of their stock was old, at least in our area. Prices were high with only a few exceptions. When I upgraded my winch, they had the best price by far but the box was old as a dinosoar. To many buying foreign junk off Amazon.
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Some of this is true and some of it is not. "Foreign junk" meaning Chinese is not always junk.
West Marine not unlike Sears is one of many stores that made their high mark up profit as middle man automatically doubling or tripling their prices for whatever they sold. A lot of that came from China. Their strategy fell apart the moment somebody was willing to sell for less than a 200% profit. West Marine's own arrogance is mostly why they ignored the writing on the wall and continued overpricing while the competition just overpowered them
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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West Marine is selling products that cost $8-10 to have manufactured in China and Taiwan only to mark up 3-5 X

Anything stainless that is polished is most likely from off shore

These off-shore suppliers feed most of the marine companies.
 
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A

airshot

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While what you stated is true, my comment was in reference to folks buying off Amazon and not supporting their local businesses. When sales are few and far between prices have to be higher to keep up with overhead..I always try to buy local even if it means spending a little more. The knowledge and expertise of that local store owner has saved me hundreds over the years. Saving a few buck buying on Amazon has never helped me when in a pinch and need expertise.
rolmops said:
Some of this is true and some of it is not. "Foreign junk" meaning Chinese is not always junk.
West Marine not unlike Sears is one of many stores that made their high mark up profit as middle man automatically doubling or tripling their prices for whatever they sold. A lot of that came from China. Their strategy fell apart the moment somebody was willing to sell for less than a 200% profit. West Marine's own arrogance is mostly why they ignored the writing on the wall and continued overpricing while the competition just overpowered them
Click to expand...
 
Captain Caveman

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DeepCMark58A said:
I have only been to a west Marine was in Florida, not sure they have them in Minnesota.
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There was/is at least one or two of them. I went to one near Lake Minnetonka probably 10-15 years ago. I seem to remember buying a specialty electrical connector from them. Everything seemed pricey, but it was in Wayzata.

I much preferred going to the old man down the street that repaired old motors and boats.
 
WIMUSKY

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There's one in Orange Beach AL. When in it once and came out with nothing...
 
sloopy

sloopy

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airshot said:
Anyone watching had to know this was comming. Hardly any stock, and much of their stock was old, at least in our area. Prices were high with only a few exceptions. When I upgraded my winch, they had the best price by far but the box was old as a dinosoar. To many buying foreign junk off Amazon.
Click to expand...
They went away from focusing on boats and more into lifestyle where they had no chance to compete with anyone. Our only DFW Texas location is closing down.
 
C

Chris1956

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West marine was some sort of conglomeration of Bliss Marine and another chain. When Bliss first started they were the first boating store to be independent of a marine or boat/motor dealer, at least that was how it looked to me. As such they had a niche business, and were usually cheaper than boat/motor dealers, and were located in strip malls and malls.

The internet changed all that. Now they had to compete with many like businesses. Apparently that did not go well.
 
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