West Marine $$$$

[Solittle]

They opened a new West Marine store about 10 minutes from home. I stopped in this afternoon for the first time just to nose around as a lot of guys here have posted that they got this or that from West Marine. I was quite impressed with the selection of marine stuff. That is until I started noticing the prices. My take is that they sell everything at retail or even above - at least way above other marine dealers in this area. For example I just bought two trailer tires at a local tire store including stems, balancing, disposal fee and tax for $115. West wants $116 for one tire only. Another item was a two pack of Bearing Buddies for $18.00 and while I don't have a comparison - that seems rediculous.

 

[Bondo]

Re: West Marine $$$$

They put 1 up here a couple years ago..........<br />It's just like walking into their Master Catalog.....<br />Same prices as on-line........<br />Yes, I've spent a few buck$ there..........

 

[snapperbait]

Re: West Marine $$$$

West is the last place I go, but must give them some credit, they usually have things that nobody else keeps in stock..

 

[mattttt25]

Re: West Marine $$$$

annapolis is a rich town, so we of course have a west marine, boat us, and boaters world. very few mom and pop shops. i guess i just got used to paying their prices. it is nice to be able to get anything i want or need within a 5 min drive.

 

[BillP]

Re: West Marine $$$$

West (and most other too)will match any competitor's price if you ask.

 

[Boatist]

Re: West Marine $$$$

SoLittle<br />West Marine started out here in the West in the San Francisco Bay area. When they started out they were a true discount marine store. Then they bought out there biggest competor boating world and prices went up. Last year they again bought out there biggest competer and price seem even higher now. If you can find what you want here at Iboat do not even check West marine.<br /><br />Having said that you can still get some good deals. As an example I bought a Garmin GPSMAP 76 from them. I had not seen the unit so went to their store to check it out before buying it mail order. Sales guy came buy as I was looking at the unit and finally had to tell him like it but was much cheaper from another place. He said we do price matching and also have a 10 percent discount this week on all electronics. To top it off I also had two $10 coupons sent to me as part of their west advantage program. So they matched the price gave me the 10 percent discount subtracted my two west advantage coupons then added California sale tax. Mail order was tax free but had to pay shipping of about the same price. Anyway I ended up saving about $60 over what I would have paid.<br /><br />Store out here are always handing out coupons for $10 on purchase of over $100.<br /><br />I have bought a lot of stuff from them because of their return/customer satification program. As an example A friend bought some fender cleaner and he used it on a white fender. It turned the fender purple. He returned the product for a refund but brough in the fender to show them why. West Marine refunded his money but also said go get a new fender, no charge. I brough in a taylor fender with a lifetime warranty that I did not buy from them. The fender had split where my roap was attached. I ask them if they knew where I need to send it for replacement. They said right here go get a new one. That one was white but I came back with the same size taylor fender in blue, they exchanged it no charge, All I needed do was give my name and address and he filled in reason for return. <br />I bought a Loran C noise filter before they had a store in my city. I installed it on the Loran C power and made no difference. Then I tried it on the florescent light power line that interfeerence was coming from and made no difference. So I called to let them know that ad that said it prevents interference problem from florescent light was not true. I figured not worth returning but wanted to tell them did not work. Guy on the phone agreed not worth returning and said keep it and he would refund the price. Two weeks later not only did I get a receit for the return but a $10 gift certificate.<br /><br />Anyway I guess they treat their customers right and that is worth a lot sometimes. Most store also have people that know a lot about boats and marine equipment, their not just money collectors.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: West Marine $$$$

True, West Marine offers a good selection. In my neck of the woods there is a True Value Hardware store with a good marine dept., and their prices are much lower.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: West Marine $$$$

Boats are luxury items. Marine stores know this. Not many poor people are out buying parts for their boats. If I ran a marine store I would charge alot too.

 

[Link]

Re: West Marine $$$$

Boatist <br />That was a great reply as like others I've always went to West Marine as a last choice because of the higher prices. This is good information and I'm glad to hear it.<br /><br />Link

 

[18rabbit]

Re: West Marine $$$$

Boatist, take a look at www.BoatersWorld.com , another California company, based in the Los Angeles area. They are Ritz Camera. If you live in California, they reduce the price of anything you buy equal to the cost of sales tax…bottom line, no sales tax. Also, free shipping on purchases over $100. We got our Ritchie Globemaster SP-5 compass there for $299.99, no tax or s/h. They special ordered a 24v version for us at no extra charge. Online prices were $760 down to $420 at iBoats' MegaMall.<br /><br />The West Marine store in Oakland, CA has a “clearance center” in it. There is supposed to be another WM store in Florida with one also. Everything in the country that is end-stock, open boxes, returns, refurbished, etc ends up in one of these two clearance centers at exceptionally low prices. If you ask they will often discount even further at checkout. I have it on very good authority the clearance center policy is “don’t lose money on it” …so you can get stuff just above WM’s wholesale price.<br /><br />I just bought a couple of push/pull shut-off controls for the fuel tank. WM catalog price: $65 each. Online prices: $60-$65. Wholesale price: $42.20. I got them at the WM clearance center price: $42.70…50-cents above wholesale. <br /><br />Also, if you like RayMarine electronics, the clearance center is packed with that stuff. The RayMarine reps help maintain the shelves of their product in there. Some stuff from Furuno, Garmin, Humminbird… Boatist, when you are ready to replace your ff, send me email with the make/model and I’ll run over and take a look for you.

 

[Boatist]

Re: West Marine $$$$

18Rabbit<br />Thanks for the offer but I been to the Oakland store many times. Much better selection than either of the two Sacramento stores.<br /><br />I at one time got a lot of stuff from a marine store down is South San Francisco. It was just called Discount Marine but they moved or went out of business and I can not find them amymore. They had great prices.<br /><br />Lots of good products out there but My Favorites are Furuno, Lowrance, Garmin, Icom. I am kind of old school. Even after checking all the Spec I still have to go and see how unit works. Like a GPS, they all have routs to get to the destination but a big difference in how they direct you there.

 

[MFG197]

Re: West Marine $$$$

We have a west marine and boaters world right across the street from eachother here. both seem to do good business, but WM has higher prices on a lot of items...Their fishfinders for example don't come with transducers so the price looks decent until you add the TD in....

 

[L e w]

Re: West Marine $$$$

I'll go to west marine as long as the service is good but I'm not going to pay high prices with out good service. Don't weight in lines, life is to short.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: West Marine $$$$

i have west marine, boaters world right across from each other here, with boat us about 3 miles away.. i go to west marine last, i go boat ers world first... ive noticed a few things between the two...<br />1. boaters world is cheaper, but is cluttered and not as helpfull....<br />2. west is cleaner and freindlier and more knowledgfull...<br />and since im no donald trump , i ALWAYS check online first, then boatersworld, then, as a last resort, west marine...<br /><br />please read my thread i started on "best online sites for boating" in the general baoting forum... thanks and add some that you have thread

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: West Marine $$$$

On my way to work I pass a west marine and a Boaters world.I used to stop in each and compare prices on what i was buying and noticed that I always wound up at Boaters world for Zincs,paint,trailer parts,cleaners,spark plugs.Boaters world was always cheaper.Walmart also beats them all with the oils and lubricants and some lights and connectors.The best customer service is surely West marine though.Charlie

 

[MrBill]

Re: West Marine $$$$

Fortunately, I'm within 6 miles of ocean and boat fresh water in a densely populated area of marine centers and retailers. West Marine has had a presence here for years, along with BoatUS, Boaters World and a big assortment of dealers. West Marine has always been the highest priced...and after they bought BoatUS a year or so ago, their prices went up about 10% on average. Boaters World in this neck of the woods is still the best priced retailer. Most routine stuff like Marine Tex, paints, battery cables, etc are 15% less at BoatersWorld...it's even priced that way in their catalogs. I get irritated when two identical items, like an Anchor Brand Battery Cable, is $13 at one retailer and $18 at the other...and West is never on the less expensive end of the range.

 

[mike1234tampa]

Re: West Marine $$$$

West Marine to me has always been expensive, but there customer service is great. I currently am having a back to back lounge seat replace by them that is under warranty for the second time do to a tear in the corner of the seat, the second one had it right out of the box, and they our replacing it with no questions asked and insist I keep the damaged one till mine come in. <br /><br />Now as far as price, I shop around, and mostly on the internet, there our some good sites, including Iboats.com, and I just like being able to buy something Monday online and have it at my front door by Friday, without having the travel.

 

[MarkCz]

Re: West Marine $$$$

I went to West Marine in Bensalem PA and picked up a pair of 3/16 wire rope clamps like those used on the old cable and pulley steering sytems. I paid over $12. Saw the same thing on Glen-L for $3 dollars. It is nice to be able to actually see the item before you buy it.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: West Marine $$$$

Oh boy, and last week Wal-Mart wasn't good enough for someone. The toothpaste was a nickel more than it was at the grocery store so they had to get a manager and hold up the line.... AARRGGHHHH<br /><br />It's a Marine Store, the service is great, they have just about everything, they send bonus bucks to your house, they have sales, they do price matching.<br /><br />No they're not an internet online warehouse. They employ people. Good thing for the economy. And they buy property, and have to build a store, and heat it, and pay taxes, and keep people on the payroll when the season's slow.<br /><br />OK done with rant. Go buy a blowboat! Arrgghhh!

 

[Bondo]

Re: West Marine $$$$

Talk about bringing up an Old Dead Thread....... Look at the dates.........<br />

Go buy a blowboat! Arrgghhh!

Ya..Well......<br />The "Wind" is Free......<br />But, The Rigging Costs a Fortune............