West Marine

I was in FLL about a year ago. I went to the WM Superstore there. Most of the items I was interested were pretty much 2x what I could get them for at other places in FLL (there were some things were not that much more). I am willing to pay some premium for having a lot of stuff in one place so I can get what I need all at once and not drive here and there, but 2x is way to much. It's worth it to me to drive a little bit to save $50 on a $300 item.

The WM store in FLL is great to wander 'round in when I have some time to kill, lots of neat stuff. But there is nothing there I can't get cheaper from somewhere nearby.
 
I don't understand why a chain of stores that big has to charge so much. You would think that their buying power would allow them to be more competitive instead of the current if they holler let them go policy. I do buy epoxy there as we are about an hour an a half inland from the coast. There is a West Marine near the Delaware river in Bensalem, Pa. about a half hour away fro our home. We do buy an occasional replacement fan etc. while cruising. But stainless hardware I'll stick with Ace Hardware. Most of our boat related items come from Defender or BOE Marine. Both excellent vendors in my opinion. But I'm glad West Marine is there when we are traveling. I mean it's easy to find a West marine doing a search. We have had marinas provide transportation to and from the local West Marine.
D.D.
 
Just keep in mind that most hardware stores do not carry 316 (marine) grade stainless steel fasteners. As a matter of fact, most of these stores cannot even tell you what grade of metal that they sell, as the products are unmarked.
 
Experience tells us the stainless hardware sold at Ace Hardware holds up in a salt water environment. We have used it for years on all of our boats.
I'm still wondering how much that trailer you spec'ed actually cost?
D.D.
 
I suspect that much of the SS which West Marine sells comes from China. They have blackmailed a number of companies to letting them put the West Marine brand on their product and sell it for a few bucks cheaper than the same product sitting right next to it on the shelf. West marine carrying a product can make or break it.

The current CEO of West Marine was an ex VP of REI before coming to West Marine. They do have an monopoly in many market areas. Often stocking of products does not make sense. For example our large Pensacola store has a very large fishing section--added fairly recently. Right next door is a very large and very good tackle shop--where the real fishermen get all of their gear. I rarely see any fishing gear sold at this West Marine. I suspect the large fishing section is a corporate decision--and the local market is not evaluated.
 
srbaum":1tr9mhbc said:
Just keep in mind that most hardware stores do not carry 316 (marine) grade stainless steel fasteners.
Click to expand...

I, too, like to use 316 fasteners (presuming I'm using stainless and it's not contraindicated). I tend to buy them from McMaster-Carr. I like "real" hardware stores (such as a big Ace, etc.) and do patronize them, but not typically for fasteners (or sometimes I will buy something there in 304 that I need 'right now' and then replace it later when I can get bronze or 316).

I know everyone can't be an expert on everything, but I did get a chuckle this summer when I went into West Marine looking for cushion clamps. Before I had found them on my own a sales person came over to ask me if I needed help, I said I was looking for cushion clamps, and they brought me over to cushions.... seat cushions...

I'm an old REI fan. They are a big chain now, but while I don't find them to be "dirt cheap," I also don't really see any evidence of gouging. I've also always encountered knowledgeable staff.
 
Sunbeam, right with you on all counts.

McMaster-Carr a mainstay resource for a lot of things. REI membership in 5 digits, when it was a single location on Capitol Hill in Seattle, old warehouse floors and all. First American atop Everest fitted me with my first crampons as I stood mute with awe, eons ago.

Locally, Englund Marine and Industrial Supply does a pretty good job on stainless. With six other outlets, coast of northern CA to southern tip of WA, they do not have the reach of West Marine, but a good outfit, with knowledgeable salespeople who use what they sell, by and large. Full disclosure: my wife works in the back office at EMIS.
 
NORO LIM":19dnaeha said:
Had a nice chat with a young sales associate at the local WM today. She did not know what a TM258 transducer is. Or a 10-pin connector. She had never heard of Airmar. She had never heard of Furuno.

. . . She said she would call me tomorrow and and tell me how much a special order would cost.

. . . None of the half dozen or so terminal protectors on display fits any of the batteries they sell. . . . she promised to look into it.
Click to expand...

She called today. Price quote for the TM258: $803.00 :shock: The internet is full of places offering the TM258 for two to three hundred less.

She also said she can't get a straight answer from anyone about the terminal protectors, but she's not giving up. I wish her luck.

Fini.
 
West Marine = Love-Hate.
Like most, I liked them better before they became the 800 pound gorilla.
Earlier this year I decided a new Manson anchor would make Chester happy.
Defender's price, with shipping, was competitive with West's. So, on principle, the order went to Defender.
Turns out the galvanizing was defective. There were chips on some corners and other rust spots showing up on an anchor thats only exposure to water was rain!
After a series of e-mails to Defender and Schaefer Marine (the distributor), which became snarky after they implied I knew nothing about anchors or not to drop them, a new one is supposed to be on the way.
To ship the defective anchor to Schaefer was only $65... More for the size than the weight.
At least West Marine makes exchanges practical.
I'll still use Defender but not for certain items.
 
Steve, Did they ask you if you were going to put it into the water? Man, you sure would not want to have a rusty anchor. Eeeeek, Can't believe they did not require you to go the SS route.

Chester going to be happy for Christmas :xlol

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
The replacement anchor showed up this morning. I noticed a small design change that eased the corners that had the chipped galvanizing. The galvanizing on this anchor looks cleaner than on the first one.
I will give Schaefer Marine kudos for standing behind their product as there is no written warranty.
 
In California and I'd bet Washington there's an Implied Warranty of Merchantability.

"Implied warranties come in two general types: merchantability and fitness. An implied warranty of merchantability is an unwritten and unspoken guarantee to the buyer that goods purchased conform to ordinary standards of care and that they are of the same average grade, quality, and value as similar goods sold under similar circumstances. In other words, merchantable goods are goods fit for the ordinary purposes for which they are to be used."

And an anchor with bad galvanizing, one would assume, doesn't conform to accepted standards. So, while Defender sold it, I suppose they told Schaefer Marine to fix it. I assume both Defender and Schafer knew that. Replacing a faulty new product isn't just a sign of caring, but good buisness.

Just a thought.

Boris
 
Makes sense.
Defender offered to send me a spray can of cold galvanizing compound free of charge. When I replied that I was disappointed with that response they instructed me to send the defective anchor to Schaefer. This after crying about having to go above and beyond, a lot could have happened to the anchor, not a warrantable issue, etc.

Grrr, now I'm ticked again.
 
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