I do use WM when I have to. Would rather just use Defender but for some
items I just can't wait.
I bought a Whale flipper pump for our little boat and amazed the little hunk
of plastic costs $80. When I opened it I found not only was it grubby, but
also already broken!
I figured a customer must have broke the pump and then returned it to the
store. It was in a plastic bag with a cardboard folded and stapled at the
top. What really surprised me was when I returned it and explained to the
salesperson what the sit was, he just shrugged.
Of course it wasn't his fault, but I did have to make 2 PITA trips for an
overpriced toy pump that didn't work.
And I swear, if the bag had a picture of a car instead of a boat on it the
thing would cost $9.95.
MMC

"Gordon Wedman" wrote in message
news:r%ezf.87798$AP5.44478@edtnps84...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 17:44:05 -0500, nobody wrote:

I just think that West Marine is really a lousy
outfit.

Not fair in my opinion. It's true that their prices are rarely
competetive, but for small stuff the convenience of having one 5
minutes away is nice. I also find that their service and return
policies are excellent. Several times they have helped me get
warranty service on items I no longer had the receipts for.

Several of the local employees have told me that they also offer
excellent benefits, even to the part timers, so they are not exactly a
Wal Mart in that respect.

For big ticket items it pays to shop around and order from out of
state. I've had good luck with both Defender in CT and Pyacht in MD.

http://www.defender.com/

http://www.pyacht.com


Some of their prices are pretty crazy. I needed two simple hook latches
to
hold swinging doors shut. Local independent chandler had only 1 at $5.
Went to another chandler and he wanted $8 so I thought I'd go up to West
Marine to check on their price.
$13 !!
I said to the store manager "Making a hook latch is not rocket science.
How
can you charge twice as much as anyone else?" He just shrugged.

Another time a friend wanted to buy a large fender at an advertised sale
price but they would not sell at that price because the sale was 3 days
away. He went to the local independent and got the exact same fender for
less than the advertised sale price. At first he was mad at them but then
decided they did him a favour.

They are pretty good on warranties though and if you get the West Marine
Advantage card you'll get some money back in the mail.

They will also match other people's prices by word-of-mouth on smaller
items
and by show of written price on more expensive things but they're not the
first place I go to.