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jps

On Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:04:01 -0400, wrote:

On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:07:00 -0700, jps wrote:

On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:59:17 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

On Mar 24, 10:46*am, jps wrote:
On Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:03:43 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch

wrote:
Now this a shock. *For the 7/16" yacht braid I need for jib sheets,
West Marine is cheaper than Defender, gotoMarine and one other place I
looked online.
West .95/ft
vs 1.43/ft , 1.23/ft and the other I forget.

Same manufacturer?

Every retailer does better at some things and worse at others but I'd
make sure you're looking at the same quality of product.

Sampson yacht Braid in both cases.

Well, there you have it. They either buy it in bigger quantities and
get a better price or they use it as a loss leader to get you in the
store.

That's where everything else is 25% over list.

Internet sellers are where you go for factory packages of stuff. They
are probably not going to be the best deal on cut line but they will
be better if you are buying a spool.

We used to have an excellent chandlery in Seattle for 50+ years that I
could get competitive pricing and feel the stuff before purchase. Gone
the way of the dodo. Still have a few good sources locally, including
Fisheries Supply, which will give anyone a reasonable discount if you
sign up for a membership.

Nowadays, however, I think you're right. The internet sellers don't
have the expense of brick/mortar and can afford to sell at lower
margins. I was stunned at the difference between Defender online and
what West Marine sold stuff for in the store.

I'd shop West Marine for stuff I couldn't get elsewhere but I was
alway reminded of where I was by the prices. It sure as hell is
convenient when you need something marine related and they're 5
minutes away.