I hope somebody at WM reads this string. It perfectly represents the public
sentiment I've heard around the marina for some time now.

Until they change, we can vote with our purchasing power and letters. I save
all the business I can for Fisheries Supply in Seattle. Great physical store
AND online store. Price is never an issue and the staff knows "stuff."

"nobody" wrote in message
...
They have driven out almost all their competition with drastic price
reductions. ONce that is accomplished they raise their prices to a
level much higher than anyone charged prior to their dominance.

They only stock what moves quickly. They stock nothing for the
convenience of their customers. If they can not turn it around for a
big profit in very short time they will not stock it.

They suppress innovation in the industry because they will not stock
newly invented or innovative products. They will not stock anything
new unless they are certain there are people waiting to snatch the
product off their shelves.

Their pricing is predatory. When I am in South Florida where some
competition remains I regularly note that every other dealer sells the
same product for less money than they do.

They really the "K-Mart" of the marine industry. I was pleased when
they first appeared but I now wish I had never heard the name.

I have never owned a Marine supply store. I hold no stock in any
marine supply business. I have never even known anyone who owned a
marine supply store. I just think that West Marine is really a lousy
outfit.

You shareholders, employees (no idea how they treat their employees),
and defenders just fire away because I, for one, will drive an hour
out of my way to buy from any other store. Unfortunately I only able
to do so in south Florida. Elsewhere they have destroyed the
competition.

"Danny" wrote in message
...
I hope somebody at WM reads this string. It perfectly represents the public
sentiment I've heard around the marina for some time now.

Until they change, we can vote with our purchasing power and letters. I
save
all the business I can for Fisheries Supply in Seattle. Great physical
store
AND online store. Price is never an issue and the staff knows "stuff."


Is that the same one with the circular blue-ish logo which had by far the
most expensive prices when I was searching various high-ticket items
recently??

If so, "price is never an issue" means, pay the price, cuz they're good
guys, or something else?

And, not a West fan, but, if they'll match prices, if you just check, aren't
they, then, the lowest price available, and right in your backyard
(metaphorically speaking, of course - if you're in a marine area)?

L8R

Skip

--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
http://tinyurl.com/384p2 The vessel as Tehamana, as we bought her

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 16:03:04 -0500, "Skip Gundlach" skipgundlach at
gmail dotcom wrote:

And, not a West fan, but, if they'll match prices, if you just check, aren't
they, then, the lowest price available, and right in your backyard
(metaphorically speaking, of course - if you're in a marine area)?

I have both a WM and a Boaters World less than 10 minutes away.
Competition is good.