First West Marine visit .. report.
 

Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful. There were two employees, one was the check
out
girl/lady.

Hardly had any paint, or paint products such as primer.

Since I've been to the store a number of times, I asked the second employee,
a man,
what was new. I mentioned that I heard on the business page report that
West had a
new CEO who was determined to turn the stores around. The employee told me
the whole chain was getting a big time shake up, he didn't say exactly what
was going to
happen, but he seemed to think that things were going to get better.

Is it about time.

I drive all the way to Portland, Maine just to shop at Hamiltons because
West is so bad.

And I'm talking simple stuff like Paint.

Here is one example..

I need some Interlux solvent wash .. West has it for about $22 dollars.
Hamilton ?? $16.50

You would at think ?? Why get undercut by a marine store with only four or
five outlets in one state .. ??

I hope the new CEO reads this newsgroup..

ps... if you are looking for a job?? West in Portsmouth has a sign on its
front door,, looking for help.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

On Feb 25, 7:45*am, "Sir Thomas of Cannondale"
wrote:
Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful. *There were two employees, one was the check
out
girl/lady.

Hardly had any paint, or paint products such as primer.

Since I've been to the store a number of times, I asked the second employee,
a man,
what was new. *I mentioned that I heard on the business page report that
West had a
new CEO who was determined to turn the stores around. *The employee told me
the whole chain was getting a big time shake up, he didn't say exactly what
was going to
happen, but he seemed to think that things were going to get better.

Is it about time.

I drive all the way to Portland, Maine just to shop at Hamiltons because
West is so bad.

And I'm talking simple stuff like Paint.

Here is one example..

I need some Interlux solvent wash .. West has it for about $22 dollars.
Hamilton ?? *$16.50

You would at think ?? *Why get undercut by a marine store with only four or
five outlets in one state .. ??

I hope the new CEO reads this newsgroup..

ps... if you are looking for a job?? *West in Portsmouth has a sign on its
front door,, looking for help.

Your right, they just have no stock, and they are expensive, why would
you bother to go there?

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:26:29 -0800 (PST), Capt John
wrote:

On Feb 25, 7:45 am, "Sir Thomas of Cannondale"
wrote:
Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful. There were two employees, one was the
check
out
girl/lady.

Hardly had any paint, or paint products such as primer.

Since I've been to the store a number of times, I asked the second
employee,
a man,
what was new. I mentioned that I heard on the business page report that
West had a
new CEO who was determined to turn the stores around. The employee told
me
the whole chain was getting a big time shake up, he didn't say exactly
what
was going to
happen, but he seemed to think that things were going to get better.

Is it about time.

I drive all the way to Portland, Maine just to shop at Hamiltons because
West is so bad.

And I'm talking simple stuff like Paint.

Here is one example..

I need some Interlux solvent wash .. West has it for about $22 dollars.
Hamilton ?? $16.50

You would at think ?? Why get undercut by a marine store with only four
or
five outlets in one state .. ??

I hope the new CEO reads this newsgroup..

ps... if you are looking for a job?? West in Portsmouth has a sign on
its
front door,, looking for help.

Your right, they just have no stock, and they are expensive, why would
you bother to go there?

I've been to probably 10 different West Marine stores in various
locales. They were all distinct, and had different proportions of
types of goods. Some were more powerboat, some were more sailboat,
some were more hardware, some were more clothes and kayaks, some had
more electronics, and so on.

I'm guessing that each local manager adjusts his own store to whatever
product mix he thinks the local market wants.

In cold climates, you also have to consider that the winters are
relatively dead and so they probably lower stock levels.


I've been to at least that many. I even worked at one for a while so I could
get the employee discount, which is a significant benefit. You don't have to
guess, that's exactly what the managers do wrt product mix. Others are
better at doing this, and the stores around here have a mix of reputations
for service/parts/knowledge or lack there of. The hours of operation also
vary from the useful to the practically useless.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

Sir Thomas of Cannondale wrote:
Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful.

Lack of competition in most markets. If you think this is bad, wait
until the democraps get into office and remove competition from your
medical care.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

"Paul Cassel" wrote in message
. ..
Sir Thomas of Cannondale wrote:
Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful.

Lack of competition in most markets. If you think this is bad, wait until
the democraps get into office and remove competition from your medical
care.


Please feel free to point to specific references about this... just as I
suspected, you can't. Perhaps you should vote for Huckabee.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:25:43 -0800, "Capt. JG"
wrote:

"Paul Cassel" wrote in message
m...
Sir Thomas of Cannondale wrote:
Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful.

Lack of competition in most markets. If you think this is bad, wait
until
the democraps get into office and remove competition from your medical
care.


Please feel free to point to specific references about this... just as I
suspected, you can't. Perhaps you should vote for Huckabee.

I assume you are responding to the unfounded political baloney, but it
should be pointed out that West Marine faces a lot of strong local
competition in many markets. In my area, they even compete against
other West Marine stores. If anyone thinks WM store managers aren't
extremely focused on beating the performance of other WM stores, think
again. Cassel was completely wrong about that, too.




They do face a lot of competition in some markets... others none or minimal.
I know the second part to be true, because at one point I was considering
working at a different store, and the first series of questions was about
the current store manager and his practices.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

Once in a while I buy something from WestMarine to be shipped to Australia.
My experience has been that they do match internet competitive pricing - at
least they have for me when I've brought a discrepancy to their attention.


wrote in message
...
On 25 Feb 2008 12:56:01 -0600, Dave wrote:

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:40:06 -0500, said:

West Marine faces a lot of strong local
competition in many markets. In my area, they even compete against
other West Marine stores. If anyone thinks WM store managers aren't
extremely focused on beating the performance of other WM stores, think
again. Cassel was completely wrong about that, too.

Not my experience. In fact the last two places I've had my boat hauled the
prices at the marinas' ship's store (seldom regarded as price busters)
were
lower than either of the WM stores in the areas. And since Boaters' World
has essentially exited from sailboat hardware it's only gotten worse.

I can of course drive 20 miles or so to the Defender store, but generally
it's not worth it unless I'm buying something pretty big.

Where is Goldberg's when you need it? g

I agree that you can usually find better prices than WM. However, WM
has a policy of matching any price other than those found on the
internet. If Gardella's charges $10 for something, WM will do the
same, even if they normally have it priced at $15. Of course in your
case, Gardella's is a short walk across the yard, so all bets are off!
I use WM mostly as a convenience store when I need some small item
while in the middle of working on the boat. There is a fantastic, old
school, hardware store in Branford/East Haven called Goodys that has a
better selection of stainless hardware than any marine store I've ever
encountered.

I do most of my major purchases from Defender at their annual
warehouse sale. I have my list ready! Other than that, I'll often
comparison shop online if I don't need something right that minute.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

On 2008-02-25 07:45:40 -0500, "Sir Thomas of Cannondale"
said:

I need some Interlux solvent wash .. West has it for about $22 dollars.
Hamilton ?? $16.50

You would at think ?? Why get undercut by a marine store with only four or
five outlets in one state .. ??

It's worse than that. What used to be a good "sailor's" BOAT/US store
has fewer and fewer of the items I once got there. I used to find
dockmates and even a respected boating magazine author as store
personnel -- people who could answer the questions *I* have. That's
gone, as well.

I frequent a couple different marina shops and found that after a while
they usually give me a "professional" discount. When I charge it to the
slip, my marina (hardly a cut-rate place) often beats even that.
Fawcett's, where I shop maybe once a season, made sure I got their card
before I checked out with some incidental parts last May.

And all of them, if they don't have it, can/will get it by tomorrow
morning (for reasonable requests).

Support your local chandleries. be a good customer (e.g. don't bitch),
and they'll serve you well.

If West *is* going through a shake-up, its because of what they've been
doing. Either they'll learn or die.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

The brick & mortar stores will not match internet pricing.

Then you've apparently never tried. I have, they did.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

On 25 Feb 2008 12:56:01 -0600, Dave wrote:

Where is Goldberg's when you need it? g

My recollection is that Goldberg's was bought out by E & B, who were
then bought out by Boat US, who were then bought out by our heros at
West Marine.

Does anyone remember the name of that great chandlery that used to be
on Chambers Street in lower Manhattan back in the 70s.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

In article ,
"Capt. JG" wrote:

I've been to at least that many. I even worked at one for a while so I could
get the employee discount, which is a significant benefit. You don't have to
guess, that's exactly what the managers do wrt product mix. Others are
better at doing this, and the stores around here have a mix of reputations
for service/parts/knowledge or lack there of. The hours of operation also
vary from the useful to the practically useless.

The other thing to consider is when you have a mechanical problem en
route. You dock, then either look in yellow pages or find out where the
nearest WM is. As most medium to large towns on the shoreline have them,
it's good to know that there is a supplier regardless of the price.

--
Molesworth

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

"Molesworth" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Capt. JG" wrote:

I've been to at least that many. I even worked at one for a while so I
could
get the employee discount, which is a significant benefit. You don't have
to
guess, that's exactly what the managers do wrt product mix. Others are
better at doing this, and the stores around here have a mix of
reputations
for service/parts/knowledge or lack there of. The hours of operation also
vary from the useful to the practically useless.

The other thing to consider is when you have a mechanical problem en
route. You dock, then either look in yellow pages or find out where the
nearest WM is. As most medium to large towns on the shoreline have them,
it's good to know that there is a supplier regardless of the price.

--
Molesworth


Yeah, I don't usually shop for the best price if my bilge is full of water
and the pump isn't working. :-)


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

"Jere Lull" wrote in message
news:2008022522322375249-jerelull@maccom...
On 2008-02-25 07:45:40 -0500, "Sir Thomas of Cannondale"
said:

I need some Interlux solvent wash .. West has it for about $22 dollars.
Hamilton ?? $16.50

You would at think ?? Why get undercut by a marine store with only four
or
five outlets in one state .. ??

It's worse than that. What used to be a good "sailor's" BOAT/US store has
fewer and fewer of the items I once got there. I used to find dockmates
and even a respected boating magazine author as store personnel -- people
who could answer the questions *I* have. That's gone, as well.

I frequent a couple different marina shops and found that after a while
they usually give me a "professional" discount. When I charge it to the
slip, my marina (hardly a cut-rate place) often beats even that.
Fawcett's, where I shop maybe once a season, made sure I got their card
before I checked out with some incidental parts last May.

And all of them, if they don't have it, can/will get it by tomorrow
morning (for reasonable requests).

Support your local chandleries. be a good customer (e.g. don't bitch), and
they'll serve you well.

If West *is* going through a shake-up, its because of what they've been
doing. Either they'll learn or die.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/


I took at look at the West Marine stock report for the fun of it..

Not a very good picture. Their business was off considerably toward the end
of 2007.
I think what I'd like to see is consistency. And they need to close stores
that are too close together.

There are two stores in Seabrook, NH within site of one another almost.
Neither of them is worth a ****.

For example, the paint department. It was awful. Empty shelves, no primer,
very little of anything.

Many of the products are of less quality. I hate to compare but it is very
Walmart like.

Last spring I bought some paint from one of the Seabrook stores. I called
back with a question and was pretty much
told to jump off a bridge. Very disagreeable. So, I took some of what I
bought back.

As a public company, the stockholders aren't getting much ..

West Marine Inc (NASDAQ GM:WMAR) closed yesterday at $8.48 per share.. one
year ago .. April 2007 ?? $18.38 per share..

Dah? Ya think the business is being run well? Said on the CNN finance site
that WMAR will report a loss going forward,

Not very promising. Especially in a tough market like boating products.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

The brick & mortar stores will not match internet pricing.
Then you've apparently never tried. I have, they did.

I have, and they didn't. This is very common with other brick & mortar
retailers
as well. Not just West Marine. I have even had the manager of a West
Marine
argue about honoring a price in an email from West Marine itself! He said
I
could only get that price on the WM website, as his cost on the item (an
igloo 5
day cooler) was the same as the advertised sale price. He finally gave in,
but
not without an arguement.

Sure, I can picture that happening. The times I asked for, and got, the
matching was while shopping for a number of other things, and having been in
the store a number of times. I took the time to get to know the folks
working there, usually by asking for something a bit more complicated than
the usual customer. Works well for getting what you want. I'm fine with
some degree of price premium now and then if it means keeping a local retail
outlet in business. Some folks really, really despise haggling over things.
Me, I don't mind it that much. "If you don't ask, you don't get", a saying
that's served me well over time.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:46:47 -0500, "Bill Kearney"
wrote:

The brick & mortar stores will not match internet pricing.
Then you've apparently never tried. I have, they did.

I have, and they didn't. This is very common with other brick & mortar
retailers
as well. Not just West Marine. I have even had the manager of a West
Marine
argue about honoring a price in an email from West Marine itself! He said
I
could only get that price on the WM website, as his cost on the item (an
igloo 5
day cooler) was the same as the advertised sale price. He finally gave in,
but
not without an arguement.

Sure, I can picture that happening. The times I asked for, and got, the
matching was while shopping for a number of other things, and having been in
the store a number of times. I took the time to get to know the folks
working there, usually by asking for something a bit more complicated than
the usual customer. Works well for getting what you want. I'm fine with
some degree of price premium now and then if it means keeping a local retail
outlet in business. Some folks really, really despise haggling over things.
Me, I don't mind it that much. "If you don't ask, you don't get", a saying
that's served me well over time.

I was hired by one of my client managers once. He had been fishing
for me and one time said something like "might even be a hiring
bonus."
Maybe a year after that I decided to hire on. Got a call from HR with
a salary offer, which was acceptable. Was just about to hang up when
that conversation which vaguely mentioned a bonus came to mind.
It had never come to mind until then, and I wasn't expecting it, but I
figured like you suggest, what's to lose?
So I told the HR woman that Tom had mentioned a bonus.
She said she didn't know anything about that, and would call me back.
She did a bit later, with a 10 grand hiring bonus.
Easiest money I ever made.

--Vic

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

"If you don't ask, you don't get", a saying that's served me well over
time.

So I told the HR woman that Tom had mentioned a bonus.
She said she didn't know anything about that, and would call me back.
She did a bit later, with a 10 grand hiring bonus.
Easiest money I ever made.

Nicely done.

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

"Sir Thomas of Cannondale" wrote in message
news:ULywj.2348$A93.974@trndny08...
Yesterday, I stopped at the West Marine store near Portsmouth, NH.

I must report, it was pitiful. There were two employees, one was the
check out
girl/lady.

Hardly had any paint, or paint products such as primer.

Since I've been to the store a number of times, I asked the second
employee, a man,
what was new. I mentioned that I heard on the business page report that
West had a
new CEO who was determined to turn the stores around. The employee told
me
the whole chain was getting a big time shake up, he didn't say exactly
what was going to
happen, but he seemed to think that things were going to get better.

Is it about time.

I drive all the way to Portland, Maine just to shop at Hamiltons because
West is so bad.

And I'm talking simple stuff like Paint.

Here is one example..

I need some Interlux solvent wash .. West has it for about $22 dollars.
Hamilton ?? $16.50

You would at think ?? Why get undercut by a marine store with only four
or five outlets in one state .. ??

I hope the new CEO reads this newsgroup..

ps... if you are looking for a job?? West in Portsmouth has a sign on its
front door,, looking for help.


I'll give you the inside scoop on West. They're turning into a motorboat
parts store. They are catering to the stupid, rich, numbskull motorheads who
don't have a clue. Their prices are higher even when stuff is on sale than
Boater's World, for example.

It's really rather pathetic when you go to the customer service desk to ask
about getting something they are supposed to stock like a power or computer
cord for a GPS they sell only to have them tell you they don't stock it and
advise to you go to the manufacturer's site on the Internet and order it
there.

West is no longer a sailor friendly store. Gone are the days of the nice
little store that sold economical yacht braid.

Wilbur Hubbard

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

On 2008-02-26 19:59:34 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
said:

I'll give you the inside scoop on West. They're turning into a
motorboat parts store.

My assessment is that they're going worse than that, only stocking the
high-profit items that some VP has deemed suitable, and that VP hasn't
ever owned any boat, power or sail.

Support your local chandlery! They'll treat you right if you do.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

First West Marine visit .. report.
 

On 29 Feb 2008 10:47:02 -0600, Dave wrote:

On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:03:34 -0500, Wayne.B
said:

Does anyone remember the name of that great chandlery that used to be
on Chambers Street in lower Manhattan back in the 70s.

I believe it was Manhattan Marine. Their prices were a bit higher than
Goldberg's on most items, but they did carry a lot of items.

Yes, it was a great place with a huge inventory of obscure deck
hardware items and a great catalog. It was also a close walk from my
old office on Wall Street. Just by coincidence I happened to stop by
one day on their last day of business. It was like accidently walking
into a wake.