"NOYB" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

"NOYB" wrote in message
news

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Here, West Marine's 15 minutes away from Boat US, and the difference
in
knowledge level is like night & day. I suspect it's because the West
Marine
is directly across the street from 5 marinas and a ritzy yacht club.


...and has the ritzy prices to match.




Fortunately, my small boat doesn't need much, so paying higher prices
occasionally doesn't dent the annual budget. I don't care HOW much
better
the prices are at Boat US. I assume the manager makes some sort of bonus
based on the store's performance, and I'm not about to reward him and
his
crew for lousy service.


I just installed two Rule Fully Automatic 1100gph bilge pumps on my boat
last weekend. West Marine had 'em for $95. Boater's World had 'em for
$79
and change (regulare non-sale price). I don't care if the manager serves
me
latte and polishes my shoes, I'm not paying 20% more because the salesman
behind the counter paid more attention to me.




At the Boat US store here, you're lucky if you can get someone to take your
money. Last visit: Ass't manager was on the phone at the service desk while
3 customers including myself waited at the cash register. We all figured she
was helping a customer. Nope. Loud enough for everyone to hear, she says,
"Look, when I took this job, I didn't think I had to be in the store
cleaning up at 11 PM, so we need to talk, or I'll find something else". The
conversation continued for 3 more minutes. Finally, a cashier appeared from
one of the aisles. Rather than come to the register, she yells "Is dey
somethin' I can help you people with?" I kid you not. One customer stayed,
two of us left. What I needed wasn't crucial.

Previous visit: Only one person at the front end - the manager. Two
customers waiting at the register. The manager was chatting with what
appeared to be an entire family. From the conversation, it was clear they
were chatting about who's going to college where. Chatting....and chatting.
Five minutes went by. I asked if there was a cashier available. He said "No,
but I'll be right with you".

I don't care how much cheaper they sell something for. I don't like asking
people to take my money. I don't expect a red carpet and a blowjob when I
walk into a store, just the acknowledgement that I have other things to do
besides cool my heels waiting until someone's done picking their nose.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

"NOYB" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

"NOYB" wrote in message
news
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Here, West Marine's 15 minutes away from Boat US, and the
difference
in
knowledge level is like night & day. I suspect it's because the
West
Marine
is directly across the street from 5 marinas and a ritzy yacht
club.


...and has the ritzy prices to match.




Fortunately, my small boat doesn't need much, so paying higher prices
occasionally doesn't dent the annual budget. I don't care HOW much
better
the prices are at Boat US. I assume the manager makes some sort of
bonus
based on the store's performance, and I'm not about to reward him and
his
crew for lousy service.


I just installed two Rule Fully Automatic 1100gph bilge pumps on my boat
last weekend. West Marine had 'em for $95. Boater's World had 'em for
$79
and change (regulare non-sale price). I don't care if the manager
serves
me
latte and polishes my shoes, I'm not paying 20% more because the
salesman
behind the counter paid more attention to me.




At the Boat US store here, you're lucky if you can get someone to take
your
money. Last visit: Ass't manager was on the phone at the service desk
while
3 customers including myself waited at the cash register. We all figured
she
was helping a customer. Nope. Loud enough for everyone to hear, she says,
"Look, when I took this job, I didn't think I had to be in the store
cleaning up at 11 PM, so we need to talk, or I'll find something else".
The
conversation continued for 3 more minutes. Finally, a cashier appeared
from
one of the aisles. Rather than come to the register, she yells "Is dey
somethin' I can help you people with?" I kid you not. One customer stayed,
two of us left. What I needed wasn't crucial.

Previous visit: Only one person at the front end - the manager. Two
customers waiting at the register. The manager was chatting with what
appeared to be an entire family. From the conversation, it was clear they
were chatting about who's going to college where. Chatting....and
chatting.
Five minutes went by. I asked if there was a cashier available. He said
"No,
but I'll be right with you".

I don't care how much cheaper they sell something for. I don't like asking
people to take my money. I don't expect a red carpet and a blowjob when I
walk into a store, just the acknowledgement that I have other things to do
besides cool my heels waiting until someone's done picking their nose.



I had a similar experience at West Marine, but it was because the two
salemen were helping the same customer spend lots of his money on expensive
electronics. What irked me is that neither one of them broke away to cash
me out. I left...leaving the pile of merchandise sitting on the counter.
When I got home, I ordered it on the internet. Shipping was free because
the bill exceeded $100 (a promotion they were running). Sometimes you
achieve the best "service" when as few people as possible are involved in a
sale.

Be advised that West Marine bought the BoatUS retail business a year or so ago,
so it's really the same company. Here in The San Diego area, I always found
the BoatUS staff were MUCH better versed (for the most part...always a ding
ding in the crowd) then the West Marine clowns. In the old days.
Now it's just a K-MART for boats. Know what you need before going in the door.
They are better at selling a new radar then a replacement raw water pump!
Mike

Unfortunately, the marina where I bought my boat is 45 minutes away, or I'd
be shopping there once a week for little stuff. The vast majority of what
they sell in their store is cheaper than at West Marine or Boat US. Their
only nearby competition is another marina a block away. I think the public
has been thoroughly trained to believe that specialty stores are more
expensive. Too bad.

"CaptMP" wrote in message
...
Be advised that West Marine bought the BoatUS retail business a year or so
ago,
so it's really the same company. Here in The San Diego area, I always
found
the BoatUS staff were MUCH better versed (for the most part...always a
ding
ding in the crowd) then the West Marine clowns. In the old days.
Now it's just a K-MART for boats. Know what you need before going in the
door.
They are better at selling a new radar then a replacement raw water pump!
Mike