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West Marine going down the tube?
Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank...
http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Ug Gah Lee. |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 7:05*pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message ... Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Will BoatUS go down with them? I only purchase from either of them when I am in last minute need for something I cannot get at Ace Hardware. *Most of my purchases are from internet retailers as they 99.9% of the time have better prices than either West Marine/BoatUS. Agreed, Jim. Not needing much I usually buy locally (NAPA for engine stuff) or ebay. I dont' like going to wal-mart, but they've had just about ( but not everything) I've needed. |
West Marine going down the tube?
JimH wrote:
"John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. I guess I could have gotten a "better deal" shopping out of town. Not. |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 8:19*pm, John H. wrote:
On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:13:01 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Ug Gah Lee. Tom, do you know anything about these auto pfd's? http://tinyurl.com/2vtpbt That seems like a pretty good price. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) LOL! John, I like how they say your *$aving* 80+ bucks each when other online stores have them for at least the same amount. Sales gimmicks, you gotta love 'em! |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 7:29*pm, HK wrote:
JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message .. . On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. I guess I could have gotten a "better deal" shopping out of town. Not.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - that sounds like quite a bit of dealer generosity, but I wonder if you would or could have saved money by not have all the case candy thrown in? I think you paid for the complimentary freebies, Harry. But still, I will admit it was a good gesture on the dealers part. I would have felt good if they had done the same for me. |
West Marine going down the tube?
"Tim" wrote in message ... On Apr 1, 7:29 pm, HK wrote: JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message .. . On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. I guess I could have gotten a "better deal" shopping out of town. Not.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - that sounds like quite a bit of dealer generosity, but I wonder if you would or could have saved money by not have all the case candy thrown in? I think you paid for the complimentary freebies, Harry. But still, I will admit it was a good gesture on the dealers part. I would have felt good if they had done the same for me. Any business has to maintain a certain profit margin or they close the doors. There are no free lunches. |
West Marine going down the tube?
Tim wrote:
On Apr 1, 7:29 pm, HK wrote: JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. I guess I could have gotten a "better deal" shopping out of town. Not.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - that sounds like quite a bit of dealer generosity, but I wonder if you would or could have saved money by not have all the case candy thrown in? I think you paid for the complimentary freebies, Harry. But still, I will admit it was a good gesture on the dealers part. I would have felt good if they had done the same for me. Oh, I'm sure the price of the goodies was included in what I paid, but I did check around. I spec'd the new boat out at a dealership near Virginia Beach during a visit to that area, and that dealer's "cash price" was about $1200 more than I paid. I also called a dealer a little north of here, and got a quote very similar to what I paid. It's entirely up to the dealer to set the price for new, "current" Parkers, but as far as I know, none are into price busting, since there is no incentive for them to do so. Typically, by mid-April, the factory is "sold out" for the year. Parker is not a high-volume manufacturer. The Parker family is really nice to deal with. When my Parkers were being built, a member of the Parker family snapped some photos and emailed them to me. They also arranged for me to buy an "accessory" this year at cost, and helped me get the dealer to install it for less than the going rate. I'm not saying the boats or the company or the dealership are "perfect," but there is a high amount of "repeat" purchases among Parker owners, and that speaks to customer satisfaction. I looked at a couple of other 21' center consoles before I decided to buy another Parker. Most of them were built up from a two piece hull and deck with liner assembly, a method of construction I do not much like. |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:19:51 -0500, John H.
wrote: On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:13:01 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Ug Gah Lee. Tom, do you know anything about these auto pfd's? http://tinyurl.com/2vtpbt That seems like a pretty good price. I'm not familiar with this brand = I have Mustang auto-pfds and love 'em. Being a larger size human being, I found them to be the more comfortable than the Stearns. I also have an Orca jacket and a Mustang Jacket that are very nice in colder weather. As to personal experience with them, I can attest to the fact that they work and work well. :) |
West Marine going down the tube?
"JimH" wrote in message ... "HK" wrote in message ... JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. Come to think of it..........all of the boats we purchased in the past came with dock lines, anchor(s)/anchor line and safety equipment including life jackets, flares, etc....... The boats we sold included the same equipment. It's usually referred to as "The Coast Guard Package" and is included with virtually all new boats. It may be a requirement on the manufacturer, but I am not sure. I think it is. When we bought the Navigator I was surprised that the manufacturer even included a ship's bell in the package, which is required on boats over a certain length. Eisboch |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
Eisboch wrote:
"JimH" wrote in message ... "HK" wrote in message ... JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. Come to think of it..........all of the boats we purchased in the past came with dock lines, anchor(s)/anchor line and safety equipment including life jackets, flares, etc....... The boats we sold included the same equipment. It's usually referred to as "The Coast Guard Package" and is included with virtually all new boats. It may be a requirement on the manufacturer, but I am not sure. I think it is. When we bought the Navigator I was surprised that the manufacturer even included a ship's bell in the package, which is required on boats over a certain length. Eisboch Well, apparently it is not a requirement for *all* manufacturers. :) |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:13:01 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Ug Gah Lee. Tom, do you know anything about these auto pfd's? http://tinyurl.com/2vtpbt That seems like a pretty good price. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
"HK" wrote in message . .. Eisboch wrote: "JimH" wrote in message ... "HK" wrote in message ... JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. Come to think of it..........all of the boats we purchased in the past came with dock lines, anchor(s)/anchor line and safety equipment including life jackets, flares, etc....... The boats we sold included the same equipment. It's usually referred to as "The Coast Guard Package" and is included with virtually all new boats. It may be a requirement on the manufacturer, but I am not sure. I think it is. When we bought the Navigator I was surprised that the manufacturer even included a ship's bell in the package, which is required on boats over a certain length. Eisboch Well, apparently it is not a requirement for *all* manufacturers. :) I am not sure. The Whaler that I bought new came with a "package" that was obviously shipped with the boat from the factory, due to the way it was packaged. Same with the Scout, Egg Harbor and Navigator. All the equipment in the USCG "Package" was shipped with the boat from the factory. That's why I suspect it is a requirement placed on the boat manufacturer and not a "free gift" from the dealer although often advertised as such. Eisboch |
West Marine going down the tube?
"JimH" wrote in message ... "Eisboch" wrote in message ... Of the boats I have purchased, only 1 was new (dealer going out of business). All came with the items I described previously. Whenever I sold the boats, they were sold with the same items with no price inflation for including those items. Did a little Goggling .... I think the "Coast Guard Package" equipment is required to be supplied by manufacturers who are NMMA certified and follow ABCY standards. Most of the well known manufacturers are members and are certified by NMMA. http://www.nmma.org/certification/pr.../boatlinks.asp It's customary to sell a boat with the basic safety equipment including life preservers, flares, lines, fenders, power cord(s), etc. Mrs. E has a hard time understanding why we have to give the future owners of her Grand Banks the pretty, new, white shore power cord that she bought to replace the old yellow cruddy one. I told her to stick to horses. Eisboch |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:06:04 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: On Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:19:51 -0500, John H. wrote: On Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:13:01 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Ug Gah Lee. Tom, do you know anything about these auto pfd's? http://tinyurl.com/2vtpbt That seems like a pretty good price. I'm not familiar with this brand = I have Mustang auto-pfds and love 'em. Being a larger size human being, I found them to be the more comfortable than the Stearns. I also have an Orca jacket and a Mustang Jacket that are very nice in colder weather. As to personal experience with them, I can attest to the fact that they work and work well. :) Thanks. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 20:16:28 -0400, "JimH" wrote:
"John H." wrote in message .. . On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Not all that worried about saving $4. I've a good relationship with my West Marine guys. Besides, for PFD's, lines, and some of the other stuff, I like to be able to see, try on, and/or feel what I'm getting. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 21:08:25 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:
"JimH" wrote in message ... "HK" wrote in message ... JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. Come to think of it..........all of the boats we purchased in the past came with dock lines, anchor(s)/anchor line and safety equipment including life jackets, flares, etc....... The boats we sold included the same equipment. It's usually referred to as "The Coast Guard Package" and is included with virtually all new boats. It may be a requirement on the manufacturer, but I am not sure. I think it is. When we bought the Navigator I was surprised that the manufacturer even included a ship's bell in the package, which is required on boats over a certain length. Eisboch From what I've seen, the Coast Guard Package usually includes the cheapest that will meet requirements. When I got the Proline, the first thing I did was get new lines and anchor rode. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 8:08*pm, "Eisboch" wrote:
"JimH" wrote in message ... "HK" wrote in message ... JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently.. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. Come to think of it..........all of the boats we purchased in the past came with dock lines, anchor(s)/anchor line and safety equipment including life jackets, flares, etc....... The boats we sold included the same equipment. It's usually referred to as "The Coast Guard Package" *and is included with virtually all new boats. *It may be a requirement on the manufacturer, but I am not sure. * I think it is. * When we bought the Navigator I was surprised that the manufacturer even included a ship's bell in the package, which is required on boats over a certain length. Eisboch- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Interesting about the shops bell. about the second time I took my old 27' Cahalier out on the lake I was stopped by park and Forest for a random check. They asked for a PFD and I showed them a cushion. well, that didn't go over very well. even though it said it was "Coast Guard aproved" or something liek that. I wasn't going to argue. They're interpretation of the rules overrode mine. They asked me for a noise device, Well, I had the standard equipment bell. That didn't go over either. They said I had to have a horn or a wistle. Again, their rules over rode my ideas and I wasn't going to argue that point as well. Oh they were nice enough and gave me my two warnings. next time out I had a couple semi-truck horns mounted, and a couple titanic-sized donut like throwables with proper roper etc. And in two years with running that leaky tub, I never saw the patrol again. |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 9:01*pm, "JimH" wrote:
"John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 20:16:28 -0400, "JimH" wrote: "John H." wrote in message . .. On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Not all that worried about saving $4. I've a good relationship with my West Marine guys. Besides, for PFD's, lines, and some of the other stuff, I like to be able to see, try on, and/or feel what I'm getting. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) *Relationship* with the WM guys? *Heck, they are most likely hourly employees who will leave for a better job in a heart beat. *Sort of like building a relationship with someone from Walmart. Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh?- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - In a way I would agree. But, in a different example, I've delt with one local music store for several years, and have spent literally thousands of dollars with them. The crew there loves me, especially since they work on a small salary plus commission. But I'm on good rrpore with them and they with me, and they are pretty knowledgable with their products, and they know I'm not one to be con'd. I wouldn't say that I'm "to the death" friends with them, but they've always treated me great. I wouldn't say they're your typical huge retailer "sales geeks" like what you find at Sam Ash, Guitar Center, and the like. They're not out to grab a fast buck and dont' care how they get it. Anyhow, back on track. I'd say that JohnH could be speaking well about the people he deals with at WMarine, because they probably know him and like to keep him as a customer. The way their tanking, they might want to keep him as a customer because he he might be the last guy out the door before they close the gates ... LOL! |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 9:01 pm, "JimH" wrote: "John H." wrote in message I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Not all that worried about saving $4. I've a good relationship with my West Marine guys. Besides, for PFD's, lines, and some of the other stuff, I like to be able to see, try on, and/or feel what I'm getting. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) *Relationship* with the WM guys? Heck, they are most likely hourly employees who will leave for a better job in a heart beat. Sort of like building a relationship with someone from Walmart. Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh?- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I suppose every store is different in terms of people. I agree with John. We have a West Marine in Plymouth that has been operated by the same two people for years and many of the employees have been there quite a while as well. My experience has been that although West Marine is pricey (aren't all "marine" products?) the people at this store are always helpful, friendly and fairly knowledgeable. I don't like buying sight unseen on the Internet and rarely do. I want to eyeball, touch and feel any major purchase. The minor marine related purchases are usually impulsive .... meaning I think of them as I am passing West Marine on the way to the boat. I don't have the patience or discipline to plan a project a week in advance, then go online to order the parts. If I did that, I'd lose interest in the project or forget what it was. Then there's always the situation of starting a project on the boat and discovering you need some parts that are only available at West Marine or at an on-line outlet. I can't leave the project half done, so it's off to West Marine. Eisboch |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 03:06:10 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:
Then there's always the situation of starting a project on the boat and discovering you need some parts that are only available at West Marine or at an on-line outlet. I can't leave the project half done, so it's off to West Marine. The one in New London and Mystic has had the same crew for the past ten years or so - knowledgable and in the New London store, one of the gals there is a retired electronics engineer and really knows her electronics. I've never had a problem with West in terms of knowledge - price, that's another matter. |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 8:16*pm, "JimH" wrote:
"John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Personally, a lot of my purchases I like to touch and play with before purchase, then I want it right away. I shop the net, but not exclusively. |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 21:08:23 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
On Apr 1, 9:01*pm, "JimH" wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 20:16:28 -0400, "JimH" wrote: "John H." wrote in message . .. On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Not all that worried about saving $4. I've a good relationship with my West Marine guys. Besides, for PFD's, lines, and some of the other stuff, I like to be able to see, try on, and/or feel what I'm getting. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) *Relationship* with the WM guys? *Heck, they are most likely hourly employees who will leave for a better job in a heart beat. *Sort of like building a relationship with someone from Walmart. Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh?- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - In a way I would agree. But, in a different example, I've delt with one local music store for several years, and have spent literally thousands of dollars with them. The crew there loves me, especially since they work on a small salary plus commission. But I'm on good rrpore with them and they with me, and they are pretty knowledgable with their products, and they know I'm not one to be con'd. I wouldn't say that I'm "to the death" friends with them, but they've always treated me great. I wouldn't say they're your typical huge retailer "sales geeks" like what you find at Sam Ash, Guitar Center, and the like. They're not out to grab a fast buck and dont' care how they get it. Anyhow, back on track. I'd say that JohnH could be speaking well about the people he deals with at WMarine, because they probably know him and like to keep him as a customer. The way their tanking, they might want to keep him as a customer because he he might be the last guy out the door before they close the gates ... LOL! Well, I'd sure like to be among the first in the door when they have their going out of business sale! -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 1, 8:51*pm, HK wrote:
Tim wrote: On Apr 1, 7:29 pm, HK wrote: JimH wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently.. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Interesting. Our local Parker dealer puts a "safety/convenience kit" in each boat it sells, properly spec'd and sized. My new Parker came with flares, six life jackets, a "tossable" cushion, a Danforth anchor, 10' of chain, 150' of anchor line, four dock lines, a whistle (!), and a few other goodies, including a full tank of fuel. Plus, the dealer installed at no cost to me the electronics I mostly did not buy from him, and also at no cost to me fitted the trailer I did not buy from him. I guess I could have gotten a "better deal" shopping out of town. Not.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - that sounds like quite a bit of dealer generosity, but I wonder if you would or could have saved money by not have all the case candy thrown in? I think you paid for the *complimentary freebies, Harry. But still, I will admit it was a good gesture on the dealers part. I would have felt good if they had done the same for me. Oh, I'm sure the price of the goodies was included in what I paid, but I did check around. I spec'd the new boat out at a dealership near Virginia Beach during a visit to that area, and that dealer's "cash price" was about $1200 more than I paid. I also called a dealer a little north of here, and got a quote very similar to what I paid. It's entirely up to the dealer to set the price for new, "current" Parkers, but as far as I know, none are into price busting, since there is no incentive for them to do so. Typically, by mid-April, the factory is "sold out" for the year. Parker is not a high-volume manufacturer. The Parker family is really nice to deal with. When my Parkers were being built, a member of the Parker family snapped some photos and emailed them to me. They also arranged for me to buy an "accessory" this year at cost, and helped me get the dealer to install it for less than the going rate. I'm not saying the boats or the company or the dealership are "perfect," but there is a high amount of "repeat" purchases among Parker owners, and that speaks to customer satisfaction. I looked at a couple of other 21' center consoles before I decided to buy another Parker. Most of them were built up from a two piece hull and deck with liner assembly, a method of construction I do not much like.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Was the "goodies" included with your 36' Zimmerman like lobster boat? |
West Marine going down the tube?
Gene Kearns wrote:
On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim penned the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats: |Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... | |http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 Aside from WM's specific problems, it is an industry wide problem that won't go away for quite some time..... http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=1229185 http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=aFGRVkX98Hzw What? There are serious economic problems? :) |
West Marine going down the tube?
Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests,
etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh? Since money seems to be no object to you, I wonder why you use the "net?" You seem to contradict yourself. No offense intended. I like West Marine because they have everything I need when I want it. I'm an impulse buyer, or a buyer of necessity, and when I want/need it, I want it NOW. I can do that with WM. I've purchased stuff online as well, like a new tube for the kids for instance. I bought it in December after Christmas when the retailer was having a sale. Since I was not planning on splashing the boat for a few months yet, it was the CONVENIENCE of buying online that drove me to the purchase, not any particular cost savings. There's something to be said for retailers that specialize in one particular area like WM. If WalMarts were on every corner, the world would be a much more unpleasant place indeed. --Mike "JimH" wrote in message ... "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 20:16:28 -0400, "JimH" wrote: "John H." wrote in message ... On Tue, 1 Apr 2008 16:56:02 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: Not sure but for all I know, it looks like they may tank... http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080326?rpc=44 I hope not. I've got one about three miles away that I use frequently. I'm going to pick up my boat in two weeks, and I'll need the lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) Just curious as your purchased the boat last year and knew what it needed: Why didn't you shop for theses items over the net at a more reasonable price months ago? Not all that worried about saving $4. I've a good relationship with my West Marine guys. Besides, for PFD's, lines, and some of the other stuff, I like to be able to see, try on, and/or feel what I'm getting. -- John *H* (Not the other one!) *Relationship* with the WM guys? Heck, they are most likely hourly employees who will leave for a better job in a heart beat. Sort of like building a relationship with someone from Walmart. Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh? |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Apr 2, 5:15*am, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: If they were like Wal-Mart with one on every corner, that would be different.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - I thought that the "on every corner" line applied only to Starbucks.... |
West Marine going down the tube?
On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 20:44:22 -0700, "Mike" wrote:
Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh? Since money seems to be no object to you, I wonder why you use the "net?" You seem to contradict yourself. No offense intended. I like West Marine because they have everything I need when I want it. I'm an impulse buyer, or a buyer of necessity, and when I want/need it, I want it NOW. I can do that with WM. I've purchased stuff online as well, like a new tube for the kids for instance. I bought it in December after Christmas when the retailer was having a sale. Since I was not planning on splashing the boat for a few months yet, it was the CONVENIENCE of buying online that drove me to the purchase, not any particular cost savings. There's something to be said for retailers that specialize in one particular area like WM. If WalMarts were on every corner, the world would be a much more unpleasant place indeed. --Mike Saving a couple dollars is not that big a deal. Saving a couple hundred is a bigger deal. I use the net for both purchases and information. Sorry if that seems contradictory. I like West Marine for many of the same reasons you do. So what's the problem? -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
"John H." wrote in message ... On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 20:44:22 -0700, "Mike" wrote: Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh? Since money seems to be no object to you, I wonder why you use the "net?" You seem to contradict yourself. No offense intended. I like West Marine because they have everything I need when I want it. I'm an impulse buyer, or a buyer of necessity, and when I want/need it, I want it NOW. I can do that with WM. I've purchased stuff online as well, like a new tube for the kids for instance. I bought it in December after Christmas when the retailer was having a sale. Since I was not planning on splashing the boat for a few months yet, it was the CONVENIENCE of buying online that drove me to the purchase, not any particular cost savings. There's something to be said for retailers that specialize in one particular area like WM. If WalMarts were on every corner, the world would be a much more unpleasant place indeed. --Mike Saving a couple dollars is not that big a deal. Saving a couple hundred is a bigger deal. I use the net for both purchases and information. Sorry if that seems contradictory. I like West Marine for many of the same reasons you do. So what's the problem? -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
West Marine going down the tube?
Saving a couple dollars is not that big a deal. Saving a couple hundred is
a bigger deal. I use the net for both purchases and information. Sorry if that seems contradictory. Sorry, I misunderstood your post. Now that makes sense. ;-) --Mike "John H." wrote in message ... On Wed, 2 Apr 2008 20:44:22 -0700, "Mike" wrote: Regarding the saving of a whopping $4 on "lines, anchor rode, life vests, etc. by purchasing from your buds at West Marine vs. marine retailers on the net.............all I have to say is.......eh? Since money seems to be no object to you, I wonder why you use the "net?" You seem to contradict yourself. No offense intended. I like West Marine because they have everything I need when I want it. I'm an impulse buyer, or a buyer of necessity, and when I want/need it, I want it NOW. I can do that with WM. I've purchased stuff online as well, like a new tube for the kids for instance. I bought it in December after Christmas when the retailer was having a sale. Since I was not planning on splashing the boat for a few months yet, it was the CONVENIENCE of buying online that drove me to the purchase, not any particular cost savings. There's something to be said for retailers that specialize in one particular area like WM. If WalMarts were on every corner, the world would be a much more unpleasant place indeed. --Mike Saving a couple dollars is not that big a deal. Saving a couple hundred is a bigger deal. I use the net for both purchases and information. Sorry if that seems contradictory. I like West Marine for many of the same reasons you do. So what's the problem? -- John *H* (Not the other one!) |
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