West Marine Owned by International Paper

I'm having some paint work done on the boat, and my painter wanted to get the paint and related stuff from West; he likes their points or whatever it is they give out. No problem for me, just told him to use their price match and bring me the receipts.

Going over the books, I see the results:

Interlux Perfection paint reduced to $65.61 from $99.99
Interlux 2333N reducer reduced to $22.67 from $38.99
Redtree foam roller pack reduced to $4.45 from $9.29

and my favorite...

Marine Tex 2 oz. reduced to $12.55 from $27.99

I'm not sure whether to be glad for the 41% savings or mad for the extra 41% they've been ripping folks. Anyway, I determined that West is just a front for Int'l Paper. From the amount of paper generated from each transaction, can there be any doubt?

Seems to me I heard that West is owned by Warren Buffet. And I think he also owns BOAT/US and probably GEICO.

I hate their 48" long receipts :)

A few weeks ago I went to order the 54" trim tab kit for my boat... list was like $1300... not showing up on port supply so they call a manager who said... $990. Still high so I get on line on my phone and search. The sales person who I know does the same on the store computer and she found a site I had never heard of advertising something under $800. Deal.

I think the problem is that they were getting beat up by online merchants and they had to Do something.

Not sure I'd use Interlux for anything except maybe an ancillary attachment. I have always used the original Imron or now the new Imron Axalta stuff.

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Originally Posted by SKYCHENEY

Not sure I'd use Interlux for anything except maybe an ancillary attachment. I have always used the original Imron or now the new Imron Axalta stuff.

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You may be right. Not doing huge area. Time will tell.

I’ve called and complained about those F-ing 3 foot receipts they give out. All the employees say everyone complains about it but corporate doesn’t seem to concern themselves with. WM should start listening to who pays their bills. Idiots!

I like new WM they have been told to deal and price match.
Bob

I would still rather deal with local merchants, pay a bit more, and contribute to the local economy.

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Originally Posted by BOATER BOB

I like new WM they have been told to deal and price match.Bob

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I don’t think WM would be in this situation had they not taken advantage of their customers to the extent they did. I think most understand the difference in making a fair profit and rape.

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Originally Posted by racclarkson@gmail.com

I don’t think WM would be in this situation had they not taken advantage of their customers to the extent they did. I think most understand the difference in making a fair profit and rape.

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See also: GE

hahahah

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Originally Posted by racclarkson@gmail.com

I don’t think WM would be in this situation had they not taken advantage of their customers to the extent they did. I think most understand the difference in making a fair profit and rape.

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Like myself, West Marine customers have a choice to shop &/or purchase products from wherever they like/choose. I don't see the problem. I choose to spend my money wherever and however I want too. No one is being forced to walk through the doors of any establishment!

I choose to eat at Ruth's Chris a least twice a month! I can get steak at Outback too, for much less money, but for some reason I always choose Ruth's Chris when I want someone else to cook a steak and asparagus for me, which I am perfectly capable of doing myself.

I go to my favorite gas stations to fuel up my vehicles and boats as well. I could drive to other, cheaper fuel stations if I wanted to, but I choose to spend my money where I like!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion! Carry on!

Heck, I might as well stop drinking/buying Grey Goose and start drinking Popov! And from now on when I have the occasional beer I'll start getting Natural Light! No more Goose Island Sophie/Matilda or Stella Artois for me.

Why would I choose to pay more for any kind of alcohol when there are cheaper alternatives?!

I guess when I buy my next boat I'll rule out Hatteras & Viking and only look at Bayliners & Rinkers. Those boats float and are way less expensive!

Thanks for letting me know how much of an idiot I am for spending more money when I could choose to spend much less!

nd we'll throw you a beer, probably a Natty Boh. LOL :)

Thanks!

You do have the right to shop where you want. And if you choose worst morons you will pay more for cheaper alternatives. I have 2 issues with them.

1) they stock cheepo versions of whatever they can get at the highest price they can get for it. If you need a name brand or a specific part they probably don't have it.

2) they offer wholesale discounts to anyone that asks even on restricted items that they are not allowed to sell for resale or below a set price ignoring their manufacturers contracts. As a dealer I would be cut off for doing that but they claim there's too many associates so they can't control it. (Bull)


Other than that I don't care.

A Ruth's Chris steak is not the same as an Outback steak.

2oz of Marine Tex should be the same product no matter where you buy it.

They are a brick and mortar business. Part of a dying breed. Personally I spend $500-$1000 per year there. Have no qualms about paying more at times. When I can do more planning , online ordering is preferred. When ya need something now , they are there the posted hours. My time is worth more than saving a couple bucks waiting. Just saying.

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Originally Posted by Sharon Jean

2oz of Marine Tex should be the same product no matter where you buy it.

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Exactly. It is the same product. Prices may very from place to place. You have a choice of where you want to buy it.

Some people enjoy being taken advantage of. Theres websites for them.

I don’t care about Worst Marine’s pricing. My beef is their deteriorating in-store inventory, and ridiculous ordering/reordering policy. They (at least our store) are routinely out of popular sizes of clamps, pins, nuts, fittings, etc. When will they be in? Next Wednesday (the weekly delivery day). Can you order them for me? Yes. When will they be in? Next Wednesday. You’re out, so they must already be coming next Wednesday, right? I’m not sure, but if you order and pay for them, they’ll most likely come in. [Turn around, walk out] Fortunately, I have an independent marine store a little farther away. They’re a little cheaper than WM, but that’s not why I go there. Anything they don’t have, they order, and it shows up the next morning - they call me when they pull it out of the shipment. The counter guys are all hardcore boaters/fishermen, and are a wealth of information. I spend most of my boat bucks there, and I hope they stay in business.

I buy most of my boating products through real wholesale and dealer channels.

I'm a victron distributor.
A Garmin, raymarine, simrad and others installer/dealer.
I maintain a reasonable inventory of supplies but buy for almost every installation what's thought to be needed so I don't run short.


I also spend alot of time with customers selling them systems only to have the idiots at worst morons try to undercut me on the main products with dishonesty and dirty tricks. Then the customer finds out they have to special order it and pay additional freight. And they still buy from them. Why?

I would rather pay more than deal with an idiot or moron. How is your customer base looking? Shrinking or growing.

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Originally Posted by Boatsb

And they still buy from them. Why?

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Because they choose to! Who knows why people make the choices the choices that they do. Who am I to ask? Most importantly, does it matter?

My customer base is shrinking because of the online lowballers and places like west. They ask for my quote so they can beat it yet won't do the work to survey a vessel.

I also blame the dirtbag owners who shop this way because they see no issue with screwing a local hard working guy if it benefits them.

I see too many boatowners that need to be removed from customer pool. When i design a system there are drawings and labels to do it right. Even if I sell to a DIY customer I can get them drawings and labels plus all the ancillary products they need.

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Originally Posted by wpc691

I don’t care about Worst Marine’s pricing. My beef is their deteriorating in-store inventory, and ridiculous ordering/reordering policy. They (at least our store) are routinely out of popular sizes of clamps, pins, nuts, fittings, etc. When will they be in? Next Wednesday (the weekly delivery day). Can you order them for me? Yes. When will they be in? Next Wednesday. You’re out, so they must already be coming next Wednesday, right? I’m not sure, but if you order and pay for them, they’ll most likely come in. [Turn around, walk out] Fortunately, I have an independent marine store a little farther away. They’re a little cheaper than WM, but that’s not why I go there. Anything they don’t have, they order, and it shows up the next morning - they call me when they pull it out of the shipment. The counter guys are all hardcore boaters/fishermen, and are a wealth of information. I spend most of my boat bucks there, and I hope they stay in business.

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Exactly.

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Originally Posted by Sharon Jean

A Ruth's Chris steak is not the same as an Outback steak.

2oz of Marine Tex should be the same product no matter where you buy it.

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This is true. What are you paying for. Are you paying more for the same thing? Is there a reason to pay more? Better service? The right advice? Or are you paying more for less. I feel like whenever I am forced to buy at WM, I'm paying more and getting less. That's not a good feeling.

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Originally Posted by SKYCHENEY

This is true. What are you paying for. Are you paying more for the same thing? Is there a reason to pay more? Better service? The right advice? Or are you paying more for less. I feel like whenever I am forced to buy at WM, I'm paying more and getting less. That's not a good feeling.

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Yep, the Ruth’s Chris and Outback analogy illustrate a serious lack of understanding. Apples and oranges.

I'll go out of my way to spend money with people that treat me right and don't bad mouth me when out of earshot. It's not always about saving a buck. The local Ace gets my business before a big box.
West here happens to have a long tI'm friendly crew. It's on the way to the boat. Realy don't care who signs their check. Their all fellow boaters too.

Glad to hear there is at least one where the employees know something about boats. Not the case here, and I know that most small cities don't have the variety of marine chandleries that we do in Naptown.

I only rarely buy actual boat parts at WM, it's usually boat shoes and clothes.
I used to buy parts there, but since the merger the prices went sky high and the quality in the toilet, everything is the shoddiest Chinese junk they could find.
In addition WM only carries parts for sub 40' vessels (try to Find a 4" seacock or hose there 3/4" is the biggest they carry).
I don't know about elsewhere, but in San Diego they concentrate on crap for newbie 35' sailboat owners that don't know anything. Folding cockpit tables, ten kinds of things to clamp on the railings, all "accessories" not real parts and all Chinese made.
I'm lucky that near me there is San Diego Marine Exchange that caters to large boats and carries top quality products, most often for less than WM.
If need a new electronics package or just a new radar I will hire Seanet Electronics, a small, very knowledgeable local shop that installs and services - and stands behind - what they sell.

Dave, how did you find those parts at WM. They must be hidden somewhere amongst all those clothes they now carry. I agree , when you go into San Diego Marine Exchange all you see are boat parts, no clothes, I love it. John