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?
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04-18-2018 05:35 PM #21
Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
Scott
41C117 "Hattatude"
Port Canaveral Florida.
Marine Electronics and Electrical Products Distributor.
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Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
I would rather pay more than deal with an idiot or moron. How is your customer base looking? Shrinking or growing.
Fred
31 Tiara Open
"Escalation"
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04-18-2018 08:32 PM #24
Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
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.Scott
41C117 "Hattatude"
Port Canaveral Florida.
Marine Electronics and Electrical Products Distributor.
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Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
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.Sky Cheney
1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI
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Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
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.Fred
31 Tiara Open
"Escalation"
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Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
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.
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Re: West Marine Owned by International Paper
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."The older I get, the faster I was......."
1979 60C "Ohana" hull# 331