West Marine Pricing

[Maynard Rupp]

I refuse to shop at WM. Partly because of those,"we will match the price", policys and partly because the employees are just employees. Most know nothing and could care less about boating. WM is as big as a retail marine supplier gets and I am sure their management is well aware of the other supplier's pricing on every item they offer. I am also sure that WM is never paying more for any item in their inventory than any other store. All this means is that WM could sell any of their items for the same or less than all other suppliers. I guess that means they want to screw the newcomer who doesn't know about their stupid game.

 

[dougl33]

Last year I exchanged emails with WM's customer service department.

Today I had the following email exchange with them:

Has West Marine/Boat U.S. changed their price match policy vis-à-vis
internet pricing?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Regards,

Doug LeBlanc

Dear Mr LeBlanc,

Thank you for your e-mail, Yes recently our stores have changed their price
matching policy, however our internet and catalog division will still price
match with internet prices.

Thank you,
Danielle

West Marine Store Operations
500 Westridge Drive
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-6921 tel
(831) 763-4670 fax
strcustserv@westmarine.com

Danielle,

What is your current in-store price matching policy?

Regards,

Doug LeBlanc

Dear Mr. LeBlanc,

West Marine will price match any local competitors retail price on any identical item we carry. However, effective October 20, 2006 our store locations will no longer match pricing on products featured on internet websites, including westmarine.com.

Thank you,
Danielle

West Marine Store Operations
500 Westridge Drive
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-6921 tel
(831) 763-4670 fax
strcustserv@westmarine.com

 

[CARL GUZMAN]

If any of you guys know the marina owner or work at a marina or with a boat yard or broker alot of them have Port Supply cards ..Thats what I got I get 40% off most everything in West Marine some elecronics vary .. You may be able to call them and say you rebuild boats and give them a buissnes address and that may qualify you? good luck

 

[Boatsb]

The manager at the local WM store will not sign off on my application for port supply and I have a resale certificate, 3 marine suppliers as trade referances and have had the business since 2003. Since I am a small guy to her she thinks I will pay store prices so I shop elsewhere. I suggest others do to since they are able to drop the prices 40% when they want but still try to pillage the unsuspecting shoppers. Kind of like Iran wantang nuke technology for power generation. Just trust them to do the benevolant thing.

 

[ThirdHatt]

Boatsb, Why would you need the local West marine store manager to sign off on a Port Supply application? You do not need to interact with the WM stores EVER if you choose not to. I use www.portsupply.com to check prices and place orders (that I do not need that day). Call Port Supply, have them send you an application, fill it out and send it in with proof of your business license. Your local WM manager has NOTHING to do with your chances of getting a Port Supply account.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[ThirdHatt]

What West Marine has done with respect to their price match policy is actually quite fair and reasonable, IMHO. THere is no reasonable person that would expect a large retail giant with many expensive retail store locations with tons of employees to actually sell their products at the "internet" low prices every day. Come on people! RETAIL is just that, RETAIL! Internet shoppers are looking for close to wholesale prices. That is sustainable for INTERNET businesses, due to the low overhead with no retail locations and tons of employees to pay for. Now WM retail stores will compete with other retail stores, and their internet division (low overhead division) will compete dirtectly with other internet (low overhead) businesses. Just as it should be.

Just my $.02.

 

[Boatsb]

OK I guess I was not completely clear. I asked for the application at the store and had my resale certificate along with my other business information and she was not interested. She would not honor my resale cretificate either. So thats my meaning of signing off. As for trying to go direct to them. I see it this way. They dont want my business or they would not allow that type of behavior in their stores. I was told by this manager that she had the authority but would not honor my reseller status. Other wholesalers will not only honor my resale certificate but have on occasion gone out of their way to build a relationship. Worst Morons/ Port supply does not deserve my business and I will not go out of my way to give it to them.

 

[Genesis]

That's a chuckle - they won't even match their own online pricing in the stores any longer?!

 

[Boatsb]

It shows their customer service policy. " When you have them by the balls theirs hears and wallets will follow". They will do whatever is possible to get rid of the competetion leaving them free rein to rip us off.

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

I also find myself looking for the "made in the USA" label too!

Thanks Boss!

It's not so much the USA label - however that is important - as to the particular (2) foreign countries involved!

Cheerz,
Capt'n Bill

"I'm no fiskasisk, but I knows what matters"
Popeye (a fellow boater)

 

[CARL GUZMAN]

I went to West marine today and I was bit off I looked at the recipts and the savings where more like 25% and now I talked to the marina head and he said to get with a certin guy so now I'm realy confused some people have more discounting power than others they are hard to deal with but I like to see the small stuff and still save some.

 

[Passages]

With the exception of electronics, WM's mark up is typically near 100%. They are still making a good buck even giving the Port Supply discount.

Being in CT, I'm lucky to be just down the road from Defender and Jamestown Distributors. For major electronic purchases, I do well at the NY Boat Show or Consumers Electronics.

FWIW, my latest purchase of 100 3/8" 3M boat diapers cost me 35 cents each at a local distributor. West Marine wanted $1.89 each.

West Marine & Boaters World are reserved for emergency "gotta have it now" purchases.

 

[dougl33]

West Marine & Boaters World are reserved for emergency "gotta have it now" purchases.

I Agree. I'll have to plan ahead anytime I need to spend more than $25 so I can purchase it online.

I sent an email back to Danielle telling her how disappointed I was in WM's new policy and that I would not be using them for much in the future. While she replied to my first 2 emails fairly quickly I have still not heard back from her on my last one.

 

[Freebird]

With the exception of electronics, WM's mark up is typically near 100%. They are still making a good buck even giving the Port Supply discount.

Being in CT, I'm lucky to be just down the road from Defender and Jamestown Distributors. For major electronic purchases, I do well at the NY Boat Show or Consumers Electronics.

FWIW, my latest purchase of 100 3/8" 3M boat diapers cost me 35 cents each at a local distributor. West Marine wanted $1.89 each.

West Marine & Boaters World are reserved for emergency "gotta have it now" purchases.

I don't own stock in West Marine, but there is no way they have a "typical" mark-up of 100%. Sure, they'll have some low ticket items with big mark-ups, but that is far from typical. If not, maybe I'll go into the marine supply business.

Hey Chris, want to go in with me?

 

[Passages]

Randy,
Let's just say I have some connections inside WM. WM associates have an employee discount program where they can buy near cost. My buddy shared with me what he pays and it was generally half the shelf price. You do the math

 

[Freebird]

Okay, let's see, one whiner gozinta a Sand Bar, uh, one time?

Hey Bubba, like I said, I'm not trying to defend WM, I was just pointing out a change in their policies when I posted this thread.

Not directing this at you or any other particular respondent, it was not my intention to engage in a battle of wits with unarmed opponents as to how to play games in a retail business and survive.

Good thing I'm the bartender here. Please don't hide in the parking lot and wait for me to leave here. Okay?

 

[Passages]

Okay, let's see, one whiner gozinta a Sand Bar, uh, one time?

Good thing I'm the bartender here. Please don't hide in the parking lot and wait for me to leave here. Okay?

Hey Bubba bu -

No offense taken. This is the SANDBAR after all...aka Randy's playpen. I'm delighted you found a home here on the forum.

 

[Freebird]

Thanks Bubba, I'll take that as a compliment. Kinda like when Sky suggested I should take a look at the 1510 club!!!

 

[Passages]

Thanks Bubba, I'll take that as a compliment. Kinda like when Sky suggested I should take a look at the 1510 club!!!

ROFLOL, from what I've heard of the 1510 Club, they NEED someone like you...

 

[Freebird]

Hell, when I went on that site, the newest post was 6 months old!!! Besides, they would have to open a new section for me there too, and that might make me paranoid!