WEST MARINE......Disappoints yet AGAIN! They're batting 1000!

Never any issues with the WM store near Lake Wylie, there is another at Lake Norman but out of my way so I rarely go there - the employees in those stores are generally knowledgeable. I usually look then buy online at Wholesale Marine, Marine Engine Parts (partman) or an Ebay store, their prices are generally 20-30% higher unless there is some type of sale. Unless I really need it that day, just doesn't make sense to pay the premium. Probably buy more from Wholesale Marine than anyone else these days.
 
FastMarkA said:
To me, the utility of West Marine is akin to a clinic offering the morning after pill -- it's something you need/want right now, and you don't care what they're charging.
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LMAO!!!! So true, there's one up the street but the only time I go there is for last minute simple fix things.
 
We have several stores nearby one is about 2 miles from the marina I stopped in there yesterday to pick up a couple stainless screws, they have a locked display case in the back of the store kind of hidden away I always check it out it contains their clearance, returned open box etc items. I've found several great deals in that case mostly higher end chartplotters, VHF units with a lot of returned stereos.

Yesterday I asked the clerk if any of these items ever get listed on their website he said most of the time they don't unless they don't sell in several days then they're automatically put on the website. I asked him if there on the website and someone purchased it in store would it be removed from the website? He explained that it depends on how the sales person rings it up there's a box to check that should automatically remove it from the website if it's not checked it may take several days to be removed.

I only buy from them when I need something fast like bolts, clamps unless it's a clearance item.
 
Z-Worthy said:
I always hate to hear the reputation of WM because our local store actually has phenomenal service and excellent staff who have been there for close to 20yrs. They've helped me with countless projects and even call me personally when they have a sale on something they know I've been looking at. But I think they might also be the smallest store by square footage in the whole country, so it's a pretty personal Cheers-like store. Sorry to hear everyone else hates them!
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I agree - we're pretty lucky in Sandusky, but their prices are still ridiculous. I try not to step foot in a W-M without being accompanied by a friend or neighbor with a Port Supply account. For those not familiar with it, W-M offers a discount for people in marine-related businesses. The Port Supply discounts aren't wholesale - they're more like what the regular prices should be, but every bit helps.
 
There is a reason the pulled out of Canada.... Though they did have good stock, and 1 or 2 employees had knowledge and were actual boaters. The locals marinas seems to have pulled up the slack, although I do more online ordering now. I did get my shiny orange balls though!
 
I get pretty good service here on the NC coast. A couple of the guys in the New Bern store have been there for several years and are good to work with. The newer store in Morehead City is large and well-stocked. But, thank God for my Port Supply account. For example, last week I needed a replacement brush head for my wash brush. Price on the rack was $44.95, I paid $34.99 using Port Supply.
 
I had similar issues with WM years and years ago and switched to Defender. Doesnt matter if it was my $1600 Vitrifrigo purchase or a $5 strainer gasket, the people there are knowledgeable and the service is excellent. Super fast shipping too.
 
Online electronics sales, These types of places ruined the electronics market, they sell below cost and well below retail, they do not last long in business it catches up to them sooner or later. they make most of there money on rebates and lost capital gain come tax time..Consumer electronics comes to mind they were based out of newjersey and selling cheaper than I could buy from suppliers, so customers would buy from them and I would install the electronics. I would not sell same price as them or even close you need to make 30% just to pay the income tax on the item sold otherwise your losing money.
 
Tony, our local store (to both of us) is the WORST in my opinion, and I've been in a lot of them. The manager is clueless, can't answer the simplest questions. And once when I presented a WM gift certificate that I had already redeemed on-line (hey, I should have thrown it away, forgot I used it.......hang me over that $10!), he acted liked I had held him up at gun point the way he lectured me about their systems, like I was a thief who had tried to fool them into taking a certificate already used.
The younger version of Richard, when I was a little short in the anger-management account, would have done something terrible, but I have mellowed out a LOT since then. It's just not worth it. But I won't go back unless it's a DIRE emergency and they are the ONLY place that has what I need.
 
I ordered anew ice maker and they shipped it when promised and all went well...couldn't have had a better experience, especially since it went in easily and I have ice!
 
Boat Guy said:
I thought they were closing stores...

There is no way they will survive this business model.
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Actually, now that you mention it, I received a few emails last week alerting me of stores being closed in Ventura (CA) and another in the burbs of Chicago.

You're right, this model is not sustainable. Having stores right in the middle of boating hotspots is the only way (for those oh sh*t moments); otherwise, without a price-match policy, people will continue buying online.

For me, it's really about their prices. When I go to WM, I usually know what I need, so the staff helpfulness (or lack thereof) isn't so important. But when I see a bilge pump is $40 on Amazon Prime and it's $99 in the WM store, I certainly do think twice.
 
I wonder why they stopped price matching? A few years back we had a girl working for us who also worked there part time (for the discounts for her boating father). I had just purchased my 330DA & needed a bunch of things. She purchased them for me with her employee discount & I was amazed at the difference. Most things were 50% off and some were 70%!!! She gave me a receipt too so there was no funny business involved. That is some Mark up if you ask me! I would think with that profit margin they could afford to still do price matching.

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I do have a Port Supply account but, that only brings the prices to OK.
The employee discount is the way to go if you have anyway into that..

My local West Marine is great, friendly service and they know me and my family by name.
The manager has donated product at a local level to my wife's various benefits and I'll occasionally stop by for a social call with no intensions to buy anything...coffee is usually on :)
 
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I have had very good luck, prices aside, with our local West Marine. When we bought our first boat, the salesman told us to go to WM and tell them what we bought and WM would make sure we had all the fluids we needed. We were newbies and followed his advice. And sure enough we left with everything we needed and nothing that we didn't. Now I buy almost everything online to save some $$, but still go to WM for things I can't wait a couple days for.
 
I've got a nice little story about good ole west marine. I wanted to put in the simrad nss7 Evo 2 chart plotter fish finder combo into my boat. So I call around to see who has it in stock. Closest WM that has it is 35 miles away and they have 1 left. I verify with guy that it's the combo and not just the chart plotter and he assures me that it's the combo. So I make the drive to pick it up.
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Upon arrival I asked about transducers, he didn't have any in stock, however Oakland had 1 in stock that I needed and they would hold it for me. I pay in cash, 1200 bucks plus tax. And without verifying it's the combo unit, put it in the backseat and head to Oakland for my transducer.
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Upon arrival in Oakland I verify if the transducer has chirp, it does not!!!!! And subsequently find out I was sold the chartplotter only and not the combo unit. So in aggravation I demand a refund only to be told I'd have to drive back to the prior store since I paid in cash and they don't carry that much money. Furious I ask them to check inventory and see who has everything i want. The "big store" in Sausalito has both items!!! So instead of a refund I bite the bullet and make the drive to get what I want. Obviously a little more diligence on my part would have saved me a little headache.
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Edit: to anyone who knows anything about the Bay Area, these times are grossly miscalculated. All in all I was on the road a solid 3.5 hours.


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I just made another big purchase from WM and all went well again. I ordered a water heater on Sunday night and it arrived at my house Thursday of the same week. Online price was within $15 of the cheapest price I could find on the internet. I'm Ok with WM service.
 
The only way I purchase anything there is through PORT SUPPLY otherwise, you are pissing money down a rat hole. Here is my great WM story.... The P.O. of my boat bought a dinghy & outboard from WM Huntington Beach, CA in summer '06, in May '07 I bought my boat with the dinghy, the dinghy didn't run right, the package that WM put together was a short shaft merc 15hp and all it did was cavitate at anything above idle. I called the store, faxed the receipt to the manager and he told me he'd give 10% off of a new motor.... I told him to go F*** himself !!!! I ended up buying a shaft extension and installing it.
 
I personally have never bought anything from WM. Because over the past 15 years every time I go into one they never have what I want... You'd think they would at least stock SeaRay and other popular boat manufacturer parts/items.....
 
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