West Marine and Boat U.S.

Post by **dougl33** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:29 am

Just case anyone is not aware, West Marine and Boat U.S. will match any price if you give them proof (i.e. catalog, or computer printout). That includes internet prices and electronics. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 11:43 am

I found that out last year. Bought a windlass from West Marine for about $900. Later looked online, and found same one for $600, but there was also a $125 shipping & handling charge (that old trick). I went in there with my receipt and a printout of the page listing the thing for $600, and they gave me back $300 in store credit, and were even friendly about it too. They know their prices are outrageous. Of course $300 at West Marine only buys about $200 worth of stuff...

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:11 am

Boaters World has better prices, better hours, better service, and more in stock then B-US and WM. Bill Dunlop "Rebecca Rose" 33 Bertram FBC 1988

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:49 am

Maybe, but Boaters World didn't just open a store in Marblehead. As long as W/M and Boat Useless match prices who cares what they set their prices at. I always look online for prices anyway. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:02 am

I tried the better deal this week and got nowhere. I bought 4 new risers @ $129.00 with no shipping charge off the internet. West/Boat US was $170.00 Plus Tax. They wouldn't even talk about matching that. Saved $160 and I don't have to drive anywhere. Gene Dugan

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:31 am

I'm not surprized. I was afraid that some stores would match and others would not. I wonder what their official policy is? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:46 am

I just sent an email to West Marine's cusotmer service dept asking them what their official policy was regarding price matching. Hopefully they'll respond. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Post by **dougl33** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:00 pm

Here is my question (in bold) to West Marine and their reply (in italics): To Whom It May Concern, There has been some debate on many of the boating forums on the internet regarding your pricing policy. It seems that some West Marine/Boat U.S. stores will price match both other retail stores (Boater's World, etc...) and online stores (Defender.com, boatfix.com, etc...) while other West Marine/Boat U.S. stores won't match at all. For instance, this week I called my local West Marine store and asked them if they would match Boater's World prices on a number of items I was interested in purchasing. They said that as long as I had a catalog or some other medium showing Boater's Worlds price that they would match. I then asked if they would match online stores and they said that if I had a print-out showing a price and/or model that they would match. Further, I asked if that extended to electronics and they said yes. Conversely, a friend of mine in Florida recently purchased 4 new risers @ $129 a piece from an internet site. He claimed that when he went to West Marine/Boat U.S. that they wouldn't budge from their price of $170 a piece. Could you please tell me what the West Marine/Boat U.S. official policy is regarding price matching. Does it include both retail and online stores? Are there items that won't be matched, i.e. electronics, engine parts, etc...? Thank you in advance for your prompt response. Sir, Our price match policy is pretty straight forward, it should be posted at each and every register location. It states, "we will guarantee the lowest price available from any local competitor on any identical item we carry. We will also match the delivered price of any internet or catalog order." This would apply to the internet price, including any shipping/handling charges, on any, identical stocked item. The key here may be: Identical items. Is there a specific item you are trying to purchase, or something I can research or help you with? Regards, Steve West Marine Store Operations 500 Westridge Drive Watsonville, CA 95076 (831) 761-6921 tel (831) 763-4670 fax strcustserv@westmarine.com Hope this clears things up. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:53 am

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-Ã -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 Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:22 am

Their pricing across trhe board has gone up. Even their employee discounts are no longer the same ...which was why most people worked there.

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:38 am

It will be business as usual for me regarding them. Do not go there for anything, unless its an emergency and Nautical Traders is closed. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:26 am

I just got a phone call from Barry Kelly who is West Marine's regional sales manager for the South East (includes all Gulf States through Texas). He said that so far this is the only region that has changed their price matching policy. It changed as of 10/20. He told me that this was an experiment for the 4th quarter. All other regions should still be price matching the internet as long as shipping and/or handling charges were included. He told me that as a retail store (rent, employees, inventory, etc...) they have a hard time competing against internet stores. I agreed with him that it would be tough for WM to make money if all of their customers were having them price match internet prices. However, when I asked him if 10 out of 100 customers were doing that he said it was probably even less at which point he agreed that WM's "experimental" policy did not make much sense. As a case in point, I used Garmin's 492C which gpsonsale.com has listed for $680 while WM has it listed for $880. He said that gpsonsale.com is probably making 4-5% of the sale where WM needs to make 22%. If WM was pushing a 100 of these things a day out the door and less than 10 were at the 4-5% mark that nots too bad. He agreed. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Rob C. · Post by **Rob C.** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:41 am

I will say one thing for our local West Marine, their employees know more about boats and the merchandise than most of the emloyees at Boaters World. Boaters World has better prices but the store store is mainly staffed by a bunch of college kids who for the most part don't have a clue.

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:46 pm

I second Rob C's comment.. there are 3 or 4 men in my local West store who know boating and their product inventory very well, a couple of girls who are good but are not all that familiar with boats, and a couple of college kids who are personable and helpful but have no practical experience.. the local Boater's World staff hasn't a clue about boats, and only a passing familiarity with their product lines. I find for anything hardware related that can be used on my boat my local True Value Hardware store has much better prices (hose, stainless fittings and fastenings, etc).. since we live in a boating area this store has bait, fishing tackle, and items such as bilge pumps, line, anchors, electrical system components, etc. All at prices lower than West. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 10:38 pm

I love those dopey kids at Boater's World. Every time I buy something big, like a giant cooler recently, I tell them it's scratched or something and ask if they'll give me a price break. 10-20% every time, depending on how hard I push. Love those dopey kids. Now the guys at We$t Marine on the other hand, have always price matched any internet printout I brought in, and nobody ever talked about shipping. Hopefully that hasn't changed...I haven't tried it recently. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]