BayAreaBoater
Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2009
- RO Number
- 31155
- Messages
- 408
Well, obviously not just the Antioch store...
Their prices have gone through the roof!
I know that this probably isn't news to anyone (since this is a boating forum) and since they pretty much eliminated all of the competition, they don't have much reason to have lower prices anyway. Gotta keep the shareholders happy, right? But geeeeze!!!
While boat shopping last weekend, I thought I'd stop by WM since I was right there. I haven't dealt with them in a long time (because of their high prices) and I even have a Port Supply card which I rarely use. I use a local guy or go online for most of my stuff these days. Most places don't charge shipping with a minimum order and since they are out of state, they don't charge sales tax either.
While walking the aisles and having sticker shock, I noticed that they have 3M silicone in the 3oz tube for $15.99. I thought that was high. I just didn't realize how high! Later, on our drive home, my better half wanted to stop at Wal Mart for some of her stuff. So I decided to hit the sporting goods dept (what is left of it anyway- no guns) and I saw the same tube of 3M for $9.97. That's six bucks less on a sixteen dollar purchase and about a ten minute drive away! Crazy!
Anyway, back at WM, I was talking to the clerk who was nice enough, but didn't know much about boats, but sounded willing to learn.
We started talking about prices. Then he told me that as of March 1, they will no longer price-match. Now, I never cared for that idea to begin with. Why insult me by playing the "catch me if you can" pricing games? If they're willing to price match, why not price the items competitively in the first place? Plus, I would do business with the lower priced guy to begin with.
As most of you know, WM started out as a discount marine store. They purchased direct from the MFG's and priced their items at levels that their competition couldn't because they were buying one and two items at a time from distributors and not case-lots from the MFG's. Most of the mom & pop's and even the big guys went belly-up.
And we all know what happens when there is no competition...
It was a heck of a weekend! [:-captain]
Their prices have gone through the roof!
I know that this probably isn't news to anyone (since this is a boating forum) and since they pretty much eliminated all of the competition, they don't have much reason to have lower prices anyway. Gotta keep the shareholders happy, right? But geeeeze!!!
While boat shopping last weekend, I thought I'd stop by WM since I was right there. I haven't dealt with them in a long time (because of their high prices) and I even have a Port Supply card which I rarely use. I use a local guy or go online for most of my stuff these days. Most places don't charge shipping with a minimum order and since they are out of state, they don't charge sales tax either.
While walking the aisles and having sticker shock, I noticed that they have 3M silicone in the 3oz tube for $15.99. I thought that was high. I just didn't realize how high! Later, on our drive home, my better half wanted to stop at Wal Mart for some of her stuff. So I decided to hit the sporting goods dept (what is left of it anyway- no guns) and I saw the same tube of 3M for $9.97. That's six bucks less on a sixteen dollar purchase and about a ten minute drive away! Crazy!
Anyway, back at WM, I was talking to the clerk who was nice enough, but didn't know much about boats, but sounded willing to learn.
We started talking about prices. Then he told me that as of March 1, they will no longer price-match. Now, I never cared for that idea to begin with. Why insult me by playing the "catch me if you can" pricing games? If they're willing to price match, why not price the items competitively in the first place? Plus, I would do business with the lower priced guy to begin with.
As most of you know, WM started out as a discount marine store. They purchased direct from the MFG's and priced their items at levels that their competition couldn't because they were buying one and two items at a time from distributors and not case-lots from the MFG's. Most of the mom & pop's and even the big guys went belly-up.
And we all know what happens when there is no competition...
It was a heck of a weekend! [:-captain]