Time to stop your West Marine Whining

Okay, enough! I know it's March and this type of post comes around each year when those of you in the "Frozen North" are getting cabin fever. Each year I try to restore some reality. As some of you know, I have been a part time West Marine Sales Associate since August 1995. I have and continue to exercise all of my stock options and in 14 years have acquired a bit of West Marine stock. So, not only do I work there, I am part owner. I am not an official spokesman for West Marine, but as an employee ,1995,and a Cal boater, (Cal 46 & 25), since 1970, and knowing some of you from our Cal Tripping, I would like to clear up some misconceptions some of you share. West Marine operates with a margin about the same as almost any retailer in America. The prices charged are the result of material costs, shipping, displaying, etc. and those prices are the same across the company except the obvious like Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico where shipping costs are greater. The reason "Mom and Pop" Chandleries go bust are many. My perception is that Mom and Pop worked long hours, knew and loved their business, their customers and knew their product. Mom and Pop got old or died and son or daughter are not interested, too lazy, or not willing or disciplined enough to run a store. West Marine stores are open seven (7) days a week to serve you, closed only on Christmas and New Years Day. West Marine stores, www.westmarine.com and the catalog prices are about the same, except shipping. West also matches prices on Defender, etc. allowing for sales tax, shipping etc. to make the game fair. It is a sunny, 70+ degree Saturday morning and I am going to work on my boats, but I had to respond to all of your complaining about a "Successful" American Free Enterprise, based on your occasional dissatisfaction when we did not have stainless steel hercumdizer you needed for your 40 year old boat on Dec. 24 at 7PM. I forward all post re: West Marine to the company. We do listen and try to satisfy all. If you complain to a store manager and don't get results, please let me know. e mail ol… [at] bshmarine.com or call me 850-572-1225, CDT 0700 - 1900 Tom Vandiver, Cal 46 & 25, Happy West Marine Associate

Thanks, Tom! I don't understand all the verbal bile we've heard. If a shopper doesn't like a business, nobody is holding a gun to their head to Make them go there. Just don't go! But why get all mad and puffed up if someone else likes the buisness and decices to patronize it? Appreciate your perspective, Tom. Regige To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: bs… [at] yahoo.com Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 05:31:22 -0800 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Time to stop your West Marine Whining Okay, enough! I know it's March and this type of post comes around each year when those of you in the "Frozen North" are getting cabin fever. Each year I try to restore some reality. As some of you know, I have been a part time West Marine Sales Associate since August 1995. I have and continue to exercise all of my stock options and in 14 years have acquired a bit of West Marine stock. So, not only do I work there, I am part owner. I am not an official spokesman for West Marine, but as an employee ,1995,and a Cal boater, (Cal 46 & 25), since 1970, and knowing some of you from our Cal Tripping, I would like to clear up some misconceptions some of you share. West Marine operates with a margin about the same as almost any retailer in America. The prices charged are the result of material costs, shipping, displaying, etc. and those prices are the same across the company except the obvious like Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico where shipping costs are greater. The reason "Mom and Pop" Chandleries go bust are many. My perception is that Mom and Pop worked long hours, knew and loved their business, their customers and knew their product. Mom and Pop got old or died and son or daughter are not interested, too lazy, or not willing or disciplined enough to run a store. West Marine stores are open seven (7) days a week to serve you, closed only on Christmas and New Years Day. West Marine stores, www.westmarine.com and the catalog prices are about the same, except shipping. West also matches prices on Defender, etc. allowing for sales tax, shipping etc.. to make the game fair. It is a sunny, 70+ degree Saturday morning and I am going to work on my boats, but I had to respond to all of your complaining about a "Successful" American Free Enterprise, based on your occasional dissatisfaction when we did not have stainless steel hercumdizer you needed for your 40 year old boat on Dec. 24 at 7PM. I forward all post re: West Marine to the company. We do listen and try to satisfy all. If you complain to a store manager and don't get results, please let me know. e mail ol… [at] bshmarine.com or call me 850-572-1225, CDT 0700 - 1900 Tom Vandiver, Cal 46 & 25, Happy West Marine Associate

On Mar 7, 2009, at 5:31 AM, Tom Vandiver wrote: > > Okay, enough! I know it's March and this type of post comes around > each year when those of you in the "Frozen North" are getting cabin > fever. Each year I try to restore some reality. > > As some of you know, I have been a part time West Marine Sales > Associate since August 1995. I have and continue to exercise all of > my stock options and in 14 years have acquired a bit of West Marine > stock. So, not only do I work there, I am part owner. > > Some of the comments were over the top BUT, if you are doing a major job, as I did for two years, it is far better to use the mail order stores if you want to pay about 40 to 70% less. For a while, Mike and I had a Port Supply card and the prices were competitive so we spent a few thousand dollars at WM. Then they cancelled the card for whatever reason and I went elsewhere. For example, I bought 1/4 stainless bolts, washers and nylock nuts for about 1/4 of the price I would pay at WM. I was buying by the 100 but that's how many I wanted. In many instances, the WM stores are out of the common sizes of fasteners for weeks at a time. I understand about the 7 days a week thing but they are not economical for major purchases. Convenience, yes. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96