Sticker shock

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,046
I have always been the person who tells everyone to buy local first and support your area....

I was traveling on the road today and stopped at a fairly good size boat shop with the intentions of possible purchase of some restoration supplies I need.

Here is how it went....

Hello... do you carry Gluvit?
I received a puzzled look and the young lady went into the back room to check.....
I was then greeted by a woman who told me that gluvit is only sold in auto parts stores......
:confused::confused: I then asked if she knew what gluvit is? ;) and she told me she had no idea!! (Then why was she so quick to say an auto parts store?) I mentioned it was made by Marine Tex and she showed me a smaller box of marine tex and told me this was the latest stuff!!

I then saw a 4 ounce tube of 5200 on the shelf and i looked at the price $18.95 and the full size tube was $24.95 .... a regular size can of zinc chromate was $18.95 :eek::mad:

OMG:eek: and there people are in business!!! They walk among us!

That will be my last visit there.
 

thrillhouse700

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
778
Re: Sticker shock

Yeah by my house there is a west marine store. Most everything is so ridiculously over priced they were decent priced on things like buoys and masking tape tho.
 

redfury

Commander
Joined
Jul 16, 2006
Messages
2,655
Re: Sticker shock

Well, if they are the only gig around, they can and will get away with it! My local grocery store has charged up to $9/case for Mountain Dew when I could drive the 10 miles to the next town and get it for $5 at Walmart. :rolleyes:
 

Bifflefan

Commander
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
2,933
Re: Sticker shock

Im really supirsed that they didnt ask you for the color of the car you were working on,

When i go to the auto parts store and they start asking all those questions like engine size and whether its 4 wheel drive or not, when all i wanted was a set of wiper blades....LOL
I just tell the its black........
 

Rickairmedic

Commander
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
2,576
Re: Sticker shock

Bob I have a place near me ( close by ) they are major A-HOLES. I purposely go clear to the other side of town to a marine dealer who gives me the time of day and gives me business pricing ( I do own a business although not marine ) and the Parts guy is very helpfull and has told me if he doesnt have it he will in 2 days regardless of what it is I need boat related . Soooooooooo there are Schmucks out there but there are also fantastic customer related companies out there who will take care of every customer no matter how trivial your needs are ( these guys deal with more 30+ footers than little tin cans like mine ) . They still treat me just like the guy with the 45' Chris Craft . :D


Rick
 
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
51
Re: Sticker shock

There is a NAPA store near where I live, in the "duck hunting district," that has a BIG boating section. Their prices are very reasonable. The staff is very friendly and they go out of their way to help. A spray can of Moeller zinc chromate is $10; when I wanted to return some extra cans I bought, they took them back, no questions asked (these were cans that they had cleared their shelves to reserve for me when I called ahead). A gallon of green duck boat paint costs about what I've seen online for a can of Parker paint, without the shipping, and they have a board they've painted with color samples so you can see what you're getting. The staff uses all the products there, so they're knowledgeable and know what to recommend for a given application (sealers, etc.). I needed new bunker carpets for my trailer, and their very good product cost about half of what West Marine wanted for crap(in the "pleasure boat district").

There is hope...
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,046
Re: Sticker shock

Oh I know there is hope!

I am traveling north in a week or so to where Andy is and I might stop in and get some supplies in Plattsburgh NY.

It was not a "West" store I had stopped at but a privately owned store. West does not get my business either.

I started out with good intentions and thought I was going to act and buy "local"
 

Andy in NY

Commander
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
2,109
Re: Sticker shock

Oh I know there is hope!

I am traveling north in a week or so to where Andy is and I might stop in and get some supplies in Plattsburgh NY.

It was not a "West" store I had stopped at but a privately owned store. West does not get my business either.

I started out with good intentions and thought I was going to act and buy "local"

while you are in the neighborhood, stop by. i could use some help with firewood!
:D
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: Sticker shock

I love you when see those horribly overpriced items and they've obviously been sitting there untouched for years. Like wouldn't you rather make a couple bucks than zero bucks? Plus most supplies don't exactly get better with age......
 

allpoints360

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
342
Re: Sticker shock

I started out with good intentions and thought I was going to act and buy "local"

I agree with that so much, until I look at how much the "locals" can charge. I don't even like going to the big mega super store, really. But I do.

I went to a locally owned auto supply store to get some pinstriping. While I was there, I saw a quart of resin for $24. (I wondered how long it had been there?) Then, I went down the street to another auto parts store (chain owned) and they had the same 3m resin for $14.

There's something to whole natural selection process... the strong survive. The local guy will go out of business eventually but only because he doesn't do good business.
 

thrillhouse700

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
778
Re: Sticker shock

Just ran into another one today, took my dog to the vet, 15 mins just cost me 150 bux. Got a tube of medicine and a couple "tests" done. I feel like I just got taken.
 

Rickairmedic

Commander
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
2,576
Re: Sticker shock

One little thing I will point out here real quick the local guy doesnt get the price breaks that the NATIONWIDE chain does so his prices will generally be higher than the chains . I will do business with a local private owner of a business even though his prioces may be higher than the chain store up the street becouse I know why his prices are higher ( he has to eat to ) . I will not deal with an A-Hole as I noted earlier in this thread.


Rick
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,046
Re: Sticker shock

One little thing I will point out here real quick the local guy doesnt get the price breaks that the NATIONWIDE chain does so his prices will generally be higher than the chains . I will do business with a local private owner of a business even though his prioces may be higher than the chain store up the street becouse I know why his prices are higher ( he has to eat to ) . I will not deal with an A-Hole as I noted earlier in this thread.


Rick

Oh no.... I agree the little guy should make a buck or two but those prices were the most unreasonable I have seen in a long time. The situation is that that is the only marina in that area (which is 2 hours away).

Nope I have decided to shop up by Andy in northern NY...... I have already done the walking around by phone. and....YES Andy I will be happy to lend my supervision skills to the slave labor and WATCH the wood get cut up!!! Watching wood being cut is almost as exciting as watching it grow!!!! :p
 

Andy in NY

Commander
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
2,109
Re: Sticker shock

Oh no.... I agree the little guy should make a buck or two but those prices were the most unreasonable I have seen in a long time. The situation is that that is the only marina in that area (which is 2 hours away).

Nope I have decided to shop up by Andy in northern NY...... I have already done the walking around by phone. and....YES Andy I will be happy to lend my supervision skills to the slave labor and WATCH the wood get cut up!!! Watching wood being cut is almost as exciting as watching it grow!!!! :p

sorry, the supervisor position is already filled. :D
 

tallcanadian

Captain
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
3,245
Re: Sticker shock

I'll tell you about sticker shock. When I did my boat 3 years ago a gallon of epoxy resin was 85 dollars. I was into a marine supply store today just to catch up prices and products and stuff, and price a gallon of epoxy resin....145 dollars. And 45 dollars for a quart of hardener. I still haven't gotten over it. I thought 85 was steep enough.
 

jonesg

Admiral
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
7,198
Re: Sticker shock

I've never subscribed to buying local, I find its a mistake.
if businesses can't adapt and survive they should wilt and die.
I do like to be able to grab something quick and I like being able to examine before buying.
 

skargo

Banned
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
4,640
Re: Sticker shock

I have to challenge the West hate here. My local West Marine is great, and they price match internet pricing, something many others don't do. They are very friendly and helpful and know the local waters.
 

thrillhouse700

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 5, 2009
Messages
778
Re: Sticker shock

I have to challenge the West hate here. My local West Marine is great, and they price match internet pricing, something many others don't do. They are very friendly and helpful and know the local waters.

Its not really a hate. Maybe just because my friend and are our younger people and the west marine here is located in a very rich area they don't really "waste" much time on us. The prices are extravagant tho.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,046
Re: Sticker shock

My west marine has a simple price of $75 for the small can of gluvit....... it is cheaper to go through iboats and pay the shipping. I did ask about price matching at the west store too and they laughed...... then I laughed and walked out ;)

I don't hate west..... I just do not like the prices or attitude. The "west system" epoxy is the highest price I have seen.
 
Top