Re: Wholesale Marine
I am somewhat embarrassed to say this - but I will. I priced a few items the other day on Iboats, Wholesale Marine (found them and countless others in a google search) and a few others. Had I have known then about Iboats' price matching policy, I might not be telling this. I didn't. SORRY!!! I do appreciate this board and use it virtually every day - either to help me out, maybe to help someone, and frequently to fight boredom and wishing I was boating.
As it relates to WM, there prices were VERY good and I did order from them around midnight on Monday. Tuesday I got a very courteous call (dont remember the guy's name) saying that they were out of the Sierra product I ordered but he would substitute a Volvo Penta part (more expensive) for the same price - if that was ok with me. I agreed. Within about 1/2 hour I got an email that UPS had logged the package and that expected delivery date is Thursday (I am in GA - WM is in Ohio). I have been very impressed so far (haven't actually seen anything yet) and would have no regrets except for seeing this thread.
As I said - I would have preferred to buy from Iboats just because of the forum - BUT - I must voice an opinion as I, too, am a small business owner.
I know that all too often purchases like this come down to price alone - as they do in my business. It is a cruel situation in a cruel world. It would be one thing if Iboat's prices were a little high on some items and a little low on others but WM was consistently lower by a substantial amount on EVERY item. On one hand, and again, as much as I like this forum and would like to buy from Iboats - it was easier to simply click the order in at WM's website, than to go through the hassle of contacting Iboats (and the embarrassment of appearing cheap) to get them to match the WM prices. ON the other side of the coin - WM is providing the same products at a lower price with presumably the same level of service (to be determined) - why should you go anywhere else. This is the free market at work. Bottom line - if prices go down sales will likely go up.
I hope I haven't ticked anyone off - and I do enjoy it here - so please don't ban me or anything.
For what it's worth the 4 items I bought (fuel filter, dist cap, rotor and impeller) were less than $50.
