[Rhodes22-list] Price Matching

[Bill Effros]

Dave,

You make a very important point that I used to make every year, namely 
that if people buy from West Marine at prices offered only by 
competitors there soon won't be any competitors with lower prices, and 
we will all have to pay whatever West Marine wants to get.

West Marine is all over the place, and they have excellent return 
policies.  You must pay higher prices to get this much service.  Fair 
enough.  But when buying items that you know you don't have to return, 
and which you can wait to get, it is smart to buy them from the 
competitors, and not to just let someone else match their low price.

Defender, Campmor, Bass, Cabella, all offer identical products, often at 
much much lower prices.  There must be others, and I think people should 
post the names of discounters, and that we should support their 
businesses when we can do so, and refrain from simply allowing West 
Marine to take the business from them by matching their prices.

Bill Effros

DCLewis1 at aol.com wrote:
> Bud,
>  
> Thanks but it's kind of a pain.  The West Marine clerk told me about  their 
> 30 day policy for new boat owners, but I'll need fender's almost  immediately 
> once the boat is in the water.  I won't have time to go  shopping, unless Stan 
> can give me some used fenders to start as per Ed's  suggestion.  I'll probably 
> take advantage of their 30 day 10%  off policy in terms of other outfitting 
> needs.
>  
> FWIW, I did find Mary Lou's fenders, dock lines, etc, on line at Dick's  
> Sporting goods - each item was 10 to 20% cheaper than West Marine's  price.  
> Unless we're trying to keep West Marine in business, I'm  inclined to reward the 
> guy who offers me the best product with the best price  with  my business.  I 
> think this "matching" business is sort of a cop  out in terms of competitive 
> market processes.
>  
> I think there is a place and a need for West Marine, but I also think they  
> are doing very well.  
>  
> Dave
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