I needed some sika flex. Not a crazy ask. You’d think. I didn’t see it anywhere on the shelves so I asked one of the employees in the back. He said he doesn’t know what it is, they don’t stock it, and wouldn’t be able to order it. I brought it up on the West Marine website and showed him the product number and asked why I could order it there & have it shipped to my house but his store couldn’t get it in. This was Key West, by the way. If they’re this useless there, I can’t imagine how bad it was in other places. If you’re always gonna have no choice but to order from Jamestown anyway, west marine won’t be missed.
Well yes, and no, as much as I hate to admit it, we need lenders. I don't like how the world works, but they did lend real money. But, the good news is that they have a lot of room to loose some. They take risk, calculated risk. So yeah, they won't have much of my sympathy. They can't make money all the time. Hence, they will fold, everyone will. Everyone, every creditors, will accept to loose money for some of the stores to remain open and some of the jobs to be kept. It's usually how it goes. They'll give it another go by giving West Marine a serious break on interest and capital. Let's face it, there is not much to recuperate at the moment, so, ya, they will try again. If they don't accept, they liquidate. It's stores with gear... ick, not interresting for lenders really. Unless there is a lot of land with interresting square footage to take over. But I don't know.
Well, I mean, yah... But Waste Marine has been doing that since... Well, actually, on just the question of pricing, I feel like they were notorious with that reputation since before there even was an internet, it seems like.
Feels like they rolled in - pushed out all/most of the independent marine supply stores, then jacked up their prices and became less responsive to the needs of boaters (because where else where you gonna go?!?) Now, when they disappear, communities will be no or few options for brink and mortar boat parts and supplies.
I haven’t been WMs biggest fan for some time because - as noted in other comments - they seemed to have focused more and more on non-essentials like overpriced clothing and fishing poles at the expense of keeping those back shelves fully stocked with less sexy but more necessary items like sailboat rigging parts and pieces and so on.
Still, there was at least a chance they’d have the specialty block or cam clean I needed in a pinch.
Funniest recent memory in West Marine after buying my bought my boat back in Oct ‘25, which as expected had A LOT of stuff that was suspect or outright needed to be replaced. On one of the trips, I put down a monster (the beverage) on a shelf, 2-3 weeks later when we returned my monster was still there.
That being said, I got over $100 off my Rocna, and when I bought 200’ of 5/16 g4, the gave me 250’. I didn’t notice the difference until I laid the chain out on the dock to mark it.
On the post about this in /boating there was discussion about them reorganizing their stores to focus more on the actual boating side of things and cut back on things like clothing.
The margins are much higher on clothing and accessories than they are on boat parts. Marine stuff is making them 10-40%. Clothing can be as high as 75%.
I remember this from college. A mathematical formula that says what you should produce and/or sell based on margin…but which doesn’t consider what happens when you lose customers entirely because you stop carrying the things they need.
This has been the death spiral of nearly all the retail failures I've seen in the last several decades. Usually there's some behind-the-scenes heinous fu¢kery as well but the front-facing stuff is distinctive.
Last year I was finding some deals, but previous to that my local chandlery, Fisheries Supply, was almost always cheaper. I still always shop Fisheries first.
I've been told by former employees that, at least on the west coast, senior management has been a trainwreck for years now, and of course that trickles down through the entire operation. So this comes as no surprise.
I doubt those points are good for anything anymore. That’s probably counted as a liability on their balance sheet and subject to court review now? I hope not but not optimistic. :(
Bmkrocky@reddit
I had to go there today and the shelves were poorly stocked - didn't have anything I was looking for
OptiMom1534@reddit
I needed some sika flex. Not a crazy ask. You’d think. I didn’t see it anywhere on the shelves so I asked one of the employees in the back. He said he doesn’t know what it is, they don’t stock it, and wouldn’t be able to order it. I brought it up on the West Marine website and showed him the product number and asked why I could order it there & have it shipped to my house but his store couldn’t get it in. This was Key West, by the way. If they’re this useless there, I can’t imagine how bad it was in other places. If you’re always gonna have no choice but to order from Jamestown anyway, west marine won’t be missed.
FairSeafarer@reddit
So, reorganizing it is. Let's see what the lenders are willing to accept...
WvaDoug@reddit
Is it just me, or do the top creditors deserve the same amount of sympathy (next to none).
Cambren1@reddit
Maybe West Marine could charge Garmin a subscription for all the units they have sold.
spleeble@reddit
What does sympathy have to do with anything?
FairSeafarer@reddit
Well yes, and no, as much as I hate to admit it, we need lenders. I don't like how the world works, but they did lend real money. But, the good news is that they have a lot of room to loose some. They take risk, calculated risk. So yeah, they won't have much of my sympathy. They can't make money all the time. Hence, they will fold, everyone will. Everyone, every creditors, will accept to loose money for some of the stores to remain open and some of the jobs to be kept. It's usually how it goes. They'll give it another go by giving West Marine a serious break on interest and capital. Let's face it, there is not much to recuperate at the moment, so, ya, they will try again. If they don't accept, they liquidate. It's stores with gear... ick, not interresting for lenders really. Unless there is a lot of land with interresting square footage to take over. But I don't know.
SailingSpark@reddit
I am not surprised. Due to their very high prices, the only reason I go there is for things I need right now and can't wait to have shipped.
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
Same. I went there last week to get seizing wire... didn't have any.
M-tridactyla@reddit
Aka every brick and mortar store now
boatrat74@reddit
Well, I mean, yah... But Waste Marine has been doing that since... Well, actually, on just the question of pricing, I feel like they were notorious with that reputation since before there even was an internet, it seems like.
Rubaiyat39@reddit
Feels like they rolled in - pushed out all/most of the independent marine supply stores, then jacked up their prices and became less responsive to the needs of boaters (because where else where you gonna go?!?) Now, when they disappear, communities will be no or few options for brink and mortar boat parts and supplies.
I haven’t been WMs biggest fan for some time because - as noted in other comments - they seemed to have focused more and more on non-essentials like overpriced clothing and fishing poles at the expense of keeping those back shelves fully stocked with less sexy but more necessary items like sailboat rigging parts and pieces and so on.
Still, there was at least a chance they’d have the specialty block or cam clean I needed in a pinch.
Westar-35@reddit
Funniest recent memory in West Marine after buying my bought my boat back in Oct ‘25, which as expected had A LOT of stuff that was suspect or outright needed to be replaced. On one of the trips, I put down a monster (the beverage) on a shelf, 2-3 weeks later when we returned my monster was still there.
That being said, I got over $100 off my Rocna, and when I bought 200’ of 5/16 g4, the gave me 250’. I didn’t notice the difference until I laid the chain out on the dock to mark it.
knowledgewhore@reddit
It used to be a different place. They had the parts, the knowledge. Now it’s 50% clothes. Unfortunate.
blackhawk905@reddit
On the post about this in /boating there was discussion about them reorganizing their stores to focus more on the actual boating side of things and cut back on things like clothing.
texasrigger@reddit
The margins are much higher on clothing and accessories than they are on boat parts. Marine stuff is making them 10-40%. Clothing can be as high as 75%.
Rogueshoten@reddit
I remember this from college. A mathematical formula that says what you should produce and/or sell based on margin…but which doesn’t consider what happens when you lose customers entirely because you stop carrying the things they need.
LateralThinkerer@reddit
This has been the death spiral of nearly all the retail failures I've seen in the last several decades. Usually there's some behind-the-scenes heinous fu¢kery as well but the front-facing stuff is distinctive.
REI is next, I'd wager.
Some_Turn_323@reddit
It was changing years ago when I found another source. I can imagine it must be bad now.
Opcn@reddit
Bigger margins on clothing, actually selling them is someone else's department -- Some idiot MBA probably
spinozasrobot@reddit (OP)
Don't forget they still have the pink stuff!
LateralThinkerer@reddit
REI is likely right behind them.
fransantastic@reddit
Maybe the price on shipping from paperwork is 2000%
AdmirablePudding5746@reddit
Items were WAY too expensive towards the end…
n0exit@reddit
Last year I was finding some deals, but previous to that my local chandlery, Fisheries Supply, was almost always cheaper. I still always shop Fisheries first.
mediaman2@reddit
Fisheries is great!
taterr_salad@reddit
Well shoot, maybe I should've splurged on that extra set of winches this year instead of waiting for next year's bogo.
AD7GD@reddit
Crazy that Garmin was extending them that much credit. Unless that all represents unsold inventory on West Marine's shelves?
BaggyLarjjj@reddit
Unsecured = not backed by anything
emeril91@reddit
It must. My local WM's electronics section is 85% Garmin.
ceiteach1066@reddit
Wow
tristanbrotherton@reddit
I’ll never forget seeing milk crate in west marine, labelled as “marine grade storage system” for $60.
serpentjaguar@reddit
I've been told by former employees that, at least on the west coast, senior management has been a trainwreck for years now, and of course that trickles down through the entire operation. So this comes as no surprise.
fragrantsock@reddit
My favorite place to go as a kid when my dad went on shopping trips. All the ropes! Chains, binoculars, canoes, it was so fun.
BOSBoatMan@reddit
Take advantage of the 5X points while you can. Best thing they can do is stop selling sailboat gear and equipment
Because the wind is FREE 😂
easetheguy@reddit
I doubt those points are good for anything anymore. That’s probably counted as a liability on their balance sheet and subject to court review now? I hope not but not optimistic. :(
pab_guy@reddit
The two best days of a marine retailer’s ownership…
Surfacedrives@reddit
Bring On Another Thousand the bankruptcy lawyers said.
adventurelinds@reddit
Wallet Empty, Sales Terminated
DanielBG@reddit
Who'd a guessed with those ridiculously overpriced accessories.
jimboTRON261@reddit
Private Equity = Public Enemy
CM_MOJO@reddit
Private equity strikes again.