Yeah, I know a big company has to act cutthroat to stay ahead and they prob have small profit margins in spite of having a huge markup on all their stuff but do they have to try to make enemies?
Here in Tallahassee, the local West MArine store was in a poor location and needed upsizing. So,corporate did the right thing by relocating and increasing the store size, maybe by too much though. However, in the process, they managed to piss off a lot of local people by their attitude toward employees who are also boaters.
Tallahassee is not Fort Lauderdale where any random boater prob does not know any other random boater. Here, any random boater prob knows about 25% of the others. Here, if you screw a few employees, you've prob alienated a majority of your market.
Being long accustomed to buying stuff online (Due to the inadequate West Store) from cheaper sources, local boaters now have a very strong incentive to buy online rather than from West Marine. Even worse for West MArine, a Bass Pro, Dicks Sporting Goods and Academy Sporting Goods are all opening nearby.
It's too bad cuz I liked browsing (and I always bought stuff) whenever I was nearby but West Marine has committed retail suicide.
Here in Tallahassee, the local West MArine store was in a poor location and needed upsizing. So,corporate did the right thing by relocating and increasing the store size, maybe by too much though. However, in the process, they managed to piss off a lot of local people by their attitude toward employees who are also boaters.
Tallahassee is not Fort Lauderdale where any random boater prob does not know any other random boater. Here, any random boater prob knows about 25% of the others. Here, if you screw a few employees, you've prob alienated a majority of your market.
Being long accustomed to buying stuff online (Due to the inadequate West Store) from cheaper sources, local boaters now have a very strong incentive to buy online rather than from West Marine. Even worse for West MArine, a Bass Pro, Dicks Sporting Goods and Academy Sporting Goods are all opening nearby.
It's too bad cuz I liked browsing (and I always bought stuff) whenever I was nearby but West Marine has committed retail suicide.