For Southern New England Boaters

[sailingdog]

I just found out about an interesting source for marine supplies, equipment, parts, etc. It is the Cape Cod Boaters Co-op. They're a new co-operative marine buying source, that has a huge catalog of materials, as well as vendor recommendations, and other services.

I am not affiliated with them other than being a member. It looks like it is a good alternative to West Marine and the internet. I'll be placin my first order through them sometime this month, and will let you know how it works out.

Their website is here.

[TrueBlue]

It's not too difficult to beat Worst Marine's prices - which seems to be what this new "Co-op" is comparing their "lower" prices to, and the owner's marketing strategy.

What I object to with the website, is the inability of non-members to view the on-line catalog to actually compare prices before joining.

I would need to blindly enter my credit card info to cover the $20.00 annual membership fee. I also object to the practice of dropping a penny or nickle from a round figure. They say they're a different company, but use the same insulting tactics as WM, by saying it's "only $19.95".

Please do let us know how their prices and policies compare to other internet marine supply discounters - such as Defender. They also claim to only deliver to the Cape Cod area - no mention of shipping purchases beyond. Sorry Dog, but this reeks of a fly-by-night start-up.

[sailingdog]

TB-

I am trying to get them to allow public access to the website to see pricing. I've talked to Bill, who is one of the founders about the inability of people to see what kind of pricing the membership brings with it as being a huge problem from a logistical standpoint.

BTW, the membership sign-up process doesn't require a credit card number anywhere... At least from what I can see on the website...

I don't believe that they're a fly-by-night company due to the number of local vendors I've spoken with who have discounted pricing for CCBC members. It is a new company, as it was started last year IIRC. Another reason I don't believe that they're a fly-by night company is the two catalogs I received from them. One is a telephone-directory sized book, the other is on CD.

I can post some sample pricing from the membership materials I received this weekend if you would like to see some idea of what their pricing is like. I've done some preliminary checking, and have found that their prices are generally a bit better than what I get from Defender.com's website. There are few items I've found that they were higher than defender.com, but most of the thirty or so products I looked at were the same or better.

I'll pm you about this.

[Sabre66]

I just looked a Jamestown Distributors in RI. VC offshore is $190 a gallon West marine is $ 235. 24 oz woven roving is less than a third the cost of West marine. How do they stay in business? Must be the power boaters.