Best UK online Chandlery?
- Thread starter wipe_out
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chinita
Well-Known Member
http://www.favoritefreezerfoods.com/frozen-banana.html
Not much good for waterproofs, but excellent if you want to freeze a banana.
alan_d
Well-Known Member
The answer if you live in West Sussex (like the OP) may be different from the answer if you live in Perthshire (like me). Some of these firms charge more for deliveries to parts of Scotland. Force 4, for example, quote different rates for "UK Mainland" and "Northern Ireland, Highlands and Islands". Some carriers consider the Scottish Highlands to include the cities of Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen but, however defined, the highlands are definitely part of the UK mainland.
Amulet
Well-Known Member
http://www.lifejackets.co.uk/ - most knowledgable about lifejackets
http://marinestore.co.uk/ - most helpful generally - my first port of call
http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/ - good value and have trawler strength stuff (don't charge extra for delivering outside the Highlands)
http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/ - for what their name says - traditional fittings
http://www.baselinemarine.com/ - for stainless steel bits and pieces
http://www.boatpaint.co.uk/ paint, varnish and information about them
http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/ - for what their name says
I could go on.....
The comments of Force 4 bring my prejudice to light - had one appallingly bad experience with them more than ten years ago and never went back. They took 700 quid off my credit card 8 weeks before delivering the goods. I sure it was an anomaly, because everyone else is positive about them.
http://marinestore.co.uk/ - most helpful generally - my first port of call
http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/ - good value and have trawler strength stuff (don't charge extra for delivering outside the Highlands)
http://www.classicmarine.co.uk/ - for what their name says - traditional fittings
http://www.baselinemarine.com/ - for stainless steel bits and pieces
http://www.boatpaint.co.uk/ paint, varnish and information about them
http://www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/ - for what their name says
I could go on.....
The comments of Force 4 bring my prejudice to light - had one appallingly bad experience with them more than ten years ago and never went back. They took 700 quid off my credit card 8 weeks before delivering the goods. I sure it was an anomaly, because everyone else is positive about them.
Little Sam
Well-Known Member
Force 4
Had two recent BIG orders off them, They charged me UK postage to deliver to Italy and both orders arrived in just 4 days !
Had two recent BIG orders off them, They charged me UK postage to deliver to Italy and both orders arrived in just 4 days !
Fantasie 19
Well-Known Member
..and another +1 for me
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
nathanlee
Well-Known Member
I ordered from Cactus before Christmas. They sent the wrong (inferior) bit of kit, but I was desperate for it, so fitted it anyway. It broke after a week. These things can happen, and I wasn't overly miffed with them for one event. Rang them up, got told they'd send a courier to pick it up. They did. Great service. That was over a month ago and I've still not got it back. D'oh!
Edit. Fired off prematurely. This wasn't supposed to be a moan.
So, I've had issues from most of the big names, mailspeed being the worst. I think the trick is to find a good supplier, and stick with them rather than shopping on price alone. Not worth the hassle to save a few quid, I've found.
Edit. Fired off prematurely. This wasn't supposed to be a moan.
So, I've had issues from most of the big names, mailspeed being the worst. I think the trick is to find a good supplier, and stick with them rather than shopping on price alone. Not worth the hassle to save a few quid, I've found.
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charles_reed
Well-Known Member
<<I think the trick is to find a good supplier, and stick with them rather than shopping on price alone. Not worth the hassle to save a few quid, I've found.>>
I'd tend to agree with Nathan
Having used about 80% of the named suppliers, I've found Gaelforce as good as anyone especially as they're prepared to put themselves out as part of customer service.
Having said that there are a number of replacement bits required on a boat (I'd guess about 55%) that are not chandlery items where it's definitely best to go to a speciality supplier.
Amongst these are electrics, upholstery and metalwork.
I'd tend to agree with Nathan
Having used about 80% of the named suppliers, I've found Gaelforce as good as anyone especially as they're prepared to put themselves out as part of customer service.
Having said that there are a number of replacement bits required on a boat (I'd guess about 55%) that are not chandlery items where it's definitely best to go to a speciality supplier.
Amongst these are electrics, upholstery and metalwork.
Zagato
Well-Known Member
Force4 & Marine SuperStore, quick delivery for both and good aftersales advice from Force4.
I always shop around for the best price but Marine Superstore will match anything cheaper I find, just ordered a second Garmin mounting bracket, "that will be with you tomorrow sir" job done
I always shop around for the best price but Marine Superstore will match anything cheaper I find, just ordered a second Garmin mounting bracket, "that will be with you tomorrow sir" job done
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Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
Personally, I WON'T use force 4 or jimmy green for the simple reason that they try to charge me "Highlands & Islands" delivery charges. If I lived in Lerwick or Stornoway I could see the point, but Aberdeen??
ianj99
Well-Known Member
These really annoy me and Tarbert is no further north than Glasgow. I do wish these companies would use Royal Mail or Parcelforce and I certainly try to avoid those that charge a ridiculous amount extra.
BUT, compared to buying locally, the prices, even with a carriage surcharge are still lower.
FishyInverness
Well-Known Member
(Parcelforce Surcharge too, North of Perth!) 
ronmarson
Well-Known Member
Very useful links.
Thank you one and all.
Thank you one and all.
Salty John
Well-Known Member
We do, but as of April 2 the RM 'standard parcels' service is to be discontinued - a real nuisance, we're looking now at best alternatives.
aquaplane
Well-Known Member
UPS, or whoever it was, worked OK, thanks.
ianj99
Well-Known Member
Another issue I have with the couriers is not just cost, but unreliability. Its one thing having to pay a substantial surcharge but adds insult to injury when the delivery takes anything from 1 to 5days longer. Either they should charge more and guarantee no more than 1 extra day (mainland) or not charge much more but with delivery anytime within 7day window.
Therefore, I recommend Parcelforce - they have always proved the most consistent, taking one extra day (for Perthshire and Tarbert) although very occasionally they've taken and additional 2 or 3 days. UK Mail and the others cannot be relied upon and its infuriating having to wait in day after day for their non arrival.
SAMYL
Well-Known Member
Bosun Bobs www.bosunbobs.com in Bangor N.Ireland does not charge extra to send to UK adresses but all the UK chandlers charge to send to N. Ireland.
Salty John
Well-Known Member
We've found UPS to be extremely reliable and so will extend our use of that company. Other couriers have been less dependable. Parcelforce is good for certain destinations and parcel size - CI, for instance.
The new RM pricing structure seems to be aimed at moving large/awkward size parcels to Parcelforce. The RM current cost for a long mailing tube such as we use for antennas is £5.30, at Parcelforce it's £7.90.
Our prices all include postage to anywhere in UK (£ prices) or EU (Euro prices), we don't have any surcharges, so we're obsessive about our shipping costs!
The new RM pricing structure seems to be aimed at moving large/awkward size parcels to Parcelforce. The RM current cost for a long mailing tube such as we use for antennas is £5.30, at Parcelforce it's £7.90.
Our prices all include postage to anywhere in UK (£ prices) or EU (Euro prices), we don't have any surcharges, so we're obsessive about our shipping costs!
