Ru88ell
Well-Known Member
I'm in the market for some 'boating stuff'; certainly electronics (vhf and chartplotter), plus some safety equipment. Is it worth waiting for the show, or just get it all online?
How much of a deal am I likely to get at the SIBS?
- Thread starter Ru88ell
- Start date
sailorman
Well-Known Member
order on line
Elessar
Well-Known Member
buy from you local chandlery. You'll miss it when it's gone.
Ru88ell
Well-Known Member
There's no such thing where I live.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
the one near your boat would do.......
Tranona
Well-Known Member
You will get at least as good as the lowest on line prices for most items plus the outside chance of a real bargain. For example there are usually good deals going on the last day for big items like inflatables which dealers would rather sell cheap than take back. Best thing is that you can compare and touch, downside is you may have a problem physically carting the stuff away.
Ru88ell
Well-Known Member
The boat lives at home - on a trailer. It's over 100 miles to he nearest sea. A local chandlery would definitely get my business.
prv
Well-Known Member
When I bought my plotter for KS, the best I could get at the show, after some bargaining, was the same as the best online price minus the postage. Makes sense really - the show charges a lot for each stand (see Graham's recent thread where they want £250 to plug in a hoover) so the natural direction of prices should be higher, not lower.
Pete
Pete
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
In days gone by, Southampton was where you went to get cheap stuff unloaded at the end of the season. Now it's the same prices as everywhere else. There are lots of good reasons to go, but bargain hunting ain't one of them.
Talulah
Well-Known Member
Some manufacturers have previously had show offers. i.e. Free extension hand mic with the VHF.
So if you can hold off placing those online orders until after you've been to the show I would.
Also it is often possible to get the special SBS offers online.
What I wouldn't do is place an order at the Boat Show for something they would have to get in. Or if I did it would have to be by CC.
I'm thinking Pumpkin Marine et al.
So if you can hold off placing those online orders until after you've been to the show I would.
Also it is often possible to get the special SBS offers online.
What I wouldn't do is place an order at the Boat Show for something they would have to get in. Or if I did it would have to be by CC.
I'm thinking Pumpkin Marine et al.
Elessar
Well-Known Member
OK - you win
I think you will get a deal at least as good as the net at the show, if you don't expect better you won't be disappointed and you might be lucky.
Advantage is though you can poke the thing and ask questions before you buy. So I would buy at the show, with Talulah's caveats.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
I spend about half my chandlery budget locally and half online. No particular reason except that is how it works out.
If I needs something then and there, off to the shop I go. I used to have two within walking distance and borght more in total because they were competitive with each other. Then F4 bought out the local Yachtmail and guess what, the prices went up (or at least the deals disappeared). They don't show much loyalty to the local customers so I have no problem buying online if the price is better. They do say that they match online prices but I think that is only if you go in with print outs etc and that is more trouble than its worth when you can just click the buy button then and there.
I have never managed to buy anything substantial at the boat show. Too many others vying for attention. But I use it to select the short list of what I might want to buy - sort of look, touch and feel the products. Remember most of the exhibitors are the same people who do the online deals anyway. So I don't think its doing them a disservice looking at the show and buying later.
I find the best deal tend to be around the end of October / early November - when its still too early for Christmas shopping and then at the end of January when the season is still a couple of months away. Usually plenty of deals around both in the shops and unwanted presents on ebay.
I am not too bothered if the item is the very latest design / version providing its new, boxed and with guarantee. I tend to think that last year's model was good enough then, so it should be good enough for me now. I'm not a "racer" so the very latest of everything is not critical. Charts excluded of course. This mind-set has helped me to buy quite a lot of kit for some very decent prices.
Hope that helps
If I needs something then and there, off to the shop I go. I used to have two within walking distance and borght more in total because they were competitive with each other. Then F4 bought out the local Yachtmail and guess what, the prices went up (or at least the deals disappeared). They don't show much loyalty to the local customers so I have no problem buying online if the price is better. They do say that they match online prices but I think that is only if you go in with print outs etc and that is more trouble than its worth when you can just click the buy button then and there.
I have never managed to buy anything substantial at the boat show. Too many others vying for attention. But I use it to select the short list of what I might want to buy - sort of look, touch and feel the products. Remember most of the exhibitors are the same people who do the online deals anyway. So I don't think its doing them a disservice looking at the show and buying later.
I find the best deal tend to be around the end of October / early November - when its still too early for Christmas shopping and then at the end of January when the season is still a couple of months away. Usually plenty of deals around both in the shops and unwanted presents on ebay.
I am not too bothered if the item is the very latest design / version providing its new, boxed and with guarantee. I tend to think that last year's model was good enough then, so it should be good enough for me now. I'm not a "racer" so the very latest of everything is not critical. Charts excluded of course. This mind-set has helped me to buy quite a lot of kit for some very decent prices.
Hope that helps
[70521]
Well-Known Member
The Boat Show, like shops, is for talking, pressing, pointing and playing with stuff. The Internet is the ordering process. Delivered straight from the factory free or charge at a time and place that suits you.
northwind
Well-Known Member
In the past, I have got free better charts from Garmin for a plotter brought at the show, so worth buying. Brought the plotter from Marine Superstores stand, and presented the receipt at the Garmin stand for the free chart upgrade.
obmij
Well-Known Member
I've found buying in a shop to be at least as cheap as online.
Recent purchases. A tiller pilot came in cheaper (it was installed by the retailer - although this was not a condition of the sale)
A seago tender was the same price from the marina chandlers as the best online price - also no delivery charges and no faffing around waiting for delivery. Hand over the cash, pop onto a trolly and down to the boat.
I reckon a lot of online 'bargains' are just shop prices anyway. After all most of the online retailers are just normal chandlers with decent websites and seo..
Boat shows in my experience are largely the same. You might get a small discount but factor in the other expenses associated with attending - it's unlikely you'll save anything.
So if you're just trying to save a bit o' cash I don't think it's worth the hassle, but obviously there are other reasons to go to a boatshow!
Recent purchases. A tiller pilot came in cheaper (it was installed by the retailer - although this was not a condition of the sale)
A seago tender was the same price from the marina chandlers as the best online price - also no delivery charges and no faffing around waiting for delivery. Hand over the cash, pop onto a trolly and down to the boat.
I reckon a lot of online 'bargains' are just shop prices anyway. After all most of the online retailers are just normal chandlers with decent websites and seo..
Boat shows in my experience are largely the same. You might get a small discount but factor in the other expenses associated with attending - it's unlikely you'll save anything.
So if you're just trying to save a bit o' cash I don't think it's worth the hassle, but obviously there are other reasons to go to a boatshow!
Daedelus
Well-Known Member
You do get the odd outfits (like the supplier of all stainless steel screws, bolts etc etc) that seem to hide for most of the year and emerge like a chrysalis for the show and then disappear again. These outfits are useful as the stock they carry is immense and your poor chandler just can't compete.
PhillM
Well-Known Member
I got a couple of multi-packs of, so called "SS screws and bolts" at a jumble. I used them, they were not - wished I hadn't now. Now I carry a magnet to test before I buy. Yes, yes, I now that now!
onesea
Well-Known Member
Seems like you go to the show equipped with your best online price... Plus laptop/ tablet for internet so when they recommend something you have not considered you can check...
If they do not match it buy online...
Does not sound like its worth the effort to go to the show just for the deals...
If they do not match it buy online...
Does not sound like its worth the effort to go to the show just for the deals...
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
I have an established relationship with my local chandler - TCS Wallasea as it happens. They know I will have checked prices and therefore offer me the keenest deal they can. This, coupled with their knowledge of the kit I am purchasig, keeps me coming back.
For instance, I ordered 2 large sheet halyard bags last week, they price matched and got them in, but they turned out to be smaller than I had reckoned. They took them back with no handling charge, and the extra large bags will be delivered tomorrow.
My SWMBO used one of our horsehoe buoys as a fender a couple of weeks ago - they are Lalizas, which are out of business. TCS have located one in the correct colour for me.
Good service and appreciated.
For instance, I ordered 2 large sheet halyard bags last week, they price matched and got them in, but they turned out to be smaller than I had reckoned. They took them back with no handling charge, and the extra large bags will be delivered tomorrow.
My SWMBO used one of our horsehoe buoys as a fender a couple of weeks ago - they are Lalizas, which are out of business. TCS have located one in the correct colour for me.
Good service and appreciated.
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
Shopping at SIBS is a excercise in masochism...
After sitting in a line of cars with your screaming kids in the back, found a parking stall and handed over your credit card to pay for it, then When you have manouvered yourself and your wallet past the grockles and hippie families, been sneared at by the sales guys on the boats, bought yourself a £30 cheeseburger and had to arm wrestle for a table... You then find the electronics stall you need, get ignored for a while whilst the sales guys make you feel like a idiot, and then finally fight your way to the front of the que to purchase what you think is a bargain.... You suddenly realise shopping online is far better value.
After sitting in a line of cars with your screaming kids in the back, found a parking stall and handed over your credit card to pay for it, then When you have manouvered yourself and your wallet past the grockles and hippie families, been sneared at by the sales guys on the boats, bought yourself a £30 cheeseburger and had to arm wrestle for a table... You then find the electronics stall you need, get ignored for a while whilst the sales guys make you feel like a idiot, and then finally fight your way to the front of the que to purchase what you think is a bargain.... You suddenly realise shopping online is far better value.
