Lewmar living in the past!

Yep, sad to say that I have found by experience that they are very offhand in their response to customer contact.

This confirms it even more.

To me they come across as a very stuffy company full of old and outdated attitudes.

Shame really as I like their products.
 
And when they come back they will probably quote you their standard 6 to 10 week delivery terms, but will want your money first. You dont have to be in a hurry when wanting Lewmar spares.
 
Annual shutdowns are not uncommon - the factory I work with have 3 fixed weeks during the year.
This time allows the maintenance staff to do the major works without interrupting the factory processes and as most of the staff are off at the same time there is less worry about who is going to cover a process in someones absence.

That said - web ordering is usually taking an order, getting the part from the shelf, packaging it and sending it out - it's not (usually) a multi-staff job and could easily be done by skeleton staff (they're not fed) during the shutdown period.
A note on the website that if parts are made to order then there will be a delay should be sufficient!

Perhaps they've not got stock and put things together "just in time" hence the need to close the shop during shutdown ...
 
But surely if a company goes out of its way to pay special attention to regular maintenance and go to the effort of annual shut downs, then shouldn’t they also pay just as much attention to maintaining their valuable customer network, in the form of some kind of an on-going customer support department. In this case seems that the customer support was a message on their web site.
A customer support department shouldn’t need shutting down for regular maintenance.
I believe annual shut downs have nothing to do with maintenance, that happens to be a by-product. It’s more to do with staff shortages occurring at various times of the year, (e.g. school holidays), when operating a flexible holiday policy.
Fact: both factory shut downs and staff shortages due to holidays are not customer friendly.
“Sorry we are closed, but put your money in an envelope and push it under the door”
 
H,mm ...however Lewmar are a very successful company who have been trading a very long time unlike many more modern 24/7 super efficient outfits which have come and gone.

Could their longevity possibly be as a result of their " ancient" working practices ?
 
"They're not French are they" ..... Non:) Les Roastbifs !

"In 1996 the Lewmar Group was acquired by Vector Industries Ltd. They divested of Brookes & Gatehouse and retained the mechanical engineering group of Lewmar and Navtec.
Clyde Marine plc, owner of Simpson Lawrence Distribution and Engineering, purchased the Lewmar Group from Vector in a private sale.
Clyde Marine divested itself of Simpson Lawrence Distribution. Simpson Lawrence Engineering became Lewmar Scotland (Anchoring & Windlass Division). This division has now moved to Lewmar headquarters in Havant."
 
It makes financial sense for a company to shut down for holidays rather than have production disrupted throughout the year but not keeping their spares and service facility open is unacceptable in the modern era, especially right in the middle of the boating season. In my business, even my Italian supplier maintains a spares service throughout August these days despite the fact that their production shuts down for 3 weeks. It only took me 20yrs to get them to this point
 
My Morgan is off the road waiting for a new steering rack. Factory was on holiday and closed for a month! Need to remember that and get my annual service done in the winter - although that risks having to go out in the rain. First time I have needed any spares in 8 years so should not complain too much.
 
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