New discount chandlery - top marks

[Otter]

I will take the warnings very much to heart and invest in a 3 foot gripping device to turn them from outside the boat.

 

[nigelmercier]

Oh ****. Sorry guys I fell for it...

I've bought loads of stuff from MMS, always at a much better price than elsewhere. The trick is to only order stuff you don't need in a hurry, and chase up in time to buy elsewhere if necessary. Another bonus is that because they don't keep stock, you always get items fresh from the manufacturer.

 

[dgadee]

I've bought loads of stuff from MMS, always at a much better price than elsewhere. The trick is to only order stuff you don't need in a hurry, and chase up in time to buy elsewhere if necessary. Another bonus is that because they don't keep stock, you always get items fresh from the manufacturer.

The problem is when things go wrong. They sent a dinghy I didn't order and tried desperately to get me to keep it. I had to pay delivery back to them. Letters trying to get that payment back (under distance selling) failed because the letters came back saying that there was no one at the address they posted. I suspect that you have been lucky. But ... no doubt one day you'll get caught too.

 

[nickf]

I've bought loads of stuff from MMS, always at a much better price than elsewhere. The trick is to only order stuff you don't need in a hurry, and chase up in time to buy elsewhere if necessary. Another bonus is that because they don't keep stock, you always get items fresh from the manufacturer.

I also have used them many times and saved a significant sum of money. I also would not use them if I needed an item quickly. This however does not seem to be a popular message to many on this forum with the usual comments about how lucky you must be, can I have your lottery numbers ...... etc.

 

[dgadee]

If they were a reputable firm, why would they continue to hide behind new domain names and trademarks?

 

[Boreades]

It does seem strange that anyone would setup a new website to "compete" with themselves. Apart from confusing customers about where stuff is really coming from, how would they benefit from this?

But maybe we are getting what we deserve? Every time we go downmarket and order from the cheapest of the online sellers, that's one more nail in the coffin of the chandlery in your marina.

 

[Otter]

I agree with you. My local chandlery is one of the biggest on the East Coast and certainly the best; once I'd got the initial quote of £390 versus their £449 I went to see them and said can you get anywhere near that £390 - and I'm happy to pay a bit more because local is important to me. The best they could do was £425 for an old model; when I got the second quote of £350 from the MMS clone I didn't think it would help for me to go back to the chandlery

 

[Jungle Jim]

It does seem strange that anyone would setup a new website to "compete" with themselves. Apart from confusing customers about where stuff is really coming from, how would they benefit from this?

I think this is something to do with google rankings. The more times you appear on page 1 of a google search the more chance you will get the business. If you have four or five of your own companies trading under different names coming up on page one of a search for 'universal marine floggle toggle' means you are highly likely to get the business.

 

[dgadee]

I think this is something to do with google rankings. The more times you appear on page 1 of a google search the more chance you will get the business. If you have four or five of your own companies trading under different names coming up on page one of a search for 'universal marine floggle toggle' means you are highly likely to get the business.

I doubt it. You are diluting your presence and failing to build the goodwill for which most businesses strive. That's why litigation over trademarks is so intense - brand and reputation matter.