bilbobaggins
N/A
I've frequently been asked to recommend a supplier of e.g. sextants, compasses, personal safety gear, and other stuff - probably like many forumeers. I don't know 'em all by reputation, so I've developed a technique for assessing the likelihood of a satisfactory approach by someone seeking sound guidance, which seems to work.
I phone a handful ( up to 5 ) of likely suppliers of the goods in question, and seek some straightforward guidance from 'someone who knows' in each company. Then I rate them according to 'helpfulness' and reliability of info given. The top two names get passed to my acquaintance, as likely to satisfy.
In the past few weeks I've had reason to explore suppliers of non-UK charts, compass systems, bridge radar equipment, PPE and personal safety gear....
On each occasion, 'Kelvin Hughes' referred me to Rotterdam. I know the 'know-how' sought is available within two of their UK outlets, so no sale there. 'SIRS Navigation' couldn't be bothered to identify quite what it was I wanted in respect of compasses, so 'nul points' to them.
Not for the first time, 'Marine Instruments', in Falmouth, and 'B. Cooke' in Hull each were helpful, knowledgeable and clearly willing to help an inquirer towards a satisfactory solution. .....And that is what I emailed to a foreign friend, who is coming here shortly to establish a commercial relationship with a UK supplier of nautical instruments and systems.
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I phone a handful ( up to 5 ) of likely suppliers of the goods in question, and seek some straightforward guidance from 'someone who knows' in each company. Then I rate them according to 'helpfulness' and reliability of info given. The top two names get passed to my acquaintance, as likely to satisfy.
In the past few weeks I've had reason to explore suppliers of non-UK charts, compass systems, bridge radar equipment, PPE and personal safety gear....
On each occasion, 'Kelvin Hughes' referred me to Rotterdam. I know the 'know-how' sought is available within two of their UK outlets, so no sale there. 'SIRS Navigation' couldn't be bothered to identify quite what it was I wanted in respect of compasses, so 'nul points' to them.
Not for the first time, 'Marine Instruments', in Falmouth, and 'B. Cooke' in Hull each were helpful, knowledgeable and clearly willing to help an inquirer towards a satisfactory solution. .....And that is what I emailed to a foreign friend, who is coming here shortly to establish a commercial relationship with a UK supplier of nautical instruments and systems.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif