Rocna prices

[Caladh]

...on Amazon. Do we think we should be supporting large corporations or our chandlerys ?

 

[dankilb]

I'm agnostic towards supporting 'swindlerys' - nor am I a fan of Amazon, but I certainly wouldn't pay more anywhere else. You could always ask your local chandlery to match an online price. At least that gives them the chance.

 

[Neeves]

It depends on the differences - if the chandler price seems excessive - I'd buy from Amazon. I would give the local chandlers the option, as dankly suggests - and if the difference was excessive and they accept Amazon's pricing it would raise further questions with me.

If you were in the market for a new anchor and you are actually not going to be sailing next week then I'd wait till the, galvanised, Epsilon from Lewmar is in the market as initial indication of pricing is, very, attractive and Lewmar seem to be suggesting the Epsilon will be as good as a Rocna. If the indicative pricing is correct and if it is as good as a Rocna - then we might see interesting moves in the anchor market (to the benefit of the consumer)

For an update on availability give Jimmy Green a ring, or Lewmar themselves - and define the current status - and then post here - we are waiting for an update

Its really not sensible for me to ring, from Sydney

Jonathan

 

[Poey50]

I know someone in the UK who had their Epsilon delivered last week. Bought from Cactus.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Competition is healthy but if you want to support a chandlery for any reason make sure that they are aware of the difference in prices between them and others. I don't want to pay more for an item so that my local chandlery can pocket the difference instead of me.

 

[dankilb]

I know someone in the UK who had their Epsilon delivered last week. Bought from Cactus.

Interesting! Plus Cactus are one of several retailers which, for stuff I search for at least, are often cheaper than eBay/Amazon/etc.

 

[lustyd]

...on Amazon. Do we think we should be supporting large corporations or our chandlerys ?

Both are shops, why do I care which shop I buy from? I need things to be in stock and convenient to get hold of, and I need to not get ripped off on the pricing. The rest is up to the shops to duke it out.

 

[scruff]

Is the anchor actually being sold by amazon, or is a.n.other retailer selling through amazon store?

Personally I have little issue with Amazon - they may not always be the cheapest but delivery very quick and by far the most important factor is any returns are painless with almost immediate refunds.

They have absolutely set the bar as to customer experience and independent retailers have to (generally) raise their game match.

 

[Rappey]

I know someone in the UK who had their Epsilon delivered last week. Bought from Cactus

My friend ordered one from cactus the other day. Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.

 

[Bobc]

I've purchased stuff from Cactus before, and their customer service has been superb.

 

[fifer]

You can buy Knox anchors direct from the owner/manufacturer in the UK and save yourself the transportation costs from NZ/china and amazons profit margin

 

[Pye_End]

...on Amazon. Do we think we should be supporting large corporations or our chandlerys ?

I'll buy from Amazon, but only as a last resort.

They avoid paying UK tax on their profits.

If we are not careful as consumers, we wont have any choice, or anywhere local we can go into to look at things when we want to buy them. Use shops or lose them.

This idea that chandlers are swimming in money from inflated prices is pie in the sky.

 

[PeterV]

I agree with Pye End. I avoid Amazon if I possibly can because they don’t pay taxes and their staff are mostly on less than minimum wage. My local chandlery will be paying taxes, business rates on their premises and proper staff wages, I very much doubt they’re making excess profits!

 

[lustyd]

I agree with Pye End. I avoid Amazon if I possibly can because they don’t pay taxes and their staff are mostly on less than minimum wage.

But they DO pay their taxes and they'd be in hot water if they were breaking minimum wage law too. Both of these things are the remit of the government, not Amazon. Amazon pay as little tax as they must (obviously), it's the same reason I would seek out the lowest cost option for buying an anchor. Almost nobody chooses to pay more than they have to in the real world.

 

[Pye_End]

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, TV Licence , Staying Vegetarian and Digital Sales Tax

I didn't say it was necessarily illegal, but I do question the spirit and morality of trading in the UK and then manipulating the profits to other nations where the corporation tax rates are low or non-existent.

 

[lustyd]

A business doesn't have morals, it's not a human, it's there to make money for its shareholders.
They happen to be considerably better than everyone else at what they do too, so I'll use them every opportunity I get. If local businesses and shops want my business then they should strive not to offer to "order it in" and get me the same goods for more money a week later. Amazon often has things with me on the same or next day for the lowest price and it's almost always in stock. Make whatever choices you like, but if local shops want my custom they need to be better at what they do. I once went to a chandlery who were offering an item online for a good price. I was in the shop holding the item and asked them to price match their own online price and they refused. I asked where the online item would ship from, and they said they'd send me the one I was holding. Their reasoning was that the shop had higher costs than the website. I truly hope that shop went bankrupt.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Such a divisive subject matter, even when discussing where to buy them.

 

[Trident]

The problem with not supporting a local chandlery is that when you don't they go bust and close. How many times at a boat yard / marina have you done a job and run out of something / been missing something that you just pop in to the chandlery for (often at a weekend) . How much hassle would it be if you couldn't get that thing until delivered in a day or three? How easy to miss a weekend's sailing if you find you need a new widget as you're getting ready to leave ?

 

[lustyd]

Poor chandleries closing is not the same as all chandleries closing. I welcome the day when some of my local ones close, since it will open an opportunity for someone better to replace them. While they struggle on, it's unlikely anyone will try to start a better one locally. Thankfully I have Force4 and Marine Super Store locally which are pretty good at what they do.

 

[Hoolie]

If the indicative pricing is correct and if it is as good as a Rocna - then we might see interesting moves in the anchor market (to the benefit of the consumer)

Quick look - the 20kg Epsilon from Cactus is just over 20% cheaper than the 20kg Rocna from Amazon