Talking of Gaelforce..

[bedouin]

Has anyone actually tried ordering anything from them? I'm rather put off by the fact that they won't publish prices.

 

[dickh]

Agreed, but apparently they do have prices on the web - never tried them though, just got the catalogue...

 

[bedouin]

Not quite - the prices you can see on the web are recommended retail prices - i.e. no cheaper than anywhere else. The only way to find out how much you will actually be charged is to phone them up.

 

[TonyR]

I received a (huge) catalogue but inside they said it would be too expensive to reprint it every time prices change which is understandable, however what is so hard about having an insert with the item code/description and price, I am always wary of "phone for latest price" as I may be interested in several items and may also want to compare prices at my leisure so I won't be buying from them.

 

[rogerroger]

that's pants isn't it? what on earth is the point of a direct channel to market (web / brochure) - if you've then got to resort to phoning them up ?

It would be cheaper to commision a CMS to change prices on the web rather than employ people to man the phones...

Pitiful.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[JeremyF]

At least you got a catalogue! Ive requested one twice - no luck yet. But, if its just pictures, and no price-list or on-line prices, I think I'll use it as a reference document, and buy elsewhere.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Got the Catalogue from them.... Ordered a Stern Gland much cheaper than I could find anywhere else and it arrived next day. They charge p & p of about 4 quid but that is for up to 30kg so worth ordering lots !! Made a visit up to Inverness last weekend quite an impressive set up with lots of stock however they had no Garmin 128 and no VHF aerials so come away with just a few shackles. Made a quick visit to Caley Marine but found there prices to high and on the way home popped in to Findhorn chandlers they wanted £280 for Garmin 128 why didn't I buy one when they were down at £190 ish. Anyone know where the best deal is ?

Ed

 

[Joe_Cole]

I got their catalogue. Took one look at it; pretty pictures but not much else, so I threw it in the bin. A waste of time, and certainly poor marketing by them. If cost is a problem preventing them from publishing the prices maybe they should make the catalogue less glossy.

I wish that a British company produced something like the West Marine catalogue. That is excellent and informative.

Joe Cole

 

[Strathglass]

I am local to Gaelforce and I know ion or two of the people who work there. I recently purchased a cooker from them and it was considerably less than elsewhere. It is a bit of a pain however when the prices they publish on the web are recomended retail and not the more normal prices one would expect to pay.
Iain

 

[Guest]

Try Marine Electronic Supplies (MES). They will usually beat most other published prices and I've had excellent service form them in the past.

Regards,

Peter
http://www.mistressofmourne.com

 

[dickh]

Re: Garmin 128 price - GPS Warehouse...

Try the GPS Warehouse - £214.95 for garmin 128 see web site www.gpsw.co.uk

 

[mikewilkes]

I would not agree about it being pitiful. I am fortunate to stay about 20 miles away when I do go home and the place is worth a visit. You invariably have to phone these places to see if the item you want is in stock so why not call and see what the price is? From experience I have found their prices cheaper so just give em a call. By the way I dont work for them, but can remember going to a wee place in an industrial estate that they used to use!!! When my wife goes home I just send her with a list and ask the boys to sort it out for her.
Mike

 

[rogerroger]

I just can't see the point of having a brochure or web site if you've still got to 'phone them.

I bet you have to stay on hold for ages and I very much doubt the phone lines are open 24/7.

I'm an extremely busy person and haven't got time to fart about calling people in office hours - I want to be able to order stuff off the Net at 11 PM on a Saturday for example...

The very fact that other posters here won't use them for the same reason is a clear indication that they're got their marketing strategy VERY worng.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[rogerroger]

It's a bit like a TV guide that has programme details but no times...

"Please phone the BBC information line if you'd like to know what time tonight's Eastenders starts..."

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[rogerroger]

If you have to phone them...

I notice it's a national rate number. If you're expected to call then they should at least provide an 0800 number.

Roger Holden
www.first-magnitude.co.uk

 

[bedouin]

To be fair, I think they also accept enquiries by Fax, or over the Web - but you still have to wait for them to get back to you.

Given that there have been one or two positive comments about them on this thread I think I'll get a few bits together and phone them for a price.

 

[JeremyF]

See how you get on. This posting prompted me to call to see how well they could do on a Raymarine ST4000 wheel pilot. Gaelforce - £640 plus VAT, Mailspeed (on the shopping quay) £625 incl VAT.

As always it pays to shop around. Has anyone found them competitive?

Jeremy Flynn

 

[bedouin]

If you're actually looking for an ST4000 there is somewhere a bit cheaper than that - I think it's yachtbits.

 

[JeremyF]

Yes, thats the one - wheel not tiller mind. If you discover its someone else, please let me know. Thanks.

Jeremy Flynn

 

[bedouin]

Sorry yes - I've just noticed that the tillar version (the one I need) is £100 cheaper than the wheel version.

Perhaps we need a new "Chandlery Price" forum - save us all spending hours looking round for the best price.