would you buy instruments before or after Xmas?

[RabT]

Should I buy a chartplotter and autopilot before Christmas or should I wait until after Christmas if they usually get discounted?

Is there any pricing seasonality in marine instruments as there is for other discretionary items?

 

[scottie]

Quiet time before Christmas so depending who is fitting it you may get a good supply and fit deal before they loose a month with holidays and boat show etc.

 

[shaxi]

i think it is better to buy after Christmas !

 

[Poignard]

Don't forget the warranty clock starts ticking the day you buy it.

 

[doug748]

I had my eye on a plotter for a couple of years, thinking it might be updated and discounted, it never was. With the same dilemma as you, I bought the item at the end of the season. It has just gone up by 50 quid, so I had a result, but there is no guarantee it won't go down again in the "sales".
Parsival has a good point so unless you need plenty of time for fitting it might be a good idean to hang on.

 

[Talulah]

I thought prices went up just before the January Boat Show.
However, the manufacturers quite often bundle something in at the boat show.

 

[jwilson]

Should I buy a chartplotter and autopilot before Christmas or should I wait until after Christmas if they usually get discounted?

Is there any pricing seasonality in marine instruments as there is for other discretionary items?

I had bought for me a plotter just before Christmas. It was April before I fitted it on the binnacle pod, in dull weather. Looked good.

It was June before I actually used it in bright sunlight and found the screen brightness was rubbish in sunlight. After 7 months I could hardly take it back.

 

[Seajet]

I had the same problem with a windspeed kit ( guess which make ?! ) I bought at the London show; as the things have proven to last 12 months at best, a large chunk of warranty period ticked past before I used it.

I think this an important consideration, so now I buy kit just before the 'real' start of the season; I doubt any manufacturer would be daft enough to do a pre-season price hike in the current 'end of the world' financial climate though !

 

[SHUG]

New models are often launched at the boat show so if you don't want the built-in obsolescence to start working, then buying later is a good idea.

 

[Baddox]

I managed to haggle a good deal on a plotter and radar at the LIBS, and didn’t see a better price before or after. Also, the boat show offered a good chance to look around all the systems on offer.

 

[Burnham Bob]

it does vary. made some minor savings on bits at the boat show last year - but only around 10% on retail.

however three years ago got a Standard Horizon dsc radio with remote mic as a freebie......good point about the warranty though.

however, the warranty is for 12 months and any time now will still see you through a full season's sailing next year......buy it at the start of the season and you'll still 'waste' part of the warranty when you aren't sailing this time next year

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

If the £ goes down further prices will go up!

 

[Seajet]

Try before buy.

If looking around for kit I'd certainly go to LIBS ( though I hate Excel and the slog getting there even more ! ) as a chance to try out stuff, even if not necessarily buying.

I learned this the hard way when buying a handheld VHF as part of a large order; the Silva S12 I got has proved the most user-unfriendly counter-intuitive thing I've ever seen, and squelch is either ' everything silent' or constant roar - useless...

 

[jwilson]

If looking around for kit I'd certainly go to LIBS ( though I hate Excel and the slog getting there even more ! ) as a chance to try out stuff, even if not necessarily buying.

I learned this the hard way when buying a handheld VHF as part of a large order; the Silva S12 I got has proved the most user-unfriendly counter-intuitive thing I've ever seen, and squelch is either ' everything silent' or constant roar - useless...

Silva's haven't improved then. I had the same problem with an older Silva handheld. I was pleased when it died and I was able to replace it with a Cobra (now have two Cobras, one six years old, both very good).

 

[Seajet]

Thanks for that; I'll mention a Cobra to Santa !

 

[ukmctc]

buy anytime, and fit yourself, its not rocket science.
I find deals are made just after xmas as new stock arrives for new year, and just after boat show as they have bought extra for the show and if they didn't sell then theyre stuck with stock, infact last day of show are great deals.

 

[SHUG]

buy anytime, and fit yourself, its not rocket science.

but.... with Raymarine products "non-agent installation" reduces the warranty period.

 

[chubby]

I am looking at a new wind system but will wait until after xmas: I hate xmas shopping for "tat" and if I am seen buying boat stuff I will get grief from SWMBO for not going xmas shopping with her also the house is full of pre xmas stuff! Dont get me wrong, I love xmas, the socialising, even the sprouts and turkey, carol services, even the xmas TV schedule, the chance of a few extra days off work, the Queen`s speech the lot, but once it is over the serious boat refit can start!

 

[Colvic Watson]

Spoke to Raymarine today about our proposed new autopilot and they said their dealers will all be offering LIBS specials and to wait for that. It means I have to go to LIBS though which I find completely soulless.

 

[Cardo]

Prettier half and I will be melting ye ol' credit card at LIBS.
Bring it on.