Well-known to powerboat owners throughout the country, retailing giant West Marine has been working with the CDC to develop best practices at its locations, https://speedonthewater.com/in-the-n...id-19-pandemic.

And non boaters quit buying up all the marine toilet paper live aboards need.

Are the Idiots really cleaning out the TP here too?? Fools

Stories like this are getting ridiculous. They could care less about CV-19 except that it is killing their business! West Marine is already crazy expensive so its more of a desperation store (as in I need it today) than a destination store, "lets go check out WM and see what I should buy today!" So with recreational boating likely headed for a slow season, some areas already banned (S Florida) they are trying to pitch stories like this so they can keep their doors open. I get the angle of long term business viability but pushing the "safety of our customers" is a long shot. Why not push the "buy online" angle for ultimate safety? Oh, wait if they encourage online shopping then customers will quickly realize how expensive WM is and buy the same product cheaper elsewhere.

The store visits should be for liveaboards or people that need something now. Everyone else should just order online.

Unless you have some kind of inside West Marine, upper-management knowledge you're willing to share I'd be really, really careful ascribing motives.

Duality, Jupiter, meaning simply that two things can exist and be equally true at the same time: For example, West Marine could very much care about saving its business. Why wouldn't it? That certainly is no crime .And West Marine could also care about its employees and customers.

Why be so cynical? Because you feel you've been overcharged by West Marine? Great. Got it. Don't shop there. Vote with your wallet.

I see nothing "ridiculous" about this story. Who knew, for example, that some West Marine outlets are considered "essential services?" Not me, not most readers.

Marine companies are trying to muddle through this disaster. Why take swings at them?

You got me on a couple of points and there is certainly no crime in saving your business, my response wasn't pointed at you or Speed on the Water but rather the press release. The angle of not just ordering online seems to be a glaring hole in their "concerns." It would reduce the risk considerably for everyone (assuming you could wait a day or two for the purchase to arrive).

On that same note of essential services, that becomes a fine line for small guys like "Bobs corner marine supply" who technically offers the same products as WM on a smaller scale. Could he be shut him down as non essential because he doesn't have a govt contract? That would seem un-American.

That's a great point. There is an issue of fairness for sure.

That was basically a "we`re having a supersale" ad. mixed in with some we`re cleaning our shelves and our emplyees are working remotely.. no kidding- Captain Obvious
Everyone is doing the same thou , I get 5 emails a day like it

I suggest deleting those emails without reading them. That's what I do. Unless they pertain to the market I cover. Then I open them and if I deem them newsworthy for the market I cover (excuse the repetition) I report the facts they contain.

Not all stories matter to all readers. If I didn't accept that, I'd be in the wrong business.

West Marine provides a service, you can go into the store and usually they have what you need. You may have to blow off a half dozen clerks asking if they can help you but eventually you can get the product you need and you can actually touch it and even read the directions. Are they the cheapest, probably not but who said boating was cheap? Heck....I am old. I remember when Boat US had marine stores. Before they sold the marine business to West Marine the prices at both brands were better. So if you want better prices, start up a marine store and give them some competition.

Padraig