Boaters World Stores Parent in Bankruptcy

Pat Anderson · Last edited by Pat Anderson on Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:42 pm; edited 1 time in total

The parent company of Boaters World, Ritz Camera, has just filed for bankruptcy protection. Read about it here.. Don't know what if anything this means for the 130 stores, but it certainly looks like they could be shut down, as they are cited as being unprofitable...

DoryLvr · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

Could mean some great discounts if they liquidate. Good in the short run. But then West Marine won't have much competition, they are almost next door to eachother here, and that will be bad.

SEA3PO · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:34 pm Post subject:

I don't know about you'all, but I have noticed that West Marine has raised their prices a bunch.... times are tough

I still spend my money there, because when something breaks or does not work....they take it back without a fight... they replaced my radar unit and that was almost $3000... had to replace the dome and all...no problem... no crying no fight... (even though my son does not work there anymore)

Joel
SEA3PO

marvin4239 · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject:

That's a shame about Ritz Camera. While I'm not a photographer by any means I've bought quite a few items from them in the last couple years and thier prices and service were far superior to the big box stores like Best Buy and others. Sounds like another specialty store down the tubes.

thataway · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:32 pm Post subject:

The word was the Boater's World had a booth at Miami Boat show, but were not allowed to set up because no one had paid for it--and W M took over the space.

I have never seen any other customers in the Boater's world in Pensacola. I wondered how they stayed in business? I would be surprised that they made it through the recession.

On the other hand bankruptcy does not necessarilly mean the end of the company--but not a good sign. The local Ritz Camera store was not well patronized. I either used the local camera store, bought at "Samy's" in Los Angeles or on line thru B & H.

flrockytop · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:24 pm Post subject:

bshillam · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:31 pm Post subject: Gift cards

Word to the wise, if you have a gift car best to go spend it now. In the bankruptcy protection you are considered an unsecured debt. In that case they may not honor your gift card.
In these times best to spend your gift cards as you get them. Otherwise your liable to be holding onto a lot of worthless plastic not even worth the card it was printed on. Cry

ripple · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:12 am Post subject:

I always wondered how Boater's World stayed in business, but also noticed that they had lower prices than WM. As noted above, I would go into the stores, and they either had no one else shopping, or maybe one other person. And the people that work(ed) there were completely clueless when it came to helping or giving advice about the products that they were selling.

Not that the WM people are much better with advice or product knowledge, I have found them to be hit or miss depending on time and location. But every Boater's World that I ever went into had few customers and staff with little expertise in the products that they were selling.

DaveS · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:50 am Post subject:

Doryman · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:10 am Post subject:

I have generally been able to find at least one person at a given WM who knew what they were talking about. I'm guilty as the next guy at trashing "Worst Marine" but they have saved my bacon numerous times by being nearby wherever I was. As pointed out elsewhere, they have a great return policy and now I am going to start asking them to meet prices I find on the Web. BW or Ritz I won't miss at all.

Warren

jennykatz · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:58 pm Post subject: boat supplies

They are still open in naples .The mgr informed me that they were going to reorganize and keep some of the stores open . Which is good keeps west marine on their tows.

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:22 pm Post subject:

I am waiting for the one down the street to go down with a big sell at the end. Circuit city is across from the office and only has 5 days left according to the sign. Some stuff was 30% off and some was 50% off. I hope that boater world does the same.

lloyds · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject:

I did hear that Circuit City while selling all stock was selling it in the packing boxes and not letting you open them. Some of the big stuff ended up being broken and they wouldn't honor their return policy, and warranty wasn't working much better.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: boat supplies

Jim.

"Tows"?? or "toes"?? Laughing

Either way, I agree, we need Boaters World to keep WM feeling they need to please us...

Pat

hardee · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:42 pm Post subject: rave for local WM

Here's a rave for our not so local WM. They do have staff there that know their products, and a lot more about a lot of boating stuff than I do. I also like their return policy. I have used it twice and came out without a broken arm or a hitch Thumbs Up

I haven't tried the price match thing yet, but it is coming.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon