Ahoy again!
I'm hoping some of you may have bought electronic equipment such as chart plotters online, who would recommend to deal with or stay away from?
Doesn't seem to be many shops over here in the West that you can walk in and have a look around.
There is one as listed in Port Macquarie and the prices seem pretty good.
I'm looking at B&G only at the moment.
Cheers!
chsmith.com.au/
I always bought my electronics from a local dealer but this company always had a good rep with professional fishermen.
Not sure which and whether it is true but rumours were circulating this week of an online supplier going into liquidation and people losing money.
All l am saying is due diligence is required before parting with hard earned. Especially with a pixels based shop.
Having said that l bought a fair bit online last year without drama. The worst l had was delays bc things weren't in stock even tho they took my order. So pays to check via an email or message.
As a retailer myself, I can urge you to support bricks and mortar shops if at all possible. The price for marine electronics doesn't vary too wildly even in sale situations.
I have bought both online and also from a "real" store. It costs a real store more to stock and keep products, and to pay staff to answer questions, help with advice, and have a selection of stuff to browse through. If the costs isn't too far apart, at least ask the bricks and mortar guys if they will match, or at least try to get close to the guys who pay no staff or have a real rent to pay.
I always end up waiting 2-3 weeks for stuff from online sellers as they either drop ship or have to order items in which is super annoying. If you have an issue with an item you bought from a real store, you can take it straight back and have it dealt with quickly.
I currently use Raymarine for CP and AP and can speak highly of their phone help service. I bought a Lowrance Link 8 VHF DSC AIS from Whitworths and can speak highly of their service and that of the unit itself. I nearly lost a new custom mast as the company went into receivership just as it was waiting for shipping. This costs me an urgent emergency, 3 day drive PER-MEL-PER, three days off work, and a fortune in KM's and fuel in my car. It would have cost me $11,000 if I didn't jump in the car and head over immediately.
I've found by shopping regularly at the local shops, I've developed a relationship with the guys that work in the stores and now enjoy a friendly welcome as well as time with them when I have issues that require advice and suggestions from people in the know.
Buying online can be great, but if it goes wrong, you would likely happily have paid the difference in cost, two times over, to have bought it at a store you can walk into to resolve.
If we don't support walk in shops, they will eventually disappear, and then we won't have the choice.
That's my 2c worth. 
CH Smith is a bricks and mortar business with a long history. They went online as well to compete with the others.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
CH Smith is a bricks and mortar business with a long history. They went online as well to compete with the others.
Boating & RV is sort of an equivalent store in Queensland that has a strong focus on B&G.
Another good Melbourne supplier is Melbourne Marine Electronics who would probably work with you in WA if things turned to custard.
Having said that the B&G people are a whole heap nicer to deal with if you are working though local retailer.
A
Your in Western Australia why not just go to Taylors Marine in Fremantle? I've shopped there. I bought a whole pile of Furuno gear years ago from the NSW branch of Taylors. Also shopped at the Port Lincoln branch though they might have closed now.
www.taylormarine.com.au/
Select to expand quoteActionSportsWA said..
As a retailer myself, I can urge you to support bricks and mortar shops if at all possible. The price for marine electronics doesn't vary too wildly even in sale situations.
I have bought both online and also from a "real" store. It costs a real store more to stock and keep products, and to pay staff to answer questions, help with advice, and have a selection of stuff to browse through. If the costs isn't too far apart, at least ask the bricks and mortar guys if they will match, or at least try to get close to the guys who pay no staff or have a real rent to pay.
I always end up waiting 2-3 weeks for stuff from online sellers as they either drop ship or have to order items in which is super annoying. If you have an issue with an item you bought from a real store, you can take it straight back and have it dealt with quickly.
I currently use Raymarine for CP and AP and can speak highly of their phone help service. I bought a Lowrance Link 8 VHF DSC AIS from Whitworths and can speak highly of their service and that of the unit itself. I nearly lost a new custom mast as the company went into receivership just as it was waiting for shipping. This costs me an urgent emergency, 3 day drive PER-MEL-PER, three days off work, and a fortune in KM's and fuel in my car. It would have cost me $11,000 if I didn't jump in the car and head over immediately.
I've found by shopping regularly at the local shops, I've developed a relationship with the guys that work in the stores and now enjoy a friendly welcome as well as time with them when I have issues that require advice and suggestions from people in the know.
Buying online can be great, but if it goes wrong, you would likely happily have paid the difference in cost, two times over, to have bought it at a store you can walk into to resolve.
If we don't support walk in shops, they will eventually disappear, and then we won't have the choice.
That's my 2c worth.
This is the solution, in my mind.
I was a fisherman long before a surfer (twas familiar with Seabreeze, being my go-to for wind forecast). Not a sailor, but have a boat - and this sailing forum is interesting to me.
I'm lucky to have an amazing independent tackle store near me. Because I shop there regularly, and have for years, and arguably put half their kids through college on my expenditure, the discounts they give me are are least comparable to that big blue chain store, and online.
It's the relationship that's key, and what we're losing with online shopping. Actually, the expertise is probably the bigger loss.
But on the relationship, I recently decided I wanted to go back to making my own jig heads, as I did many years ago.
Went into the store to order up the hooks.
Old mate in the shop said no one has ordered those in years (that'd be me), and didn't know if they were even still available.
I said that websites X, Y and Z still offer them, so I assume they're still available?
He said he'd look into it for me, but if I wanted them quickly, to order them from one of said online retailers.
I said I can wait. The hooks came into the shop. And with the discount they threw at me, was at least comparable if not cheaper than online.... and everything else I bought in the shop while picking up the hooks was heavily discounted for me too.
The relationship with the bricks n mortar shops is so important. All my fishing purchases are through that particular shop, because I know I can rely on their expertise.
Go the brick and mortar store.....
I'd make the drive to Fremantle and go to Yacht Grot. They understand sailing and have saved me a lot of expense and heartache. Prices as listed are a bit more than WW or BCF but I've never paid sticker price and have had quite substantial discounts offered. Including once for a dirty joke made in front of my oblivious five year old.
Yep, Freo is a day trip there and back for me.
I would prefer to go into a shop and support local, but it's not like over East where there is lot's of competition for your dollar and closer at hand.
I have just bought a (new to me) yacht in QLD and will be spending half my time over there, so I'll just wait and get something local.
Thanks for your responses guys!
Select to expand quoteWoylie said..
I'd make the drive to Fremantle and go to Yacht Grot. They understand sailing and have saved me a lot of expense and heartache. Prices as listed are a bit more than WW or BCF but I've never paid sticker price and have had quite substantial discounts offered. Including once for a dirty joke made in front of my oblivious five year old.
The guys at Yacht Grot are excellent, I shop there if possible but it's a bit of a drive from where I am. They have a really great range and knowledge of Yachting stuff. If I need yacht specific stuff, their range is really good, and their understanding of sail related stuff is extensive. They've done custom orders for me for rigging and hardware before. If only they were closer. 
I also shop at BCF, Hillarys chandlery, and RTM because they are all close to me, and Whitworths too (bit further). Spreading it around to keep them all going. I like browsing in a well stocked Chandlers, I never know what I might suddenly have a NEED for 
I do everything I can to avoid online shopping with business that do not have a regular storefront
i adsolutely hate online shopping and avoid it where possible
Long live bricks and mortar
phil
Just bought a top-of-the-range handheld VHF radio from Whitworths and paid the sticker price. The unit has GPS and DSC, which needs an MMSI, and I needed to buy the unit before getting the MMSI (its a bit of a tale, which should make it to my blog). The unit was not listed on WW's website, but the sticker price was a little less than the best on-line offer, and I did not have to wait for postage. Also got to chat to the blokes in the shop and am confident that if it does go to custard, I have a point of contact to start sorting things out. Everything has gone smoothly so far, so I doubt I will need to resort to warranty.
So, thumbs up for bricks-and-mortar stores.
Guess this thread is dated so maybe over but see photo attached of new 6 switch panel (+voltmeter, cig lighter socket, 2 usbs, labels) and solar controller (digital display including voltmeter, 2 usbs) from Guangdong Province via Temu. Total $40 delivered for both.
Both boxes have CE, FCC and UKCA labels on them - but not the products themselves. Not worried - if I get 5 years that's grand.
iotas-global.com/ce-fcc-regulatory-services/
But I see that CE is not necessarily accepted in NSW - gimme a break...www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1084419/Safe-electrical-goods.pdf
I am not a spark so maybe someone can explain why CE, FCC and UKCA may not be accepted in Aust.
Probably something to do with the CE/FCC/UKCA branding and model number and serial number not being stamped on the product itself?
I 100% agree with the "bricks and mortar" store concept. But imho it is becoming blurred with small components such as these which as far as I can see are all made oseas now. I won't go into 55+ years of skiff and yacht ownership purchasing but over the last 5 years for the 1 1/2 yachts I own (one a 9.3m Sat arvo racer, one a 7.6m Syd Harbour weekday day sailer grandfather clunker) I have purchased new products and services from the below local companies who I recommend in the strongest possible terms;
www.herricksailmakers.com.au/
allyachtspars.com.au/
www.infinityrigging.com/
sydneyropesupplies.com.au/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgLWt8925hQMVyM_CBB32mg5pEAAYASAAEgJpGvD_BwE
www.dhporter.com.au/
www.nutsnboats.com.au
From Facebook this morning it seems Bias have gone into receivership again. It also appears to be the same bloke answering the 'phone at Arnolds and Bias!
That's a real shame...........they both provided good service as far as I concluded from a few past purchases..............including from Arnolds a Shark Shield so we could dive and scrub every 2nd week to keep up race course speed...........
www.arnoldsboatshop.com.au/products/shark-shield-freedom7-shark-shield-technology-diving-spearfishing-and-kayaking-shark-deterent-system
Good reports here and we are still above ground after 3-4 seasons of use.......suggest wear full length wetsuit as the trailing wand can give a sting to bare skin if contacted as expected...........
www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Sharkmitigation/Report/c06
