Ripoff Merchant!

[Wotname]

Thanks for the research Rgscpat

[Dulcesuenos]

Are you not able to buy these parts locally?

[Reefmagnet]

Here's an example of why us Aussies by OS. Best local price for Simrad IS20 sailboat pack here $1550, best US price out of the US in AUD = $983 + shipping. That's why we put ourselves through this torture!

Maybe someone should set up a trip advisor style site for online shopping. I use scamadvisor as an initial check, but in the case of the discount marine site, it comes up as 100% trustworthy so it obviously doesn't evaluate poor service.

[dirkdig]

Dont get started on how much we get ripped in Aust.
Needed jabsco parts in Aust $700 and a week to get.
Purchased from the uk for $270 and on my desk in 4 days?

[bony]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Dont get started on how much we get ripped in Aust.
........

Exactly why I shop O/S but I've never had trouble with US sites till now. Interstate postage in Australia is a hit and miss exercise as well.


Thanks for all that information rgscpat, very interesting and kinda justifies my original post. Jeez, even the house price was cheap, you'd have to fork out close to a mil to get a 6 bedroom house over here!

bony

[capt-couillon]

From the "about" section of the retailer's website...

Discount Marine Supplies.com is an internet retailer based in Pennsylvania. We accept orders via our website and then distribute those orders to one or more of our 14 regional warehouses located throughout the United States.

In other words, they have no "brick-and-mortar" business other than a laptop on the kitchen table. When you place an order with them, they just relay the order to the distributor who actually stocks (and ships) the product. Hence one part of the order arriving, and one being misplaced.

While I agree, the retailer should have followed up, any business that relies strictly on drop-shipped merchandise rather than local inventory is going to be inherently less reliable.

Do your homework, and remember.... Cheapest is not always the least expensive.

[rgscpat]

Since the house that is listed as Discount's physical address is "under contract" and the owners appear to have moved hundreds of miles away about three years ago, it is possible that they have nothing whatsoever to do with the company, and someone who knew the house was mostly empty took advantage to "borrow" the address to make the business look more real or reputable. Or another wild possibility is that a relative or friend of the owners, a house sitter, or someone with some connection to the owners or access to the house, got the owners to let them use the address as a favor. I think nominally it was a half-million-dollar house, but given the markets may have sold for quite a bit less.

I would not be surprised if Reading, PA, USA or Berks county, PA have no business license on file for Discount Marine Supplies. It might be interesting, if this proved true, for all these facts to be brought to the attention of the attorney general's office for the state of Pennsylvania; I expect their Bureau of Consumer Protection, which handles consumer and business matters, might investigate. The state might also have the resources to contact whoever provides the web site and fulfillment services for Discount Marine as part of their inquiry.
Consumers: Protecting Consumers - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General


Pennsylvania Attorney General Protecting Pennsylvania Families
Bureau of Consumer Protection

By law, the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection is authorized to perform the following duties:

Investigate commercial and trade practices in the distribution, financing and furnishing of goods and services for the use of consumers;
Conduct studies, investigations and research into matters affecting consumer interests and make such information available to the public;
Advise the Legislature on matters affecting consumer interests, including the development of policies and the proposal of programs to protect consumers;
Investigate fraud and deception in the sale, servicing and furnishing of goods and products, and strive to eliminate such illegal actions;
Promote consumer education and publicize matters relating to consumer fraud, deception and misrepresentation.
Based upon consumer complaints or investigations, the Bureau is authorized to take formal legal action against persons and organizations who engage in unfair and deceptive conduct in the advertisement or sale of goods or services within the Commonwealth. However, in response to numerous consumer complaints received each year, the Bureau has also developed a statewide mediation program which seeks restitution, refund or other relief for consumers and affected businesses in a fair and impartial manner.

Upon receipt of a consumer complaint, the Bureau will generally attempt mediation by sending a copy of the complaint to the business involved in an attempt to reach a resolution of the dispute. The Bureau does not act as a judge in these disputes or order any payment or action. In the majority of cases received by the Bureau, Consumer Protection Agents serve as mediators who work to resolve disputes using the mail, telephone and/or personal contacts.

Mailing Address:
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
16th Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Regional Offices:
Find a regional office near you

Phone:
717-787-3391

Fax:
717-787-8242

Press Office:
717-787-5211

Hotlines:
Child Predator Unit 800-385-1044
Elder Abuse Unit 866-623-2137

Consumer Protection 800-441-2555

Education & Outreach 800-525-7642
Health Care Section 877-888-4877
Do Not Call List
888-777-3406

Home Improvement Consumer
Protection Act Helplines:
Consumer Helpline 888.520.6680
Contractor Helpline 717.772.2425


Email:
Contact Us
Complaint Forms Checker

[onestepcsy37]

"Discount Marine Supplies.com is an internet retailer based in Pennsylvania. We accept orders via our website and then distribute those orders to one or more of our 14 regional warehouses located throughout the United States."

this guy is lying through his teeth from the get go. the relevant phrase is "our 14 regional warehouses". he is implying that the warehouses are owned by his company. they are obviously not.

maybe one of the lawyers out there - real or imagined - could take this on to the pennsylvania authorities....

[bony]

Originally Posted by dirkdig

Dont get started on how much we get ripped in Aust.
Needed jabsco parts in Aust $700 and a week to get.
Purchased from the uk for $270 and on my desk in 4 days?

Here's another classic example.

A Perko, Mortise, Door Lock Set

At this US dealer it costs $90.88
Perko, Mortise, Door Lock Set


At this Australian dealer $331.00 !!!

Perko Latch Set Lockable - Mortise - Latches & Catches - Cabin Hardware - Hull, Deck & Cabin Hardware - Shop Online | BLA Australia

How they justify the massive markup is beyond my understanding.

bony

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by bony

Here's another classic example.

A Perko, Mortise, Door Lock Set

At this US dealer it costs $90.88
Perko, Mortise, Door Lock Set


At this Australian dealer $331.00 !!!

Perko Latch Set Lockable - Mortise - Latches & Catches - Cabin Hardware - Hull, Deck & Cabin Hardware - Shop Online | BLA Australia

How they justify the massive markup is beyond my understanding.

bony

This sounds like a business opportunity to me. Some enterprising Aussie cruiser needs to start up a mail order clearing house locally, sort out the good prices and reliable suppliers overseas, bring in stuff for his mates with a little markup for the house.

[Weyalan]

Originally Posted by skipmac

This sounds like a business opportunity to me. Some enterprising Aussie cruiser needs to start up a mail order clearing house locally, sort out the good prices and reliable suppliers overseas, bring in stuff for his mates with a little markup for the house.

If only it were that simple. By shopping on-line, we avoid having to pay both import duty and GST (provided we stay under $1000 value).

A clearing house would have to pay import duty (5%), plus
GST of 10% on the purchase price + the shipping cost + the import duty

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

If only it were that simple. By shopping on-line, we avoid having to pay both import duty and GST (provided we stay under $1000 value).

A clearing house would have to pay import duty (5%), plus
GST of 10% on the purchase price + the shipping cost + the import duty

Ah shucks. I thought I had figured out a way to move down under and get rich off a bunch of gullible deprived Aussies.

[bony]

Originally Posted by skipmac

This sounds like a business opportunity to me. Some enterprising Aussie cruiser needs to start up a mail order clearing house locally, sort out the good prices and reliable suppliers overseas, bring in stuff for his mates with a little markup for the house.

Good idea skipmac, we could call it Discount Marine Supplies .com .au and get rich ripping off our mates!

[bony]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

If only it were that simple. By shopping on-line, we avoid having to pay both import duty and GST (provided we stay under $1000 value).

A clearing house would have to pay import duty (5%), plus
GST of 10% on the purchase price + the shipping cost + the import duty

Our gov'mint's jealous they're not making enough revenue from online shoppers so there's talk about about lowering that $1000 limit next year.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by bony

Good idea skipmac, we could call it Discount Marine Supplies .com .au and get rich ripping off our mates!

Better be careful and get pick a different URL. Might get sued by the honorable folks at DicountMarineSupplies for stealing their name and profiteering on their fine reputation.