What makes for a good Chandlery?

[dave_2A_]

What do you look for/want? What would encourage you to use one over another?

 

Why? That's a secret! Not really - but I'll tell you next week.

 

Dave

[fuzzyduck]

a readily avaliable supply of all those little 50 p bits you find you need, such as the odd screw or bolt, and the ability to ring up, order said tiny little bit over the phone, and have it delivered at a reasonable additional cost.

[WJM]

A Bing?!

[jeb]

What do you look for/want? What would encourage you to use one over another?

 

 

Dave

 

All I want is that when I ring first and ask them if they can confirm they have a certain item in stock and when I arrive just over an hour later having travelled god knows how many miles and used god knows how many litres of fuel I damewell expect the sod***g item to be there and when its not I get

hmmm a little saddened. Not for the first time today but most certainly the last trip to a well known Midland Swindlers.

 

Rant over.

[Ex- Member]

Everything you need for a boat in stock at the cheapest price.

 

Unfortunately I haven't come across a chandlery that can do this. I would estimate that 80% of stuff ordered for our boat has been done so over the internet with better prices for goods even taking into account the postage costs. Another 15% for stuff bought privately or second hand, and about 5% from Chandleries. We've probably saved thousands over the past 4 years using the internet. I do like to visit them though and have a good look around, just jot down the items you want and get on the comp and save lots of dosh

 

I did get a good deal on a gas cooker & hob though from Midland chandleries 4 years ago, but that was only because we bought 2 haggled and paid for in cash My brother bought some bits and we Also got a Stirling alternator charge controller thrown in for £90 I then realised we had spent over a grand that entitled us to another 10% discount if we signed up to a wholsaler discount card or something like that So we got another 10% on the haggled price We saved £258 on the list prices quoted in the chandlery. My point is if they can do that when you haggle and still make a profit, then how much are they making from those who don't

[John Orentas]

What makes for a good Chandlery?

 

If you can see more than 5% of the floor and more than 30% of the walls it's under stocked and not up to much.. David Piper's was my favourite when it was open.

[stubbs]

all those little odds and ends that you cant get else where and when you want them

[Machpoint005]

We saved £258 on the list prices quoted in the chandlery. My point is if they can do that when you haggle and still make a profit, then how much are they making from those who don't

 

It costs money to hold stock, against the possibility that some skinflint narrowboat owner might come in and spend £5 in three years' time. Our needs are highly specialised, and the turnover is low. If the Swindlers could make more by leaving their money in the bank, then only a fool would operate a swindlery instead. Businesses don't exist to be nice to the customer, they exist to make money! (Of course, the best businesses do both at once)

 

The argument is similar for motorway services: they charge the prices they do, because they have to be open at 3.30am even if you don't need them to be, and it all costs money. It's called economic realism.

[Ex- Member]

It costs money to hold stock, against the possibility that some skinflint narrowboat owner might come in and spend £5 in three years' time. Our needs are highly specialised, and the turnover is low. If the Swindlers could make more by leaving their money in the bank, then only a fool would operate a swindlery instead. Businesses don't exist to be nice to the customer, they exist to make money! (Of course, the best businesses do both at once)

 

The argument is similar for motorway services: they charge the prices they do, because they have to be open at 3.30am even if you don't need them to be, and it all costs money. It's called economic realism.

 

Have to disagree, you could also argue that if chandleries charged a more realistic price they would shift more gear, less stock higher turnover. Although I do agree that they are more specialised than general outlets, and can't operate in the same way as a regular shop with a good turnover.

 

This is more to do with rip-off Britian than chandleries ripping us off. The problem is that this country pays over the odds for almost everything purchased, from the supplier/wholsaler down. The reason is that people don't shop around and are willing to pay the silly prices especially for branded goods. It's the people at the top who are raking in all the cash from overpriced goods, that's why I'll spend hours on the net getting the best price possible. If we all did this, you would soon see prices fall for most goods especially branded goods dropping pretty quickly.

 

Motorway service stations are a rip off, look who ownes all these services, big corporate companies who argue that they have to charge more for fuel and services due to the infrastructure needed to access the service station, ie roads. This is utter nonsense, these service stations are on a prime site with thousands of potential customers driving past every hour ensuring guaranteed custom. The distribution to these service stations is easy cheaper as they're on motorways, and have big holding tanks which accept full load deliveries of fuel. Supermarkets build infrastructure for their stores and pay for road access to be constructed so their stores can be accessed, they sell fuel cheap. There's no excuse why motorway services should need to charge a premium on everything it sells other than blatant profiteering by corporate companies running a monopoly.

[Machpoint005]

Chandleries, motorway services... you don't have to use them if you plan ahead, but if you do, you pay for the convenience. They charge the prices they do because they can. If nobody bought anything from them, they would go out of business.

 

Anyone been to the Bolton services on the M61 recently? That one looks as if it's not making money, judging by the run-down state of the roads and parking areas, and (surprise surprise) it is never busy. Sorry I've taken this

[Ex- Member]

Chandleries, motorway services... you don't have to use them if you plan ahead, but if you do, you pay for the convenience. They charge the prices they do because they can. If nobody bought anything from them, they would go out of business.

 

Anyone been to the Bolton services on the M61 recently? That one looks as if it's not making money, judging by the run-down state of the roads and parking areas, and (surprise surprise) it is never busy. Sorry I've taken this

 

Good point about M/way services, if these service stations were in serious competition then their act would be cleaned up as well as their loos and other ammenities. I can assure Bolton isn't the only one in a poor state of maintenance & repair. We avoid m/way services as much a possible and will even drive up to 2 miles off the m/way to save money on fuel and food. Not good for the environment either, but a struggling business has to economise

 

This is a good site if you're planning a long journey and want to avoid them http://www.5minutesaway.co.uk/

 

I'm wondering the value of someone logging where road fuel stations are very close to canals as the price of White diesel will probably be cheaper than Red from Nov. Maybe they could stock chandlery items also

[carlt]

Loads of stock, knowledgeable staff, friendly service and a cup of coffee.

 

Rose Narrow boats, Stretton Stop, now they've poached all the good staff, from Midland Swindlers (two sugars in mine, next visit, lads)

[Bullfrog]

that's why I'll spend hours on the net getting the best price possible. If we all did this, you would soon see prices fall for most goods especially branded goods dropping pretty quickly.

 

What you are more likely to see is small independant traders being forced out of business.

 

I'm not a chandler, but I do run a specialist shop. Some internet traders advertise their goods at "trade" or even less in some cases. How do they achieve this? By buying in much bigger quantities than an ordinary retailer can afford and achieving bulk discount, by not paying the overheads of retail outlets, and by not offering the service and aftercare which people expect of a high-street trader. I find your attitude of milking the retailer for his expertise, examining his bought and paid for stock for free, and then spending your money on-line quite distasteful.

 

I don't make "rip-off" profits and I resent being accused of it. If I sold at on-line prices I would go bust very quickly. If this became the standard business model then the wholesalers would abandon the conventional retail trade and focus all their efforts on a handfull of mega-business's who by then would have you all by the goolies. That's when prices will start to rise and you would have nowhere else to go.

 

Enjoy!

[magpie patrick]

Having what I need whan I need it, or being able to get it. As a customer I do wonder how some sdtay in business, nit because they are bad but I just can't see where their profit margin is.

 

Midland Chandlers were good because they were the only ones able to sell me the right anchor, chain, rope and shackles when I needed them. They were crap when I needed bolt croppers and they somewhat arrogantly wanted me to bring in what I needed cropping or better still buy it from them. How do you take the front bench from a boat into a shop when it's still fastened to the boat and you need the croppers to get it off (I got croppers from hardware store in the end)

 

Last weekend Portland marine were good because they had in stock new weed hatch gasket material and my weed hatch gasket was failing and I didn't dare take it off. Even better, I only paid a quid for the stuff.

 

Kings Lock were good because, when I needed a new tiller handle they went and got one for me, but how they make a profit charging ten pounds when someone had done an hours round trip to get it is beyond me.

 

I won't name those who let me down before the above succesful outcomes

[Ex- Member]

What you are more likely to see is small independant traders being forced out of business.

 

I'm not a chandler, but I do run a specialist shop. Some internet traders advertise their goods at "trade" or even less in some cases. How do they achieve this? By buying in much bigger quantities than an ordinary retailer can afford and achieving bulk discount, by not paying the overheads of retail outlets, and by not offering the service and aftercare which people expect of a high-street trader. I find your attitude of milking the retailer for his expertise, examining his bought and paid for stock for free, and then spending your money on-line quite distasteful.

 

I don't make "rip-off" profits and I resent being accused of it. If I sold at on-line prices I would go bust very quickly. If this became the standard business model then the wholesalers would abandon the conventional retail trade and focus all their efforts on a handfull of mega-business's who by then would have you all by the goolies. That's when prices will start to rise and you would have nowhere else to go.

 

Enjoy!

 

In all fairness I haven't milked chandlers for their expertise or even suggested i have. I do my research mostly from the internet. I simply said I do like to wander around chandleries and if I see any products I like I'll see if i can get them cheaper elsewhere. I do this on all products not just boaty stuff. As in business when you buy in stock you should be aiming to get the cheapest price.

 

Surely Shops are designed and there for people to look around without any commitment to buy, the view that anything spotted in your shop should be purchased by the customer is quite arrogant.

 

I also stated that chandleries weren't necessarily ripping us off, the general system of sales in this country is the rip off. So haven't accused you or anyone else of ripping us off.

 

I've also had some excellent service from internet companies, especially ones that sell specialist goods. I've gleaned much information from internet sellers and they're generally very obliging and helpful, I can also be sent data sheets instantly via e-mail haggle by e-mail as well as phone. Chandleries tend to be quite small with usually only one or 2 staff, when busy you can never get a word in edgeways with other poeple enquiring about stuff, internet is much easier with more info. I have bought stuff from chandleries, but usually small bits and pieces rather than stuff like pumps paint electrical equipment which I will search out the best price for. As stated I bought a lot of stuff from Midlands handlery as there was a deal to be had and ended up spending over a grand.

 

Many chandleries sell on line now as well as retaining a shop and have improved sales and profits whilst reducing prices, this is the way to go if chandleries want to survive, it's simply how the market in retail goods is moving, specialist or not. Those who utilise the imternet for sells will be able to offer a better deal. Competition will exist on a virtual high street as well if not better than it does on the real one.

[starman]

I was in a chandlery recently (Ely Boat Chandlers) who said they had to compete on price with internet sales or they would simply go out of business. As a result they also now have a good website and do a sizeable amount of on-line sales as well as their shop trade. But if you want advice and information, you still need to go in there – and there's really no substitute for doing the beard-stroking, head-scratching routine while handling the goods is there.

[Chertsey]

Isn't the definition of a chandlery 'a shop that has everything except what you want to buy at any given time'?

[Gary Peacock]

Thing are going to change big time soon if the rumours are correct.

 

Nearly all the main chandlery supplies come from around the number of sources you can count on one hand, now if they were to cease to be purely trade suppliers and deal direct with the public on the net at discounted prices then it's going to be good bye local shop based chandlery.

 

All I will say is time will tell!

[magpie patrick]

Have to disagree, you could also argue that if chandleries charged a more realistic price they would shift more gear, less stock higher turnover. Although I do agree that they are more specialised than general outlets, and can't operate in the same way as a regular shop with a good turnover.

 

I have to disagree with you: Take my tiller handle, the little wooden bit. I needed one because I snapped mine off, and I needed it soon as steering the boat is uncomfotable without it. No amount of price cutting will induce me to buy two tiller handles, and within reason they can charge as much as they want because I must have one. In economics this is known as price elasticity, or in this case inelasticity. Where prices are inelastic, cutting the price doesn't increase sales by enough to offest the revenue lost on each sale.

 

don't be fooled by motorway service areas on a weekend, the weekly footfall is a fraction of that for town centre stores and certain elements must open all hours, such as the bit that sells coffee

 

even further it never ceases to amaze me how far people will go in an effort to save money. If I walk into a chandlery and can buy what I want (even better get advice on what I want and thus by the right thing) the saving on each occassion would have to be pretty spectacular for me to go the effort of then leaving the shop, going home, logging onto the internet, ordering online, and more often than not then having to have someone in to recieve the delivery, when if I buy it there and then, I can go down the pub, watch the footy, or go straight to the boat and fit whatever it is I've bought.

 

And Midland Chandlers saved me more than they've ever cost me in mark up when I wanted some non-slip patches for the cabin roof. The bloke discussed the problem with me, suggested a change of footwear (to something I already possesed but wasn't wearing) and a different way of getting off the roof onto the back deck... never slipped since no matter how wet the roof.

[Bullfrog]

Surely Shops are designed and there for people to look around without any commitment to buy,

 

No, shops are there to sell things. If they can't do that, for whatever reason, they cannot survive.

[Gary Peacock]

You do realise Midland Chandlers are in effect trade suppliers and selling to the public at trade prices?

 

If they want they can't be beaten on price by other chandlers that's a simple fact of their operation and part of the reason that other suppliers are considering their options too.

[Bullfrog]

if they were to cease to be purely trade suppliers and deal direct with the public on the net at discounted prices then it's going to be good bye local shop based chandlery.

 

All I will say is time will tell!

 

Spot on Gary - this is happening in lots of areas.

 

Support your local business's or you will lose them.

 

David

[magpie patrick]

You do realise Midland Chandlers are in effect trade suppliers and selling to the public at trade prices?

 

If they want they can't be beaten on price by other chandlers that's a simple fact of their operation and part of the reason that other suppliers are considering their options too.

 

No i didn't realise that, and there is no doubt some of their prices are higher than small independents can manage (I can think of a fender that they wanted £80 for, which I got elsewhere for £55).

 

The main reason I sometimes use them is that their Stafford one is not far off the M6 and I end up passing it rather a lot.

 

I also end up shopping at Waitrose in Droitwich and Sainsbury's in Bridgwater for the same reason!

Edited May 29, 2008 by magpie patrick

[AlanJ]

Surely convienence and stock are the main priorities for any good Chandlery.

Everyone has a price that they are prepared to pay for whatever it is that they are looking for. Some people can afford to sell the goods below your maximum, others cannot.

 

You will consider a Chandlery good if you can get to it easily, it has what you want at a price you're prepared to pay. If that is over the internet, then consider the cost of not being able to have your widget "now". Some things can wait for Mr. Postman to wander to your door, others can't.

 

Ultimately, if all the shops by the canalside disappear, then it's going to make it interesting when you need a new washer for the bolt you're replacing and it costs you £2.50 postage!

 

$0.02