Boaters World Captains Club - not accepted at Boaters World Online

[Think Tweiss]

I decided to sign up for Boater's World Captain's club card since they have a local store and I might buy $300 worth of must have immediately items. It's essentially the same as the West/BoatUS card with discounts when you reach $300 of purchases.

Since my local store does not carry anchor rodes, I went to order online and have it shipped directly to my home. To my surprise, I discovered that the card is not accepted when you order on their web site....even though it is boaters world.com I called and asked; they claim that it is a different company and that the Boaters World Captains Club card is not accepted online. Nowhere is this mentioned in their catalog or in the store when you sign up for the card...nor is it written on the card or even on the web site. The cover of their master catalog even says boatersworld.com ... but the card described on page 5 isn't useable at boatersworld.com

The folks at Boaters World customer service just say that's the way it is...and I can't get thru to anyone who might care that they are misleading customers about the benefits of buying their card. If I order from Boaters World.com, I should get the benefits of having bought the Boaters World Captains Club card.

Sure doesn't make any sense to me.

[Sea_Dad]

you could have ordered the rode thru your local store. Did you pay the taxes you owe on it?

[cgrand]

sounds like "rode rage" to me...

[reelgator]

I don't recall having to pay anything for my captains club card - if you buy online you save 4-6% in sales tax which is a better deal the 3% savings on CC, plus on most orders over I think 200$ they ship for free. Makes sense to me.

[HOTSPOT]

Bass Pro Outdoor Rewards VISA

Work EVERYWHERE you shop.

I had heard about your issues before and I primarily Internet shop, so I never signed up.

[The Alaskan]

c grand,

Aint you quick
LMAO

[Waterbug]

cgrand - 5/25/2004 2:39 PM

sounds like "rode rage" to me...

That is hysterical!

[Sea_Dad]

just an FYI, if you pal up with your local vendors, 9 times out of 10 they will discount the item enough so that you pay the online price even after taxes. They prefer the sales to go through their store, and they like making you happy doing so. If you pal up with them.

[TCY]

Tweiss,

I wrote a detailed response but my computer ate it up without a trace.* So I'll be brief: The bottomline is that this is entirely legit.* They have*split the two into two separate companies so that you won't have to pay tax on the online store.* This is to stay competitive with pure online companies who do not have a "physical presence" and therefore do not have collect and remit local taxes.

TCY

[TheBoatGuy]

I just requested a price from the local Boaters World on a radar system, they gave me an "outfitters discount" and a captains club discount and came in $100 under anyone else. The guys at the store made it very clear to me that they are a different company than the online people. It is a bit odd, but they were upfront about it and their pricing is below anyone else's with the two discounts.

[Think Tweiss]

TCY....I don't mind the policy.....they can set any policy they want....

My concern is they don't tell you the policy anywhere....so you/I assume that the card is good buying things from Boaters World store or boatersworld.com. Matter of fact, they go out of their way to imply that you can use the card anywhere.....

[thefoyboy]

TT,

Here is a quote from the BoatersWorld.com website...by the way I do agree with you.

Ritz Interactive, Inc. and Boaters World are separate companies working together to bring you unique products on-line via Ritz Interactive, Inc.'s interactive sites. Ritz Interactive, Inc. has entered into an exclusive arrangement with the Ritz companies to operate www.ritzcamera.com, www.boatersworld.com, www.outerbanksoutfitters.com, www.fishingonly.com, and www.boatingonly.com e-commerce business. Ritz Interactive, Inc. is working with additional strategic partners to bring you an even broader selection of unique products in the future.

Boaters World Stores will accept exchanges from Ritz Interactive e-commerce websites on the same terms and condition as it does from other competitors, however, returns can only be made to Ritz Interactive websites. (See our websites for details.)

Boaters World Marine Centers, with its almost 1,300 stores, (which includes Ritz Camera, Boaters World, Wolf Camera, Kits Camera and others), is a separate company from Ritz Interactive and its e-commerce websites, (which include RitzCamera.com, BoatersWorld.com, WolfCamera.com, CameraWorld.com and others).

[whitesquall]

I don't know the details of how the Captains Club membership was presented to you, but in my opinion, if there's a chance that someone could reasonably assume the membership was accepted for online purchases, then Boater's World has an obligation to display an appropriate disclaimer.

The website has posted the question of CC acceptance in a list of FAQs. Unfortunetly that question and several others either don't have answers or have answers to different questions. I think the website is broken, at least in a way that makes it incompatable with the Linux version of Mozilla. So I can't pass along the answer but if your running IE maybe you'll have better luck.

bob

[Think Tweiss]

Thefoyboy....all those words don't say anything at all about the boatersworld captains club.

Let's look at their master catalog...the one that says .. Boater's World Marine Centers and visit our stores Boatersworld.com ... and that's on the front cover. Inside the front cover....3 Great ways to shop...Walk in, Call in, Click in (to boatersworld.com). Third page with note from David Ritz, CEO - Visit a store today www.boatersworld.com...and so on. Page 5 which is dedicated to the Captains club does not mention any limitations on where you buy...just buy from Boatersworld.

I'm sorry...but to me, RitzCamera is (perhaps accidentally) trying to make you think that boatersworld.com and boatersworld marine centers are the same. The fact that they have different corporate structures for whatever reason isn't my concern...that's between their tax lawyers, accountants and whoever. I'm just trying to be a customer. It would be pretty easy for BW to say on their card or on page 5...not valid on the internet.

Again...I don't care what their policies are as long as they tell us.

I didn't order the rode yet....have not decided how I want to do it now. Had I not called and asked, I would have just ordered the rode...it would have arrived and I would have expected it to be part of my totals towards that $300. That bothers me....because I'm not sure when/if they will surprise me again. It's a question of who you want to do business with. They certainly are not the only game on the internet....

I'll probably just go to West or boatUS which are both just across the street and ask them to price match....probably not what boatersworld would prefer me to do.

[Billy Kratz]

I've done this before: Order it online, tax free, and free shipping, then return it to the store and rebuy it w/ your card.

[TCY]

Billy,

Sounds intriguing, but I need a little help.* How does this actually work?* Won't they charge you tax when you buy it again?

TCY

[fishfam]

I always try to shop in one of their shops but I called the catalog to buy a couple of specific rods. I got the captain card credit, MSSA discount and paid taxes on the item. I questioned why the taxes were added? The way they explained it to me is it's due to my order being filled & shipped from w/i Maryland to a in state address.

However! The best deal going is your $25 MSSA membership card. You get 10% discount on all purchases except electronics. Don't know about anyone else but I quickly recoupe the $25 and more.

[Capn Mike]

Come on, boys, pay the tax.* It keeps your schools working and isn't much in comparison to all the other boat*expenses.*(Of course, my nearest Boater's World and West Marine stores are in Oregon where there's no sales tax....)*

The BW shop in our area is staffed by morons, and I hate to shop there.* I just bought a rode @ West Marine:* showed them the BW web page price and they matched it.

[Think Tweiss]

what MSSA membership card? There are four or five of them listed on google....including the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa.

Is the card recognized nationwide...once you tell us which card it is. Ah, I bet it's the Montana Shooting Sports Association

[Billy Kratz]

TCY, they return it with tax, so your still even and it's on your CC card.
Also MSSA is the Maryland Saltwater Sportsman Association, and you still get 5% off electronics, but nothing off RADAR.