I find it very interesting that the majority of comments on this subject involve Boaters World. I worked for Boaters World in the Fl. Keys for 2 years and I know that at our store we had the most knowledgable employees in the area. So knowledgable in fact that other stores including West Marine sent their customers to us to when they couldn't help tham or answer their questions. We had a great group of people and a dedicated customer base who returned year after year. It's sad to see this happen but it's obvious at least to me after reading Ritz's bankruptcy filings that the camera side of the company is what really lead to the demise of this company. In fact the boating side of the business was ordered to be liquidated to pay for the shortcomings of the camera side because it was the only profitable part of the company and they could get the most return on the dollar for the creditors. It's too bad that the judge wouldn't allow someone to come in and purchase the Boaters World franchise outright. The loss in the communities we served and the dedicated customers we had will be hard felt. It was a great company and I enjoyed working there and I know my customers enjoyed shopping there. Yes the pay was low and raises non-existant but hell it was retail I didn't think I'd get rich working there anyway. Good-bye Boaters World and store 648 you will be missed!
Matthew
of FL
@
Apr 06, 2009 11:36:17 AM
Still good competition
There is still a good marine discounter that just so happens to have a similar name called Boat Owners World. They are a completely separate company an discount marine supplies at www.boatownersworld.com
Al Murray
of FL
@
Mar 30, 2009 00:50:24 AM
boater's world
Hopefully they will remain a viable company. Too bad Ritz took them down. West Marine is horribly overpriced across the board, in comparison with BW. Now it's online or WallyWorld.
I had a nice, well thought out retort for your ridiculous, moronic, LIBELOUS, self-confessing (of your crimes against Boater's World abusing your POS - ever hear of a Freudian Slip?), terrible grammar laden, made up statistics covered post. But, I decided to instead just alter a quote from a very funny movie.
"No Alec Baldwin, you see, Boater's World are a bunch of p_ssies, and Boater's World associates can be d_cks. But Capt. Q is an as_hole. P_ssies think that everyone should just get along and d_cks just want to f_ck all the time, but as_holes just want to sh_t all over everything. So if we don't kill Capt. Q, we're gonna have all our p_ssies and d_cks all covered in sh_t. Because, you see, d_cks f_ck as_holes".
Dude, move out of your mom's trailer and get a life. And never forget that every time you post on the net your IP stamp is left. Next time one of your mom's tricks brings a dictionary to your trailer look up the word Libel.
The O.G. Capt.
of FL
@
Mar 13, 2009 23:56:27 PM
Boaters World
Just because one store is bad doesn't mean you have to curse the rest of them. Besides Boaters World didn't cause the tremendous debt Ritz Camera did and they brought them both down.
anonymous
of SC
@
Mar 13, 2009 19:34:52 PM
boaters world/ ritz camera
for your information i left on my own accord because the harassment was so bad. i was pushed out forcefully because some people just do not know how to behave in public let alone treat their peers with respect. most of the employees including management were nothing but low life drug addict alcoholics that had no perception of reality. sir, as much as you like this company you have to face the facts. i am not the only one that has gone through this crap and because of the company's "awesome" business management skills and recruitment choices they got what they deserve....54 million dollars in debt and a bunch of laid off incompetent employees collecting unemployment.
anonymous
@
Mar 13, 2009 03:01:19 AM
Ritz/Wolf Camera
I have been employeed by wolf for more than 2 years..I Believe that our sales staff is well knowledged and versed on our products. However, my opinion is this more times than not as a part-time associate, have gained an array of information from so many of our patrons and associates...I believe that it is not the staff in the stores that are the problem, it is the leadership..I am a former supervisor of 42 locations with a approximately 150 personel. Huge advocate of "Good to Great"..The first thing people need to do is get the wrong people of the bus, and get the right ones on it. For instance management-when managers spend more time playing on their laptops than doing their job-ie. my current manager. What kind of example of leadership is that, Or better yet new district managers sorry to say,"being intimate with managers-when they are in town" If your leaders don't care guess what...Neither do the people who work under them. If our leaders were doing their part, associates would follow...Leading by example is a start. Don't give people a slap on the wrist for 8 years because you think they are cute. Get rid of them, and put people in place that are going to help the company move forward. If you think you know all there is, you have done everything you believe is possible to help the situation...Move on let someone with a fresh look, new set of eyes, new ideas...Change is part of life it's the only way we grow. Take responsibility for your own actions, So those that are complaining make sure you are being part of the solution, not the problem..If you can sale something, learn how,or move on.
Michelle
of KS
@
Mar 12, 2009 23:10:01 PM
Boaters World
It sounds to me like you as old employees hate boaters world for a hidden reason. Sounds to me like you got fired because you did something stupid and are placing the blame on them. West Marine beating boaters world prices is a joke. The Boaters World in my town is always better than west's prices in fact that's why the West Marine in town closed.
anonymous
of SC
@
Mar 12, 2009 19:57:10 PM
boaters world/ ritz camera
I am a former employee of this piece of crap company. They treat all of their staff like s**t and hire douche bags right off the street with no education or work ethic for that matter. Hardly any of the stores have security cameras which put the stores and the employees in danger of being robbed or hurt. My particular store was robbed and the police officer thought it was a joke that we had no security. None of the people i worked with had any respect for the customer or each other. The customer was "raped" for their money with crappy equipment and damage protection plans that were a joke. There was so much drama between the employees it was like watching a maury show episode. It was only a matter of time that this s**t hole went under.
Kirk Shinkle is a senior editor at U.S. News. He writes daily about ups and downs in equity markets, sectors and stocks. Formerly, he covered business and economics on both coasts for Investor's Business Daily.
Matthew of FL @ Apr 06, 2009 11:36:17 AM
Al Murray of FL @ Mar 30, 2009 00:50:24 AM
Bob of WA @ Mar 14, 2009 08:31:34 AM
Tired of BS of MD @ Mar 14, 2009 00:35:57 AM
The O.G. Capt. of FL @ Mar 13, 2009 23:56:27 PM
anonymous of SC @ Mar 13, 2009 19:34:52 PM
anonymous @ Mar 13, 2009 03:01:19 AM
Michelle of KS @ Mar 12, 2009 23:10:01 PM
anonymous of SC @ Mar 12, 2009 19:57:10 PM
anonymous @ Mar 12, 2009 18:31:47 PM
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