"Bargain" Vulcan Anchor price?

[jack_patricia]

I started shopping for a Rocna Vulcan anchor, a popular choice here I notice, for our soon-to-be Cutwater 248. Tiffany's West (aka: West Marine) offers a Vulcan 12 for ~$600, and Defender comes in $60 less. Over at Amazon, it's offered at ~$340. Amazon usually doesn't give up that much profit vs. the competition. We've been away from boating for quite awhile, so we are relearning the marine retail ecosystem. How common does such highly competitive pricing occur for marine goods at Amazon, would you say....or is this somewhat of a fluke? (Sorry, couldn't resist).

 

[gswearin]

I haven't seen pricing that dramatic, but generally Amazon is significantly less than West and Defender. Here in Seattle Fisheries Supply is usually competitive with Amazon (and even better if you get the RBAW discount). I chalk it up not to Amazon being low, but the other two being high.

 

[Red Raven]

I had to look these prices up. It seemed something had to be off. Nope, it looks legit, free shipping to boot if you have Amazon Prime. Screaming deal! I’d buy it from Amazon in a heartbeat. Not sure I understand how Amazon can include free shipping on such a heavy item. I never even thought to check Amazon when I bought mine!

Curt

 

[CaspersCruiser]

A suggestion: When an item is drastically lower in price on Amazon, look to see who is the seller. If it is Amazon, then I’d buy it. If the seller is not Amazon, but a third party, buyer beware.

I have twice ordered something that seemed to be an incredible bargain only to find what was delivered was similar to the product advertised, but not the advertised product. Both times, it was a third party seller. I was able to return the items.

In one of the cases, after making the return, I found the desired item at a substantially higher price on another Amazon listing, but fulfilled by Amazon. The article delivered was the article advertised.

 

[glider4]

It’s still at that price plus stocked and sold by Amazon. What’s really weird is that the Vulcan 15 kg anchor is priced at $329 - even less than the Vulcan 12 kg anchor!!!

 

[Pandion]

Just a heads-up - Camping World (of all places) has Rocna Vulcan 12s on clearance for $287 with free shipping. Vulcan 15s are $329.

They are a legitimate RV supply store here in the northwest with many locations. I would not hesitate to order from them if I needed a Vulcan.

 

[jack_patricia]

Thanks to all of you for looking over my shoulder about this. Amazon's price suggests something is 'off'...but then I follow up on Pandion's excellent referral to Camping World and their regular (not sale) price is $386, which is above but in the ballpark with Amazon. My conclusion: Some retailers - and I include Camping World and Amazon in this when it comes to high-end anchors - really don't have all-knowing expertise on some of the merchandise they are selling. A good marine anchor is West Marine's bread & butter, so they bump the price 10% above marine retail competitors and probably sell a fair number, even so. I don't have access to the Cutwater 248 until mid-Feb and I really would like to measure the geometry of the Vulcan 12's "fit" on the Cutwaters anchor platform before buying the anchor. Guess I should post a general Q here to see if a C24 owner has already added a Vulcan 12 on their boat and is satisfied with the "fit". Thanks again, everyone.

 

[jack_patricia]

FYI the Vulcan 12 fit nicely on my C248 and, delivered in 2 days by Camping World, was 1/2 the cost of the same West Marine offering.