I know this site is sponsored by various chandlers etc.and therefore pose this question-why should some marine hardware vary so much in price.
Eg.12mm pin greenpin high load shackles-anything between just over £3 from a mooring specialist to over £6 at one of my local chandlers.
Eg.20kg Bruce type cast steel anchor from £55 at mooring specialists to well over £100 elsewhere?
Phil

I suppose chandleries would argue that those paying high business rates for premium sites have higher overheads than those operating out of town, but I have always rather suspected that prices are dictated by what the market will bear, rather than true costs of anything. Interesting that Aldi was recently able to offer (albeit in very limited supply) reasonable looking waterproof and breathable foul weather gear for less than a tenth of what the top labels charge. Pity there isn't more of this sort of competition!

another good example is the vast difference in price between usa and uk prices. i am about to buy a lowrenceNet kit for my small boat (instruments, fuel flow and speed sensors and interconnecting stuff) after reading the article on the mainsail site, and i can get the whole setup i need over the counter in the usa for £230 (exchange rate 1.88 - £) and once i finally tracked down the parts in the uk it was in excess of £450. also the humminbird side imaging sonar kit i saw demo'd at the nec fishing show will cost me £2000+ in the uk or 1999 dol. in the usa - its the identical kit as far as i can see and i dont object to importers making a fair profit but could someone explain the big difference? off to california in june and will buy there. i realise i will have to pay vat etc on arrival but it will still be a lot cheaper.

Yes this is something else I am aware of-A Raymarine(autohelm) hydraulic wheel pilot kit including control head ,computer,hydraulic pump and sensor can be bought in US for about £600!!!.
-and if you arrange for surfacemail(sea)delivery then its an extra £20 but remember that VAT and Import Duty are then added-about 20%-best UK price ex VAT for similar product without pump is about £900
Its just that here in UK leisure boating is still seen as a luxury leisure market wheras in The US its more of a universal market a bit like caravanning in UK where competition is fierce--whilst ever people walk into their local chandlery and pay the going rate- the going rate will be high.
Never forget my Garmin data transfer cable for connecting to my PC-UK price about £35-import from Europe with continental plug £12!
Phil

Your mention of a Garmin power/transfer cable reminds me that I sourced the same from the USA, made in China, shipped to the US then air mailed to me for £12. I feel guilty about the air miles but many in the UK are making a mint selling at £29.99 on the Internet. I bought Apple Tiger OSX a few months ago but Apple won't sell it to you from the states, their dollar pound rate is 1:1 so I still had to pay £70 or so. I do buy quite a bit from Chandlers at high prices though because if they went bust we would all be the poorer - and I do like browsing around non-digital stores.

Towsure!