A Shout Out to West Marine

I just wanted to take a minute to thank the people at West Marine for helping to drain my wallet and reinforce the elitist ideals of boating to both the boating and non-boating population. Where else could I go to pay such a premium for products that everyone knows would be 1/3 the price if they were not designed for boating? Where else could I go to get the least knowlegeable service possible (there are, of course, exceptions) and have the opportunity to figure out what I need through trial and error instead of via assistance from knowlegable service professionals versed in the needs of the marine customer?

I would be remiss if I didn't also give a big holler of appreciation to West Marine for buying out the vast majority of their competition to ensure that only at West Marine will I get to pay for things at the monumentally over-inflated margins that I have come to know and love about having to buy things for my boat.

Yes West Marine, congratulations. Your celebration of what American business has a right to do without regard for what American business should do epitimizes all that is capitalism. Great job!