Let the Buyer Beware

I bought a now known to be Korean VFH portable with the name West Marine on the front, a VFH55 currently being sold in the store for roughly $130.  The radio is less than two years old, but the lithium battery BP55 puked and I needed a replacement.  Off to the WM store I go and low and behold the battery is discontinued and the unit doesn't have a AA conversion unit. 

And right there in front of me is a new unit for sale, the same identical radio.

Being certain that the store guy didn't know his stuff, I contact WM customer support and low and behold the battery is discontinued.  And the support guy said that the company wasn't going to order any more since they had to order a "truck load".  In fairness he offered to sell me the same radio at "their cost".  But I still hold to the old saying "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame me."

Now the support guy was very nice, but he is caught between me and "the new guys" making the decisions.  So I can get over getting screwed, I can always buy elsewhere. 

BUT ....... I pointed out to the support guy that his Company had a moral obligation to pull those radios from the shelf or a least discount them and let buyers know that WM wasn't supporting them any longer.  No such luck.

So this is my way of passing on the information and "Let the buyer beware!"

And "SHAME ON WEST MARINE".