But You can just call me Captain Obvious.

I have never been a WM fan but much like Wal Mart, they’re the big boys in town and will probably have what you need.
I stopped there today on my way home to pick up a 4 pack of 12ga flares to replace my expiring flares on my boat. There are 4 hanging rows of what I am looking for. I grab a pack and check the expiration date and they expire in Apr 2024. Yup, thats 11 months left on flares that are good for 42 months from the date of manufacture. I dig through all 4 rows looking for the newer flares and they all expire in less then a year.

I went to the checkout and asked if they had any flares with a longer expiration date and he talks into his microphone and tells me that someone will meet me at the flares to help me out. When I get back there the employee, who has not had time to even look at the flares, tells me that they all expire on the same date but is quick to offer to sell me some at a discounted price.

These slime-ball pieces of shit know that the flares are close to expiring and rather then identifying this and marking them down, they are leaving them out and hoping people buy them at full price without checking the expiration date.

If they had clearly identified this, I may have bought them anyways depending on the price markdown but not after that. I told her politely that if this is how they are going to treat their customers, then I will find what I need somewhere else and left.

On a bright note, I stopped by Academy and bought the same flares that expire in June 2026 for less money.

Mariner's Warehouse in Miami stocks flares, and sells them through Amazon, if that helps for future needs.

You could try Boat Owners Wharehouse down in Ft. Lauderdale. Not sure if they ship flares or not.

In a worst case situation, I hope out of date flares can work for the boater, sold as you describe with 11 months until expiration. Regulations require carriage of unexpired items:
https://www.boatus.org/study-guide/equipment/vds/

With the problem of disposing of the dangerous flares, this reference suggests purchasing an electronic flare which never expires.
https://www.boatingsafety.com/...se-of-Expired-Flares

I've been out of boating since 2011 so not up to date. But I seem to recall that when I sold my boat the Coast Guard was discouraging the use of flares. Instead they suggested using a light or waving a flag. At the time I thought that was a bit nuts but considering the chemicals used and the delicacy of the Great Lakes I'm re-thinking that.

I've used their epoxy a lot, is that the same West Marine?

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
I've been out of boating since 2011 so not up to date. But I seem to recall that when I sold my boat the Coast Guard was discouraging the use of flares. Instead they suggested using a light or waving a flag. At the time I thought that was a bit nuts but considering the chemicals used and the delicacy of the Great Lakes I'm re-thinking that.

Need current flares or other signalling devices (P11, P18 etc) and current fire extinguishers (along with a bunch of other stuff). The flares are easier. Link- https://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF

Thank you for that heads up about West Marine, I like shopping there, but we have a local shop I prefer, now I know why I don't need to change:-)

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder:
I've used their epoxy a lot, is that the same West Marine?

No West Systems epoxy is not related to West Marine, aside from being sold there among other places.

West Marine- their satellite stores leave little to be desired unless you're looking for clothes. They put such an emphasis on clothes at the detriment of actually stocking boat parts. What corporate fails to realize is NOBODY goes to West Marine just to buy clothes, they buy clothes because they're already there buying boat parts, which their inventory of generally is really lacking. They also really gouge you on certain items like dock lines. I'm lucky that the Fort Lauderdale flagship store is near me and has most everything in their catalog on it's shelves and I'm a pro member and get a deep discount.

My first question is why do they have an expiration date.... and one that is so short? especially if these are 12 gage shells... I presume it is because of the potential environment they are being stored in not the actual product itself?

I've bought clothes at West Marine. Some fairly heavy, long sleeve turtle neck shirts, which I think is kind of odd considering most of their business is warm weather related. I got them cheap because they were horribly sun faded from hanging near the store window for lord knows how many years. I planned on wearing them under other clothes while hunting, so didn't really care they were funky looking. 20+ years later I'm still using them for that.

My point being, I think most everything in the store is like those shirts, there for a long long, looong time, everything is slow to move and rather expensive. Not some place I go often, though I probably would were the prices better. Any time I do go, the store is all but empty, to the point where I've long wondered how the can stay open year after year.