THE NAVSHACK DIFFERENCE
Many things separate Navshack.com from other companies in the marine electronics business. However, the primary difference is the people of Navshack and their totally unique approach to the whole process of providing marine electronic products and services.
Retail Distribution – Yesterday and Today
For many years, the sale and distribution of marine electronics has been clearly split between two distinct groups. The first, and original group, are the traditional dealers. The typical marine electronics dealer is a small business normally started and operated by a technician. They’re located in coastal communities around the country and are the foundation of their industry.
Over the years, a second group gradually gained market share competing with the dealers for a piece of the marine electronics market. Discount catalogs and eventually Internet companies have become a dominant force in the industry. Sales and marketing people, rather than technicians, own and operate most of the Internet discount stores. Their typical business model is volume sales at deeply discounted prices without the expense and demands of providing technical expertise and services to their customers.
Dealers view Internet discount stores as “box movers” who lower the “street price” below the level required to support the dealer’s full service operation. Most manufacturers know and appreciate the value of a servicing dealer, but without the sales volume generated by the Internet businesses, their market share would drop drastically. The industry needed a solution, or at least some middle ground, for the split in their distribution network.
Enter NavShack.com
The whole concept of NavShack came from the dealer perspective because it’s parent company has been a marine electronics dealer since 1982. Realizing that not all marine customers have access to a servicing dealer and some electronics shops primarily provide installation and repairs, not sales, it was apparent there is a need for a new and different source of marine electronics, information, and support. About the only similarity between NavShack and other Internet based businesses is that you can order equipment over the Internet at a substantially discounted price.
More Than Just Selling Electronics
NavShack offers a treasure chest of information and support for the mariner. Something you definitely won’t find at other Internet stores is links to aid the customer in finding a local dealer. It may seem unusual since we do sell marine electronics, but NavShack actually encourages customers to locate and use local dealers whenever possible.
Technical Articles and Tips are available for the mariner to view and read online or download and print for later reference or to share with a friend. Find helpful information on care, preventative maintenance, and basic troubleshooting for things like VHF radios, GPS receivers, autopilots and more. You can even submit questions to our technical staff regarding problems with your existing electronics or equipment you plan to purchase.
Product Selection Is Critical
It doesn’t take long to see that NavShack is different from other sites in another way. We’re very particular about which products we offer our customers. Although you’ll find our pricing to be very competitive, if you’re strictly looking for the cheapest price on the low end products, you’ll probably be out of luck at NavShack.com. However, if you prefer to buy quality products built by manufacturers who’ve been around a long time that provide excellent support for their products, you’re at the right place.
Furuno products make up a large percentage of what we sell. No other manufacturer offers better equipment and support than Furuno. They have an extensive dealer program and will also work directly with the end user when necessary. They have a great consumer web site and their NavNet line of equipment is the best in the industry.
Continuously Improving
Our goal at NavShack.com is to provide a single focal point for the mariner interested in not only having the best equipment but the best information. We encourage boaters to visit our site and make use of the information we make available whether they ever purchase from us or not. We’re continuously working to improve the site and expand the services we provide to the boating public.
