There are a great many more Walmarts than there are West Marine stores. In my town there are 3 Walmarts but the nearest West Marine is 60 miles away. Guess where I will go for 5200. I go to West Marine for marine materials that are not available closer. I buy S/S fasteners from an industrial fastener 2 miles away at 1/10 the price of Lowes or West Marine. West Marine is a great store but I use it for what it is - a high priced specialty store. Walmart does sell some marine equipment. I once bought bumpers (for my Cape Cod catboat not my Hobie) on sale for $2 apiece. They are not only the same quality but the same make as in marine stores.

Supply and demand will eventually work. Those items that are overpriced in West Marine will likely not be sold and the price reduced as needed to move them.

Howard