Crazy times!

[JWALK]

I am afraid to even do this but... here it goes. Is it worth the savings of purchasing a boat out of your territory even if your local dealer decides not to service your warranty needs when they come up. The times have created great buying opportunities but have also created very dirty selling games in the industry, what are you thoughts? This business is very territorial for many reasons but seems to have customers trying to find the best deal out there at all costs after the purchase, is it just me or what I do, that makes this way of purchasing seem crazy? From a "friendly" Utah dealer.

[xpjim1]

I prefer to purchase from dealer where I will have warranty work done. That being said I give them every oppportunity to match price. If I have to purchase from out of area I would hope the parent brand will make any of there dealers do the warranty work. If they do not it damages the brand.

[dogbert]

You get what you pay for. It really helps to develop a good relationship with your dealer!

[eks]

I think a good dealer is worth a few bucks. What you save in the original can bite you later if you dealer is not good at service and warranties.

[talltigeguy]

I see you still out there working on me, Jwalk.

I have been contacted by a half a dozen or so Tige dealers interested in selling me a boat. The service and attention I have already received from Wasatch Marine has me convinced that if I buy a Tige, Wasatch is the place to get it from.

Speaking about the larger issue of refusing customers because they bought out of territory, the concept is .... interesting for lack of a better word. I assume that boat dealers offer service because it generates some income for the dealership (I can't imagine offering a service that loses money). It may be less than a boat purchase, but it has to be something. To not service a boat bought out of territory is kind of like Costco not selling me DVD's because I bought the DVD player at Best Buy. I guess that stategy only works if it prevents others from buying their DVD players at Best Buy. More than likely you would then lose the DVD sales and you would make people mad as well.

[dogbert]

Speaking about the larger issue of refusing customers because they bought out of territory, the concept is .... interesting for lack of a better word. I assume that boat dealers offer service because it generates some income for the dealership (I can't imagine offering a service that loses money). It may be less than a boat purchase, but it has to be something. To not service a boat bought out of territory is kind of like Costco not selling me DVD's because I bought the DVD player at Best Buy. I guess that stategy only works if it prevents others from buying their DVD players at Best Buy. More than likely you would then lose the DVD sales and you would make people mad as well.

I don't think it's a refusal of service, but more of a quality of service. For example, I know I get preferential treatment at my dealer because I bought my boat there and they want me to buy another one. So, when I need stuff done in a hurry or have a special request, it's never a problem. I can't tell you how often I've had my dealer's service department squeeze me in during a very busy time for them so I didn't lose time on the water. Not sure you can put a price on that.

[xpjim1]

I also feel that I as the consumer should have the right of where I purchase an item. If one dealer is willing to deal more than another I should be able to take advantage of where I spend my hard earned dollars.

[xpjim1]

You get what you pay for. It really helps to develop a good relationship with your dealer!

A good dealer should be willing to develop a good service relationship even if you bought elsewhere. If not they are not a good dealer in my opinion. They should service the brand.

[G-MONEY]

You can buy a boat/ tige from who ever you want and get is serviced/ warranty work done at any tige dealer they can't turn you away.

That's what we did and saved $8k on our 24v back in 2005

[Carter13]

JWALK,

It's all about the mighty buck. I don't care if the economy is booming or busting I am going to give my hard earned money to a car or boat dealership that is going to give me the BEST DEAL PERIOD. I am always willing to give the local dealership my business but if he can't match the best price
TOUGH $HIT. If a dealership can't handle the fact I went somewhere else and purchased the same exact product for less money then that is too bad and will hurt them in the long run because I will be buying for a long time to come.

[talltigeguy]

I don't think it's a refusal of service, but more of a quality of service. For example, I know I get preferential treatment at my dealer because I bought my boat there and they want me to buy another one. So, when I need stuff done in a hurry or have a special request, it's never a problem. I can't tell you how often I've had my dealer's service department squeeze me in during a very busy time for them so I didn't lose time on the water. Not sure you can put a price on that.

Very true. The local Supreme dealer is notorious for that. A friend of mine had his I/O at the dealership most of the summer for a fender on the trailer that was damaged in a blowout. He really got the shaft as far as how long it took to get it done.

You can buy a boat/ tige from who ever you want and get is serviced/ warranty work done at any tige dealer they can't turn you away.

But they can put you last in line and leave your boat dirty or out in the rain when you pick it up.

JWALK,

It's all about the mighty buck. I don't care if the economy is booming or busting I am going to give my hard earned money to a car or boat dealership that is going to give me the BEST DEAL PERIOD. I am always willing to give the local dealership my business but if he can't match the best price
TOUGH $HIT. If a dealership can't handle the fact I went somewhere else and purchased the same exact product for less money then that is too bad and will hurt them in the long run because I will be buying for a long time to come.

Carter,

That is a little harsh, but it is more or less true. The best dealers will still treat you well as a customer, but when they get busy, you will get the longer wait than the next guy.

I assume that Wasatch Marine would treat me well if I bought one of the many leftover new 07 RZ2's out there, especially given that he does not have any.

[xpjim1]

That is a little harsh, but it is more or less true. The best dealers will still treat you well as a customer, but when they get busy, you will get the longer wait than the next guy.

I have been lucky where this has not been true. With my boats I have had issues in havasu where i broke down on the lake. Dealers who do not sell Tiges dropped everything to get me back on the water twice. Same day service as the breakdown. I am pretty loyal to Matt but when an emergency comes up or people ask where they should go for local service in Havasu, I let them know. The only way to build a business is to provide good service to all customers, be it sales, service or both.

[sparky216]

I don't think I would go out of area for my boat purchase to save a couple grand for a couple of reasons. First I love that my dealer is 4 miles from my house and I want them to be profitable and stay in business. Like Dog said, I feel that I get superior service and treatment from them even after my warranty was up. I have had a few minor issues that were taken care of at no charge. That said, it should be up to the customer and the Tige' dealer should honor any warranty issues because it is a Tige'. Listen, in this economy even if you only make $20 on a warranty job, that's $20 and an opportunity to impress a customer. Making a sale is easy, getting repeat business is the tough part.

I bought my Mercedes in Portland because it was a few grand cheaper than the dealer in Salem. I've taken my car to the Portland/Wilsonville dealer and was kinda sorta impressed, but nothing that blew me away. Last week I took it in for a minor warranty job at the Salem dealership because I was in a rush. They treated me like gold, not only fixing the problem but doing $2400 of work that was probably going to be needed once my warranty was up. To top it off, they gave me an 09 to tool around in for the day.........this is a reflection not only on the dealership but on the brand. Next time around, I will be buying my next Mercedes at the local dealership because I've been so impressed with them.......same is true for boat sales.

[MoneyPity]

My dad lives off a lake that recently had a Tige dealership startup in that town/area. After I bought my Tige from a dealer closer to home in Wisconsin it turns out that it would be more convenient to have my Tige serviced (warranty or not) by the dealer near where my dad lives after a weekend of boating at my dads place so I don't have to tow the boat home and then drop off where I bought it on Tuesday. Since I did not buy the boat near where dad lives I land up towing the boat home 175 miles and then hauling 55 miles to my Tige dealer when it opens on Tuesday.

Although if I could get it serviced near my dad it would be easier on me it isn't as effective because the dealer by my dad although willing to do the work will get to it when they can verses the dealer where I purchased although a little more pricey on non-warranty work will usually get the work done if it is needed for the next weekend as a higher priority to them. Although both dealers could easily earn long term service work post warranty the one servicing me the best in the beginning will get my business even though it is a little inconvenient to me. I trust them to get the work done because they view me as a higher priority customer because I bought the boat there and the other dealer thinks me as just another service customer at a lower priority.

Long term the dealer performing the service work s going to make more money
on boat servicing than they will do selling the boat in the current climate.

Even though it is a pain chasing to and from my WI dealer, it is worth it because they have the work done when promised and will/have gone out of the way to take care of issues and have more than earned my business. Reeds truly knows what customer service is.

[dogbert]

Very true. The local Supreme dealer is notorious for that. A friend of mine had his I/O at the dealership most of the summer for a fender on the trailer that was damaged in a blowout. He really got the shaft as far as how long it took to get it done.

Once again, you've missed the point. My dealer provides good service no matter where you bought your boat. However, if you bought the boat there, they're going to prioritize me ahead of someone who didn't, all things being equal...and, on occasion, make exceptions for me they might not normally do.