Crazy times!

[dogbert]

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.

This is what I was referring to, tall.

[Original Wing Nut]

My opinion is service is where you win loyalty, not the purchase. I have been involved in boating my whole life, whether my boat or my parents. We as a family have bought different brands over the years, (we currently have three different brands, my brother bought another brand wake boat because the service on Tigé locally was horrific) we always end up at the same place (Fred's) for service on items that are not covered by warranty. Warranty items are covered by the manufacturer, so we have them done by the brand selling dealer. If anyone of these dealers (five different ones) over the years had been as professional and actually offered the service that Fred's has they might have a shot at getting more business from us. We continually recommend our service guy to all other boat owners we come in contact with. He seems to do the majority of his business as service, he does sell boats, but his emphasis is service. He has been around as long as I can remember and has others that feel the same as I do. So I guess my question is what comes first the service or the brand loyalty?J Walk this question is for you especially as I am in your region and bought from the previous dealer. I am also buying a new boat in 2010 before my son gets home from Italy.

[lightning59]

Our local ski shop carrying tige's sold out and the new owner dropped tige and kept Malibu which he already had. I am all about price now..........my boat was used and out of warranty anyway.

[illiniboarder88]

I don't want to sound hostile towards dealers because I feel for anyone right now struggling in this economy. That being said, dealers were able to take advantage of the internet during a few good years to move their boats at good prices. There was a market that didn't used to exist for boats that weren't selling off their lots. I heard more than one dealer say, "I won't be offering it at this price for long because if it doesn't sell quick I'll just put it on the internet and it will be gone immediately." Unfortunately, there is now a lot of inventory available on the internet, and prices have fallen accordingly. The other problem is that some dealers "cheat." They undercut what they are supposed to be selling their boats at and out of territory, and the dealers playing by the rules get screwed. It's simple "game theory," and it happens anywhere there is an incentive to cheat. it's kind of like OPEC and their oil quotas. Eventually, things will turn around, I just hope a lot of these places can weather the storm.

[talltigeguy]

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.

Dog,

I think we are talking about the same thing.

Sparky's experience proves that his local Mercedes dealer is great, not just good, since they took excellent care of him even though he didn't buy the car there. Now he will buy his next car there.

Dogbert's experience does not prove his dealer is more than average. You bought the boat there and they are supposed to work you in at busy times. Even an average dealer should do that for you. Dog, if they put you in at a busy time ahead of others, who got put on the back burner? The answer is the guy with the I/O with the busted fender I referred to above. The local Supreme dealer takes care of those who bought from him first, then works on others when he gets around to it. That makes them average, not excellent IMHO.

If JWalk and Wasatch Marine are in the top tier, I could buy a new 2009 Tige elsewhere and he would still take good care of me. That would be extraordinary. I wouldn't put him in that position, but most people would give a guy the 'slow' treatment if they did that, even probably Dogbert's dealer.

[Paublo]

Interesting post by JWALK, a dealer, who has sold out of territory in their relatively short life as a Tige dealer.

[illiniboarder88]

Just a question, but where do "used boats" fall in the category of servicing? Do we fall behind one bought from the dealer but ahead of one bought out of territory? Or, are we in the bottom-feeder category?

[lightning59]

illini, you are the guy that bought a great boat and did the rehab yourself, didn't have to una$$ a pile of money. With tige owners, it's like having a service department at our disposal and the price is " very affordable ".

[illiniboarder88]

I think i'm confused. I'm not complaining. I just wondered where dealers see used boat buyers? I'm just playing along with the assumptions raised above. Assuming a dealer gives preferential treatment to people who buy boats from them (completely understandable); then assuming people who buy new boat elsewhere bet pushed to back burner; where does that leave the used boat buyer from the private market? Just curious.

[JWALK]

My opinion is service is where you win loyalty, not the purchase. I have been involved in boating my whole life, whether my boat or my parents. We as a family have bought different brands over the years, (we currently have three different brands, my brother bought another brand wake boat because the service on Tigé locally was horrific) we always end up at the same place (Fred's) for service on items that are not covered by warranty. Warranty items are covered by the manufacturer, so we have them done by the brand selling dealer. If anyone of these dealers (five different ones) over the years had been as professional and actually offered the service that Fred's has they might have a shot at getting more business from us. We continually recommend our service guy to all other boat owners we come in contact with. He seems to do the majority of his business as service, he does sell boats, but his emphasis is service. He has been around as long as I can remember and has others that feel the same as I do. So I guess my question is what comes first the service or the brand loyalty?J Walk this question is for you especially as I am in your region and bought from the previous dealer. I am also buying a new boat in 2010 before my son gets home from Italy.

WING NUT,
I think a big part of my current issues have been Tige oriented BECAUSE of the previous dealer you mentioned. I do not have this issue with my other brands (Regal and Cruisers Yachts) right now because we have had them for a long time and have established ourselves as very good service guys to our customers and have also created an understanding among my fellow (brands) dealers. I would never say we are perfect by any means but I believe 100% that we are Utah's best servicing dealer. That said, sales are everything to our bottom line (and most, if not all of the other dealers) but we know that service is the only way to keep our customers and gain new customers. I would guess you are in N. SLC area if you use Freds (who I agree is great in service). I hope you know we offer at home pick ups for your boat if you need anything done to your boat (we don't want Freds turning you into an Epic guy).

Anyways, I don't type well enough to explain all my thoughts on this issue but I am a sales guy so I can put up a pretty good defense verbally on why to stay in your buying area to purchase your boat. My first response is that selling/servicing boats is nothing like selling or servicing DVD's or cars for that matter.

So all you Utahn's should test me out on that one and make a pack to stay in Utah to buy and I will keep my end of the deal and treat you like a "BOAT KING or QUEEN".

[JWALK]

Interesting post by JWALK, a dealer, who has sold out of territory in their relatively short life as a Tige dealer.

Paublo you caught me! I am not saying that there aren't ever going to be times when I ask a dealer and get permission to sale into other area's. Charlie knows he is more than welcome to call me anytime a circumstance calls for it, same for any dealer out there. I definatly don't want to be THE dealer causing any strife among you the buyers either. Buyers, especially with Tige seem to have more freedom to buy out of area then with most manufacturers, Tige (the company) has sold into my area this year as well but we got together afterwords and made things right. It is what it is, I just thought I would like to see what the buyers thought and it has been pretty cool to see your thoughts so far.

I will be boating in your area this week, come see me out at Lake Pleasant!

[yllw20]

I have always given the dealer I am used to dealing w/the chance to earn my business w/auto's. I would find my truck i wanted on line and then contact and nego price prior to ever going into the dealership...lets face it I am not going to sit there all day and play the game. I am up front in stating this is what i want and this is what I can get it for. I dont need it as I have another that I got there in. I find my own financing first and advise if they can beat my rate I have I would use there company (for those who dont know dealers mark up rates on finance and take a little for themselves) and then goes to who wants to make the best sale to me.
As for the out of territory warranty thing I think is is rediculous. Service is the key no matter who I bought from I dont think there is a time I have ever been to a dealer for any type of service or warranty and not looked at the new boats/autos there and considered what I might purchase next...After a poor experiance at my local tige dealer I learned how to do my own maintenance.

[talltigeguy]

. That said, sales are everything to our bottom line (and most, if not all of the other dealers) but we know that service is the only way to keep our customers and gain new customers.

That explains a lot about the boating industry in general.

[eks]

WING NUT,
I think a big part of my current issues have been Tige oriented BECAUSE of the previous dealer you mentioned. I do not have this issue with my other brands (Regal and Cruisers Yachts) right now because we have had them for a long time and have established ourselves as very good service guys to our customers and have also created an understanding among my fellow (brands) dealers. I would never say we are perfect by any means but I believe 100% that we are Utah's best servicing dealer. That said, sales are everything to our bottom line (and most, if not all of the other dealers) but we know that service is the only way to keep our customers and gain new customers. I would guess you are in N. SLC area if you use Freds (who I agree is great in service). I hope you know we offer at home pick ups for your boat if you need anything done to your boat (we don't want Freds turning you into an Epic guy).

Anyways, I don't type well enough to explain all my thoughts on this issue but I am a sales guy so I can put up a pretty good defense verbally on why to stay in your buying area to purchase your boat. My first response is that selling/servicing boats is nothing like selling or servicing DVD's or cars for that matter.

So all you Utahn's should test me out on that one and make a pack to stay in Utah to buy and I will keep my end of the deal and treat you like a "BOAT KING or QUEEN".

I have switch from using the older dealer to Wasatch marines, I can say from personal experience that Wasatch Marine service is way better than the older dealer. Last time my boat was there they even did a detail cleaning for free!!

[illiniboarder88]

Jwalk, what is your opinion on the internet marketplace for boats? I'm just curious. Also, what do you think of the concept of dealers forging strategic alliances with sites like boattrader, onlyinboards, boats.com, etc.? I mean, it seems that in general, business owners know their own business and their own industry quite well, but they need to hire professionals with specialized knowledge to do certain tasks (ie. accountants for taxes, lawyers for legal, etc.). I'm not in sales, but I'd have to believe internet sales are a completely different animal than are bricks and mortar sales. As such, I'd think some of the people who make their living doing online sales could help the guy who traditionally does bricks and mortar sales move inventory online. I would also think they could help you reach more potential buyers. Maybe I'm wrong. I'd just love to hear a dealer's thoughts on that.