Boat Dealership OK to buy from?

[Dan]

I put a downpayment on a motor at the Green Bay boat show last weekend and now today I found out that the dealer may not be on the level. Does anyone have any good/bad to say about American Marine in Shawano?

[Dan]

I put a downpayment on a motor at the Green Bay boat show last weekend and now today I found out that the dealer may not be on the level. Does anyone have any good/bad to say about American Marine in Shawano?

[Walizz 1]

I haven't heard anything GOOD about them.

[Jay]

I looked there when I was in the market two years ago. It was a high pressure operation. The salesman tried talking me into a different boat than I wanted, then a different outboard. Once I got a price on what I wanted it didn't include things like a starting battery and tie-downs.

[hooky]

Just had a friend of mine buy a Tournament Pro Alumacraft from these guys and I told him to be careful. He straightened everything out and explained to them about their reputation and they said don't worry. Well three weeks later, he still does not have his boat, after promising him that he could pick it up two weeks ago. They deal in volume and promises are made that are not honored. I hope Manny reads this!! I'll keep you informed on how this boat is rigged after we watertest it, if he does not get his money back before then.

[sevenmmm]

The saying used to be: The two best days of a boat owner's life is the day he buys a boat, then the day he sells it.

Now: The two best days are deciding to avoid the hassel of owning a boat and then spends his (alot less) money on a guided trip!

[no problem]

no problem just take along a lawyer buddy for the whole process,selection,contract,delivery.---WHOOPS---you might not own a boat.

[Manny]

Hooky, give me a call at the store so I can look into why he hasn't picked up his boat. If there's one thing I've found it is that there are three sides to every story, his, hers, and the truth. Was it in stock, was the motor in stock, are parts on back order, did the customer change something that had to be ordered, did that company tell us that we would have the part in two days two weeks ago? I have a customer that called to scream about not getting his boat and that he has been waiting forever. After getting names and times I found out that the order was changed to a breakaway tongue which has been ordered and we are also waiting for a motor with a 25" shaft and to be honest with you we were told by the motor company we would have the motor over a week ago. We don't build motors and boats but we do get false promises by the companies that do, but customers don't care so I guess thats why the dealers are always the bad guys. I hear it from "EVERY" dealer that I have sat with at meetings. Being a volume dealer of our size, the harder it is to keep up but we are trying. I wish people that are happy would take as much time as those that are not on this site. The people that are unhappy are a small fraction of our sales but when you are one of the largest dealers in the state, the fraction gets alot of attention. I tell all of our salesman that they are one referal from doubling thier sales for the year but posts like this will hurt them. We increase every year so I guess we must be making someone happy.

[perchjerker]

Manny-

Just so you know, I left this thread up in order to give you a chance to respond. I would have emailed you but couldnt since you arent registered.

Just wanted to be clear

thanks

[Another Dealer]

What Manny says is all true. The manufacturers (especially outboards and electronics) time and again make dealers look bad with surprise shortages and back order scenarios. The boat companies can make it miserable, too. The worst is when pre-sold boats are shipped to the dealers with parts missing due to supplier shortages. How can you give a guy his new boat when things like seats and canvas are missing?
There are monumental coordination problems when dealing with a boat company, a motor company, a trailer company, and several different accessory companies.
Manny used the example of a swing tongue. When a trailer is ordered the dealer is looking at 4 to 6 weeks delivery time on that trailer. If a change to a swing tongue is needed, that means a couple more weeks of waiting for the swing tongue, plus the time involved to do the labor to make the change.
High tek fish boats are a compilation of parts and pieces from a managery of manufacturers and mutiple shipping companies.
Only another dealer would ever understand what kind of gymnastics,bad surprises, blood, sweat, hassles, broken promises, and just plain hard work a dealer goes through to get a customer and his new package out on the water.
Have you ever noticed how a few odd auto dealers attempted to be boat dealers and gave up after a year or two? A few still hang on and develop, but most bailed out after they found the fishboat business to be in a constant state of disarray and chaos.
If it was easy money, everybody would be doing it.

[Gander Mt Guide]

I bought my TP175 from them and it was a pain in the keester to get them to fullfill my agreement. Seems like thier quote "forgot" to have rigging expenses and a motor "destination charge" added in , something I caught before signing my life away....YOU HAVE TO WATCH THESE GUYS!

[Manny]

#1 Perchjerker, I'm going to try to come to the Walleye Central get together this fall with Jerry and Larry from Triton, they said it was a blast last year. I'm computer stupid so I'll get with you on getting registered. #2 Another dealer, "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!" I feel your pain. #3 Gander Mt. guide, let's see. You had a contract and when you got here they charged you more than what was agreed upon. We are human and we have made mistakes, some of our boats come with trailers some don't. In the heat of the battle with 8 to 10 salesman working deals and trying to deal with all of their individual personality's, things get missed. You did still purchase the boat so something must have worked out for you. My partner ordered a trailer for his Ranger and put a deposite on a credit card. The dealer called back and told him they figured the trailer $1000.00 to low. He said "I have a contract" and the dealer said thats fine if you don't mind waiting till fall for your trailer. Wendy at Pamps in Greenbay felt that he got screwed, went over cost and asked "HIM" what was fair. They came to a reasonable agreement and he got the trailer from her, he will send every Ranger guy he knows to her. I would like to hear your story. Manny

[ExcusesAreLike]

Manny,

So because you have 8-12 guys with different personalities, you cannot offer accurate quotes?? Please clarify.

[Timmmaay]

Manny,

I heard on another thread that Lake Assault boats are the next big thing. Have you sold lots of them, or do you plan to carry them?

[Manny]

Excuses are like, What part did you miss. I said I have made a mistake before. Are you going to try to get this thread all fired up because I was honest. Thats pretty sad, would you rather hear bull**** so you can slam that. In fact please give the address where you buy your boats so I know where these incredible marine beings are that have never made a mistake.Manny

[Manny]

Timmmaay, I've heard the name but have never seen the boats and don't know much about them. I'm still trying to work in more of Triton the aluminum line. We have four lines of aluminum now and running out of room.Manny

[sevenmmm]

Yeah Manny, it's easy to use "we are human and have made mistakes" as a convienent excuse.

Obviously you are not aware that most people have to 'reach' in being able to afford these boats and get hurt easily with these 'mistakes' boat sellers seem to make - way to often.

Just whatever happened to an honest deal and treating your customers like the gold they are?

And just to add something as a 'teacher'. There is alot of fancy moves that dealers of all stripes use to enhance their profits. Many of these are boat dealers and the many complaints we have all read on message boards over the years are an indication it really happens.

Manny, are you apologizing for these crooked dealers? Your attempt to humanize your business is swell, but my idea is it is far better to distance yourself from these losers and work on giving the best customer service you can - NO EXCUSES.

[Where]

What thread?

[Timmmaay]

Here it is...
http://www.walleyecentral.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=6&topic_id=158048&mesg_id=158048&page=

It looks like one guy owns one and likes it.

[jpk]

Your story reminds me of when I stopped at Crystal-Pierz marine in Fargo. They sell both Merc and Yamaha. I told them I wanted a Merc 115 4 stroke. The salesman talked only about Yamaha. I didn't ask for his suggestion, I told him what I wanted and he didn't care to listen. I bought elsewhere.

[Manny]

Rick, after reading some of the stuff you have written on here I'm sure "everyone" will agree with your opinion. Maybe we should just sell it since you put it this way. What would "YOU" like to hear to make you happy? Don't even pay to agree with people. I don't need you to tell tell me about how important customers are. As far as things people have to say I think your the last one they want to lead the parade even if they did agree with you.Manny

[sevenmmm]

I will never EVER lead the parade that makes excuse for crooked deals. And I will always choose the path of honesty and fairness. Like it or not...

[Smitty]

I think I can say most here have not heard me slam much of anything.
That said, and I've never dealt with your dealership, the responses you're typing (whether true or not) are not consistent with anything I've been taught in working 22 years in customer service. You're right in that all people make mistakes, but your responses come off as arrogant and "it's not my fault"..

Just my $.05 worth(inflation), but you may want to rethink your responses..

[Manny]

#1 I'm far from arrogant. #2 How could admitting your mistakes be taken as saying it's not my fault, totally backwards. Don't matter, this is not worth it anymore. Have fun & slam away.Manny

[Smitty]

Manny, I'm not slamming at all. I'm simply saying that the responses came off as "I'm sorry but..........."..

Again, I know it's never as clear cut as some make it out and sometimes you just have to eat crow (or something worse).. I'm doing nothing more than saying some of your answers came off as "it's not my fault". Whether that's true or not, I've learned that it's better just to take your lumps.

Sorry if you took my post otherwise.

[sevenmmm]

It's interesting how many businessmen have this idea that complaints coming from their customers are worthless, and not consider them as legitimate and try to solve the problem. Maybe they are afraid to be taken advantage of, but otherwise, it's beyond me to understand (well, some have called me an idiot so maybe thats why it's so hard for me:-)).

But anyway, I'll relate a story one of my retail customers told me just yesterday. He sells used tires to the public. And one guy came in with his wife's car with a flat tire in the trunk, that was purchased at his (my customer's) tire shop. My customer told me it was very obvious the tire had run a curb as the whole of the sidewall was badly scuffed.

But the guy was adamant this tire was faulty before it was sold to his wife and demanded to have it replaced.

Now stop right here for a moment. How many businessmen would come off on this customer and throw him out of the building accusing him of the liar he is? Sadly, it is most of them.

But this is not what my customer did. He went ahead and replaced the tire free of charge and apologized to this customer.

Well guess what happened next. This customer came back the next day with his pickup and bought four new tires, then came with his daughter's car and bought four new tires for it too.

So that's the lesson that most businessmen never seem to learn. If they allow for having that one odd customer take advantage in an effort to take care of all the legitimate complaints, even that one bad deal may come back to bless him.

Many (Manny) need(s) to learn this but I don't think they(he) want(s) to - specially from a lowly tire jockey as myself :-).

[old fisherman]

Why is it that a good dealer can get it right, as ordered and some dealers have nothing but excuses. I'd like to buy my boat from a dealer that will get it right the first time and send me on my way as a happy satisfied customer. They are out there boys. Just remember you get what you pay for.

[Peanut Butter]

The boat dealers,most of 'em they don't know nothin about customers, just ask the Ex Pert folks. Peeps just getting ripped all over the place. Stupid, slow, uneducateds just lookin' like sheeps instead of peeps wanderin' in the dealer ship with a big old checkbook balance.They was grocery shoppin, and got last, that's what it is.

Mistakes are made, it's the fixin' that counts. Customer's always right, 'cept when theyre plain off the map nutty. Hard job, being a retail store guy. Know what shows the real success? Being there, year after year after year, still in biz....

Manny, next time a feller is unhappy about his trailer winch or motor shipper date, jest give him a free trailer or motor, and say yer sorry as heck. His brother and mother will come right in, plop down a check, and buy a new Lumercraft. Sure as heck, they will.

One of the fellers here must have bought'n a pile of stuff from ya, seein' as he feels the need to school ya. Just keep on keepin on, dude.

[sevenmmm]

There it is folks. Peanut Butter all over his face.