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Random Quote: GET THE TREBLE OUT LATE.......R, (Mates first green wahoo)
So I got the go ahead from the captain/CFO to purchase a new boat. This time we wanted to buy what we wanted rather than settle for something that we didn't like last time. This is our first coastal boating experience and so we took our time shopping all the dealers boat shows for the perfect boat.
Finally settled on a Whaler 255 Conquest as it had the most checkmarks next to our list of wants and needs. Boat was way out of my price range but dealer offered up new leftover 05 with twin 200 optis, and most all other options. Thanks to all the THTers who made me fill ok about taking two strokes and to Schmaltz~Herring and BAH for their personal experiences on the 255.
Sticker was 108000, agreed to his first offer to sell at 68000. With 8600lb trailer, Garmin 3210 (thanks Team Ruby for the electronics info) network bundle, 1kw thru hull ducer, icom 502 installed I was OTD at 75000. Left deposit on boat on May 19 as boat was at another location and they had to transfer it in. Boat came in next week on the 23rd and I inspected. Probs were: numerous gelcoat scratches, stripe nicked or missing in places, no table leg, potti cushion/cover ripped, starboard throttle gouged, center hatch wouldn't close without rubbing, windshield wiper not attached. Also it came in on wrong trailer - used 02 with balled tires and carpet falling off of bunks. Dealer promised fixes for all and to save me 1600 (credit in parts for more electronics etc..) on used trailer with new tires, bunks, and hubs serviced. Set up seatrial for 30th. Show up to seatrial on 30th and port motor has alarm going off for water in fuel. Dealer promises new sensor cured that but they have to disconnect motor from boat and reset computer, all missing/bad parts are ordered along with electronics, and fiberglass/stripes are fixed. Also says he can't give me credit as promised on trailer so will order new as promised. Will sign paperwork on 31st for rebates and take delivery on June 5th. Go to sign paperwork on 31st and realize he has ordered just the garmin 3210 and not bundle, after checking notes (and arguing) realizes mistakes and returns/reorders correct package. Arrive June 5th for captain delivery, boat on new trailer, wiper fixed, everything else still on order. Boat won't start - dead batteries. New batteries delivered to ramp. On drive we fill up livewell and notice light is gone spilling contents of livewell into bilge. Coaming bolster ripped, outriggers don't have the pins to mount them to mount. Starboard outrigger is loose and rattles like crazy, hatch still won't close right. Wife is piloting boat and at speed port motor dies. Won't re-crank for 5 minutes, turn around and head back to ramp. Motor shuts down three more times on way back. Relay all info to dealer he verifies all is on order and will check out motor. That night am reading info on trailer and rather than it being 8600lb net trailer it's 8600lb gross, trailer weighs 1200lbs leaving only 7400lb carrying capacity. Boat is 4900lbs, 500lb hardtop, 1000lbs fuel, 1000lb motors, 170lbs water/waste, etc... Tell dealer on next day and he realizes mistake, reorders trailer from trailer dealer - three weeks out. Offers to put me in his slip until trailer in. Motor part on order, electronics on backorder. Go the next week - June 14th to see dealer. Motor is fixed, all parts in and being installed, electronics on back order. Dealer goes to local place to purchase electronics and has them installed that weekend. Go to pick up boat on 21st (first payment due on 1st of July). Everything fixed except dealer says hatch needs to settle as boat moves on the water. As they're taking it to slip port motor dies again. GM of dealership says he doesn't know what to do and refunds my money no questions asked. Is this how most of these transactions go? I'm a manager of a car dealership that moves over 1200 units a year. I sell people $7000 cars that light me up because the coffee's not 10 minutes fresh and I don't have loaner cars for oil changes.
I've got over 6 weeks in this purchase, am alot further into the season than when I started and now I'm back to square one.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Miataguy
I can take it pugnacios. But, that's also the reason I put up with so much on this boat before I got to the GM to start getting stuff handled. I didn't get over the salesmans head until last week and that's when it all finally came together. Or so I thought. GM said if he had known about it sooner maybe it wouldn't have ended so badly or drug on so long. But too many people that I sell cars too seem to think I built it and I have a crystal ball to see which ones are bad and which one's aren't. That's why I gave me so much slack on all the problems. But I guess now everyone knows why it was a leftover.
Miataguy
Well it certainly sounds like you have a willing dealer though there was a bit of discoordination. To offer a full refund no questions asked is impressive in my opinion. What are you going to do?
Got a taste of your own medicine there, didn't ya, Mr. Car Salesmen? j/k
Danm dude, that was cold!
__________________ Wins 2008 1st place FLW Kingfish Series Sarasota 2007 8th place FLW Kingfish Series Mobile
Boats 2007 Black/White Hydra-Sports 2900CC - SOLD 2006 White Hydra Sports 2500CC - SOLD 2004 White Hydra-Sports 2400 Bay Bolt - Sold 1999 Monteray 296 - Sold 1994 Regal 242 - SOLD 1992 Wellcraft Excel 20 - SOLD
I think I'll go out and buy a LUHRS 41! At least he got to boat for a while. j/k
I'm going to take a breather and do some more surffishing instead. Unfortunate thing is there's not much else out there in that size/features for the same $. It's not like anyone else has the exact leftover 05 sitting around. Dealer says he'll work with me on new 07 with twin 175 verados sitting on lot and may be able to get help from Mercury or Whaler to retain me as a customer, but I'll update the thread when he makes good on the talk - that's when I really know if he wants to work for the deal.
I can't really figure boat dealers out.
I beg and borrow for every deal and every service customer in the car business. But boat dealers are too easy going on the sale and the service seems slow, especially if you dont' buy from them. So it's not like I can shop arround for another Whaler dealer.
Miataguy
Got a taste of your own medicine there, didn't ya, Mr. Car Salesmen? j/k
Danm dude, that was cold!
Yeah, Pug has been pretty frosty lately. Trying to live up to his nick, I guess. Take a look at some of his other stuff. Or on second thought, don't. (Although he did add a small "j/k".)
Sounds like a lot of little screw ups by the dealer with wrong parts/trailer etc. But, at the end he did the right thing for both you and him, cut your loses and his. The dealer can sit back now and revisit the enginge problems and/or get factory support on it and sell it again later. I think I'd actually give the guy a try again if he had another boat I wanted.
The Whaler itself doesn't sound too bad, once it was all (well, all but the hatch) fixed up. Assuming that's the case (and that the gas tanks aren't full of water or whatever) have you thought about working with that GM on that same boat but with some other power? Just a thought.
Well, my 2 cents says you were lucky to have missed out on this one. Your being in the car business should allow you to know what kind of hit you'd take on that '05 leftover even with the big discount.
Have you priced any used '05 versions to see what the "new" '05 is really costing you?
__________________
"If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?"
1974 Hatteras 58TC "Freebird", 1965 Hatteras 41DC "Nancy Cay", For Sale - Click HERE for info
The Whaler itself doesn't sound too bad, once it was all (well, all but the hatch) fixed up. Assuming that's the case (and that the gas tanks aren't full of water or whatever) have you thought about working with that GM on that same boat but with some other power? Just a thought.
Asked him to just change the motor(s), but he said they come prerigged with the motors and as such he couldn't make it worth my or his while. Plus the service dept is under the impression it's electronic as the motor is not throwing any codes, just shutting down. The boat (and his time frame to service the problem) just scares me at this point. I'm not knocking Merc or Whaler, I think I just got the luck of the draw. It can happen anytime to anyone but at least these times were close to shore and not 30 miles out. If he said it was fixed tomorrow I don't think I'd do it - it's been "fixed" three times already.
Well, my 2 cents says you were lucky to have missed out on this one. Your being in the car business should allow you to know what kind of hit you'd take on that '05 leftover even with the big discount.
Have you priced any used '05 versions to see what the "new" '05 is really costing you?
Look em up on boattrader all used ones are within $8000 of this one with less power (singles or twin 150s) and two years of warranty already gone. Based on that I thought it was a good deal. In retail sales I've learned that you can't buy for resale (cars and boats aren't investments), and a "good deal" is only a good deal when the money in one's pocket is worth less than what one is interested in purchasing.
Miataguy
Yeah, I agree you did the right thing and were more than patient with them. At least you know the dealer will probably be stand up about any future deals. If he gets the trailer straightened out and fixes all the problems it might still be a workable deal, although I think a LONG sea trial would be in order.
Unlike the cars you deal with, boats have so many different power, electronics and other options that are usually dealer installed that it is fairly common to have some bugs to work out. Can you imagine if you had to install the engines and electronics in a car or truck rather than being factory installed? I'm not saying that they shouldn't do a better job at makeing sure the boat is right before it goes out the door because they should, but I can understand why some problems happen.
Sounds like the dealer did the right thing giving you a full refund. Look at it this way....if your dealership sold a car that had as many problems as you had with the Whaler, would you have given a full refund more than 3 weeks later? Or would you have tried to keep fixing it time after time after time?
You have more patience than I do....I would have nixed the deal after the 3rd breakdown. Buying a boat can be an extremely frustration endeavor....just be sure you don't stay that way after you have bought it. IMO, the dealer saved you from exactly that.
Boat buying horror story- very long post. 
But, that's also the reason I put up with so much on this boat before I got to the GM to start getting stuff handled. I didn't get over the salesmans head until last week and that's when it all finally came together. Or so I thought. GM said if he had known about it sooner maybe it wouldn't have ended so badly or drug on so long. But too many people that I sell cars too seem to think I built it and I have a crystal ball to see which ones are bad and which one's aren't. That's why I gave me so much slack on all the problems. But I guess now everyone knows why it was a leftover.
At least he got to boat for a while. j/k 
