new user with dealer question

[themis]

Hi all,

I am a new forum member, getting my first boat. I live in Toms River, NJ and just bought a boat two months ago from a local dealer. I would like to ask a question of you please.... The dealer I bought from has turned over management several times in the past 2 years. In addition The salesman tht I originally looked at the bot through was not the same salesman from whom I bought (he got fired). The salesman who I bought the boat through (not yet delivered) is recently fired as well. SHould I be concerned? Is my deposit safe etc? Is there any way I can be sure my boat was ever ordered?

[iron banks]

I would ask to speak to the owner of the dealership and get assurances from him. Got to raise some red flags when there is the quick of turnover at one place. The boating business can be volatile thats why it pays to shop around and not always go with the cheapest in the area.

[ABoater]

themis,

Welcome to the site! I am sure that you will find it a very useful way to spend your off-the-water time. I sure have.

Iron Banks is right. Get with the owner and introduce yourself to him and let him know of your concerns. I am sure that he will be glad to explain the situation to you. There are a lot of good people in the boat business. And a lot of flakes. Hopefully he was just trying to get rid of the "bad apples".

I dealt with a similar situation a while back on a purchase of a 34' cruiser. While I was doing my research, salesman #1 disappeared. I was then introduced to #2. While working out the numbers and checking with my bank, I was told that #2 was no longer there. The "sales manager" then stepped in to help me out. A deposit was left and the order for the boat was placed. ETA was about two months. A month later I called to check on the status and was told that the "sales mgr" no longer worked there. I made an appt to see the owner. The owner looked into the file and found out that my boat was never even ordered. He apologized and said that he would handle the deal himself for the duration. The boat was finally delivered three months later (total 4 months). The owner was "out of town" on vacation, and the new sales mgr delivered the boat to me. I was a little upset that the owner didn't even bother to call and let me know about me being handed off again, but I wanted the new boat. After tracking down the owner, the sales mgr threw in about a thousand dollars worth of stuff to make me feel better.

I later found out that salesguy #1 was a drug addict, #2 was an alcoholic and the "sales mgr" took off to avoid his paycheck from being taken by his x-wife. This all happened at a dealer that is suppose to be one of the area's largest and best in customer satisfaction.

Best of luck with the new boat.