boat trader online dealers - The Hull Truth

ron3604 · 10-16-2008, 06:06 PM

I have been looking a lot at boat trader online and after email to a few dealers, found out a lot of the dealers don't have the new boats they are advertising. I am headed South Sat and was trying to line of some dealers of boats that I wanted to look at and they don't have what they are advertising. It's the ones mosty that don't list the price or state that the manfacture won't let them advertise that low.
That just sucks to advertise when you don't have any in stock. I could have driven out of my way if I had not found out.

yachtjim · 10-16-2008, 08:41 PM

Sounds like they are advertising new models. A boat dealer will typically put each model of the brands they carry on sites like that as they are all boats they can sell. Best to call them to see what they have actually in stock if you are looking at new. Now if the dealers are doing this on used boats then that'ss a big no-no.

boatguy711 · 10-19-2008, 06:04 PM

Why wouldmt you call first to see if the boat was in stock, available for viewing, how long the dealer had been sitting on it so you get an idea of how hungry they are, if it is behind a fence?? I wouldnt travel to look at something without knowing it was there and available to be seen!

blacktooth · 10-20-2008, 06:19 AM

If it is generic picture taken off the factory web site and placed in the ad it probably does not exist but if it is a real picture of a boat in the yard it probably does exist. Easy to figure and easy to ,make a call.

thall66 · 10-20-2008, 08:42 AM

I've called several lately too, and what I find is that the salesman don't keep up with what the pricing is. They quote you several thousand higher until you call them out on it. Hard to believe they are so busy they can't keep up with their advertised pricing.

B-Faithful · 10-20-2008, 09:14 AM

When I listed my last boat I called to get some info on the comparables for pricing purposes only to find out that they had already sold (some like a year prior). I sent the boat sales website's customer service emails asking that the old ads be removed.

I think some dealers were leaving the ads up after the boats had sold in hopes of bait and switch tactics and just generating phone calls.

mainebaker · 10-20-2008, 09:23 AM

It's not only dealers leaving up sold boats. We list our boats on 3 major sites. Those 3 major sites each have "partner sites" Those partner sites are smaller and generally more hard up for listings. When we sell a boat or change a listing we make the change on the 3 sites. That boat is still out there on as many as say 15 sites and they take forvever to catch up and update the listings. The best thing to do when buying or selling is to use a broker to cut through the crap and fake listings and find good boats that are truly for sale.