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Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
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Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
I have been looking and upgrading to a bigger boat.
Some of the SAME (not model and make, but the actual same boat) boats that I talked to a dealer about two months ago ($120,000) are now being sold at ($99,000) and "just make an offer please!!" from REPO men.
I know it's hard times and I'm not making light of dealers going out of business, but all you have to do is wait and you save ten of thousands monthly....
RE: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
I'm selling boats at invoice right now and I'm sure there are many others willing to do the same. It's pretty sad that it's coming down to this. I'm sure the REPO man and the LIQUIDATORS offer great after-the-sale service. Threads like this remind me of why our industry is going down the toilet.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
if you're talking repo at that price range, i'll guess these are relatively new boats with potential warranty coverage still in place. as judd pointed out, who do you feel will better provide any warranty service needs? also, i would think that buying a reputable brand from a reputable dealer will avoid any discussions about whether something is or is not covered by warranty. (have you seen the commercial for "operation repo" where the guy is beating the living $hi+ out of his suv with a baseball bat as the repo guy is trying to haul it away?) if you do go to the repo man, i would get the best surveyor money can buy. (fyi, i'm not a dealer or anything like that)
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
There are a few good dealers and there are LOTS of bad dealers. Given the level of "service" I have seen from dealers I have purchased from over the years I would much prefer to take $10K (maybe more) off a $100K boat and use that $10K as my own little self-insured slush fund. I do not want this thread to turn into a flame but let's face it, buyers want to pay as little as possible for as much as possible and sellers want as much as possible for as little as possible. We can wax eloquent about things like morals, values, service, love, relationships and the like but the simple fact of the matter is that you are bascially buying a thing (a boat) and not a relationship. To the extent that some beolieve, and in some cases it's actually true, that you are paying for the thing and then paying extra (sometimes lots extra) for the relationship - how much value is there to "the relationship." I spent $90K for a new/left-over boat from a long time dealer and well within warranty period the compass stopped working - actually the compass' float stopped floating. I call the dealer and he says I gave up that line of boats (Hydra-Sports) - call them! So the next time some dealer cries about factory direct horrors and cheap consumers looking for bargains, just think of my forty dollar compass and the level of service I got - good think a $400 item didn't break. Sorry for the rant but after thirty some odd years of boating I can tell you that most dealers aren't so good once they got your money. It would be nice a simple - very clean deal, actually, for the price to be very steeply discounted and the consumer told straight-up, "Don't call me after the sale - call the manufacturer or the maker of the component that broke and deal with it on your own." If the discount is steep enough it makes sense; after all, I trust myself and cold hard cash in the bank more than I trust some pinky ring and Rolex festooned professional BS-er who was selling cars two years ago and will be in the restaurant supply bisiness next year.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Quote:
Captain Nimrod - 2/1/2009 8:21 AM
There are a few good dealers and there are LOTS of bad dealers. Given the level of "service" I have seen from dealers I have purchased from over the years I would much prefer to take $10K (maybe more) off a $100K boat and use that $10K as my own little self-insured slush fund. I do not want this thread to turn into a flame but let's face it, *buyers want to pay as little as possible for as much as possible and sellers want as much as possible for as little as possible. We can wax eloquent about things like morals, values, service, love, relationships and the like but the simple fact of the matter is that you are bascially buying a thing (a boat) and not a relationship. To the extent that some beolieve, and in some cases it's actually true, that you are paying for the thing and then paying extra (sometimes lots extra) for the relationship - how much value is there to "the relationship."* I spent $90K for a new/left-over boat from a long time dealer and well within warranty period the compass stopped working - actually the compass' float stopped floating. I call the dealer and he says I gave up that line of boats (Hydra-Sports) - call them!* So the next time some dealer cries about factory direct horrors and cheap consumers looking for bargains, just think of my forty dollar compass and the level of service I got - good think a $400 item didn't break. Sorry for the rant but after thirty some odd years of boating I can tell you that most dealers aren't so good once they got your money. It would be nice a simple - very clean deal, actually, for the price to be very steeply discounted and the consumer told straight-up, "Don't call me after the sale - call the manufacturer or the maker of the component that broke and deal with it on your own." If the discount is steep enough it makes sense; after all, I trust myself and cold hard cash in the bank more than I trust some pinky ring and Rolex festooned professional BS-er who was selling cars two years ago and will be in the restaurant supply bisiness next year.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Quote:
thomas70 - 1/31/2009 11:37 AM
Buy from your dealer, you will miss them when they are gone.
I sure as hell will IF I bought a boat from them.
This guilt trip stuff is just ridiculous. Things go up and things go down. The ones that either played their cards right, or are lucky enough to still have decent income should and will take advantage of their fortune. Holding them responsible for the state of the market is silly.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
There definitley are great and bad boat dealers just like every other industry. A great dealer that will take care of you as soon as possible with you problem if you bought your boat from them is $$ Priceless$$ ...as to me, time stuck out of the water is the worst thing in the world. It sounds like you should do your research and just find a good dealer..nimrod.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
You can show your love for the local dealer today to the tune of $10,000 plus on a purchase rather than repo. If things continue he may very well be out of business by the time you need some warranty work done this summer. You pay your money and take your chances.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Great dealers will take care of your warranty or service despite from whom you purchase your boat. Dealers need for repos to go away asap so that they can get back to a more normal business atmosphere. Nonetheless, service brings in good dollars as well. If a dealer refuses warranty or service on a boat you buy elsewhere, he is just shooting himself in the foot. Many dealers are out buying repos themselves in lieu of new boats from the factories; or buying brokered boats from distressed buyers or banks. That same dealer can then offer the buying public a more competitive boat buying situaton.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Quote:
Captain Nimrod - 2/1/2009 5:21 AM
There are a few good dealers and there are LOTS of bad dealers.
God I hope that it is the other way around. I suspect that it is the few bad dealers that we hear all the fuss about and they are just tarnishing the good names of the many good dealers.
Is a less than good dealer better than no dealer at all?
There are a lot of people who simply can't, or maybe won't, do their own maintenance. They gotta have dealers. Then what about those that need a $5000 warranty repair job? I could do it myself but for $5000 I will force myself to use a dealer if it comes to that.
Now if all dealers were like SIM we would not even be having this discussion. Maybe his being so good makes the lesser good (how about that syntax) dealers look worse than they really are.
Where ya gonna get your Yamalube and other Yam goodies?
RE: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Quote:
Judd - 1/31/2009 11:33 AMI'm selling boats at invoice right now and I'm sure there are many others willing to do the same. It's pretty sad that it's coming down to this. I'm sure the REPO man and the LIQUIDATORS offer great after-the-sale service. Threads like this remind me of why our industry is going down the toilet.
This type of attitude REALLY irks me. I got the exact same response from Leith Toyota in Raleigh, NC when I asked them to match (or beat) an Internet price I had from a high volume Toyota dealership in Maryland. The Leith sales manager rudely said no then added "good luck getting it serviced or warranty work done in Raleigh."
Funny thing is we've had the vehicle for 2 yrs now and have never had any trouble getting service or warranty work done in Raleigh.
We even get discount service coupons from Leith Toyota.
My point is, buy by price or what's the best deal in these tough economic times. We the consumer owe boat dealers and car dealers NOTHING!!! During good economic times dealers have huge markups or "market adjustments." Now during the bad times boat and car dealerships are giving Americans guilt trips for not spending our money or by not buying a vehicle from one of the Big 3. Screw em. In these tough economic times you should shop by price and bargain down EVERYTHING except Girl Scout cookies.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Packfan..I wonder if those local Toyota folks are checking where every car is purchased and picking and choosing whose they work on?? I doubt it. They'll take your money as fast you care to spend it.
As stated above, a good dealer doesn't care where I bought my boat. He'll work on it and happily take my money. I haven't had one NOT take my money, that's for sure.
And what hapens if I move cross country? My 'new' local dealer won't work on it, so I'll have to haul it back to where I bought it 1000 miles away to get any warranty work done??
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
^Exactly...I've never had anyone turn down my money...
__________________ "Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore shall we see you again." -Capt. Quint
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Quote:
Deep Water - 2/1/2009 7:20 AM There definitley are great and bad boat dealers just like every other industry. A great dealer that will take care of you as soon as possible with you problem if you bought your boat from them is $$ Priceless$$ ...as to me, time stuck out of the water is the worst thing in the world. It sounds like you should do your research and just find a good dealer..nimrod.
If you are stuck out of the water there are plenty of marine service companies out there that do very good work. The marina very near my house has a very nice staff that does good work - and appreciates its customers. They take real good care of their good customers and throw a very nice party as "customer appreciation-fest."They are also a Yamaha Warranty Service Center. The world of boating doesn't begin and end at the dealership. In fact, I've gotten much better service, not to mention better prices from non-dealers.
As for research, I didn't do a background check but they had the boat I wanted (exact boat, in fact) at a priceI liked - they set the firm price, not I. They have been in business forever, I mean like probably since pre-fiberglass. But the truth of the matter is that dealers sell boats, they sell 'em by the pound and probably don't care what name is on the sides of the hulls or the backs of the engines.Their service departmentsare not there "for you" - it's simply another profit center for them. I do not begrudge them making a profit but the point is that if I am not going to get good after-sale care, then I rather have a steep discount and no false expectations after the sale. Don't charge me lots extra for a "relationship" that I do not want and probably won't be as touted in any event.
I just think that things are much simplier, and more forthright, when the price is very steeply discounted and you are told right up front, "Don't call me after the sale, call the manufacturer. If a component part fails - call that manufacturer. If you have a problem with the engine, go somewhere that has the same name on their sign as what is on your engine cover - just don't call me!" If that's the deal, the price reflects it and it's disclosed fully - I say way to go! I'll keep all the money that supposedly goes to all this "value added" nonsense that nobody can really define and they can change their phone number for all I care once I take delivery.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
I believe that comparing cars warranties to boat warranties is not an apples to apples comparison. Car dealers actually make money servicing cars and are glad to have you stop in for an easily claimed car warranty repairs. I've bought my last several cars out of town for different reasons and never had to slightest feeling that the local dealership didn't want my warranty repair business. I've have heard many stories of boat manufacturers disputing warranty claims and it taking weeks to get approval to go forward with any but the simplest of repairs. With a car, the approval is almost instant and clear cut. Boats are not assembly line products and can't be treated as one on the repair end.
Re: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
^I don't dispute that. In these days of INTERNET forums and instantaneous reporting of customer feedback. Boat manufacturers (and Auto manufacturers) the repeated pi$$ customers off will cease to exist.
Case-in-point...Circuit City.
__________________ "Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore shall we see you again." -Capt. Quint
RE: Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later?
Quote:
packfan - 2/1/2009 6:28 PM
Quote:
Judd - 1/31/2009 11:33 AMI'm selling boats at invoice right now and I'm sure there are many others willing to do the same. It's pretty sad that it's coming down to this. I'm sure the REPO man and the LIQUIDATORS offer great after-the-sale service. Threads like this remind me of why our industry is going down the toilet.
This type of attitude REALLY irks me.* I got the exact same response from Leith Toyota in Raleigh, NC when I asked them to match (or beat) an Internet price I had from a high volume Toyota dealership in Maryland.* The Leith sales manager rudely said no then added "good luck getting it serviced or warranty work done in Raleigh."
Funny thing is we've had the vehicle for 2 yrs now and have never had any trouble getting service or warranty work done in Raleigh.
We even get discount service coupons from Leith Toyota.
My point is, buy by price or what's the best deal in these tough economic times.* We the consumer owe boat dealers and car dealers NOTHING!!!* During good economic times dealers have huge markups or "market adjustments."* Now during the bad times boat and car dealerships are giving Americans guilt trips for not spending our money or by not buying a vehicle from one of the Big 3.* Screw em.* In these tough economic times you should shop by price and bargain down EVERYTHING except Girl Scout cookies. *
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Irks you?..sorry to ruffle your feathers brother! "Irk" isn't even close to what I'm feeling right now. To be beaten to death in business due to circumstances that have absolutely nothing to do with me or my business ethics is pretty damn discouraging. I recently offered a boat at invoice to a customer and his response was (and I quote this from a few weeks ago) "I'll just wait 'till you guys are about to go out of business and come back and steal one from you". That's enough to put most people over the edge right now. But, you know what...I smiled at the guy and said "I can respect that" when I actually wanted to choke slam him to the ground.
And come on with the Toyota garbage...as everyone knows (except you obviously), there's no comparison whatsoever to the automotive industry when it comes to marine warranties and service. Have you ever owned a boat?
Buy from a dealer now, or buy from the bank and save$$$$ later? 
