Over the past 25 years, I’ve purchased six boats and had 100% of my service done at a reputable local dealership. I just picked my boat up from the shop for it’s annual service and preventative water pump replacement. They had the boat for 5 weeks. So I go and pick it up today shell out $950 bucks. They bring the boat around from the back and it is full of wet leaves and filthy. The foot of the motor has a thick scum line around it from where they ran it in the greasy water test tank.
I’ve known all these years that I pay a premium for the boats because they are all high end boats. I know I’ve paid too much for service. I’m ok with it all because I trust the work.
Now here is my question. I would think that someone like myself who is a good and loyal customer and just paid almost a thousand dollars for an annual service would at least rate getting the boat washed down and cleaned up a little. I don’t expect a free detailing, but I dropped the boat off clean and I sort of expect it would be delivered back clean.
I’m not the type of customer who will come back and argue for good service. I’m the worst kind of customer. I might not ever show back up.
Am I too demanding? Maybe it is just the way I would treat customers if I owned a boat business. I’d most likely have a policy that any repair over say %500 bucks gets a wash down.
I don’t think that is too demanding at all. I only had a $130.00 repair charge for my boat the other day at Charleston Marine, and the guy washed it down right in front of me. Maybe he did it because my boat is only a 17 footer!
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
I would agree. I just picked my boat up from Charleston Marine, and it was just as clean or cleaner than when I dropped it off. No excuse for not even blowing the leaves out, especially after dropping that much cash…just my 2 cents.
Kevin James: You know, when you’re a fat guy you don’t need a reason to sweat. Guys come up to me and go Jeez… what have you been doing - jumping rope in the attic or something?..Umm, no… I peeled an orange about an hour ago, why?
Let them know what you think and why your leaving (if you leave). They can’t fix the problem if they don’t know. I own a business and agree with you 100%.
Cape Horn 24OS
twin 150 Optimax
I don’t want to be rich,
I just want 1 dollar more than I can spend!
As a former employee of a local dealership,I know all boats they repair are washed when the work has been completed. I think the problem lies in the amount of time the boat was at the dealership, did it take five weeks to repair, or was it repaired after one week, and not picked up due to conflicts on customers part? Not saying you a guilty of this, but I’ve seen this happen before when boats stay at dealerships for that long with no follow up from dealership or customer, as customer would just show up without a call to dealership. I know my former workplace would have gone back and made sure the boat was clean if they had known customer was coming soon to pick up this boat, either way, you owe it to yourself, and the dealership to get this resolved. Yes the boat should be clean when customer picks it up reguardless.
I’m thinking you are being resonable and if you have been a loyal customer, I would address the issue rather than leaving a good business relationship. Perhaps just an oversight. .02 worth.
GW 232GT Gulfstream
150Yam x 2
“3rd Day”
Gen. Chap.1 Vs.9-13
I’m having the same problems but I asked and had a lot more than just service done. Got it back after 5 weeks and it wasn’t right. Back in the shop to be delivered to me next Wed. Not real happy about it but it better be as clean as it was going or I’m going to bust a gasket.
Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Should it be done, yes! Does it get done all the time, no! I take my boats to two different shops depending on the mechanical issue. One is a dealer, the other is a repair shop. Regardless have picked up boats from both with greasy hand prints on the motor, scum on the foot, greasy had prints on the transom. Other times I have picked them up from the same facilities and they have been spotless. Have the same issue with my truck, have picked it up from getting an oil change many times with greasy hand prints on the fenders and hood. Too much for a shop owner to always be watching out for evidently. You are only as good as those people you hire and train.
Over the past 25 years, I’ve purchased six boats and had 100% of my service done at a reputable local dealership.
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>Any business can have a bad day or week or month. If they have been doing good business for you for 24 years and 6 months I’d probably give them a call and let them know you were disappointed and that you had EXPECTED more. If they say, you are right, it should have never happened then maybe you give them another chance. At least see if they were aware that it happened. Maybe it was suppose to be cleaned and some guy dropped the ball. Just see what they say.
Misplaced - Why did they have it for 5 weeks? Read my other post about Charleston Marine - they had mine for a day and a half and the boat was cleaner when I picked it up than it was when I left it. The dealer I use in Cola. ususally takes 2 weeks and I thought that was too long.
SeaPro 23 WA Yam 225
Key West 17’ Stealth Yam 115
High Tide 15’ Yam 50
They had it for so long b/c there was some warranty work on a bit of gelcoat. They had to take pictures and send to company. So I’m not bent about that. It took some time to get that approved but the boat builder fixed it and you can’t even tell. When the boat was ready I picked it up six days later. I was out of the country when they called.
The annual service on the motor was about $500. Labor, filters, plugs etc.
The water pump was about $300
The rest was trailer lights, trailer brake and courtesy lights repair.
Today I received a customer satisfaction survey. I’ll be honest and give them another chance to show me they deserve my next boat purchase.
Thanks to all for your ■■■■■■■■.
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
Had some minor repairs done at a local repair shop recently and the transom area was full of greasy footprints that required lots of scrubbing. Some naptha and a rag would have probably cleaned it up when it was fresh. It didn’t make me too happy. If I should take my boat back to them, I willlet them know my expectations about the boat’s returned condition in advance.
Been awhile since I’ve owned an OB boat, but the last time I had it serviced it(in Gtown)cost me 300 bucks for both engines–new filters, plugs, all labor.
500.00 sounds high…especially if you don’t run twins. Having them return a dirty boat would only add to my ire.
Tell them about it, and see what the response is. If they shrug their shoulders and say that’s just the way it is, then take your business elsewhere.
“Never argue with an idiot…he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.”
Back when I used to wrench on cars anytime I did a major engine/transmission repair or replace I always would take the car and wash it and vacuum it out before it got back to the customer. Maybe thats why the shop I worked at was always slammed? Why did it take so long to have that done? Is there a lack of qualified guys here to do that work?