New crownline dealer

Long Pine · 09-01-2010, 05:00 PM

I don't mean to question gtagrip's or LIForRelaxin's experience with Melvin Village Marina but just wanted to provide another point of view. First of all, I should say that when I was shopping for a used boat, I talked to the folks at Winnisquam Marine and they were great - they just didn't have what I was looking for. I bought a used Four Winns from another dealer on the lake (not Melvin Village) but since it was originally sold and serviced by Melvin Village, they were fine with continuing to service it. Since then, I have had great experiences with them in every instance. I have not compared their prices to others on the lake so I can't comment on that but I have never felt that they were trying to inflate bills. On the contrary, their service manager has spent time on the phone with me walking me through some do-it-myself projects/maintenance on the boat that they never got paid for. I imagine that if they told me they didn't want to service the boat I bought, I might feel differently about their policy. I suppose it would feel most unfair to someone who bought their boat in another state (never having had an opportunity to buy from MV), then move to Winni and contact the only on-lake FW dealer, only to find out that they won't service their boat. Having said all that though, I feel like they do take good care of the people who buy their boats through them.

SAMIAM · 09-02-2010, 09:37 AM

Speaking of Winnisquam Marine.....They are also handling Premier deck boats......50 mph with a 22'/225hp outboard and they track like a deep vee.Definately thinking of making a change.

ishoot308 · 09-02-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Speaking of Winnisquam Marine.....They are also handling Premier deck boats......50 mph with a 22'/225hp outboard and they track like a deep vee.Definately thinking of making a change.

Saw their line of Premier tri-toons at the boat show. They are VERY nice. Probably the "plushest" (is that a word?) tri-toons I have seen!! They seem like real nice people at the show also.

Dan

winnipiseogee · 09-02-2010, 10:46 AM

Thanks for all the great info on Winnisquam. Sounds like its going to be a much better experience then I have had with Channel. I still really like my Crownline but the crappy service from Channel was getting old. I was nervous when I first heard the news but it sounds like I will be better off!

LIforrelaxin · 09-02-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Pine

I don't mean to question gtagrip's or LIForRelaxin's experience with Melvin Village Marina b

Your not questioning anything, your point of view is respected.... and I don't expect that everyone has bad experiences with Melvin Village or they would not have stayed in business for the many years they have. Unfortunately my run ins with them have not been what I would have expected. Now having said that could some of there attitude come from seeing the Winnisquam marine logo on the back of my boat, I suppose it could.... but in my mind, if they are a Four Winns dealer and I bring them a Four Winns boat it shouldn't matter where I bought it....

Dealerships make the money through service.... just like car dealers.... its not the sales that make the business work it is the service. Unfortunately I feel the service at Melvin Village is not what it should be... But plenty, such as your self have had good dealing with them... which is appearent, they are thriving, and their racks are full every winter....

Blue Thunder · 09-02-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Your not questioning anything, your point of view is respected.... and I don't expect that everyone has bad experiences with Melvin Village or they would not have stayed in business for the many years they have. Unfortunately my run ins with them have not been what I would have expected. Now having said that could some of there attitude come from seeing the Winnisquam marine logo on the back of my boat, I suppose it could.... but in my mind, if they are a Four Winns dealer and I bring them a Four Winns boat it shouldn't matter where I bought it....

Dealerships make the money through service.... just like car dealers.... its not the sales that make the business work it is the service. Unfortunately I feel the service at Melvin Village is not what it should be... But plenty, such as your self have had good dealing with them... which is appearent, they are thriving, and their racks are full every winter....

This issue over MVM and their service policies has been debated multiple times over the years here. I am an MVM customer, tried and true and I understand both sides. To state the service at MVM "is not what it should be" is just plain inaccurate. They are the only Four Winns dealer in the entire Northeast to attain a factory designated Customer Satisfaction Rating of 100%. That doesn't come easy. They are a small operation selling a lot of Four Winns boats (among others) with an oustanding service department and very low employee turnover. There's something to be said for that.

Blue Thunder

Lakepilot · 09-02-2010, 02:00 PM

Several years ago we bought a 4 winns at MVM and always experienced good service. When we went looking for a new boat, MVM didn't have what we thought we wanted at the time in the water. We went over to Winnisquam and they put the boat in the water for us to try. They were fantastic on the sales side of things. We didn't buy the boat because I didn't like the way it rode. We ended up buying a Cobalt from Thurstons but unlike most folks, our experience with service after the fact was awful. We also bought a boat from Shep Browns and the sales experience was great. The boat hasn't needed service so I'll reserve comment on that.

colt17 · 09-02-2010, 02:43 PM

East Coast Flightcraft just re open in Meredith and they look to be a Colbalt, Fountain and Malibu dealer. They also are selling 2011 Formulas.....

http://www.eastcoastflightcraft.com/index.html

AC2717 · 09-02-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colt17

East Coast Flightcraft just re open in Meredith and they look to be a Colbalt, Fountain and Malibu dealer. They also are selling 2011 Formulas.....

http://www.eastcoastflightcraft.com/index.html

I see it, but just do not plain understand it

LIforrelaxin · 09-02-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colt17

East Coast Flightcraft just re open in Meredith and they look to be a Colbalt, Fountain and Malibu dealer. They also are selling 2011 Formulas.....

http://www.eastcoastflightcraft.com/index.html

They have never been closed, they have just operated by appt. I believe.... at any rate, they have entered into some arrangement/partnership with Goodhue and Hawkins, I really haven't seen enough details to fully understand what is going on yet.... but something is happening between the two....

09-02-2010, 02:43 PM	#8
colt17 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollis NH/Laconia Posts: 132 Thanks: 62 Thanked 17 Times in 12 Posts	East Coast Flightcraft East Coast Flightcraft just re open in Meredith and they look to be a Colbalt, Fountain and Malibu dealer. They also are selling 2011 Formulas..... http://www.eastcoastflightcraft.com/index.html

09-01-2010, 05:00 PM	#1
Long Pine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 12 Posts	I don't mean to question gtagrip's or LIForRelaxin's experience with Melvin Village Marina but just wanted to provide another point of view. First of all, I should say that when I was shopping for a used boat, I talked to the folks at Winnisquam Marine and they were great - they just didn't have what I was looking for. I bought a used Four Winns from another dealer on the lake (not Melvin Village) but since it was originally sold and serviced by Melvin Village, they were fine with continuing to service it. Since then, I have had great experiences with them in every instance. I have not compared their prices to others on the lake so I can't comment on that but I have never felt that they were trying to inflate bills. On the contrary, their service manager has spent time on the phone with me walking me through some do-it-myself projects/maintenance on the boat that they never got paid for. I imagine that if they told me they didn't want to service the boat I bought, I might feel differently about their policy. I suppose it would feel most unfair to someone who bought their boat in another state (never having had an opportunity to buy from MV), then move to Winni and contact the only on-lake FW dealer, only to find out that they won't service their boat. Having said all that though, I feel like they do take good care of the people who buy their boats through them.

09-02-2010, 09:37 AM	#2
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,922 Thanks: 349 Thanked 1,693 Times in 595 Posts	Speaking of Winnisquam Marine.....They are also handling Premier deck boats......50 mph with a 22'/225hp outboard and they track like a deep vee.Definately thinking of making a change.

09-02-2010, 10:46 AM	#4
winnipiseogee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Thanks: 67 Thanked 152 Times in 79 Posts	Thanks for all the great info on Winnisquam. Sounds like its going to be a much better experience then I have had with Channel. I still really like my Crownline but the crappy service from Channel was getting old. I was nervous when I first heard the news but it sounds like I will be better off!

09-02-2010, 02:00 PM	#7
Lakepilot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 446 Thanks: 70 Thanked 57 Times in 40 Posts	Several years ago we bought a 4 winns at MVM and always experienced good service. When we went looking for a new boat, MVM didn't have what we thought we wanted at the time in the water. We went over to Winnisquam and they put the boat in the water for us to try. They were fantastic on the sales side of things. We didn't buy the boat because I didn't like the way it rode. We ended up buying a Cobalt from Thurstons but unlike most folks, our experience with service after the fact was awful. We also bought a boat from Shep Browns and the sales experience was great. The boat hasn't needed service so I'll reserve comment on that.