Impression of Lakes Region Dealers

Nauset · 09-06-2007, 11:30 AM

We purchased a 6 year old brokerage boat from Silver Sands Marina last year. The whole experience was very positive with no pressure or BS. We looked the boat over on two separate occasions and asked lots of questions. They contacted the owner on our request and got copies of all the maintenance records for us to keep. Even though they where just the broker we were treated as if we were buying a new one out of their inventory. We worked with Barry there and he returned every phone call and answered every email. The other staff there was helpful and friendly as well providing assistance with paperwork, registration and insurance. Aaron patiently facilitated the test drive and also took us out for another shake down on the day of delivery to get us familiar with all the boat's systems per the company policy. We even had a problem with our dock on the day we picked up the boat and we called Barry and asked if we could keep the boat there for the week while work was done to the dock. We brought the boat back and they put it in the racks for the week and did not charge us a dime for storage or launching. They even presented us with four caps the day we picked up the boat. We have had the boat for a year now with no problems and had many enjoyable weekends on it.

JayDV · 09-06-2007, 01:39 PM

More and more telephone customer services are using the "this call will/may be recorded and used for training purposes". Although I am not sure how much they do get used, the idea is pretty good and would help to keep agents and representatives of the business on their toes and maybe a little more straight forward.

For fun, I make it a point of referring to the recording as in:
"Perhaps you didn't fully understand me, please pay close attention to my words when you replay this call, thank you very much."

hazelnut · 09-06-2007, 04:00 PM

Maxum I was originally at odds with your first post. However, you mentioned that it was the salespeople you dealt with specifically. That is a shame because I am sure there are probably Marina owners out there that would give you a fair deal.
You are correct to mention that the salespeople are the face of the dealership. I guess that might suggest that the Boat Salespeople in the Lakes Region aren't up to par.
You also mentioned that you were buying used. That is a whole different ball game in my opinion vs buying new. The information on New Boat pricing is much more widely available and it is pretty easy to compare national pricing to what you are getting. The wildcard with the used boat is the condition. Remember what you are asking here.... A sales guy who is trained on all his new models has to shift gears into a used boat guy. I'm not defending their actions just asking you to look at it from their perspective. For example if I sold Brand New Lincolns and you came in looking at an older model maybe a different brand armed with tons of knowledge and started testing me I would go into defensive mode.
One more question. Did you go in with a positive attitude or were you armed for battle before the salesperson had a fighting chance. I'm not trying to be accusatory I'm just asking if you laid the cards out first (I.E. I did the research this is what I know it is worth and this is what I know about the boat) or did you let him dig his grave and then spring the trap.

Sorry just playing Devils Advocate please don't take this the wrong way.

sa meredith · 09-06-2007, 06:11 PM

Hey....EVERYONE!!!!! Enough of all this "well, it's kind of like a used car salesman", or "we all know how used car sales people are".
I've made my living selling new and used autos for 22 very successful years, and would match my attitude and integrity against anyone on this board.
Point your powerful powers of perception at yourselves...

hazelnut · 09-06-2007, 06:31 PM

What I wrote vs what I meant.... You remember the traditional used car guy on the sleazy lot trying to hide the rust with spray paint.... Ever see the movie Used Cars. I guess I was referring to the stereotype.

Anyway I was trying to sort of defend the sales guy a bit..... Guess that got lost in the comment.

NHskier · 09-06-2007, 09:00 PM

We had a very comparable experience to AC2717's at Thurston's at this time last year. We bought a 1998 Cobalt, brokerage sale, and felt we were treated exceptionally well. My wife and I both noticed that, even though we were buying an older boat. I can't really imagine a better sales experience.

Our experience since the sale mirrors AC2717's - everyone there is very good to deal with, friendly, and we've received excellent service across the board.

We looked at boats at several other marinas on that end of the lake and were treated well at all.

NHskier

Ropetow · 09-06-2007, 10:23 PM

We bought a used boat from Gillan Marine in the winter and it was a very positive experience. Ernie Jr. and the crew were nothing but fair and reasonable. We bought it for a fair price and rented a slip there. In July the battery died, and they replaced it free-of-charge. We later needed some engine work and they discounted the fee by a substantial amount. They 'earned' this customer's business for a long time.

09-06-2007, 11:30 AM	#1
Nauset Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 95 Thanks: 2 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	A good experience We purchased a 6 year old brokerage boat from Silver Sands Marina last year. The whole experience was very positive with no pressure or BS. We looked the boat over on two separate occasions and asked lots of questions. They contacted the owner on our request and got copies of all the maintenance records for us to keep. Even though they where just the broker we were treated as if we were buying a new one out of their inventory. We worked with Barry there and he returned every phone call and answered every email. The other staff there was helpful and friendly as well providing assistance with paperwork, registration and insurance. Aaron patiently facilitated the test drive and also took us out for another shake down on the day of delivery to get us familiar with all the boat's systems per the company policy. We even had a problem with our dock on the day we picked up the boat and we called Barry and asked if we could keep the boat there for the week while work was done to the dock. We brought the boat back and they put it in the racks for the week and did not charge us a dime for storage or launching. They even presented us with four caps the day we picked up the boat. We have had the boat for a year now with no problems and had many enjoyable weekends on it.

09-06-2007, 01:39 PM	#2
JayDV Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fairfield, CT & island vacation Posts: 97 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	maybe apply telephone customer service practice More and more telephone customer services are using the "this call will/may be recorded and used for training purposes". Although I am not sure how much they do get used, the idea is pretty good and would help to keep agents and representatives of the business on their toes and maybe a little more straight forward. For fun, I make it a point of referring to the recording as in: "Perhaps you didn't fully understand me, please pay close attention to my words when you replay this call, thank you very much."

09-06-2007, 04:00 PM	#3
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	Unfortunate Maxum I was originally at odds with your first post. However, you mentioned that it was the salespeople you dealt with specifically. That is a shame because I am sure there are probably Marina owners out there that would give you a fair deal. You are correct to mention that the salespeople are the face of the dealership. I guess that might suggest that the Boat Salespeople in the Lakes Region aren't up to par. You also mentioned that you were buying used. That is a whole different ball game in my opinion vs buying new. The information on New Boat pricing is much more widely available and it is pretty easy to compare national pricing to what you are getting. The wildcard with the used boat is the condition. Remember what you are asking here.... A sales guy who is trained on all his new models has to shift gears into a used boat guy. I'm not defending their actions just asking you to look at it from their perspective. For example if I sold Brand New Lincolns and you came in looking at an older model maybe a different brand armed with tons of knowledge and started testing me I would go into defensive mode. One more question. Did you go in with a positive attitude or were you armed for battle before the salesperson had a fighting chance. I'm not trying to be accusatory I'm just asking if you laid the cards out first (I.E. I did the research this is what I know it is worth and this is what I know about the boat) or did you let him dig his grave and then spring the trap. Sorry just playing Devils Advocate please don't take this the wrong way. Last edited by hazelnut; 09-06-2007 at 06:28 PM.

09-06-2007, 06:11 PM	#4
sa meredith Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 986 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 32 Thanked 352 Times in 137 Posts	new/used auto sales???? Hey....EVERYONE!!!!! Enough of all this "well, it's kind of like a used car salesman", or "we all know how used car sales people are". I've made my living selling new and used autos for 22 very successful years, and would match my attitude and integrity against anyone on this board. Point your powerful powers of perception at yourselves...

09-06-2007, 06:31 PM	#5
hazelnut Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,348 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 508 Thanked 462 Times in 162 Posts	oops What I wrote vs what I meant.... You remember the traditional used car guy on the sleazy lot trying to hide the rust with spray paint.... Ever see the movie Used Cars. I guess I was referring to the stereotype. Anyway I was trying to sort of defend the sales guy a bit..... Guess that got lost in the comment.

09-06-2007, 09:00 PM	#6
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 291 Thanks: 43 Thanked 36 Times in 33 Posts	We had a very comparable experience to AC2717's at Thurston's at this time last year. We bought a 1998 Cobalt, brokerage sale, and felt we were treated exceptionally well. My wife and I both noticed that, even though we were buying an older boat. I can't really imagine a better sales experience. Our experience since the sale mirrors AC2717's - everyone there is very good to deal with, friendly, and we've received excellent service across the board. We looked at boats at several other marinas on that end of the lake and were treated well at all. NHskier

09-06-2007, 10:23 PM	#7
Ropetow Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rochester, NH / Bartlett, NH Posts: 322 Thanks: 228 Thanked 33 Times in 13 Posts	We bought a used boat from Gillan Marine in the winter and it was a very positive experience. Ernie Jr. and the crew were nothing but fair and reasonable. We bought it for a fair price and rented a slip there. In July the battery died, and they replaced it free-of-charge. We later needed some engine work and they discounted the fee by a substantial amount. They 'earned' this customer's business for a long time.