boat buying procedure/rules/sop

topgun1185

topgun1185

New Member
Sep 7, 2007
319
New Jersey
Boat Info
2007 44 Sundancer
Engines
QSC 500
Needed some feed back on buying a boat and singing a contract. I know what I did and I seem to be an exception. In detail 2 specific areas of uncharted waters (punn intended) that I need help with. My friend traded in his boat and bought a new one at the NY Boat show this past December. The dealer agreed to take the trade in (pay off his exsisting loan) and sell him a new one. My freind has traded in his old boat, payed 2 payments on the new boat loan and still will not get the new boat delivered to May. The dealer clams he cannot deliver the boat earlier (scheduling conflict) and needs over 60 days to delivery. Here's the problem the dealer has his old boat and all his money(paid in full) and he is left to the dealers wim. Did everyone pay for their boat in full before delivery? I know I did not. I paid the day I pick it up. Also the dealer refuses to give a firm delivery date in writting. I know I got a firm date in writting. I went with my freind to the dealer yesterday and was amazed that the dealer refused any comitment. The dealer insisteded loudly that "everyone pays for their boat long before delivery and a firm delivery date in writting is never given. He proclaimed that it's industry standards. When I confronted him that it was not true because I didn't do it that way he refuded to belive me and asserted I was either wrong,lying or and exeption to the rule. Am I crazy? My buddy is making payments on a boat loan when he doesn't have the boat. I know what my deal was. Any advice, experience or thoughts. My friend is at the dealers mercy with no power and to make it worse the dealer is over 150 miles away.
 
Sounds like a bunch of bull to me, I think you friend needs to get something in writing ASAP. What happens if the dealer goes belly up?
 
I think your deal was an "exception" to the rule... My wife has been selling boats for years now, and the dealer's policy she works for is to have the boat paid in full...
10 days after the purchase agreement is signed... as far as the delivery date, thats another story.. "scheduling conflicts" is a little vague, is it being truck shipped? Trailer delivery, or just launched ? Shipping can be delays in the shipping company, possible also with Trailer delivery.. although launching can be delayed usually not very long... Did the Dealer pay is other loan off already ? If i was making payments on a puchased boat, i would be making sure the other boat has been paid for.... Dealers can sometimes "play" with your money for awhile... Wish your friend best of luck with the new boat, i'm sure he'll get it eventually....
 
Must be a Marine Max don't get me started :grin:
 
How did he get a loan from the bank WITHOUT a hull # (and title) to attach a lein to? or did he go the home equity route?? I would be very wary of a dealer that requires payment-in-full prior to receipt (a hefty down payment maybe before delivery). I do defer to Against the Wind on what is usual practice BUT I am guessing that he may be cash-with-order with the manufacturer and not in such good $$$ standing (I bet he has outstanding loans out for his stock too!). I might be inclined to inform the bank that they have no collateral for the note (they do have very good legal departments), but that may be just shooting yourself in the foot. Maybe contact the manufacturer directly (might PO the dealer but at this point but so what - except for after the sale service issues - but now you have nothing to service!) Wish him the best of luck!
 
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Your comfort level might be improved by calling the manufacturer directly. Your friend undoubtedly has a contract...or he wouldn't have a purchase price. With that in hand, call the manufacturer and tell them that you have paid for the boat, and in this economy, you are just making sure that its construction is in progress...in fact, suggest you would like to come take a tour and see it. If the manufacturer says something like..."Uh, we never heard of your dealer" then you have something to think about on the way to the district attorney's office.
 
Like I said in another thread: I would NEVER make it through the new boat buying process.
 
Pakmule said:
How could it possible take over 60 days to deliver a boat?
Click to expand...

the dealer says it's schedule is to busy. The boat is on the dealers property and the back has the vin, but he still can't get the boat till 5/22 and is already paying for it. I
 
Are you serious? At the very start of the season they have a 2 month backlog for delivery?

OK. . .number one. . .this is one of MANY reasons you don't give the money up front. The dealer has ZERO incentive to get the work done. He is CLEARLY putting folks paying for spring commissioning ahead of you.

The number two reason, of course, is that he has your money and you don't have the boat. If the dealer goes belly up. . . what happens? Do you get in line behind Morgan Stanley and their lawyers? Or are you six places further back?

If this is the treatment your buddy is getting NOW, then you can just imagine how bad it will be down the line. I would start lining up alternative service options ASAP.

- - - - - - -

And if this money up front is the way it is done. . and the only way to play. . .well, suffice it to say I won't ever be playing that way. I am SO GLAD I gave up the new boat pursuit.

Just because it is a boat - a discretionary item - is no reason to allow you to be disadvantaged in this way by a buisness. You are the high paying customer and you should be treated as such.
 
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The last two threads on this issue are just too much to believe. I don't know what is worse, the dealers actions, we as consumers falling for it or some of the comments suggesting that this behavior is acceptable. I give up.

BTW, If anyone is interested, I am building a 4000 square foot home on 175 acres of prime real estate in northern Alabama. If you pay me today in full, I'll let you move in some time after its finished. A few light switches may not work & the water lines throughout barn leak but don't worry about it, just put it on a punch list and I'll have someone take a look at it in the fall when things slow down around here.
 
topgun1185 said:
Needed some feed back on buying a boat and singing a contract. I know what I did and I seem to be an exception. In detail 2 specific areas of uncharted waters (punn intended) that I need help with. My friend traded in his boat and bought a new one at the NY Boat show this past December. The dealer agreed to take the trade in (pay off his exsisting loan) and sell him a new one. My freind has traded in his old boat, payed 2 payments on the new boat loan and still will not get the new boat delivered to May. The dealer clams he cannot deliver the boat earlier (scheduling conflict) and needs over 60 days to delivery. Here's the problem the dealer has his old boat and all his money(paid in full) and he is left to the dealers wim. Did everyone pay for their boat in full before delivery? I know I did not. I paid the day I pick it up. Also the dealer refuses to give a firm delivery date in writting. I know I got a firm date in writting. I went with my freind to the dealer yesterday and was amazed that the dealer refused any comitment. The dealer insisteded loudly that "everyone pays for their boat long before delivery and a firm delivery date in writting is never given. He proclaimed that it's industry standards. When I confronted him that it was not true because I didn't do it that way he refuded to belive me and asserted I was either wrong,lying or and exeption to the rule. Am I crazy? My buddy is making payments on a boat loan when he doesn't have the boat. I know what my deal was. Any advice, experience or thoughts. My friend is at the dealers mercy with no power and to make it worse the dealer is over 150 miles away.
Click to expand...
What does the purchase/sales agreement say?
 
comsnark said:
Are you serious? At the very start of the season they have a 2 month backlog for delivery?

OK. . .number one. . .this is one of MANY reasons you don't give the money up front. The dealer has ZERO incentive to get the work done. He is CLEARLY putting folks paying for spring commissioning ahead of you.

The number two reason, of course, is that he has your money and you don't have the boat. If the dealer goes belly up. . . what happens? Do you get in line behind Morgan Stanley and their lawyers? Or are you six places further back?

If this is the treatment your buddy is getting NOW, then you can just imagine how bad it will be down the line. I would start lining up alternative service options ASAP.

- - - - - - -

And if this money up front is the way it is done. . and the only way to play. . .well, suffice it to say I won't ever be playing that way. I am SO GLAD I gave up the new boat pursuit.

Just because it is a boat - a discretionary item - is no reason to allow you to be disadvantaged in this way by a buisness. You are the high paying customer and you should be treated as such.
Click to expand...
This is no reason to not pursue a new boat. It may be a reason to not deal with a dealer that uses these kind of tactics. You walk in their door and you can walk out it, they can't make you do anything. You guys are making a contract with the dealer involving a boat, make sure all items of importance are covered in that contract.
 
topgun1185 said:
the dealer says it's schedule is to busy. The boat is on the dealers property and the back has the vin, but he still can't get the boat till 5/22 and is already paying for it. I
Click to expand...

The dealer has his old boat. The dealer has his new boat. The dealer has his money. I would be in their face DAILY and at a high enough volume to screw up other sales. People tell me I am ass though. :)
 
IN some respects, buying a new boat is easier t hen buying a used one. The cost of a new one is pretty much a known value in the equation, that means it is up to the buyer to do his homework and negotiate a deal that is acceptible.

Used boats have a lot more variables in the equation........ie. a lender, a loan pay-off, a broker, in addition to negotiating a deal with acceptible terms.

The transaction that is the subject of this thread was too far along to change so commenting on the problems with it would only be monday morning quarterbacking, however, I can assure you that the idea of taking a trade in, ordering a boat, requiring full payment and not giving the buyer a firm delivery is an unacceptible business practice in my opinion. Sea Ray quotes a delivery date when the order is received, short of some peculiar problem, the dealer knows when he has to pay for the boat (when it arrives) so he should be able to deliver the boat within a week after its arrival if it is a complex boat. I see new boats delivered every time I'm in Florida and to get them customer ready only takes a few hours. For some reason, this dealer has placed other priorities ahead of new sold boats.

The dealers door swings both ways and there are many other places with non-abusive sales practices that will gladly sell you a boat.

A final point is that 90% of the selling dealers "score" on keeping his Master Dealer status is based on surveys the buyers cocmplete. Master Dealer status is critical to dealers because it affects the amount of money they can bill Sea Ray for warranty work on all boats they sell. I would tell the truth, but not give any slack to this dealer whenever the boat finaly delivered and its time to fill out the surveys.
 
All great post. Bottom line the contact has no delivery date and dealer says nobody doeas that in the business.( I had a date with MM that what caused my disbelief) my buddy did blog the manufacturer after the new boat had landed at the dealers lot and no contact or delivery date was forthcomming. When I went to the dealer with him the dealer did know about the blog and began to yell and complain about my friends action. the dealer threatened a law suit for defamation of charecter and revoke the sale contract altogether. Too say the least it was a nightmare. This is the first resaon I start this thread to see if I was crazy. Crazy that everyone pays for their boat in full before delivery (including making 2 loan payments), crazy to ask for a firm delivery date in writting and crazy not to understand that it takes over 60 days to wait for delivery from the highest volume dealer in the North East on preping a 21' cuddy 4 cylinder I/O. My freind defently lost his power by paying in full. However the treatment of a paying customer of total 26k deal is outragous. If I had not witnessed it i would not had belived it.
 
Pakmule said:
The dealer has his old boat. The dealer has his new boat. The dealer has his money. I would be in their face DAILY and at a high enough volume to screw up other sales. People tell me I am ass though. :)
Click to expand...

+1. People don't need to tell me I'm an ass, they'd be afraid to in this situation. I would be there every minute of my free time hassling them and other potential buyers would know why. I wouldn't care about the level of crappy service you will be getting later because of being an ass since I would never go back anyhow. It couldn't hurt to have your friend call an attorney who is familiar in marine stuff and/or written contracts and explain his situation. Without a delivery date in the contract, it could possibly be considered invalid.
 
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