JVM225
Well-Known Member
Update: I had a meeting with Marine Max(MM)today. I have no choice but to pay for boat and then take delivery. I didn’t want to walk so my hands are tied. I find it strange there is no escrow system in place. I have bought 5 boats from the same dealer and the same salesperson. I have also given many referrals over the years. Today, I made it very clear this will be the last boat (and I already have my eye on a 55 fly in 2 years) that I will be buying if the boat delivery is delayed even one day. That’s about all I have for security it will be delivered when promised. Someone earlier commented every MM can have different experiences, I am banking on the Pompano Fl store to be the best as I am told it is. I will keep you all posted and I will be writing a great review if all goes as promised but if not well we all know that won’t be so nice. I hope I am not looking for a new salesperson/broker in 2 years....I am sure there will be plenty out there wanting my business in the future......
I understand your apprehension completely. When I bought my boat from their Westbrook Ct. store two years ago I was in the same position. Close, and pay in full for the boat in December and take delivery in April.
The deal included them taking care of some minor things like a bulb in the spotlight, horn, aft cabin door roller, etc., but it also included them having the bottom blasted, prepped and painted, etc. They were absolutely not happy about having to do that as a condition of the sale. Probably because it involved them paying an outside vendor. That made me a bit nervous.
But that balking didn’t continue once the deal was done.
The upside for me was that the deal included haulout, winterization, storage, shrinkwrap and launch in Spring.
I was very apprehensive and reluctant but relented because I got everything in writing.
It worked out perfectly though. They did everything they said they would do and had the boat launched, detailed, fully fueled and ready to go exactly when they said they would.
My advice would be to strike a balance between showing up there regularly to stay on top of things and becoming a PIA. That was kind of easy in my situation since it was a 2 1/2 hour drive away from me. If it were closer I probably would have fell more in to the PIA category.
I really got the sense that developing relationships so you’d come back to buy your next boat was part of their corporate culture. That can certainly work to your advantage.
Once my boat was in the water and ready to go and knowing that I had a 6 hour cruise by water to get it home they let me know that there was no rush for me to pick it up if I wanted to wait for a day with great weather, and offered to pick me up at a ferry 20 minutes away from them if I wanted to get up there that way rather than having someone drive me up to get the boat.
Being very anxious to get the boat home I didn’t take them up on either offer, opting instead to bring it home on a cold rainy Sunday, but they were very accommodating.
Again, I think they go out of their way to make you happy so you come back. Unfortunately, lots of businesses these days don’t follow that model and it’s made us consumers very cautious.
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