I thought boat sales were slow?

[charlg]

I've beed considering the move to a 280 SunSport. My local dealer, Russo's, has one that has been there since last year. I went to take a look at it. The boat was filthy, Eisinglass ripped, etc. I can see past the cosmetic needs, but the salesperson showed no interest in a sale. He could not answer questions regarding engine sizes, hours, history, etc. Nor did he try to find out!! I left there scratching my head.

I saw a similar 280 SS (more options) about an hour away, and decided I would continue my search. This boat has also been for sale since last year, and still had the shrink wrap on it. I got a brief history on the boat, and decided to put in an offer pending a survey. I gave him a verbal offer last week, and still have not recieved a return call whether it was accepted or refused. I even shot them a quick email and NOTHING.

I thought the boating market was soft. I can't attract any interest from a dealer OR broker?????? What is going on????

Is this what it means when people say "it's not meant to be"?

 

[skibum]

It's boating season. They're all playing!

 

[Nehalennia]

I bet if you call and ask for the General or sales manager at the local boat Dealer, you'll get some interest. Not that you should have to work that hard, but I bet if you tell them your story, someone will perk up.

Good luck.

 

[comsnark]

Yeah. . . .. but SHOULD you be working that hard?

I mean, if you make a verbal offer, that is a cue to the broker that "Umm, we need a WRITTEN offer". Unless your verbal offer was SO LOW that they don't even want to pick up the phone to call you back.

When I was shopping, I could not get any serious feedback from boat dealers. . . but then I wasn't expressing interest in paying anywhere close to MSRP for the boats either.

The brokers and dealers I was working with for used boats were much more forth coming. And I ended up buying a 280SS as well. After an exhaustive internet search of the North East (R.I. to M.D.), I found my boat on a lift across the street from my house.

 

[charlg]

The dealer didn't even discuss price. I knew it was discounted from $52K to $39K.

The brokered boat went from $49K last fall to $44K this spring. I offered $30K as a 'starting point'. All things considered...fuel costs, age, etc, I didn't think that is was an insulting offer.

 

[dpmulvey]

The industry as a whole is off a whopping 423%. Boats alone are off 58%

 

[Quint4]

I called a Sea Ray dealer in Ky. a few months back and made an offer on a brokered 290da.The salesman said he would call the owners in Fl. and get back with me. I never got a call back. It is still on boattrader, reduced to just $2500.00 above what I offered.

 

[AndersonAcres]

I contacted 5 boat dealers in IL and MI about used Sea Rays in the past month. All dealers very responsive, even when I gave them low-ball offers.

Go figure.

 

[Dave S]

Part of the reason may be there are very few 280 Sun Sports available. Sea Ray did not sell many to begin with so that always limits the number on the used market.

And I bet if you went back to that Sea Ray dealer and asked for the GM instead of the dorky sales person you would be treated just fine.

Dave

 

[fwebster]

I think the problem is that there was a verbal offer, not a contract placed on the boat. He may hear back or not, but without a contract with a deposit, you can be sure the salesman/broker is shopping the verbal, out of the money offer everywhere he can think of trying to find a buyer who will offer a few $ more.

All the verbal offer did was to give the salesman leverage to sell the boat to someone else.

 

[chuck1]

I think the problem is that there was a verbal offer, not a contract placed on the boat. He may hear back or not, but without a contract with a deposit, you can be sure the salesman/broker is shopping the verbal, out of the money offer everywhere he can think of trying to find a buyer who will offer a few $ more.

All the verbal offer did was to give the salesman leverage to sell the boat to someone else.

Big ditto. Verbal offers are only as good as the paper they are written on. It only takes a time or two to be burned presenting a verbal offer to a seller and then have the buyer not stand by their offer. A good broker is going to decide real fast it is not worth working it and find a buyer that is willing to put the offer on paper.

IMHO - A good broker should have pointed this out. Maybe they should have worked harder explain it???? I know in real estate (GA/NC) only written offer have to be presented.

 

[comsnark]

Frank could be right. . .but if the boat has been sitting for a year, there is no reason to think the boat won't be there ANOTHER year.

In my, case, there was a 280SS at a local dealer. I passed on that particular boat because it was a mess, was priced high, and low and behold it was still sitting there two seasons later.

But. . you say the you offered -verbally- $30K on a boat being offered at $44K. That is a fair lowball. You only offered 2/3 of the asking price. That is a substantial difference on a brokered boat (in my mind). The fact that he didn't call you back indicates to me that your offer was so low the broker knew the owner wouldn't consider it.

What year is this boat? How is it equipped? My boat (1997) was offered for a notable bit *less* than this $44K asking price a few years ago. I know I would not consider a $30K offer for my boat now. . . even though I know the boat shows more wear from my usage.

BTW: I don't buy the fuel usage bit. The 280SS is a good bit lighter than a 280DA, especially if you don't have the extended swim platform or radar arch. Last season I averaged 11gph on my twins (total).

 

[fwebster]

The boat business may be slow in some market segments, but you can't assume that every seller is desperate and every used boat is a fire sale. Cutting a sellers price 1/3 on $44K may buy some boats, but only those that have to be liquidated.

Many dealers finance themselves and have no floor plan for used product and many sellers just want to move up..........you won't buy a boat from either of them for a fire sale price, particularly a dymamite looking cruiser with limited production numbers.

Next time you are serious about buying a boat, use the process to your advantage.......write a contract with "time is of the essence" wording to prevent the broker from shopping your numbers around, and give the broker a deposit check as your consideration to make the contract enforcible.

 

[charlg]

Big ditto. Verbal offers are only as good as the paper they are written on. It only takes a time or two to be burned presenting a verbal offer to a seller and then have the buyer not stand by their offer. A good broker is going to decide real fast it is not worth working it and find a buyer that is willing to put the offer on paper.

IMHO - A good broker should have pointed this out. Maybe they should have worked harder explain it???? I know in real estate (GA/NC) only written offer have to be presented.

When I called the broker, I asked him if he would like a deposit (BEFORE I made the offer). He declined to take my deposit, or address. All he wanted was my telephone number nad the offer.

All good points about it being a low offer. I agree it was low. But should'nt I have been told it was too low, and offered to increase the offer?

 

[charlg]

Part of the reason may be there are very few 280 Sun Sports available. Sea Ray did not sell many to begin with so that always limits the number on the used market.

And I bet if you went back to that Sea Ray dealer and asked for the GM instead of the dorky sales person you would be treated just fine.

Dave

At that point I would appear too eager to purchase. It's just a curious situation that the salesperson would show no interest in selling a boat that has been sitting in the back of their lot for quite a while. And, it is not even in showable condition.

 

[First Born]

Charlie,

How about a follow up call, mention that you just were checking in as you are trying to decide which direction you are heading and have not heard back on your offer that you made on (give date). Just how I would probably handle if I were in your shoes.

Wesley

 

[chuck1]

When I called the broker, I asked him if he would like a deposit (BEFORE I made the offer). He declined to take my deposit, or address. All he wanted was my telephone number nad the offer....

:huh: That is just plain dumb on the brokers part:huh:. Something does not sound right. I cant even come up with a reason why they would not want you deposit or address. Did the broker even ask you to put the offer in writing???

Dumb question - Were you talking with the broker or a sales person for the dealer? Sometime the sales person will not get anything or very, very little on a brokered boat.

 

[charlg]

:huh: That is just plain dumb on the brokers part:huh:. Something does not sound right. I cant even come up with a reason why they would not want you deposit or address. Did the broker even ask you to put the offer in writing???

Dumb question - Were you talking with the broker or a sales person for the dealer? Sometime the sales person will not get anything or very, very little on a brokered boat.

The broker (for boat #1) did not ask for anthing in writing.

Boat #2 is owned by the dealer advertised as 'pre-owned with a 30 day warranty'.

 

[charlg]

Charlie,

How about a follow up call, mention that you just were checking in as you are trying to decide which direction you are heading and have not heard back on your offer that you made on (give date). Just how I would probably handle if I were in your shoes.

Wesley

I did that through an email. Got no response.

 

[douglee25]

I did that through an email. Got no response.

I always follow up with a phone call as well.

It's like calling a woman for a second date.... She gets two calls... One for the initial invite and the second 'in case' there were technical difficulties. :grin: After that, no more!

Doug