Sea Ray salesman

[charlg]

I have a friend that wants to buy a new Sea Ray. We went to the local dealer 2 weeks ago and a salesman met us on the floor. This is the same salesman that blew me off last year when I was upgrading. I was looking at a used Sun Sport and asked questions like 'was this used in fresh or salt', or 'how much HP'. Both questions were answered by "I don't know", and it was obvious he didn't care either. Needless to say, I bought elsewhere.

So, the salesman tells my friend that a new '07 leftover is coming in the next day and he would call him. It was exactly was he was looking for. A week went by - no call. I happened to be in there getting parts, so I figured I would look him up. He was busy so I talked to someone that looked like management and explained....nicely....the situation. The salesperson called my friend back within minutes. But again, the salesperson would call him back with more information. Never gets the call! Days go by and my firiend decides to call and make an offer. He gets the salesman on the phone and he was told that the boat "might be sold"???? What kind of answer is that? Doesn't know if it's sold? No pitch to look at something else? Did he make his numbers for the month?

WTF does he do now?? Should he go in there and talk to someone who gives a sh!t?? I hate to see someone get in hot water, but I look like an idiot for bringing him there, and the dealer looks like crap too.

 

[fwebster]

Don't blame the dead beat salesman.........blame the dealership management who employes them then fails to manage their mistakes.

 

[charlg]

Don't blame the dead beat salesman.........blame the dealership management who employes them then fails to manage their mistakes.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

 

[JimT]

Call the sales manager and explain the situation. Don't hold back because you are concerned about getting someone in hot water. Your friend has money to spend and the delarer seems to have the boat. Get to someone on the phone who can make it happen.

 

[Jack F]

Call the sales manager and explain the situation. Don't hold back because you are concerned about getting someone in hot water. Your friend has money to spend and the delarer seems to have the boat. Get to someone on the phone who can make it happen.

The sales manager should assign a new sales rep to your friend to avoid a problem between the 2 reps, this way the new sales rep won’t worry about splitting a commission.

 

[mwph]

As usual Frank is right. Hopefully the employers that put up with this $hit will eventualy get what they deserve. Ive been reading post here on CSR for over a year now that sing the same song. "Sales" people that don't care. My only experience thus far has been a used boat purchase, but what a freakin nightmare that was.

Gee, I wonder why boat sales suffer so much? I can't figure it out.?.?.?

Oh, its the economy thats right. I forgot. - F that! I say fix the things you can fix & "the economy" will fix itself. Hell, don't get me started on that subject.

 

[billandamy]

Don't blame the dead beat salesman.........blame the dealership management who employes them then fails to manage their mistakes.

+1.

Here, our salespeople are accountable in every step of the way from greeting a new client to closing a deal, but at every step, the new owner or myself scrutinize the performance/follow ups and then take steps to ensure the potential client is getting the proper information that they need.

I would speak to the highest person in that dealership you can and let them know the reason you didnt buy from them, and now the reason ANOTHER potential client will most likely not be buying from them either.

geez, shame...in this frikkin economy, especially with a luxury item, you would think they would be hopping.

I do not feel for the closing of the doors of businesses like the one you described in any way.

 

[Southpaw II]

I would call the Sea Ray Corporate office in Knoxville and ask for a Regional Sales Manager. If he's not there, I would do whatever it takes to speak to him. After explaining the situation to him, ask if there is another SR dealer he could reccommend.

I suspect you will get a call from the original dealer, and consequently, a very good price on a new boat.

 

[Float&Fly]

I don't know if marine sales are very different from cars, but this sounds exactly like what I experienced when buying my Subaru.
I walked out of three dealerships before driving an hour and a half to get what I wanted at the price I wanted.

I had the same type of issues, salespeople not knowing their product and not following up etc.

I gave the closest dealer 4, yes FOUR, visits before I realized it was the corporate culture of that particular dealership that accepted poor business practices. I won't use them for any maintenance either. I can't take the chance if the professionalism isn't there at the beginning of the deal.

Is this the only boat around?

Can you talk directly to the manager and have him/her do the sale for your friend? You gave this salesman three chances.

 

[95290]

Why waste your time going to this bunch of deadbeats? They probably won't be in business long anyway.
Got a little secret for you- pssst- there are dealers out there that welcome business.

 

[bluebelly]

The reality of retail sales today is that those salespeople are not making any money even if you do buy the boat from them. Needless to say the only person who is probably motivated in that dealership is maybe the dealer himself. I am in the retail business and it is surprising of the attitude of the public these days. I keep getting offers that are beyond rediculous from people that say "you need to accept my offer since I hear that sales are so bad" and when I ignore them then they hit me with "you won't take my offer? no wonder your industry is failing". yeah yeah yeah. The others on this forum that are in retail sales probably know the customers that I am refering to. You know, the people that threaten to buy but never do. If we have a customer that is posturing themselves as if they want a salesperson to kiss their ass then all they get out of us is ignored.

 

[drob]

I'd look at other Sea Ray dealers in the area. You can go to RI or Wareham or Hyannis, if he is set on a Sea Ray. Bassett Boat, Zecco Marine or Hyannis Marina.

 

[charlg]

The reality of retail sales today is that those salespeople are not making any money even if you do buy the boat from them. Needless to say the only person who is probably motivated in that dealership is maybe the dealer himself. I am in the retail business and it is surprising of the attitude of the public these days. I keep getting offers that are beyond rediculous from people that say "you need to accept my offer since I hear that sales are so bad" and when I ignore them then they hit me with "you won't take my offer? no wonder your industry is failing". yeah yeah yeah. The others on this forum that are in retail sales probably know the customers that I am refering to. You know, the people that threaten to buy but never do. If we have a customer that is posturing themselves as if they want a salesperson to kiss their ass then all they get out of us is ignored.

I do agree with some of what you are saying. However, this hadn't made it to the 'offer' stage yet. My friend has basically been blown off BEFORE he has had the opportunity to even look at the boat.

 

[billandamy]

The reality of retail sales today is that those salespeople are not making any money even if you do buy the boat from them.

How so? Do they not work on commissions?

 

[charlg]

I'd look at other Sea Ray dealers in the area. You can go to RI or Wareham or Hyannis, if he is set on a Sea Ray. Bassett Boat, Zecco Marine or Hyannis Marina.

I've been told by a SR dealer while I was on vacation a few years back that they cannot sell ouside of their territory. Is that true?

 

[Jack F]

The reality of retail sales today is that those salespeople are not making any money even if you do buy the boat from them. Needless to say the only person who is probably motivated in that dealership is maybe the dealer himself. I am in the retail business and it is surprising of the attitude of the public these days. I keep getting offers that are beyond rediculous from people that say "you need to accept my offer since I hear that sales are so bad" and when I ignore them then they hit me with "you won't take my offer? no wonder your industry is failing". yeah yeah yeah. The others on this forum that are in retail sales probably know the customers that I am refering to. You know, the people that threaten to buy but never do. If we have a customer that is posturing themselves as if they want a salesperson to kiss their ass then all they get out of us is ignored.

Those are the customers that buy somewhere else and don’t like the service they get after the sale and come back to us; sometimes we make more money on service and upgrades than on the sale anyway.

 

[Hampton]

My friend has basically been blown off BEFORE he has had the opportunity to even look at the boat.

That happened to me once. I offered a guy $950 for a 1967 Camero in 1976. I looked about 12 years old. He accepted $850 from a girl who ran it up under the back end of a truck the next week. (Crying dude emoticon).

Whether it be age or another discriminating factor, it doesn't make for good business.

 

[mwph]

I've been told by a SR dealer while I was on vacation a few years back that they cannot sell ouside of their territory. Is that true?

Fwebster has some great insight & posts on this subject. There is his article on the CSR home page, then use the advanced search feature here on CSR. I found it to be good, informative reading.

In my opinion, If your friend is truly ready to play, then he needs to play hardball. This "the boat might be sold" line of B.S. is a clear sign to move up the ladder and ask the question... "Is the boat for sale or not"? Yes or No. Right now. Period.

That "I sell boats for a living" attitude is pure bull****. Yeah, it worked on me for the first few days. I thought he was pretty cool. But I got over it quick.

 

[bluebelly]

How so? Do they not work on commissions?

The salesman will get a commission of the profit. No proft or little profit means no commission. The dealership may pay a salesman a "flat" commssion for a sale with no profit but the "flat" is generally a fraction of what would be normal. There just is no money in the boat business right now.

 

[Rocket]

Call the salesmanager, voice your opinion. Management will weed out the terrible salespeople. If they are good managers they will appreciate the feedback and correct. If they dont go elsewhere. Try SS3 marinemax, they are selling boats many boats here. THey are making deals.