Warranty Work help

[Steven B Dannemiller]

I took my Sea Ray to Marine Max for a battery/alternator issue which will be under warranty. I should be picking it up later this week. The rep at MM talked like I was on the hook for 2 hours of "diagnostics". That will likely be over $300. Is this common practice or is MM working me over? I know my car warranty sure doesn't work this way.

 

[GypsmJim]

Google Marine Max reviews...

 

[Golfman25]

take them two hours to determine if it's a warranty issue.

But frankly, this should have been disclosed when the work order was written up. With my marina, if it something that has to be diagnosed, we usually cap it at say 1.5-2 hrs. If they can't figure it out by then, we talk an come up with a strategy.

 

[GypsmJim]

If it's a warranty issue, the diagnostics are free. If not, I would ask why it's not under warranty. Warranty covers a certain time period. Has that been exceeded?

 

[KevinC]

I took my Sea Ray to Marine Max for a battery/alternator issue which will be under warranty. I should be picking it up later this week. The rep at MM talked like I was on the hook for 2 hours of "diagnostics". That will likely be over $300. Is this common practice or is MM working me over? I know my car warranty sure doesn't work this way.

Is this a new Searay warranty, Mercury/Mercuiser warranty or Brunswick (or other) aftermarket. Each will have their own rules.

-Kevin

 

[Steven B Dannemiller]

Well, it is a "second hand" warranty. It iis a 2020 with 50 hours on it. Merc 150. As of today, it has been 3 weeks and 5 days since I dropped it off. The service rep is not returning calls or emails after numerous attempts to find out whats up. might be time to show up in person. I know, theres a fine line between bitching and getting it fixed correctly...

 

[Yendor]

Were it me, I would go over that rep's head and share that exact sentiment with whoever that may be. There is absolutely NO reason to justify 3 weeks for an assessment and/or answer to ANY question. Even if it's not what you want to hear, the answer should be forthcoming in a timely fashion. In person ought not be necessary if you can otherwise arrive at the right ear to listen.

If you were running a business and had an employee stonewalling a customer, wouldn't you want to know? I damn sure would.

IMO, the time to wait and see what happens has already elapsed.

 

[Arminius]

A bad Yelp review can be edited to become positive. Many businesses and professionals take these reviews very seriously. That might give you some negotiating power. You might check the "2nd hand warranty" before proceeding as many warranties only protect the original purchaser. Diplomacy is always a good idea.

 

[Scott215]

If you don't have a written estimate of what it's going to cost you I would not pay it that's the way it was in the automotive business You don't have a signed estimate You don't pay if they went ahead and did it on their own that's their fault

 

[Steven B Dannemiller]

Thanks for all the input. We are back afloat and happy again....except.....there are 3 spots on the boat that have spider web cracks. Would Sea Ray be interested in covering that?

 

[Yendor]

I wouldn't think so, if it is pretty much cosmetic and confined to the gel coat (like I perceive from your description). Given that it's a three year old boat, I would not expect that is something you could/would be successful at without assuming a very large heartburn along the way. You know . . . Original owner, normal wear and tear, and all that.

Naturally, if it's more than cosmetic, the time to squawk would be now not later.
Still . . . I wouldn't attempt to hold my breath until the squawking was completed.

 

[GypsmJim]

SeaRays have a lifetime structural hull warranty. (yada, yada, limited, etc.) It needs to be evaluated for structural defects. For gelcoat cracks with no structural problems, its not covered.

For any new boat I ever bought, if it had spider cracks it came from the factory that way. Most cracks are usually in stress areas, and likely caused by lack of reinforcement, lack of curing, issues with the gel coat itself or flexing when the hull was removed from the mold.

A buddy of mine ALWAYS had spiders develop. Of course he only had 2 speeds - off and WOT. He simply beat his boats to death, with no concern for waves.