Yeah, it gets much stickier if attorney’s get involved. I have avoided that. However, now that it’s been over 11 months, I have several attorney’s that want to take my case. One had promised I wouldn’t have to pay if we lose and there’s precedent to ask for attorney’s fees. He said it would ultimately fall on the manufacturer; in this case Bombardier Rec Products (BRP).
Now that it is July with no resolution in sight, I have written this season off. There is no priority to be on the lake this season. What’s more important now is that we get as close to a fair deal as possible. I made the deal with the dealer, and I have been told my name is on the “first ‘21 AR195 that comes in”. The question will be whether the dealer holds true to that offer. I am hoping he will.
With short supply though, who knows. And they may actually have a motor in my boat and actually have it running by then. If they try to play hard-ball and say if you don’t come up with some more money, you are left with your boat back, then I ask for the open repair order for my boat immediately.
I will then seek to have the attorney file for return and full refund of purchase price. At this point, it’s not about getting on the lake. We spent $40,000 two years ago and I haven’t even seen my boat for almost a year (including the better parts of two complete seasons). No way I take a depreciated boat that’s been sitting outside for a year back without some kind of compensation.
I’m not sure what experiences people have had with dealers. Hopefully mine will have a positive ending. I will keep everyone posted. Either you will see new pictures of an AR, updated pictures of my boat with a story on how that went down or an update on a legal case that will likely start in arbitration. Yes, BRP and Glastron have attorney’s (I’m sure the dealer does too), but it costs them just like it costs the consumer. The attorney says 99%+ of cases get settled. Precedent says 30 days is the standard for reasonable turnaround. We’ve had 5 attempts at repair over 11 months.
BRP hasn’t been very responsive over these 11 months; however, it has been my experience with Glastron that has been so horrible. Mike at Glastron has been extremely unprofessional. He’s tried saying we added to the repair cycle by taking the boat to the local Rotax service shop. He implied they were a Sea-Doo dealer and not capable of working on Rotax engines in boats. In fact, they do not sell any jet skies, but they are a Chaparrel dealer. They sold and serviced the Vortex line of boats featuring Rotax power. Those boats have the EXACT SAME motor as my Glastron. He’s never replied, addressed or acknowledged this. He has always been rude, unprofessional and has shown no contrition whatsoever. It’s the worst customer service I have ever encountered and I am shocked a person who communicates like that can hold such a high position.
This is why I would like to get into a Yamaha jet boat instead or get out of the Glastron, cut our losses and move on.
