Dealer advice needed: stay or go?

[LooHoo]

Having a bit of a time with the dealer we ordered our 242x from and am wondering what you all would do.

Ordered three weeks ago and was told on three separate occasions that it would be in "end of March." Wow, that is fast. Was told just today that "it looks like mid-April but will let you know when we have official word."

Well, OK.

Here's the thing (actually two things): first, this dealer is well-reviewed online. This their first year carrying Yamaha jet boats so that's probably why I haven't seen mention of them here. But for some reason, even when we were chomping at the bit to order the boat, our sales person just didn't seem that interested in getting back to us. I had to chase the sales person down with 2+ calls that went unanswered for two days - this happened on three occasions - when we were trying to get the deal done. Just two days ago, I texted the salesperson for a boat status update, the first communication from either side since we ordered three weeks ago, and didn't hear back for more than 48 hours, then got the above response this afternoon after texting a second time to try to get a response.

Second, our financing rates expire on 4/7, and I believe the extra warranty boat show promo is only good until 3/31. I texted this right back to my sales person several hours ago and no reply.

There is a 242x at a dealer a couple of hours away from us. That dealer has been well-reviewed here and when our dealer wasn't calling us back to order the boat we eventually ordered, I did talk to a sales person there who was very helpful (I told him that we were trying to order from current dealer but weren't getting much interest in gettting it done for some reason).

Sorry this has been so long, but what is unsaid is that if this is happening before the sale...what may come after it? These relationships are so important and I'm definitely nervous.

I don't personally need flowers and a parade, but a little CS in the form of communication and responsiveness would be nice. Thing is, if I hadn't checked on the boat we would have no idea that it was due in at least two weeks later than promised and our financing rates would be no good with no chance to do something about it before they expired. That doesn't make me feel very good.

Would you stay with this dealer and be patient, or would you go? We want to start being real jetboaters and not posers as soon as possible! And be in the right relationship.

 

[Neutron]

They are not going out of their way to get you any good answers..... I am very impatient and cant tolerate bad customer service. I would go to the other dealer.
You are buying a very expensive boat, they should be at the least getting you answers fast.

 

[LooHoo]

They are not going out of their way to get you any good answers..... I am very impatient and cant tolerate bad customer service. I would go to the other dealer.
You are buying a very expensive boat, they should be at the least getting you answers fast.

Yeah, as I typed this post, I felt I was answering my own question. As you say, it's the communication. Delays happen and that can't be helped. But feeling like we are being treated as just window shoppers isn't sitting well with me.

 

[Neutron]

Dealers should strive on great customer service for many reasons...... word of mouth recommendations, online reviews, returning repeat customers, and service work.
Without it how can you trust them to always satisfy your needs

 

[xoomer]

I have the feeling that you know the answers to your own questions. I only give my money to people who appreciate getting my business and work hard to keep me happy--unfortunately, it's not a very large group.

 

[LooHoo]

Dealers should strive on great customer service for many reasons...... word of mouth recommendations, online reviews, returning repeat customers, and service work.
Without it how can you trust them to always satisfy your needs

Exactly. And what's more is I'm fairly certain there are very close to 0 242x on our lake, and you'd think they'd like to get one up here so they can start getting the referrals rolling in. We are out in our boat _all_ the time, we actively boat, unlike some of our neighbors who own boats, so we'd be the perfect billboard. It's all so strange.

 

[LooHoo]

I have the feeling that you know the answers to your own questions. I only give my money to people who appreciate getting my business and work hard to keep me happy--unfortunately, it's not a very large group.

A-men. It's so frustrating.

 

[Neutron]

When i was shopping for a Yamaha jetski last summer i walked into the local Yamaha dealer that is 10 miles from my house. Needless to say they were not very accommodating and i walked away from any purchase. Made one call to the next dealer(over an hour away) and made a deal over the phone and was very pleased with the communication. Picked up the ski a few days later with a pleasant experience.
A month later i bought my AR240 with another flawless experience. Since then 2 of my friends have gone out of their way to the same dealer to buy Yamaha jetboats.

So one good experience got 3 more sales for them and soon more

 

[LooHoo]

When i was shopping for a Yamaha jetski last summer i walked into the local Yamaha dealer that is 10 miles from my house. Needless to say they were not very accommodating and i walked away from any purchase. Made one call to the next dealer(over an hour away) and made a deal over the phone and was very pleased with the communication. Picked up the ski a few days later with a pleasant experience.
A month later i bought my AR240 with another flawless experience. Since then 2 of my friends have gone out of their way to the same dealer to buy Yamaha jetboats.

So one good experience got 3 more sales for them and soon more

I'm wondering if yours might be our other potential dealer. Let's see how this rolls.

 

[Neutron]

I'm wondering if yours might be our other potential dealer. Let's see how this rolls.

Where are you located

 

[LooHoo]

Where are you located

Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

 

[Neutron]

Good luck with your decision and new purchase.... keep us updated

 

[LooHoo]

Good luck with your decision and new purchase.... keep us updated

I sure will. I'm hoping that things turn around extremely fast because we won't wait long to see if they do. Life is too short and summer is knocking.

 

[Noko]

If you haven't put any money down, then I'd go with the dealer who is getting your some answers. I boat in Wis but I bought from a dealer in MN. The dealer I bought from was great, I did the loan over the phone and picked the boat up when I was ready, they had a boat at the dealership. I would add, I think any dealer will do warranty related work so you wouldn't necessarily have to deal with the guy you ordered your boat from. But others may have some better info on this.

 

[LooHoo]

If you haven't put any money down, then I'd go with the dealer who is getting your some answers. I boat in Wis but I bought from a dealer in MN. The dealer I bought from was great, I did the loan over the phone and picked the boat up when I was ready, they had a boat at the dealership.

Sounds like a dream. One I'd like to come true for us. We've decided that if we don't get the answers we need by noon tomorrow, we're moving on.

 

[Wayloncle]

I'd be driving a couple hours.....and make sure the current salesman knows that I'm headed a couple hours away.

 

[Hannibal]

If you're not happy with the sale, you'll never be 100% happy with the boat. I have regrets about not buying from the first dealership I looked at a 190FSH. Don't feel rushed even though summer is coming. Get the boat you want from the dealer you trust and like.

 

[OCMD]

AMF to dealer one, and don't look back. If this is the service before the sale? There is only one way it will go post-sale.

 

[LooHoo]

@Hannibal @OCMD so sage. So true. To round out the tale, this first dealer DID bring a 242LS -e up to our dock on a frigid Friday evening to let us test it, which was fabulous. I just wanted a bit more of that sugar to continue through the sale (I do all the communicating for the process). It's not too hard at this point - it's just communication, so what gives. I informed them just a bit ago that we're heading south if we don't get something definitive out of them tomorrow. No way are we paying higher interest rates to do a deal w them because they just didn't feel like communicating and cost us our rate that we have now.

Everyone's responses are great, as I figured they would be. Thanks for listening!

 

[captras]

First, even if you have put down a deposit, their failure to deliver dictates you can get that back. Here is a big thing to consider....If they are that inconsiderate, and unapproachable before the sale is even complete, how do you think they will treat you once the sale is done, they HAVE your money, and now you need some warranty work. A 2 hour drive may be a hassle, but a shitty dealer is alot worse. I would call them, get my deposit back, and tell them to stick their boat where the sun dont shine!!!