SKI DOCK - Austin / My Service experience

[jameskeller76]

I'll start off by saying that I'm not going to tell you not to go to Ski Dock. Please draw your own conclusions.

It all started off when a latch on one of the doors broke. Called Ski Dock and they said they'd get it fixed right away. Bring it on in. So I did. They suggested I go ahead have the service done on it, $509 after tax! I bit the bullet and decided to have them do it. "we'll have it done in a week". 2 weeks later still no boat, finally get it back after continuous calls and complaints.

Now for the bad stuff.
1) Greasy hand prints all over the back of the boat
2) Spilled oil all over the bilge
3) Overfilled engines. 2 quarts over on the port and 1 on the star
4) I'll just assume that none of the other service was done based on everything else

Here she is, still pumping away and almost to the 6L mark...


I immediately call the Ski Dock service dept and ask them what I should do, if anything. I asked if this would have hurt the engines in any way. The answer I got was, "I don't know, but I'll ask my head mechanic on Tuesday and we'll let you know" Also said that the tech who did the work was fired because of shoddy work on other boats. Thanks for the heads up! It's been 3 weeks and they never called me back.

I decided it would be best to document this in an email to them yesterday and I did receive a response today:

Dear Mr. Keller,

We appreciate you contacting us and your concern for the service that was done on your boat in August of 2016. That being said all we can do at this point is move forward and ensure you that we have taken steps to remedy the situation at hand.

If you would like to discuss this more and, or, feel that there is something we can do for you, please feel free to contact Thad Kelley, Steve Present or myself.

I would have thought that knowing that they had a crap mechanic that was fired for incompetence screw up my service that they would have said, "please bring it it so we can make sure that it is properly serviced."

Nope. I would also add that I have not once received an apology.

I for one will not be taking my boat back to Ski Dock.

 

[MrMoose]

The tech that worked on your boat was probably the same one that worked on mine at Marineland in Waco TX in 2015. One of my engines was also overfilled. I assume it was because not all of the old oil was properly sucked out. The guy who messed-up my boat was an ex-Sea-Doo tech who had just started at Marineland. He didn't even warm up the engines before sucking out the oil. I know this because I had the keys. He's probably making his rounds in the TX Yamaha dealerships.

 

[Scottintexas]

I just don't understand the lack of customer service at dealerships, whether they have been family owned for so long they now feel it's their right to do business or the big corporation who doesn't care about the people it hires or their customers experience ??

As a small business owner the "we'll ask somebody on Tuesday" is ridiculous knowing you have a shoddy work employee and yes, bring it back in for us to check everything or labor is on us next time, something to give you something tangible to keep your relationship alive,

 

[jameskeller76]

The tech that worked on your boat was probably the same one that worked on mine at Marineland in Waco TX in 2015. One of my engines was also overfilled. I assume it was because not all of the old oil was properly sucked out. The guy who messed-up my boat was an ex-Sea-Doo tech who had just started at Marineland. He didn't even warm up the engines before sucking out the oil. I know this because I had the keys. He's probably making his rounds in the TX Yamaha dealerships.

How hard is it to properly change oil?

I just don't understand the lack of customer service at dealerships, whether they have been family owned for so long they now feel it's their right to do business or the big corporation who doesn't care about the people it hires or their customers experience ??

As a small business owner the "we'll ask somebody on Tuesday" is ridiculous knowing you have a shoddy work employee and yes, bring it back in for us to check everything or labor is on us next time, something to give you something tangible to keep your relationship alive,

You can fire all the people you want. If you don't change the culture nothing else matters.

 

[Micah Thompson]

Well, damn. I didn't buy my Chap at Ski Dock due to them sucking during the sales process, but I was hoping their service dept was decent, ugh.

I did buy it at Marineland, which also has a bad service strike above, lol. Anywhere within driving distance I can take my Chap if needed for warranty work? lol

 

[haknslash]

I don't understand why service depts have to be so crappy. I mean damn don't hire inept 'mechanics' at the lowest possible dollar. That's all these places do is hire people who don't know or apparently don't give a f*%$ about the quality and craftsmanship of their job. In life you either care about your work or you don't and it doesn't matter the job you do. I've worked a lot of jobs in my life as I'm sure we all have and it didn't matter if I was picking up garbage bins on the side of the road, installing car stereos, waterproofing homes in nasty conditions, helping a friend install brake pads or designing military fire suppression systems. I would always take pride in doing the job the best I could. These people just look at your boat like a ticket number to kill the clock. They don't look at it like its something to cherish or be proud of as if it were their own boat. That's why the only time I will ever take mine into a shop is if it's absolutely required and warranty related. No way any of these clowns will ever treat your boat like you would. I hate you had to deal with yet another crappy service dept but the good side is there is enough info and people here to help you maintain and fix things on your boat. No need to waste money, time and get a lot of stress and frustration dealing with dealerships who only care about selling you a boat. To this day since last November I'm still waiting on my damn dealer and Yamaha to get their ass in gear to replace or repaint my tower for warranty claim.

 

[octavio3311]

He didn't even warm up the engines before sucking out the oil. I know this because I had the keys.

They really don't need your keys. Yamaha only makes so many key cores. Tech only needs so many masters.
Yamaha makes more boats than they have key variations.
My keys also work in a friends Yamaha and vice versa.

 

[tdonoughue]

I am sorry the OP had poor service. That sucks.

But I also agree with the notion that no one will treat your boat (or car or house, etc.) as well as you do. If you really care about it, at least learn the basics. Then, if you chose to do it yourself, you can. And if you chose to trust your boat to someone, you can spot and remedy when they don't treat it as you would.

 

[MrMoose]

They really don't need your keys. Yamaha only makes so many key cores. Tech only needs so many masters.
Yamaha makes more boats than they have key variations.
My keys also work in a friends Yamaha and vice versa.

They asked me for my keys after the oil and plugs were done. I guess that they needed to run the engines to make sure that everything worked as part of the 10 hr service.

 

[Julian]

I gather Ski Dock is a boat dealer/repair place...???

 

[Micah Thompson]

I gather Ski Dock is a boat dealer/repair place...???

Yes, Chaparral, Tige, Yamaha dealer in Austin, TX.

 

[Beachbummer]

My experience with prepaid service in general has been poor, except with HondaCare for our Pilot.

Once your money has departed your hands everything seems to slow down and quality goes down the drain.

I am pretty handy, and depreciation for toys is high, and I'm not wealthy, so I buy used unless it makes amazing sense to buy new. (Honda Pilot, zero depreciation on used ones when I bought it)

I find great value in purchasing boats used and targeting the savings into tools, accessories and spares parts. This way you are never waiting on the shop.

It's not for everyone, but if you are handy and willing to devote some time to it, it's worth it.

A good boat mechanic is also a treasure. But they are rare.

Best of luck. Don't let these people touch it ever again if you can help it.

 

[SeanPC]

I had a Moomba LSV for several years and stored it at South Austin marine and they did all the maintenance. They'd service my boat within a day or two of me calling and was always done right. It's too bad they don't sell Yamaha, Chap or Scarab. I see they have a used jet boat and some jet skis for sale. Might have to call them to see if they service jet boats at all.

 

[FloJet]

F That! Take it back and request full refund. Better yet, next service is free is what they should have said. OOOooo I would be so mad it would take an army from stopping the fuss I would raise. But that's just me when you mess with my BABY!

 

[FloJet]

Not to mention every dang time I pick up my boat from the dealer or other shops, it comes back trashed and nasty. My first 10 hr service boat came back like crap as no towels laid down. Dirty hands, feet everywhere. Even found grass and other outside debris. If I found out the boat was stored outside without the cover, I would lose it. My cover never comes off unless boat being used so they should respect things like that. I do agree with you all. I just don't understand it. Especially when they know there is a possibility for me to come by another one! Even the sales rep act funny after they sell you the merchandise and take your money.