posted 01-27-2009 11:51 AM ET (US)        

Is it just me? Whenever I see this sort of language used to describe a boat offered for sale, I turn the page or click the mouse and keep looking. It's bad enough when a realtor describes a home this way, but a boat...

Tony

posted 01-27-2009 12:09 PM ET (US)            

Warren

posted 01-27-2009 12:51 PM ET (US)         

It's just you.

posted 01-27-2009 01:17 PM ET (US)         

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/ship-shape%20and%20Bristol%20fashion.html

posted 01-27-2009 02:01 PM ET (US)            

"This is the best _____ you will ever find"

"There is not another ______ out there that is nicer"

"Better hurry this one will not last"

"Steal this/my boat"

Usually used to describe boats that are in less than perfect condition and usually at the high end of the market price range.

posted 01-27-2009 02:14 PM ET (US)            

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/ship-shape%20and%20Bristol%20fashion. html

posted 01-27-2009 02:38 PM ET (US)            

I think it means, set down the bong and step away from the key board ;)

posted 01-27-2009 03:46 PM ET (US)            

My translation from a discounted, non-government subsidized converter box:

"I gave her a small piece of gum. She replied/gushed 'Thanks! You're Awesome!!!' This reply caused me to do a double take."

When I do get my coupon for the converter box, I'm going to send the government a note: "Thanks! Now I can watch AWESOME over the air programming!"

To quote "Mr. Burns"...

"Ehhxcellent."

posted 01-27-2009 04:29 PM ET (US)            

quote:

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"After this party did get a Chicklet from the box and telling me "Thanks You're awesome!!"

Does ANYBODY understand what this sentence means?

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is this:

quote:

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“The issue is actually conductive to further mullings.” Ritzyrags - 12-17-2008

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posted 01-27-2009 08:41 PM ET (US)            

I have a never garaged, filthy, 24 ft Stamas Hardtop with twin 165 Chev 6's, worn out Merc Alpha 1s that is a worthy restoration project for ya. If I send you $200, will you come and tow it away?

Just kidding, it is not for sale, everything else is true.

posted 01-27-2009 08:57 PM ET (US)            

"Must sell by xx/xx/xx $X,XXX FIRM!"

posted 01-28-2009 12:37 AM ET (US)            

I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue...

posted 01-28-2009 01:20 AM ET (US)            

Why make a new version of an existing product if you didn't improve it...(?) [Wouldn't that be called re-packaged -or- SOS but prettier(?)]

Or those commercials that come on every 15 minutes telling you to call in the next 20 minutes to receive an additional...
Hmmm - Don't miss out!

And - please, by all means - YELL your pitch at me - I'm so excited - I have to buy one of those!

posted 01-28-2009 03:28 PM ET (US)            

quote:

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New and Improved
Why make a new version of an existing product if you didn't improve it...(?)

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posted 01-29-2009 04:24 AM ET (US)         

For a good laugh on the topic - check out the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-SK1-iILlY

posted 01-29-2009 09:31 AM ET (US)            

quote:

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They pretty much have to lie to put bread on the table

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Not if they are selling a quality product, but that brings to mind this obnoxious tag line:

"Sells itself"

posted 01-30-2009 03:49 PM ET (US)            

and I say:

"What, you going out buisness?"

and then they say:

"Well, as a matter fact we are"

and then I say:

posted 01-30-2009 04:55 PM ET (US)         

quote:

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I just have empathy for the car and boat salesmen of the world who are the contantly the victims of wide ranging stereotypes

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Is there any empathy remaing in your sack of sensitivity
for the thousands of victimized Whaler boat owners
who have taken it in the shorts financially from
Whaler dealerships over the years ?

Does, "sorry, we just can't sell you a boat below MSRP", sound familiar ?

posted 01-30-2009 05:08 PM ET (US)            

Watching QVC or HSN the sales associate uses that one so often they would literally have to have a warehouse behind their own house to have all of what they say they buy.

posted 01-31-2009 12:07 AM ET (US)            

Really??

posted 01-31-2009 12:35 AM ET (US)            

As a life long salesman I will offer my thoughts. The best sales person is one that listens to the client and responds.
If a buyer is getting treated the way many of the posters on this thread are claiming its because the sales reps are either unprofessional or responding to the client in a way they can relate.Many buyers want to be sold a certain way and they never realize it. My experience with clients has been that they are usually not as astute as I am with the products I sell. They tend to be a bit nervous with the sales process and end up being a tad defensive. I try to educate , but the customer is so pre-occupied with not getting "screwed" that they miss the boat on buying the best product for themselves.

Most professional sales people need long term repeat business. My best customer buys $1.8million a year from me because I take care of him all year. Its the cheap small guys that beat me up over 40k and waste my time that just do not understand service. All they see is pennies while dollars sneak out the back door.

My point to anyone that is getting cheap talk from the sales person is to do a gut check and ask yourself if you are positioning yourself as a cheap customer.

posted 01-31-2009 07:47 AM ET (US)         

quote:

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Is there any empathy remaing in your sack of sensitivity
for the thousands of victimized Whaler boat owners
who have taken it in the shorts financially from
Whaler dealerships over the years ?

Does, "sorry, we just can't sell you a boat below MSRP", sound familiar ?

Who's crying now ? What goes around, doth cometh around !

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posted 01-31-2009 09:14 AM ET (US)            

My family are third generation GM dealers. I have seen my dad leave home at 11:00 on a sunday night to help a customer with a dead battery, or dispatch help 100 miles away because someone was stranded. We have customers whose vehicles we finance and maintain at a drastically discounted rate because they have been customers for thirty plus years, and would not be able to afford to keep a car otherwise.

posted 01-31-2009 10:23 AM ET (US)            

However, selling retail big-ticket items is a very different scenario. First of all, in most cases the buyer will be well behind the seller in terms of product knowledge, and knowledge of the sales process. Even the weathly don't buy a new Whaler every year or two, and "repeat" business is much less of a consideration for the salesperson. On a more normal boat (or automobile) purchase cycle of 3-4 years of more, it is not even likely you will find the same salesperson as the previous time.

Given this scenario, taking advantage of the customer to make a sale is a lot easier to get away with, and given the commissions involved, there are few salespeople who will not press that advantage.

There is a reason all the tried-and-true gimmicks work, as you state ("several other people are interested", or my favorite "I'm not sure the sales manager will buy into this" at which point the salesperson goes out for a smoke while the customer sweats it out.)

posted 01-31-2009 10:47 AM ET (US)            

I do not take it to heart and really get a kick out of it.

Rent "Tin Men" or "Glengary Glenn Ross".

posted 01-31-2009 12:13 PM ET (US)         

Posters who are incapable of deducing intelligent humor, satire and and witticism.

posted 01-31-2009 12:44 PM ET (US)         

quote:

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...and then bragging on continuouswave about the deal you got and how much you hate dealers, frankly you can all go [vulgar]in your hats.

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You seem to have it right Mo, see

Chopbuster writes:

quote:

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BTW, just purchased a new well equipped 150 Montauk with cash at 30% below MSRP. Cash talks, dealer BS walks.

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posted 01-31-2009 12:49 PM ET (US)            

lol..So I should be proud I got screwed by a dealer by falling for one of poor mouthing lines (while working "hard" on a weekend from 9-2 on a saturday..in shorts)?

GREAT! Boy that maks m feel better!

posted 01-31-2009 01:12 PM ET (US)            

We are all in sales. Whether we sell product for a living or selling the boss that we do great work, it's all sales.

posted 01-31-2009 08:22 PM ET (US)            

Obnoxious Language about Obnoxious Boat Sales Language

To get back to the initial article from elaelap, I am really bothered by the sentence, "The boat shows well."

This use of the verb shows has me confused. The boat doesn't show itself, but this seems like a reflexive verb, as in "the boat shows itself well." The salesman shows the boat to the buyer. I browsed through about 35 definitions of the word "show" looking for the right one. I can't find it.