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Author Topic:   Good dealers and sales people

frontier posted 10-16-2013 10:07 AM ET (US)
It's interesting the power of good local dealers and/or sales people.
Even a nationwide, overall low selling boat, outboard or car can have huge local sales with the presence of a good dealer and many times an excellent lone sales person.
Jefecinco posted 10-17-2013 10:24 AM ET (US)
Something that amazes me is the profound lack of product knowledge possessed by almost every boat, engine, marine electronics and other marine products salesperson I encounter. Motor vehicle salespersons are no better.
Yesterday I stopped at a MarineMax dealership to buy an outboard flushing muff for my 30 HP Mercury EFI four stroke. I took the old one in with me for sizing purposes. When I asked the parts clerk about a replacement he asked me what it was. It turns out the clerk was actually the dealership manager.
Good grief!
Butch
jimh posted 10-17-2013 11:24 AM ET (US)
The principle reason for the choice of engine that's on my boat's transom is the dealership that represents the brand and sold me the engine.
frontier posted 10-18-2013 10:34 AM ET (US)
Years ago the #1 Boston Whaler dealer in the country was a family business in Seattle.
Now, the local Whaler dealer sells mostly Bayliners and SeaRays (and every now and then they sell a Boston Whaler).
Has business changed that much? Could a Boston Whaler ONLY dealer make it in todays world?
Interesting note: The local Grady-White dealer in Seattle is the only GW dealer in our 3-state area (WA, OR and ID).
And they are the same family business that used to be the #1 Whaler dealer in the country.
prj posted 10-18-2013 11:36 AM ET (US)

quote:
Could a Boston Whaler ONLY dealer make it in todays world?
Do you shop at Costco or your neighborhood butcher, baker, liquor store and produce stand? Do you shop at Walmart and Home Despot or your local cobbler, lumberyard, hardware store, general store?
While your specific responses to those questions may not answer yours, a large enough sample of responses might suggest an answer, one that we likely know based solely on the "success" of the above mentioned businesses.
jimh posted 10-18-2013 11:47 AM ET (US)
I bought my outboard engine from a local dealer. I did not buy it from some mega-store dealer who was located a thousand miles away or from some deep-in-the-woods low-margin dealer in the South who shipped it to me. The dealer I bought my outboard engine from has been selling the brand for over 90-years. I paid sales tax. The dealer installed the engine and has been servicing it. I guess I am old fashioned.
prj posted 10-18-2013 12:08 PM ET (US)
I'd prefer to consider that right minded rather than old fashioned, the latter suggesting a lost time never to be revisited.
Looking around my urban neighborhood, with a burgeoning local commercial scene which includes the retail needs met by those remote, exurban big boxes mentioned above, I have hope that buying local, from established neighbors and community members is a forward thinking decision.
george nagy posted 10-19-2013 09:12 AM ET (US)
Prj I think there is a difference between buying cheap disposable household goods from China at a large discount mart and purchasing an expensive sophisticated machine such as a car or boat. I know that I myself and many others would never tolerate the mega store mentality when it comes to purchasing or servicing a car or boat. My mechanic is a small one owner shop that has proven to be better in both price and mechanical competence than the mega rip off dealer. Also when contemplating a car purchase I will shy away from the "nation" dealers. This is also true for hardware, the depot is my last resort I find my local family owned hardware to be more suitable and if it is late or Sunday I head to ace which is a family franchise. In the construction industry all the contractors primarily purchase from family operated distributors or other family operated fabricators who do one or two disciplines rather than have a little bit of everything and ultimately a whole lot of nothing like the depots. In fact the contractors have told me that their discounts at the depot are still more expensive than locals. Groceries are becoming a problem especially produce. Florida has one chain called publix which for the most part operates like a family operated market and the service is great no matter which one you go to, but the mass purchased and supplied produce is horrible. I wish we had a farmer's market nearby but we have built mega mansion golf communities where they use to be. All in all this mega corporate big box way of operating a business fails for many business models but it is often too late for the locals by the time the giants collapse.
weekendwarrior posted 10-19-2013 08:08 PM ET (US)
I have had such bad service from local dealers that I bought my last outboard online. I bought 2 outboards this year, and the other I did buy at a local dealer but only because Honda doesn't allow online sales and I really wanted the Honda in that size. I am loyal when I find good service, but in my area it seems good service is impossible to find.

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Author	Topic: Good dealers and sales people
frontier	posted 10-16-2013 10:07 AM ET (US) It's interesting the power of good local dealers and/or sales people. Even a nationwide, overall low selling boat, outboard or car can have huge local sales with the presence of a good dealer and many times an excellent lone sales person.
Jefecinco	posted 10-17-2013 10:24 AM ET (US) Something that amazes me is the profound lack of product knowledge possessed by almost every boat, engine, marine electronics and other marine products salesperson I encounter. Motor vehicle salespersons are no better. Yesterday I stopped at a MarineMax dealership to buy an outboard flushing muff for my 30 HP Mercury EFI four stroke. I took the old one in with me for sizing purposes. When I asked the parts clerk about a replacement he asked me what it was. It turns out the clerk was actually the dealership manager. Good grief! Butch
jimh	posted 10-17-2013 11:24 AM ET (US) The principle reason for the choice of engine that's on my boat's transom is the dealership that represents the brand and sold me the engine.
frontier	posted 10-18-2013 10:34 AM ET (US) Years ago the #1 Boston Whaler dealer in the country was a family business in Seattle. Now, the local Whaler dealer sells mostly Bayliners and SeaRays (and every now and then they sell a Boston Whaler). Has business changed that much? Could a Boston Whaler ONLY dealer make it in todays world? Interesting note: The local Grady-White dealer in Seattle is the only GW dealer in our 3-state area (WA, OR and ID). And they are the same family business that used to be the #1 Whaler dealer in the country.
prj	posted 10-18-2013 11:36 AM ET (US) quote: Could a Boston Whaler ONLY dealer make it in todays world? Do you shop at Costco or your neighborhood butcher, baker, liquor store and produce stand? Do you shop at Walmart and Home Despot or your local cobbler, lumberyard, hardware store, general store? While your specific responses to those questions may not answer yours, a large enough sample of responses might suggest an answer, one that we likely know based solely on the "success" of the above mentioned businesses.
jimh	posted 10-18-2013 11:47 AM ET (US) I bought my outboard engine from a local dealer. I did not buy it from some mega-store dealer who was located a thousand miles away or from some deep-in-the-woods low-margin dealer in the South who shipped it to me. The dealer I bought my outboard engine from has been selling the brand for over 90-years. I paid sales tax. The dealer installed the engine and has been servicing it. I guess I am old fashioned.
prj	posted 10-18-2013 12:08 PM ET (US) I'd prefer to consider that right minded rather than old fashioned, the latter suggesting a lost time never to be revisited. Looking around my urban neighborhood, with a burgeoning local commercial scene which includes the retail needs met by those remote, exurban big boxes mentioned above, I have hope that buying local, from established neighbors and community members is a forward thinking decision.
george nagy	posted 10-19-2013 09:12 AM ET (US) Prj I think there is a difference between buying cheap disposable household goods from China at a large discount mart and purchasing an expensive sophisticated machine such as a car or boat. I know that I myself and many others would never tolerate the mega store mentality when it comes to purchasing or servicing a car or boat. My mechanic is a small one owner shop that has proven to be better in both price and mechanical competence than the mega rip off dealer. Also when contemplating a car purchase I will shy away from the "nation" dealers. This is also true for hardware, the depot is my last resort I find my local family owned hardware to be more suitable and if it is late or Sunday I head to ace which is a family franchise. In the construction industry all the contractors primarily purchase from family operated distributors or other family operated fabricators who do one or two disciplines rather than have a little bit of everything and ultimately a whole lot of nothing like the depots. In fact the contractors have told me that their discounts at the depot are still more expensive than locals. Groceries are becoming a problem especially produce. Florida has one chain called publix which for the most part operates like a family operated market and the service is great no matter which one you go to, but the mass purchased and supplied produce is horrible. I wish we had a farmer's market nearby but we have built mega mansion golf communities where they use to be. All in all this mega corporate big box way of operating a business fails for many business models but it is often too late for the locals by the time the giants collapse.
weekendwarrior	posted 10-19-2013 08:08 PM ET (US) I have had such bad service from local dealers that I bought my last outboard online. I bought 2 outboards this year, and the other I did buy at a local dealer but only because Honda doesn't allow online sales and I really wanted the Honda in that size. I am loyal when I find good service, but in my area it seems good service is impossible to find.