prices

[horkn]

I think as consumers, we should know MSRP, and even though this site and maybe others won't allow it, the consumer is the one that is buying these boats (duh) and the consumers should know cost. I think these numbers should be posted on say, yahoo answers or similar place to post them that won't be removed.

It's a free country, and free speech is part of it. There is no legal way to keep people from talking.

[NautiqueJeff]

LOL.

For those not in the know, until very recently (and maybe they still do?) CC has always mentioned they are a christian company with highly christian beliefs and morals. Look at their old catalogs, even in the 90's and you will see several mentions of this, including the "miracle" of boating story about war commissioned boats that they produced.

I have a feeling after the majority of shares to an outside non family entity (2008?) that they stopped mentioning this history because it wasn't family owned anymore.

It might actually hurt sales in today's climate.

I do think not posting prices makes one wonder about getting ripped off though.

Look at the current model year catalog. You'll still see references to their beliefs, starting on page 2.

http://www.nautiques.com/owners/brochure

[Zigzag55k]

I think you will find most dealers post Nautiques msrp on the boats in their showroom. I think msrp should be posted on the web. I will throw this out most new buyers are very confused by options listed and list everything on the boat they want a price qote for, so it is absolutely mandatory for the options to be consice and explained properly in the msrp calculator.

Mark Q

[swc5150]

Tdc makes a good point. Leaving out names and details, I've found small town dealer pricing drop kicks those in high-priced metro areas. It's simple economics; buy a round of drinks in Chippewa Falls, WI, then buy the same round in say Chicago. The same principle often applies to these boats.

Here's a great example from my MC sales day. A customer wanted to buy a Prostar from me. I had to dealer trade with a metro dealership to get the color he wanted, and when I mentioned what I had sold the boat for, their sales manager said he'd eat the boat before selling it that cheap. I still hit my margin, keeping my sales manager happy, it was simply a fact of different markets.

Interesting that wakeboard boat prices were mentioned too. When the 205 became available with the X-Star package, I was literally shocked at how much a Skylon, fatsack and ugly green hull added to the price. I thought that they had priced themselves out of the towed watersports market at that point, but it's still rolling. It makes me wonder when the bell curve will begin.

[newNautique]

I concur with the majority of comments in this thread. I don't get the pricing secrecy either. It's not like other quality boat manufacturers don't openly reveal their msrp. In contrast, top quality i/o producer Cobalt openly lists msrp for boats and options. What you ultimately pay is between you and the dealer, but there's no harm in a ball park figure posted on your company website.

[gride300]

basically there should be a static msrp for every model and it should be the same at every single dealer in the u.s. then the dealer can adjust it down from there just like cars.

[Miljack]

I'm going to agree that CC needs to have a MSRP for their lineup. If they are worried about "regional" pricing issues, add 5% to cover the differences, and let the dealers make the deals with the consumer.

[j2nh]

I have mixed feelings on this one.

Nautiques are frightfully expensive. It seems that whether you sell at MSRP, list a joke MSRP and then offer deep discounts or don't say anything, the bottom line really doesn't change much, the consumer is going to pay a HUGE part of their income/savings for a new boat. Finance it and never look at what you will pay in interest, it will floor you. It is what it is.
EXCEPT.....
When you find someone that gets a better deal from the same dealer than you did. Then the joy factor fades, the "great dealer" feeling is gone and you get angry. To me it would be a safer business practice to sell them for a set price, exclude year end, demo and promo and leave it at that. Prices too high dealer can't sell boats? Then CC finds a way to lower the MSRP/selling price.

At the end of the day it is their company although it is noteworthy that in recent years they have lost market share and I think are no longer part of the "big three" having been replaced by Skiers Choice.

Personally as much as I like watersports, it is a business I would never want any part of.

[Chattwake]

I am also waiting to see what cost changes there were for 2011. It will have some impact on what direction I go in.

[Chexi]

I have mixed feelings on this one.

Nautiques are frightfully expensive. It seems that whether you sell at MSRP, list a joke MSRP and then offer deep discounts or don't say anything, the bottom line really doesn't change much, the consumer is going to pay a HUGE part of their income/savings for a new boat. Finance it and never look at what you will pay in interest, it will floor you. It is what it is.
EXCEPT.....
When you find someone that gets a better deal from the same dealer than you did. Then the joy factor fades, the "great dealer" feeling is gone and you get angry. To me it would be a safer business practice to sell them for a set price, exclude year end, demo and promo and leave it at that. Prices too high dealer can't sell boats? Then CC finds a way to lower the MSRP/selling price.

At the end of the day it is their company although it is noteworthy that in recent years they have lost market share and I think are no longer part of the "big three" having been replaced by Skiers Choice.

Personally as much as I like watersports, it is a business I would never want any part of.

I'm not sure that CC lost market share. I thought that Skier's Choice leapfrogged CC due to the combination of both Supra and Moomba, neither of which alone outsells CC. This is coming from a conversation I had with a Supra/Moomba dealer a while back at wake camp, so I cannot guaranty the accuracy of either the original statement or my recollection of the conversation.

[ClemsonDave]

I am also waiting to see what cost changes there were for 2011. It will have some impact on what direction I go in.

The price change on my '10 200 to my '11 200 is a smaller jump than any other year I remember.

[Chattwake]

Yeah, I just got the numbers for a 2011 230 and the jump was not that bad. The pricing structure has changed somewhat through. I'm still waiting to see what the new z5 will cost.

[Shooter]

I don’t know anything about market shares, but I do know the current brand perception is not like it once was. When I first started wakeboarding, the Nautique was the only boat to have. They were the leaders for wake, innovation and it was the boat of the pro tour. I also felt the price (although more expensive) was competitive with other brands.

With all the other manufactures stepping up (Epic, Axis, MB, Tige, Malibu, and Mastercraft, etc) it’s now a very competitive market. I think TDC nailed it, CC business model appeals more to the non-watersport market. I think that is one of the reasons why the old hull is so popular.

[brananders]

My experience buying a new 210 this year and trying to determine the best price was pretty exasperating and not just with the Nautique dealer, but I also looked at MCs, Malibus and Tiges. I basically was able to get a dealer from a different territory to quote me on an old stock 2009 and then compared it to the best deal I could get on a 2010 from the local guy. Interestingly enough I got a better deal on my 210, than I could on a similarly equipped X2 or VLX. So in the end the decision was pretty easy. The discount from MSRP to actual price is a real joke and I think it makes the dealers look bad and does not establish a lot of trust. At least with cars the MSRP gives buyers and sellers a more realistic starting point.

The other aspect that of new boats that I find strange is the hoops you have to jump through to transfer warranties.

[horkn]

All I have to do is think back when I started wakeboarding, and find what wakeboard boats sold for then.

Oh wait, they didn't have wakeboard specific boats back then.

Regardless, waterskiing has never been a cheap sport, but I think it's pretty obvious that even with a lot more gadgets available in boats now, they have well exceeded very expensive.

Yeah, financing a 80k boat is crazy as far as interest costs with the higher rates a boat loan will run versus a car loan.