Awful dealer experience while shopping! Shame on you!

[bkhallpass]

Buying with cash is usually a motivator when buying from a private party. The seller doesn't have to wait for you to get a loan, doesn't have to worry about if the check is good,
can probably hide some money from his or her spouse, etc.

Usually when buying a car or boat from a dealer, you'll do best on price if you negotiate as if you were not only going to finance, but take the financing through the dealer. The dealers get kickback and financial incentives form the finance companies. Once the price is negotatied, than pull out you cash. They won't like it, but they don't have much choice in the matter.

BKH

[M3Fan]

Couple notes. The price I was asking for was < 10 % less than he was asking. His asking price is insane and he will NEVER sell it for that much. If they are reading this, I will drive all the way back with a bottle of champagne if the boat goes within 15% of the asking price. In fact, I will make it Dom. I will also send them a nice photo of me with an 00 or mint 97-99 with PP for +-1000 of his asking price. The photo will feature me with a sign showing the price I paid, and an outstretched middle finger. I had an appt with them. The salesman did not mention he would be absent. The owner knew I was coming and had my name in his notes. The boat's battery was even dead. They had to pull out a jump pack to start it. I am not mentioning the dealer because I wanted the main impact of the post to be the crappy treatment and not sound like some guy whining about not getting a deal and poo-poo'ing the dealer like a child. PM me if you want to know who it was for a legitimate reason.

[M3Fan]

Let me add... what an awful let down this was. Here I was, nautique fan for life. I can draw the wiring diagram of my boat on a bar napkin from memory- I can identify any year SN probably from the mid 70's to now at a glance. I had a very small budget for my current boat which I have enjoyed for 3 summers. Now I have substantially more income and have worked my tail off for 3 years. Here is my big chance to go to the dealer and play in the big leagues with much newer boats... and get this BS...

[GRskinautique]

If you do a search on boattrader it looks to me like there is only one boat in close proximity to Chicago that meets those characteristics, and it is at a Nautique dealer.

M3Fan,
I know this boat doesn't meet your criteria exactly but it was on ebay once before and it seems like the reserve was about the same as the boat I think you were looking at.

Nautique

[Mikeski]

M3fan,

This guy does not deserve your business. As hard as it seems to realize at this moment, there is always another deal out there. I have had similar experiences when I was younger looking at new cars (or even slightly used cars). These days I consider myself somewhat of a shrewd buyer, since I flip used cars as a hobby. Even before driving down there I would have negotiated a tentative deal laying down all of my demands in advance. If he didn't respond to my satisfaction I would move on to the next boat.

I have had similar experiences with private sellers that are still emotionally attached to the equipment they are selling. Somewhere along the process I ask one simple question: "Do you really want to sell this..." or "Are you ready to sell this..."? If they answer yes, then I tell them that I am very well educated to the market value of this... and that I am ready to close a deal. Next, I give them my offer, which is probably a borderline insult in many cases. If they begin negotiation then we usually end up somewhere between what I wanted and what they wanted. Since I am not emotionally attached to the deal if they flat turn me down I just move on.

Exactly one year ago I was negotiating between two boats, using them against each other. As it ended up I missed the better deal to another buyer, I passed on the other deal too. In the end I bought a new boat for the first time in many years but I feel that it was the right deal for me and my family.

It seems that this guy was above getting involved in a used boat deal. My guess is that he took the boat in trade and paid too much for it, now he needs to sit on it to save face? Some dealers are like this and let pride (or arrogance) get in the way of them making money. Don't let him get to you and just be happy that he didn't end up making any money off of you. Sorry you had to take such a drive. Best of luck.

[M3Fan]

As an update, I have discovered through private messages that this guy was not the owner. Instead he is the sales manager there.

[sperbet]

I might be a good idea to let the owner know about your experience, maybe an email with the link to this thread as well.

[baedriver]

Have you found a boat? PM me

[82tique]

Seems like everyone on this site from buyers to dealers want to complain about CC dealers.

Maybe the site admin should create a whole new forum topic for everyone to whine about their experiences.

You could call it: "I've got issues"

Just a thought 8-)

[baedriver]

had a similar experience it really does leave a sour taste in your mouth!!

[darrel409]

As sad as this experience is i hope it doesnt discourage you from staying Corrct Craft, you'll never see that guy again. Hard to imagine a CC dealer could afford this type of "manager" especially now that its off season. For the good of everyone now and in the future the ownership should really get some feedback on this winner.
Dealers, will always need to make a little more than the private party just because there is another slice to the pie. Private parties have only one boat to sell and they usually sell based on their motivation and the boats value. You're always their # 1 customer. Plus they wont try to cloud the price with financing options. Good luck with your search, take your time, its only November.

[MARTHO]

Dealers, will always need to make a little more than the private party just because there is another slice to the pie. Private parties have only one boat to sell and they usually sell based on their motivation and the boats value.

M3's offer on this boat was more than the market value. IMO: it was well in excess of what the boat was worth with all the options, which it doesnt have.

For what M3 was offering to pay, there was plenty of money in it for the dealer. If the dealer really had all the money he claims to have in the boat, Im surprised they are still in business. There is no way the dealer can have 96% of asking price into a used boat which is gonna sit on their lot for 6 months.

[darrel409]

Agree, this is what makes it even dumber for the guy not to deal w/ M3. He going to have much more invested into the boat after winterizing, storing for the winter, and then detailing it for a sale in the spring. And to top it off it'll be a year older too. This guy deserves some type of award and M3 deserves one for not doing a tap dance on his forehead.

[greg]

hi there I'm new to this site and new to Nautiques. I'm thinking of buying a 1999 or 2000 air and could really use some guidance from someone knows these boats well. please email me at greg_colquhoun@yahoo.ca.

thanks in advance,

Greg

[blaker19]

bummer

Check out www.buxtonmarine.com. We have an awesome variety of pre-owned boats. The cool thing about it is we sold all of these boats originally and have done all the service work and know where they've been. We are a really small operation (A sales manager Phil, and me Blake). Sorry about your crappy experience...but if you see something you like give us a call. I promise we won't treat you or anyone like that. Sometimes you run into people that arent as passionate about CC like others are. That guy may have been going through something personal. However that is no excuse and you deserve an apology.

Blake
Buxton Marine Sales
2005 #1 Nautique Dealer in North America by Sales Volume

(had to toot our horn...)