Buy holdover from a different dealer?

[nyryan2001]

The key difference that isn't being articulated well is Nautique's reputation in warranty and service. Other than Mastercraft....no other boat manufacturers are even remotely close in regards to how dealers treat out of territory customers for warranty service. Nautique genuinely takes care of its customers.

"Other" dealers will openly tell you not to even bring your boat to them if you didn't buy it there, all the way up to their CEO. Or they will reluctantly take the boat if you press the issue, and give you terrible service and a hack job so you run away and never bring it back.

There are NO reports of refused out of territory warranty service on here....none.

This is a primary consideration for me as I move often... and when I move away from home dealer where I bought. Nautique has been A+ for me as I am a late model out of territory customer, 2000miles away from my home dealer right now. And it get great service, no issues.

I could absolutely recommend an out of territory Nautique to a friend, they stand behind their product and service. Not all manufacturers do.

[Nordicron]

A friend of mine owns a Nautique dealership, and confirmed with me that they can sell non-current boats out of territory. Shop away amigo!

At what point does a boat become "non-current"? Would all 2015's now be non current? Or only 2014's?

[Evening Shade]

The key difference that isn't being articulated well is Nautique's reputation in warranty and service. Other than Mastercraft....no other boat manufacturers are even remotely close in regards to how dealers treat out of territory customers for warranty service. Nautique genuinely takes care of its customers.
"Other" dealers will openly tell you not to even bring your boat to them if you didn't buy it there, all the way up to their CEO. Or they will reluctantly take the boat if you press the issue, and give you terrible service and a hack job so you run away and never bring it back.

I never had any issue such as this when I had my Malibu. Other dealers welcomed my business. The dealer that I purchased my boat from was under new ownership and another dealer closer to home began carrying Malibu.

[Evening Shade]

A friend of mine owns a Nautique dealership, and confirmed with me that they can sell non-current boats out of territory. Shop away amigo!

Glad to hear this. I would definitely prefer to have my nearest dealer transfer a hold-over boat so I could buy from the nearest dealer.

[swc5150]

I don't know that there is a hard and fast date as to when a boat becomes a non-current, other than when the new year boats are on the lot.

[Miljack]

nyryan2001 , just a comment on your "no reports..." I have first hand knowledge of dealer's refusal to service an out of territory purchased boat on a significant warranty issue (I saw emails, etc.).
You are right in that Nautique made something happen to fix the problem, but with a major hassle to the purchaser of the boat.

I would echo the other statements here that working with your local dealer is the best way to handle an out of territory new boat purchase, but not all dealers are that enlightened...
YMMV...

[Tallredrider]

This is very disappointing for me to learn considering that I would like to buy a hold-over in the future. Another thing that shocks me is how people on this forum like to coddle or schmooze their dealer when it comes to service. Check me if I'm wrong, but last time I checked, I'm the customer not the dealer. I'm not saying that I would be a jerk or unreasonable, but I am the customer. Also, dealers get paid by the manufacturer for warranty work so they don't care who you bought the boat from. They get their money either way. At least that's how the auto industry works.

When dealers occasionally frequent the discussion boards, I hear over and over that warranty work is paid at a lower rate than the usual shop rate, so they sort of hate warranty work. In fact, they repeatedly claim that they don't make money in the service department at all. I find it hard to beleive that they can't make money at $100 per hour or more, but I have heard it enough that I usually make it a point to pass it on. It does explain behaviors towards people who bought their boats elsewhere, which I have seen plenty, but cannot say I have seen it with Nautique.

[wakerider107]

When dealers occasionally frequent the discussion boards, I hear over and over that warranty work is paid at a lower rate than the usual shop rate, so they sort of hate warranty work. In fact, they repeatedly claim that they don't make money in the service department at all. I find it hard to beleive that they can't make money at $100 per hour or more, but I have heard it enough that I usually make it a point to pass it on. It does explain behaviors towards people who bought their boats elsewhere, which I have seen plenty, but cannot say I have seen it with Nautique.

Each warranty case is different, but there will be many times that a manufacturer will only reimburse the dealer for 2 hours of labor when it actually takes 4-5. However, there are instances where it is the opposite and the dealer will profit.

As previously mentioned, the idea of buying from your local dealer is that they will be the ones servicing you. I would hope that they will not turn you away, but i can absolutely guarantee that you will go to the back of the service line if you purchase a current model year from outside of territory. Hopefully your local dealer still treats you right, but you will not be a priority. In the middle of the summer, dealers can easily be 2-3 weeks out on service.