Dealer Territory Rules - Let's Change Them!

[RiggerJon]

Jeff is correct - the FTC forbids manufacturer sales restrictions on used products.

[blueroom]

I think this has been covered here and there for the most part. Nautique does track this via warranty registration, service visits, etc. The biggest trigger is a difference between where you purchased the boat and where your initial required service is performed. If they are different, that triggers and will result in conversation between the two dealers. After that, it is much looser.

Dealers who don't play nice risk having their new boat allocation slots affected. There is always more demand than supply to dealers, even before the craziness of the last couple years. I have seen dealers that will risk this some and entertain the idea, and others who will practically hang up the phone on you. The easiest workaround if you don't want to buy from your local dealer is to wait until they are out of stock of the model you want, at that point it is fair game for the most part. Much harder if you want to try to custom order from an outside dealer.

The bigger issue is how YOU will be treated. Break a drive shaft on a boat you purchased locally, your local dealer will have you back on the water quick. Same issue with someone who shopped around, you are in the queue and will burn half your summer waiting for repair. Nothing wrong with that, service hours are finite during summer months and that dealer is going to take care of their customers first.

[countiemountie]

I can understand N3 Boatworks not selling me a current model boat if my local dealer has one in stock. Due to having a vacation home, I am fortunate enough that I can buy from from either dealer in my state. However, BOTH of the dealers in my state do NOT have one, not even a pre-owned model!! So, now with N3 / Nautique's poor sales approach, I am being driven to buy from a different manufacturer.

[NautiqueJeff]

I don't see any reason for you to be upset with N3. They are just following the manufacturer's rules that they are required to follow.

[wayoutthere]

It's like this, your on tony sopranos crew in jersey and you want to knock over a semi truck full of fur coats, but the truck is in new york.
you can't just hop in the town car roll over the george washington and have a little fun without permission from both places.

You have to pay for that permission and you have kick up to tony a piece of everything you do, for that matter tony has to kick a little up to new york for them letting you into there sandbox.

believe me, what tony has to kick up will be coming outta your pocket.
always remember, never ask tony to ask, never do anything on your own, if ya do it'll be one of two things cement waterskis for service or going to mastercraft looking for a plea deal.

[RDT-G23]

I think this has been covered here and there for the most part. Nautique does track this via warranty registration, service visits, etc. The biggest trigger is a difference between where you purchased the boat and where your initial required service is performed. If they are different, that triggers and will result in conversation between the two dealers. After that, it is much looser.

Dealers who don't play nice risk having their new boat allocation slots affected. There is always more demand than supply to dealers, even before the craziness of the last couple years. I have seen dealers that will risk this some and entertain the idea, and others who will practically hang up the phone on you. The easiest workaround if you don't want to buy from your local dealer is to wait until they are out of stock of the model you want, at that point it is fair game for the most part. Much harder if you want to try to custom order from an outside dealer.

The bigger issue is how YOU will be treated. Break a drive shaft on a boat you purchased locally, your local dealer will have you back on the water quick. Same issue with someone who shopped around, you are in the queue and will burn half your summer waiting for repair. Nothing wrong with that, service hours are finite during summer months and that dealer is going to take care of their customers first.

Without divulging the two dealers in my scenario (although you could look at past posts and figure it out) I couldn't disagree more. The dealer I bought my Paragon from is the largest in the US (by volume). They only sell Nautiques (not Bayliners, pontoons, and Kawasaki Jet Skis as well). Their knowledge mops the floor with the dealer closest to my lake home. When I call, they are "steppin'- and - fetchin'" That is all...

[blueroom]

Quote removed by Admin for not following the Guidelines for Quoting Previous Posts in a Thread.

Not sure what you are disagreeing with, was sharing what I know from being close to the process. It sounds like you are saying your well-known Texas dealer is “steppin'- and - fetchin'" to sell out of territory? Lucky you.

[RDT-G23]

I think the point I was disagreeing with was that proximity somehow ensures speed of service/"getting one back on the water quickly." The double whammy I was also referencing was the fact that the dealer which is closer - doesn't have the same technical expertise; I've experienced this for myself with my last G23.

[GMLIII]

RDT-G23 without rereading the thread how were you successful in purchasing both of your NEW Nautiques from a non-local dealer? I didn't think that was possible based on the current Nautique to dealer business model.

[mgs917]

@GML111, it seems from reading through the thread that any dealer can sell you a boat, but they would have to pay a fee to your local dealer. RDT-G23 mentions that he also has a business relationship with his dealer so maybe his dealer absorbs the fee or has a deal worked out with the other local dealers. That's how I am interpreting what I read, could be wrong though.

[RDT-G23]

RDT-G23 without rereading the thread how were you successful in purchasing both of your NEW Nautiques from a non-local dealer? I didn't think that was possible based on the current Nautique to dealer business model.

I bought one from each. My 17 G was from the local (make that-closer), dealership. As noted above, I had a business relationship with my current dealer. I still have business in the MSA (where my Paragon was bought), and do all of my accessory shopping, parts ordering, service scheduling, etc. with that dealer. It is said that "people do business with people they trust"; that is certainly descriptive of my scenario. I'm an anal-retentive freak (self-aware mind you, but still way over the top). The people at the dealership know this, and we treat each other well.

[mgs917]

I agree 100% with doing business with people they trust. I bought a 2000 SAN in 2012 and sold it in 2020 with the plan to upgrade. My wife completed her residency in 2021 and we finally felt comfortable financially to buy a new Nautique. The dealer I was going to for service from 2015-2021 was where I felt comfortable. The dealer took me out on 4 different demos over that time period and I felt I had a great relationship. Unfortunately, we moved in July of 2021 when my wife found employment right before the S series came out. I worked with the new local dealer as I moved states. I didn't get the same feeling from them that I did from the previous dealer. If I hadn't moved I would be in a S23 right now 100% guaranteed. I don't like to say never, but I don't think I will ever own a Nautique again due to the way I was treated at the new dealer. All because some dumb territory rules. I realize technically I could drive 5 states away to go buy the boat, but then I would probably get screwed when it comes to service. No thanks. Sad really, but I realize its business and Nautique won't lose any sleep over it. Just bums me out because as we were living modestly and scraping by during residency we were always dreaming of a newer Nautique.

[GMLIII]

RDT-G23 G23 ,LOL . Thanks for the detail , lastly did current Paragon dealer have to pay some fee to local dealer since you purchased from him on your Paragon purchase?

[RDT-G23]

I suspect not, given the multiple intersections they have with me, but in fairness - I've not asked directly yet.

[blueroom]

If they are local enough that they can perform your service, they are less likely to get caught. As I mentioned above, the main thing that flags is purchase dealer vs. service dealer. Keeping things all in one dealer is not technically per dealer agreement, but what is anyone really going to do about it and how can they easily find/prove it.

Where dealers really get creative is in states with no sales tax........