Is my dealer trying to get rid of me?

[tmb]

I've run into an interesting situation and I can't figure out if it's me, them, or the norm. I've purchased 3 nautiques over the last 9 years from my local dealer. They have been very good to me in the past but we ran into a little hiccup last fall when I was going to buy a GS20. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I test drove it again a few weeks ago and decided it's definitely not the boat for me due to the slalom wake. I decided I was probably going to get another 210. My dealer was very accommodating and took me for a test drive on the gs20, 16' 210 with the 5.3, and a 17 210 with the 6.0. He sent me a price on ordering a new 2018 at a 21% discount. This discount was not as good as he had offered a few years ago when I was looking at ordering another 210. I asked if he could do any better and he said no because they aren't interested in selling boats at the margin a greater than 21% discount would give them. I explained my neighbor (who talked to them about a 16 210 but was no longer interested because of the color) may be swayed into a 2018 if the price is right. My neighbor has called a few dealers regarding 17's that have the color scheme his wife wants and they are offering 24% discount over the phone without even knowing him. I told my dealer I was disappointed that my neighbor could get a 24% discount over the phone but I can't get that and we have an existing relationship. At the end of the day he agreed to talk with his boss about a deal if both myself and neibhbor would agree to order new 210's. That was Monday and I haven't heard back and I even sent him a text reminder. My neighbor even called them today and didn't receive a call back. Have any of you experienced something similar? It truly comes across that they have no interest in selling to me. I don't think my asking for a better price is unreasonable, am I wrong? My salesman is a good guy and I want to buy from him but I get the feeling he would rather have me buy from another dealer.

[scottb7]

Hmmm. I would guess that he is being pretty honest with you, in that they REALLY don't want to discount more than 21%. And if they don't want to discount greater than 21%, they DOUBLE REALLY don't want to match another dealers discount and sell two boats at 24% off.

I think the reality of some of these business that discount stuff (cars boats whatever) is that some of them are high volume low margin and some are low volume high margin, and some are in between, and kind of have their own idea of where they want to be positioned. They have their own belief on the margin they need/want to provide the level of service they perceive they want to provide.

It might not be a fit, you and them...anymore. You may be reading their lack of responsiveness correctly...

[jjackkrash]

The dealer is probably trying to get rid of you at 24% off, but would be happy to have you as a customer at 21% off. That's pretty much what he told you upfront, so not much of a mystery imo.

[Nautiquehunter]

If you buy it somewhere else you will have to service it somewhere else . Hard to believe any dealer would throw away 200k in sales over 5%. I guess they have more new customers to deal with to worry about replete old customers. Kinda like Harley Davidson in the late 90s. I believe if they treat you this way before the sale what will they do after?

[Miljack]

Unfortunately, the market is hot now, boats are selling, so the dealers are trying to "make hay" while they can...Can't really blame them, but it does seem short sighted to me...

[tmb]

Unfortunately, the market is hot now, boats are selling, so the dealers are trying to "make hay" while they can...Can't really blame them, but it does seem short sighted to me...

While I don't understand their logic of not wanting to give me a more competitive price (especially if I get my neighbor to buy one as well) it's their business and they get to choose their bottom line. ****, I didn't even ask them to match what other dealers are throwing out there but give me something closer. The most frustrating piece is the lack of follow up or urgency. My profession is medical sales and I would never consider not following up with a customer and at least letting them know that the price is the best we can do, take it or leave it. Lack of follow up and showing a sense of urgency for your customer/business blows my mind.

[markj]

Just wondering if there's any chance they might view you as a "high maintenance" customer and have adjusted their price accordingly. Not saying that's the case.

[BigEasy]

24% is very aggressive over the phone. If your dealer is close by why not drive down there and speak to him in person. Face to face negotiations work better for me.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[ironpeddler]

I am pretty sure it was this thread, someone posted something about having a dealer review section. I then copied it and posted something myself. I come back to this thread maybe 1-2 hours later and the post that I made and the original post I quoted have already been deleted?? Someone mind telling me what exactly was said that was wrong, either by me or the original post I quoted??

And are people here really against a dealer review section...so much in fact that they delete any posts that say something about a dealer review section as soon as they see it

[mgs917]

I give the OP credit for not blasting a specific dealer. I have seen people do that all over other forums. Heck, there was a thread on here awhile ago where someone had an issue with their g23 and ended up with a replacement g21. To the original question, I would be upset if I was looking for my fourth boat from the same dealer and they want to throw jo schmo a better deal and not even work with me. That seams weak.

[NautiqueJeff]

I am pretty sure it was this thread, someone posted something about having a dealer review section. I then copied it and posted something myself. I come back to this thread maybe 1-2 hours later and the post that I made and the original post I quoted have already been deleted?? Someone mind telling me what exactly was said that was wrong, either by me or the original post I quoted??

And are people here really against a dealer review section...so much in fact that they delete any posts that say something about a dealer review section as soon as they see it

That post did not follow the site terms of use, and was deleted. There is a specific location for posts like that, and the person who posted that knows it. He has a thread about that topic in the appropriate area (Site Announcements, Ideas, Issues forum) and he is upset that I have declined to add a dealer review section to the website.

[Sailfun]

21% is a pretty aggressive discount on a new 2018 boat. I would be happy with that if the dealer has been good. It's often easy for a dealer to offer a deeper discount to someone out of town. They won't have to deal with the after sale issues. A phone quote is pretty much useless for comparison anyway. Get something in writing and perhaps they will match. Nautique dealers are not supposed to sell into other dealers territories anyway on new boats so the quote seems strange.

[tmb]

Just wondering if there's any chance they might view you as a "high maintenance" customer and have adjusted their price accordingly. Not saying that's the case.

Maybe they do. I've probably test driven 4 boats in my years of dealing with them. Not sure what the norm is.

[tmb]

24% is very aggressive over the phone. If your dealer is close by why not drive down there and speak to him in person. Face to face negotiations work better for me.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

Sorry, maybe my post wasn't worded right. I've been working with my dealer face to face. My neighbor called a couple of other local dealers about 2017's and they quoted 24% off.

[tmb]

21% is a pretty aggressive discount on a new 2018 boat. I would be happy with that if the dealer has been good. It's often easy for a dealer to offer a deeper discount to someone out of town. They won't have to deal with the after sale issues. A phone quote is pretty much useless for comparison anyway. Get something in writing and perhaps they will match. Nautique dealers are not supposed to sell into other dealers territories anyway on new boats so the quote seems strange.

The area I live is very unique with the number of nautique dealers. My neighbor has only received one quote from someone outside their territory. I haven't spoken with any other dealers because I would prefer to work with the same one I've been with for years.