puskin
New member
I cannot tell all now because of some legal issues.
I started in business in 1973 and am now involved in 4 businesses. I have never had a more negative time wasting business deal than buying a new Azimut 39, a file now three ft thick, man hours wasted etc.
In 2002 I was going to buy a used boat, but by waiting till 2003 I was able to finance a new one
Having researched the marked I was eventually happy with the Azimut spec. I preferred the Cat engines anyway.
I contacted Azimut to find out who was their distributor for Mallorca and was informed that it was Med Sale, Southampton with a sub office in Mallorca and was promised the following service by them (Azimut)
----- Original Message -----
From: mfinotto@azimutyachts.net
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 11:21 AM
Subject: In: Fw: Please send brochure on 39.
First of all, thank you very much for your interest in Azimut and in our boats. I hope you have collected good information on our web site. Please be informed that we sell through a very efficient dealer's network who take care the client before, during and after the purchase of the boat. For us is very important that every client is satisfy of the post-service of the dealer, in order our clients enjoy his Azimut yachts.
The nearest dealer who will be glad to give you all the information is our English dealer MED SALE.
Please find below the contact:
Mr. Douglas James
MED SALE
Tel. +44 1489 565555
Fax.+44 1489 565111
I remain at your disposal for any further information you may need.
With my best regards, sincerely yours
Mirko Finotto
Europe Sales Assistant
AZIMUT S.P.A.
My contact in Med Sale, Mallorca was Colin Pritchard
My contact in Med Sale, Southampton was Richard Lambert
I checked with the BMIF to find out whether Med Sale were fully paid up members and at that time they were, hoping never to have to call on BMIF for help.
I gave Med Sale the order and deposit shortly after the 2003 Southampton boat show making it absolutely clear that the boat was required for the 2004 charter season starting 1st May 2004 and delivered to Vitesse Yachts, Mallorca
Nearly all correspondence thereafter from Med Sale stated "charter ready to go and on time"
Azimut Italy had the boat ready January 2004, now it was up to Med Sale who had until the start of the season.
They were paid Euro 20605.00 for delivery/Coding/Commissioning (Charter ready to go). I paid these fees because I thought they had the experience. Unfortunately I paid for the boat in full Euro 334,731.00 (Big Mistake)
Now that they had the money the urgency button seems to have been pressed off.
Vitesse started to do their marketing straight away and as I had the only 2004 boat in the fleet bookings looked good - example - the first booking was for Euro 12000 starting on starting on 8th May 2004.
With the urgency button switched off I eventually got the boat for August by which time Vitesse were too embarrassed to offer it to anyone, after many bookings and many cancellations
I finished the season grossing Euro 10,000.00 (does not pay many bills) when I believed that at the start of the season I was looking at a gross of Euro 80,000.00
Any appeal I made to the BMIF for help, they said they would pass on the message - I was not impressed.
Any appeal made then on since to Azimut Italy was "contact your dealer"
I had hoped that for the sake of their name they would have put some pressure on. No " contact you dealer". The file was sent by registered post on 26th April 2005
to Mr. Paolo Vitelli, C.E.O. and President of Azimut. Reaction: Zero.
I paid Euro 2145.00 for rope cutters in 2004 THESE ARE NOT YET FITTED!
Regards these, the dealers best methods would seem to be ignore (he might go away)
We are now starting the 2007 season and things do not look good. The boat was taken by Azimut under warranty to repair a blister in early January 07
Return promised beginning of May 07
As of now still not returned.
Urgency button seems of be pressed off again.
I import for the UK/France/Italy/Turkey/Taiwan/China/India and I have never come across a worse after sales service, time wasting and negative deal, than buying an Azimut.
To recap
Help from BMIF: Zero
Help from Azimut: mantra "Contact your Dealer"
Help from Dealer: Med Sale M/D Douglas James: Ignore
As the potential owner of a bigger boat, I will never buy again
P.S. As negative as the above saga is, the complete negative story cannot be told for now as stated before due to legal issues
I started in business in 1973 and am now involved in 4 businesses. I have never had a more negative time wasting business deal than buying a new Azimut 39, a file now three ft thick, man hours wasted etc.
In 2002 I was going to buy a used boat, but by waiting till 2003 I was able to finance a new one
Having researched the marked I was eventually happy with the Azimut spec. I preferred the Cat engines anyway.
I contacted Azimut to find out who was their distributor for Mallorca and was informed that it was Med Sale, Southampton with a sub office in Mallorca and was promised the following service by them (Azimut)
----- Original Message -----
From: mfinotto@azimutyachts.net
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 11:21 AM
Subject: In: Fw: Please send brochure on 39.
First of all, thank you very much for your interest in Azimut and in our boats. I hope you have collected good information on our web site. Please be informed that we sell through a very efficient dealer's network who take care the client before, during and after the purchase of the boat. For us is very important that every client is satisfy of the post-service of the dealer, in order our clients enjoy his Azimut yachts.
The nearest dealer who will be glad to give you all the information is our English dealer MED SALE.
Please find below the contact:
Mr. Douglas James
MED SALE
Tel. +44 1489 565555
Fax.+44 1489 565111
I remain at your disposal for any further information you may need.
With my best regards, sincerely yours
Mirko Finotto
Europe Sales Assistant
AZIMUT S.P.A.
My contact in Med Sale, Mallorca was Colin Pritchard
My contact in Med Sale, Southampton was Richard Lambert
I checked with the BMIF to find out whether Med Sale were fully paid up members and at that time they were, hoping never to have to call on BMIF for help.
I gave Med Sale the order and deposit shortly after the 2003 Southampton boat show making it absolutely clear that the boat was required for the 2004 charter season starting 1st May 2004 and delivered to Vitesse Yachts, Mallorca
Nearly all correspondence thereafter from Med Sale stated "charter ready to go and on time"
Azimut Italy had the boat ready January 2004, now it was up to Med Sale who had until the start of the season.
They were paid Euro 20605.00 for delivery/Coding/Commissioning (Charter ready to go). I paid these fees because I thought they had the experience. Unfortunately I paid for the boat in full Euro 334,731.00 (Big Mistake)
Now that they had the money the urgency button seems to have been pressed off.
Vitesse started to do their marketing straight away and as I had the only 2004 boat in the fleet bookings looked good - example - the first booking was for Euro 12000 starting on starting on 8th May 2004.
With the urgency button switched off I eventually got the boat for August by which time Vitesse were too embarrassed to offer it to anyone, after many bookings and many cancellations
I finished the season grossing Euro 10,000.00 (does not pay many bills) when I believed that at the start of the season I was looking at a gross of Euro 80,000.00
Any appeal I made to the BMIF for help, they said they would pass on the message - I was not impressed.
Any appeal made then on since to Azimut Italy was "contact your dealer"
I had hoped that for the sake of their name they would have put some pressure on. No " contact you dealer". The file was sent by registered post on 26th April 2005
to Mr. Paolo Vitelli, C.E.O. and President of Azimut. Reaction: Zero.
I paid Euro 2145.00 for rope cutters in 2004 THESE ARE NOT YET FITTED!
Regards these, the dealers best methods would seem to be ignore (he might go away)
We are now starting the 2007 season and things do not look good. The boat was taken by Azimut under warranty to repair a blister in early January 07
Return promised beginning of May 07
As of now still not returned.
Urgency button seems of be pressed off again.
I import for the UK/France/Italy/Turkey/Taiwan/China/India and I have never come across a worse after sales service, time wasting and negative deal, than buying an Azimut.
To recap
Help from BMIF: Zero
Help from Azimut: mantra "Contact your Dealer"
Help from Dealer: Med Sale M/D Douglas James: Ignore
As the potential owner of a bigger boat, I will never buy again
P.S. As negative as the above saga is, the complete negative story cannot be told for now as stated before due to legal issues
