Basil Fawlty

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The presentation of the boat is the responsibility of the owner not the brokerage. When selling a house an estate agent does not pop round before you view to tidy up.

[/ QUOTE ] Agree entirely: Cormorant was treated to a dirty boat by the vendor, and an agent who clearly could not be bothered to deal properly with a potential buyer.

No estate agent would just hand out a set of keys and let you get on with it.
 
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I would have thought with the LBS on, they would be expecting buyers out there looking for used boats, thats what seems to happen when SBS is running.

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I have found that it's impossible to even get hold of a broker when the big European shows are on. It's always the secretary and boatyard lads left to hold the fort.

Looking forward to reading her post.
 
I wouldn't/don't condone poor service.

It's just that it doesn't make sense to prepare/serve food to customers that aren't there. Here in SW Cornwall, except in the more popular towns, most small shops and cafes close down outside the main season. We only stay open until this weekend (re-open for Easter) because we live over the shop so it costs little to be open, but we can't afford to buy more stock until there are customers around to buy it. (My wife runs a small icecream/gift shop)
 
Brokers and faults annoys me ....

The commissions a Broker gets on a sale are sufficient that he should take more than a paper interest in the sale.
If a boat is badly presented - it is in both Vendor and Brokers interest to sort it out.

I have also rec'd the "off-hand" way of Chi. Brokers ... literally no return calls, no info as promised ... etc. To me if you want to receive a fee as a Broker - then get of yer 'arris and earn it.

Cormorant - I have a very good idea of which brokers and also eating house .... and not surprised actually.

Sad .....
 
Once viewed a wooden boat on a mooring, accompanied by broker. There was a brimming 2-gallon bucket balanced on the draining board, obviously collecting the product of one of the deck leaks.

"Ah!" said the broker "Bit of condensation...."

C
 
Maybe I was just lucky, but I can't speak too highly of the broker that sold me Freestyle, one Alan McIlroy.

I was very conscious of the fact that Freestyle was one of the, er, more economical boats on Berthon's books. (I very nearly didn't spot the ad, because I thought they only sold boats that were beyond my reach.) My previous experience of brokers was of being treated as a dreamer/timewaster. Perhaps Alan was able to sense what I sensed when I first stepped aboard, that this boat was built for me. Even so, considerable care and patience was required to get an agreement between me and the vendor. I felt that he had earned every penny of his commission.

Mark
 
Yeah, I sympathise a little bit about the boat viewing, but fer Christ's sake why does everything have to be perfect? There aint one single restaurant (outside of Macdonalds) that is open after 3pm where I live and often "customer service" is a little less than top notch but you know, life is better without being waited upon hand and foot. The servants are people just like you. Just take your business elsewhere but try to get a better perspective on what life is all about. Bugger the American lifestyle; if you want it - as most Brits seem to - go and live there. I made my choice.
 
I think the main thing here - and it is not the fault of the broker, is how the owner presents his boat for sale. If he won't keep it clean then that is not the brokers fault. Also perhaps owners unrealistic views of prices are also the bain of most brokers! or perhaps the broker should say to you - its not a clean - before you come.

I am currently looking and have been pretty well treated - but I have seen so much tat its is unbelievable.
 
Freestyle said "My previous experience of brokers was of being treated as a dreamer/timewaster. "

And that's the key, I think. Most brokers get more timewasters that genuine buyers. I suppose it can get difficult to avoid letting yourself assume punters are just looking for entertainment - but the winners are those who assume all who enter may buy.

I sell used bikes and ALL customers are assumed to be real prospects. Not all buy first visit, but treat 'em as tho' you expect them to buy and many will return and buy something later. Even those that don't buy will tell their mates that we are friendly & helpful. As this thread demonstrates, the word spreads - GOOD or BAD; thats up to the broker & his people.
 
Sales are all about presentation, ok so the broker may not be responsible for cleaning and presenting the vessel, but surely a few scruffy dirty boats must reflect on the overall impression of a sales area, car lots that sell vehicles OBoO would not tolerate filthy vehicles full of manky personal effects .

The owners must also be incrediby lazy, stupid ,unrealistic w.h.y.

We looked at 4 boats late last year, 60-80k, three of them wanted steam cleaning (inside)all were at least 10k overpriced
we walked and not before making our feelings known to the broker

mike
 
Peter,
if you try to sell your boat in crap condition, our local guy wont handle it! As far as he is concerned, unless the craft is presented in a clean, tidy, and equipped state it won,t Sell!, and he ain't intersted in putting it on his books.....Seems eminently sensible to me...I,ve seen more than a few floating festering junk heaps over the years and it amazes me that the owners seem to think that they are being presented as a favour? Rant over, but when you have driven a few hundred miles, a few times, to look at something that has been advertised as in pristine condition by supposedly reputable brokerage coy's. It does make one want to kick them where it hurts!
 
I am buying a boat from Deacons in Bursledon, they are polite, laid back and have been extremely kind (including the vendor, esp. when I put a spanner in the works) , and helpfull during the whole process.
I do not require a' gilded lily' lifestyle purchase experience' for anything prefering the laid back approach and do not like to feel as If I am being 'Sold' anything especially by sycophantic sales people.
I think - it does not matter whether a person has a 5k (which mine is) or a 50k budget, as in Life we should afford the same courtesy to all even if customers are 'just looking'.
 
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I am buying a boat from Deacons in Bursledon, they are polite, laid back and have been extremely kind (including the vendor, esp. when I put a spanner in the works) , and helpfull during the whole process.
I do not require a' gilded lily' lifestyle purchase experience' for anything prefering the laid back approach and do not like to feel as If I am being 'Sold' anything especially by sycophantic sales people.
I think - it does not matter whether a person has a 5k (which mine is) or a 50k budget, as in Life we should afford the same courtesy to all even if customers are 'just looking'.

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Now hang on a minute madam!

How come you can manage to construct a sensible and even lucid post such as the above, but when you send me an email it's bloody nigh on uninteligable!

Have you not reached for the Gin bottle yet? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I deny any association with that waistrel! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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I deny any association with that waistrel! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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STRUMPET! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Ancaster seems to be one of the few that insists on boats being clean. And yes, I agree its all about presentation, making the punter feel he is not wasting your time.
 
Be quiet and get in line, there is a Queue here.

Welcome to the uk, (if you are not british), your bio is a little lean, so your reference to US all the time, so i would expect you to be a US citizen.

That's what happens here is the uk, bad service, hyped up prices, the businessmen have been getting away with it for years.

With UK being the most taxed place in the world, what do you expect, if the government has a take, take attitude, then the only way you can make money is have a take, take nature...

The only reason that restaurant is where it is, is so it can get the max price out of the 'well off punters going to their boats'....

We will never get better in this country, because everyone just expects it,
We moan about it , but no one will stand together to get it changed.

Also the MP's we elect will only do something if they stand to get something out of it...

Maybe will should all emigrate to canada or the US, we'll be able to get good service, cheaper items, no health service or social services (if you need them)...(some people do, I personally don't, yet!!!!)

Maybe we should all have no national health, and ss, no one scourging benefits etc,etc, and maybe we wouldn't get taxed as much... no bottomless pit to administer...

So welcome to the UK...

rant over????
 
Don`t be astounded Cormorant, it`s perfectly normal an easier to understand when you realise the average boat broker is just an estate agent that has had a frontal lobotomy.

Classic case for me was a broker jumping from side to side on an old MFV that was up on the mud (and had been for years) gleefully saying “look how stable she is”.

The worst was going up to Edinburgh to have a look at a nauticat 33 that the broker had described as GRP, only to find on arrival that the hull was grp but it had a wooden superstructure.
He wasn’t at all bothered that he had committed me to an 800 mile round trip. git!



…
 
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Well all I can say is that overall impressions count - you can make excuses but they wouldn't accept this is the States. Overpriced, poor service and we put up with it. We are not good on service. Take a look at US boats and how they are presented. The Btitish will seemingly put up with almost anything.

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You're absolutely correct with regards to the brokers. You only have to look at adds on the brokerage sales on here and compare a US add to a Brit add to see it.

Much more effort / pictures etc from the US brokers. What does it cost to snap away with a digital camera these days? They can't even be bothered to do that.
 
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