boat industry deserves all it gets

[Wiggo]

So we had an alternator go down a couple of weeks ago. The manufacturer, who shall remain nameless, sent some drongo down to fix it. Which he did. Sadly, he forgot to reconnect it afterwards. Never mind.

It did, however, point out that the domestics were shot. They offered to send the same highly skilled individual down to test them. So I went down and checked them with a hydrometer, and all 3 were duff.

After a good deal of shouting, they found 3 batteries for me. The bad news was that they couldn't get them to the boat today. I agreed to collect. 2 hour detour, stuck in traffic etc etc.

Get to boat and unload batteries to find two match, plus one odd one (they put them in the car for me). All 3 too long to fit...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[BrendanS]

Maybe everyone should go US build. UK dealers are crap (on the whole, with odd exceptions), but the builders don't half provide decent customer support and give amazing after sales support, even out of warranty. Nice little plug for Regal here.

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[PGD]

So why not make a permenant record of it so the rest of us don't fall into the same trap.

My trick with batteries is to buy them from a camping shop - 85 amp/hr units with 2 or 3 yr warrenty 37 quid. Try that in a marine shop and and put a 1 in front of it !!!!



<hr width=100% size=1>Who gives the best service? tell us <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mssa.org.uk>Marine Service Standards Assistance</A>

 

[Wiggo]

So guess where I am off to this morning? And guess who will be getting the bill?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.wignall/boats/eulimene600x800.jpg>The old and the new</A>

 

[PGD]

Hi Graham, if you can't get them near you I'll gladly get some from my local caravan shop for you.

Regards

Peter

<hr width=100% size=1>Who gives the best service? tell us <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mssa.org.uk>Marine Service Standards Assistance</A>

 

[pistonbroke]

Maybe everyone should go US build.

Yeh, that's a cracking idea. Heard a story the other day about a guy that's just bought a new £60k Chapparal with a petrol Mercruiser. Dealer delivered it to Poole Boat Park, and PDI'd it for the customer.

Customer says to engineer, how do I know when to change fire extinguisher, engineer says that it has a "fire system", with a light on the dash etc. Goes to show where it's all located, but he can't find it.

Boat doesn't have any fire protection at all, not even a handheld. Worried look on customers face, engineer says "dont worry about it, fires on boats are very rare"!

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[ballena]

Graham

I can understand why the industry is the way it is. Its the old supply and demand thing, most boat owners either do not have the time or the ability to service or maintain their craft so they rely on others for this action. In addition the fact the boats are so expensive means that genarally boat owners accept what ever bills are presented to them, therfore, the industry survives because most customers are not able to challenge what is said by dealers/service companies.

I to have experienced rudeness, slow or non existent service, overpricing and people trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

If my company were to treat our customers the same way, we would last five minutes, why?, because customers have a choice. Unfortunately, most of us are rather limited in the choice of boat service organisations due to geographic constraints.

Not sure what the solution is, although, the MSSA website by PGD seems a good idea.

Got my domestic batteries at Towsure in southampton.

Good luck

Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>V8's rule!

 

[oldgit]

Mr Volvo......Waiting Still waiting Yawnnnnnnnn

Ordered a ram for my boat on 25th May,about 10 days,they said, am still *&%^$#
waiting.I could have crawled to Volvo in Belgium and (back again) by now.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[duncan]

don't follow your point - my European boat (similar size) was delivered without any fire protection at all. I understand that this is considered a dealer issue in order that local conditions, rules etc are best met.
The dealers, in both cases, were................which would all seem to support the general point of Graham's post.

<hr width=100% size=1>madesco madidum ..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif