Boat presentation & corporation toilets

[superheat6k]

Why is it that boat vendors, and indeed many of their brokers, think it is the ideal selling tool to present their boats, generally asking top money for any particular marque, dirty and stinking like the toilets in a corporation bus depot ?

Went on a lovely drive up to Penton Hook today to view the boats on offer there. Lots of river boats with smaller engines, and some older examples of Brooms, and a Freeman, that looked great in the photos.

Every one we looked at and indeed notably smelt was the same - stinking, and dirty.

Not sure it does brokers any good to allow the boats they are trying to sell to be presented like this, when if the owner can't be bothered to do it, for a few hundred quid the entire boat could be transformed by a decent valet. Not sure too many used car saleman would last in business too long if they presented cars in a filthy condition.

Don't vendors realise it is not just the man who buys a boat of any value above say £20 - 30 k, but also SWMBO and She is hardly likely to be enthralled by buying a rotten loo and associated smell throughout the boat. Not quite the Boat Show experience !

When I presented OB for sale she was clean and as close to immaculate as I coud get her. Perhaps that's why I sold her to the first viewer.

 

[oldgit]

Why is it that boat vendors, and indeed many of their brokers, think it is the ideal selling tool to present their boats, generally asking top money for any particular marque, dirty and stinking like the toilets in a corporation bus depot ?

Went on a lovely drive up to Penton Hook today to view the boats on offer there. Lots of river boats with smaller engines, and some older examples of Brooms, and a Freeman, that looked great in the photos.

Every one we looked at and indeed notably smelt was the same - stinking, and dirty.

Not sure it does brokers any good to allow the boats they are trying to sell to be presented like this, when if the owner can't be bothered to do it, for a few hundred quid the entire boat could be transformed by a decent valet. Not sure too many used car saleman would last in business too long if they presented cars in a filthy condition.

Don't vendors realise it is not just the man who buys a boat of any value above say £20 - 30 k, but also SWMBO and She is hardly likely to be enthralled by buying a rotten loo and associated smell throughout the boat. Not quite the Boat Show experience !

When I presented OB for sale she was clean and as close to immaculate as I coud get her. Perhaps that's why I sold her to the first viewer.

Aha so you are now scouting around in the most expensive area of the known universe to buy a boat .
Know what you mean about bogs though.
Unfortunately it is not confined to boats.Many pubs will go to great lengths to ponce up the bar interior and spend a fortune on menus that include the word "drizzle" in the wording but step out into the toilet and the stink of a large pile of those scented blocks attempting to douse the smell is all to common.
Even the most humble bar in Spain will boast a marble lined palace compared to many english pubs featuring cracked white tiles and a stained stainless steel trough . Grrrr.....

 

[Greg2]

Every time we have changed boats we have had a look on the Thames and it has consistenty proved to be the triumph of optimisim over experience. As a generalisation the boats on brokerage have tended to be optimistically priced, poorly presented and often in pretty average condition. Oh, and several have not smelled too pleasant either

 

[superheat6k]

My concern with smells and filth is not limited to the Thames - Fowey; St Malo; Brundall; Ipswich; Hamble; Bursledon; Rochester ...

St Malo was the worst, especially when the length of trip was considered. Sadly the owner had died, it smelt like he was still left on board along with his boots !

 

[rafiki_]

My concern with smells and filth is not limited to the Thames - Fowey; St Malo; Brundall; Ipswich; Hamble; Bursledon; Rochester ...

St Malo was the worst, especially when the length of trip was considered. Sadly the owner had died, it smelt like he was still left on board along with his boots !

I have found river boats generally to be older than those in coastal marinas, and less well tended.

 

[Flynnbarr]

Put this thread on The Thames Forum.....There are some on there who think Thames Boat Sales sell wonderful boats at wonderful prices.....

 

[Jamesuk]

Where, im free to sort them out in winter

 

[Chi Man]

I have recently had the same experience, most boats I looked at were dirty, owners belongings dumped everywhere with winter mould everywhere. If you were looking for a car you would not find that in a car showroom! Cannot understand why a broker does not offer a clean up/valet as part of the service it would help them sell the boats in the long run. Also offers, made me chuckle when brokers put forward offers, not much enthusiasm there either, the three boats I offered on in December last year are still for sale! Ended up buying via private sale, previous owners enthusiasm is always infectious hence why I sold my boat this way too.