Boatshed experience?

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Barleycorn

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Just wondering about anyone's experience of Boatshed? I am not impressed.

I am currently looking for a boat. On enquiry to boats on Boatshed several times I have written quite lengthy emails, only to have an automated email back with a link to the advert.

I have been looking at one boat for several weeks. I emailed the broker and just got the stock reply, as above. This weekend I decided to view this boat, and emailed the broker to see if she was still available. I have had no replies to emails, and when I rang the broker I got a stroppy sounding woman who said that she had tried both his numbers but couldn't contact him. This morning when I went to view the boats advert it said that the reference number has not been recognised, so the boat has disappeared. Usually when a boat is sold it is still on the system, but is marked as sold.

I'm just wondering If Boatshed has real brokers, or is just an Internet selling device?
 
I'm having similar problems with Boatshed Scotland - I've sent several questions via emails, only one of which was answered and that was to tell me to look at their website information again for information, which of course wasn't displayed. I'm a serious buyer, with cash in my pocket. Now, I'm determined not to use Boatshed and will see if i can contact the owner of the boat by other means.

My advice is stay well away from Boatshed and if selling make sure you advertise privately.
 
I bought my last boat through Boatshed Brixham. The service was excellent. It may vary from site to site as it's a franchise and depends on the competance and enthusiasm of the franchisee's.
 
We have just sold a boat through Boatshed, and had acceptable if not stellar service. I have also accompanied a friend to look at a boat, advertised by Boatshed, and had a good discussion with the broker on the day and a sensible exchange of emails afterwards.

I guess the thing is that each branch is its own separate business (are they franchises?) so some may be good while others are very poor.

Thing is, they're by far the most visible outfit on the Web, so a lot of potential buyers will be looking there. If I remember rightly, our brokerage agreement allowed us to also advertise elsewhere provided it wasn't at a lower price than with them, and we would only have to pay their fee if the eventual buyer was introduced by them. So I reckon it's worth going with a Boatshed broker as well as whoever else, just to get that exposure.

Pete
 
Yes, they are all individual franchises and some have been struggling in this economic climate. (Check the 'Available Areas' on their website).

There's even a chance that some have 'gone out of business' but the websites and 'front' is still operating. You should contact the head office and speak to the overall boss - after all it's his business that will fail if the franchisees don't do as they should.

So judge each 'Boatshed' on its merits. My beef with the one's I've used is that they don't always know much about boats, but they're not unique to them as brokers! I think taken as a whole, yacht brokers are amongst the most useless 'professionals' (and I use that term with enormous reservations!) on the planet. The showdown could well be a three way scrap between yacht brokers, yacht surveyors and estate agents.
 
I tried to sell a boat through BS a few years ago, not over impressed & I doubt I would use them again based on that experience.
 
I have recent experience of BS North Wales and have no hesitation in recommending the brokerage. Polite, courteous, informative, professional, enthusiastic and full of initiative. In my case, I almost certainly will "go another route" and they will not make a commission. Even with this knowledge, it hasn't stopped them from trying to make a sale on my behalf. Good guy !
 
Ian at Boat shed Port Solvent is good in my experience,no I did not buy through him but he was prompt and professional in his dealings, I won't mention two others that I tried to deal with this year,both totally ignored my emails with requests to view, the boats I was interested in are still for sale,one by the owner on eBay. I took my money to Holland and to a good and efficient broker.
 
I bought my current boat through Boatshed and had a very professional experience dealing with them. The person I dealt with has moved his franchise with them and now, I believe, runs their Plymouth branch. I would have no hesitation in recommending him.
Based on the above I contacted my local Boatshed franchise with a view to them selling my old boat. The owner was on holiday at the time and I was told he would contact me when he returned. Never heard anything
 
On a slightly different note. A couple of times when I have looked at boats on Boatshed I have received an email from them asking if I want more information or are interested in viewing. Someone is making the best use of their software.
 
Tam Lin said:
On a slightly different note. A couple of times when I have looked at boats on Boatshed I have received an email from them asking if I want more information or are interested in viewing.
Click to expand...

So have I - and in one case it was our own boat that I was looking at :D. Somewhat revealing to see what the broker was saying about her!

Pete
 
prv said:
So have I - and in one case it was our own boat that I was looking at :D. Somewhat revealing to see what the broker was saying about her!
Click to expand...

I once had a phone call from the broker selling a boat I had enquired about, and it quickly became apparent that the broker had rung the wrong number (mine), asked for the wrong name (mine), and thought he was talking to the owner. I let him continue. Hearing him telling 'the owner' about my supposed circumstances and level of interest was 'somewhat revealing', too!
 
banger said:
Ian at Boat shed Port Solvent is good in my experience,no I did not buy through him but he was prompt and professional in his dealings, I won't mention two others that I tried to deal with this year,both totally ignored my emails with requests to view, the boats I was interested in are still for sale,one by the owner on eBay. I took my money to Holland and to a good and efficient broker.
Click to expand...

Much nicer than the people down the road at Port Insolvent :D
 
I think i very much depends on the broker holding the franchise. Some years ago we sold our last yacht through Boatshed. The whole sale took a week and a half until she was under offer. Superb service. Regretably that broker has now left Boatshed. However from what i have seen the two brokers who run Boatshed Portsmouth are just as good.

j
 
I had good service from Boatshed Essex, but that was 9 years ago. As has already been said - it depends so much on the franchisee.
 
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