Bring on a Glass's Guide for Boats...

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Bloater

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Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

A much talked about subject I'm sure...

Everyone says that a boat is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it but how does that someone know what to offer?

If boats do sell for 10% less than the asking price then it is the seller who has set the price.

A newcomer into boating isn't going to know what boats sell for and is forced to assume that the asking prices are just a little higher than what they ultimately sell for.

Everyone has an opinion if a boat is 'about right' when the price is mentioned so why not publish a price guide.

A guide could give advice on regional variations or differing levels of optional extras. It could be done.

BUT...I'll tell you why not - it is so that brokers can maintain their extortionate fees which they have to charge simply because the volume of boat sales is not enough to make a living otherwise. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Does anyone think that a standardised price guide is a good idea?
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

I think the problem is that a reasonably popular model might have 200 units ever built whereas there are probably 2,000 mondeos for sale at any given time.
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

Hi Quo,

It just would not work! Condition is massively important as is spec. Furthermore, a Teal hulled Targa 37 is cool in 1997, but unfashionable in 1999. In 2007 it is a dead duck!

Regional variations are very important as well. In North Wales Chaparrals have a very good name and reputation thanks to Bluewater. However on the southcoast they are just another American cruiser. Prices can be £10-15k different because they stick around down south.

Also most dealers are not going to tell you what they got for a boat (matter of pride) so generaly it would not work. The only way to really get to grip with prices is to watch a certain model and track all of the sales. Then blag/hastle and bribe dealers to tell you what they sold for (several pints work well)

In reality, Prices are fiction....I know what a boat is worth to me, but I can guarantee it is worth different to you!

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

[ QUOTE ]
Also most dealers are not going to tell you what they got for a boat (matter of pride)

. The only way to really get to grip with prices is to watch a certain model and track all of the sales.

[/ QUOTE ]

There are other factors Paul...........

( This bit edited )




to be deleted soon but someone had to say it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Cheers
Pete
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

It would never work. Where Glass's have litterally thoudands of each model and thousands of dealers and auction houses reporting sale values, purchase values etc, the Guide is still just that, a Guide.

The number of times I have sat in a dealership as a salesman and been told 'Parkers Guide said it was worth £X'. My reaction was always the same - why don;t you get Parkers to buy it then?
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

I think another difference is that most people actually need a car. OK, maybe they dont need a £100k car, but they start from a different perspective; namely, how much "extra" you want to pay to have car A instead of car B
With a boat, most of us dont need one at all;we would just like one, and then the whole pricing issue becomes more one of desire. A few people maybe be patient or interested or whatever you want to call it, but most people probably just decide I WANT IT -HOW MUCH WILL IT COST. Either they can afford it-or find a way to afford it- or they cant. I suspect this is especially true on new boats.
Its a dream come true; how do you price that? Perhaps as you get more wily after a few years, this changes a bit.
To an extent, the market is self pricing anyway. Boats only sell at the "right" price for both buyer and seller in that instance, whatever a price guide might say.
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

I`ve got this months CAP on my desk. Each model prices one or two options - and the book runs to 1446 pages!! (excluding the ads)

Look at the options list an new boats - some of which are more expensive than some cars - & how thick will that monthly tome be.

12 monthly issues are a snip at £750 +VAT so if you don`t use it a lot it`s a bit dear!
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone think that a standardised price guide is a good idea? [ QUOTE ]


Cold Fusion is a good idea too. So far it's been impossible to realise. Still I'm sure it will be available before a standardised boat pricing guide. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone think that a standardised price guide is a good idea? [ QUOTE ]

Never mind Cold Fusion.
Wales will win the Soccer World Cup. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Red diesel will be tax free. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The NHS , will work /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
and PIgs Will fly before a Glasses ( or any other )guide can be sorted for boats.
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

[ QUOTE ]
BUT...I'll tell you why not - it is so that brokers can maintain their extortionate fees which they have to charge simply because the volume of boat sales is not enough to make a living otherwise. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif



[/ QUOTE ]

They really are [--word removed--] those brokers. Now they're banding together in some sort of masonic funny handshake way to ban books being published! It's all a conspiricy!!

Incidently, if by your own definition they have to charge the fees they do because they won't make a living otherwise, how are those fees therefore extortion?

Oh, and surely a "Glasses Guide to Boat Prices" would be an absolute boon for brokers? Every time someone walked into their office with an over inflated idea of the value of their boat (lets face it, that's most of us), they could just suck air between their teeth and point at the book and prove otherwise?
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

[ QUOTE ]

Incidently, if by your own definition they have to charge the fees they do because they won't make a living otherwise, how are those fees therefore extortion?



[/ QUOTE ]

We don't owe the brokers a living. They should not justify their fees by the argument that they need the high commision rates to make a living. They could try selling ice creams to the pontoon visitors to top up their earnings.
 
Re: Bring on a Glass\'s Guide for Boats...

[ QUOTE ]
We don't owe the brokers a living.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wasn't suggesting we do. Just pointing out that by his own analysis (not mine) they need the "extortionate" commissions to survive in business.
 
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