Brokerage sales

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thames cruiser

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Just a passing comment...

If anyone is thinking if a buying a boat on the Thames, and thinks: why don't I visit a few marina-based brokers to see their boats and get some helpful advice.... Possibly assuming, when I walk through the sales office door and start looking at the brokerage boat specs someone would ask if I needed any assistance...

Well don't bother visiting Tingdene Boat Sales at Thames and Kennet marina! :eek:

We walked through the sales office there twice today, both times trying to make ourselves conspicuous, short of actually interrupting the sales person from their chit-chat conversation about something or other with someone else sat the desk there. We were not the only ones to walk in, and then give up and walk back out again without a single word being exchanged. Quite shocking, really.
 
thames cruiser said:
Just a passing comment...

If anyone is thinking if a buying a boat on the Thames, and thinks: why don't I visit a few marina-based brokers to see their boats and get some helpful advice.... Possibly assuming, when I walk through the sales office door and start looking at the brokerage boat specs someone would ask if I needed any assistance...

Well don't bother visiting Tingdene Boat Sales at Thames and Kennet marina! :eek:

We walked through the sales office there twice today, both times trying to make ourselves conspicuous, short of actually interrupting the sales person from their chit-chat conversation about something or other with someone else sat the desk there. We were not the only ones to walk in, and then give up and walk back out again without a single word being exchanged. Quite shocking, really.
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They obviously recognized you as a tyre kicker :)
 
LOL! Who says I was tyre (or fender) kicking?
As I said, We weren't the only ones to walk out without exchanging any words at all. If nothing else, it was plain rude.
 
I called T&K an hour before arriving to view a Sealine s34. On arrival they gave me the keys and had a look around, I then went back to ask a few questions but it was hard work in getting the info I wanted. I left my details with the lady but never heard from them again. I took the view that the boat must have been sold that weekend which was not the case as its still up for sale.
 
russ said:
I called T&K an hour before arriving to view a Sealine s34. On arrival they gave me the keys and had a look around, I then went back to ask a few questions but it was hard work in getting the info I wanted. I left my details with the lady but never heard from them again. I took the view that the boat must have been sold that weekend which was not the case as its still up for sale.
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Yup. I'm sure there is more than one member of the sales staff, but it was indeed a lady there today, possibly the same one...
 
Seems bizarre... surely Sunday is a busy day for viewing boats?
If my boat was on brokerage there I would not be pleased to find the staff were too busy chit-chatting amongst themselves to deal with potential buyers.
 
so there I was sat at the desk and a couple of chancers came in to look at boats,what do I do, so let them look around and if interestedcome see me
 
No! acknowledge that you have seen them with a polite few words of ........."Nice to see you, If you need any assistance just ask, we will be pleased to help, if we can!"

When I have been in to look I say "I`m just browsing, OK?" usually this elicits a "Your welcome"
 
um....is there a reason you didnt look at the boat information on display and then, if there was something in which you were interested, just ask?

We're a strange breed us Brits: we can't stand the constant 'How can I help? What colour are you looking for? What size would Sir like?' in retail....but when it's left to us to show interest and ask for help.......we're still not happy.

Just an observation....not a criticism:)
 
watson1959 said:
um....is there a reason you didnt look at the boat information on display and then, if there was something in which you were interested, just ask?


Just an observation....not a criticism:)
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Indeed, that would be a prefectly fair comment... Except we did spend time looking over the wall board of boat specs. Even (loudly) displayed an interest in onbe of them. The salesperson was so engrossed we would actually have had to be quite rude interrupting her to get some response or service. True, if we had been 'really' interssted in a specific boat, then I would have done so - rudely or not(!). In truth, we were just browing, so decided to 'browse off'. Thing is, how many people have ended up actually buying a boat after 'just browing'? - that's exactly how we ended up buying our last boat!
 
quimby said:
No! acknowledge that you have seen them with a polite few words of ........."Nice to see you, If you need any assistance just ask, we will be pleased to help, if we can!"

When I have been in to look I say "I`m just browsing, OK?" usually this elicits a "Your welcome"
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Exactly. :)
 
We have just moved our boat up to T&K for them to sell. Neil Davey has not long started there, he is a great guy who also has a boat on the Thames and was the reason we decided to have it at Reading. I know he was off the weekend as he had been at the boat show. I will make him aware of this thread and I am sure he will get to the bottom of it.

Geoff
 
To be honest this is typical of just about every brokerage on the Thames and possibly the country, you really have to wave money in front of their faces to wake them up. T&K however not the best, try Dominic at Bray they are really helpful.
 
I think part of the problem at T&K is that the sales desk is in the same room as the office and chandlery and there seems to be a degree of multi tasking going on between the various sections and I am really not sure who is in charge of the sales. I have certainly witnessed the lady who usually sits at the sales desk beng very helpful with potential customers, but I do get the impression that they tend to leave people alone unless approached. However Ciel who mans the office there also sometimes sits at the sales desk. (I will not have a word said against her though. She was even praised in a letter to MBM not long ago)

There is usually someone around prepared to hand over some keys for a viewing, but I am not sure how knowledgeable they will be about the boats on sale. I echo Chris's comment about Bray
 
I have had dealings with T&K, the gentleman (Neil Davey) that I dealt with was very very helpful, he spent as much time as we needed on the boat we were looking at and he was very knowledgeable, we had dealt with him at their other marina on the Thames at Windsor racecourse and every time he has been very help full, Unfortanutely you sometimes need to ask if you want something not just stand their, but I agree staff should always see to customers as a priority. I also agree the Sales Office/Chandlery is in need of improvement, the place is a mess, staff all in wrong places and hard to work out who does what. Yes who is incharge of Boat Sales ??? T&K get a grip you shouldn't be talk of a forum !!
 
Basic manners: Regardless of whether you think somebody is a customer, greet them all the same. Even the Postman, or Meter man.

This is not business etiquette, but stuff which should be taught to 5 year old children.

Still; this IS Reading... :rolleyes:
 
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