Brokerage sales

Why bother using a broker at all? In this day and age surely the internet is the best place to find a good boat and get advice? A broker will cost you money and potentially try and sell you something you don't want!!

CJL
 
Sorry CJL, I couldn't possibly agree with you, as my experience of Brokers has been impeccable.

The first boats we purchased from T&K, I think it was Scott, who always gave decent advice, along with the guys at Penton Hook. Latterly, the Bray team have looked after us well.
 
Plus one for Bray and for Penton Hook - both teams always polite and attentive, in equal measure. I've sold a boat through each of these offices, and bought one through Penton Hook. Have to say, fabulous service. And whilst I'd rather not pay commission to anyone for selling my boat (I'm selfish like that!), they both certainly worked hard to get the boats sold, and at a fair price.

See, I'm not all about criticism - it's a measured view ;)
 
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+1 for Penton Hook. We had an unfortunate experience with the seller and they couldn't have been more helpful, months after the boat was sold. If I hadn't used a broker there's no way the issue would have been resolved as they had a pile of paperwork to back me up. If I sell my boat I'll be putting it on their sales pontoon.
 
Good afternoon - as a mere female on this thread, my problem with brokers when we were looking before purchase of Pentonia was that most marine sales staff had problems differentiating between a doer-upper and a shipwreck! They knew we had cash to spend and therefore rang and spoke usually to me every time a boat came on sale in the hopes that we would take it off their hands. I remember a conversation between myself and Dominic at Bray who was told that if I wasted my time and fuel driving to Bray to look at another 'shipwreck' I would not be responsible for my actions! Another thing - why do car sales always keep their cars in clean order and yet you pay a fortune to have your boat on brokerage and also to keep it in good order?

Mrs Plumbob using his forum.
 
plumbob said:
Another thing - why do car sales always keep their cars in clean order and yet you pay a fortune to have your boat on brokerage and also to keep it in good order?

Mrs Plumbob using his forum.
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Thats easy you can clean a car in an hour or so but a boat takes days or even the whole summer in my case:(
 
There is definately a distinct divide in boating between those who like to keep their boat at least "presentable" and those who have no problem inhabiting a scruffy smelly floating skip.
Am I being judgemental if I suspect that many boats reflect what the owners house looks like :)
 
plumbob said:
.....why do car sales always keep their cars in clean order and yet you pay a fortune to have your boat on brokerage and also to keep it in good order?

Mrs Plumbob using his forum.
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I found that rather strange, I've opened a few fridges to find furry contents inside.

Personally, I'd give the old girl a final polish by way of saying goodbye, to help it sell and to ensure that no one thinks im a minger.
 
Theres a big difference between a car showrooom and a boat broker, mainly the fact the car dealership owns the cars, while most brokerage boats are still owned by the original owners.

These people have scant regard to the next owners wishes, leaving all their horrid personal possessions on board, and not really cleaning the boat. These boats then fail to sell quickly, and eventually sell for less than the owners fault, so then it's the brokers fault for not paying to keep somebody else's boat clean.

Ideally, the owner would clean it regularly, or pay to keep it spruced up. Anything else is madness!!

I remember having two boats for sale at T&K, while owning a third which I used. Friday, I would be cleaning all three before I went out on the new one!! They both sold fairly quickly though...
 
I think the comparison was with private car sales. I don't think I've ever seen a dirty car listed that wasn't sold as spares or repair or a 'barn find'
 
We have today been looking at boats at Val Wyatt & Penton Hook. Polite and professional in both cases. Neither boat was quite right for us but we went away happy as the brokers really tried to help best they could.

Nick
 
Nick(2) said:
We have today been looking at boats at Val Wyatt & Penton Hook. Polite and professional in both cases. Neither boat was quite right for us but we went away happy as the brokers really tried to help best they could.

Nick
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What are you looking for ?
 
Nick(2) said:
We are a bit of a nightmare for brokers but fancy a Freeman 23....................I think................
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Well if you were at Penton you have just missed the best Freeman 23 ever ! I know the owner, his job and how much he spent on it. Like new makes its sound like an old dog.
 
Richard Shead said:
Well if you were at Penton you have just missed the best Freeman 23 ever ! I know the owner, his job and how much he spent on it. Like new makes its sound like an old dog.
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Looked lovely in the photos and we missed her but however lovely I was a bit scared by the price for a 23 - we dealt with a very nice chap called Darren:D

Sheridan Marine is on my visit list for next weekend as they seem to be everything Freeman.

Nick
 
Nick(2) said:
Looked lovely in the photos and we missed her but however lovely I was a bit scared by the price for a 23 - we dealt with a very nice chap called Darren:D

Sheridan Marine is on my visit list for next weekend as they seem to be everything Freeman.

Nick
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I have heard of him.....

It was quite a price for a 23 but knowing what went into it without counting the man hours I reckon there should have been another 10k on the asking price!
 
Richard Shead said:
I have heard of him.....

It was quite a price for a 23 but knowing what went into it without counting the man hours I reckon there should have been another 10k on the asking price!
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I can imagine as she looked stunning in photos.

Not wishing to hijack this post but I would like to say that I was impressed that Darren took the trouble to email me to let me know that she had gone under offer before we had a wasted visit. Brokers get the thumbs up from me and I know they often have a difficult job. In fact I have always had good service whether buying or selling.

Nick
 
Nick(2) said:
Looked lovely in the photos and we missed her but however lovely I was a bit scared by the price for a 23 - we dealt with a very nice chap called Darren:D

Sheridan Marine is on my visit list for next weekend as they seem to be everything Freeman.

Nick
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WOW and I thought I paid a lot for mine :o

Sheridan is definately a good place to start, he bought the rights to the designs and holds pretty much everything in stock :)
 
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