Good offer price

[Moose]

Iam looking at a Sealine Satesman 330 (same one as before),
Price = little tiny bit less than £90,000
Mercrusier Engines
Good condition
in the current economic climate, how much off do you think I could offer.
P.S I am having truble with Ancasta, they say that if I have a sea trial I have to make an offer?
(oh and can you see my moose picture?)

 

[Guest]

Re: sea trial/offer

What boll*x. Suggest that if you go for a sea trial, they should pay for your time/petrol to get there. Or just put in a derisory offer.

 

[KevB]

Do the sea trial, if you don't like the boat offer them £50 quid!

 

[jfm]

Re: nonsense

It is bolx. The whole reason they get 8% +vat is they have to spend time on trials etc. What are they gonna do, make you contractually bound before the sea trial, in which case why bother with the trial then? Anyway, best thing is to say "Oh yes fine, that's fine by me" then take the sea trial. If you like the boat offer, if not don't offer. If they chase you, offer £1000. Or offer £2million but payable in 119 years time, though the boat must be delivered today, or make em any offer you like including an Austin Allegro in part-ex if you have one at the bottom of the garden that you forgot about or whatever

 

[Dave_Snelson]

What a high handed attitude from Ancasta!! I see the art of negotiation hasn't yet reached some sales operations such as this one.

Firstly, are there any other Sealine Statesman 330's for sale in other yards advertised on this site? If you really like the look of this one, then maybe another tack would be to negotiate warranty terms in return for your financial commitment up-front. If its as good as they say it is.... Concessions are always to be traded, never given away and Ancasta are asking a lot from you (not just money wise).

And finally, I can not just see your moose, I can hear it.....Or is that the wife?

Oops - gotta go!

 

[peterg]

I'd start at 10% off - subject to a full survey which may bring it down even further or require rectification work to be done prior to purchase.

 

[ari]

I've always found that normal practice when buying from a broker is to make an offer subject to a satisfactory survey and sea trial. You then pay a 10% deposit which holds the boat for you whilst these things are organised.

I personally would want the survey done before a sea trial as if the boat has been afloat all summer performance is going to be hugely affected by marine growth. When the boat is lifted for the survey presumably it would be pressurewashed at this time and performance therefore restored. You're not going to learn much about it if the thing is only operating at 2/3 its capibility.

As to brokers high handed attitude, I wonder how many "sea trials" they get asked for on sunny summer days?

Ari.

 

[Guest]

Re: weird but not unique

I have heard this be4, and even been victim too. They say make an offer, pay deposit, all fully refundable if you don't like the sea trial, no quibble. This was the 20k boat that many doubt existed. Anyway Mrs S also sits in on se trial but says haha not a chance, frogmarcjhed me to office for money back, and no problemo gave me the cheque back.

Hint 1: Askem to confirm in writing that the deposit is refundable no-quibble against sea trial. Pay them a cheque. If you don't like sea trial bet they'll give cheque back. If not, stop cheque. easy.

Hint 2: It *may* be an insurance thing that they are allowe d to go for a spin in any boat under offer? I'm making it up, but otherwise bit strange - surely they can tell that you are serious?


Whcih brings us back to the offer. He's asking 90k. Others here got 20% off sooooo um 72 sounds a starter eh? Well, wottle he take then?

 

[c_j]

I would offer 15k off asking price and consider it normal to make an offer before a sea trial. Sea trials cost money and time and effort and if you are serious and are happy then why not?

I would suggest sea trial before survey but if boat under performs then ask for further sea trial after survey to see if cleaning bottom and unbending props assists with performance!

Good luck!

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[Gludy]

Having just purchased a boat, I too was amazed at the way brokers operate.
As I understood it:-
First of all an offer for a boat is a binding contract in law.
Even if the offer is subject to sea trial and/or survey unless there is something really major wrong with it, you cannot pull out.

I can appreciate that sea trails can cost a lot in time/money but the sea trial maybe also needed to see if you even like the boat at sea.

The fairest way around all this within existing laws is surely to ask for a sea trial for an agreed price for the trial - say a few hundred pounds or the cost of fuel or whatever which is deductable from the price of the boat should you buy it but allows you to simply not like the boat and walk away albeit the agreed cost of the sea trial being lost. This demonstrates you are serious but not willing to commit until you trail the boat.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Re: contract law...

No, an offer is not binding in these circumstances, and only notional upon your offer and their acceptance - so before the transaction is effected they can decide against selling to you and you can decide against buying. One of you would have sue, and not really worth it in this case since no damages suffered by you (you still have all the money at this stage so no loss) and they likewise have an entire boat, as before.

As c-j says below, you should be serious, in a position to make a serious offer (so I wouldn't drag boat out and around for an offer of a grand) BUT an offer can be made subject to your satisfaction with the sea trial and survey. You can stipulate if you do or don't lose deposit money after seatrial simply by writing that it is a "no-quibble refundable deposit", refundable upon your satisfaction at seatrial and survey - so any grounds ok to get out. If it goes nasty, it is almost entirely down to the pieces of paper, not " ah but he said..." so stop the cheque first ask questions later if unhappy IMHO.

 

[BarryD]

Same experience Gludy - but the standard form contract states no quibble return of deposit. You set the conditions for the offer going forward - sea trial, survey (engine / hull as you like), clear title etc..

10% down before trial is good - it sorts out the time wasters and puts you into a "serious buyer" mode. i.e. you're no longer kicking tyres and slamming doors.

What got my goat was their (the brokers) total inability to return phone calls, deal with issues, and no attempt was made to cross sell or switch me into a bigger boat. Call themselves sales people.

Re: Offer price - You can only go up from an inital offer not down (unless you blow up an engine on trial <G>). So start 20 / 25% down on his asking price.

Barry D.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I'm afraid this is normal practise with a broker as opposed to a dealer eg Sealine/Hamble who will probably give you a sea trial prior to an offer. Any offer should always be subject to a satisfactory sea trial/survey and you have every right to back out if the boat does'nt meet your expectations
I know from my own experience that seatrials before offers can be a waste of time. I once advertised a boat for sale privately; I was contacted by a bloke who sounded very interested and said he would make an offer providing the sea trial went OK
Well the seatrial went fine and he did make an offer, in fact an offer to buy my boat at the full asking price (yippee!) .....when he'd sold his existing boat.
Complete tosser and I bought him a beer