Is it possible to save [15%] on a new hull by buying directly from a builder at a boat show?

SouthWales said:
So I belong to a member-run tennis club - the club belongs to (is affiliated with) something called the LTA. Think of it as an association of tennis clubs across Britain.
LTA is terrific, they provide knowhow, cheap insurance (collective bargaining), dead cheap tennis balls, rackets and other disposables (again, collective bargaining), wimbledon tickets, leagues, junior talent spotting, etc....

Is there such a thing with Yacht clubs? if not, why not? 1000s of members have a big say when buying boats collectively.

I can already imagine that I am turning in circles to understand what Loic Bonnet has already figured out many years ago...but I feel that this part of the process of learning about a new industry an understanding where value and leakage are.
Click to expand...
The RYA have discounts with various suppliers
 
I would expect any agreement of discounts etc would need to be negotiated with the representing dealers and not by going behind their backs to try and force them out of business.
How would you feel if someone did that to your business...i can guess the answer.
 
Looking at their website now, how difficult would it be to add an RFQ tool for their members? All dealers can participate and compete.

The fact that they have not done it yet is alarming actually.

edit: is anyone aware of any tendering process of any sort when approach dealers to extract value? or are we fully at their mercy?
 
Last edited:
Sorry, I am a capitalist and do not believe that the consumer (I and you, assuming you are not a dealer) should subsidise inefficient business models.
Like every other business on the planet, they adapt (consolidate, etc....) or die. This oligopoly structure at the expense of the consumer is non-sensical in 2021.
 
SouthWales said:
So I belong to a member-run tennis club - the club belongs to (is affiliated with) something called the LTA. Think of it as an association of tennis clubs across Britain.
LTA is terrific, they provide knowhow, cheap insurance (collective bargaining), dead cheap tennis balls, rackets and other disposables (again, collective bargaining)

edit: I have heard about the RYA and am surprised why they would do not do any collective bargaining.
Click to expand...

Good to see the results of your extensive research.
 
SouthWales said:
Sorry, I am a capitalist and do not believe that the consumer (I and you, assuming you are not a dealer) should subsidise inefficient business models.
Like every other business on the planet, they adapt (consolidate, etc....) or die. This oligopoly structure at the expense of the consumer is non-sensical in 2021.
Click to expand...
It also allows the manufacturers complete deniability. Most local dealers working their captive market don’t give a toss, and a complaint to the manufacturer always gets the same answer, take it up with your dealer
 
SouthWales said:
Is there such a thing with Yacht clubs? if not, why not? 1000s of members have a big say when buying boats collectively.
Click to expand...

If my boat club is anything to go by, well over 200 members around 100 boats on the pontoons , boat owners are the most stroppy and agumentative people on the planet.
Most of them could start an argument in an empty room simply to pass the time of day. All of them would sell their grandmother into slavery if they thought they could get a better deal as a result ?
You are welcome to attend one of our AGMs for proof. :)
 
Last edited:
Bouba said:
It also allows the manufacturers complete deniability. Most local dealers working their captive market don’t give a toss, and a complaint to the manufacturer always gets the same answer, take it up with your dealer
Click to expand...
Terrific!
At their mercy then.
 
oldgit said:
If my boat club is anything to go by, well over 200 members around 100 boats on the pontoons , boat owners are the most stroppy and agumentative people on the planet.
Most of them could start an argument in an empty room simply to past the time of day.All of them would sell their grandmother into slavery if they thought they could get a better deal as a result ?
You are welcome to attend one of our AGMs for proof. :)
Click to expand...

And how many of them do you think will buy a new boat next year...even if you gave them a 20% discount ?
 
SouthWales said:
Sorry, I am a capitalist and do not believe that the consumer (I and you, assuming you are not a dealer) should subsidise inefficient business models.
Like every other business on the planet, they adapt (consolidate, etc....) or die. This oligopoly structure at the expense of the consumer is non-sensical in 2021.
Click to expand...

What’s the inefficient business models you refer to ? We all have the choice of how we spend our money (except for the compulsory things of course)
 
Boat2016 said:
The choice is yours...no one is forcing you to buy a boat. (BTW I’m not a dealer or anything else connected with boat building or sales)
Click to expand...
So in the OPs model you'd get a group of grumpy old farts (I don't think many in my club would argue the description) to agree on a yacht model and then negotiate on buying say ten Bavaria 34s at 110k instead of 135k. Then the grumpy old gits would club together, buy all the electronics and take it in turns to fit it to everyone's yachts plus set up all the rigging and commission all the engines. They'd all then agree to work on each others yachts to resolve all the snagging lists.

Suggest he/she write this disruptive model up as an idea for their economics essay before term starts.
 
Or buy lightly used out of warranty and dealers' grip. Do you know of a website where boaters advertise directly? An eBay motors kind of thing?
 
moondancer2 said:
So in the OPs model you'd get a group of grumpy old farts (I don't think many in my club would argue the description) to agree on a yacht model and then negotiate on buying say ten Bavaria 34s at 110k instead of 135k. Then the grumpy old gits would club together, buy all the electronics and take it in turns to fit it to everyone's yachts plus set up all the rigging and commission all the engines. They'd all then agree to work on each others yachts to resolve all the snagging lists.

Suggest he/she write this disruptive model up as an idea for their economics essay before term starts.
Click to expand...
No, just an rfq will do.
 
Boat2016 said:
And how many of them do you think will buy a new boat next year...even if you gave them a 20% discount ?
Click to expand...

Possibly one at the moment, sold his old boat ages ago and is in two minds to even replace it. Was in Porto Petro just prior to latest lockdown trying to find a 10m berth.
Despite all the predictions of Doom and Gloom no berths or boat bargains to be had.
 
oldgit said:
Possibly one at the moment, sold his old boat ages ago and is in two minds to even replace it. Was in Porto Petro just prior to latest lockdown trying to find a 10m berth.
Despite all the predictions of Doom and Gloom no berths or boat bargains to be had.
Click to expand...

So not enough to get together for a discount then.
 
Is anyone else wondering about SouthWales? S/he's a new member, is arguing vehemementy about boat buying, but seems to be talking solely theoretically from a zero knowledge base.
Or is it a troll?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

P
Bringing my new boat from Netherlands to Ireland next year
2
Replies
33
Views
1K
xyachtdave
xyachtdave

Share this page

Top