LIBS Can I step on your boat please mister?

[DepSol]

Is that a sunbed in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me WOOF!

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>

 

[MedDreamer]

Likewise

The only boat we were turned away from in the hall was the biggest Sunseeker yacht, but even then the staff were apologetic and said we could go on the next biggest. The girl controlling the queue was very chatty and friendly and certainly wasn't aloof.

I suppose we must recognise that the only reason the the big boys go there is to sell boats - thats what justifys the huge expense of exhibiting, I have no problem with them giving priority to potentially real customers over those of us who are just curious.

We should also recognise that most of the big stuff actually belongs to someone and I would hope that if I lent by boat for exhibition the dealer would ensure it was looked after.

No excuse for rudeness but we didn't experience any.

Martyn



<hr width=100% size=1>Do you think a Fleming 55 would look out of place on Windermere?

 

[Kevin]

I dont think the manufacturers, especially sunseekers attitude at this years show, can justify not allowing the general public onto their bigger models, to say that the general public can cause damage to the interiors doesnt add up, if someone damages a cabinet door in a 30 footer its not much cheaper than replacing the cabinet door on a larger model. It has nothing to do with protecting their boats and everything to do with being elitist.

I have lent my boat to be used in Southampton and London shows the public seemed to have full respect for the craft on show, my view was that if your exhibiting at a show for the public then the public should be allowed to look at all thats being exhibited.

If a serious buyer is on the stand looking then the salesperson can talk with them, the public just wanting to look do not tie up the sales people they wander on have a look about and wander off. If the salesman is onboard talking then the sales staff should courtiously point out that the boat is busy and ask them to return so they can have a look.

there is no exscuse for not allowing people to look all the exhibits. IMHO of course

 

[Planty]

Is it not the case that if any of us are seriously looking to buy a boat in the not too distant future we actually don't only go to the Boat Shows and then ask to have a look? We trawl around the various Dealers/Brokers and define possibilities first. Thus most brokers/Manufacturers are aware of your interest and thus invite you along to the shows anyway and you get to see just about anything you want.
SWMBO and I are possibly, very, very possibly going to be able to change our F43 in a couple of years time and are currently trying to set targets for ourselves to achieve in the shape of which boat this may be. So visits/phone calls to various candidates, being absolutely honest with our intentions, this year illicited invites from Sealine, Sunseeker, Pearl etc. In fact all the well known makes, except Fairline, rudest bunch of A#####les one could hope to meet, virtually wanted to see the Black Amex before speaking to you. However all the others a delight. Sunseeker showed us the Manhat 64 then offered us, 'cos the lads showed an interest, around the 80 and the 105, though no chance of them, for us, in a month of Sundays! I would also commend Sunseeker as our lad wrote to them thanking them for showing him around the 105 etc and by return he received a cracking Sunseeker baseball cap and a note saying what a pleasure it was to see him and they look forward to seeing him when he was old enough to get his own first boat, he is currently 13. Guess which maker is now getting the full backing of Pester Power in our household. Perhaps we should remember what we all do in our own businesses, "chase the real prospects", 'cos whilst boating to us is a brilliant pastime to these companies it is a business after all.

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[longjohnsilver]

Can't disagree with anything you say, all makes perfect sense, the only point I was trying to make is that the boat show is not a free publicity event and the paying punters really should have almost a right to see whatever's on display. I accept the arguments about boats already having been sold so would expect punters to respect the £000's of boat they're on and not poo in the loo and keep kids under control.

But still too many of them seem to see it as their duty to keep people off their precious vessels rather than seeing it as an opportunity to create at the very least a favourable impression. The responses so far show they (some, not all) often fail in this respect.

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[Kevin]

IMHO The problem I see about what you say is that yes it easy to call a dealer /manufacturer prior to the show and get an invite, whether you are intending to buy or not - you turn up and they talk as if a sale is on the cards.

I for one dont want that, I want, initially, to take a look at a range of boats without having to travel about the country and without having to answer the same inane questions from sales people. It also means that Im not taking the time of the salespeople back at their premises when i might at that stage just be browsing.

once I have an idea then I make an appointment to see them either at a show or better still, when there are no distractions, at their place of business. Of course they are at the show to promote their business and attract sales but that also should include a wider audience of the public who may want to be able to turn up and have the opportunity to wander about and look at any exhibits at their leisure.

Kevin

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[ari]

Think a point thats being missed here is that it isn't necessarily "snobbishness" that makes for 30 foot boats being easily accessed and 90 foot boats being more carefully monitored, its the simple fact that there are plenty of 30 footers at the show and a handful of seven figure mega yachts. So guess what everyone wants to get aboard!? Seem to remember the figures for this show where 200,000 people? Imagine what Mr. Sunseekers 105 Yacht is going to look like if he allows all 200,000 to look over it just cos they paid to get in to the show...

I agree with the principle, they all paid to get in so they should be allowed on everything but practically, its just not possible!

Oh and as for

"I know of someone who flew in from Europe and had £250k car parked in the car park - they were seriuosly looking to buy a Manhattan, but, because of the saleman's attitude, they walked off the stand halfway through discussions"

Why would you fly in and then organise for a £250,000 to be parked in the car park on your behalf? Maybe the salesman in question was about as convinced as I am by that one... ;-D

Changing the subject slightly i thought the new venue was pretty damn good.

Oh and can you believe how some people (not all, but a lot) let their kids behave on these boats...!

Ari.

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[BrendanS]

There are quite a few cars at car shows you are not allowed to get in, and others have a system where only a few are allowed in an area with cars in at a time. It's usually the cheap cars you can get at, and there are few if any trying to look at them

Similar to boat shows?

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[hlb]

I remember the last boat show I went to. Harrys years ago. There was a massive Que at the big boat. a bit smaller at the next, and the little boat had no que at all. Seems to say far more about punters than staff. I was happy to look at the little boat at the time. Thats all the cash I had. A bit sad to go looking round stuff you cant afford..

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[gonfishing]

Hi Haydn
I went to the show and looked at boats within my means but also at some boats that, are at this time way out of my league, I don't see it as sad looking at something you can't afford but more of an inspiration to go out and do something about it so that in the future you can have the finer things in life. Inspiration and ambition drives people to achieve. IMHO!!!

Julian

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[BrendanS]

Wots up with this forum!

Year ago, only me and Byron were up at this time of night. Now half the forum are here!

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[gonfishing]

Good morning Brendon!!!

Julian



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[BrendanS]

Scary!

God morning back at ya!

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[kindredspirit]

Good morning!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.begleys.com/kevin/weather.htm>Weather & other useful links for Irish waters.</A>

 

[BrendanS]

I'm off to bed! Thought I was a night owl, but it seems many more are showing night posting tendencies

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[Kevin]

I agree with what you are saying that there are fewer bigger boats and that maybe explains some of the reason, but lets be honest not everybody would want to look at the larger boats. The increase number of 'reasonably priced' boats now being roped off from the public also ,although, this is probably a knock on effect that as more manufacturers make boats inaccessible then the manufacturers that do allow 'wanderers' are getting an influx of people so they are now having to rope off theirs to limit the numbers and so, the trend continues, until we turn up and the boats are behind large glass screens and we are herded along in lines - I know Ive gone too far with that, and its obviously an exageration, but im in a bad mood today! smiley face.

Kevin

 

[greystones]

from a personal experience, 2 years ago i flew over from Dublin to go to the show with money in my pocket to buy a boat. I found most of the salesmen appalling and as somebody mentioned earlier their noses stuck where the sun does not shine. Some were very good and I found the guys on some of the stands excellent, I seem to remember the guy on the Hunter stand was very good. He assumed that everybody was a prospective customer and he wanted your money.
I would think that other salesperson should start with this premise. I left with the idea that the trip was a waste of time and money, and not likely to return. In the end I purchased back in Ireland. This was my first boat but they lost a trading up customer for the future.


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[ari]

Why on earth does anyone try to buy a boat at a boatshow anyway...?

Sure, go and look and compare, its an ideal enviroment for that, but to try and buy a boat there...

I'd rather shortlist a couple then visit the dealer where he'll have the time and the facilities to deal with my enquiry properly, I wont be having to try and convince him that I'm not another dreamer playing at being the Big I Am, and there won't be hordes of other people trying to look over the boat I'm interested in and vieing for the salesmans attention.

Never understood this obsession with trying to "do a deal" at the show.

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