New Bavaria motor boat - Dealer and Bavaria not resolving challenges - any similar experiences or suggestions?

[Rob H 37]

I took delivery of a brand New Bavaria motor boat in January from Clipper Marine. You expect a few teething problems but expect reasonable support in overcoming them swiftly (in line with the promis of premium service for a premium product that they give you when in the sales cycle). I have major issues that haven't been resolved by Clipper (Easy ones have), despite constant chasing (Which they constantly ignore) I am lucky if I get updates every month (weekly updates agreed - not received 1 on time), serious issues outstanding for MANY MANY months. Literally worst service, and worst experience in any industry. Reached out to MD for help to escalate the main points and still no resolution and after a great initial response from Bavaria MD, he dropped it like a stone when he realised it was another client getting a terrible experience - No one is accountable to resolve significant issues and your are left ignored. Has anyone had similar poor experiences and have any tips on getting a dealer to simply do what they said at time of purchase? Very grateful for anything that could help.

 

[jon and michie]

From someone who is fairly new to boating my opinion would be assuming you're in the UK Trading Standards Item is not as described / not fit for purpose and keep plugging their company names like you have - Dealers / Brokers / and just about anyone in Business heavily rely on image and good promotion- if the product is not good they don't sell.
but that is my opinion

 

[Rob H 37]

From someone who is fairly new to boating my opinion would be assuming you're in the UK Trading Standards Item is not as described / not fit for purpose and keep plugging their company names like you have - Dealers / Brokers / and just about anyone in Business heavily rely on image and good promotion- if the product is not good they don't sell.
but that is my opinion

Many thanks for the feedback, yes hadn't thought about trading standards as they haven't honoured everything they committed to.

 

[jon and michie]

Many thanks for the feedback, yes hadn't thought about trading standards as they haven't honoured everything they committed to.

Then its a breach of contract - again my opinion - I am not Judge Rinder or Judy Lol

 

[DavidJ]

I’m interested what the major issues are, just to put things into context.

With one year coming up fast, I think lodge with Trading Standards ASAP

 

[EugeneR]

Having followed a number of cases, it seems that the best way of overcoming these kind of challenges, given they are not responding otherwise, is to share factual information about your experience i.e. pictures, evidence and what they are doing about it, on social media.

On here, there is always a risk that YBW bows to advertiser pressure and pulls it, sadly, but then go Youtube.

Personally, I am grateful to folks like you for making me aware of issues with e.g. Lagoon and Leopard and how those companies responded. Mistakes are made but how companies respond says a lot about their product as well.

Whatever you do, keep it factual and fair.

 

[ylop]

From someone who is fairly new to boating my opinion would be assuming you're in the UK Trading Standards Item is not as described / not fit for purpose and keep plugging their company names like you have - Dealers / Brokers / and just about anyone in Business heavily rely on image and good promotion- if the product is not good they don't sell.
but that is my opinion

I don’t think you’ll get far with trading standards. They are extremely stretched for resource and righty or wrongly a dispute between a boat owner and builder/dealer is unlikely to get the excited - they seem to focus their resources on where the public in general are being put at risk or being scammed rather than when individual customers get shot service.

I’d find a lawyer. You may have legal cover with your house or boat insurance. First thing they’ll do is help you distill the facts and ensure your claim is documented correctly.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

A few years ago I was in a similar position with the same dealer and manufacturer, but in my case the dealer was and remained helpful. That said, some of the issues took a long time to get fixed. Important to remember that whilst the dealer is responsible for organising the remediation, the actual work will be done by the service partner of the affected item, so you’re in the hands of that service provide not the dealer. For example, you probably have Volvo engines, so any engine related repairs will be done by a VP service provider. If the service provider is slow, or improperly managed, or can’t get parts, or is overwhelmed with work, then there’s nothing much that your supplier can do to help.

As said above, be helpful to know specifically what the issues are.

If the boat has finance (a marine mortgage) on it, I’d suggest you contact the finance company to see if they can help.

Ultimately, you could consider rejection but if you do choose to go that route you must take legal advice. I’d also suggest you consider the likelihood of getting your money back having handed over possession of the boat to the dealer.

 

[Seastoke]

Firstly I would get a survey of what is wrong outstanding and work done , try and remember emails and phone calls and who to and make a spread sheet , then seek legal advice .

 

[jfm]

Sorry to hear about this.
Impossible to give legal advice (if that’s what you’re seeking) without a lot more details/specifics.

 

[charlumax]

Contact Bavaria Motor Boats CEO in (I assume) Germany, perhaps with the gentle slant that you’ll have to take legal advice if things aren’t resolved. May well do the trick,.

 

[Tranona]

Contact Bavaria Motor Boats CEO in (I assume) Germany, perhaps with the gentle slant that you’ll have to take legal advice if things aren’t resolved. May well do the trick,.

Read the original more closely - he has already done that and been ignored.

 

[DavidJ]

All gone a bite quiet from @Rob H 37
Do you think Clipper/Bav have got to him?

 

[Elessar]

Contact Bavaria Motor Boats CEO in (I assume) Germany, perhaps with the gentle slant that you’ll have to take legal advice if things aren’t resolved. May well do the trick,.

He has no contract with them. So why?

 

[Portofino]

I took delivery of a brand New Bavaria motor boat in January from Clipper Marine. You expect a few teething problems but expect reasonable support in overcoming them swiftly (in line with the promis of premium service for a premium product that they give you when in the sales cycle). I have major issues that haven't been resolved by Clipper (Easy ones have), despite constant chasing (Which they constantly ignore) I am lucky if I get updates every month (weekly updates agreed - not received 1 on time), serious issues outstanding for MANY MANY months. Literally worst service, and worst experience in any industry. Reached out to MD for help to escalate the main points and still no resolution and after a great initial response from Bavaria MD, he dropped it like a stone when he realised it was another client getting a terrible experience - No one is accountable to resolve significant issues and your are left ignored. Has anyone had similar poor experiences and have any tips on getting a dealer to simply do what they said at time of purchase? Very grateful for anything that could help.

Define precisely what you mean by …..

“ I have major issues that haven't been resolved by Clipper (Easy ones have), “

Until you do we are all 9issing in the wind i am afraid!

 

[Rob H 37]

Having followed a number of cases, it seems that the best way of overcoming these kind of challenges, given they are not responding otherwise, is to share factual information about your experience i.e. pictures, evidence and what they are doing about it, on social media.

On here, there is always a risk that YBW bows to advertiser pressure and pulls it, sadly, but then go Youtube.

Personally, I am grateful to folks like you for making me aware of issues with e.g. Lagoon and Leopard and how those companies responded. Mistakes are made but how companies respond says a lot about their product as well.

Whatever you do, keep it factual and fair.

Thanks Eugene, I had same line of thought and put up a balanced summary and actually did do that on Clippers FB page. in turn they censored and removed the message (Multiple times) and now blocked me from there facebook page. I only wish they were as focused on meeting commitments as they were on deleting comments from social media!

Any suggestions on other platforms/forums welcomed ?

 

[Rob H 37]

I don’t think you’ll get far with trading standards. They are extremely stretched for resource and righty or wrongly a dispute between a boat owner and builder/dealer is unlikely to get the excited - they seem to focus their resources on where the public in general are being put at risk or being scammed rather than when individual customers get shot service.

I’d find a lawyer. You may have legal cover with your house or boat insurance. First thing they’ll do is help you distill the facts and ensure your claim is documented correctly.

Many thanks - realising that may be the only way to close this out. I had done a search but any recommendations on sensibly priced lawyer woudl be apreciated?

 

[Rob H 37]

A few years ago I was in a similar position with the same dealer and manufacturer, but in my case the dealer was and remained helpful. That said, some of the issues took a long time to get fixed. Important to remember that whilst the dealer is responsible for organising the remediation, the actual work will be done by the service partner of the affected item, so you’re in the hands of that service provide not the dealer. For example, you probably have Volvo engines, so any engine related repairs will be done by a VP service provider. If the service provider is slow, or improperly managed, or can’t get parts, or is overwhelmed with work, then there’s nothing much that your supplier can do to help.

As said above, be helpful to know specifically what the issues are.

If the boat has finance (a marine mortgage) on it, I’d suggest you contact the finance company to see if they can help.

Ultimately, you could consider rejection but if you do choose to go that route you must take legal advice. I’d also suggest you consider the likelihood of getting your money back having handed over possession of the boat to the dealer.

Many thanks for the feedback - very concerning that this is a recurring pattern with Clipper. Like you they have resolved some of the low hanging fruit but I simply cant get updates from them, days are turning to weeks and weeks are turning to Months and were fast approaching a year from delivery.

I think rejection may not be viable due to time and they also shipped the boat abroad for me. If it was a car if would definitely be back on the forecourt with keys through the letter box : )

In terms of the issues there are some stuff agreed but not yet executed (Basically a list of jobs that have just got to be scheduled, but Clipper have said ok to - everything needs to be copleted together when boat lifted) and a couple they simply haven't agreed to yet - Damage to the boat. and also Warranties haven't been supplied per our agreement which naturally could leave me very exposed.

 

[jrudge]

You have not stated the issues. You now say they have agreed to deal with issues when lifted but not others.

You are not helping yourself here. If you want help from this group then state precisely the issues. If you don't you will only get back waffle.

 

[jrudge]

He has no contract with them. So why?

The warranty is from the manufacture to the end user so there is a relationship. The dealer may do the work but they are not the warranty provider