Princess used boat warranty scheme

[kcrane]

Also agree re Captain Cook, man if he ever wanted to build a constructive dismissal case, I hope he took a screen shot...

I did the screenshot for him (or her) with an offer of help in return for 50% of the pay off... only joking, I asked for 60%

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Indeed, and it's no coincidence that none of the main buiders or dealers, Fairline and EBY included, choose to post on here. The potential gains just dont outweigh the risks.

Perhaps, although both PMYS and EBY maintain twitter feeds, which is arguably not hugely different from a discussion forum. Whilst it's certainly the case that it's a bit harder to follow conversations on twitter, it's still a public-domain dialogue. If you're going to engage with one form of social media, why not engage with others?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nick_H]

A week is a long time on the internet and things get forgotten, but remember PMYS started this discussion with their post 24 which was slightly a plug for their used boat warranty. Then they were asked a follow up question, didn't answer, said "we'll get back to you" (which led to the "PMYS can't decide things very quickly" comments), and then they pronounced "no more questions". It's only an internet forum (containing real customers though), but that isn't a great MO.

Yep, quite rightly it's open season on any manufacturer/dealer who tries to use the forum for advertising, which I think is why they usually don't do it. It seems Captain Cook didn't get that memo, and having got themselves into a bit of a mess I can't really understand why they didn't just tell us the geographical coverage and then decline to get more widely involved, especially as it's quite a good coverage, and it's publicly available on the internet anyway! Still, I'd far sooner they make a PR gaff on an internet forum than let me down when I urgently need a windlass motor/gearbox, as I did this summer. Within hours I had a replacement part that they'd removed from a stock boat, without any need for paperwork, payment in advance, or phoning for authorisation. The same kind of great service I know i'd get from EBY. So, in practice it works, in cyberspace - must try harder

 

[MapisM]

Baloney….! First rule of business, listen to your customers, it was an ideal opportunity for PMYS to address and publicise their used warranty package… and have spectacularly failed to do so. If manufacturers/dealers don't wish to participate in a forum, that's fine, but to issue a statement without any substance, then walk away, is imo arrogant! Leaves me with feeling that maybe if I had a warranty issue with them, I would get the same response…

For me this has nothing to do with the Princess/Fairline comparisons, but the attitude of the people I may be dealing with in the future.

Interesting feedback.
If that's the feeling you (and Nigelpickin apparently) have been left with, there's nothing I - or anyone else for that matter - can say to make you think otherwise, so we can only agree to disagree, I reckon.

But sorry, that has nothing to see with rationality.
Without derailing in a marketing academic debate, there's nothing in this thread which proves that PMYS has not listened (regardless of whether the "negative" comments came from customers or not, and most of them actually didn't, as I understand).
To some extent, the reply from Roger proves exactly the opposite, if you think about it.

Anyhow, the whole point is, was there any realistic possibility for them to unscramble the eggs, in the context of this thread?
Not a chance, imho.
And as Nick_h aptly said, the potential gains don't outweigh the risks anyhow, in these cases.
If there is one alternative PR strategy I would have considered, that was not following up at all.

"Nurture this thread", Nigelpickin? You must be joking...!

 

[Nigelpickin]

Well, the definition that I was drawing on was, 'to help grow, develop and care for', so no, not joking...

Thanks to the thread, PMYS have had thousands of views regarding an excellent point of service, good for them and any rational person reading this thread would not discount PMYS from their buying decision process...however a company of that size should have a best practice in place for both PR & media output and indeed, use of the SM channel...if they don't then maybe someone with more gumption than me could call them now and offer some consultation.

Imagine if the post had been closed off with,

'I will continue to watch this thread with interest and if forumites do not object, I will do my best to respond, answer questions and of course, deliver the views of PMYS. We are a family owned and run business and as such, our door is always open as is my PM box; so don't hesitate to contact me personally to discuss any aspect of this thread or indeed any of the services. Great discussion and thank you for all the valuable input.....'

Not too difficult really, maybe it's me, again.....

 

[scubaman]

+1. Companies are spending vast amounts of money on tools that enable them to follow and engage their customers in social media. PMYS's service is being discussed on an internet forum and they had an excellent opportunity to step in and talk (virtually) to many potential customers as per Nigel's post above. Waiting for this thread to become forgotten in the cyberspace is a big missed opportunity by today's standards. Also, by declining to comment further on the forum but only face to face leaves me thinking that what is it they have to say to me privately that they don't wish to say publicly.

This thread is a school book example of how selling and marketing is changing...

 

[MapisM]

This thread is a school book example of how selling and marketing is changing...

I see what you mean K, and I don't disagree with you on the principle.
But aside from the fact that, in my understanding, the tools you are talking about are (yet) to prove capable of providing any meaningful ROI on niche luxury products/markets like pleasure boats, here the point is another one, because the eggs had already been scrambled.
Was there a way to undo that, and turn the threat in an opportunity (if I may steal an old cliché)?
Not a snowball's chance in hell, imho.
Or are you seriously thinking that the polite and elegant answer suggested above by Nigelpicking wouldn't have been followed by other requests and objections...?

 

[DAKA]

I wonder just who has lost out though ?

Alright we all know there are potential buyers reading this thread who some would have us believe will not now buy their next boat from PMYS, but come on if they have the right boat and right deal is anyone really going to say no ?

The forum readers have lost out.........again through the apparent rudeness on the forum which I dont think is always intended.


I dont see why we cant encourage professional contributions taking them as helpful contributions, they are not intended to be legal contracts , is anyone really going to spend £500 000 + based on a forum post ?
No of course not, I would expect both parties to check what they had read/ written prior to signature.

Of course if there is actual intent to deceive then that is a totally different matter but all this thread has done is to kill off another valued newbie and gag a dozen others :05.18-flustered:

 

[Nigelpickin]

I all this thread has done is to kill off another valued newbie and gag a dozen others :05.18-flustered:

Who'd it kill off?

 

[rhino_mac]

I wonder just who has lost out though ?

Alright we all know there are potential buyers reading this thread who some would have us believe will not now buy their next boat from PMYS, but come on if they have the right boat and right deal is anyone really going to say no ?

The forum readers have lost out.........again through the apparent rudeness on the forum which I dont think is always intended.


I dont see why we cant encourage professional contributions taking them as helpful contributions, they are not intended to be legal contracts , is anyone really going to spend £500 000 + based on a forum post ?
No of course not, I would expect both parties to check what they had read/ written prior to signature.

Of course if there is actual intent to deceive then that is a totally different matter but all this thread has done is to kill off another valued newbie and gag a dozen others :05.18-flustered:

+1

If you're going to spend this sort of money you're going to go to to a tradeshow or a boatyard and speak to real people and see a real boat. Social Media has it's place (my company does Facebook/Twitter but then we sell to teenage girls) but I think on such huge massive purchases such as a boat, it's of limited use.

Anyway, I don't understand some people. Princess are being criticised (by some) for not posting to discuss an aspect of their service but there was a whole thread discussing whether Yeori could post up about building the Van der Valk, even before the build thread was posted (after he was graciously "allowed"). Never mind that it was/is a fascinating thread. One manufacturer is encouraged, one was (almost) discouraged? Either manufacturers can post or they can't.

No wonder the manufacturers seem to avoid the forum.

No wonder manufacturers steer clear of here.

 

[z1ppy]

If i recall the Van der Valk thread started to become a blatent advert for the builders (in the way posts were worded by the informed contributors) and that is what most (me included) objected to. what has transpired after the discussion, is a very interesting technical thread about how the boat is build and in the most part, not a blatent advert "we do this better than everyone else" set of posts which of course appeals to our desire for technical build threads!

If i was a decision maker at PMYS i would have taken the same course of action (although prehaps worded it slightly differently).

 

[pan]

I give up… a manufacturer/brand had a wonderful opportunity to promote a new initiative (which was all CaptainCook was trying to do!) on one of the largest motor boat forums (in the world?) yet decided to throw the dummy out.

There are dozens of companies that would jump at the chance. Frankly some of the posts have simply been directed at individuals, rather than the thread itself.

'you can take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink' comes to mind.

 

[henryf]

What size are you looking for Henry ?

You read me like a book.

That is going straight on my list to Father Christmas

H.

 

[rhino_mac]

I haven't looked at the original VDV thread for a while but the impression I got was that a builder asked "can I post this", then (a few) people instantly accused him of advertising and comparisons were drawn to JFM's Match thread.

I do remember that it wasn't the friendliest start to a thread at some points (I was very much a newbie at the time - still am really 18 months later). I couldn't understand it at all. It all sounded fascinating to me.

In the end, it has certainly been one of the more interesting threads on here. Perhaps if people cut the manufacturers a bit of slack when they surface here they might have some valuable input but to my mind, if I made boats this (or any other forum to be fair, don't want to single out this forum as a "problem") would be the last place I'd frequent.

 

[henryf]

You can H...
http://merchandise.princessyachts.com/

I stand corrected. We have been saying they should be for sale in the Swanwick offices since 2007. I think they are a relatively new invention.

Au contraire, young man:

http://merchandise.princessyachts.com/princessyachts-branded-menswear/force-2-unisex-jacket.html

As a flybridge owner, you'll be delighted to know you can also now buy nice Princess cardie as well:

http://merchandise.princessyachts.c...-menswear/softshell-aventura-mens-jacket.html



Cheers
Jimmy

But no monogrammed slippers which is a shame

H.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

If you're going to spend this sort of money you're going to go to to a tradeshow or a boatyard and speak to real people and see a real boat. Social Media has it's place (my company does Facebook/Twitter but then we sell to teenage girls) but I think on such huge massive purchases such as a boat, it's of limited use.

Agreed. My company sells high value bits of construction equipment with prices not dissimilar to boats and whilst we do the social media stuff in Facebook, Twitter, U Tube and the rest, I don't think it's ever going to be the difference between making and losing a sale. Like boats, buyers are always going to want to see and feel what they're buying and talk face to face with real people. So social media is fine for general background marketing noise but IMHO not a dealbreaker. Having said that, PYMS had an opportunity with this thread to sell themselves to potential customers but they flunked that opportunity. In a similar situation I would certainly have not turned down the opportunity to promote my company's products and I wouldn't have stopped a keen young member of staff from doing so either

 

[Nautorius]

It was answered in post 109 by jfm in a roundabout way

"Austria, The Balearic Islands, Belgium, Bulgaria, The Canary islands, The Channel
islands, Corsica, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Malta,
Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Russia
(Moscow), San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine (Kiev)."

Oh dear....another company misses a key boating centre "GIBRALTAR" off their list. Looks like I will have to stick with EBY, though I do love Princess!

 

[MapisM]

There are dozens of companies that would jump at the chance

Are there? In this industry?
Maybe I missed something in the last decade, 'cause aside from the notable exception of VdV, whose build thread I supported from the very beginning, I can't think of one single builder, let alone a dozen, which jumped in here with any meaningful contribution.

 

[Nautorius]

Mapis,

There have been several great contributors from Dealers over the years. As for manufacturers, I remember one from Sealine on the early days...though that could have just been an employee.

Paul

 

[pan]

Are there? In this industry?
Maybe I missed something in the last decade, 'cause aside from the notable exception of VdV, whose build thread I supported from the very beginning, I can't think of one single builder, let alone a dozen, which jumped in here with any meaningful contribution.

I said companies…. not boat builders!! Yes, you missed something