Recent experience with "Boats and Outboards"

[gandy]

Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Hi,

Has anyone one had any problems advertising on Boats and Outboards recently?

I notice that they have stopped putting dates onto the adverts, and it also appears that they don't pull down adverts once the item's sold. I don't know if that's them, or the sellers causing that.

One example, a seller I emailed back in January told me the item was sold. Its still up on the web site, but the email option has disappeared leaving only the premium rate number to call.

When I sold our Wayfarer the site worked perfectly, and the removed the advert the moment I notified them. Similarly when we were looking for our current boat, the adverts were all dated so you could see how long things had been on.

It seems to have gone downhill since then.

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I've advertised a few times lately, and have noticed the difference. They ask for comments, and twice I have asked them to reinstate the date of first advertised, but have had no response or seen any difference.

The removal of sold items is up to the seller, but if you have deleted the advert reference information they have sent you, then the only way to pull the advert is to contact them.

The thing that pees me off, is when you do send an email requesting info or whether it has been sold, is for the seller to not reply.

The site is not so good since they altered it and removed the date advertised - for a start.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I've sold 3 boats on there and niggles with the set-up apart, it does what it says on the tin.
I couldn't get the last sailboat advert removed after several attempts, so just edited the advert to say NOW SOLD.

 

[James_D]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I have noticed recently that when emailing the seller you have to at least send 2 emails, and the seller will comment they have only had one email, as for removing the date, if you email and get no response you may be enticed to phone the premium number, same happened again this week! JBD

 

[graham]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I sold an outboard on there.

After it sold I emailed them they removed the advert everything went like clockwork until months later the add reappeared and I started getting enquiries again.

In fairness it only took another email to get it removed again .

 

[gandy]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I suppose it could be glitches of that sort. Would it be cynical to wonder how much income they get from the premium-rate calls to old adverts?

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

That's a good point. I include a web page address for the boat and have my real e-mail address on that.

 

[StephenSails]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Hi Guys,

I work for Boats and Outboards.

There have been a few issues with the website lately, this was largely due to an upgrade on the server. However we made a decision to remove the advert date after numerous complaints from yacht brokers and other individuals, particularly people with wooden boats as these do take sometime to sell. We then added an indication each advert to give you an idea how recent the advert is. This seems to be the best compromise at the moment.

Boats and Outboards website is the busiest marine website in the UK and does costs a lot of money to operate, the revenue made from the privacy numbers barely scratches the surface, we have recently reduced the cost to call all new numbers issued to 20ppm as this was an area of contention with some people.


If anyone has any other issues please feel free to drop me a message through here or call the sales number on the website and I will do my best to help.



Cheers

Stephen

 

[Rabbie]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Thanks Stephen. I have had similar problems to others recently, but you can't say fairer than that.

 

[StephenSails]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

[ QUOTE ]
I have noticed recently that when emailing the seller you have to at least send 2 emails, and the seller will comment they have only had one email, as for removing the date, if you email and get no response you may be enticed to phone the premium number, same happened again this week! JBD

[/ QUOTE ]

I personally grab all the email ads from advertisers and send them an email within the first 7 days of placing their advert, you will be suprised how many bounce back from people adding incorrect email address in the first place!

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Good point that.

 

[aquaholic]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I have sold several boats through the website and cant fault the service given considering the small cost. The only niggle is that when doing a search it only searches the keyword in the ad description, where as most others will search the whole ad.

 

[gandy]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Thanks for responding, Stephen.

As I said I got on fine when selling the Wayfarer, the ad went up and when I wanted and came off once it was sold.

I was a bit concerned as the site seems to have a lot of old adverts. We're going to be looking for a new tender and outboard and started to wonder how many times I will be calling people only to find the item was sold months ago.

 

[Noddy]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I rang about an outboard recently. The guy had sold it ages ago and was of the opinion that Boatsandoutboards were charging money for the phone call.

A credible motivation for a conspiracy involving late removal of adverts methinks!!

 

[jonathankent]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

It is definitely BoatsandOutboards thats the problem.... I had an advert on there for parts for my outboard, which I duly found quite quickly.... went into their website to remove the advert and no matter how many times I tried it didn't go. I had emails from people offering parts, and it was embaressing to be wasting their time. In the end the only way to remove it was email BoatsandOutbaords direct and get them to remove it!!

 

[tobble]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Stephen:
[ QUOTE ]
we made a decision to remove the advert date after numerous complaints from yacht brokers and other individuals, particularly people with wooden boats as these do take sometime to sell.

[/ QUOTE ]

Given that some people would clearly prefer for the date to remain, surely a better solution would be to have an option to add a start date? Just a thought, but maybe that would go some way to silencing the cynics who suggest that you leave the glitch because it earns you money...

 

[gandy]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

I don't see how dates would be a problem anyway. When the adverts used to be dated I saw plenty of people refreshing the date - same boat popping up to the top of the list with a new date on it, which at least showed the guy still actually had it for sale.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

They did not remove the advert for about 3 weeks after I notified them - I was plagued with calls, some abusive for wasting their time. But I did get a sale and V quickly too.

 

[StephenSails]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

[ QUOTE ]
They did not remove the advert for about 3 weeks after I notified them - I was plagued with calls, some abusive for wasting their time. But I did get a sale and V quickly too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Chris,

Can you tell me how you communicated to us with regards to getting your advert deleted, as I would like to investigate this as a matter of urgency.

Thanks

Stephen

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: Recent experience with \"Boats and Outboards\"

Hi - Steven.

I used the edit option to inform you of the sale. I could not find a phone number to call either so had to allow it to run its course. I have just spent some time looking at the web site to see if I could find a number - eventually found a contact us page right at the bottom. Might be worth putting it more prominantly on a tab - that is unless you don't want someone to contact you!

I get uptight with other internet ads such as autotrader who do not remove ads either. It is a huge waste of time phoning on itmes you discover are already sold!

However - I do stress that the adverts are a VERY effective sales medium.