SBS, amazed and dazed.... almost

[monkfish24]

Many thanks to a certain magazine for the boat show tickets with our subscription. Me and my favver had an excellent day.

I am in love with the new Elan 310 and fits exactly what i want out of a boat and it looks just spectacular. Father wasn't interested and preferred the Rustler 36 which is Again a beautiful boat and is amazingly finished with a quality and thought in the design.

One thing did niggle me a little all day though. When visiting many stands, in our case sailmakers. I think nearly 50% of the sales people we talked to started to ignore me, even though i was the person who knew what we wanted from the new sail. As soon as my father said "he's the one you want to talk to" and i started explaining what i want from our new main, down to the weight of cloth i want used, the seemed slightly surprised. I'm 21 and so i don't think a lot of people can comprehend someone my age having half ownership of a yacht and being able to spend some money on it. It infuriated me a little and made me feel like i was back to being 13 years old and trying to talk big boat talk even though i was a kid.

Simple answer to someone who doesn't want to acknowledge me, i don't give them my money. A little luck fell into play as i met chris/lumpy from Ullmans sails in Plymotuh and he was as helpful as anyone could be, turns out he's pretty sure he's got a brand new racing main of roughly the right size sat in his sail loft ah thank you!

 

[Bajansailor]

Its amazing how so many sales people even these days will automatically go for 'stereotypes', ie the types that they think 'should' be the ones doing the buying, and they will look past others who do not appear (in their eyes) to meet the criteria for a serious prospective punter.
Yes, I have been down that road as well, many times, perhaps because I am not really very stereotypical. I have felt tempted to tell these sales folk to foxtrot with Oscar when I see them looking over my shoulder for more interesting fodder when I ask polite questions....

I have heard stories (are they true?) of scruffy un-stereotypical geezers wandering up to the big motor boat stands and asking politely to be allowed on board - and afterwards saying 'I'll 'ave it', handing over a carrier bag of loot in payment..... it would be good if all sales people could recognise that every person that comes to visit their stand could quite easily be clutching a bag full of notes all eager to be spent.....

 

[jason -and the arguenauts]

Unrealistic. There are a small number of sales people and a humungous number of fender kickers at the boat show. The sales staff inevitably have to use a bit of guesswork as to who is a serious customer and who isnt. And they do it in exactly the same way that you judge people, from appearance.

 

[Judders]

You are not the first and wont b e the last. I always used to wear my best jacket and raybans at boatshows and got shed lads of attention for stuff I could not possibly afford, simply because I looked the part and talked a good game. Even picked up SWMBO from one brokers stand last time out. There are so many fender kickers that I suppose it is hard to make a judgement but one would have thought that someone who talks knowledgably and with enthusiasm might be good signs. The truth though, sadly I guess, is that enthusiasm and knowledge only get you so far in the minds of the yachting industry, where as money will get you everywhere.

 

[PetiteFleur]

This happens in several industries - I remember several years back when working for a sawmill company that 'sawyers' inevitably looked like tramps and I well remember one who turned up unexpectantly at our London office saying 'I'll have one' and handed over £20k in cash! Again some years ago my wife has always had Vauxhalls from a main dealer in the town where she worked, this was closed down and so we went to our local dealer a couple of miles away and even though my made the initial enquiry the salesman insisted on talking to me. Result is she walked out and she now has a Honda from another local garage from whom we've had good service.

 

[monkfish24]

I have heard stories (are they true?) of scruffy un-stereotypical geezers wandering up to the big motor boat stands and asking politely to be allowed on board - and afterwards saying 'I'll 'ave it', handing over a carrier bag of loot in payment..... it would be good if all sales people could recognise that every person that comes to visit their stand could quite easily be clutching a bag full of notes all eager to be spent.....

Quite true, Lumpy was telling us a story of when he was working at the London Boat show a couple of years ago. A slightly scruffy and very unassuming man went the the Swan stand and when he asked if he could have a look inside one, the salesman looked him up and down then he was told that it was by appointment only. When the salesman was asked when an appointment was available, the gentleman was told that he couldn't have an appointment that day in a very authoritarian manner.

The gentleman then walked round to Oyster yachts and oredered two yachts, one 46 footer for the uk only because his marina had a limit on the size and a 65 for out in the Med. He settled his bill there and then. With two Bills of Sale in hand and as a happy customer of Oyster yachts, the Man went back to the Swan yachts stand and showed them the Bills of sale saying "This was meant to be your sale, I've been in love with your boats since i was young and now i finally have the money to buy the boat i want. I refuse to buy your boats now because the way you treated me and i suggest you sort your sales team out"

how true this story is i don't know but i can see it happening these days

 

[Bilgediver]

it would be good if all sales people could recognise that every person that comes to visit their stand could quite easily be clutching a bag full of notes all eager to be spent.....

Unfortunately they seem unable in general to do this. I remember once when visiting Earls Court with Bro in law who has one of those much sought after Birchwood 26 river cruisers, being invited onto the stand by the salesman of a major player and giving us the choice of boats to view. He was apologetic that we could not go on board Nigel Mansell's boat which towered at the back of the stand but the one below was no problem. We warned him we were impoverished small boat owners however he wisely said that there was no knowing where we would be in a few years time and we were welcome.

Bro in law and wife were soon testing the bottle openers and cut glass by the crew hatch on the aft deck while I emulated a good friend by inspecting the below decks and below cabin sole areas.

I think it was well over thirty minutes before I joined them but there was noo hurry up. HE even offered to double clip all hoses and fit a vacuflush loo if I cgave him something near the asking price which was in seven figures

There were others with what appeared to be a cross between a trident and tiara on their blazers who made it quite clear that to gain access to the dumb blonde with the appointments diary we needed to go up to Jermyn St to be outfitted in best blazer with brass buttons though it seemed that any flashy badge on the pocket would do so long as it included royal heraldry.

Maybe they feel the customers and salesmen are all part of an exclusive club. Rolls Royce used to be like this but boy did they change quickly when they realised Arthur Dailey types could by their cars by the pair

 

[sighmoon]

Quite true, Lumpy was telling us a story of when he was working at the London Boat show a couple of years ago. A slightly scruffy and very unassuming man went the the Swan stand and when he asked if he could have a look inside one, the salesman looked him up and down then he was told that it was by appointment only. When the salesman was asked when an appointment was available, the gentleman was told that he couldn't have an appointment that day in a very authoritarian manner.

The gentleman then walked round to Oyster yachts and oredered two yachts, one 46 footer for the uk only because his marina had a limit on the size and a 65 for out in the Med. He settled his bill there and then. With two Bills of Sale in hand and as a happy customer of Oyster yachts, the Man went back to the Swan yachts stand and showed them the Bills of sale saying "This was meant to be your sale, I've been in love with your boats since i was young and now i finally have the money to buy the boat i want. I refuse to buy your boats now because the way you treated me and i suggest you sort your sales team out"

how true this story is i don't know but i can see it happening these days

I wonder if he also lives in his second choice of house and drives a car he doesn't like because the salesman was just so nice.

Personally I'd make the decision on what to buy based on how much I liked it rather than whether I thought the salesman had a good nose for likely punters. Seems an odd thing to get offended about.

FWIW I (always scruffy) managed to get onto the Swan (100, I think) at SIBS a couple of years ago. At first, he said there weren't any appointments available that day, but then as I walked off he said somebody had failed to turn up and I could go on now if I was quick. A really nice boat, by the way. I can't compare it to the Oyster because their diary was full.

 

[monkfish24]

I wonder if he also lives in his second choice of house and drives a car he doesn't like because the salesman was just so nice.

Personally I'd make the decision on what to buy based on how much I liked it rather than whether I thought the salesman had a good nose for likely punters. Seems an odd thing to get offended about.

FWIW I (always scruffy) managed to get onto the Swan (100, I think) at SIBS a couple of years ago. At first, he said there weren't any appointments available that day, but then as I walked off he said somebody had failed to turn up and I could go on now if I was quick. A really nice boat, by the way. I can't compare it to the Oyster because their diary was full.

He quite possibly liked the Oysters as well? who knows, as i said i'm not sure if it's a completly true story or not.

 

[bilbobaggins]

Many of the so-called 'sales staff' are simply hired in from agencies, complete with blazers, buttons and attitudes. However, It's not just the sales dummies....

Some years ago I was helping out a boat exhibitor, at SIBS, in my old blazer when I found myself in discussion with an Irish lady who, it emerged from 'qualifying' probing, had come over to the show with the specific intent to buy one of my principal's new-model 42' boats. She ticked all the boxes, asked all the right questions and was working to cut a deal on the various options - as strong a 'buying signal' as I've seen.

We'd been briefed there was a 'cushion' of value built into the show asking price within which we could negotiate various items. The Irish lady was clearly not satisfied with the standard factory-fitted berth and settee cushion covers ( colour, pattern ) and asked if they could be changed within the price. "Yes", said I, knowing that if the French factory wouldn't couldn't, then there were several upholstery firms at the show that would be glad to have such an order for slip-covers in whatever colour/pattern, and well within the 'value cushion' allowance - and said so. Besides which, she could choose at the show. "Yes we can...."

The customer nodded in that unmistakable way that signifies "I'm satisfied. Lead me to the contract..." and I beckoned in the UK dealers' wife/co-director, who had been hovering nearby, and who would put signature on paper.

The Irish woman asked, quite reasonably, a summary confirmation of the points of agreement, which got 'Yes' until she got to the cushion covers. "No," was the answer from the co-director. "The factory simply cannot change the fabric."

The Irish client recoiled as if slapped. She recognised a clear example of bloody-minded intransigence. "No sale", she snapped, glaring around in frustration. "When I'm spending over £200,000, I get to choose the curtains and cushions. Not you....!"

I noted the UK dealership for that old and respected French marque was in different hands the following year.

 

[drawkins]

I am not buying a new boat this year but I am TRYING to buy a new car.
E mailed Mercedes Benz re technical question,automated response,then woman e mailed for me to confirm model all of which details I had given in orignal enquiry.Result ...silence.
It is very unlikely that there is only one boat or car whicg would fit the bill.
I tried a national distributor in the U.K for Citroen.after a week and 5 e mails I got a rather bored man who said he would ring back.Result....silence
I have now found a Citroen dealers' salesman who has rung back and I will probaly buy off him.
we learnt our lesson early in business that one just can not judge by appearances,

 

[BurnitBlue]

I am not buying a new boat this year but I am TRYING to buy a new car.

I have been seriously TRYING to buy a used sail boat for three month now and the response to many (most) of my email queries has been zero.

I am spreading the net wide because I know that ALL boats are a compromise, so as long as they tick the boxes I make an enquiry. I make only one enquiry at a time. Give the advertiser three days to respond then, if no response I look at the next boat.

I don't bother with Boats n Outboards any more because they either do not forward enquires or if they do then the advertiser is playing games. For instance I sent off the usual query to an advert for a boat with asking price £32,000. I was seriously interested in this boat. No response. A month later the same boat was reduced for quick sale to £21,000. I sent off another email within hours of the ad appearing. No response.

I am now of the opinion that email is virtually useless in attracting attention (probably because of tirekickers emails). The best way is maybe by telephone. Unfortunitely I am often in transit so the overseas mobile phone bill would be horrendous so I persevere with email.

I can understand the problem for advertisers because it is so easy for lonely people to send off queries by email. No effort required. Just a few clicks of the mouse and the advertiser is swamped with emails.

 

[boggybrn]

I'm not surprised that Boats and Outboards don't foward e-mail enquiries. From what I can see they get their revenue from telephone calls to '070' numbers, that they then route on to the seller.

I can't see how they could make any revenue from forwarding emails, and without revenue they can't provide the service.

 

[Pete7]

Unrealistic. There are a small number of sales people and a humungous number of fender kickers at the boat show. .

The good news is there seemed to be less than last year on Saturday. You could actually move around the stands and talk to folk, apart from the YBW stand that is. Lunchtime saw a big queue for folk to buy this months PBO/YM or mobo thingy for £1. Except it seems they took an age to complete even this simple transaction. For gods sake chuck the money in a bucket and count it up at the end of the day. Me? I gave up waiting.

Pete

 

[Saguday]

I really enjoyed SBS this year - as did my family - but we always do. Nice weather, people to chat to, caught up with Richard on the YBW stand, drank my cold beer (ice cream for the kids next year please Richard or I cancel the DD ), looked at some nice posh yachts which we don't normally do (and found the Oyster, Discovery, Spirit etc sales people all very chatty and friendly and welcoming so thanks folks), took loads of pics, bought the bits I wanted and generally had a good time. Yes, the burger was overpriced (and mine a bit undercooked) but we go there to look at the boats, really, it's why it's called a boat show.

And we're looking forward to London too, to brighten the mid-winter gloom.

Yes, monkfish24, I had the same experience when I was looking to buy a house in my mid-20's, daft bat in the office couldn't believe I was interested in a 3 bed detached (it was our 2nd house) and kept talking to my mum who'd came along out of curiosity. Didn't get the sale, nonetheless...

 

[ChattingLil]

I'm 21 and so i don't think a lot of people can comprehend someone my age having half ownership of a yacht and being able to spend some money on it. It infuriated me a little and made me feel like i was back to being 13 years old and trying to talk big boat talk even though i was a kid.
!

thank your stars you are not female too! Totally fed up with sales people talking to my uninterested, non boat owning and non enthusiast other half instead of me!

 

[monkfish24]

thank your stars you are not female too! Totally fed up with sales people talking to my uninterested, non boat owning and non enthusiast other half instead of me!

If you're treated in the same way i was then i couldn't cope, it was ridiculous. I can't believe the way i was spoke to by some stall holders. I hope you think the way i do that if they're not intrested in you as a customer then they shouldn't expect to have any interest in your custom

 

[Ubergeekian]

how true this story is i don't know but i can see it happening these days

I met someone who bought an ASH-25 glider (about £150k, twenty years ago) instead of a Nimbus 4 (similar cost) because the Schempp-Hirth agent was so rude to him.

 

[Seven Spades]

I saw Michael Caine on the Parkinsons show many years ago tell how he'd just made Alfie and went to but a Rolls Royce and was shown the door.