Something's wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

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NealB

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Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

We're very seriously interested in two 2nd hand boats, and have been carefully analysing the pros and cons of each.

Logic (hmmm....logic and boat choice....now there's a novel idea for us) points us pretty clearly to one of the two.

However, the broker acting for that one is slow to answer emails, and generally unenthusiastic. In fact, I feel as if I'm a bit of a nuisance to him.

The other broker knows the other boat well, has been incredibly helpful, friendly and encouraging, replies almost instantly to enquiries, yet has not been pressurising us.

Strange that you end up not wanting to buy the boat that suits you better just because of the brokers involved.

Rant over (well, ok, maybe more of a rant-ette)!
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

I remember seeing a couple of videos ( this was a few years back)

1 was 'How to loose a sale' and the other was 'How to close a deal' should be manadatory viewing for any (so called) sales man !

Nick
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

We've recently walked away from 2 boats because of A-Hole Brokers. Obviously doing so well for themselves they didn't need our business.

One didn't even reply to: "What do we need to do to put a deal on the table?"...

A bit dissapointing when your talking about boats in the region of 40k +.

There loss ended up buying new, on reflection, don't feel like we lost out on the boat or the service in the end...

So far much happier with the supplier were working with now, although I believe they could all do with a kick up the ar*e when it comes to communicating...
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

We walked away from a new Moody 36 that we wanted to buy at a boat show because the salesman showed no interest in selling to us. Bought a Dehler 37 instead from the enthusiastic agent and have been very happy with it ever since!
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

You can imagine that a sales person at a boat show gets a lot of 'tyre kickers' and has to be polite and couteous to everyone (and believe me it gets wearing, I've done many exhibitions having to explain the benefits of a rainwater harvesting system, etc etc) but an experienced, or even interested person for that matter, should be able to spot someone who is genuinely a potential customer!
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

[ QUOTE ]
You can imagine that a sales person at a boat show gets a lot of 'tyre kickers'

[/ QUOTE ]

My experience with them has always been in there office outside of these sometimes understandable curcumstances (boat shows).
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

I must admit that having spent a year or so looking for our present boat we found a few good brokers, but equally some very poor ones, and yes in the end we bought from one of the good ones. He was always helpful, understood our points when negotiating the price down and clearly advised the seller well because our deal was accepted.

My advice to anyone selling is to go round your brokers first as a buyer, then make up your short list, you will be able to discount over 50% of the possibles in a day.
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

Hi ,
I've admired Fairweather in the past at Wicor'. Looks a really lovely 'allround' yacht
Are you still there this year?
I have a Twister 28 at Wicor' which will go back on a swinging mooring just off to the right from the end of the jetty in April.
cheers
Scotty
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

Hi Scotty

Thanks for that ! Yes we are still in the yard at present but I am having her stripped back ....(she had been sprayed before, long ago).......she is to be re painted and the bottom peeled and epoxied as a long term preventative measure.

At the moment she is 'drying out' as the laminate has to be down to 5%. Hoping to be out n about come end of April.

Super boat the Halb...dispite the decent accomodation and wheel house she will keep up up with any modern yacht until very close hauled.

See you around.

Nick
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

I know what you mean about Broker enthusiasm.

Ive recently bought a boat, having looked all over the UK and Europe. IMO I found that it wasn't so much the Broker but more of the personality of the salesman that became the main reason that I opened negotiations on the various boats I was interested in.

Basically I found the following to be superb, and fully recommend them:
Colin & Sue at Pinnacle Yachts in Corfu.
Gus at Seahorse, Athens.
Nigel in Berthon, Spain
and Phil, from Boatshed, Gibralter.

Generally speaking, nearly all the other, not mentioned, we're clowns. Not interested in the figure I intended to spend, or passing on my interest to the owner, and generally full of s***.

I ended up buying a 54 footer from Phil in Gib, who was absolutely superb in the negotiations with the owner.
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

I was once kept waiting for an hour in a very hot room by a broker of Sea Ventures without even being offered a glass of water. I was looking at a Jeanneau 37 footer. When I was eventually shown the boat that was in bits. Many years ago I was looking to buy a Westerly but the broker tried to sell me one I didn't want(or could afford). I bought a Sadler instead. So I guess that Mr. Robert Sole the broker does have an influence over your choice of boat even if only for the reason that I'm b!^*&%d if I'm going to to give him the commission for any boat.
 
Re: Something\'s wrong when you choose a boat because of the broker!

In terms of broker behavior. I will never buy an Oyster because of their boat show attitude. New or used.
 
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