SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW-NOT USER FREINDLY

[penpal]

Dear All

Of late we heard how the Boat Show attendance has been declining not only this year but as a trend. Well, frankly I am not surprised when you consider the attitude of the salesmen and the lack of access to some of the models. I remember two years ago showing a genuine interest in a Hardy. The salesman all dress to go to a wedding was on his way I guess to a very important date at the bar. He certainly was not interested in speaking to me and suggested I made an appointment. I had driven 65 miles to visit the show and was not prepared to come back at another time.he was not even interested in taking my details and sending me a brochure. Boy these guys must be doing well to turn down customers. This year i dressed up not as a crusty old sailor with my Henry Lloyd hat and shoesm but dressed as if I was carrying a million quid in my pockets, now that made a difference.

The trouble is that these companies reluctantly show their boats at the show, probably costs them a lot of money and then have to put up with the public! What they do not realise is some of the pocket want to buy, may buy in the future or dream of buying if the money should arrive. They should be cultivating interest for the future and encouraging viewers to come on board and pave the way for sales of the future. Frankly I am very disappointed in the Boat Show, in fact it is boring, yes I will say it again, it is boring!!!!

Next year i shall go the Used Boat Show, or maybe Fort Lauderdale, the Americans know how to treat a customer.

 

[GC1]

Dead right, they all look like they are from the same mould, you see them like some kind of clones heading off to hotels after the show, weird really. You must be right, it's been easy money in the past, things are changing so best they change their attitude, boaters have long memories.

I won't be giving my hard earned cash to anyone who can't give customer service, I would certainly NEVER beg to look on ANY boat, it's their loss, make them suffer.

 

[Bajansailor]

I spent 4 days in total at SBS, just wandering around, looking for neat design ideas, talking to people, buying some bits and bobs and spare parts for our Challenger, looking at boats...... and I generally had the complete opposite (to you) reaction by sales people on boats, even though I very obviously didnt have a million (or even 10k) burning a hole in my pocket.....

In fact on the first Sunday afternoon, the pontoons were so empty that I had no difficulty in going on board boats that would normally need appointments well in advance.

I did have a wander round the Used Boat Shows at Lymington and Bursledon as well, and thought they were quite good.

 

[Frontier]

I posted similar after the show. I do believe the manufacturers are missing a trick. They should welcome you aboard and perhaps ask if you would likly be a new buyer or are you looking with a view to purchasing a used boat in perhaps a year or two time. If you say well I am interested in this boat but used, they could pop you in their database and let their dealer know to contact you in two years. They would shift a used model enabling a slightly richer person get rid and buy yet another new boat from them.

Jaguar cars realised this a while ago and they now control the used jag market to a large degree, ensuring you get serious sucking up even if buying a used car, it simply helps provide a customer down the chain allowing their new car purchaser pass on his old car.

 

[Dipper]

The last time I went to SBS, I decided to look at the used boat shows first. I was allowed to go on so many boats (and often given several sets of keys at the same time) that I never did get to SBS. I had a wonderful time looking at boats that I could definitely afford and although I didn't buy any I saw, I was very tempted.

 

[GC1]

Can you imagine leaving your boat for sale for the whole world to get given the key and go unescorted around it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I put mine there for sale and chickened out at the last minute, I didn't want people crawling over it, I was warned about the unescorted viewings which put me off. Fortunately a very nice forumite made me an offer for it and rather than have it trashed I sold it to him /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Still even though it was sold and their ladder taken away, some stuff went missing from it and dirty footprints appeared in it /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I couldn't get it moved until after the show because it was jammed in by other boats /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[melangeoff]

I guess like so many of these Forum postings, it's all a matter of opinion and personal experiences.

Personally, we had the best boat show experience ever at SBS this year. We knew exactly what we wanted to achieve and set out to bleed the dealers for info and deals.

In the 25"+ Cruiser class we found folks on the DORAL and MONTEREY pontoons the most helpful and unbiased.

 

[GC1]

Quote :- "In the 25"+ Cruiser class"

Didn't see the model show, where was that? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[gjgm]

If there is something specific I want to look at I phone the dealer before hand and get a name and give mine. Then you are not another window shopper. If you see something else, let them know you ve made appointements in advance with other boats. I think the dealers are there to create interest and sales in their boats. I m sure plenty of people at the show have no intention of buying anything, and it cant hurt to make sure they know which category you are in.

 

[robind]

When Nordhaven were first at the SHBS I went onboard and met the owner of the company who having heard how I couldn`t afford one of his boats, replied "I couldnt afford the company a while back either!" and showed me around the boat for at least twenty minutes, even mentioning, to another interested party that wanted a tour, that he would be with them in a few minutes, I had of course said that he should deal with them straight away (as I was a waste of space as far as buying went) They/ He seems to have the right attitude, but then owns the company. Employees are a different thing suited and booted or not. How about a poll with comments after every boatshow and a scoreboard for "best performance " I would have rated Nordhaven best that year!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I had the same treatment from the owner (Jim Leishman??) of Nordhavn who showed me around the engine bay with such an obvious sense of pride that I nearly got my cheque book there and then. Luckily SWMBO dragged me off the boat reminding me that I didnt really need a 40t 8 knot boat /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[rickp]

I think it was probably Dan Streech - justifiably proud of their boats, I think /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rick

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Could be. All I remember was thinking I could live in the engine bay it was that roomy and tidy /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bajansailor]

I had a look around the Nordhavn at the Boat Show, and thought she was just gorgeous really - and I am a raggie at heart really.

The sales personnel welcomed me on board warmly, and we had a long interesting chat, even though they obviously realised I was not a customer.

As for that engine room.... I think that is a standard that all mobos should aspire to - well laid out, plenty of room (walk in!), absolutely pristine......

 

[spannerman]

Glad to here that Monterey treated you well as I am the dealer for them here in Stavanger.
Reading everyones posts and being in sales myself for Elan Yachts and Monterey and a few others, and having seen the the criticisms I am interested to hear what it is that you potential customers really would like from a salesman.
Whats important to you? first visual impressions? technical product knowledge? good backup, or just the lowest price?
I am old fashioned so I like the smart blazer style, but my background is a marine engineer and electrician so hopefully I can answer just about any technical question relating to my products, I'd be a bit embarrassed if I couldn't.
I firmly believe in holding the customers hand so as to speak throughout the entire purchase experience, I always try and give the customer some 'alone' time when looking at the boat on the pretext of nipping back to the office for something, I know folks want to lie on the berths, open the cupboards, stand in the shower etc and sit round the table and visualise life onboard, some want to look behind the electrical services panel, or round the engineroom, its fine by me, I have nothing to hide.
Obviously some are time wasters but you can't always be sure who they are so you have to treat them all as potential customers, maybe if they have a good experience they will recommend you to friends.
I think its especially important to get the wife/girlfriend involved as the galley and heads is usually of greater interest to them than whether the trim flaps retract automatically, or it has a folding prop.
But in salesmen defence, I would say that the customer themselves can help the process, I had one guy come in with a data stick full of pics of details from various other manufacturers i.e.curved tops on the cabin doors, asking if we could incorporate them into our boat and could we deliver a sailboat with all the grain in the woodwork in the cabin going horizontally so it looked bigger inside!!
I decided there and then I didn't want him as a customer as he would always be complaining about something, and politely suggested he look at boats that you could spec yourself.
Then there are the ones that let their kids run wild, yanking switches and controls, jumping on the berths, climbing on the table and putting footprints on the upholstery, and you know you are going to have to spend a couple of hours cleaning the boat after they have gone, and the parents stand there talking to you completely oblivious, please if you can't control your kids leave them at home.
This is not Toys-r-Us.
So I welcome forumites comments on how to make the whole experience better.

 

[Micky]

Reminds me of a friend i had. Extremely rich multimillionaire.
He said he liked to dress like the lads, in fact the truth is, he looked a right mess. Holes in his jeans at the knees. Holes in his jumper at the elbows. If he was taken short, he would Pee up the nearest lamp-post.

One-day he walk into a BMW showroom to buy a new car and the salesman turfed him out. After a load of hollowing and shouting, swearing and kicking my mate forced his way back into the showroom, slapped a bundle of money onto the roof of the car, shouted get me the effing keys.

Cut a long storey short, two salesmen were sacked.

Some of you on here might know of the Cat-house at Woolverstone.
Years ago, he purchased that to sit and watch the Seagulls.
Shame he is no longer with us.

 

[mont]

Agree Nordhavn have shown me the same courtesy as well. As you did I explained the nature of my interest was to only have a look and my pocket was too shallow at present.
Nice impressive boat and staff / uk dist trying to build a brand image - its working.
I found at SIBS that some dealers / builders appreciate courtesy and honesty. Some are hard work though.

 

[AdeOlly]

Had the same experience with Pearl last year; explained price was out of our league before we asked to see the boat. Was shown around it for 20 minutes and then left alone. Fantastic boat, if SWMBO ever lets me spend the required amount of money on a boat I'd def. go and see them, unlike Fairline who were rude and offhand.

 

[ari]

I find the same at motorshows. No problem at all looking at less popular cars like Kias or Nissans, but you try getting onto the Bentley or Ferrari stand!

I don't understand it... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif