Unacceptable behavior by Abingdon Marina

[pmagowan]

Seems perfectly reasonable to me. Some people wanted into a private facility to see something that wasn't there and without permission from anyone who pays for the facility. A lady explained that this was not possible and they would need to make an appointment. I do wonder why people seem to feel they should have a right to do as they please on someone else's property. If you want to view a boat make an appointment and then they can make sure there is someone there to assist you. If a bunch of people came to my workplace when there was only one female member of staff on I would not want them to open the door and indeed my staff are aware they are not to do so.

 

[Flynnbarr]

I can walk into any MDL or Ting Dene Marina without fuss, and highly recommend them both. I can also walk into Harrods, Tesco's, and most jewellers in the same manner.

This story is astonishing! :disgust:

I look forward to you publishing the MDL gate codes so we can walk in without fuss and have a look at the pretty boats.

 

[Chris_d]

I can walk into any MDL or Ting Dene Marina without fuss, and highly recommend them both. I can also walk into Harrods, Tesco's, and most jewellers in the same manner.

This story is astonishing! :disgust:

Your missing the point there is no sales office at Abingdon, there is a shed with a janitor, it's not at all like Bray it's hidden away and doesnt do any boat services except moorings. They advertise a few boats on their website but don't do sales, it's very low key.

 

[sunquest]

Your missing the point there is no sales office at Abingdon, there is a shed with a janitor, it's not at all like Bray it's hidden away and doesnt do any boat services except moorings. They advertise a few boats on their website but don't do sales, it's very low key.

So why bother to advertise boats for sale on the www if they are unlikely to be in a position to sell them . If I was a bertholder there I would use a reputable broker who not only knows the marina restrictions but ensure any advertising states 'by appointment only' including a contact number. As an aside I once went to Chichester on a Saturday afternoon to look at a Trader. Office closed and no staff around.

 

[prof pat pending]

If I was a bertholder there I would use a reputable broker who not only knows the marina restrictions but ensure any advertising states 'by appointment only' including a contact number.

I'd be amazed if any of the berth holders there didn't know the score

VIEWING STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact the marina manager on 01235 536147 for further photographs and to book an appointment.

http://birchwood.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=380598

 

[Tranona]

Perhaps people would not become so angry if they were treated in the usual way, not some weird old fashioned lazy good for nothing churlish charade.

Bray Marine Sales, nor any other broker or Marina I have ever used do not have such issues. They offer an open door facility, with staff who don't cower behind gates....

What a strange attitude. Did you not read post #12? What bit of it did you not understand? The lady in question is not "staff" - let alone sales staff, but a berth holder who answers the phone. She explained why they do not allow unannounced visitors into a private site. Why do you find that so difficult?

 

[boatone]

About a year ago I wanted to view a boat that was for sale in Abingdon Marina. Having rung as requested the manager met me out of hours and was most helpful.
Completely fail to understand why this has become so angsty. Thought the reply from the lady was admirable in the circumstances.
People are free to run their businesses as they wish. All the adverts currently on the website make it quite clear that viewing of any boat must be by prior arrangement - where's the problem?
Surprised no-one has commented that there appears to be no Fairline Mirage for sale there anyway!

 

[sunquest]

I'd be amazed if any of the berth holders there didn't know the score



http://birchwood.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=380598

VIEWING STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact the marina manager on tel:01235 536147 for further photographs and to book an appointment.

Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-by-Abingdon-Marina/page3#l2Kv9MDwTHSie7fA.99
Very clear. Capital letters always shout It out, now see the website and the wording is obscured in the blurb. It is certainly not clear for someone directly looking for boat sales. It appears from the marina photo it is not a small marina but has a very small level of staffing.

 

[pmagowan]

VIEWING STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact the marina manager on tel:01235 536147 for further photographs and to book an appointment.

Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-by-Abingdon-Marina/page3#l2Kv9MDwTHSie7fA.99
Very clear. Capital letters always shout It out, now see the website and the wording is obscured in the blurb. It is certainly not clear for someone directly looking for boat sales. It appears from the marina photo it is not a small marina but has a very small level of staffing.

Sorry, it seems clear to me. It has a blurb about sales where, if you wanted to buy a boat, you would read that you need to make an appointment. It then links to various adverts which all have viewing by appointment on them. It repeatedly gives the number to book an appointment. It would be really odd to want to buy a boat from them and yet not work out that viewing is by appointment only. Of course, you can lead a horse to water...

 

[prof pat pending]

Surprised no-one has commented that there appears to be no Fairline Mirage for sale there anyway!

I did on page one & the 'young lady' said

I would have been able to save you your wasted journey by informing you that we have no Fairline Mirage for sale

in her response

 

[boatone]

I did on page one & the 'young lady' said in her response

My tongue in cheek comment was just that - Don't think I'd make a journey without making sure boat was still available !

 

[prof pat pending]

Ah gotcha

Nope, always wise to check before blowing budget on a wasted journey

 

[Medskipper]

It was my friend who googled the marina web site, goodness knows how but he exclaimed they have a Mirage for sale! Having just driven from Epsom in Surrey to see what was termed a lovely boat in Lechlade my friend was fully expecting to make a purchase! When we viewed said boat it really was a sh*t heap so we left frustrated and rather dejected! The only reason we started to google!

We didn't use Appolloduck he found Abingdon marina web site, I have just looked and it is not very clear that there is no admittance unless an appointment is made! So after having driven from Lecklade to Abingdon our situation was frustrated further by the no admittance rule! The lady in question did rather present herself as staff!

Its a pity really because one of my friends is a seriously wealthy guy who I have been trying to get to buy a vessel for ages! And he just couldn't believe the old fashioned and outdated attitude! Rather put him off! The guy who actually was about to purchase is still looking, so if anyone knows of a tidy Fairline Mirage with single or twin small diesels with folding screen that could get under Osney let me know? He loves his fishing! Circa £20k.

Thanks

 

[pmagowan]

It was my friend who googled the marina web site, goodness knows how but he exclaimed they have a Mirage for sale! Having just driven from Epsom in Surrey to see what was termed a lovely boat in Lechlade my friend was fully expecting to make a purchase! When we viewed said boat it really was a sh*t heap so we left frustrated and rather dejected! The only reason we started to google!

We didn't use Appolloduck he found Abingdon marina web site, I have just looked and it is not very clear that there is no admittance unless an appointment is made! So after having driven from Lecklade to Abingdon our situation was frustrated further by the no admittance rule! The lady in question did rather present herself as staff!

Its a pity really because one of my friends is a seriously wealthy guy who I have been trying to get to buy a vessel for ages! And he just couldn't believe the old fashioned and outdated attitude! Rather put him off! The guy who actually was about to purchase is still looking, so if anyone knows of a tidy Fairline Mirage with single or twin small diesels with folding screen that could get under Osney let me know? He loves his fishing! Circa £20k.

Thanks

Viewing by appointment only means, in general, that there will be no admittance unless an appointment is made. It states this on their boat sales section and on every advert for every boat that I can see.

 

[No Regrets]

I look forward to you publishing the MDL gate codes so we can walk in without fuss and have a look at the pretty boats.

During daytime hours the sales pontoon is open and ungated.

With reference to the Prof's comment about being cheaper in Oxford, it needs to be :encouragement:

 

[oldgit]

Bit off topic but drove up to the middle of nowhere ie. Oldham to look at a car a few years ago.Blimming miles away.
Made an appointment a few days previously and even reconfirmed the night before.
Deal was they would hold car until I had had a look at it.Set off about 4am to get up there.
Arrived at 10am.
Curiously no one at the garage was very keen to tell me they had sold to car about 30 mins before I had arrived.. Grrrrrr......

 

[prof pat pending]

With reference to the Prof's comment about being cheaper in Oxford, it needs to be :encouragement:

Nicer part of the river too especially above Osney where the prat filter does its job admirably :encouragement:

 

[Medskipper]

Viewing by appointment only means, in general, that there will be no admittance unless an appointment is made. It states this on their boat sales section and on every advert for every boat that I can see.

Well you are the clever one, are you not? I just explained our position, presumably you didn't read what I just wrote? Just like we didn't spot on their web site it was viewing by appointment, which I might add is quite unusual as I'm very familiar with how marinas boat sales work in general!

 

[prof pat pending]

So if I have this straight

You drove to see a boat that wasn't as advertised so were disappointed ... I think we've all got that tee shirt
You found another boat 20 miles away in the general direction of home ... all good there, no extra expense :encouragement:
You arrived to find your mate had made a mistake and not read the entire advert ... we all make mistakes (Incidentally that boat was sold months ago)
and finally the young lady would not let you in to see a boat that they didn't have ... no surprise there really


It's the last bit leaves me a little dumbfounded ... the behaviour of said young lady was unacceptable, and you have publicly slated them accordingly.
Personally I feel the title of this thread should be changed to reflect that after a comedy of errors, you didn't get to look at a decent boat, blew some cash on fuel and were a bit miffed... again a tee shirt I'm sure that many of us have

 

[Flynnbarr]

During daytime hours the sales pontoon is open and ungated.

With reference to the Prof's comment about being cheaper in Oxford, it needs to be :encouragement:

Which part of 'key holder only marina' do you struggle with?

Prof....You are a patient man,I hope you're on commission