Unhelpful organisation of the month award

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webcraft

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This month's award goes to Croabh Haven Marina.

We had a repair made to our old headsail by a Scottish sailmaker with customers based at Craobh. The sailmakers said they would drop it off there (no charge) at the end of last week as they were going up there anyway.

Craobh refused to accept it, saying they could leave it on a boat (big of them eh?) but that they could not accept it in reception. Helpful or what?

On a completely unrelated matter, here's a couple of hints and tips for cruisers in the Loch Melfort / Loch Shuna area:

1/ I have been told that a condition of the marina at Craobh's construction was that the original anchorage was preserved, so I don't think there is anything they can do legally to stop you anchoring in the marina - and there is certainly room.

2/ Although they charge Clyde prices they keep West Coast hours, so if you get there after 6pm and leave before 8.30am there is no-one to take your money.

3/ Be warned that they charge an £8.00 short stay fee even if you are just popping into the LOTI for a swift half and have already spent money on (expensive) diesel or in the chandlery. Of course they are not the only marina that does this, but a little flexibility would be pleasant.


- Nick
 
[ QUOTE ]


We had a repair made to our old headsail by a Scottish sailmaker with customers based at Craobh. The sailmakers said they would drop it off there (no charge) at the end of last week as they were going up there anyway.

Craobh refused to accept it, saying they could leave it on a boat (big of them eh?) but that they could not accept it in reception. Helpful or what?


[/ QUOTE ]

I can see kind of their point, if my marina was to take in sails for people (they have two sail boxes so don't), they would be used as a sail/parts/baggage store etc. etc. It's your sail and so your responsibility, don't whine if they aren't willing to hold your hand... sorry but you've paid the money and so accept their terms and conditions...
 
I think the point is that Croabh are owned by Kip Marina (under Holt leisure Ltd) and the marina at Kip are only too happy to hold items for you. I'm not a berth holder at either but have had sails and chandlery held for me by Kip and collected when we popped in.

Croabh does seem to have a 'West Coast' mentality.

Donald
 
Sorry,

Can't agree with that.... You are their customer and should be treated as such.... you are their advertising amongst many other things and ultimately, pay their wages....

My Marina, (Neptune in Ipswich) would, I am sure, take in a sail for me.... they are friendly, helpful and considerate.... I therefore will, and do, praise them when people ask for recommendations......

Unlike Nick's understandable comments about Craobh.... so which marina are people more likely to want to visit? (accepting that they are realistically in different markets!)
 
I see you are from Dublin so am surprised by your reply. We found the Irish unbelieveably helpful when we circumnavigated the Emerald Isle a couple of years ago. Philip Watson, the sailmaker at Howth, was particularly helpful - rushed a repair to our genoa in spite of being busy tring to get his own boat into the water, and recut it for us when we had only expected it to be patched.

Other people we had only just met drove for three hours to bring us a spare part and wouldn't take any money.


Most marinas/sailing clubs are extremely helpful in this respect, especially in remoter parts of the country. I don't see this as whining, merely as an observation.

- Nick
 
Boo to Croabh Haven

yes indeed. Eight flipin quid for a short stay when Claysie took us in to Croabh in his boat on the chentleman's cruise - the man pretty much had a seizure on the spot! Yeah, ok, I actually paid it, but it's the principle that counts. He won't enjoy learning that he could have anchored. Oh dear...
 
[ QUOTE ]
1/ I have been told that a condition of the marina at Craobh's construction was that the original anchorage was preserved, so I don't think there is anything they can do legally to stop you anchoring in the marina - and there is certainly room.

2/ Although they charge Clyde prices they keep West Coast hours, so if you get there after 6pm and leave before 8.30am there is no-one to take your money.

[/ QUOTE ]
You wouldn't by any chance be suggesting that:

1) we anchor in the marina for free

2) we sneak in and out after hours and use the marina without paying

Would you now?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I see you are from Dublin so am surprised by your reply. We found the Irish unbelieveably helpful when we circumnavigated the Emerald Isle a couple of years ago. Philip Watson, the sailmaker at Howth, was particularly helpful - rushed a repair to our genoa in spite of being busy tring to get his own boat into the water, and recut it for us when we had only expected it to be patched.

Other people we had only just met drove for three hours to bring us a spare part and wouldn't take any money.


[/ QUOTE ]

Just because I can understand why a marina doesn't want to act as a storage depot for its berth holders doesn't mean everyone has that policy. But many of the marinas that I have visited just don't have the capacity to store bulky items. I would never ask my marina to do so, I'd get it sent to my address or pick it up myself, as I said it's my boat so my responsibility.

And just because someone refused money as payment, doesn't mean they would refuse a small token of your appreciation...

Yes, it's always good to find help in places where it's not expected but don't be suprised when other people don't bend over backwards to help you out. I use my marina for mooring the boat and a bit of free advice when I need it. I don't expect anything more and so am not dissapointed when it's not forthcoming.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Can't agree with that.... You are their customer and should be treated as such.... you are their advertising amongst many other things and ultimately, pay their wages....


[/ QUOTE ]

And as their customer what is it you are paying for? Berthing or factory depot?

As for your fees paying their wages, try that argument on them and see how far it gets you... The aren't exactly shareholders in the business now are they? Expect your fees to give you secure and convenient berthing and anything beyond this as a bonus which would make you come back/stay longer. Customer service isn't always included in berthing fees no matter how high they are or how remote the marina is.
 
Re: Boo to Croabh Haven

Listen - I made a big enough fuss about having to do all that stuff with the fenders - for Gods sake preserve me from the blasted chore of putting the bloody dinghy in. Or are you suggesting we anchored in one of the berths...now there's an idea.
 
If thats your view, I feel sorry for you.

I'm paying for a service, including a berth, support and assistance...... and thats what I get... and expect.... and demand....

Not having customer service included in the berthing fees is an attitude that, thank goodness, we finally managed to overturn in the 70s.....
 
Keep your pity for someone who needs it, I've yet to complain about the service I get in a marina.

I may not be too impressed with the condition of the facility, but if I don't like it I simply don't return. It's a marina, a car park for boats, that's what I pay for. If I want support I'll ring my old mum and if I need assistance, I'll ring some mates. Simple really...
 
Re: Boo to Croabh Haven

funnily enough, there was a time when the anchor might have been used there but that was in the dim and distant past before scottish hydro electrified his winch and there wus'nae ony volunteers to get it oot ...

Hmmm ... I can recall a previous seizure and I too dug deep in my pocket (for a tenner, this time). I think we should designate one of us a first aid attendant in future, with CPR training medical kit oxygen etc, for our own safety if not the auld goat's. On the other hand, one might be a trifle suspicious of these sudden attacks. You know, I just don't know ...
 
Re: Boo to Croabh Haven

i dare you to try it! What a brilliant ruse.... Or of course, it's highly likely that zillions of canny scots do the same thing every day and we/I'm the only mutt who fell for the"askem for £8" gambit. Damn!
 
The latest ST has an article about Craobh. Under 'Services' it lists 3 sailmakers. I interpret 'Services' as meaning services associated with the marina, cos they are listing them as means of attracting passing trade. Regardless of that, I'd have thought a bit of mutual backscratching would be benficial to both organisations. Given that Craobh is rather 'out in the boonies' I feel it is shortsighted of them to not offer a collection point. We're talking Brownie Points here, if nothing else.
 
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