Yacht brokers - what would you like from them

[Tiger Rag]

Dear All,

I realise it will escape nobody that I am currently working for a yacht brokerage and management company and so have definite ulterior motives in asking for the forum's advice, thoughts and comments. However, I would be interested to hear views (critical and seemingly non constructive included) as to what improvements and/or services you would like to see offered by brokerage companies, if conversely you have never used a broker when purchasing a yacht why not?

This is a genuine effort to try to improve the service we give and so feel free to fire away, the only comment I would add at this stage is the matter of commission, we deal with yachts of all types but tend to specialise in craft 60ft and up, nobody pays the mythical figure of 10%, in reality our commission averages out at around 3% or less, so if this is your only real criticism I hope that I have answered it.

I look forward (a little nervously) to your comments.

regards, Russell.

 

[gonfishing]

you are possibly very brave exceptionally thick skinned or being paid by your boss for this i suspect the latter
good luck




not enough sea time

 

[Tiger Rag]

I had second thoughts the moment I pressed the "continue" button, I think foolish is the word that springs to mind! The boss is awat at the present and I will only show him the results if they are fit for public circulation!

 

[TerrifiedTony]

Had to read the typo twice in the middle of that last post...first thought was, it is no way to talk about your boss!

Or is it just my smutty mind ?

Cheers
Tony

 

[ChrisP]

If you're working at Ancaster's in Brighton try taking some notice of the customers instead of playing with the filing cabinet and keep the appointments you make.
A bit of basic knowledge about the boat you're trying to sell may help. You know, pointy bit, blunt end and noisy engine things. As it stands at the moment you'd be lucky to sell an eskimo a bonfire.

What do you mean the sea gull in front's walking !!!

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Honesty
if it is a mess tell them it is. people donot want to drive for three bloody hours only to waste a journey.
if someone is looking for a boat in good nick
do not offer them a wreck and then say there is room on price.



Ok brain let's just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.

 

[MedDreamer]

Totally Agree

Honesty and kept promises.

Martyn

 

[EME]

I'm with Sailworst on this one..

Failing that castration will suffice. Guess who is having BIG €-troubles with the thieving classses this week....

<font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>

 

[tcm]

Re:

Ooh tellus more bout the horrid brokers in Riviera country.

Do they want to greedily keep the boat until it's been paid for? What ratbags!

Or perhaps they won't let you have it for the first year on a sale or return basis? Gits!

 

[EME]

MC - \'Brokers\'

Cheeky so-and-so.
Although there is some truth in what you say !!!

Basically, I never been have been presented with 'Proof-of-Ownership'. The broker has consistently said that MR B bought from Mr A..but won't provide Proof UNTIL deposit is paid, I say ' Do I look like a Rich Idiot? ', Surveys all OK etc.

Dec 17th --- let's get on with it then (need to complete by Dec 25th!!) !!!
Jan 1 -18th, feeble excuses about not yet having Bill of Sale signed by Mr B..oh well.
Meeting last weekend twixt broker and Mr B ( who is allegedly friend of Mr A). Mr A now lives in South Africa. The boat is still registered in Germany in name of Mr A. The manufacturers confirm to me that boat sold last May br Mr A in Ibiza to Mr B ( boat now in MC).

Broker says that he is going to send a Bill-of-Sale to Mr A ( YES A) to sign, Mr Barclay also having asked him for Proof of ownership.

I said 'Excuse Me? WTFIGOH?' The following is an actual transcript of his reply to me, with the obvious changes:-

Dear Mr. Learner

, as I told you on the phone on our last conversation, Mr. Bi s the real owner of the boat & he has given me a sealed envelope addressed to Mr. A in South Africa whose name the boat is still registered in, which I am about to include with the documents that I am sending over to be signed by Mr. A . Both Mr. B & myself spoke with Mr. A over the phone & I am pretty confident that there will be no problems.



With the documents that I am sending I am including a letter asking Mr A to send us a cancellation from the German Ship Register, or instructions as to how to go about getting it & the Bill of Sale will be from him to you'

HELP - so what would you do? . I'm planning to wait and see if anything is returned and ask for a letter of indemnity from Mr B.

Views from the masses?





<font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>

 

[jfm]

boat scam

I dont like the fact that bill of sale is from A to you, not B to you. I mean, if you do get the BoS it will allow B to claim no resp under the sale contract, and if you dont get the BoS (remeber you will already have wired the money at this point )you could be faced with A zooming over from Durban and saying "Oi Learner that's my boat".

I would fax em and tell em very precisely what to do (ie you want to see B's ownership proved, and bill of sale from B to you, etc) and tellem to call you when they're ready but not before.

Why was envelope sealed? What was innit?

 

[whisper]

He he! I did exactly the same.

 

[EME]

Re: boat scam

MMmmhhh.
Couple of Q's:-

1) I've pushed B to Me.
Mrs L on case this week. Still no sense from him.
2) I've expected Bill of Sale before Cash Transfer in this case..does it help?
3) Would me getting a legal disclaimer from B for unpaid finces etc . not help?
4) We asked broker about envelope, he said he didn't know !!!! Did that make us feel better that he mentioned it ..NO




<font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>

 

[Buck]

Re: boat scam

The words "walk away" spring to mind.

Buck

Relax, life is just a game.

 

[EME]

Re: boat scam

I have €2000 spent so far that says 'Try and Sort IT...PROPERLY'....

BUT , I will go there if I'm compromised one iota..., if Mr Barclay doesn't decide for me

<font color=blue>I am WHAT I say I am</font color=blue>

 

[Gerry]

How about one that actually comes back to you when rquested. We were looking at Hallber Rassys in Southampton about 18 months ago. Went down to the brokers, looked at a couple and indicated that wewere interested but not at the price asked, did the guy ever come back to us? Did he hell. His loss, we purchased 6 weeks later from a new broker who took us seriously, kept in touch daily and communicated our thoughts to his owner.Not really rocket science but sadly lacking in a lot of the brokers we approached.

 

[jhr]

Re: boat scam

Personally, I'd drop this. I think it's going to be a real problem establishing legal title. But as you say, 2K Euros is a lot of dosh to walk away from............

 

[david_e]

It's a nice gesture Russell but, despite your best intentions, unless you have a monopoly you will end up following the others in:

Valuing to highly, only to bring crashing down months later
Mis-describing
Not returning calls
Not sending out brochures
Re-interpreting surveyors reports, so that 'unsafe to sai'l = 'boat is fine for long journey'.
"It's not negotiable" - when it is
Claiming to be members of associations when you are not
Taking non refundable deposits
Lifting the agreed price for no reason at all (gazumping when there are no other buyers about)
Promising the earth to make the sail and then not delivering afterwards
Not handing the boat over properly

All of these I have experienced this year, 2002, - never mind the year before that!!

Good luck on your mission.

 

[ari]

Re: boat scam

" I have €2000 spent so far that says 'Try and Sort IT...PROPERLY'...."

Surely if the broker hasn't bothered to check for clear title before letting you spend your money on a survey then you have recourse direct from him for recompense don't you?

Ari.

 

[Buck]

Re: boat scam

I would agree that €2000 is a compelling reason but the broker should be liable for that, maybe pointing that out to the broker with a deadline for satisfactory outcome would help.

Buck

Relax, life is just a game.