Is this the norm in QLD?

[banshee]

My mate went up to yatala (sp) yesterday to look at/buy a boat,after giving the one he went up to see the once over it was time for a test run,then came the bell ringer,the salesman informed him it would cost him $300,non refundable, for them to put it in the water,if he proceeded with the deal the 300 came off the price but if he declined to buy the best he could hope for was stock off the shelf to the value.Are these blokes for real or is that the way it's done up there?My mate did end up buying the boat but it could have been interesting had he not.

[finga]

Personally, I would have moved on.
Plenty of boat yards around.
Which dealer was it??

[Blackened]

G'day


I haven't heard of that before.

The closest to that"system" that I have heard of is the dealer ony taking people for water tests once a refundable deposit was made, makes sense as it saves time with only serious players.

I would have gone elsewhere

Dave

[jimbo59]

I can see where there coming from,too many tyre kickers the 300 seperates the men from the boys.

[Brumby]

No way Jose - I've put a refundable deposit before now, but that sounds a bit over the top. If it's the yard I'm thinking of, I put a bank cheque back in my pocket and left after finding a bit of dodgy work in the final inspection - not the happiest salesman you ever saw!

[FNQCairns]

No way, no how, would I consider it, that's just treating a potential customer with contempt, no actually it's treating them like sh!t.

At best to me a whole day of their time would be worth $100 tops! and that's only if they made me $600 in the process!! Would be happy to tell them that as I left.

$20 to cover consumed tangibles would be appropriate IMO.

There is always another boat.

They must be doing well that's a great little earner.

fnq

[Hamish73]

yeah, I got that same story from that same boat yard on the round about at Yatala exit 38, and they also sell caravans , not to be confused with the dealer next door. The boat I was looking at didnt pass the first inspection so it didnt really matter.

[Noelm]

I am not too sure that it would be entirely legal to do that! I will look into the relevant law and get back to you all later (I hope)

[Y-Not]

I never got to ask for the test run when I looked there for a boat. Of the 4 in the yard that suited what I was after, anything more than a quick look resulted in the alarm bells ringing as I totaled up the repair costs to make them (in my opinion) SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LeeannP]

So it's the yard that sells caravans, boats and all the different odds and sods NEXT DOOR to Logan River Marine?

[Mrs Ronnie H]

GEE MATE-- Thats abit steep. A refundable deposit is ok but stock off the shelf if you don't buy is a ripoff!!!!!
They just won't YOUR MONEY and sounds like any sale is a good one.

Agree that this may not be legal to do.
I agree that a deposit to test drive is a good thing as it shows you are serious about wanting to buy a boat but it should be fully refundable--- no questions asked.

Ronnie

[Roughasguts]

That is a bit rough. cosidering last time I looked at buying a car I drove around 6 before I settled on one.

So that would have cost me 1800 bucks, don't think so.

But if you could have the boat for a week then 300 bucks ain't a bad hire fee.

[ozscott]

if thats the first boat yard next to the roundabout on the exit to Steiglitz (Rudy Mars etc) then I have inspected a couple of boats there some years ago...lets just say that when I almost put my foot through the floor of a Mustang 16 only to hear the Salesman tell me it was fine and then to have the "mechanics boat" engine not start after 20 mins of trying only to hear..."Its a beautiful motor but you just have to learn the best way to start it...once shes yours you will work her out" I left and never went back...

[Sea-Dog]

I've been there quite a number of times looking for a good deal.

Some of the boats are quite cheap - and very crappy.

Its the yard to go to if you want a painted fibreglass hull.

Have you seen the "Army Boats" they have there.

I think they will have them until the scrap metal dealer comes along.

[bastard]

That is how he works,by the time he hooks them on tows them to the marina and takes people with no money for a joy ride hes lost over an hour of his day, im not sticking up for him but i just sold a boat and bought a new one and the amount of people that stuff you around for a test run before they even sort out there finance first is amazing.