Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

[achris]

Hi all,

I have just sent this email to Merc (mercpub@mercmarine.com)... I suggest we all do as much as we can to let them know how upset we are at their decision... I took a screen grab of the notification in the Adults Only section and attached it. (see below)

To whoever caused this.... (look at the attached picture)

I am currently the owner of a 4.3MPI Mercruiser engine. I have been having problems with that engine, (which Mercury Marine Australia have been totally useless at helping me with) and I have come to rely on the good people at the iBoats forum for help.... I usually update my Boat engine every 10 years, thereabouts. Because of the attitude of Mercury Australia and now this, when the time comes around to replace my engine again, I will be looking very seriously at Volvo Penta. The engine is the same, so my knowledge of it is still applicable, I just have to learn about the drive, and from what I see on the forum, there's not as many problems with a Volvo drive as a Merc drive, so I may well be better off.

The number of people who do there own maintenance and repairs is a very small percentage, so the stopping of the manual downloads is self defeating. By not letting people who are doing there own work access to the manuals you are ensuring that incorrect and shoddy work is done. This will reflect badly on your product, affecting sales. Just think, the next time I upgrade my engine and I go to Volvo, you lose around a $20,000 sale. That is a LOT of manuals you would have to sell to make up for the loss of just one customer.... How many people do you think a few manual sales are worth?

Chris Adams.
email address

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

I sent this one
I guess Volvo is going to be the industry leader now.Your bean counters need to adjust to today`s concept.
We try to help owners of your products the best we can and now you have taken that away.You used to maintain a product invertory with your dealers, now you don`t even carry enough to supply them."It`s backordered" .You lose your client base ,YOU LOSE EVERYTHING. You want us to buy your OEM parts but I find that hard to do .Granted most of todays equipment is made overseas or over border .Not jusy yours, everybody`s and some of it is pure junk.
I just don`t know where your heads are???????????????????????????????????????????????????

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

Just sent...


To Whom it may Concern,

I have been a member of the iboats.com forum for close to 2 years now.
This site has recently had to restrict access to your repair manuals based on a directive from your company.
I can not begin to express my dismay at this action. The Moderators of this site support Mercruiser owners at the grass roots level and always, always stress factory O.E.M. parts when available.
You may be interested to know that Volvo Penta cooperates with the forum and seem to understand the value of supporting those users that in turn support their company
Your actions clearly show that you do not value thousands upon thousands of loyal customers that have stood by your company for many years but will no longer continue to do so.


Regards,

 

[Vadimk]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

I'm to lazy to log in and get a copy of the e-mail, but I sent one along.

 

[skipdow]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

I sent my complaint to communications at mercmarine

I can only assume that your intention was to **** off a lot of mercruiser boat owners by your actions recently on the iboats forum
see the following link http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=342393

These kind of petty tactics make mercruiser appear to only care about squeezing every last cent out of anyone available instead of increasing brand acceptance and loyalty.
It has been pointed out on the forum that Volvo is not being so heavy handed unlike mercruiser.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

Anybody see a response from Merc yet?

 

[achris]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

Anybody see a response from Merc yet?

If that does happen, it won't be until after the weekend....

Personally, I'm not expecting anything... We're just their customers, we don't count...

 

[Dshow]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

I sent a message as well. I am a sponsor/member of another boating site as well and I have sent some of those members here because of the Mercruiser Service Manuals, troubleshooting information, and the knowledge available here.

I hope Mercruiser rethinks their position...

(This post should be a sticky as well so it doesn't get lost)

 

[skipdow]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

here's mine

what you have done by deleting the manuals used by the Iboats community may have been legal but to a community of boaters that like to spend time together and help each other with problems or solutions to there boats, alot of which are mercruiser.
You have just done the equivalent of the bully not getting his way and so takes away the ball everyone was playing with.
The only outcome left for everyone is to hate the bully.Right now you are the bully and everyone hates you,
There was no profit being made by anyone on the site by using the manuals. Just a community trying to help each other.
Do the rite thing.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Merc service manuals... please read and follow my lead

I sent 'em my 2 cents worth, and good luck seeing a reply, as they stopped caring about their customers about the time they stopped using Ford engines.