IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

[MEADVIEW]

I need the help from the folks out there who have custom ordered your boats New! We Ordered ours new from a promo event, but when it arrived last week it was filthy, coke splatter in the cup holders, punchured back seat, scratches in the pass hand grip, dirty carpet (Food), chipped windscreen, a black water line around the hull (as if it had been in the water), None of the interior seats/ cushions were wrapped in plastic,(this was supposed to be a custom ordered boat from Fourwinns). Next to it was the same boat with all interior components wrapped in plastic. W e got to do the test drive today (a week later) boat cleaned up pretty good, all but carpet and glass... jumped in it and start it up and the Hour Meter reads 2.7 Hrs... Although the dealer denies it, no one can tell me how the hours were put on the boat, I believe the boat was use as a demo or? ... Am I wrong in my assesment? I have only purchased used before, this is the first Custom order boat we have purchased... Can a dealer take "Your" boat out to show another buyer before you pick it up?, or is this normal in the boat business? I know when I ordered my Denali it came off the truck w/1.75 mi. on it... to me 2.7 hrs of water time is exessive. <br /><br />Thanks,<br />Meadview

 

[Wingnutt]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

I've never ordered a new boat, but it seems to me that if the vessel doesn't meet with your satification you can refuse delivery. Sounds like the dealer is trying to pass a used or demo boat off on you as new. Personally, I would refuse to accept this boat and make a phone call to Four Winns first thing Monday morning and talk to thier public relations manager or director and let them know what's going on. If you try going through the dealer and upwards you ain't going to get nothing but a lot of stress and the run around. Nip it in the bud and talk to Four Winns directly, and save yourself a lot of misery. You are gonna be shelling a out a lot of $$ for a new boat, so IMHO you have the right to accept nothing less than a brand new shrink-wrapped boat with a scratch on it.

 

[DJ]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Meadview,<br /><br />TECHNICALLY, it is new until it is registered.<br /><br />However, your boat was probably used in a photo shoot or as a publicity or advertising model.<br /><br />The way I read your note, you've already taken delivery. That is where your right of refusal ended.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

I'm afraid djohns is right if you have already excepted delivery of boat.<br /><br />Once you sign that paperwork saying it's your's, it's your's.<br /><br />Now with that said, the boat should have looked like a new boat, not a demo or anything else, a new boat.<br /><br />You should have at first glance refused boat then and there and required them to get another one in for you.<br /><br />If it don't look right to you, then it ain't right.<br /><br />I had the same deal with a new Dodge once.<br />Went to pick it up and it was filthy, inside and out with 50 some miles on it and I blew a gasket.<br /><br />Come to find out the mechanics had been taking it to luch for a couple days before and forgot to clean it up.<br /><br />They got me another truck just like it and when it came in it had 1 mile on it and then they cleaned it on the outside and allowed me to use it the week end to see if everything was alright before I signed the papers.<br /><br />But that is not to say that you can not call FourWinds and raise all kinds of crap with them and I would. Never know and it won't hurt any.<br />Hope for the best for you.

 

[DJ]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Meadview,<br /><br />What bothers me even more is that the dealer tried to deliver the boat to you in that condition.<br /><br />All of the new boats/cars/trucks I've taken delivery of had the plastic removed and were meticulously detailed. All of them had some miles/hours. That is necessary and is called for in the pre delivery process. They are paid to test/drive the unit before delivery.<br /><br />I do not agree with taking delivery of a new boat/car without it being test driven by a qualified technician. If you refuse the pre delivery and something happens like all the oil leaks out of the engine, it is now your problem, not the dealers or manufacturer.<br /><br />I used to work in a marina. The owner insisted that every engine (new) that left had been run in the test tank at least two hours before delivery. Why?<br /><br />1. Most owners do not follow break in procedures.<br /><br />2. Some did not make the two hour test. It was better to have the engine fail on us rather than the customer.<br /><br />My point is, I question the dealer more than the manufacturer.

 

[MEADVIEW]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Thanks for the support... The way this dealer set this up was that you had to sign all the paperwork before we actually put it in the water, after we saw the hour meter we noted it to the salesman, put it back on the trailer and got the "acceptance" form back and had him change it to "Not Accepted" with his signature next to the change... (although most of the other paperwork is unchanged. Myself not being a trusting sole when it comes to dealers, I also called the bank and told them our situation, they put a "Hold" on the financing. I then called Four Winns and got someone in sales (very nice person) who after my discussion of what I thought happened, told me she would look into it, stating that she should be able to get the actual hr reading as it left the plant. After reading the above replies.. My take is - order us another boat or give us our deposit back and we'll get it from another dealer.... <br /><br />Meadview

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

That don't sound just right on the dealers part.<br /><br />I have a real close friend that is a Bullet/Aries dealer and his boats come in with all that wrapping on them. can't even see in the boat.<br /><br />Once he gets it, he calls the customer and together they remove all that wrapping and inspect it together.<br /><br />If they find anything, and I mean anything, wrong, he gives the customer his choice, either send it back or have the factory fix the problem.<br /><br />Now after that is done, dealer and customer takes boat to water and together with dealer at controls takes it for the test ride making sure to point out ever little thing about the boat.<br /><br />Again, if something is not right, the choice is there.<br /><br />Then and only then, does the dealer bring out the papers for the customer to sign, and all this with just a 10% down.<br /><br />If customer ain't satisfied he can get his deposit back, no questions asked.<br /><br />That might be a rare dealer to go to this length, but that's the way he has always done it.<br /><br />Good luck with your's.

 

[DJ]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Meadview,<br /><br />The way this dealer set this up was that you had to sign all the paperwork before we actually put it in the water,<br /><br />That statement bothers me. Obviously, the dealer doesn't trust you, why should you trust him?<br /><br />Too many dealers rely on the customers excitement and forget they are SELLING something.<br /><br />YOu're the buyer, so, you're in the drivers seat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

I Agree with All that's said above......<br /><br />A Boat is Only New, for a Very Few Minutes in it's Life........<br />You've been Deprived of those Minutes.......<br /><br />It sounds like you've got All your bases Covered... You should stick to your Guns,+ Go for "My take is - order us another boat or give us our deposit back and we'll get it from another dealer.... "

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Meadview,if you had to custom order the boat that means it was built for YOU!It should be brand new out of the wrapper.If you bought a stock unit on their lot,then I might expect some footprints or some soiled carpet from lookers.The dealer made a big mistake and is hoping you overlook it.Dont do it!!! If he wants to compensate you,then listen to what he offers.I have never owned a Brand new boat but there is no doubt in my mind that if I were in your position I would tell the dealer to order you a new one AND compensate you for the poor way this transaction was handled.IF of course he still wants your business.He has to earn your business.Charlie

 

[MEADVIEW]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Again the "iboats" forum has come through, Great support, I knew I was not "Crazy" thinking that this was not a normal transaction... After reading your posts I sent a "for the Record" email (God bless the internet) to all parties concerned this am... sure enough when I got back home a few minutes ago there was a phone msg from my salesman at the dealership telling me that some how my boat was taken out and used prior to my acceptance. You guys were absolutly right, they were going to try to pass it off and hope I didn't notice or care. I am supposed to get the full details this Tuesday (they are closed Mondays)... The saga continues, I will let all know how this turns out! Thanks Again!!<br /><br />Meadview

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

WTG Mead. Now don't back up on them, just stick to your guns and let them know that the deal was a sucky one and what are they gona do to rectify the problem. Then sit and listen to what they have to say.<br /><br />If not what you want to hear, tell them.<br />They know now that they have been caught with their hand in the cookie jar so to speak.

 

[jpbaker]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

MEADVIEW, couldn't agree more, considering the shape in which you described the boat upon delievery I would be very honked-off also . Also you might want to consider that if someone would take a brand new boat out and treat it with that much disrespect,<br />how much abuse did the new motor recieve .Just something to ponder...

"That's just my opinion, but of course I could be wrong".

 

[kdmiller8251]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

Meadview :<br /><br />Man stuff like this really burns me. Where has customer service gone now adays?? This crap doesnt occur just in the boating industry, everywhere you go people are trying to stick it to ya! Personally, If I were you I would walk from the whole deal and go find another dealer!<br />If this guy tried something shady right from the start, what happens when in the spring or something goes wrong under warranty?? Are you going to take it back to him and leave there with a good warm and fuzzy feeling? Any time this guy touched my stuff now, I would be thinking "Is he screwing me?" just my 2 Cents..<br /><br />Tall

 

[BillP]

Re: IS IT NEW OR A DEMO???, HELP!!

That dealer either wasn't up on what his employees were doing or was trying to unload a demo on you...either way it was unprofessional (if not unethical) and unacceptable. I would find another dealer and let him and FourWinns know why.