Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

[JoLin]

Had a survey performed on a Bayliner that I decided to pass on due to a saturated transom. The broker had been away on business and returned today. I spoke to him and told him I planned to pass on the boat.

He asked me if I would mind faxing him a copy of the survey when I get it, to add to the file he has on the boat. At first I thought, sure... but then I thought, "Wait a minute. That survey cost me $300. If he or the owner want one, they can buy their own."

I sidestepped the subject and hung up with him. What would you do? I'm very tempted to offer him a copy for $150.

 

[joed]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

then I thought, "Wait a minute. That survey cost me $300. If he or the owner want one, they can buy their own."

Exactly. You could show it to them to try and negotiate a better price but it belongs to you. Why should you give it away for free.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I would offer it to him for $500.
take it or leave it

 

[JoLin]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I would offer it to him for $500.
take it or leave it

LOL! maybe I oughta offer to swap it for the BOAT!

 

[mthieme]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

LOL
I was just thinking that your time and effort is worth something.
That and they are willing to make a profit off of you.
But then again, at this point it's just a worthless piece of paper to you.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I?m not sure what the issue is with you giving him a copy? How much do you think a survey is worth to a broker that states that the transom is shot?

Why not save the next prospective buyer some grief?

 

[salty87]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

did the broker share his 'file' with you?...even if he did, what value would it have for you?

get whatever you can, can't hurt to ask.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

He probably wants a copy just so he has a list of what he needs to hide from the next guy.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

Seems to me a saturated transom isn't a hard thing to figure out, especially for someone that deals with boats everyday.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

it is your to do with as you wish. line the bird cage, or sell it to them, throw it in the trash.

 

[BigJ08]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I agree with the above comments about him wanting to hide the bad stuff. I wouldn't give it to him for free though. I'd tell him somewhere between 150-200 though I doubt he'll pay. He's probably just trying to get something for free. Wouldn't hurt to ask though.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I too agree that if the guy wants a copy he should split the cost with you. You paid for the survey, you are the only one entitled to it.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

Tell him to send any prospective buyers your way and you will be more than happy to share the info with them

I do agree with the previous posts, might as well make some money off your $300 loss since the salesman is most likely going to use the survey to help sell the boat.. IE: transom is shot,,, that's no biggie, a few sheets of plywood and a weekend will have her fixed up in no time

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

If the broker finds you another boat explain you want your man to survey it and the broker can flip the bill..... then he can have the survey you paid for. It is barter material in my book.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I?m not sure what the issue is with you giving him a copy? How much do you think a survey is worth to a broker that states that the transom is shot?

Why not save the next prospective buyer some grief?

If I thought the next buyer would see it, I'd give it up in a heartbeat. I have no faith in any of these guys. After I shared the problem with him (the transom was totally saturated to the left of the outdrive, for a distance of about 8 inches out- the rest of the transom showed normal meter readings), he tried to tell me that it could be because the boat was in the water all summer- "you could take another reading in the Spring". Huh?!?

I'm not out to peddle the survey to the highest bidder. I've decided to ignore the subject unless and until the broker calls me back to request it again, at which time I'll offer it to him for half what I paid.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

Seems to me a saturated transom isn't a hard thing to figure out, especially for someone that deals with boats everyday.

Maybe, maybe not- it was a single section 8" wide by about a foot up and down... directly to the left of the outdrive. My USPS friend thought that section of the cutout probably hadn't been sealed properly at the factory. The rest of the transom showed normal readings... so it was really a fairly small area to spot. He did a tap test with a hammer, too- but I couldn't tell any difference in the "tone"

Long and short of it is that w/o a calibrated moisture meter, and going over every square inch of the transom, it could have gone undetected.

 

[cranksbait]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I would not even sell it to the dealer. Yes they want it to help sell the boat. If you give it to them, that is a $300.00 savings on their part. Would they do it for you? You have told them the problems with it. Did they offer to pay for it before the survey was done? It's a way of making you pay for their profit. If you are considering the boat to others, file it for comparison for yourself. If you are not satisfied with the boat. Shred it and look for another.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

If I thought the next buyer would see it, I'd give it up in a heartbeat. I have no faith in any of these guys. After I shared the problem with him (the transom was totally saturated to the left of the outdrive, for a distance of about 8 inches out- the rest of the transom showed normal meter readings), he tried to tell me that it could be because the boat was in the water all summer- "you could take another reading in the Spring". Huh?!?

Given that bit of info. I'd let him pound sand.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

You might consider scanning/copying just the page that details the problems (i.e., transom) and send only that part to them. If you do this then you've tried to do your part to protect the next guy (who may not be very boat savvy).

Where I'm coming from on this is that I once delt with an "unpleasant" used boat salesmen. I'm still unhappy about it. It would be bad news if someone decided to show just the favorable parts of your survey and then discarded the unfavorable parts. I'm not suggesting that the outfit which you're dealing with would actually do that, but I am saying that to do so would be a bad thing and very misleading.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Sharing Survey Results with Boat Owner or Broker?

I think your instincts were correct but I'll add another dimension - your surveyor probably wouldn't want you to give the broker a copy under any circumstance. If I were a surveyor, part of my contract would be a prohibition against reselling or giving the provided information away to anyone who could be a potential customer to me.