Take a survey, help a student!

[AshleighFiddler]

Hello everyone! I am an advertising student currently working on a campaign for MerCruiser. We're collecting research on boat owner satisfaction. Your response would be greatly appreciated, and you can choose to answer any or all of the questions I've provided. <br />Thanks in advance!<br />Ashleigh Fiddler, Oklahoma State University<br />Torque Advertising<br /><br />Boat Owner Survey<br />1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat?<br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly?<br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process?<br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is? <br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br /><br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision?<br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?<br /><br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br /> <br />9. Age:<br /><br />10. Income: 0-25,000 26,000-50,000 51,000-75,000 76,000-100,000 100,000+<br /><br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br /><br />12.What region of the country do you live in?

 

[DJ]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Ashliegh,<br /><br />Use the post a Poll button at the bottom of the page.<br /><br />Some of the questions you are asking are best left anonymous.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Thanks DJ. And welcome Ashliegh to iboats. We have lots of advice for Merc

 

[Realgun]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Yes like what about a 90 Verado.<br /><br />Then you can use it at sea lavel and 7000 feet and get the same power what about that eh?

 

[Realgun]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Boat Owner Survey<br />1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat? How far I gotta drag it to water.<br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly? Yup my own stupidity. <br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process? None<br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is? No.<br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br />No. Because any body can certify anything but what does that mean.<br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision? No<br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?<br />No.<br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br />Informational<br />9. Age: old<br /><br />10. Income: 0-25,000 26,000-50,000 51,000-75,000 76,000-100,000 100,000+<br />enough<br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br />iBoats<br />12.What region of the country do you live in? SW

 

[jtexas]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Boat Owner Survey<br />1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat? How far I gotta drag it to water.<br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly? No<br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process? None<br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is? No.<br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br />No. Because any body can certify anything but what does that mean.<br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision? No<br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?<br />No.<br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br />Informational<br />9. Age: old<br /><br />10. Income: 0-25,000 26,000-50,000 51,000-75,000 76,000-100,000 100,000+<br />enough<br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br />iBoats<br />12.What region of the country do you live in? south

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Boat Owner Survey<br />1. The most frustrating aspect has to be waking up 4AM on a weekend to be at the ramp no later than 6AM, just to get a parking space..<br />2. yup..<br />3. none.. Can't afford new W/warranty..<br />4. nope.. <br />5. not sure..<br />6. probably not.. like i said, can't afford new..<br />7. No.. <br />8. Informational..<br />9. Age: 32<br />10. Income: enuff<br />11. The www.<br />12. FL..

 

[keelhauled]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Boat Owner Survey<br />1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat?<br /><br />Winterization and storage<br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly?<br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process?<br /><br />Depends on what I'm buying.<br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is? <br /><br />No idea... but it sounds nifty.<br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br /><br />See #4.<br /><br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision?<br /><br />See #4.<br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?<br /><br />Yes, but only during the period in which the warranty is active.<br /><br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br /><br />Informational<br /><br />9. Age:<br /><br />27<br /><br />10. Income: <br /><br />More than I need, less that I want...<br /><br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br /><br />Internet<br /><br />12.What region of the country do you live in? <br /><br />Columbus, Ohio... home of the REAL OSU.

 

[magster65]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Boat Owner Survey<br />1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat?<br /> Not having enough time to use it more often. <br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly?<br /> Yes. <br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process?<br /> If I were buying a new boat it would be #4 or so on the list. <br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is?<br /> Never heard of it. <br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br /> Yes. I gather this would be a training tool for Mercruiser employees? There's no such thing as built too accurately. <br /><br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision?<br /> Not really. I don't hear many new boats with assembly issues, it's usually inferior materials or design flaws. <br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?<br /> No. Once the boat has been apart for maintenance or overhauling, the original work is gone. <br /><br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br /> For me it'd be humorous for sure and they say sex sells... I agree. <br /><br />9. Age:<br /> 39... for 2 more days. <br /><br />10. Income: 0-25,000 26,000-50,000 51,000-75,000 76,000-100,000 100,000+<br /> I earn a decent living <br /><br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br /> Online or in shop manuals. I also have some friends that are marine 'wrenches'. <br /><br />12.What region of the country do you live in?<br /> Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada.

 

[mole2]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

Originally posted by Ashleigh:<br /> <br /><br />Boat Owner Survey<br /><br />1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat?

Even though I use it a lot, still don't spend enough time on it. <br /><br />

2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly?

No.<br /><br />

3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process?

One of the last of influences but can influence if it's long and strong enough.<br /><br />

4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is?

Yes.<br /><br />

5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?

Yes. It lets the consumer know that the installation meets minimum criteria.<br /><br />

6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision?

It might.<br /><br />

7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?

Yes as long as it can be transferred.<br /><br />

8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.

Informational<br /> <br />

9. Age:

Old enough to know better.<br /><br />

10. Income: 0-25,000 26,000-50,000 51,000-75,000 76,000-100,000 100,000+

Never Enough<br /><br />

11.Where do find most of your boating information?

The Internet<br /><br />

12.What region of the country do you live in?

North East.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat?<br />Not using it as much as I'd like<br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly?<br />No<br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process?<br />It's near the top of the list for me<br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is? <br />I believe it's related to Six Sigma mfg control<br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br />I think it's worthwhile to the manufacturer more than the consumer. I think it would have the effect of reducing warranty costs.<br /><br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision?<br />Yes<br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not?<br />A good warranty does increase the boat's value. However the internet is full of stories of BAD warranties. It would be a tough sell to get consumers to believe a warranty from a certain company is now "better than it used to be".<br /><br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br />Informational for boats.<br /><br />9. Age: 46<br /><br />10. Income: 76,000-100,000<br /><br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br />Yacht club, internet and my own experiences.<br /><br />12.What region of the country do you live in? Vancouver, BC

 

[fireman57]

Re: Take a survey, help a student!

1. What’s most frustrating aspect of owning your own boat? Not having enough time to use it.<br /><br />2. Have you ever experienced a boat problem or problems that were the result of improper engine installation or assembly? No.<br /><br />3. How big of an influence is a warranty to you on your decision making process? None. I buy used.<br /><br />4. Do you know what Installation Quality Certification is? No.<br /><br />5. Would you think that an Installation Quality Certification Program worth while? Why or why not?<br />No. It sounds like a marketing tool to make it sound like other manufacturers are not doing their job correctly. I just don't believe that. If anything it would make me a little suspect that the IQCP manufacturer had not been doing things right so far and this is their way to show that they have tried to correct it.<br /><br /><br />6. Knowing what IQC is, would this influence your buying decision? Yes, I probably would not buy from them. I hope that this answer does not go down as a yes in the positive sense of the word.<br /><br />7. Do you think that a warranty or IQC increases the value of your boat? Why or why not? No. Warranties are not what they used to be. The best warranty I know of is to know the dealer well. His word means more to me than a piece of paper. But then I know my dealer's word is good.<br /><br />8. What type of advertising would you respond to the best for a boating ad? Informational, Emotional, Humorous, Racy, etc.<br />Humorous. You might get a few ideas from the Stupid Human Tricks feature. If I ever bought new I would do my own research.<br /><br />9. Age: 47<br /><br />10. Income: 0-25,000 26,000-50,000 51,000-75,000 76,000-100,000 100,000+ Depends on what crop prices are.<br /><br />11.Where do find most of your boating information?<br />At first it was screwing things up myself and figuring them out. Then when I was stumped I talked to my dealer. Then I discovered this forum.<br /><br />12.What region of the country do you live in? Ohio Valley