Warranty Work?

[curiousgb]

I bought a boat from a dealer in another state. I need to have warranty work done on the engine. I took it to my local Johnson dealer. It has been there two weeks and they say the might get to it next week. <br /><br /> Please excuse my ignorance but, is this normal in the boat business. I mean they seemed offended when I called after a week and asked for an update, and to think I had the nerve to ask for even a general timeframe. If I would have known it woudl be such a problem, I would have taken it back to North Carolina, it sure would have been easier.

 

[Walker]

Re: Warranty Work?

For this time of year I'd say 3 weeks is fast service. Down here in S. Texas its a 3 week wait in the slow season.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Warranty Work?

We (I hope)are more courteous than that on the phone.The truth is at this time of the year 3 weeks is normal.Above that,most dealers lean towards their own customers first.In addition,warrentee usually doesn't reimburse dealers all that well.<br />I realize you bought a boat elsewhere,and that is fine.But if you bought it just over the line,and want me to service it....<br />DHP

 

[moderator1]

Re: Warranty Work?

Moving to General Outboard Questions.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Warranty Work?

A dealer will break even on warranty work, at best. It's natural to expect them to put higher profit repair work ahead of it. It's particularly natural for them to put their own customers ahead of someone who bought their boat somewhere else. This dosn't help you any in getting your boat back in the water quicker, but that's the way it is. Time of year dosn't help either. Hope things work out for you without too much more aggravation.

 

[curiousgb]

Re: Warranty Work?

Well I had a surprise this afternoon. The local Johnson Dealer called me to tell me my boat was ready for pickup, GREAT!<br /><br />When I got there I was told that they ajusted the throttle cable and something to do with syncing the carbs. But he only had 30mins of work on the ticket, and when I got it home I fired it up and it was idling about at about 1100 rpms. This was about 100 over what a the cold engine ran before.<br /><br />I haven't taken it out for a test run but I am really worried all they did was run up the idle speed. I don't see how they even got the engine up to temp in 30 mins. <br /><br />Maybe I should have more faith in human kind. I will post my findings after I take it out for a test.<br /> <br /> Thanks for the replies and I do understand the dealers priorities. Just wish people would be staight up with customers.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Warranty Work?

Please excuse my ignorance but, is this normal in the boat business

around here, that is quick

 

[Old Jarhead]

Re: Warranty Work?

Chill curiousqb and count your blessings.<br /><br />You got your warranty work done and your boat back in a timely manner.<br /><br />As for the time on the ticket. Dealers are limited to times charged (from the manufacturer) for specific jobs. One reason dealer aren't all that enthusiastic about warranty work.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Warranty Work?

Keep in mind it may idle higher on muffs than in the water.

 

[jollymon]

Re: Warranty Work?

DHPMARINE,<br /><br />Why should a dealer be so worried about where the boat was bought. The bottom line is that you have a customer in front of you. I purchased my boat from the nearest dealer that carried the boat I wanted. <br /><br />When I had service issues, I took it back to them the first time, with little results, after that I took it to my local Merc dealer, and he has taken care of the boat and me since then. He knows I will never buy a boat from him, But I do go to him for everything else. <br /><br />Now that the warrenty is up guess who gets my cash. The local dealer that has treated me great. I think the "You bought it else where" is a poor excuse for poor service. <br /><br />Also why should a boat sit at a dealer (or any mechanic) for weeks waiting for the work to be done. Unless the boat is unable to be run, why can't it be brought in why the dealer expects to be able to work on it? I do not drop my car off at the dealer abd have it sit in thier lot for 2 or 3 weeks. They tell me to bring it in on a certain day. Why not boat dealers?

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Warranty Work?

Originally posted by curiousgb:<br /> edited... and when I got it home I fired it up and it was idling about at about 1100 rpms. This was about 100 over what a the cold engine ran before.<br /><br />I haven't taken it out for a test run but I am really worried all they did was run up the idle speed. I don't see how they even got the engine up to temp in 30 mins. <br /><br />Maybe I should have more faith in human kind. I will post my findings after I take it out for a test.<br /> <br /> Thanks for the replies and I do understand the dealers priorities. Just wish people would be staight up with customers.

You won't know of course what they did or if it was effective until you use it, but for the idle - my engine always idles way high on the muffs compared to in the water. In fact, if it's adjusted to idle normally on the muffs, it's way too low in the water. Has to do with the back pressure when submerged in water vs. lack of it on the muffs. If you don't know how, you might want to learn how to adjust the idle. This is usually very easy involving just a screwdriver. Then you can tweak it down if you need to run it on the muffs and tweak it back up before or when you get on the water. Quick and easy once you learn which screw to turn!

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Warranty Work?

Originally posted by jollymon:<br /> DHPMARINE,<br /><br />Why should a dealer be so worried about where the boat was bought. The bottom line is that you have a customer in front of you. I purchased my boat from the nearest dealer that carried the boat I wanted. ...<br /><br />... Now that the warrenty is up guess who gets my cash. The local dealer that has treated me great. I think the "You bought it else where" is a poor excuse for poor service.

This is exactly right - they have missed the original sale for whatever reason and there's nothing they can do about that. But they CAN get all of your oil, accessory and later repair $$ - and the next sale if they treat you right. This is a basic principle and one that most car dealers have learned long ago.<br /><br />

Originally posted by jollymon:<br /> .... Also why should a boat sit at a dealer (or any mechanic) for weeks waiting for the work to be done. Unless the boat is unable to be run, why can't it be brought in why the dealer expects to be able to work on it? I do not drop my car off at the dealer abd have it sit in thier lot for 2 or 3 weeks. They tell me to bring it in on a certain day. Why not boat dealers?

I think I know why- because boats are not quite as predictable as cars. Boat/motor repair places often encounter problems that are above and beyond what they expected when the customer dropped it off. Of course, this happens in automotive, but less often, I think. Therefore it's tougher for boat shops to keep a schedule. Also, as others have mentioned, as opposed to car shops, boat shops have a tremendously busy season which would be tough to totally accomodate in terms of facilities and personnel. Therefore there will tend to be an unavoidable backlog at peak times. Similar to tire shops at peak snow tire changeover days. On other days, the scheduling is totally predictable, but a couple of times a year, there's longer and frustrating waits to get the work done.<br /><br />ON THE OTHER HAND!!! They really often make absolutely no effort to schedule things, as you said - and they could absolutely do a better job. I've been trying to get my favorite mechanic to at least work with me on this. It's gotten to the point that he will at least try to schedule me so I don't have to just bring it in, let it sit and get in the queue. He'll "pencil" me in for a future date at which point I'll drop it off and will either get it done right away or within a resonably predictable few days. Not perfect, but better.<br /><br />My opinion is that the boat repair places just aren't as sophisticated in customer relations as car shops - there is less competition and they just aren't as well developed as businesses. Just an opinion.

 

[curiousgb]

Re: Warranty Work?

Thanks for all the replies. It has been a long time since I was a "Boat Owner" and I am not used to the "Boat Business." <br /><br /> When I bought my current boat I had shopped at the local dealer but the sales personel where jerks and had did not want to deal even a little bit. Now mind you I had a wad of CASH in hand and if they had been even the least bit accomadating I would have purchased a boat from them. But they didn't and I didn't. I drove four hours to a dealer that did. <br /><br />"This is exactly right - they have missed the original sale for whatever reason and there's nothing they can do about that. But they CAN get all of your oil, accessory and later repair $$ - and the next sale if they treat you right. This is a basic principle and one that most car dealers have learned long ago."<br /><br /> I also like to hunt. I rarely buy guns from the locals (too expensive) but I do when they have a good deal. As in the abovem, I do however try to support them with everything else that I can, if they treat me well.