Bad service after the sale..........

I debated for a while on taking this route, but they leave me no choice.

Back in April I started looking for a new boat. I was leaning towards Supra so I went to the nearest dealer, Land O’Lakes Marine. I talked to the owner for a while and he seemed pretty genuine for a salesman. I saw one I liked and test-drove it that day. There were only a few minor things that needed replaced. Right off the bat I noticed the steering cable needed replaced & the swim platform matting was ruined from the previous owner spilling gas on it. When I mentioned the platform, he immediately said he had one on order. The only other things I noticed were the boat buddy was broken on the trailer and the boat needed a bath. He said he had some guy that completely detailed the boats and it would look immaculate when I picked it up. I went home and thought about it for a few days then called him up (Tuesday) and asked him if he could have those few things fixed before the weekend, he agreed. So far so good.

He called me Friday afternoon and I obviously left work early to go pick it up. When I showed up I noticed that instead of being detailed, they sprayed it off with the hose. Also the platform & boat buddy hadn’t been replaced. Because I was pumped from getting another boat, I didn’t sweat it too bad. He said he would have those in shortly and immediately replace, but he did manage to replace the steering cable and one of the fat sac pumps. On my way out back to hook it up to my truck, I noticed an old man (with a brand new, probably 80K fishing boat) yelling at the service techs about having to drag his boat back and forth for them to work on the same problem repeatedly. Still pumped, I kept walking towards my boat. When I tried to hook the trailer lights to my truck I noticed a ball of wires with tape on them. I wasn’t able to hook them to my truck to test, but again.... I shrugged it off and drove home. The next day we packed up the kids and headed to the lake. The boat drove good and everyone was having fun. After a few runs the boat wouldn’t start back up. I let it sit for a while and it eventually started. I thought maybe the battery was weak. I put it on the charger that night and noticed the battery was half the size of the stock one. The next day I did it all over again and the same thing happened. I called the owner and he said it sounded like the alternator, which he would replace as well as putting the right battery in it. I drug it back up there Friday morning and dropped it off. The inboard tech said he probably had one lying around and would try to get done that weekend. The next week I didn’t hear from them and that was before Memorial Day weekend. I called and left several messages, but no response. I called for almost a week with not even a return call. The service manager finally called me back and said he would try to have it ready sometime that weekend (which didn’t happen). On the 2nd week I got a call from the owner who was in an accident a few days prior and apologized for his shop. Feeling bad for him I didn’t go crazy. He assured me I would get it back the following weekend. I kept reminding him about the platform, boat buddy & trailer lights also needing replaced before I pick it up. That Friday I showed up to pick it up and the only thing that was fixed was the alternator, trailer lights & the right size battery was put in it. He said the platform was on backorder and the boat buddy just hadn’t been ordered yet. Just happy to have the boat back I didn’t sweat it. I went around to hook it up and decided to give it a “walk around” and noticed that when driving it back on the trailer they hit the prop on it. It took a chunk out of the trailer and mauled the prop. When I pointed it out the tech said, “Was it that way before?”. I assured him that it wasn’t. He immediately fixed it. Hoping the shaft wasn’t also bent I left. The next day I started the drill all over again. Took the boat out and noticed the tach and speedo were off. Not being life threatening I kept boarding. And then… it wouldn’t start back up. All I kept thinking about was the old man with the fishing boat (I think god was trying to tell me something). So, being fairly mechanical I assumed that it had to be the starter due to the fact that it was only failing when hot. I called the owner to let him know and he said bring it in and we’ll fix it. Not wanting to go through another “servicing” with them, I pulled the starter, picked up a new one (from them) and replaced it (which is a bi*ch to replace on this boat unless you’re a smurf). That seemed to do the trick though.

I was now in month three & none of the other things had been taken care of and to top it off I still hadn’t received my new tag and registration. Again I called him and complained, he said he was putting his office manager on it and to call her if these things weren’t taken care of ASAP. A week later the registration and tag showed up, but nothing else. Now in month four, I’ve left several unanswered messages. When I do talk to the owner he’s nice as hell, but IMO actions speak louder.

So, am I being petty or is this sh**ty service after the sale?