Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

[reap182]

Looking to buy a boat for the upcoming 2010 season and was wondering if it was better to buy at boat shows or straight from dealer. Incentives for maintenance or extra stuff thrown in to make deal sweeter. Just wondering what everyones thoughts were on this. thanks.

 

[allpoints360]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

I have a good friend that ordered the exact boat he wanted at a boat show, and he got a great deal. That was almost 10 years ago when the economy wasn't in a meltdown.

Now, I would think the deals would even be better. Most of the time, it's the dealers that set up at boat shows anyway. The manufacturers not so much anymore.

 

[Thad]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Well, I'll give it a shot.

The boat shows ARE the dealers. So what you are basically getting at the boat show are dealers looking to guarantee a sale before ordering. When at the boat show, you can most always order/buy the boat the way you want it. Engine package, color, seating, etc. At the dealer, after show season, you pretty much have to choose from what they have.
The other advantage to the show is, they will try hard to make the sale and usually throw in the extras you are looking for. Things like throwables, paddle, hook, deal on extended warranty, etc.

My wife and I went to a lot of shows when looking for ours.
Someting to keep in mind, as we did, is that a lot of dealers have "left over" boats sitting at home. We ended up buying a left over model for far less than a year newer from the shows. We did not get all of the "extras", but did not really care as this was our third boat. We already had everthing we needed. On the other hand though, even if we would not have had all of our gear, the money saved from buying last years model would have far outweighed what would have been needed to buy everything.
Also, you still get all the original warranties effective the day of purchase.

Hope this helps.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

We bought our second boat, as a "leftover", and got alot better deal than ordering one. That was 2 years ago though.

Our dealer told us, that he'd make us a better deal, if we bought from his lot, rather than the show. AND, he did !!!!!

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Boat shows are there to put the pressure on. With all the new shiny boats there, it is easy to get caught up in it.

Talk to them then go back to their dealership AFTER the show. That way, a lot of pressure is off, you can get a sea trial, you can work financing on YOUR TERMS with your lenders and the dealer will know you are serious and will be willing to make the deal. Most times, "boat show" prices will carry over and you can ask for those extras.

Do not let them sucker you into any financing crap at the show. Do not give them any info they can use for a credit check or anything like that. Until you get the sea trial and are sure you want that boat, they don't need to know anything about your finances.

I walked in pre approved from my Credit Union with a check. They wanted me to "see" if their bank would do better. I told them to kiss off.

Good luck.​

 

[mike343]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

You aren't going to find "leftovers" on he floor at a boat show. At the boat shows, the dealer makes the deal, not the factory.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

The manufactures help ofset the cost of the shows to some of their dealers to ensure that their product gets seen, but it is the dealers that pay and go the the shows for one purpose, to sell boats. They want to make deals and take orders to get a head start on the upcomming seasons. But, like is said, if the have leaftovers, they will make a good deal to move them. After they have sat on the lot for a certain period of time, the ones on the lot cost the dealer more money because they have ot start making higher payments on them (their floor plan financing) so they want to move the old inv as quickly as possible...

 

[golf101]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

I agree with all of the foregoing, but if you haven't yet decided what boat you want, or what options you want, a boat show is a great place to compare boats side to side (although, out of the water) and to get all the information you're likely to want in one place without having to go to all of the individual dealers. Once you narrow it down, you can then do test drives after the show.

If you know what you want, and you want a new boat, boat shows can be a good place to make a deal.

Good luck and report back what you decide to do and what you buy.

 

[reap182]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Thanks for the info and insight, will enjoy walking around and checking out all the boats at the show.

 

[Thad]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Thanks for the info and insight, will enjoy walking around and checking out all the boats at the show.

Make sure to take a notebook and write down information from each dealer/sales person that has a boat/deal you may be interested in.
Put a bus. card with each section of notes.
Write down things as simple as what extras they are willing to throw in and "bottom line" pricing on each boat.
This will help you when looking around at other boats at the show, other shows, and even down the road.

Have fun.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

The best deals will come from dealers that are loaded up with inventory. If you can find one. Floor-plan financing has all but dried up. None of the dealers around here have any inventory at all. They just want to special order everything and are not dealing on price at all.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

mike343, you are right. MOST of the time you do NOT find "leftovers" on the boat show floor. The "small boat show" that we went to, the dealer got lucky, and they had one extra opening for yet another boat, to be put on the floor. Our boat was there. We actually bought it off the lot, later. We had taken pics of the "Sale price", and the offers that went with it at the show, and used them later for the deal.

 

[scutly]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

i had a blast at the in water boat show i went to last Sunday. the wife had to drag me away from the Glastron dealer who just wanted to sit down and "crunch numbers" with me. i musta got that look in my eye when i saw the 25' cruiser with the $50,000 price tag. lovely boat she was. good luck and have fun!

 

[Thad]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Please read my first post more clearly.
I did not say or imply that there would be "left overs" at the shows. I said that dealers have them back on the lot. Meaning their dealership.
A new boat show is just that, a NEW boat show.
You won't know if you don't ask. Yes, they will push the new models. More $$ for them. But if a buyer is serious, they will even show a pics of used boats they have back home. A sale is just that, $$ in their pocket.

I only even brought it up to the OP so that he could be aware that there are sometimes better deals to be had if your not caught up in the "gotta have next years model" mindset.

We bought our boat off the showroom floor, it was an unsold boat from the previous year and we saved thousands.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

We shopped the dealers and then went to the boat show. Met the same salesmen we met before, plus others from dealer groups we hadn't visited before. Once there we got quotes from each one, then started negotiating.

Sounds easy, but it took a lot of time walking around to collect prices and comparing deals based on what was included and what wasn't. By the time we were done, I was beat, but we were able to order a boat in the colors my wife wanted with the motor, trailer and options my son and I wanted. Did we get the best deal? Who knows? But with having them throw in things and lowering the show price, we felt pretty good about it when we left.

 

[steddy]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Deals can be had at either a show or a dealer. Sometimes, at a show, the one salesman might compete for your business if he sees you talking with another salesman.

At a dealer, you're more apt to find a good deal on a "leftover" or "second," but you might not get every option you want.

Shows are also great for comparing boats hands on, side by side.

Sometimes, you can use the show to find the boat you want, then look all over the Internet to find who will sell it for the best price. With any luck, your local dealer won't hate you for that.

 

[reap182]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

thanks again for all the replies, they are all helpfull, one quick question though. is there anything that i should have thrown in if at all possible ie, life jackets, anchor, ss prop etc....... thanks again

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Anchor and rode for it. Maybe a 20 hr. and the first 100 hr service. Get your own vests so you can get what you want. Oh yea, if you get a trailer, get a spare tire and transom straps, and a fire extingusher.​

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

thanks again for all the replies, they are all helpfull, one quick question though. is there anything that i should have thrown in if at all possible ie, life jackets, anchor, ss prop etc....... thanks again

Just as I had decided we finally had a good deal in hand, I remembered a feature found on the "other" boat that the boat we finally decided on didn't have: bow rails. (Bow rails were installed in previous years, but discontinued because they made the boat look too much like the more expensive model and cut into the later's sales). But before throwing that into the mix, I also decided to ask for trailer guides (used for loading the boat back onto the trailer). I asked for both at the same time while pointing to the "other" boat across the convention center that had them. Done and done.

Good luck and happy hunting. -Ken

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Best Deals--Boat Shows or Dealer

Have fun at the show, pick make/model or two and grab a few business cards from local dealers. Don't make a deal. If the boats you like are still on the lot after the show, you will be able to make a much better deal in a few weeks or months as the temperature goes down.

I got about 4k off fall boat show price by waiting until November. All the trinkets they can offer just isn't going to make up that kind of $$.