Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

[wacho]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my experience with a dealer in Long Island. I am not sure if this is the proper place, but if it's not...don't please don't continue reading.

I would never, ever, recommend anyone to purchase a boat from Islander Boat Center in Long Island, New York. As I understand it, Bayliner in Lindenhurst, Bergen Point, and Port Jefferson are owned by the same person and go by the name of Islander Boat Center. I believe his name is John Scoglia (but the employees have been very careful at not giving me his name.)

I purchased 01, 2855. From the moment I decided to purchase it, to the time that I actually received it, it took 3 months. They were supposed to fix a few things that jumped up in the surveyor's report and I believe they waited until the time I got to their shop on June 8th to fix them. As I was waiting for the boat, they replaced the atenna for the radio, the am/fm radio, and the calking around the hatches (they did a poor job, and as a consequence I have a water stain down one of the hatches). I am not sure if they did the gel coat work that needed to be done under the water line (they say they did)... because it's under the water and I can't see it....but they surely didn't fix anything above the water line. They were supposed to replace the refrigerator and they didn't because they had to wait for the model that fit exactly my boat because the refrigerator they had was slightly smaller. Of course, they had several months to order the refrigerator and realize it wouldn't fit in my boat, but ... I'm an amateur and they are the professionals.

So I took the boat on June 8th. They said they would call me about the refrigerator. Nothing. I called him July 5th only to find out they "didn't have me in the system" and there was no refrigerator being ordered. So I made an appointment to bring in the boat on Wednesday June 18th. I am docked a mile away from Bergen Point, but because of the weather and my inexperience in navegating I requested if someone from their shop could accompany me. Jeff, the service manager told me he didn't have anyone available. OK, I brought in the boat anyway and I then found out that they are going to install the original refrigerator that was a tiny little bit smaller than the discontinued model of refrigerator that was original equipment in the 2001 2855's. Ok, so I had a useless refrigerator for a month, and they will end up installing the same refrigerator they were originally going to install. Now I am dealing with the service manager, Jeff, who tells me they will do a professional job, and that it is going to look nice when it is done. It will take a day or two. I called him today, they haven't seen the inside of the boat yet but he was really nice at letting me know that he turned off the anchoring lights for me. What a guy!!! So I asked him what was the point of me bringing in the boat on Wednesday if nobody was going to see it on Wednesday or Thursday...or work on it for that matter. He said he has been busy and that by bringing it on Wednesday I was in line to get the repairs done.

Wow!! I have to tell you that I am so incredibly shocked by the disrespect and unprofessionalism this dealership has shown to me. Quite frankly, this is the only boat dealer I have ever dealt with, but I am sure that this amateur operation they have going must be the exception in the industry.

In my opinion they have to be the worst. You might ask how is the boat? The boat is good, the family enjoys it, and so on. If I had to do it again I would've gone to Rinker not because of the quality of the boat (I shopped for size and price) but because I am sure that their service would've been better.

I just wanted to share this with you guys so that you keep it in mind if you ever need to purchase a boat in Long Island.

 

[tommays]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

Well Well

I only buy parts there BUT there one of the better dealers as far at that goes


I do not understand why you would have accepted the boat if it was NOT repaired to meet the terms of your sales contract ?


Tommays

 

[wacho]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

Well Well

I only buy parts there BUT there one of the better dealers as far at that goes


I do not understand why you would have accepted the boat if it was NOT repaired to meet the terms of your sales contract ?


Tommays

The reason why I accepted the boat is basically because I had already waited 3 months, I was paying for the slip, and needed to get in the water ASAP to justify the expense. Maybe I should have held out, but I had paid for 90 percent of the boat already. I gave them the last 10 percent, and I figured I would get a cooler and wait on the refrigerator. What's the point of having a boat if you can't use it? I don't know. There seems to be some people who think this dealership is good. Too bad I didn't have the same experience.

 

[tic]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

Sorry to hear about your problems with the dealership... I think even NEW boats in that category have their fair share of problems but I'd be just as upset if I were treated like you have been.. We will be buying a new boat, hopefully next spring and frankly, I'm scared to death, knowing nothing about the dealerships and service departments. Hopefully a Regal will not have a lot of problems out on the water first day.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

Thats the way it is, all boat dealers/repair shops make you wait in line. its only fair to the next guy.. my boat sat for 2 weeks getting 2 days worth of work, (in the mean time the parts were being ordered & delevered)

 

[wacho]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

Dakota,

I understand I have to wait in line. But what is the point of making an appointment a week in advance to bring in the boat if they won't even look at it for a couple of days. It's not like I just brought the boat to the shop and said I had a problem. I made an appointment, they gave me a date to bring it in...and I brought it in.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

you made an appointment to drop it off, You cant just bring it in and expect them to jump on it when there have been other boats waiting for work. appointment or not.. its not like the jiffy lube where ya can make an appointment and its done in an hour, i just drop mine off/no appointment nessesary & its done in two weeks, thats the norm.. ask everyone.,,

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

Hey, look on the bright side - you're doing a lot better than Bob in Philly!

 

[tic]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

The closest dealership here will simply not take "appointments".. You drop off your boat and wait.. I was told to expect a 30 day wait for our boat this spring, that's until they could even LOOK at it AFTER I dropped it off!... I bought tools instead and have learned a lot, boat is running great.... Different situation for Wacho though.. He told the dealership about the problems and what he needed. They were not prepared to fix the boat when he brought it in.... I'd be livid

 

[wacho]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

you made an appointment to drop it off, You cant just bring it in and expect them to jump on it when there have been other boats waiting for work. appointment or not.. its not like the jiffy lube where ya can make an appointment and its done in an hour, i just drop mine off/no appointment nessesary & its done in two weeks, thats the norm.. ask everyone.,,

I made an appointment a week in advance.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

I understand But your boat does not go into line until its dropped off, no exceptions,, you can make a hundred apointments but the boat still goes into the waiting line for service when dropped off..thats the way it is.. boat dealers are just like car dealers, once the sale is done your just another joe blow..

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

...boat dealers are just like car dealers, once the sale is done your just another joe blow..

Not all dealers!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

but I had paid for 90 percent of the boat already. - mistake !

Not all dealers make you wait forever to get service.
I know of atleast one that will make an appointment if you are going to have to wait for weeks/months.

 

[BayracerL.I.]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

I purchased a maxum 2500 se (new) from them .Took forever to get most of the promised features installed(purchased in jan took boat in april and still nothing was preped)3 years latter still no transome stereo remote. When I went to pick the boat up it was an absolute mess (dirt footprints hull streaks ect..)you think for the price you pay at least they would deliver a clean boat.
The service dept is just ok at best

 

[mole2]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

As I had said over on the Bayliner Owners Club, I have bought two new Trophy walk arounds from them. The first was a 2003 Trophy 1802 and the second was a 2005 Trophy 2052. In both instances I got a great price on the boat(s), early delivery on the boats and, for the few minor problems I did face, prompt, courteous service. Of course both were brand new boats. In fact you can go to my picture gallery on the BOC and see the day they dunked my 2052.

I didn't respond to your prior thread back in May because I knew you wanted to get on the water and you felt you were being put off. From what you described it appears to me that this was a brokered boat since they apparently didn't have clear title to it when you purchased it (from your description). The prior owner was probably hemming and hawing now that they had an actual buyer and probably held the whole process up. I can see where they wouldn't start the repairs before they had title (if that's the case) and to you it appears to be they were not responsive. Couple that with the fact that that is their busiest time of year dunking all the new boats that were sold the prior fall and spring and their regular marina clientele and you have a big delay. Mind you, I'm not blindly defending them but Jeff has always treated me well and my salesman Ron has done the same.

Your boat sounds like it was in good shape with only minor problems which is good. As far as taking longer for the refrigerator replacement, well that seems to be an industry thing. Drop it off and we'll take a couple of days longer than we say. You'll be happy to know it's not just Islander Boat. Personally, let them fix it and if you're unhappy with them then you're done with them. But do remember, they are one of the biggest Bayliner dealers and do have a lot of awards behind them. Good luck in whatever you do and enjoy the boat.

 

[mike176]

Re: Bayliner dealer problems in Long Island, NY

i think when you make the appointment that should be the day you get serviced. You don't get an appointment to go spend the night in line at the doctor's office? If you do i think you should reconsider you health profecinal choise. I work for a police fleet shop and we make apontments to work on vehicles and we time it so that when a car shows up we work on it. I think thats the only good way to do things, if you give an apointment that should be the day you work on it. This can be done by any good serive/parts department. If your service department can not deliver, then there is a proble be it the techs the serivce manager hired or the poor service manager him self.