cobalt sales staff and kids

[OllieC]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Sort of reminds me of the time we were buying a new tow vehicle (SUV) . . . at a very tense moment in the price negotiations my youngest decided to spill hot chocolate all over the sales person's desk. Things moved along after that. . .

LOL! I'll bet he talked about that sale after your purchase!

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

"...lost children will be returned with a free puppy.... "

That's CLASSIC!

Maybe up the ante a bit by adding: a St. Bernard Puppy!

As stated, this has nothing to do with Cobalt. It really has to do with people not respecting others property. It's not yours until you buy it.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

I think this thread is funny and that it has gone on this long. The problem with kids today is......

Really? You've been a member how long??????? Lol

I don't think most of the people posting on here are "kid-haters", or even grumpy old men (I'm 30, lol). I just believe there are times and places that children belong, and a serious boat purchase is not one of those times. If you are going to a large boat show at a convention center just to dream/browse, then by all means bring the kiddos along. If you are going to a dealership with the intention of looking at a specific boat model or two, with the possibility of purchasing one, leave 'em with a babysitter. It's really just common courtesy. You wouldn't drag a 5 yr old to a black tie restaurant where you're spending a $100+, then why would you bring them to an adult meeting that may end up with you spending $10,000?

haul,s comments pretty much sums up how I feel about the subject. Most of the comments are not coming from kid haters. Some comments have been a little over the top, however. Most are merely saying there is a time and place for kids.

I have a daughter and she has never been with me and my wife when we were purchasing a new car/truck. Just like I wasn't around my parents when they bought a vehicle. We've never bought a new boat, but the same principle's would apply. As some have mentioned, I want to be concentrating on the deal and not my kid. And my kid would have 0 input on my purchase. Granted, no matter what I bought she would be thrilled.

As far as a dealer requesting "no shoes", that's their prerogative. If a boat get's all scratched up it will be tough to get all the money out of the boat. I know I wouldn't pay new money for a boat that was a little beat up.

Granted, "some" adults can be just as bad as "some" kids, even worse. But they're the ones with the checkbook. Tough to keep them out of a boat, a kid is a different story.

britisher - I don't agree with deleting your posts. It's some of your posts that got a bunch of members fired up. If anyone is willing to post then they should stand by their comments. Let the Mods do any deleting if they feel rules were broke.

There's been many comments and most, if not all, bases have been covered. It would be nice to see this thread drift off into the archives........

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

I think this thread shows the lack of tolerance and general respect we have developed for each other as a society.

Kid haters please try to remember that people love their kids and its the only way the world with humans is going to go on.

Parents when in public please remember that they are your kids and you are the only ones who love them and are used to their behavior.

Its a toxic cycle. Kid haters hate kids because their parents are too in love with their kids to know that they annoy other people and parents in love with their kids just ignore the kid haters because they come off as rude. Someone is going to have to give first.

Pretty much sums up my thoughts on the subject. Time and place for everything, know where and when.

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Interesting thread. Having shopped for used cars at the dealer with the kids in tow...I can say it is a bit of a bear having to put a booster seat in and out as used cars are out in the lot plus dealing with tracking snow in and out etc. Now that said, if I was shopping for a new boat, I probably would want to bring the kids along given the boats are indoors in a nice atmosphere. They are boat kids having been boating since they were just months old and at least have respect for how to enter and exit a boat as in no shoes and treat it with 'boat manners'. While they are 9 and 12, I would value their feedback as they would be using the boat with us. They pretty much own the real estate up in the bow. I don't really consider a 80k or 90k slightly over entry level Cobalt to be that big a deal in the big picture of outgo and maybe I'm just being dense, but I've got to think that the dealers would be used to the fact that boating is a family sport. I've got to say, we have been to some boat dealers lately and there just were no issues at all with the sales people where the kids on the boats were concerned. My thinking here is I might expect them to be more concerned in the entry level class where people don't have boat manners possibly yet versus Cobalt where that is more of a second boat where people and their kids already get it. Maybe I'm just idealistic.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Around here lately I have noticed a lot of signs that state....lost children will be returned with a free puppy.... That tells me it is becoming a problem all over an business are getting tired of baby sitting.

Have you been to a restaurant lately? The complete lack of consideration for others dining experience as it relates to untrained adults with children is really horrible. It's like they have no clue about how they ruin the evening for just about everyone within screaming distance. And there is never an excuse for that, it appears to just be lazy and poor parenting. I just had my dinner ruined by screaming kids, sorry if I'm a little direct about this subject.

 

[roffey]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

you people here are far to serious, really have a read back at what you say. lets take a step back. We are all people who love boats, some more than others. The mud that fly's back and forth, keep it up this is great entertainment, LOL.

You guys are to much. It started with somebody taking their kids into a boat show room. Notice I took the pic of my grand daughter off, did not want to offend any one.

 

[agallant80]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Have you been to a restaurant lately?

Yeah New Years Eve I dropped $250 at Ruth Chris only to be next to some couple that has noisy three year old out for dinner at 9m. Needless to say with the kid making all kind of noise I think I would have gotten more enjoyment out of burning the $250 or at least spending it on a new VHF for the boat. Total waste of money being next to a noisy kid.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

While they are 9 and 12, I would value their feedback as they would be using the boat with us.

9 and 12 year old kids are not going to care anything about a boat as long as its a boat. Heck, they would probably pick a Bayliner!

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

I don't go to boat shows, living out here in the hinterlands, but I always thought the point of a boat show was to expose a wide audience to a dealer's (or manufacturer's) models. Isn't some wear and tear to be expected on boats that have lots of visitors climbing in and out? I just expected that a dealership large enough to demo boats at a show would have some expectation that there might be a bit of a loss when selling a boat that was used as demo. Is that not the case? (I'm not playing devil's advocate, I really am interested.)

I guess I could understand if a dealer didn't want people wearing spurs or spiky dog collars to climb around on the upholstery, but isn't the whole point of a boat show to get people to 'see' themselves in the dealer's product?

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

9 and 12 year old kids are not going to care anything about a boat as long as its a boat. Heck, they would probably pick a Bayliner!

Ha Ha, but my 12 year old gives good insight. The 9 year old is fine with whatever I suppose. They are getting to the point of being discerning however.

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

The problem I have is the OP decided that this was Cobalt's problem. It seems to me that he doesn't realize that Cobalt has very little to do with this "problem". It is the DEALER not the MANUFACTURER.

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Yeah New Years Eve I dropped $250 at Ruth Chris only to be next to some couple that has noisy three year old out for dinner at 9m. Needless to say with the kid making all kind of noise I think I would have gotten more enjoyment out of burning the $250 or at least spending it on a new VHF for the boat. Total waste of money being next to a noisy kid.

I don't go to boat shows, living out here in the hinterlands, but I always thought the point of a boat show was to expose a wide audience to a dealer's (or manufacturer's) models. Isn't some wear and tear to be expected on boats that have lots of visitors climbing in and out? I just expected that a dealership large enough to demo boats at a show would have some expectation that there might be a bit of a loss when selling a boat that was used as demo. Is that not the case? (I'm not playing devil's advocate, I really am interested.)

I guess I could understand if a dealer didn't want people wearing spurs or spiky dog collars to climb around on the upholstery, but isn't the whole point of a boat show to get people to 'see' themselves in the dealer's product?

To me, shoes don't go with boats. I've never worn a pair of shoes in a boat ever and hence we have a no shoes rule in our boat. One time way back when, my wife and I got a tour of a Chinese freighter docked in Long Beach. She was back then in logistics and was getting to see what the ships actually looked like first hand. We were invited into the living quarters which are surprisingly posh and mistakenly stepped in past the door with our shoes on being young and clueless as to their customs. I believe that the captain may have had an aneurism.

 

[gtochris]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

As far as a dealer requesting "no shoes", that's their prerogative. If a boat get's all scratched up it will be tough to get all the money out of the boat. I know I wouldn't pay new money for a boat that was a little beat up.
.

Even at the boat show last week, if they had no sign prohibiting shoes, I still crawled over the sun-bed rather walking over, it's respecting property- same reason you don't put items on someone else's car (box/ bag) but do it to your own if you like. If you want to treat your own stuff ruff go ahead.

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

To me, shoes don't go with boats. I've never worn a pair of shoes in a boat ever and hence we have a no shoes rule in our boat. .

I agree! I have a hell of a time getting my friends to understand that rule.

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

I agree! I have a hell of a time getting my friends to understand that rule.

I just think if you haven't been brought up with boats, then it's hard to get some of the boating etiquette and rules across to people. I just have to be very direct.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

To me, shoes don't go with boats. I've never worn a pair of shoes in a boat ever and hence we have a no shoes rule in our boat. . .

Really depends on the type of boat and the location/weather. If you're going out for a late Fall cruise in a runabout, I highly doubt you want to be barefoot in 40-degree temps. If you are fishing in a tinny/bass boat, I really don't like fishing bare-footed with lures/hooks/etc laying around. Most sailors I know don't sail barefooted either, as the deck can be slippery in bare feet.

Now in warm weather just cruising or doing watersports, by all means shed the shoes. Every boat/situation will determine what type of attire is worn.

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

I just think if you haven't been brought up with boats, then it's hard to get some of the boating etiquette and rules across to people. I just have to be very direct.

Very true

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Really depends on the type of boat and the location/weather. If you're going out for a late Fall cruise in a runabout, I highly doubt you want to be barefoot in 40-degree temps. If you are fishing in a tinny/bass boat, I really don't like fishing bare-footed with lures/hooks/etc laying around. Most sailors I know don't sail barefooted either, as the deck can be slippery in bare feet.

Now in warm weather just cruising or doing watersports, by all means shed the shoes. Every boat/situation will determine what type of attire is worn.

This is also very true! Good point!

 

[jkust]

Re: cobalt sales staff and kids

Really depends on the type of boat and the location/weather. If you're going out for a late Fall cruise in a runabout, I highly doubt you want to be barefoot in 40-degree temps. If you are fishing in a tinny/bass boat, I really don't like fishing bare-footed with lures/hooks/etc laying around. Most sailors I know don't sail barefooted either, as the deck can be slippery in bare feet.

Now in warm weather just cruising or doing watersports, by all means shed the shoes. Every boat/situation will determine what type of attire is worn.

Great point...we will surely be in that same situation this fall now that we aren't trailering. I can see stepping in from the boat lift with a pair of deck shoes or even crocks if you don't step on the tanning platform or the rear couch. Some of my hard and fast rules are starting to slip as I get older.