Dealing with the Dealer

strokersquid

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Nov 24, 2011
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I'm going to look at a new Arima ( wife says to go new ! Good wife ! ). How much dealing space is there with dealers ? Certainly in this economy you don't pay list. What about motors, kicker , etc ? are they easier to deal ? No trade in. Cash up front.
 

cyclops2

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

State / Country ?

options ?

Buying new always eliminates all problems for me.
 

strokersquid

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Nov 24, 2011
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

17 foot Arima cuddy with curtains.+/- 115 HP Optimax or Etec and kicker ( I'm not sure how powerful. 9.9 HP ? ) Could be less HP but 120 is the max allowed. Think about 30k ? SF bay area Northern Ca.
 

Philster

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

List price on boats now = total laugh. Some models are discounted 25-30% below list price.
 

cyclops2

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

NO WAY !

That means they were emptying our pockets years ago !! :D
 

Jeep Man

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

NO WAY !

That means they were emptying our pockets years ago !! :D

No, not quite. Just means they are willing to sell with zero profit to free up needed cash to keep the doors open.
 

cyclops2

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

You are telling me they were going out of bussiness faster in good times, compared to this Depression ? Hard to believe.
 

strokersquid

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Nov 24, 2011
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

Maybe not such good deals. Called a local dealer about a new boat quote. over the phone got a $21k quote with galvanized trailer. A dealer out east was selling new same boat $17k. I asked 1st dealerfor the internet special price. Today got an answer: $23k boat only no trailer! So much for wanting to deal. Tomorrow it will be $25k at this rate. This is a boat sitting on the dealer floor for nigh on 2 years now ! And no break when adding motor and kicker either! Everything full suggested retail. I do not like dealers.
 

Philster

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

Model to model, demand varies... and it's regional. In a down market for boats, there are still models and locations that do well.

Overall, no one can question the hit the industry has taken. Maybe you can wait. If a boat factory gets slow, they get desperate. Give it a month or two.
 

cyclops2

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

I live in NJ. Bought the new Chaparral in Canada in 2002. Better exchange rate / taxes etc. Boat is run in the St Lawrence River. N Y side.
 

strokersquid

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Nov 24, 2011
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

I live in NJ. Bought the new Chaparral in Canada in 2002. Better exchange rate / taxes etc. Boat is run in the St Lawrence River. N Y side.
How much does it cost to import a boat ? Rate is not a plus now, Ca dollar is usually higher or the same now.
 

wagnerz

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Sep 13, 2011
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

The thing to always remember is there are many factors that play in to the price you get for a new boat. Whether you pay with cash or finance the boat will make no difference in the overall price. Many people don't realize this, but financing the boat will still get the dealer all his money up front. One of the factors that do matter is how much the dealer paid for the boat. They might have paid $20,000 and more then likely you are not going to get the boat for less then that amount. Unless the dealership is facing real tough times and are going to be going out of business soon, then they will take less then what they paid. Another factor is the amount of time the boat has been sitting. When a boat sits in their dealership for 2 years, that means the dealer has been paying interest, or lost interest he could have made on that boat. Sometimes this makes the dealer want to get more money out of the boat to make up for the loss. Sometimes it will make the dealer want to move it and just be done with it. Honestly, the best way that I have dealt with dealers is to be straight up with them. Go ahead and ask them questions like, how much did you pay for it, how long has it been sitting there. What kind of profit do you expect to make on this boat. Then you can get an idea of where they sit. The worst that could happen is the dealer doesn't want to answer some of those questions, and then you are free to walk out. It would not be smart business for the dealer to act that way.
 

olefisherman

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Jan 22, 2010
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

a dealer who was retireing told me years ago the time to buy a boat was the last week in march. mit give that a try.
 

airdvr1227

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Jul 15, 2009
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

Or the last week of any given month. Businesses make projections. They'll bend more at the end of the month vs. the beginning.
 

Philster

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

Re: March

In most areas, you can water test -- not great, but do-able, but dealers are still in the midst of the winter slump.

If you need work done to a boat, getting in done in Feb/March is wise, too.
 

JimS123

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Jul 27, 2007
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

When I bought my last boat I was fortunate that there were 4 Starcraft dealers within driving distance. None in NY had the model in stock, so it had to be ordered. One wanted list price, the second wanted list plus $75 dealer prep.

I found one in Canada on the floor. When I added up the Ontario GST, subtracted the discount, then added the NY sales tax to register it back here, the bottom line was a 20% discount below list.

The last dealer was down the street from me and he offered a 18% discount. After haggling he met the Canadian price without the hassle of a border crossing. That was 2009, which was at the bottom on HIS sales. Its picked up considerably the last year or so...at least at this dealer.

Oh... the rest of the story.
43 years ago I bought my very first brand new OB motor from this same dealer, when the current owner was a mere salesman there....and a bunch of stuff between then and now. Maybe if you support your local dealer he'll support you as well!
 

JimS123

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

a dealer who was retireing told me years ago the time to buy a boat was the last week in march. mit give that a try.

I have bought several new cars and boats just before Christmas, factory ordered with a scheduled early Spring delivery.

The best new car deal I ever got was 30 minutes before closing on New Year's eve. I kept haggling and it seemed like all they wanted to do was leave, so they finally met my price!
 

cyclops2

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Apr 19, 2011
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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

I wanted a NEW 2002 in N Y on May 1 2002. So I ordered the boat in December 2001 to allow plenty of time. Worked out fine.

I HATE having a new boat AFTER the boat season starts in my boating area. The boat is then not new in my way of thinking. I pay a new boat price. I want every possible day in my new boat. I am odd that way.

Rich
 

cyclops2

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Re: Dealing with the Dealer

Strokersquid

Are you forming a plan of sorts about all the information we are giving you ? Or are we making it a project that is removing the fun of it ?

Rich
 

strokersquid

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Messages
85
Re: Dealing with the Dealer

No I'm loving this ! I have NO experience with boat salesmen or dealers. Any info is golden. Keep it coming !
 
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