Re: Experience with "marine superstore"?
Sorry this is long, but let's look at reality. Inside and out of the marine industry, a dealer has an obligation to perform warranty work, but what is the dealer being paid, for those services. The manufacturer sets limits on dealers when performing warranty work. Those limits include the amount they will pay (per hour to)the dealer and the amount of time they allow the dealer to perform the work. This payment can be substantially lower than the retail customer pays for service. Some dealers see warranty work as a part of being in business, but a business loss, because they lose income from it. In reference to someone buying from the chain store and then needing "warranty" service. I love the scenario where the guy buys the unit at the chain store "in the box" or off the rack. Gets it home, and can't get it started. Arrives at the dealer and is upset because he just bought it and it doesn't start. The customer is now upset, because of this and the dealer is now put in the middle of a tense situation. The customer has every story in the world, of why he bought it elsewhere and MUST use it this weekend. Believe it or not, the customer expects the dealer to stop his work schedule and fix the motor on the spot, because it is under "warranty." And the local dealer is obligated to do warranty work. BUT, the chain store is required to do warranty work also. The manufacturer states that if you sell the product you must service it. Chain stores do have service centers. You have to package your item and send it there.(you pay shipping, both ways and lose at least a week. If it's not a warranty problem, they send it back saying it's OK. the purchaser might still have the no start problem.) This usually happens in the height of the season. Many times, when the dealer checks it out. It starts right up, and is in good working order. Guess what? There was no problem. The dealer is out the time and money, because there was no warranty problem. The guy at the chain store said, "Yep, this is a great little motor, cash or credit? Thanks, have a nice day. Generally when you buy from a good dealer, he has opened the box, checked out the motor and ran it. Then you come in and he says, "Let me show you the new features and how to operate this unit. The dealer spends time, instructing the customer on the new motor and it's operation. (This is called servicing the customer) He asks, "Do you have any questions? If you do, even after you left, just give us a call. In respect to the price of the chain store versus the dealer. The chain store buys truck loads of these units, (usually at a greatly reduced price, as they are buying quantity) and sends them out to thier retail stores. The dealer buys a lesser amount, he does not have the benefit of the quantity discount pricing. Therefore he pays a higher amount for the unit. Sometimes he may reduce the price to the customer to sell the unit at little or no profit. > The dealer is there to sell and service product. He will service the product he sells. I have seen dealers that will have a full schedule and the chain store customer comes in for "warranty" and the dealer says three to four weeks. Ten minutes later the dealer's customer comes in (with or without warranty work) and the dealer says, "Leave it and we'll check it in the morning. The dealer is servicing both customers, his priorities are just not in favor of the chain store customer. Hopefully now you understand why.
