Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

[NOSLEEP]

To say that I am extremely disappointed with my purchase of a evinrude e-tec motor <br />would be an understatement, to add to that I don't even have it yet.<br />On April 12/04 I visited a local evinrude dealer looking for a new boat and motor.<br />I was pretty much sold on a new lund and yamaha package, but wanted to have <br />a look at the new 2004 Crestliner sport angler. This particular dealer has the<br />evinrude franchise. I liked what i saw and got down to the math on a package that<br />included a 90 evinrude e-tec. I had earlier read on this forum that there was a<br />promotion on this motor and asked the dealer about the details and was told that the<br />program was no longer available and had ended. bear in mind that this is on April 12<br />So I went home and pondered on which package to buy.<br />On the morning of April 16 I returned to the evinrude dealer and purchased his boat<br />and motor package. Then later on in the week I discovered after reading an add in<br />outdoor Canada magazine ,that the promotion was valid from December 27,2003 to<br />April 15,2004. So I returned to the dealer to find out why he told me the promotion<br />was over when indeed it was still available. At that point he became very defensive and<br />told me the bill of sale was dated for April 16 and the promotion was over and that<br />there was nothing he could do about it. <br />I was and still am very disappointed with his response and attitude. So I decided to<br />contact the people at Evinrude/Bombardier.I found a customer contact number on their<br />Evinrude internet site. After some time on the phone explaining my problem to each<br />person I was passed on too I finally reached Kady Miller of Evinrude/ Johnson motor<br />division. She asked me to fax her my Bill of sale, which I promptly did, she told me she<br />would look into it and get back to me.This was 2 weeks ago. <br />I have not heard from her and my return calls and messages are ignored.<br /><br />My dilemma now is I am extremely concerned about my decision to purchase from this<br />dealer and any after sales service I may need from Bombardier/Evinrude.<br />Should I cancel my purchase and buy an Yamaha, or perhaps their is still hope <br />that I can get some satisfaction from Bombardier, any ideas or thought would be<br />appreciated.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

To me, your beef is with the dealer - if what you say is true, he either lied to you on the 12th or was incompetent. Then he wouldn't do the right thing on the 16th and honor the promotion. If it was me and there weren't hugely compelling price/feature factors, I just wouldn't do business with a guy like this. There's just too many options in the world.

 

[DJ]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

The beef is with the dealer.<br /><br />The manufacturer CANNOT "back date" the dates on a promotional program without offering it RETROACTIVELY to every person in the world. Not realistic. To do so, for one person, would constitute fraud.<br /><br />I wouldn't trust that dealer with any engine/boat combo. It has nothing to do with Bombardier.

 

[ob]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

NOSLEEP,If you are pleased with the engine and boat,I would continue to contact Bombardier and get them to at least acknowledge the misquote from the dealer.It is their responsibility to ensure that dealers that sell their products are responsible enough to honor a factory incentive.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

I deal with manufactures programs on a daily<br />basis. If I had a customer that missed a program<br />by one day I would most certainly date the bill<br />of sale for the previous day. It is done all<br />the time in the automotive business.<br />What I don't understand is why the dealer would<br />try to hide the promotion in the first place.<br /><br />Secondly I find it very rude and very bad <br />business practice to ignore and not respond to a <br />consumer complaint.

 

[DJ]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

ob,<br /><br />Be careful. Franchise laws vary GREATLY state to state and are probably are completely different in Canada.

 

[ob]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

DJ,The fact that the dealer even stated that the incentive was no loger available on the 12th and then states that since the invoice was dated a day late there is nothing he can do,sort of self incriminates his position and for what ever reason seems to have mislead the consumer.I think this particular matter shouold be taken up with Bombardier customer service department and got to the bottom of.Certainly they don't condone this practice?Perhaps this dealer pocketed a few extra bucks on an incentive package that he shouldn't have.Just a matter of whether Bombardier wants to risk reputation on the practices of "one" delaer in an ocean of many.These issues are never easy to get resolved and will require fair mindedness on the part of Bombardier and perserverence on the part of NOSOLEEP.I wish him all the luck in the world in getting some satisfaction for his significant purchase.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

Thanks for the encouragement ob.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

Satisfaction of any purchase begins -- and ends -- with who you buy it from. In your case you haven't even got the rig and you have a bad gut feeling. <br /><br />As strongly as anybody feels about a certian brand of anything, its only as good as the dealer. <br /><br />Assuming that whatever moptor you buy is the worlds greatest motor but your unhappy with the dealer, even before the sale, I can guarantee you that you will not be satisfied with it. You already question his product knowledge (with good cause). Are you going to trust him with the set up? Accessory sales? Advise?<br /><br />Good luck! Really.

 

[DJ]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

OB,<br /><br />What I meant is that the manufacturer can have VERY limited recourse with a dealer. Many a BAD dealer continues to do business becauase of very liberal franchise/business agreement laws.<br /><br />You all can think that Bombardier is in the bad because they are not beating up the dealer, however you may not get anywhere. It's not fair to leave the real culprit out of this-the dealer.<br />I realize, it's easier to pick on the big corporation. Our society has been taught to leave the real rats go and point fingers at the whoever is on top of the hill.<br /><br />NOSLEEP, if I were you, I would put the heat on the dealer to unwind this deal NOW. The manufacturer cannot, in most cases, force that.<br /><br />I also deal with manufacturers programs on a daily basis, as a matter of fact I write some of them, so thus I know of what I speak. <br /><br />Backdating a sales invoice is FRAUD. I would NOT do business with a dealer, or a customer, that would condone such a thing.<br /><br />As I said, unwind this deal now..

 

[ob]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

DJ,I wasn't advocating that he should take this issue up solely with the manufacturer(Bombardier) ,but rather the manufacturer note the situation and take it up with the dealer.Bad dealers should be,,and are held accountable by the manufacturer that provide their products.<br /><br />Do situations like this one reflect bad customer relations from the manufacturer??Only if they condone misleading actions of one particular dealer and are non-willing to work toward a peaceful and rational solution.I feel that NOSLEEP has a legitimate and non-frivelous issue.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

DJ, fraud! get real. <br />Incentives are designed to encourage sales.<br />24 HRS doesn't constitute fraud. It is merely<br />up to the dealer to administer.<br /><br />If it was fraud do you think it would be done daily.

 

[DJ]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

OB,<br /><br />No question that NOSLEEP has a real beef. However, his beef is with the dealer. It SEEMS obvioius, the dealer is trying to slink around something here.<br /><br />I agree that sometimes the manufacturer can do things to try and make a dealer "see the light". However, there are some slugs out there that get away with poor practices due to government intervention. <br /><br />I am no expert on Canadian franchise laws, yet I do know that they are very liberal and always favor the dealer.<br /><br />One statement that really struck me was:<br /><br /> "I would most certainly date the bill<br />of sale for the previous day. It is done all<br />the time in the automotive business."<br /><br />That statement scares me, coming from either side.<br />Not only is the statement untrue, it's promoting fraud.<br /><br />I'll bow out. I wish NOSLEEP luck, yet remember, we are only seeing one side.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

Without any substaintial proof that the dealer misinformed him on the 12th, He'll have to rely on Evinrude to show exceptional customer support to honor the rebate one day late which would be a little abnormal in today's dog-eat-dog market.<br /><br /> Don't let it grill you too much or you'll never get the satisfaction that buying a new rig should provide. Life is short. Fish. Play. Have a beer. Play some more. We'll all be worm food before that boat quits fishin!!!

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

I think the dealer may not be participating in the promo. Not all dealers are required to participate in a program. Usually it states something to the effect, " Offer is valid at participating dealers"....Or he's considered the rebate when he made you your price...an/or he's keeping the cash/profit for himself without discussing it with you. So when you raised the issue with him, he tried to feed you some hogwash about being too late. If he would have been right up front with you, he would have stated the promo right off the top. Crap like this isn't very honest, but it happens.<br /><br />Remember if it smells funny, it's because it is.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

Bombardier could still honor the promotion for you if they wanted to. <br /><br />They don't have to honor a late purchase for everyone who bought a day late, because your circumstance was different and an exception. But your dealer would need to tell them that he made a mistake (whether it was on purpose or not).<br /><br />Have your dealer call Bombardier on speaker phone in your presence. If he is unwilling to do that, or Bombardier refuses to offer you the promotion while on the phone, then cancel the sale. This way both Bombardier and your dealer will experience the meaning of customer service, and what happens when there isn't any.<br /><br />BTW, I'd be very hesitant buying from this dealer. You may need service some time in the future, and from this end it looks like you'd be getting bad service.<br /><br />You also need to write a letter to Bombardier about the poor service you received from that Kady Miller person. They would probably like to know, and will most likely do something about it. After all, it was a waste of time for you.<br /><br />Good Luck.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

I have been waiting for this boat and motor for a<br />month now.I will take delivery of it when it <br />arrives. This dealer has a responsibility to <br />provide me with the product I purchased in a <br />timely manner.I can take the package some were<br />else to have it serviced if the need arises,<br />even if I have to take it to another town.<br />This dealers reputation here precedes him.And yes<br />Cobra he is a participating dealer.<br />Unfortunately it is in the end my word against<br />the dealers, So Bombardier in the end by ignoring<br />me is effectively saying that they don't believe me,or that they plain dont care.<br />In the end it will be Evinrude that will suffer<br />the greatest loss, as to me it is not about money<br />or the warranty. It is about honesty and service.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

Don't give up on Kady Miller. Try to find out if she's been around and complain that she is not returning your calls. Find out who her boss is and speak to him/her. Oh and get their email address or fax to them for a response. Requests in writing get followed up faster.<br /><br />I'm in sales and sometimes run into folks that give me lousy service from my manufacturers. I make sure each request is faxed with a date. In a fax, repeat your date of request and each time and date of repeated requests. Ask her kindly to reply. Keep sending the same fax every two days or so with a new date added to the fax every time you ask for an update.<br /><br />After a few tries if I you do not get a response, fax to the boss. That employee can't hide from their poor performance and believe me at Bombardier that won't fly.

 

[CharlesW]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

Originally posted by Dhadley:<br /> Satisfaction of any purchase begins -- and ends -- with who you buy it from. In your case you haven't even got the rig and you have a bad gut feeling. <br /><br />As strongly as anybody feels about a certian brand of anything, its only as good as the dealer. <br /><br />Assuming that whatever moptor you buy is the worlds greatest motor but your unhappy with the dealer, even before the sale, I can guarantee you that you will not be satisfied with it. You already question his product knowledge (with good cause). Are you going to trust him with the set up? Accessory sales? Advise?<br /><br />Good luck! Really.

Read this again and think about what it says.<br />Personally, I would get away from this dealer as quickly as possible.<br />There are good, honest dealers that you can deal with, find one of them.<br />Do you really want to have to deal with someone you don't trust for the rest of the time you own the boat/motor?<br />No matter who is right or wrong, the realationship is not good now and probably isn't going to improve much.<br />Buying a new boat and motor should be a fun process, not this type of aggravation.<br /><br />Charles

 

[Bazooks]

Re: Feeling cheated by Evinrude/Bombardier

I say cancell the order and get the Lund-Yamie Combo. <br /><br />I would never deal with poeple that lie in sales! They can make a sale by not lying.