MSRPs on new boats

[uscboy]

I've read that there's often a lot of markup by <br />dealers in the industry. I'm not really looking <br />at trying to put a dealer out of business with a <br />great deal, but as an example, the MSRP on the <br />boat I was window shopping for is $29,999 for <br />the Yamaha SX230.<br /><br />Not going to buy this season, just using the <br />boat I'm pining for right now as an example.<br /><br />How much would that boat sell for in the real <br />world from most dealers? Is an MSRP firm or do <br />boats usually sell for less? And can you get <br />better deals in July (I've read that dealers try <br />to move inventory then) or from a boat show in <br />the winter?

 

[delsol]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

thats what i would like to know too...dealer rebate are at certain times to ,like at boat shows, example 5yr extended watt free at show because merc gives them free money not counting boat company, i was going to save about 3k off sticker at show for a loaded 18ft chap 4.3 w trailer or crownline , had them down to just over 3k boat was 23.500, not great but ok this year i am ready to get a new boat at a show, i live in phila and not that great of deals, for now i have a nice 17ft 80 hp boat running great not what i want but good for now , just 3 months ago i could not get the deal i wanted, plus all the boats have 3.0 engines and i wanted 4.3 , so i got a fair price on a boat i did not want..<br />the crownline for me started to get really good had check book with me and started to get real serious and thier finance guy start getting me mad and i said the heck with this but i was there will pen 4.3 w trailer and all top cd etc ...and he messed deal up with telling me 5- yr 10 yr financing are the same and i could have streched and paid cash, was going to put 10k down so he got me confused and pissed so i said bye...did me a favor brought use cobia and i own it and its great runner..also this year i only went out 6 times....boy they did me a favor..+ i am rehabing a house this summer not much time sisters house free bee

 

[mattttt25]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

boat shows do often offer great deals if you are buying new. it's worth going to the shows and writing down the deals, even if you are not ready to buy. even after the shows, don't let a dealer tell you he can't match the boat show deal. you should be able to get the deal at any point if you are persistent.<br /><br />i would guess any good negotiator can get 5-10% knocked off the asking price of a new boat. if the dealer isn't willing to drop the price and you really want it, you can also work it with him providing you more, such as bottom painting, upgraded trailer, winterization/start-up for a few years, upgraded interior options, etc. just know how much these things cost so you know what deal you are really getting.<br /><br />example- "i really can't knock 2 grand off this $20,000 boat, but i'll winterize it for you this year." you're not getting much, but if you don't know how little it costs to winterize or what they include in it, it may sound like you are getting a deal."

 

[srperry01]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

Addition to that question if I may. In the car industry, used cars are generally marked up much more (% wise) than new cars b/c no one really knows exactly what a used car is worth. Would any of you believe that this is true in the boat world? For example: A new crowline at 29,999 knocked down 5% or a 1997 crownline at 15,999 knocked down 10%. Basically do you have a better negotiating hand with used boats as opposed to new boats; or, is it reasonable to assume you can ask a for a greater % off a used boat than a new one?

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

golden rule:<br />he who holds the gold makes the rules...

 

[swist]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

I believe that for both boats and cars, the main factor driving the dealer's negotiating is the minimum profit he is willing to take for the item (taking into acct mfgr rebates etc). Although they will tell you they lost money or broke even, it's very unlikely they will sell below that amount or why are they in business to begin with. With a new car that number can be as low as $500.<br /><br />Where you have a huge leg up on cars is that the wholesale price of new cars is available through any number of sources. So you can see how much money the dealer is making. Try to find out what the dealer paid for a boat - difficult to impossible. In fact even the "real" MSRP may not even exist. The mfgr sells the boats at wholesale so what do they care? Yes, some makers do set an MSRP, but it is not unusual for a dealer to invent an MSRP for the purposes of maximizing their profit. And the sleazy ones will do things like hold a sale by raising the MSRP instead of lowering the sale price. And there was a guy around here who would reprint the dealer invoices on his own computer to wave in people's faces as "proof" of the wholesale price.<br /><br />Buying boats is really "caveat emptor". The only way to stay ahead of the game is to do your own research as to what these things are going for at various places in various locales. You may be amused when you discover a plethora of different MSRPs for the same boat....

 

[lindb40530]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

Finding out what the dealer paid for a boat is next too impossible, where it's very easy these days to find out the same information on cars. The important point, (see mellow yellow) is that they have to sell you the boat.<br /><br />The price listed means nothing. Decide what you want to pay for it and make the offer. Leave your name and number. If it's reasonable, they'll call .....

 

[delsol]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

i disagree with buying weeks or days after big boats shows , east coast west coast etc....<br />i sold most brands of cars and they have rebates till let say 7/31 /04 of 3k per camry, 8/1 on the computer the car now might have just $500 rebate, i have lost tons of money on (the price the next day will be the same, and i would say you came on last day of rebates it was on for 2 months they would say ya ya ya bottom line next day car higher by 1500.00 and no sale for me...<br />factory rebates are the key to new products etc..<br />if gas was $ 4 gallon now we would see in the newspaper rebates that would be hugh,

 

[RatFish]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

bobby515 has a good point. IMHO, your best deal on a new boat from a dealer will coincide with a factory rebate.

 

[delsol]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

ratfish river sunday near navy base red cobia with no ### i did not get my new ones till today so i will have none if you see me out there just pa water stickers

 

[RatFish]

Re: MSRPs on new boats

bobby515,<br /><br />I'll keep an eye out for you if I make it down your way this Sunday. I'll probably be out on the river but I'm not sure if I'll be down in your neck of the woods or up north towards Bristol, PA. My home port is Dredge Harbor, NJ about 2-3 miles north of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. I have a 20' Bayliner, NJ registration with a blue bimini top.