My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

[rrkyle]

I just want to share my story about a shady marine dealer in Waco.

A couple of months ago i bought a 1966 20 hp Johnson from a "reputable dealer" in Waco. I will not say the name but there is only one Johnson/ Evinrude dealer in Waco.

I bought the motor got a receipt and waited for the title.
Two months later i realize i never got the title so I call TPWD and they tell me the motor is still registered to someone else. After this I called the Marine place and ask them about and they say they will call me back. The next day i have had no call back, so I call them again.

The owner gets on the phone and tells me he is not sure how but that he does not have a title for it. He offers me two solutions
1. I can get my money back.
2. He tells me they have a 68 thats almost identical with a title and he can swap the serial plates for me!!! Can you believe this?

I obviously was not happy about either of these because im trying to sell the boat that the motor is on and need a motor and a title and no Jailtime! Eventually i was able to talk him into swapping me for the 68.

I cannot believe a reputable boat dealer would be this eager to do something like this, and it really worries me that if he was that ready to do something like this is how often he does things like this?

I do know one thing. This place will never see my business again. And if anybody else is in Waco send Me a PM i can tell you more info about this place.

 

[Expidia]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

That's funny! Why would that surprise you to think these boat dealers are any thing other than a used car dealer with even lower morals?

Several of the dealers I knew when I was growing up used to turn back the speedometers on the cars in their lots regularly.

Now over the past few years they just buy a new speedometer unit from a junkyard with lower miles. There was some way to do that correctly because if you just plug in a speedometer with lower miles the computer will reset it to the original higher miles. I think they have to flash the computer chip before plugging in a lower mileage one.

When I was a kid none of us ever had a working speedometer cause the first thing we would do when buying a "new to us car" was to unscrew the speedo cable
I have morals too . . . they are just low

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

Not a good experience for you. Don't do anything that could come back and bite you !!!

 

[rrkyle]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

I was just surprised that he was willing to change serial numbers. For all i know that other motor was stolen and they just hoped i would forget i never had a title and own it forever. I feel bad for the next guy that buys this motor.

I think i was a pretty good sport about the whole thing ive never been one to disrespect somebody unless im disrespected.

I have now what is hopefully a 68 johnson and a title and hopefully this boat will be sold this afternoon!

 

[Triton II]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

I was just surprised that he was willing to change serial numbers. For all i know that other motor was stolen and they just hoped i would forget i never had a title and own it forever. I feel bad for the next guy that buys this motor.

I think i was a pretty good sport about the whole thing ive never been one to disrespect somebody unless im disrespected.

I have now what is hopefully a 68 johnson and a title and hopefully this boat will be sold this afternoon!

Good luck!

TII

 

[tdrudd87]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

Hope it goes well for you, there is little that ticks me off like getting jerked around. Especially by people that think I don't know it.

Terry

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

Bought my boat last year at a "reputable dealer" in Waco last year, I would hope they were not the one. My buy went fine, no probs like the OP mentioned, so hopefully there are good dealers in Waco, too?

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

That's funny! Why would that surprise you to think these boat dealers are any thing other than a used car dealer with even lower morals?

Several of the dealers I knew when I was growing up used to turn back the speedometers on the cars in their lots regularly.

Now over the past few years they just buy a new speedometer unit from a junkyard with lower miles. There was some way to do that correctly because if you just plug in a speedometer with lower miles the computer will reset it to the original higher miles. I think they have to flash the computer chip before plugging in a lower mileage one.

When I was a kid none of us ever had a working speedometer cause the first thing we would do when buying a "new to us car" was to unscrew the speedo cable
I have morals too . . . they are just low

I resent that statement. I have been a "reputable" used car dealer for 25 yrs.

What about the title? Their has been a Federal Truth In Mileage Act in ALL 50
state's for quite awhile. It is not easy to roll back a odometer and get away with it.

So..........I guess your just as big a "crook" as I am?

Anyone reading this, Expidia has NO idea what he is talking about.

I absolutely cannot believe anyone who has been on here as long as you is
posting s??t like this.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

amen, deck swabber. no particular business has a lock on either high or low morals.

When laws are ridiculous, the people will flaunt them. Having to have a title to a 50 year old 20 hp is a waste of everyone's time. Do you have a seperate title for your engine block in your car, too?

 

[apaseman]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

So..........I guess your just as big a "crook" as I am?

Sure sounds like it...



I absolutely cannot believe anyone who has been on here as long as you is
posting s??t like this.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. Admitting one has low morals is interesting.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

I'm kinda interested in the whole titling motors deal. Never lived in a place that titled motors. Here in ID boats only get titled if they have a lein or are 2000 or newer. So what happens if the S/N is not in the system? Such as if you bought a boat motor from me in ID (No title or reg) and transported it to TX. Is there a way to find out if your motor has ever been titled in TX. Maybe that's why he has no title.

 

[Expidia]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

I resent that statement. I have been a "reputable" used car dealer for 25 yrs.

What about the title? Their has been a Federal Truth In Mileage Act in ALL 50
state's for quite awhile. It is not easy to roll back a odometer and get away with it.

So..........I guess your just as big a "crook" as I am?

Anyone reading this, Expidia has NO idea what he is talking about.

I absolutely cannot believe anyone who has been on here as long as you is
posting s??t like this.

If you reread my post I said "several" of the USED car dealers I knew would spin back the speedometers and or buy another speedo from a junkyard "years ago". Why do you think the federal goverment had to FINALLY come out with the truth and lending act???

So you are telling me I'm lying about what I saw and I don't know what I'm talking about.

First off, a junkyard was supposed to re-set the speedo to your actual mileage, but many didn't. For years, a used speedo from a junkyard with low mileage went for $100 shipped to you with no questions asked.

You Sir appear very Naive about what used to go on in your industry.

Even the big national repairs shops finally got nailed for being dishonest with their customers like Sears, Goodyear and Firestone.

I'm sorry if the public views used car dealers not at the top of the scales when it comes to honesty in dealing with their customers.

I've Googled this list for you as you seem unaware of what goues on in your profession.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/124625/honesty-ethics-poll-finds-congress-image-tarnished.aspx

This was a 2009 poll which shows the top 5 least rated professions when it comes to honesty . . . the top one is members of congress (now that's a surprise ) and lo and behold coming in 2nd place with 51% were "car salesman".

Should I start are thread asking if any of the members have ever been taken advantage of by a car salesman?

I hope you are honest and you should be proud of that! But all professions have bad apples!

And many used and new boat dealers are even worse to deal with when it comes to honesty through my own experience of 45 years because they only have a small window of months to sell within.

And just so you know . . . My profession, was ranked even lower than yours on that list

And yes, I (might have) disconnected my speedometer cable when I was a kid. I also stole a Snickers bar from a candy store when I around 12 and got caught too.

So shoot me, at least I'm honest about it!

 

[rrkyle]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

Actually theres only two places in Waco that i steer clear of. Yowells and Waco Yamaha are both run by good people, I actually know the guy that owns Waco Yamaha.

Glad to hear theres somebody else on here that goes out on Lake Belton. Ive been out there three or four days a week for the past 2 months.

 

[rrkyle]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

Oh and about the titles. Texas is the most RIDICULOUS state to get anything registered in.

Except for trailers. Apparently all you have to do is rub the serial numbers and tel them you built it and they issue a title and its officially yours!

 

[QC]

Re: My Experience With a Shady Marine Dealer

OK, guys, this one is done. I missed it yesterday and I should just delete it, but wanted to make a couple of points.

We don't condone illegal practices here regardless of when (see the Guidleines).

We don't bash businesses here. Yes, I understand the dealer was not named.

We do not engage in personal attacks, yes I know they were minor, but we still don't do it . . .

If you have any comments, please review the guidelines and then PM me or another Mod. Thanks.