Comments on: How to save industry-wide boat sales

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:22:35 +0000

While customer service and responsiveness from dealers are key, selling boats is what will keep the industry afloat and prevent further reductions in staff and parts inventory that lead to many of the problems referenced here. Buyers have to be motivated to purchase a boat, and with the current economic times, price is a huge motivator. Great deals on new boats are available, at ultimateboatsale.com is a good place to find them.

By: Gomu

Gomu — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:38:08 +0000

I can believe it when you say you were in the medical business.
Dale’s comment hits the nail on the head. There you are thinking that the only relationship that maters is that of cheaper cost and higher profit, when there were no doubt craftsmen/women in the neighbourhood who could have sorted out your problems and helped keep your customers happy.
Moral of the story? If you want a boat, buy it from a boatbuilder, not a showroom.

By: Dale Wentzel

Dale Wentzel — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:53:30 +0000

Well, anytime anyone needs new or repaired upholstery, bimini top, custom furniture or canvas to get their boats sold, just let me know.

I’m sure there are others like me in each of your territories who could have taken care of those problems immediately. Why? Because, like you volume is down everywhere and the little guys will jump through hoops to make you and your customers happy.

Why wait for the manufacturer to sub something out. You’re placing your business in the manufacturer’s hands and they are placing it in people you have ZERO relationship with. Build your own local relationships so the little things don’t eat you up when you have a problem to solve.

By: ct

ct — Fri, 29 May 2009 19:08:24 +0000

This has been going forever in this industry. when people want toys they want them now. what a crazy thing to furlough and shut down parts and service departments in the middle of the season. talk about a nightmare. the other one i love is there is virtually no way to demo a boat to see if i like it or not. there are so many opportunities for a new line of thinking in this industry.

By: Tim Hanrahan

Tim Hanrahan — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:14:32 +0000

MIke Hoffmann’s blog is something more people in any business need to hear more of. Thanks for your honesty.

I am in the plastics machinery business and 20 or so years ago I worked for a German company. They shut down tight for three week in the summer and it was impossible to get a fax or wire into them. When they came back from vacation it took weeks to catch up.

That practice has stopped in Europe as they learned they must COMPETE against people from around the world who provide better services.

The same holds true in the boat business. Boat dealers COMPETE against every other reason to spend fun time money. Sports cars, airplanes, sporting goods, vacations, etc, etc.

Every department in any business must compete, not just the salesman trying to secure a sale. Engineering, service, spare parts, production, etc, must understand that they all have serious competition.

By: Jim Schofield

Jim Schofield — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:55:03 +0000

What a frightening and I fear very plausible result of survival over customer service. Just what our industry doesn’t need…another step backward.

By: Stacey Derbinshire

Stacey Derbinshire — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:00:50 +0000

Great Blog post. I am going to bookmark and read more often. I love the Blog template